Sunday, December 27, 2020

Diagnosing Our Unthankfulness - Nathan Rages


Eph. 5:20 "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" 

The verse is super clear about always thanking God for everything, so why are we often unthankful?
1. Being unconverted.
2. Not being Spirit-filled (controlled).
3. Grumbling.   
4. Fearfulness.
5. Doubting God’s sovereignty over *all* things.
6. Misunderstanding the benefits of trials.

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Our Singing Religion - Nathan Rages


"... but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;" Eph. 5:18c-19

This is the most important Bible verse on Christian singing, and it teaches the following truths: 
1. Power for our singing: “the Spirit”
2. Companions in our singing: “speaking to one another”
3. Variety in our singing: “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”
4. Musicality in our singing: “singing and making melody”
5. Inwardness of our singing: “with your heart”
6. Audience for our singing: “to the Lord”

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Not Drunk but Filled with the Spirit - Nathan Rages


Ephesians 5:18 addresses two contrasting activities:
1. “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation”
Why is drunkenness so bad?
What about moderate drinking?

2. “But be filled with the Spirit”
What does this mean: the Spirit indwelling vs. outpouring vs. controlling?
How can we *obey* this command?

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Living Carefully - Nathan Rages


Eph. 5:15-17 Therefore *be careful how you walk*, not as unwise men but as wise,  making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

These verses describe three ways for Christians to live carefully:
1. Be wise rather than foolish (v15).
2. Maximize your opportunities (v16).
3. Understand the Lord’s will (v17).

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Walking as Children of Light - Nathan Rages


Eph. 5:8-14 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Four things necessary to "walk as children of light": 1 Understand how radically you’ve been changed. 2. Expect fruit in your life to confirm that change. 3. Avoid defilement from the surrounding evil. 4. Evangelize those still in darkness.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

What Deacons Do - Nathan Rages


This sermon was given in connection with the appointment of a new deacon in our church.  It addresses the following questions about a deacon's role:
Q1: Do deacons have authority in the church?
Q2: What tasks may be delegated to the deacons?
Q3: What tasks should deacons not do?
Q4: How should elders and deacons relate to each other?
Q5: What is the role of a deacon’s wife?
Q6: What are our responsibilities to the deacons?
     Pray for them, 
     Submit to them, 
     Serve alongside them, 
     Appreciate them, and 
     Encourage them.
Q7: What activity officially installs a new deacon?

Sunday, November 15, 2020

A Prophet Like Moses ... But Far Greater - John Dees


Acts 3:22-23 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’

Sunday, November 8, 2020

How God Created the Universe - Nathan Rages


All Christians agree that "God created the heavens and the earth", but they disagree about the *way* that He did it.  In this sermon, I describe the three main positions held by Christians (young earth creation, old earth creation, and theistic evolution), discuss the reasons why I hold the view that I do, and tell how I comfort myself regarding the difficulties inherent in that view.  The message then ends with some specific exhortations for both the brethren who agree with me and those who disagree. 

Sunday, November 1, 2020

The Importance of the Non-Essentials - Nathan Rages


Most issues of Christian belief and practice are *not* essential for our salvation. You can be wrong about many matters and still go to heaven.  Nevertheless, many of these "non-essential" matters are still super important.  They're important to God, important to our own souls, and important for our churches.  All truth matters and we should be striving to "buy truth and not sell it" (Prov. 23:23).  

Some Biblical ways to gain more truth in these non-essentials where Christians often disagree:
1. Study your Bible.
2. Listen to your pastors.
3. Be sharpened by godly friends.
4. Trust in the Spirit's help through prayer.
5. Consider each matter soberly before the Lord.

Sunday, October 25, 2020

God's Warning About Sexual Sin - Zach Perkins


Ephesians 5:3-7 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them;

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Imitating God (Especially in His Forgiveness and Love) - Nathan Rages





Eph 4:31-5:2 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Grieving the Holy Spirit - Nathan Rages





Eph. 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.



Q1: How do we grieve the Holy Spirit?

Q2: Why is it so bad for us to grieve the Spirit?

Q3: What's the experience like when you have grieved the Spirit?

Q4: What should we do when we realize we have grieved the Spirit?

Sunday, October 4, 2020

A Word About Our Words - Nathan Rages





Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

New Meeting Place Starting Sunday October 4th


Beginning Sunday October 4th we'll begin gathering for our Sunday Worship Meetings (9:00am) and Thursday Prayer Meetings (7:00pm) at 1401 Ballenger Place, Columbia MO 65202.  The building is along Clark Lane near the Ballenger Lane roundabout about 1.5 miles east of Home Depot.  We thank God for this timely provision and for the generosity of Charity Baptist Church enabling us to use this excellent facility.   


The Christian's Knowledge - Ryan Skinner





Rom 11:33-36 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 ​​​​​​​​“For who has known the mind of the Lord, ​​​​​​​or who has been his counselor?” ​​​ 35 ​​​​​​​​“Or who has given a gift to him ​​​​​​​that he might be repaid?” ​​​ 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Sunday, September 13, 2020

The Cure for Selfish Materialism - Nathan Rages





Eph. 4:28 "He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need."

The verse prescribes three steps to a cure:
1. Stop stealing.
2. Work hard.
3. Give generously.

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Be Angry and Do Not Sin - Nathan Rages





"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil."  Eph. 4:26-27



This teaches three clear truths about anger:

1. Anger is not necessarily sinful.

2. Anger needs to be dealt with quickly.

3. Anger, if unaddressed, opens the door to the devil.

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Putting on the New Man - Nathan Rages





Eph. 4:23-24 "and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Touching Jesus in Faith - John Dees





Mark chapter 5 tells about the woman with the issue of blood who pressed through the crowd to touch the fringe of Jesus' garment and received healing.  This sermon considers the story as a glorious Gospel picture, of how unclean and hopeless sinners can come to Christ for salvation.



NOTE: For some reason the audio recording has a terrible noise for the first 35 seconds, but then the right channel goes silent and the left channel is fine thereafter.

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Laying Aside Your Old Man - Nathan Rages





Eph. 4:22 "that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,"

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Learning Christ - Nathan Rages





Eph. 4:20-21 "But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,"



From this we learn five things:

1. Salvation involves a learning process.

2. That process is centered on Christ Himself.

3. Learning Christ should motivate us to holiness.

4. Christ Himself is our teacher.

5. Christ Himself is our learning environment.

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Lay Aside Falsehood and Speak Truth - Nahum O'Brien





Eph 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Submitting to Civil Government and Church Leaders - Nathan Rages





Rom 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.



Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.



NOTE: This was recorded at a meeting in a park shelter with a lively green tarp in the background.

Sunday, July 12, 2020

A Plea for Sinners to be Saved - Nathan Rages





Eph 4:17-20 describes the inner state of unsaved people in seven specifics: Futility, Darkness (of understanding), Excluded (from God's life), Ignorance, Hardness (of heart), Sensuality and Greediness.  But these sinners are invited, in fact commanded, to flee to Christ for salvation by repenting from their sin and trusting in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus!



Other Scriptures mentioned:

2Cor 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Matt 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Acts 16:31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Rom 10:13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

Deut 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,



NOTE: This was recorded at a meeting in a park shelter with a green tarp in the background.

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Marks of a Mature Church - Nathan Rages





1 Doctrinal agreement.

2 Christ-centeredness.

3 Balanced growth.

4 Permeating love.



"until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Eph 4:13-16



NOTE: We apologize for the poor video quality.  This was recorded at an outdoor meeting at a local park shelter.

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Preachers Equip so that ALL the Saints Can Minister - Nathan Rages





"for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" Eph. 4:12

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and Pastors - Nathan Rages





And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, Eph. 4:11

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Christ's Gifts - Nathan Rages





But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, ​​​​​​​and he gave gifts to men.” Eph 4:7-8



This passage teaches four things about Christ's Gifts:

1. They are given to every Christian.

2. They differ from one Christian to another.

3. They are all necessary for a healthy body.

4. They were gained by Christ's humiliation and exaltation.

Sunday, June 7, 2020

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, One Father - Zach Perkins





"one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."  Eph 4:5-6

Saturday, June 6, 2020

One Body, One Spirit, One Hope





"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;" Eph 4:4  The Apostle gives another major reason for Christians to maintain church unity by reminding the us of seven big truths that they all have in common.  This message covers the first three items on the list.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Diligently Preserving the Unity of the Spirit - Nathan Rages





"with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Eph. 4:2-3



1 The divine origin of the unity.

2 The human responsibility for the unity.

3 The character qualities necessary to preserve the unity.

a) Humility

b) Gentleness

c) Patience

d) Tolerance

e) Love

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Midweek encouragement: God Isn't Limited by Your Smallness - Nathan Rages





Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.”  1Sam. 14:6

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Walk Worthy of Your Calling - Nathan Rages





Eph. 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.



This verse introduces the *second half* of the book of Ephesians. Chapters 1-3 are mostly doctrinal teaching while chapters 4-6 are mostly practical living topics.  Accordingly, we note seven common pitfalls in Christians' pursuit of personal holiness:

1 Undermining the Gospel by thinking wrongly about holiness.

2 Failing to strive vigorously for personal holiness.

3 Emphasizing holiness in one area while ignoring obvious sin in other areas.

4 Making too much of matters that are not clear in Scripture.

5 Proudly comparing yourself to others.

6 Despairing over slow growth in a certain area.

7 Being content with mere words or feelings rather than long-term change.



Then we use this verse to summarize the New Covenant process of growing in personal holiness:

Step 1: Understand who you are now in Christ, your glorious position, privileges and identity.

Step 2: Act like the person that you already are.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Midweek encouragement: Justified, O Blessed Thought! - Nathan Rages





"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."  Rom 5:1-2

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Power Beyond All that We Ask or Think - Nathan Rages





Eph 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.



This famous doxology about God's power breaks down into three parts:

1 The vastness of God's power. “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think”

2 The workplace of God's power.  “according to the power that works within us”

3 The glory resulting from God’s power.  “to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Midweek encouragement: O Valiant Warrior! - Nathan Rages





Judges 6:12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him [Gideon] and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior.”

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Midweek encouragement: God has Promised to Guide You - Nathan Rages

Filled up to All the Fullness of God - Nathan Rages





Sermon is about the climactic final request in Paul's prayer at the end of Ephesians chapter 3, "to be filled up to all the fullness of God".  There's nothing bigger or bolder in the whole Bible about Christian experience than these words!  But what do they mean exactly?



Three things this does *not* mean:

1 This is not something that only happens in heaven.

2 This is not about God giving us certain blessings or spiritual gifts.

3 This does not mean we "become God" in some way.



Four concepts this *does* point us toward:

1 Union.

2 Likeness.

3 Control.

4 Satisfaction.

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Knowing the Love of Christ - Nathan Rages





Eph 3:18-19 “That you … may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge...”

1 The SOURCE of this love: "the love of Christ"

2 The KNOWLEDGE of this love: "comprehend ... know ... knowledge"

3 The DIMENSIONS of this love: "breadth and length and height and depth"

4 The SHARING of this love: "with all the saints"

Midweek Encouragement: Celebrating God's Sameness - Nathan Rages





"... but You are the SAME and your years will not come to an end."  (Heb. 1:12b) and "Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today, and forever." (Heb. 13:8).

Rooted and Grounded in Love - Nathan Rages





"... that you, being rooted and grounded in love" Eph. 3:17b   A Christian's love for God and others is pictured like the roots of a tree or the foundation of a building.  These pictures reveal certain insights about love:

1. It gives us long-term stability.

2. It's hard to see (initially).

3. It takes time to form.

4. It's what everything else grows *from*.



Applications:

1. Love is the foundation for relating to God.

2. Love is the foundation for our holiness.

3. Love is the foundation of marriage and parenting.

4. Love is the foundation of church life.

5. Love is the foundation of ministry work.

Midweek encouragement: Three Things You Can't Do Too Much - Nathan Rages





"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  1Thess 5:16-18.

Christ Dwelling in Your Heart - Nathan Rages





Ephesians 3:17 begins "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith".  We'll approach these simple-sounding words by asking these two simple questions:



1 What does it mean for Christ to dwell in your heart?



2. How can this happen to you? 

A. Through prayer.

B. Through the Spirit's ministry.

C. Through your faith.

Midweek Encouragement: God Keeps ALL His Promises - Nathan Rages





Josh 21:45 "Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."


Strengthened by the Spirit in the Inner Man - Nathan Rages



In Eph. 3:16, Paul prayed to God that the Ephesian Christians would be "strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man". This sermon breaks this down into three simple concepts:
1. Our NEED for strengthening. 2. The PLACE where strengthening is needed: "in the inner man". 3. The PERSON who does the strengthening: "through His Spirit".

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Worship and prayer meeting format

Due to the COVID-19 virus situation, our weekly meetings have been undergoing changes.  We still worship on Sundays at 10:00am and pray on Thursdays at 7:00pm -- but we cannot all be in the same building anymore.  

Since tiny religious groups of no more than 10 people are still permissible under government guidelines, some have been meeting that way.  Others have been using video conferencing software to meet "virtually" with each other on their computers.  Others have been meeting in their homes with family members.  We can be together in spirit (1Cor 5:4) though not in the same place physically. 

Please contact us for the most current information and how you can participate in the meetings.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Biblical Thinking in a Time of Crisis - Nathan Rages

Sermon describes the big elements of Biblical truth that should inform our thinking as we anticipate the approaching COVID-19 situation or any time of crisis.

Link to play or download audio:
https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21551576

3/15/2020 Meeting Place Change

Because of the COVID-19 coronavirus situation, our usual meeting place is not available on Sunday March 15.  We will meet instead for worship (but no fellowship meal) at 10:00am at a home at 900 Danforth Drive in Columbia, MO. 

Monday, March 2, 2020

Heavenly Rewards Pt 2 - Nathan Rages

In the second part on our series on heavenly rewards, we spend the time considering various commonly-asked questions:
1. What's the nature of these rewards?
2. How can some Christians in heaven have more happiness or honor than others?
3. Will thoughts of future rewards lead to competitiveness, rivalry, or pride between Christians now?
4. Does the expectation of rewards undermine the Gospel of grace by causing a focus on our personal performance?
5. Does this cheapen our service to Christ by making us into "mercenaries" who're just serving Him for what we can get for ourselves in the end?
6. Does the future judgement of Christians involve a rehearsal of our sins?
7. Could this teaching be misused to give dangerous comfort to false Christians?
8. What do other Bible teachers think about these things?

Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21543868

Heavenly Rewards Pt 1 - Nathan Rages

In this Sunday message, we take a look at the concept that the Lord will reward each believer at the end of the world based on the good works we do in this life, and that those rewards will enhance our enjoyment of heaven forever.

Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21543864

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The Church as a Temple - Nathan Rages

In this sermon from Ephesians 2:20-22, we look at how the Church is pictured as a giant stone temple that's under construction.

Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21536662

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Jesus the Peacemaker - Nathan Rages

Ephesians 2:14-17 - "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near."

Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21529877

Remember Who You Were - Zach Perkins

In this sermon from Ephesians 2:11-12, we take a look at Paul's exhortations to the Gentiles to remember who they were and see how that applies to us.

Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21529856

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

For by Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith - Nathan Rages

Ephesians 2:8-10 - "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21522019

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Seated Now With Christ in the Heavenly Places - Nathan Rages

Ephesians 2:4-7 - "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."


Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21517766

Sunday, January 5, 2020

What to Do With Onesimus - John Dees

In this sermon, we look at how we should think of Onesimus, the fugitive slave of Philemon. In this small letter from Paul to Philemon, we can see pictures of how we were in our lost state and also a picture of what Christ does for us.

Audio only: https://rgcolumbia.sermon.net/21513923