We're a Gospel-centered church fellowship in Columbia, Missouri, proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ and following Him together as a community of believers. Our emphases are sound Bible teaching, joyful worship, hearty fellowship, and ongoing evangelism.
"... 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”
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:
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.
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.’
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.
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:
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;
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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,"
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.
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.
"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.
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.
"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.
"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.
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
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.
"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
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.”
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.
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"
"... 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).
"... 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.
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?
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".
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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."
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."
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."
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.
