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.