Sermon For July 3rd: The Church's Responsibility to America

On Sunday we will celebrate July 4th with a special service to remember God's blessings on our great country. During the service, I will bring a message that will speak to what God expects the Church to do in America. The Church has lost its influence and no longer impacts American culture and perspective as it did at one time. Because of this, the morals of America continues to decline and ultimately the judgment of God will someday come. What should the Church be doing to increase its influence and help to turn the country back to God? I will answer that question during my sermon - I hope you will attend, wear red, white & blue and celebrate God's providence over our country. See you then!

Sunday, June 26th: Katie and Taku Longkumer

Missionaries Katie and Taku Longkumer will be speaking this coming Sunday. They have been called to the mission field in Northern India to provide counseling and theological training. Katie is originally from Springfield, IL and Taku was born in India. They have an amazing testimony as to what God has done in their lives and what God has called them to do. Taku will bring the morning message from God's Word and it is sure to be a blessing. Hope you can attend!

Scripture for June 19th: Titus 2:1-8

Sermon Title: What Does the Bible Expect of a Man?

"You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

Christian men have a responsibilty - they are to teach and train others how to live out the Christian faith. They are to do this in word and deed: not only through telling others how to live for Christ, but demonstrating it by how they live. This responsibility is given to all men, whether they are young or old. And this is a responsibility that many Christian men are not meeting. Too many men who claim to be Christian do not regularly attend church or take little to no interest in spiritual matters. Our churches all across our country are kept open by faithful Christian women, while the men are at home or take a backseat to the affairs of the local church. The Scripture passage in Titus call men to be responsible for leading their families and churches in the ways of the Lord. Until more Christian men take on this responsibility, most of our churches in America will remain ineffective in their ability to impact their communities with the Gospel of Christ and families will be hurt spiritually.

This coming Sunday, on Father's Day, we will discuss men's greatest responsibilites as we conclude our current sermon series, "Life Questions: Answers to Life's Most Important Questions." I hope to see you then!

Scripture for June 12th: I Timothy 1:12-17

Sermon Title: How Can I Forgive Myself?


I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.


Most people have done things that they regret. Some regret more things than others. The Apostle Paul certainly had many things that he regretted doing. In this passage he explains that he wished he had not been such a violent man, leading others to persecute the early church. He was even directly responsible for the death of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian faith.

But he then writes that Christ came for those like him - those who have committed sin, even some of the most grievous of sin. Paul declares that he is the "chief of sinners" and yet he received eternal life from God and now he is an example to others of God's mercy. Yes, most people have regrets - even the Apostle Paul had them - but we as Christians do not have to live our lives through the prism of our regrets. Rather, we are to live with the full knowledge of how God has extended His mercy to us and be forever thankful for that mercy. In practical terms, how do we live such a way on a daily basis? That is the question that we will focus on this coming Sunday morning as we continue our sermon series, "Life Questions: Answers to Life's Most Important Questions." Hope to see you then!