Scripture for May 1st: Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Title: Why Isn't Life Fair?

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”


This coming Sunday we will begin a new sermon series entitled, "Life Questions: Answers to Life's Most Important Questions." The first question that we will attempt to answer is, why isn't life fair? Pastor Joseph Vest has written the following on the subject: "Maybe our problem is that we mis-define fair because how we define what is and isn't fair is really important. What really is fair? A more important question is, 'Do we really want fairness...do we really?' In our society we have expressions like, 'I want my fair share' and we hear kids all the time saying, 'No fair.' What we're really saying is, 'I want mine even if nobody gets theirs.' It's funny but things really only seem unfair when they're going against us. If things are going for us then all of the sudden fairness never enters our minds. If your neighbor gets a huge bonus from work or inherits some money, or wins one of those lottery games, that seems pretty unfair that someone should have that much money. On the other hand, if I receive an inheritance from a long lost uncle, or if I get a bonus or if something wonderful falls into my lap, now that's a different story; that seems perfectly fine."

As Pastor Vest wrote, our sense of "fairness" is often times wrapped around our own selfishness. There is a bigger picture that goes beyond our own interests, and we cannot always see that picture - but God can, and He is in control. This is the message behind the Scripture passage that we will be reading on Sunday, and it shows us that we often wrongly define "fair", we often overstate our troubles and while doing this, we miss the "big picture." I hope to see you Sunday as we kick off this new sermon series!

Scripture for April 24th: Matthew 28:1-9

Sermon Title: Christ Has Arisen Indeed!


After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Pastor Stephen Swihart has written the following concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ: "The Gospels do not explain the resurrection; the resurrection explains the Gospels. Without the resurrection, there would be no Christianity. It is mentioned 104 times in the New Testament. Remove this event and Jesus would remain dead, the Bible would be a lie, and God would be a hoax. Throught this event, however, the divine plan was fulfilled, giving strength and hope beyond description to us all. Unlike all of the world's religions that stop at the grave, Christianity starts on the other side - with the Resurrection! Jesus did not enter this world so books might be written regarding His wisdom or love. He came to resurrect men from the dead, and to show them the passageway to heaven. He accomplished this feat through His very own resurrection."

This week we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and proclaim He has arisen indeed! Please join us with your family and friends this coming Easter Sunday morning as we worship through song, prayer, Scripture reading and message. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for April 17th: Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon: The Case of Mistaken Identity


As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Who was Jesus? For those who met Jesus on Palm Sunday as He rode into Jersulem on a donkey, He was a prophet. To others, He was the coming Messiah, the One Who would overthrow the rule of the Romans. But in reality He was the Savior Who was coming to die for the sins of the world. Who do you say Jesus is? Was He merely a good teacher, wonderful person or example for us to follow? Or is He your Savior, the One Who has saved you from your sins?

One commentator said this about the passage: "You’ve seen, whether on video or in person, the military parades during World War 2 or the Cold War. If it was an American parade, you might have swelled with pride and patriotism. If it was the parade of one of our enemies, you might have felt a bit awed and maybe even intimidated. The parades were intended to be stirring, to instill as sense of wonder at the power of the state. Yet none of that today. The King enters Jerusalem. He has no tank or limousine. He rides a rental donkey. There’s not well-placed tickertape or regalia. The crowd’s reaction is spontaneous and spur of the moment. They grab palms, a symbol of victory, and strew the road with their own garments. It is hard not to imagine the Apostles’ chests puffing up a bit,their chin held a little higher than normal, as they could say to those they met, “I’m with Him.” This was the day they had been waiting for. This was the pay off for trudging around Israel with Jesus. Now they were going to be superstars. But you know what happened. But a few days later their puffed up chests were deflated like a balloon, popped by the nails
that pierced their Master’s hands and feet. This was not the coronation they expected, as their King was crowned with thorns. This was not the throne they expected, as He ascended the cross. And when Peter faced that crucial moment, faced it three times, he answered, no longer in pride but now in fear, “I’m not with Him.”
Palm Sunday is an odd mixture of sentiments for the Christian. We are happy for Jesus. He is finally getting the praise He deserves. We swell with pride as our King enters Jerusalem as a King, welcomed for once, welcomed with such excitement that the whole city was astir, asking “Who is this Jesus?” And for once the crowds
get it right. “He is the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” If only they knew, however, what prophecy held for this Prophet: namely, a turn of events like the world has never seen before or ever will see again, as the One riding a beast of burden will be come a beast of burden Himself, bearing your sins on His back, not so that you might bring them with you where He wants to take you, but that you should never see them again."

This coming Sunday we will celebrate Palm Sunday and we will talk about how Christ was the humble servant, the compassionate leader and the fulfilling Savior. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for April 10th: Matthew 16:13-21

Sermon Title: The Church You've Always Longed For - Anticipates a Great Future


When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.


A Bible teacher once wrote this about the passage: "The Jews were expecting a political leader to build a kingdom for them. Matthew wrote the Gospel especially to the Jews. He presented Jesus as the long awaited Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. He said about the kingdom of Heaven.Matthew’s Gospel is a link between the Old Testament & the New Testament. After about 400 years of silence after the Book of Malachi written about 430 B.C),John the Baptist was sent to announce the coming of Messiah.(Matt.17:10-13). Jesus has told the disciples that it had been written about Him in The Law of Moses,Prophets & the Psalms.(Luke 24:27,44). From Genesis to Malachi,there are many prophecies about the coming of Messiah. They were fulfilled in Christ. And here in this passage Peter was making a public declaration of what was true - that this Jesus of Nazareth was truly the one and only Christ, the Savior of the world."


Without Christ, the future is bleak. But because of Christ, and the fact that the Church is built on Him, the future of the church and individual Christians is as bright as a midnight star. Our hope is not on wishful thinking or positive thoughts, but it is on the Living God, Jesus Christ, who has conquered sin and death and will one day return to rule on this world. Because of Him, we can anticipate a great future - and we will talk more about this on Sunday as we conclude our series of messages, "The Church You've Always Longed For..." Hope to see you then!

Scripture for April 3rd: Acts 4:23-31

Sermon Title: The Church You've Always Longed For - Encounters the Living God

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Theologian John W. Scott has written about this passage the following: "When ordered to be silent, the apostles make clear that they "cannot help speaking about what [they] have seen and heard" (4:20). How did they sustain such determination? They looked in prayer to their sovereign Lord and found the strength to continue its advances with boldness.

The first Christians were realists, and so must we be. These threats, coming as they did from the highest civil authority, had the force of law. Obedience to Christ in the midst of a hostile environment was costly. Will we realistically face that cost when confronted with the same scenario?"

The early Church was able to face and overcome great opposition because they knew and served the Living God. Through their love for God, they were able to see that God is over and in control of their past, future and present. And, we, too, can be comforted and inspired with the same perspective. On Sunday I will speak about this as continue our sermon series, "The Church You've Always Longed For..." Hope to see you then!

Sunday, March 27th: Power Team Member to Speak!

A member of the international ministry team, The Power Team, will bring the sermon on Sunday. The members of New Beginnings Baptist Church will join us for the service. Please invite someone to come and join you, as God is sure the speak through this man's testimony. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for March 20th: Acts 5:1-11

Sermon Title: The Church You've Always Longed for Models Integrity

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

George MacDonald has written, "Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not." This is what Ananias and Sapphira was doing in this story - they were true hypocrites, in that they were "wearing a mask, playing a part" and not truly who they claimed to be. Warren Wiersbe wrote that the sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, "...putting on a lovely front in order to conceal the shabby sin in their lives, sin that cost them their lives." We, too, often commit the sin that Ananias and Sapphira committed - we often hide our sins with a covering of false righteousness and ultimately, if we allow our hypocrisy to remain unchecked, it will destroy our relationship with God.

This coming Sunday we will discuss more about Ananias and Sapphira, and see how Satan, pride and a desire to replace God caused them to lose their integrity and led to their demise. I hope to see you then!

Scripture for March 13th: Acts 18:24-28

Sermon Title: The Church You've Always Longed for - Empowers Each Individual

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

The City of Alexandria was in Egypt on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean, named after its founder, Alexander the Great. The city was a fusion of Greek, Jewish, and Oriental beliefs, and it was there that Apollos, who was an intelligent Jew, was educated. Through his study of Scripture and influence of the ministry of John the Baptist, he came to understand that the Messiah would be coming through the Person of Jesus Christ. However, he did not know about Christ's death and resurrection. Notice that Priscilla and Aquila did not shun Apollos because of his lack of understanding. Rather, they both took him into their home and spent time with him so that he could fully understand what Christ had done. Priscilla and Aquila are examples to us all, showing how we, too, should invite others in our lives to show them the way of Christ. This coming Sunday I will speak about the example that Priscilla and Aquila set for us, and how we as a church can empower others to be all that God had intended them to be by following their example. Hope to see you then!