Fellowship Bible Church Sermons

Joseph Successful but Imprisoned

June 11, 2023 AM, Genesis 38:1-40:23.Our Scripture reading was Acts 20:1-38
God’s blessing was evidence of the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The injustices that befell Joseph were not evidence of God abandoning the covenant but rather preparing further steps
of its fulfillment. When we think of the terrible moral conditions of the world, remember that these are not accidental. God is working through and with them to bring about His intended culmination of world events.

I Will Bless the Lord

June 11, 2023 SS, Psalm 34:1-22.Our Scripture reading was Psalm 34:1-22

Various Passages

June 7, 2023 PM, Various.Our Scripture reading was I Peter 5:5-11

Nehemiah

June 4, 2023 PM, Various.Our Scripture reading was Nehemiah 3:1-32

Esau’s Lineage and Joseph’s Trouble

June 4, 2023 AM, Genesis 36:1-37:36.I am jumping ahead a little bit because most of us are familiar with how this situation turned out. God allowed evil to bring good. This is an illustration that you could use for the 'greater good theodicy' that explains why God permits evil. On the face of things, there seems to be no good way to accomplish sending Joseph to Egypt for a future rescue operation. It seems that he would not leave his dad voluntarily. We might imaginatively figure out some circumstance that would bring Joseph to Egypt, but it seems unlikely he would have encountered the same people in similar
ways to allow him to rise to power. And, after all that was done, we would not have the bold lesson of good coming out of evil that God wants us to learn from Joseph’s experience. Over the centuries of human existence, people have noticed other situations where God has arranged for some bad thing to happen that brought some good thing about. The highest example of this is the cross of Jesus Christ—the worst injustice ever perpetrated on a human being resulted in the salvation of millions of souls.
Our Scripture reading was Acts 19:1-41

Filling the Empty Apostolic Office Part 4

May 31, 2023 PM, Acts 1:12-26.In part 4, of our series in Acts 1:12-26, we go over the process that the apostles used to select a replacement for Judas. Despite how easy it is to focus on the lot-casting, there were three prior steps: they laid out qualifications, they nominated qualified men, and they prayed. Only after that did they cast lots. Pastor Matt explained why we do not use lots today in important decisions, though we might do so to decide between otherwise equal options.

Qualities of Pastoral Ministry

May 28, 2023 PM, 1 Timothy 4:11-16.Our Scripture reading was Nehemiah 2:1-20

Trouble in the Camp

May 28, 2023 AM, Genesis 34:1-35:29.It has often been pointed out that the Bible does not sugar-coat the human condition. It is very realistic as to what goes on in the world—even to the point of being uncomfortable for parents to read with their sheltered children! This evil serves not as a focal point, but as a pointer to the focal point: the need and provision of God’s grace. Without His favor, Jacob, his sons, and all of humanity for that matter, would be doomed forever. God maintained His promise to the family for a fruitful posterity and a homeland. God saves people despite their sinful condition. If you trust Him, He will save you in spite of your sin too!
Our Scripture reading was Acts 18:1-28

James Conclusion

May 28, 2023 SS, Various.Conclusion of James & How do you spend time in the Word?

Filling the Empty Apostolic Office Part 3

May 24, 2023 PM, Acts 1:12-26.In this message, we examine why Peter and the other apostles thought there was a need to replace Judas. They saw the need arising from things mentioned earlier in Scripture and by the Lord, not merely to get back to an "even" number of disciples or to propagate the apostolic office indefinitely far into the future.