Fellowship Bible Church Sermons

Trials and a Believers Response, Part 3

January 1, 2023 SS, James 1:1-27.In this message speaker James Widgeon continues our study in the book of James. In the book of James we see evidence of various kinds of trials or situations among the believers. Churches today can expect similar trials. If we understand the various trials mentioned in the book of James, believes will be equipped, knowing how to respond to these when they do occur in our present lives.

A Lamb Led to the Slaughter

December 28, 2022 PM, Matthew 27:26-35.We continue the study of Jesus after the trial and the substitution of Barabbas, a murderer, who deserved the death penalty. Jesus, however, was set to be crucified instead. Pilate, the Roman governor handed Him over to His death, just as the crowd demanded. The Roman soldiers scourged and mocked Him and led Him to be crucified. All these events occurred during the Passover. The Roman soldiers compelled a man of Cyrene, Simon, to bear His cross. When they came to Golgotha, the Romans gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. Jesus tasted it but would not drink it. Then they crucified Him along with the two other men who were crucified. Roman soldiers divided their things, casting lots. Jesus went through all of this to take the wrath of God against Himself, for us.

The Shepherds’ Perspective on Jesus’s Birth

December 25, 2022 AM, Luke 2:8-20.Over the years, I have written several messages on how the first
Christmas looked from the perspective of various people who were
there: Joseph, Mary, Zacharias, Simeon, the wise men, and Herod.
In this message, I am going to revisit the shepherds in more detail
than I have before. Then I hope to consider Anna in another
message, the angels, Elizabeth, and even John the Baptist.
This message will hopefully build up your faith and not be merely an
academic exercise. But that depends on your perspective on
Christmas. We are like the shepherds. We recognize we are lowly in the eyes of
the world, and yet greatly privileged to be given the Christmas
news of a Rescuer who will save His people from their sins.
Therefore, we make widely known what happened to everyone we
can—and to our children and grandchildren as well. The fact that
the angels visited and told us that the Messiah was born to be our
Savior is tremendously important. It is news that is second to
nothing. These are the Christmas tidings of great joy to all people!
Our Scripture reading was found in Matthew 2:1-23.

The Unattractive History of the Purest Gift

December 25, 2022 SS, Matthew 1:1-25.On this Christmas morning, Jansen Lorch leads our study, where we see how God used people who have royally messed up to accomplish His divine will of delivering the purest of gifts to mankind.

Christmas Eve Service

December 24, 2022 PM, Luke 2:1-20.For this years Christmas Eve service, we celebrate our Lord's birth through worship by song and Scripture readings, found in: Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-23, and John 1:14. Jansen Lorch leads our study, focused on the prophet Isaiah 7:14, on thoughts surrounding this prophetic passage about Jesus Christs birth.

The Sign of the Abrahamic Covenant

December 18, 2022 AM, Genesis 17:1-27.At least three of the Biblical covenants have “signs” associated with
them. These signs serve as reminders of God’s faithfulness and
covenant requirements on His people.
The Covenant with Noah has the sign of the rainbow (Gen. 9:16-17).
The Covenant with Abraham has as a sign male circumcision (Gen.
17:11, Rom. 4:11). We will see this as we study Genesis 17.
The Covenant with Moses is signified by the Sabbath (Exodus 31:13,
Ezek. 20:12, 20).
Of these three signs, the rainbow is still operational and relevant;
male circumcision is not required; Sabbath observation is not
required either. Jewish people are free to maintain the latter two
signs if they wish. But neither Jews nor Gentiles are under the Law
of Moses today, because it has been fulfilled in Christ and replaced
by the Law of Christ.
Stop and think if there are any similar “signs” that we have in the
church era of God’s program. What does all this mean for us? Obviously, we can anticipate that God
keeps His promises. Remember that the Abrahamic Covenant
impacts us in Christ. God can do things that seem impossible. God
even blesses those outside the boundaries of the covenant—not
with all the provisions of the covenant, but with some blessings
nonetheless.
Our Scripture reading was found in Luke 1:1-80.

Do you want to be friends with God?

December 18, 2022 SS, Various.Pastor Matt answers a question from Matthew chapter 1:23 about the word "the" when referencing the virgin Mary. It specifies "the virgin", who did not know a man. This is the well-known virgin. Not all verses referencing the virgin begin with "the" virgin. Additionally, Pastor Matt leads our study today. Do you have friends in high places?
I ran into a verse in John 15 recently that fascinated me, so I studied a
little bit about it to see if I could understand it better. Here it is:
John 15:15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not
know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to
you.
My thoughts started out with the idea of being a friend with God as
contrasted with being a slave or servant of God. But that led to
other passages which speak of someone as a friend of God. And
that then led to what it means to be a slave of God. What is the
Lord saying in John 15:15? It seems unarguable from other
passages that a Christian is a bondservant, or more simply, a
servant, of God.
The apostles were Christ’s servants (Rom. 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, Jude 1:1,
Revelation 1:1). We are “unprofitable servants” (Luke 17:10).
But the Lord Jesus makes it plain that His disciples are not slaves, or
better, not merely slaves. I am going to lay down the assumption
that this applies to us as well, not just the apostles because they
have a super-privileged place. Somehow, both slave and friend are
true descriptions of our relationship to God.
The partial conclusion that I’ve drawn from thinking about this
question of friend versus servant is that we need to be careful not
to make our relationship with Jesus be too “slavish” to the
detriment of other facets of our relationship. Indeed, we do have a
relationship with the Master. He considers us his friends, and we
can consider Him our friend as well, without being flippant about
it. We should not be indifferent to this idea because it is precious,
important, powerful. We need to see ourselves in the full light of
what God has told us our relationship with Him is, not just part of
that light.
It is a huge privilege to be able to rightly think of ourselves as friends
of Christ—very close friends, not merely acquaintances. We are
“in” on His plans. We know what He is doing because He has told
us. We are not in the dark on things.

Christmas Program

December 11, 2022 PM, Various.We are delighted to celebrate Christ's birthday today, through Fellowship Bible Church's Christmas Program! We had a wonderful time of special music, Scripture reading, and studying of God's Word!

Unto us a Son is Given

December 11, 2022 AM, Isaiah 9:6.We conclude with a reminder of Romans 1:1-5. The good news from
God is all about His Son, to Whom we owe the obedience of our
allegiance. He is the wisest counselor, the prince of peace, the
Father of eternity, and the mighty God. He is worthy.
Our Scripture reading was found in Song of Solomon 5:1-16.

The Fundamental Truths that Drive Evangelistic Prayer

December 11, 2022 SS, 1 Timothy 2:5-6.What is the significance of our prayers for the Lost? It reflects the
fundamental truth that there is only one way of salvation. It points to the
exclusivity of the only one true Living God. Our requests for people to
believe in Jesus Christ reflect the fundamental truth that there is only one
Mediator—someone to bring about reconciliation between God and
man—Jesus Christ, a man Himself. Whether you thought about it or not
when you are praying, these fundamental truths are what drives us to
pray for the Lost and to expect that God will answer these prayers.