Fellowship Bible Church Sermons

Not Carnality but Christ

August 3, 2022 PM, Colossians 3:5-11.Paul states it is imperative for the Colossians to put away sinfulness. This applies to us believers today, to put away the things which are causing you to stumble. The examples that Paul provides, he states, to put to death the old sinful man. We must put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

The Wicked Vinedressers

July 31, 2022 AM, Matthew 21:33-46 // Mark 12:1-12 // Luke 20:9-19.The earlier parable of the two sons ended with Jesus stating that common sinners
would enter the kingdom of God while the Pharisees would not. Obviously, this
refers to sinners who had repented when told they needed to do so by John the
Baptist or by Jesus and His disciples. But repentance was something that the
chief priests and elders were totally unwilling to do.
The parable of the vinedressers also ends with a mention of the kingdom of God—
with Jesus saying that it will be taken from the present leadership of Israel and
turned over to a nation which bears its fruit. Such a nation would show forth the
fruits of repentance (as John the Baptist called for) and it would render to its
owner what is due Him—honor, worship, and service—like the vinedressers
should have done to the landowner.
What fruits are you bringing to the divine owner of the universe?
Our Scripture reading was found in Ezekiel 45.

The Lord’s Table Service: What does it mean to love God?

July 31, 2022 SS, Various.In this study, Pastor Matt leads our study on the question, "do you love God?"
If you love the Lord, He is faithful to bless you (Romans 8:28). If you do not love the Lord Jesus, you are accursed (1 Corinthians 16:22). You should want to love the Lord God, because He commands it (Deuteronomy 6:5). You should want to love the God, because He loves you (John 3:16). A believer's love for God should be an ceaseless and honoring love to and for Him.

Empty Talk Versus Real Repentance

July 27, 2022 PM, Matthew 21:28-32.The religious leaders would not say who authorized John’s baptism—
heaven or men. They feared people, did not fear God, and would
not answer Jesus’s question. John’s call for repentance was clear,
and at least some in their number knew they needed that
repentance (Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, John 19:38-39).
But these hard-hearted ones who were trying to trap Jesus in His
words had no interest in repenting of anything. So, the Lord told a
story to illustrate an important point. What a rich parable. The Lord used it to invite the religious leaders to
think (v. 28). We should think as well. In just a few lines, we are
brought into a very deep theological matter of talk versus walk, of
profession versus possession, of no repentance versus real
repentance, of the Father’s patience and of the way of
righteousness.

Introduction to Nahum Part 1

July 24 2022 PM, Nahum 1.I am struck by how similar the 2015 ISIS offensive in Iraq, which
advanced rapidly since June 2014, looked like the Assyrians, and
the Babylonians after them. The religion is different, but the brutal
tactics are eerily similar.
God is not mocked. Galatians 6:7 says that what someone sows, they
will certainly, eventually, also reap. Whether soon, in this life, or
later in judgment, the results will make clear what kind of seed was
planted in life. The Ninevites planted a terrible crop with their
wickedness, and received a commensurate harvest. Those who live
by the sword will die by it as well (Matt. 26:52). The specific
14
situation of Nineveh offers the general principle that God judges
wickedness. Those who oppose God, He will oppose. Those who
conspire against God, God has a plan for them too. Those who do
damage to God’s people will suffer damage themselves. As they
increase their sin, they heap up for themselves increased
judgment. Our nation, the United States, is doing that just now.
Some sins are practiced by a minority; but those who applaud and
support those sins are many more (Romans 1:32; read the entire
passage from 1:18-32 and let the full effect sink in).
We believe God is righteous. We know He is. We see that He
expresses judgment in very harsh and even mocking terms which
might offend our sensibilities. But this shows that righteousness is
not incompatible with severe judgment against sinners, and we see
it in both testaments.
What God prophesied through Nahum did indeed happen. In 612 B.C.
the kingdom of Assyria was destroyed. God’s word was vindicated,
around 40 years after it was written. God’s promises always come
to pass—whether for good or for calamity. Bank on it!
Our Scripture reading was found in 2 Chronicles 19.

A Question of Authority, or “Who is your boss?”

July 24, 2022 AM, Matthew 21:23-27.We ask again: what is the source of authority for how you live your
life? God, or you?
If you, why do you believe so much in yourself? Do you have enough
knowledge, experience, and wisdom to make the right decisions?
Be honest and realistic with your answer! For instance: do you
know, in yourself, what happens to a person after death? If you do
not know that in yourself, how do you even have a prayer of
guiding your steps aright in this life?
Why should I believe in your ability to do that as over against God’s
infinitely wise and experienced ability to do far better? Remember,
there is a way that seems right to a man, but... (Prov. 16:25). Our
lives are not our own, and it is not in our ultimate purview to direct
our own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). If Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in
his humanity, was not His own authority, how could you dream to
be your own authority? He did the will of God, and thus modeled
for us how we ought to think of ourselves.
Do you fear God? Do your objections to His moral demands really
justify you to ignore those demands and try to make up your own
morality?
Real joy comes when you can honestly say that you are living your life
in accordance with the authority of God. When He is your Lord,
guide, boss, teacher, counselor, etc. then you can have confidence
you are doing the right stuff with your life.
Our Scripture reading was found in Ezekiel 44.

Book of Jude, Part 5

July 24, 2022 SS, Jude.In this message speaker James Widgeon leads our new study in the book of Jude. In this study, we see how Jesus warned of false prophets that would arise, how peoples hearts would grow cold, and how only those who kept the faith in Jesus Christ would be saved.

The Fruitless Fig Tree

July 20, 2022 PM, Matthew 21:18-22.Jesus went into Jerusalem, looked around, saw the sorry state of
things in the temple and city, and went back to Bethany for the
evening’s rest. He will use a fig tree to teach the disciples about
what he (and they) have just experienced. A barren tree reminds you to live a fruitful life so as to have a good
judgment before God. Our prayers can be powerful, but they have
to come from a righteous, forgiving life.

Initial Holy-Week Confrontations with the Religious Leaders

July 17, 2022 PM, Matthew 21:12-17.I am struck on the initial reading of this passage that Jesus went into
Jerusalem, visited the temple, saw it needed some tidying up, and
then cleaned it out in preparation to work there in the upcoming
days. He was cleaning up his workspace!
When Jesus came into the city, he was making a public
announcement of Himself as king. Verse 17 tells of our Lord’s departure back to Bethany to stay for the
night. He did not have a home in Jerusalem to stay and the city was
packed with worshippers, so he stayed where he had made other
arrangements. Tuesday would see continued confrontation with
the religious leaders.
Notice how the Lord judged some of the people but also exercised
mercy toward others. Behold the goodness and severity of God
(Romans 11:22).
Our Scripture reading was found in 2 Chronicles 18:1-34.

Jonah’s Lesson

July 17, 2022 AM, Jonah 4:1-11.God’s rule over the world is exalted. He oversees the fish, the storm,
the sirocco, the worm, the city, and everything else. He sovereignly
gives mercy to whom He wills. He cares for the world’s inhabitants,
even wicked ones. He has compassion on people. We submit to
God’s rule, not deny His grace to people. But judgment is not
postponed forever.
Jonah needed to learn Matthew 7:2 and James 2:13. If you do not like
God’s mercy, then don’t take it for yourself. His own self-interest
should have taught him that, but he was not concerned for others.
As for you, do you have any Jonah-like tendencies?
Our Scripture reading was found in Ezekiel 43:1-27.