Walking the Roman Road
November 20 2011: Women in Odd PlacesPastor John • 30:03
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This often overlooked chapter filled with personal greetings from Paul contains some striking examples of the various roles women played in the church in Rome. How might those roles and titles inform our understanding of the role of women in ministry today?
November 13 2011: Sharing in God's Goodness
Pastor John • 27:27
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Paul's dream was not only to visit Rome, but to carry the Gospel to Spain. Before he could head that way, however, he needed to bring an offering from the Gentile churches back to Jerusalem for the welfare of impoverished Jewish believers. Life in the Kingdom is always to be lived out in a perspective that seeks the good of others and the advancement of God's Kingdom as part of the stewardship of our own personal finances and blessings.
November 6 2011: Survival of the Weakest
Pastor Nate • 30:24
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Different Christians can handle different levels of freedom. When should we curtail our liberty on behalf of a weaker brother, and when it is ok to exercise our freedom in Christ? This was a huge issue in the early church, and continues to be a relevant issue in the church today.
October 30 2011: Our One Outstanding Debt
Pastor John • 29:17
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Paul's call to "owe no man anything apart from the debt of love" must strike people in our credit obsessed society as rather odd. But our main responsibility is to love others in Jesus' name. Time is short, Paul says, and thus there is no room to waste time on things that promote only the Kingdom of Darkness rather than the Kingdom of God.
October 23 2011: Rulers, Taxes, and the Role of Government
Pastor John • 27:21
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While Paul only spends a few verses on the role of government and the responsibilities of citizens, this passage has informed centuries of political theory. Whether we like our government or not, it is designed by God to fulfill a definite purpose. And as you read these verses, remember that in all likelihood Paul penned these words as Nero sat on the throne in Rome.
October 16 2011: Love Well, Hate Well
Pastor Nate • 31:10
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Biblical love is not an abstract, ethereal idea, but rather is fleshed out in the stress and pain of real human interaction. In just those moments when we are inclined to retaliate, we are called to forgive; when we are tempted to pursue revenge, we are told to overcome evil with good. The living out of those Christian principles will stand out more and more in a world enamored with payback and tit-for-tat accounting.
October 9 2011: Goodness
Dr. Jim Jackson • 38:40
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Dr. Jackson, author of "The Happiest Man Alive" and the founder of Project Cure shares his story of personal transformation in Christ as he learned how to set aside his own agenda and serve others in Jesus' name.
October 2 2011: Transformed in Service
Pastor John • 28:58
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Paul calls the believer to a complete makeover of our minds and hearts as we offer our bodies as living sacrifices. The distribution of spiritual gifts is not designed to be a source of pride, but a springboard of service to others, as we in humility consider others more important than ourselves.
September 25 2011: The Future of Israel
Pastor John • 29:21
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Jaber Mohamed's Story
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Isn't it odd that the fate of a tiny, tiny piece of real estate known as the Nation of Israel continues to hold such a grip on the trajectory of world history? This morning we will explore two major understandings of God's intention for the Jews in general, and the nation of Israel in particular.
September 18 2011: Re-Gift Grace
Pastor Nate • 32:50
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If the Jews were God's chosen people, then how could they reject God's promised plan of redemption? The answer to this question informs not only our understanding of Israel's future, but may also hold clues for why people in general reject the hope of Christ today.
September 11 2011: How Odd of God to Choose the Jews
Pastor John • 24:51
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This second pass at Romans 9 looks at God's choice (election) of Israel in particular. This special relationship with Israel has implications for the place of the Gentiles in God's plan of salvation, and for Israel's place among the nations right down to today.
September 4 2011: When You Least Expect It, You're Elected
Pastor John • 33:19
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This first pass at Romans 9 looks at the issue of "election" in general. We'll be looking at questions that naturally arise from this topic such as "are only the elect saved?" and "what about free will?"
August 28 2011: More Than Conquerors
Josh Danielson • 26:43
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Without a doubt our greatest enemy is death. Any attempt to minimize its severity must be called into question. Which is why the reality of Christ's resurrection is God's answer to the ultimate curse of our sin, and His victory over the greatest enemy of mankind.
August 21 2011: All Creation Groans
Pastor John • 30:22
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Our role as the crown of creation is evidenced by the impact of our fall. Not only were we damaged by our own sin, but the rest of creation bore the brunt of it as well. This passage not only testifies to the stake the rest of creation has in human redemption, it also provides a wonderful testimony to the call to be good stewards of the world around us.
August 14 2011: Heart Transplant Recipients
Pastor John • 30:33
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Those who have experienced new life in Christ should find a major new transition in their life. The heart that predisposed us to sin is gone and we have a new heart that desires to serve God. We also move from being slaves to sin to becoming a fellow heir with Christ. Gone is a spirit of defeat and fear; now we will live in a spirit of hope, victory, and promise.
August 7 2011: What Am I Doing?
Pastor John • 32:26
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This is a passage of such great encouragement to all believers - knowing that the Apostle Paul himself experienced the internal battle conflicting desires. It is a universal struggle, and the only answer is God's gift of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord.
July 31 2011: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
Stacee Eggers • 39:03
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The fact that we are recipients of grace should not make us more lackadaisical about righteousness, but more joyfully earnest. Even as we die to a desire to sin in Christ, we come alive in the Holy Spirit to a desire to live a Christ honoring life.
July 24 2011: Adam 1 & Adam 2
Pastor John • 31:30
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In this message about "federal headship" Paul uses the image of the 1st and 2nd Adam to talk about our fall and our redemption. While this passage is sometimes used to advocate universalism, the universally available grace of Jesus must still be appropriated by each and every individual on the planet.
July 17 2011: How's Your Credit?
Pastor Emeritus Wes Swanson • 43:17
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We are all familiar with the principle of credit. Back during the Middle Ages the church developed a concept called "The Treasury of Merit." The idea was that Saints made deposits while the rest of us made withdrawals. The idea was sound, but One who made the deposit was Jesus, and His was so huge as to cover all our debt.
July 10 2011: The Best News in the World
Pastor John • 28:51
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While everyone has indeed fallen short of the high bar, the good news is that we still get to wear the trophy of Christ's righteousness. The fact that our righteousness is on loan, so to speak, should make us both humble in our own degree of holiness, and eager to tell others the truly great news of the Gospel.
July 3 2011: How Bad is Bad?
Pastor John • 29:05
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They say you have to appreciate the bad news before you can appreciate the good. Paul wants there to be no mistake, & he uses a 5" paintbrush to let us know just how messed up we are. People love to think of themselves as "pretty good," but even if God were to grade on a curve we'd be in big trouble!
June 26 2011: The Failure of Religion
Pastor Nate • 30:45
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If were up to religion to save, we would all be sunk. Religious rituals & outward formalities become real sterile, real fast. That's why Christianity is far more of a relationship than it is a religion & we need to be careful about confusing the two.
June 19 2011: Be Careful Where You Point
Pastor John • 27:41
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Even as the U.S. government argues that ignorance of the law is no excuse, Paul argues that ALL people, Gentiles included, know a lot more about right & wrong than they want to admit. God has written that law on our hearts, & thus we have no excuse.
June 12 2011: What Happens When God Lets Go
Pastor John • 29:43
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This passage contains one of the most tragic verses in all of Scripture: "so God gave them up . . . ." In vivid detail Paul highlights the way our stubborn refusal to acknowledge God and His Lordship has yielded over the course of history. It provides a sober warning about trying live life apart of from His Lordship.
June 5 2011: For I am Not Ashamed
Pastor John • 27:59
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It’s easy to feel today that Christianity is either dated, unscientific, or simply for the gullible. Add to it scandals and bad press the media loves to highlight, and it’s easy to feel little embarrassed about carrying the moniker “Christian.” But Paul assures us that when it comes to the Gospel, we have nothing to be ashamed about, for it is indeed the power of God unto salvation.
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