July 30, 2017 | Pastor Roger Melson | The Days of Noah: Two Worlds (Not) Apart | Genesis 6:1-15, 18; Luke 17:25-28

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July 30, 2017 | Pastor Roger Melson | The Days of Noah: Two Worlds (Not) Apart | Genesis 6:1-15, 18; Luke 17:25-28

The Days of Noah: Two Worlds (Not) Apart
Genesis 6:1-15, 18; Luke 17:25-28

The sermon today from Genesis 6 and Luke 17 deals with the similarities between the days of Noah and the times in which we live. It addresses the Biblical doctrines that Noah understood and how they mirror what we understand today. The message further speaks to the spiritual decline of Noah's day along with addressing the characteristics of our current society.


                                                
                                                      Roger and Marsha Melson

July 23, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | The Freedom of Kingdom Living | Colossians 3:18-25

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July 23, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | The Freedom of Kingdom Living | Colossians 3:18-25

The Freedom of Kingdom Living
Colossians 3:18-25

Human relationships are impossible to maintain, except in Christ. We must never forget that we are in a redemptive relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is true now and it will remain so throughout out lives. Ultimately, we will be sustained in heaven, in an this same eternal redemptive relationship (note: Eph.2:7). In the light of our redemption, Paul will make several appeals to those engaged in classic human relationships of his day: wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters. Often the apostle Paul is accused of being a chauvinist and someone stressing the maintenance of a pro-slavery context. As we will discover today, this is far from the truth of what he is emphasizing. The Christian life is a reflective life. Jesus said, “freely you have received, freely give” (Mat.10:8). Paul is viewing human relationship from a new covenant context. We can act, because Christ has acted first. Jesus Christ has placed us into a new kingdom with new standards of acceptance and behavior. As Paul stated early in the letter, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Col.1:13). As ones living in this new age, we exercise new behavior in human relationship, not determined by the worlds mandates, but by the standards of the Kingdom of God. Today Paul will show us that there is freedom in Christ that can be exercised no matter what the human condition for: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (Joh.8:36).

July 16, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | Reflecting the Original Nature | Colossians 3:10b-17

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July 16, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | Reflecting the Original Nature | Colossians 3:10b-17

Reflecting the Original Nature
Col.3:10B-5-17

In today's text, Paul will begin to build upon the same foundation from which he instructed the Colossians to unclothe themselves from the dead sinful practices of their past sinful nature. He presents this argument based upon the result of the work of Christ presented in the first four verses of this chapter: ‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col.3:1-4). He begins his discussion here with the words of v.10 “put on the new self, which "is being renewed....” We see in this not an instruction on how to start acting in a more righteous manner in order to become renewed, but due to the completed, redemptive work of Christ, the Colossian believer, and we, can act in a righteous manner, recognizing and then reflecting the very nature of God in Christ.

July 9, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | Putting off the Old Nature | Colossians 3:5-10a

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July 9, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | Putting off the Old Nature | Colossians 3:5-10a

Putting off the Old Nature
Colossians 3:5-10a

Paul moves into a discussion about sin and sanctification in this next section. On the one hand, we must put off sin, and on the other hand, we must put on righteousness. The focus is not upon human effort expended in order to rid ourselves of sinful behavior or to add to our being a new force of righteousness. It is not a process of our effort and then God’s response. We are not commanded to do in order to receive. It is not action and then reaction. Paul sets this entire section in the context of what he has so clearly outlined in the first section. At the cross, Jesus Christ overcame and put on display the philosophies and practice of the world which so fully occupied our thoughts and actions. He has fully unmasked their deception and by His death and resurrection, destroyed their wickedness. He has both fully redeemed (bought or purchased) our broken nature, our sin nature, and forgiven us of the sins which have come out of that nature. As stated so powerfully already: “19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace (with) through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel” (Col.1:19-23). “1And again: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col.3:1-4).

Today we will explore how this action takes place– from the indicative act of Christ, we can imperatively act toward our world and ourselves.

July 2, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | The Calling to Death and Life | Colossians 3:1-4

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July 2, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | The Calling to Death and Life | Colossians 3:1-4

The Calling to Death and Life
Col.3:1-4

In this text Paul is signaling a transition from the theological section of the letter to the practical teachings. Much like how he later organizes his letter to the Ephesians, he will build the practical applications from solid theological truths. This is an important principle. So often we seek to live our lives from circumstance to circumstance. It things go well, we feel we are in God’s will. If we enter into struggles or trials, then we sometimes feel we have been abandoned by the Lord. The objective reality is that God has revealed His will through His person and through the person of Jesus Christ. We adjust our life experience to the nature and attributes of God. There is no greater security than in holding fast to God’s view of the dynamics of this world and interpreting them from His divine viewpoint. As the scripture reveals, God is working for our greatest good and His greatest glory (Rom.8:28). Paul looks back on the theological foundations he has set in the first two chapters in order to demonstrate that theology always plays itself out in the relationships of life.