Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church Sermon Podcast

Jesus graciously came into the world to bring mankind into friendship with God. However, left to our own, mankind simply does not want to receive Jesus. God, therefore, steps in to bring life to our dead and rebel soul so that we have a changed heart that wants to receive Christ as our Savior.

John the Baptist was sent by God to point us to Jesus, the Light. He did all he could and trusted God that people would believe in Christ through his efforts. We, too, are sent by God to bear witness to how God has worked in us through Jesus.

Jesus is the Word, the Life, and the Light. These are three repeating themes in the Gospel of John. Here, we think about what those themes mean about Jesus - and what they mean for us.

Paul gets in the middle of the tension between Philemon and Onesimus in order to ease the situation and help the healing process. He even offers to personally restore financially the harm that Onesimus brought to Philemon as a way to defuel the flames of this emotional confrontation.

As Paul continues to appeal to Philemon, the host of the church and a slavemaster, he appeals by way of reason, not rule. He does not abuse, or even use, his power. Instead Paul uses ideas and logic. He reasons with Philemon logically. Christians today will do well to follow this pattern of calm reason rather than emotional appeal or power plays to get their way. Logic unites. Power creates resentment.

Paul is trying to get Philemon to free his runaway slave, Onesimus. Paul chooses not to command him, but rather appeal to him for the sake of Christian love. We too need to release those with whom we have grudges and animosities.

Philemon was the host of his church, he welcomed the congregation to worship in his home. He was rich and influential in his city. He was a slavemaster. This letter of the Bible exists as a principles-based apologetic for emancipation of slaves. The hope of verses 1-7 is that no matter how far we have come in the faith, there is still room to grow and God still has greater work to do in us.

The new year is often a time when we think about making improvements in our lives. With the Lord, we are always growing or should be!

When Christmas is over, its not the end of special. Christmas is the beginning of all that God wants to do in humanity. He sent us His Son that first Christmas, the message and love of Jesus is continually at work.

Jesus did not begin in the manger or in the womb. Micah tells us that this baby born in Bethlehem was coming and going from long ago, ancient days. Jesus handcrafted the events of His birth while in eternity past. He then revealed the plans for those events to the prophets hundreds of years before He carried them out at the fullness of time.

How do I know when God wants to tell me something?

A lot of times we feel like Jesus is up in heaven and we are stuck down here, so how are we supposed to feel close to Him? God tells us in the Bible that we are seated with Christ in heaven. Salvation is secure. Our future is already accomplished. It is a done deal. In our passage, Paul prays that the eyes of our hearts would be opened to this high hope of our connection to God. That we would feel the presence of God.

Sometimes we do not want to experience the presence of God in our lives because we know that His glory is going to create different pains as we grapple with our unworthiness. Endure the pain and come clean with the Lord. There will be joy in the long run.

Jesus left us with a promise: He is with us always. Are you experiencing His presence?

God invites us to draw near to Him. He wants us to feel Him close to us.

Solomon was drawn away from God by his many unbelieving wives. What turns your heart away from loving the Lord?

God wants the Christian life to shine as a picture of what God can do in anyone that comes to believe. Marriage is a HUGE part of most people's lives. So the health of your marriage is a HUGE witness to those not yet in Christ. This book, Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) is incredibly helpful both as an analogy of our pursuit of God and as a literal guide to the pursuit of your spouse.

Life apart from God is miserable. You might remember that time in your life. You might still be in that time of your life. Ecclesiastes is the book of the Bible for you! Punchline: you will love having God in the center of your life!

An intro to what you will find in Proverbs.

Solomon shows his honor for the Lord by building the Temple, the central expression of the worship of Yaweh God in the kingdom of Israel. To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.