the Church at Martinsburg
By Jacob Atchley
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Podcast Description
Weekly messages from the Church at Martinsburg in Martinsburg, WV. The Church at Martinsburg is in Martinsburg for Martinsburg. We desire to bring the Gospel to the city and see the city made better by the Gospel. We believe that takes place by connecting with God and connecting with each other. Thanks for taking the time to check out our podcast, it’s a picture of who we are and who God is changing us into. We invite you to join us on Sunday and get to know the real thing.
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In Between Sundays: Money Matters | -- | 5/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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In Between Sundays: Woman of Worth | In Between Sundays Woman of Worth Proverbs 14:1 | 5/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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In Between Sundays: Wisdom | In Between Sundays Wisdom Proverbs 1:1-7 Living each day like we are operating in front of God and others can be difficult at times. Sundays are special. For many the church experience dictates dress, speech, action, and reaction. Realizing this, the Church at Martinsburg is preparing it’s participants to live In Between Sundays and is turning to the book of Proverbs for life, instruction, and direction. Proverbs’ purpose is to raise young boys into godly men. We will be examining this intensely practical book in order to establish guideposts for life and godliness and to be equipped with tools and handles to live Gospel- centered lives at home, at school, in the workplace, the marketplace, and in the community. The Bible teaches us about God and how to live everyday... even the days In Between Sundays. | 5/7/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Walking Dead: Dwell Deep | The Walking Dead: Dwell Deep Colossians 3:16-17 | 5/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Walking Dead: Putting on Life | The Walking Dead: Putting on Life Colossians 3:12-15 Pastor Shay Osborne | 4/22/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Walking Dead: Death Penalty | The Walking Dead: Death Penalty Colossians 3:5-11 | 4/16/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Walking Dead: The Dead Shall Live | The Walking Dead: The Dead Shall Live Easter Sunday 2012 Every so often an event so miraculous takes place that it’s talked about for years to come. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is a storied tale that has been told for centuries and across nations. This Easter join the Church @ Martinsburg as we celebrate the resurrection of the one man who death could not hold. | 4/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The King and the Colt | The King and the Colt Palm Sunday 2012 The Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was a day started with promise and ended in confusion and sadness. It all started with a man riding a colt, a group of people seeking a King and a story of redemption being unfolded. Within seven days the colt would be returned to its owner and the man would be placed in the ground. | 4/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: Go | -- | 3/26/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: Giving | -- | 3/19/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: Gifts | -- | 3/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: Groups | The Gospel Class Class 5 Groups | 3/4/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: Growth | -- | 2/27/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: The Gospel, Part 2 | -- | 2/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: The Gospel, Part 1 | The Gospel Class Class 2 The Gospel Part 1 This preaching series is designed to communicate the beliefs and practices of The Church at Martinsburg. It also serves as the biblical overview of the foundation from which our theology and community springs. Content of The Gospel Class includes an overview of our church and our core values, with a doctrinal exploration of the Scriptures, God, Creation, Sin, Salvation, the Missional Church, Stewardship and Spiritual Gifts. This series explores basic, biblical theology and how this teaching plays out philosophically and practically in the way we embody the gospel to the neighborhood in which we live. | 2/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel Class: Get Invested | The Gospel Class Class 1 Get Invested This preaching series is designed to communicate the beliefs and practices of The Church at Martinsburg. It also serves as the biblical overview of the foundation from which our theology and community springs. Content of The Gospel Class includes an overview of our church and our core values, with a doctrinal exploration of the Scriptures, God, Creation, Sin, Salvation, the Missional Church, Stewardship and Spiritual Gifts. This series explores basic, biblical theology and how this teaching plays out philosophically and practically in the way we embody the gospel to the neighborhood in which we live. | 2/5/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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New Thru 30: Church on the Move | New Thru 30 Church on the Go Acts 28:28 | 1/29/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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New Thru 30: It Matters | New Thru 30: It Matters Galatians 6:7-10 | 1/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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New Thru 30: Life Together | New Thru 30: Life Together Luke 24: 13 - 35 | 1/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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New Thru 30: The Word of God | New Thru 30: The Word of God II Timothy 3:16-17 | 1/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Highest: Creation | The Highest: Creation Christmas Eve 2011 Colossians 1:15-23 “Glory to God in the highest.” It’s not just the chorus of an old hymn. It’s a declaration that our God is above all things. Jesus is preeminent over all creation – the Creator – for “from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.” (Ro. 11:36) | 12/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Highest: Riches | The Highest: Riches Mark 10:17-22 “Glory to God in the highest.” It’s not just the chorus of an old hymn. It’s a declaration that our God is above all things. There is nothing of greater value or worthy of worship than Jesus Christ Himself. | 12/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Highest: Power | The Highest: Power John 8:33-37 “Glory to God in the highest.” It’s not just the chorus of an old hymn. It’s a declaration that our God is above all things. There is no power or authority that isn’t trumped by the power and reign of Jesus our King. | 12/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Highest: Wisdom | The Highest: Wisdom 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “Glory to God in the highest.” It’s not just the chorus of an old hymn. It’s a declaration that our God is above all things. This week we celebrate Christ and His gospel as the manifestation of God’s incomprehensible, highest wisdom. | 12/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Respond: Praise and Practice | Respond: Praise and Practice Philippians 4:8-9 The Gospel calls us to radically change how we think and how we live. To experience true thanksgiving we must first get our focus off of ourselves and onto Jesus. We are to respond to God's love with both a love for Him and a love for others. This November The Church at Martinsburg is studying Philippians 4:4-9 and learn the secret to being truly thankful. | 11/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Respond: Provision & Peace | Respond: Provision and Peace Philippians 4:6-7 How do we experience true thanksgiving? The Gospel calls us to radically change how we think and how we live. To experience true thanksgiving we must first get our focus off of ourselves and onto Jesus. We are to respond to God's love with both a love for Him and a love for others. This November The Church at Martinsburg is studying Philippians 4:4-9 and learn the secret to being truly thankful. Because our security is found in Christ, we can be thankful, expecting big things from God, resting confidently in God’s sovereignty. | 11/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Respond: Passion & Prosperity | Respond: Passion & Prosperity Philippians 4:4-5 How do we experience true thanksgiving? The Gospel calls us to radically change how we think and how we live. To experience true thanksgiving we must first get our focus off of ourselves and onto Jesus. We are to respond to God's love with both a love for Him and a love for others. This November The Church at Martinsburg is studying Philippians 4:4-9 and learn the secret to being truly thankful. In Philippians 4:4, Paul instructing the church to rejoice. Our ultimate joy as believers is found in Christ. Joy in Him will ultimately overflow in our interactions with others. | 11/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Foundation | Foundations Romans 16: 21-27 Foundation Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. Paul closes the books of Romans with an opportunity for those closest to him, those who have been deeply impacted by this message to offer greetings and words of welcome. He makes clear that this letter to the Romans is all about Jesus. He closes the letter with a focus on the Gospel, that which he has labored diligently to establish, make clear, and apply! The Gospel save, strengthens, and sends. | 11/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: On Guard | Foundations: On Guard Romans 16: 17 - 20 Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (v 20). The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. We can look forward to the day when our spiritual warfare is over. Those who divide are instruments of the devil and will be destroyed. Jesus by the way of the cross and the power of the resurrection, has triumphed over Satan and we are victorious in Jesus. We are awaiting the final completion of God’s plan for the ages. | 10/31/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Radical Together | Foundations Romans 16: 1-16 Radical Together Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. The Apostle Paul teaches us about the significance of partnering together in ministry. There are 33 names in this chapter- 24 people in Rome, and 9 people in Corinth. Names were important to Paul because they represented individuals. Paul knew most of them personally through ministry partnerships, he was widely traveled. Others he probably knew by their reputation in the Lord. We won’t have time to consider each one of them but we will focus on several. | 10/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Simply Prayer | Foundations Romans 15:30-33 Simply Prayer Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. There is a lot of confusion about what prayer is yet prayer is a central part of the Christian life. The Apostle Paul knew this well. We are nearing the end of Paul’s letter to the church at Rome and he makes an impassioned plea for prayer. He is writing from Corinth, with plans to go to Jerusalem to take a relief offering to the saints there, and then come to Rome and possibly Spain in taking the Gospel to unreached areas of the world. | 10/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Provision | Foundations Romans 15:22-29 Provision Romans 15:22-29 English Standard Version (ESV) Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome 22This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. | 10/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Clarity | Foundations Romans 15:14-21 Clarity | 10/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Christ Our Hope | Foundations Romans 15:7-13 Christ Our Hope | 9/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Together | -- | 9/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Instant Replay | Foundations: Instant Replay Romans 14 | 9/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Gospel Swagger | Romans 13:8-14 Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. | 9/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Acts 29 Sunday: The Gospel Movement | Acts 29 Sunday: The Gospel Movement John 20:21 | Acts 28:31 | 8/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: The Right to Remain Silent | Foundations Romans 13:1-7 Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. | 8/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Peaceful Living | Romans 12: 14-21 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. | 8/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gospel Rest: Completion | Sabbath is simply “ceasing”. Ceasing to act, ceasing to work, and ceasing to be in control. Sabbath opens doors for an individual to stop moving and start worshipping. At the core of the call to Sabbath is a call to worship. Failure to worship has its roots in failure to Sabbath and failure to Sabbath is at its core a weakened and anemic view of the sovereignty of God. Over the course of the GOSPEL REST teaching series we will look at what the Sabbath is, why it’s important, and what practicing and neglecting it will do in the life of the believer. The Gospel delivers the fulfillment of the promise first seen in Genesis 2. In Jesus men and women possess temporally what will be there’s eternally. Rest for the weary is not just a promise that will one day come; it is here now and it will come in fullness when Jesus sets the world right. Entering the ‘rest of God’ is to live eternally in his presence. This isn’t the promise of heaven; this is the promise of God himself. Hebrews 4 provides the boost of encouragement and rejuvenation we all need to be filled endurance and hope of what’s ahead of us. A momentary glimpse of the end and the encouragement to keep striving for the presence and worship of God are exactly what’s needed as we complete the tasks of working for and resting in the Gospel. A complete view of the Gospel allows us to rest in it. A diminished view of the Gospel cause fear and insecurity in people. May the Gospel loom large in our lives and may we find peace, rest, and completion in Jesus himself. | 8/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gospel Rest: Fatal Fatigue | Sabbath is simply “ceasing”. Ceasing to act, ceasing to work, and ceasing to be in control. Sabbath opens doors for an individual to stop moving and start worshipping. At the core of the call to Sabbath is a call to worship. Failure to worship has its roots in failure to Sabbath and failure to Sabbath is at its core a weakened and anemic view of the sovereignty of God. Over the course of the GOSPEL REST teaching series we will look at what the Sabbath is, why it’s important, and what practicing and neglecting it will do in the life of the believer. Failure to acknowledge God in Gospel Rest will result in the believer suffering fatigue, stress, being overworked, and overwhelmed. Men were never intended to bear their burdens alone and by trying to do so they operate outside of the Creator’s intent. Jesus’ offer and promise is a higher and better way of living. Repentance is the answer here. Culture cries out for men and women to live independently and to accomplish tasks and projects alone. Jesus’ way couldn’t be further from this truth. The heart of Gospel Rest is to not only find identity and rest in Jesus God, but also to come to a place of recognition of position. Jesus is strong, so we can be weak. Jesus has completed the work, so we are free to cease. No person is more important or more necessary than Jesus. Dealing with Fatal Fatigue will either come to an end in Jesus or a life built on a false understanding of the Gospel will ensue. Taken from The Message "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." | 7/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gospel Rest: Practical Implications | Sabbath is simply “ceasing”. Ceasing to act, ceasing to work, and ceasing to be in control. Sabbath opens doors for an individual to stop moving and start worshipping. At the core of the call to Sabbath is a call to worship. Failure to worship has its roots in failure to Sabbath and failure to Sabbath is at its core a weakened and anemic view of the sovereignty of God. Over the course of the GOSPEL REST teaching series we will look at what the Sabbath is, why it’s important, and what practicing and neglecting it will do in the life of the believer. Jesus’ demonstration of honoring the Sabbath and engaging in activity on that particular day show that honoring and remembering God’s call to rest is much more than inactivity. Sabbath is not a call to laziness; it’s a call and invitation to worship. Jesus shows his followers that acts of service and demonstrating faith in the Gospel are not necessarily mutually exclusive with Sabbath rest. The call of God to rest is centered on the heart and that call to worship and cease drives motive and action alike. Jesus’ demonstration of action on the Sabbath shows us clearly that the Sabbath is not only about stillness and action; it’s about a heart attitude bent toward obedience, honor, and worship. While some argue for a 24-hour period of Sabbath rest and others argue for a continual attitude and awareness of Sabbath it’s imperative that believers engage in Sabbath throughout the rhythms of daily life as Jesus did. | 7/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gospel Rest: The Initial Plan | Sabbath is simply “ceasing”. Ceasing to act, ceasing to work, and ceasing to be in control. Sabbath opens doors for an individual to stop moving and start worshipping. At the core of the call to Sabbath is a call to worship. Failure to worship has its roots in failure to Sabbath and failure to Sabbath is at its core a weakened and anemic view of the sovereignty of God. Over the course of the GOSPEL REST teaching series we will look at what the Sabbath is, why it’s important, and what practicing and neglecting it will do in the life of the believer. God’s commands are clear and have purpose and meaning. The application of God’s call to rest is as important as the foundational truth of it. One comes before the other, but neglect of the fourth commandment has detrimental implications on the life of the believer. God’s commands are not burdensome. They are given with divine care and instructions. To embrace them is to adore him; to ignore them is to disobey and invite correction. God’s plan for Gospel Rest is clear. The practice of Sabbath is functional obedience to a command and practical application of the way of life that is coming. No human will ever fully complete the work before him or her. Obedience to the Sabbath is not only worship, it is confession of finiteness. God’s clearly given the plan and foundation for rest; it’s now in his son’s and daughter’s hands to obey and follow. Exodus 20:8-11 8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. | 7/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Gospel Rest: Foundations | Sabbath is simply “ceasing”. Ceasing to act, ceasing to work, and ceasing to be in control. Sabbath opens doors for an individual to stop moving and start worshipping. At the core of the call to Sabbath is a call to worship. Failure to worship has its roots in failure to Sabbath and failure to Sabbath is at its core a weakened and anemic view of the sovereignty of God. Over the course of the GOSPEL REST teaching series we will look at what the Sabbath is, why it’s important, and what practicing and neglecting it will do in the life of the believer. Definitions of Sabbath • Sabbath is not a call to laziness; it’s a call and invitation to worship. • Sabbath is the place that all things cease and worship of the creator begins. • Sabbath in practice is man’s confession that God is God and he is not. • Sabbath is the place of renewal and realignment of perspective. It’s here that a man comes to realize just how vulnerable and cared for he is. • Sabbath is not the opposite of busyness; rather it’s the end of it. • Sabbath is the promise of what’s to come. To ignore it is to lose sight of the coming hope that is promised and declared in the Bible. • The practice of Sabbath is functional obedience to a command and practical application of the way of life that is coming. Only through the coming to our end can we really begin. The principles of Sabbath are secondary to the realization of it. You can’t practice what you don’t possess. Gospel Rest starts and ends with Jesus. Creation finds it’s full and complete meaning when it ceasing striving and starts to rest in Him. | 7/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Mission of the Church | Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. • God Centered Church – devoted themselves (Ezra 7:10, Acts 2:41) • Bible Centered Church – apostles’ teaching (Romans 12:1, 2 Tim. 2:2, I Peter 2:2) • Community Centered Church – fellowship (Phil 1:5, “one another”) • Jesus Centered Church – breaking of bread (Luke 24:30, 35, I Cor 11:24-26) o Jesus said He was God – Mark 14:61-64 o Jesus said He came from heaven – John 6:38 o Jesus said He was sinless – John 8:46 o Jesus forgave sin – Mark 2:5 o Jesus said He was the only way to heaven – John 14:6 o Jesus confirmed to others He was God – Matthew 26:63-65 o Jesus accepted worship as God – Matthew 14:33 o Jesus performed miracles including rising from death. • Praying Church – prayers (Acts 1:14, 3:1, Rom. 12:12, Col. 4:2) | 7/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Just Hope | Foundations Romans 12:12 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. | 6/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Favor and Fervor | Foundations: Favor and Fervor Romans 12: 11 | 6/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Love Loud | Love Loud Romans 12:9-10 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | 6/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Serve Strong | Foundations: Serve Strong, Romans 12:3-8 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. | 6/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Sense & Sensibility | Romans 12: 2-3 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Gifts of Grace 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. | 5/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Reload | Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. | 5/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Start Small. Think. Big. The Least of These. | During May 2011 The Church at Martinsburg will embark on a teaching series entitled start small...THINK BIG. During this series we will examine the words James, which direct us to care for and provide resources to the least of these. You and your family will have a unique opportunity to change the world during these three weeks! “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:40 | 5/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Start Small. Think Big. Caring Gifts. | During May 2011 The Church at Martinsburg will embark on a teaching series entitled start small...THINK BIG. During this series we will examine the words James, which direct us to care for and provide resources to the least of these. You and your family will have a unique opportunity to change the world during these three weeks! James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” | 5/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Start Small. Think Big. Pure Religion. | During May 2011 The Church at Martinsburg will embark on a teaching series entitled start small...THINK BIG. During this series we will examine the words James, which direct us to care for and provide resources to the least of these. You and your family will have a unique opportunity to change the world during these three weeks! James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” | 5/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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I Love My Church: The Demonstration | Easter Sunday - In looking at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it’s important to understand God’s role in the death of His Son as well as Jesus’ obedience to that plan. | 4/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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I Love My Church: The Commitment | Membership Sunday at the Church at Martinsburg. | 4/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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I Love My Church: The Mission | Our Mission is the Great Commandment: Matthew 22:37-‐40 “...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” It is the mission of the Church (the global community of believers) to love God with our whole being and then to love others. Love, obedience and fruit bearing are the true marks of a disciple. | 4/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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I Love My Church: The Church | “The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved... all those who are saved by the death of Christ.”1 It has been built upon the confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Mt. 16:18). It belongs to Christ, was bought by Him through the shedding of His own blood (Acts 20:28). He is both its builder and its head (Mt. 16:18; Eph 1:22-23). Christ is her Savior (Eph. 5:23-32) and the church is under His authority. He loves her, gave Himself up for her, nourishes and cherishes her, sanctifies her (1 Cor. 1:2) and fills her (Eph 1:22-23). “Church” is used primarily in Scripture to describe the local church – like The Church at Martinsburg. It is also used to describe the “universal” church – all those who have ever or will ever genuinely trust Christ for salvation. | 4/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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I Love My Church: The Gospel | Every church has a code. The Church at Martinsburg’s code is clear, simple, and to the point. During this 5- week teaching series we will examine the essential functions of a church and how those functions define the faith family known as The Church at Martinsburg. Romans 1:16 The Righteous Shall Live by Faith 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. | 3/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Offering | Romans 12: 1 A Living Sacrifice 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | 3/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Glory | Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During ‘Foundations’ The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we’ve done before will set the pace and direction for the church. | 3/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Special Delivery | Romans 11:1-6 If taken as a whole, Paul’s argument is a continuation from Romans 9 & 10 in which Paul is answering the question, “Has God’s word failed”? His first answer was “no” – not all of Israel is spiritual Israel. The promises apply to those that have received the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith – the elect. He then explains that God’s word has not failed because the Gentiles are saved by grace through faith as well. His promises are being fulfilled in both Jews and Gentiles. And now, in chapter 11, Paul argues that “God has a remnant of physical Israel who are Christian-believers in the Messiah – who are heirs of the promise” and that one day will come into “fullness”. Paul begins with the question, “has God rejected His people,” and the answer is once again, “by no means!” His proof comes in the form of testimony, reminding them of his heritage. Paul himself is a Jew, an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, but he is also a heir to the promises, one who has received the promises on the basis of faith. | 3/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Process | We can’t really divorce verses 14 and following from verse 13. “For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” In the Old Testament, calling upon the name of the Lord was primarily “calling out to God in terms of adoring wonder and praise, speaking of His majesty, extolling His virtue, humbling yourself beneath His sovereign power. It is an Old Testament expression of true hearted worship… the idea of worshiping the true God with a true heart.” 1 In the New Testament, calling upon the name of the Lord is calling upon the very name of Jesus Christ… all that He is… all of His ways… all of His word. So to call upon His name is to call upon Him for salvation, forgiveness, mercy and grace. This is only in response to true belief in Jesus’ lordship coupled with repentance. | 2/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Belief | Chapter 9 ends with this truth: not all of Israel was saved. They pursued the law in order to be righteous, but they relied upon their works rather than faith. The law was meant to point them to righteousness that comes on the basis of faith in Christ. Instead they “stumbled over the stumbling stone.” In Chapter 9, God makes it clear that He is sovereign over every individual including where salvation is concerned. But in Chapter 10, the coin is flipped and God places the responsibility on man. | 2/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Cymbal of Love | 1 Corinthians 13 The Way of Love 1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. | 2/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Pottery Barn | Excerpt from John Piper’s Message “What Romans 9 is all about” A Brief Overview of Romans 9 Now all of this is a bit misleading as an introduction to Romans 9. But only a bit. It might give the impression that Romans 9 is a treatise on the sovereignty of God. It’s not. Romans 9 is an explanation for why the word of God has not failed even though God’s chosen people, Israel, as a whole, are not turning to Christ and being saved. The sovereignty of God’s grace is brought in as the final ground of God’s faithfulness in spiteof Israel’s failure, and therefore as the deepest foundation for the precious promises of Romans 8. For if God is not faithful to his word, we can’t count on Romans 8 either. Consider this brief overview. Verse 3 shows us that Israel as a whole is accursed and cutoff from Christ, “I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” We will deal with Paul’s arguments next week. Only notice now that this is the plight of Israel: “accursed and cut off from Christ.” Now that raises a huge problem! What about the word of God – the word of promise to Israel and covenant: “I will be your God, and you will be my people!” (Jer. 31:33). | 2/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Unbelief | Romans 9:1-5 God’s Sovereign Choice 1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. | 2/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Convinced | Romans 8:31-39 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. | 1/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Together | Romans 8:28-30 (English Standard Version) 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. | 1/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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All Things New | -- | 1/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Presence: God in the Mission | Upon the completion of his work here on earth Jesus opens the minds of his disciples and shares with them how all Scripture points to him. Once the mission is made clear, he sends them out to accomplish it. A fitting end to a series focusing on the presence of God...as Jesus departs the Spirit descends in power. | 12/26/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Presence: God in the Manger | God glorifies himself by sending his son to earth as a baby. This is the child that will save fallen men from their sins. The plan of God that was initiated in Genesis 3:15 now advances as the God Man places his feet on the earth. 'Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased' | 12/26/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Presence: God on the Cross | Of all times, the Christmas season causes us to reflect upon the nature of giving, but in God’s gift of the Christ-Child it is more fitting that we reflect upon the sacrifice of the Giver. For Jesus did not simply come to be a model of love for us, but to be a substitute for us. God the Father delighted to give His Son in our stead. God the Son delighted to give His life in our stead. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us...” (John 3:16, 1 John 3:16) Our perfect and final healing is purchased in full (Is 53:4, Rev. 7:17), the ultimate gift of the cross of Jesus: eternal fellowship with God (1 Peter 3:18, Romans 5 and 8). “Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘til He appeared and the soul felt its worth...” | 12/20/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Presence: God in the Flesh | Understanding the divinity and humanity of Jesus are crucial to the Christmas Story. God used both extraordinary and ordinary means to send His son to earth, to take on flesh, to conquer sin, and rescue fallen humanity. | 12/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Suffering | “‘However severe and prolonged that suffering might be, it cannot compare with the glory that is to come. As I noted in the introduction to chapters 5-8, the beginning and ending of these chapters have a lot in common. Both 5:1-11 and 8:18-39 focus on the believer’s hope for glory, and they both indicate that our hope for glory springs from God’s work in Christ, His love for us, and the power of the Holy Spirit. However, both passages also are realistic about the difficulties that believers will have to face before they reach that glory. In 5:3-4, Paul reminded us that God has a purpose in the suffering He allows into our lives. Here he simply puts that suffering into perspective. And we gain even more perspective on the overwhelming prospect of glory when we realize that the entire created world will be caught up in the glory that God one day will give us.’” | 12/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Operation Thanks: Generosity | Operation Thanks: Generosity 1 Timothy 6:17-19 17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. | 11/21/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Operation Thanks: Gratitude | Psalm 100: “This Psalm is the only one titled ‘A Psalm of Thanksgiving’. The Hebrew word for ‘thanksgiving’ could just as easily be translated ‘confession’. This is a Psalm of Confession – the declaration of the character and works of God. It is also called the ‘Jubilate’ – Latin for ‘O Be Joyful’. The Psalm gives us seven commands that instruct us in the way of gratitude and culminates in the reason for our gratitude: the goodness of God.” | 11/15/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Life | Romans 8:1-17 Guest Speaker: Shay Osborne Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During 'Foundations' The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series, more than any we've done before, will set the pace and direction for the church. | 11/8/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Reformation Day | A biographic sketch of the life of Martin Luther. As the Catholic Church worked to solidify its foundation and move forward in history as the leading institution of religion in the world, many concessions were made in order for the organization to forge ahead. Unfortunately, true relationship oriented Christianity was one of the victims of this Catholic surge. As the Catholic Church grew the common man was removed and the clergy began to take not only prominence but preeminence in the church. | 11/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Victory | Romans 7:14-25 “There have been numerous arguments concerning this passage. There are basically three views as to who the ‘I’ of this passage is. ‘The first is that this passage describes a non-Christian Pharisee under the Law (this was the view of the Greek Fathers). The second view is that it describes a normal Christian (the view of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin). The third position is that it describes a carnal Christian.’ For our purposes, we will choose the second of these views. Here are the basic arguments for this choice: ...” | 10/25/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Law | When sin uses the law to deceive us, we tend toward two directions. Either we move toward licentiousness – allowing sin to deceive us into thinking that our fight against sin is futile and since we’re forgiven, we might as well indulge. Or we move toward legalism – allowing sin to deceive us into thinking that we are able to keep the law in our own strength so we turn on the engine of fleshly willpower. When we are believers, our base of operation becomes our justification by grace through faith alone. Our base becomes the gospel itself. It is from there that we wage war on our sin in the newness of the Spirit. In the Spirit, we begin to experience the truth that the law is holy and righteous and good. We delight in it and are empowered to obey it. ‘So Paul’s answer is that the Christian loves the Law of God, esteems the Law of God, delights in the Law of God, concurs with it, regards it as good, and does not blame the Law for his own failures. Instead the Christian admits - and here is a crucial and practical teaching that I will close with - that there is in all of us Christians, as long as this fallen age lasts and we live on the earth, the reality of ‘indwelling sin’ (7:17, 20). In other words, the Law does not cause our defeats, the Law defines our victories. Indwelling sin causes our defeats. | 10/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Fruit | Romans 6 and 7 is a provocative passage. It is a reminder to every believer that their relationship to sin has markedly changed. The first 3 chapters of Romans put the nails in the coffin of our depravity. Born into sin, we don’t really have struggle with the power of sin. We simply bow to it. Even those that seem to be somewhat moral, having some measure of righteousness, are still slaves to sin. Their slavery is in their motive – using moral restraint because that’s what we are taught – to be good, to please others in our behavior. But underneath, there is no obedience to God, no desire for His good and pleasure. Romans 3:21 through 5 teach us that there is only one way out of that slavery. Our justification comes through faith in the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a gift of His grace received by faith. There is no working or law-keeping that can gain our freedom from sin. | 10/11/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations: Freed | “Grace, charis, ‘when received by faith, transforms man and causes him to love and to seek after the righteousness of God. Charis is initially regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit in which spiritual life is given to man and by which his nature is brought under the dominion of righteousness. The maintenance of this condition requires an unbroken and immense supply of grace. Grace remains constant in, and basic to, a believer’s fight without against the devil and his struggle within against sin. Renewal is stimulated and impelled by God’s illuminating and strengthening of the soul, and will continue and increase so long as the soul perseveres. God’s grace insures that those who have been truly regenerated will persevere until the end of life. This entire work is called sanctification, a work of God ‘whereby we are renewed in the whole man and are enabled more and more to die daily unto sin and to live unto righteousness’ as is stated by the Westminster Shorter Catechism.’” | 10/4/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Water & Wine: Wine | “By instruction and by example Christ instituted two ordinances, baptism and Communion, ordinances that those who believe in Him are to follow faithfully. Jesus commanded His disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19), following His own example of being baptized by John the Baptist (Matt. 3:13–17). During His last Passover meal in the upper room Jesus initiated the Communion (or Lord’s Supper, as it has come to be known), telling the disciples to continue the ordinance as a remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19–20).” | 9/27/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Water & Wine: Water | “Baptism is a visible picture and testimony that a person has renounced the old life of self-centeredness (living life independent from Christ, which is sin), and has begun a new life of following Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Baptism is a physical symbol of the spiritual reality of what Christ does in a believer’s life. The moment a person places their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, several things happen simultaneously: Christ baptizes the new believer in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11), cleanses them from sin (Acts 22:16), and gives them a new life—a resurrected life (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12). Water baptism is a symbol of these inward changes that have taken place in a new believer, and should always follow—not precede—a person’s choice to place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation.” | 9/20/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Core | Gifts | • Spiritual Gifts Serve the Lordship of Jesus - 1 Cor. 12:2-3 • Spiritual Gifts Are Given by the Trinity - 1 Cor. 12:4-6 • Spiritual Gifts Exist to Benefit the Whole Church - 1 Cor. 12:7 • Spiritual Gifts Are Appointed by God - 1 Cor. 12:11 | 9/16/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Core | Giving | The Macedonians did not give like worldly rich people often do, mere tokens of their riches, without sacrifice. Nor did they give like selfish Christians, whose love for temporal things matches their love for eternal things. Giving for them is a battle, because they are still holding on to the temporal. The Macedonians gave magnanimously and abundantly, consistent with Christ’s command to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). But Paul shuts out all thought of human merit by noting that they did so because they were prompted by God’s grace (Eph. 2:10). | 9/6/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Core | Groups | Luke 24: 13 - 35 On the Road to Emmaus 13That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" 33And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. | 8/30/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Core | Growth | Growth and maturity take place in process. The ability to discern, serve, apply the Gospel, and obey the commands of Christ are a direct indicator of an individual’s level of growth. Additionally, growth and maturity are developed more effectively in the community of believers (4:16). | 8/26/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 14 | Dead to Sin, Alive to God 1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. | 8/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 12 | Romans 5: 1-11 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. | 8/2/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Team India Update | Pastor Jacob interviews AJ Roberts and Lucas Dorminy about their mission trip to India. Colossians 1:5-6 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, | 8/2/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 11 | Romans 4 “Abraham believed, and God accepted him as righteous. In the same way today, we believe and are accepted as righteous, not on account of any merit in our faith, but simply on the basis of the righteousness of Christ, which is credited to us when we believe. It is given to us whenever we are willing to receive and rest upon it. Faith justifies as we appropriate to ourselves the divine promise.” | 7/20/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 10 | In Chapters 1-3 Paul has been explaining that each man is in need of God’s good news, the gospel. Every man is a sinner and accountable before God and will be judged – in fact, they are already condemned and sentenced to death, the just penalty for sin. | 7/13/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 9 | Romans 3:9-22 No One Is Righteous 9What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 13 "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." 14 "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16in their paths are ruin and misery, 17and the way of peace they have not known." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. The Righteousness of God Through Faith 21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: | 7/5/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 97 | VideoGod’s Determination | Acts 17:26-27 | India Update | Acts 17:26-27 (English Standard Version) 26And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, | 6/29/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 8 | In Chapter 3, Paul continues the indictment against mankind (most specifically, the Jews). Having shown that the Jew’s heritage, covenant and law don’t secure eternal life, and having shown that Jew and Gentile are on the same footing before God (all under the judgment of God), Paul anticipates the next Jewish objection: “So why be a Jew? What advantage is there?” Frankly, after chapter 2, we might think the answer would be simply, “There is no advantage.” But Paul surprises us with “much in every way.” | 6/29/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 7 | Paul, though specifically addressing the Jews in this passage, certainly wouldn’t exclude the generally self-proclaimed “moral man”. This passage would apply to anyone who considered himself basically good or religious. The “if” in verse 17 is a first-class conditional “if” in the Greek. This means the statement is assumed to be true. We could just as easily read it this way: “Since you call yourself a Jew”. This clause is followed by 8 statements (each verb in the present tense – the habitual action verb) that are connected to this “if”. Since you rely on the law, since you boast in God, since you know His will, and so on. | 6/13/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 6 | Romans 2:5-16 Despising the riches of God’s kindness, unredeemed man treasures up wrath against himself. Rather than embracing God’s kindness, he hardens his heart. Rather than repentance, he remains stalwartly unchanged. Before our conversion, we are all in this state, guilty of despising God’s kindness and forbearance and patience. Instead of following where kindness leads (to repentance), our unconverted heart rejects God, storing up wrath that will eventually be poured out on God’s day of judgment. | 6/9/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 5 | Romans 2:1-4 In Romans 2, however, a transition is made to the use of “you”. Paul begins to specifically address the Jews. “…He turns to special revelation [rather than the general revelation of God in chapter 1]. God has made His will known to the Jewish people in very particular ways, especially through His law. But, as all people fail to live up to the expectations of God revealed in nature, so also Jews have failed to live up to the demands God has made of them in His law. To be sure, the Jews are not quite in the same position as the Gentiles, for God did single them out from all the peoples of the world and entered into a covenant relationship with them. But Paul will show that this covenant, apart from the grace available in the gospel, cannot shield Jews from God’s judgment.” | 6/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 4 | Romans 1:25-32 John Piper gives us a brief and compelling review of the previous verses, setting the stage for a better understanding of this text. He says this: “…the gospel is the power of God to save believers because in it God gives us what we need and could never produce on our own, namely, His own righteousness. The righteousness that He demands from us He freely gives to us, if we will trust Him. This is the great biblical truth of justification by faith. Then in verse 18 he tells us why this gospel of the gift of God’s righteousness is so desperately needed: ‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.’ We need the righteousness of God because it is the only thing that can protect us from the wrath of God. And we need to be protected from the wrath of God because we are unrighteous by nature and suppress the truth of God. By nature we don’t like God and we don’t want Him in our lives.” | 5/24/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 3 | Romans 1:18 may seem like an odd way to introduce the good news of God’s grace. Paul has just told us that he’s “not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” and that in the good news God’s righteousness “is revealed from faith for faith” or “faith to faith.” One would expect him to continue to share the fullness of that gospel in Christ and the benefits to those who have received Him. Instead we find this indictment against every human being. After all, man can’t understand his need of grace until he first knows his state of utter poverty and depravity apart from that grace. | 5/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Mother Knows Best | -- | 5/9/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 2 | This was a gospel that was not “new”. God had been proclaiming this gospel through the Old Testament prophets in various forms. Paul was preaching the good news that dated as far back as the garden of Eden. It was the gospel concerning Jesus. Here we are reminded in verses 3 & 4 that Christ was both fully man (of the very seed of David) and fully God. “The resurrection ‘declared’ that Jesus was the Son of God. The Greek word is very helpful in getting the force of the idea because it is related to our English word horizon, ‘the boundary between heaven and earth.’ | 5/4/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Foundations | Week 1 | Romans 1:1-17 Every church and every person needs to have foundational beliefs that guide and direct life, decisions, direction, and processes. During 'Foundations' The Church at Martinsburg will examine the book of Romans and establish core doctrinal beliefs for life, relationships, and mission. This series more than any we've done before will set the pace and direction for the church. | 4/28/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel | Week 3 | The Gospel, Week 3 - John 11:25-27 - The Resurrection The Church at Martinsburg holds firmly to the fact that the only hope men and women have for life is found in the Gospel (Romans 1:16). Without it hope is empty and life is meaningless. The Gospel is the central message of the entire Bible and the central message of the church. It’s the foundational purpose we center ourselves upon. | 4/19/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel | Week 2 | The Gospel, Part 2 - Important Delivery I COR. 15:1-4 1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, | 4/15/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Gospel | Week 1 | Good Friday is a day of remembrance when, as Christians, we solemnly reflect on the death of our Savior Jesus on a Roman cross to pay the penalty for our sin. It is a sober reminder of what we did to God before our joyous celebration of what God did for us—resurrect from death and conquer Satan, sin, and death—on Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is the most exciting day of the whole year for Christians. Following the solemnity Good Friday, Easter is the declaration that the tomb is empty and that there is a story to tell! Where the cross is a display of God’s love and justice, the resurrection is his victory over all that enslaves us. The fact that Jesus rose from death is the hope of our salvation! On Easter we gather to worship and thank the one who conquered Satan, sin, and death. | 4/5/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Mission: Go | Guest Speaker, Scott Crook Blackshear Place Baptist Church. | 3/30/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Mission: Connect | Taking intentional steps to reach your neighbors and community is a vital part of the mission of the church. No one can complete your task for you, so it is of the utmost importance that you engage with others and ‘reach’ them with the Gospel. | 3/22/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Mission: Reach | The word “bless” in Numbers 6:24 is the Hebrew word barak. It literally means to kneel or to bend before someone in order to serve them. It conjures the image of Jesus in John 13 washing the disciples’ feet. “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Just as Aaron was given the authority from God to bless His people, so we are given the authority in Christ to confer this blessing to others: to the lost through the proclamation of the gospel, and to the Church by the continued grace of the gospel. | 3/17/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Mission: Proclaim | Mission | Matthew 28:18-20 Proclaim | 03.07.10 After studying the two greatest commandments, we might wonder what Jesus would say the third one is. Some of us might surmise it is this one – what has aptly been dubbed The Great Commission. In the simplest of terms we might even narrow it down to “Believer, proclaim the gospel.” Though there is no specific mention of the good news in this passage, it is certainly inferred when we are commanded to make disciples. The Church is the body of Christ placed in the world to complete the mission of God by intentionally obeying the commands of Christ. The people of the church will be marked by the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. | 3/9/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Revolutionary Love: Love that Changes the World | Revolutionary Love: John 15:12-17 These verses in John 15 are tucked into a powerful chapter. They are the words of Jesus found in his final discourse to the remaining 11 disciples before His arrest and subsequent death on the cross. Jesus had entered the upper room with His disciples. Judas, incited by the devil, is already prepared to betray Jesus. Jesus washes the feet of these men, setting before them the example of a true servant. At supper, Judas is dismissed and Jesus shares His heart with the 11 remaining, beginning with this commandment: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Indeed, it becomes a key element or theme in chapters 13-17 of John’s gospel. And so it is in Chapter 15. | 3/2/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Revolutionary Love: Love that Lasts Forever | Revolutionary Love: Love that Lasts Forever And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38 | 2/22/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Revolutionary Love: Part 1 | Having just answered that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind”, Jesus then gives what was not asked for: a second commandment that is like the first. These two commandments encompass all of the other commandments helping us to see that the Ten Commandments are really God’s own description of what real love is supposed to look like. Though we seldom think of the law being connected to the love of God, Jesus shows us that love is the unifying principle. | 2/15/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Essential James: Ablaze | Essential James | James 3:1-12 | Ablaze | January 31, 2010 5 weeks, 5 principles, one book, and that’s it. A fresh approach to spiritual growth straight out of the book of James. This chapter begins with another means of evaluating the genuineness of a believer’s faith. We know from scripture that the tongue is a tattletale that tells on the true condition of our hearts for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34). | 2/1/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Essential James: Mirror | Essential James: Mirror: James 1:22-27 We are not only directed to receive the word in humility or meekness, but we are commanded to live it or to apply it. This command (present tense) could be translated, “keep on striving to be doers of the word.” When James uses the word “doer” he is describing an habitual lifestyle of obedience or someone who is characterized by their doing of the word. | 1/25/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Essential James: Lured | Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:13-15 In James 1:13, James moves his focus from trials to temptations. In 1:1-12 he shows us that our trials are meant to lead to spiritual growth and blessing. In 1:13-15 he shows us that our temptations, when succumbed to, lead to sin and death. | 1/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Essential James: Unstable | Recognizing the need for wisdom appears to be the first step toward receiving it. The definition of wisdom involves skill. It is “skill in the affairs of life, practical wisdom, sound judgment and good sense.” Basically, wisdom is the skill to live in practical obedience to God’s will. James reminds us that God alone is the source of this kind of wisdom and that we need only ask Him. This wisdom comes directly from Him and is revealed in His word. God’s wisdom is available to us, but James wants us to know there are some stipulations. The first stipulation is to “ask in faith without doubting.” “Doubting” can also mean “wavering; to doubt, dispute or debate”. “There are some people who just doubt that God can give them an answer. Unwavering faith, simply believes that God is sovereign, believes that God is loving and believes that God will supply everything that is needed for understanding the trial and goes in prayer to God. James tells us that the one who doubts is “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. It is a person with divided loyalties. “It refers to a man whose heart is divided between allegiance to God and the allurements of the world. In other words, he’s not sure that he wants to know God’s wisdom, because he isn’t fully committed to submitting to it. It would be nice to know God’s wisdom for his situation, but before he commits to obeying it, he needs to find out if he likes it. In other words, he’s shopping for answers that fit what he wants to do. If God’s wisdom sounds good, he’ll follow it. But if worldly wisdom sounds better, he’ll follow that.” To doubt in this way is to be “unstable”, unsettled or unsteady, in all our ways. But the up-side is that if we ask believing or ask God in faith for wisdom, He promises to give it. And to not only give it, but to give it generously. “Generously” not only means liberally or bountifully, but it also means unconditionally, freely, and without bargaining. | 1/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Thanks! | THANKS! I THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 Our particular emphasis is on verse 18: give thanks in all circumstances... But take note of the commands that precede it. Believers are first commanded to rejoice – always. Scripture gives us a host of reasons for rejoicing, the greatest being our salvation (Ps. 13:5; Ps. 31:7, Luke 10:20). In addition, we are to rejoice in God’s love (Ps. 90:14), God’s word (Ps. 119:162), in righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), in hope (Ro. 12:12), in sufferings (Ro. 5:1-5), and in Jesus Christ Himself (Phil. 4:4). Many other reasons and circumstances abound for rejoicing. Also preceding the command to “give thanks” is the command to “pray without ceasing.” The call to pray is peppered throughout the New Testament. We are to pray for those who persecute us (Mt. 5:44), pray in secret and from the heart (Mt. 6:5-9), pray for the Lord to send out laborers into the harvest (Lu. 10:2), pray in order to endure in temptation (Mark 14:38), pray earnestly and without losing heart (Lu. 18:1), and pray for one another and in the Holy Spirit (Jas 5:13-14; Jude 1:20) to name only a few. These imperatives are strung together with the understanding that they depend upon one another. The more we rejoice, the more we are moved to worship and prayer. The more we pray, the more we experience the joy of the Lord which is our strength. In verse 18, we are commanded to “give thanks in all circumstances.” In the Old Testament we are repeatedly reminded to give thanks “for the Lord is good.” God’s goodness is our ultimate reason for gratitude. There is no circumstance that rescinds God’s command to give thanks. It is God’s will for us to have continual joy, engage in continual prayer, and continually thank God. This passage is not the only place that gives this triumphant trio. “For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thess. 3:9-10) Paul is not commanding other believers what he is not practicing. “Those three texts are three companion pictures, representing the life of a true Christian, the central sketch is the connecting link between those on either side. These three precepts are an ornament of grace to every believer’s neck, wear them every one of you for glory and for beauty.” | 1/4/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Miracle: Peace Through Pain | Miracle - Peace Through Pain Isaiah 53:2-12 Of all times, the Christmas season causes us to reflect upon the nature of giving, but in God’s gift of the Christ-Child it is more fitting that we reflect upon the sacrifice of the Giver. For Jesus did not simply come to be a model of love for us, but to be a substitute for us. God the Father delighted to give His Son in our stead. God the Son delighted to give His life in our stead. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us...” (John 3:16, 1 John 3:16) Isaiah 53 unwraps the present of Jesus Christ who came to suffer and die in our place. It is a gift of unfathomable cost to the Giver. The list of all He endured because of our sin is inexhaustible: despised, rejected, forsaken, sorrowed, grieved, distressed, oppressed, afflicted, humiliated, shamed, belittled, scorned, mocked, ridiculed, derided, unjustly judged, stricken, smitten, crushed, chastised, scourged, pierced, wounded, cut off from the land of the living... Throughout Isaiah 53 there echoes these humbling words: our, we, us. Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions. Jesus was crushed for our iniquities. Upon Jesus was the chastisement that belonged to us. By Jesus’ stripes we are healed. We turned astray. But the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. What kind of Giver is this? What kind of gift is this? When the weight of all of our sin and guilt was transferred to Jesus on the cross, it almost seems that when the Father turned His face away, He focused squarely upon us. His suffering Son satisfied the wrath of God on our behalf and bought for us peace with God (Romans 5:6-9, Galatians 3:13, Isaiah 53:10). Our sin was atoned for. Our forgiveness was purchased (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24). His perfect righteousness becomes ours in Jesus (Philippians 2:7-8, Romans 5:19, Is. 53:11). Death is defeated and our eternal life secured (Hebrews 2:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:55). The enemy (Satan) is disarmed (Colossians 2:14-15, Hebrews 2:14-15). Our perfect and final healing is purchased in full (Is 53:4, Rev. 7:17), the ultimate gift of the cross of Jesus: eternal fellowship with God (1 Peter 3:18, Romans 5 and 8). “Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘til He appeared and the soul felt its worth...” | 1/4/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Miracle: God Moves | The fullness of time had come. The idea in this phrase is that “the time was ripe”. The world stage was set and everything happened on cue – just as God had providentially ordained. God had prepared the world for just this moment in time. From an earthly perspective, the setting was perfect. Rome was in power and government was on a universal scale like never before. The Pax Romana and the transportation system (with five major highways) made it possible for the gospel to spread freely. Linguistically, Greek had spread to the common man, influencing culture, commerce and philosophy – allowing for the written word to be proclaimed and understood. And spiritually, Israel was looking for her Messiah. But from an eternal perspective, the perfect time had come for the fulfillment of long anticipated prophecies. Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2 would finally come to fruition, for God would send forth His one and only Son. It’s vital to recognize that Jesus was not “made” – He was sent forth from God. Jesus, the eternal God, had always resided in the Presence of God the Father. This fact reinforces Jesus’ deity. At God’s perfect time, He sent forth Jesus to unfold His plan of redemption. Born of a woman, Jesus would miraculously enter time as a baby. The eternal Son existed long before He was ever deposited into a Bethlehem manger. Fully God, He became fully man, for only God can conquer sin, death, and hell, and only man can substitute for man and die a man’s death. Jesus, as God, has the power and resources to redeem us. Jesus, as man, has the right and ability to redeem us. Jesus was also born under the Law. In His coming, the prophecies in the Old Testament were finally fulfilled. And in His earthly life, the Sovereign of the Universe subjected Himself to God in obedience to the Law. He did so perfectly, without sinning. Perfect God. Perfect man. Perfect righteousness. And by these miracles of God and His Son, Jesus was sent “to redeem those under the Law.” To “redeem” means “to buy out or buy back.” It is the picture of a slave being ransomed out of a slave market. Jesus bought us out from under the bondage of works and law. As believers, we are no longer slaves to performance based living and fleshly effort. We were bought at the highest price of Jesus’ shed blood, but not just for the sake of being a free slave. We were bought to be adopted into the family of God. | 12/15/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Serve! | This incredible declaration of Christ is tucked into the context of some indignant disciples. Two (James and John) asked to be seated at the left and right of Jesus in His glory. The other ten were angered at their request. Jesus instructs them that whoever would be first, would have to be slave of all. He gives Himself as the ultimate model of a servant. Jesus was born to show us how a servant lives and how a servant dies. His example is a reminder that we are called to the same suffering and service. The title “Son of Man” is one of the titles Jesus most uses to describe Himself. It draws attention to His perfect humanity, emphasizing that though He was fully God, He was born, lived, suffered, and died fully human as well – without sin. In view of His perfect life and sacrifice, He became the “ransom for many.” Ransom: The price for redeeming paid for slaves or captives; the price paid for the ransom life to liberate many from misery and the penalty of sins. In the giving of His life for our sakes, Jesus delivered us from the slavery of sin and death, purchasing us and bringing us out of the slave-market of sin into the kingdom of God. Though this verse certainly stresses that just as Jesus came to serve, we are to follow His example by serving others and not ourselves, its message is even greater than that. If we hear this verse as His disciples, Jesus is calling each of us to be served BY Him and to be ransomed by Him. The awesome message is that in order to be an effective servant to others, we must first be served by Jesus Christ. All of our service must come out of the humility of first being served by the Servant. The Gospel pours forth from this verse, declaring that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Jesus demands the impossible of us – that we sacrifice everything and be a servant of all. But coupled with the demand is the promise that Jesus has come to serve and to save us, empowering us to obey and to serve others. Mark 10:45 demands that we humble ourselves and like Peter, surrender to Jesus as the one who serves us first, so that we can then follow His example, “washing the feet” of others (John 13:6-15). | 12/8/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox: An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 9 | Ten years had gone by since Paul had been with the Philippians. They had supported him in the past when he went to Thessalonica and Berea, and then again when he went on to Corinth and Athens. According to 4:10, they continued to be concerned about him, but they lacked opportunity to give support to him. It’s possible that their own poverty prevented them, or it could have been that they lost track of him. We are not given the reason. But opportunity presented itself when Epaphroditus brought a gift to Paul in Rome from the Philippians. And in this, Paul rejoiced in the Lord greatly. Despite Paul’s plight, he was not discontent. He had learned to be content or satisfied in any kind of circumstance. Biblical contentment only comes from God, and it enables believers to be satisfied even in the most difficult circumstances. It is an inner sense of rest or peace that comes from being right with God and the realization that God is ultimately in control of all that happens to us. Paul knew both how to live humbly and how to live in prosperity. Paul had learned this through experience – experiences that handled apart from God frequently cause our discontentment and discouragement. Paul had gone hungry – this meant famished or completely without food, not that he had just missed a few meals. Paul had suffered need – he knew what it was to be in want or impoverished. Then there were times that God had graciously given him more than enough. He knew what it was to have abundance and to be full. All of these descriptions refer to material, earthly needs – not spiritual. Full or hungry, every need was met. It’s important to remember that God meets all of our needs, not our greed. Paul had learned the secret of being content: he could do all things in Christ who continually infused him with His strength. “No matter how difficult his struggles may have been, Paul had a spiritual undergirding, an invisible means of support. His adequacy and sufficiency came from his union with the adequate and sufficient Christ.” Paul ends his letter with the salutation: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Grace is the unmerited favor or undeserved, beneficent love of God in Christ that brought about believers’ redemption. Believers are not only saved by grace, but also sustained by grace. | 12/1/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox: An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 8 | Paradox: An Unnatural Response to Natural Circumstances: Anxiety Philippians 4:2-4:9 It is apparent that the Philippian church had a deeply affectionate bond with Paul. In 4:1 we see Paul making a staunch reminder of his love for them. It is in this that he couches a rebuke to two women out of his love and concern for the unity and stability of the church. He addresses the problem directly, naming names. Paul is calling believers to continually and habitually practice rejoicing, the source and focus of the rejoicing being in the Lord Jesus Christ. Pointing back to verse 1 where the Philippians are commanded to stand firm in the Lord, Paul gives several commands that are indicative of believers who are standing firm in Him. The fact that “the Lord is near,” that He is present both to hear and to help, enables us to stand firm and to do so without fretting. Because He is close, we are “to be anxious for nothing.” Anxiety is a violation of God’s word and really – it is completely unnecessary, for nothing is outside of God’s sovereign control. Paul gives us the alternative for worry: prayer. When we are standing firm in the Lord, we will respond to trials and temptations with prayer. “When we let our requests be made known to God like this – in the devotion of prayer, in many specific requests for help, with a heart that is thankful for everything God designs for us, the pleasures and the pain – then His peace will guard our minds and free us from anxiety in a way that defies mere rational explanation; it surpasses all understanding...” Paul makes clear that if the Philippians would make faith, trust, and rejoicing in Christ the practice of their lives, they could be assured that the God of peace would be with them. “It is a reminder that those who have godly attitudes, thoughts, and deeds will be guarded both by the peace of God and by the God of peace. His presence is essential for the strength, tranquility, and contentment necessary” to stand firm in the Lord. Paul uses the terms “excellence” and “worthy of praise” as he summarizes the whole of what we are to dwell on. He takes the Philippians a step further. Not only are we to think on these things, we are to practice them. Godly thinking cannot be divorced from godly behavior. | 11/23/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox:An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 7 | Paul seems to have been a sports fan. In this passage, he uses the athletic metaphor of a runner in a race to put forth a theme that logically flows from the previous verses. In Philippians 3:4-11, Paul made the passionate declaration that he counted all of his achievements to be mere rubbish compared to knowing Jesus. Looking at Paul from the outside, others might have assumed by these fleshly achievements that Paul had reached spiritual perfection. Just like an athlete, it is necessary that we have a “one thing” attitude. The phrase “but one thing I do” is literally rendered “but one thing”. Though we will never reach perfection this side of heaven, we still need a single-minded desire to be like Christ. Paul keeps this focus by “forgetting what lies behind.” It’s tempting to look back on past achievements to validate our spiritual maturity. We can’t live on our past victories; neither can we remain shackled by our past sins. We must forget not only past sins and failures, but also natural privileges, attainments, successes, and spiritual triumphs. Instead, we reach forward to what lies ahead. The image is that of a runner straining every muscle to its limit to reach the finish line. In verse 14, Paul says he presses on toward “the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This is a continuous effort in the power of the Spirit to apprehend all the purposes that God had in mind in saving us. Tucked securely into verse 21 is deliverance for the Christian. Throughout Philippians Paul has dealt with difficulty and hardship. In this verse a transition is made to hope, and transformation. Hardship, suffering, and pain will cease in due time. Paul gives the command to “stand firm in the Lord”. They are commanded to hold their position in the midst of suffering, persecution, and temptation, following Christ’s example at all times in all circumstances. He addresses this command to believers who he greatly loves and longs to be with. Standing firm (4:1) is not a foreign concept to Paul. He also commands it in the midst of spiritual warfare in Ephesians (6:13-14). The ability to ‘stand firm’ or hold fast is granted by God for the believer in order to fulfill the mission and conform to the image of Christ (Romans 8). | 11/18/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 6 | Following all that Paul has previously stated in Chapters 1 and 2, he is not now simply giving a suggestion. This is God’s command through Paul: Rejoice in the Lord. In verses 7 & 8 Paul uses the accounting terms gain and loss as well as the word count (hegeomai) meaning “to reckon”. “Paul seemingly had it all. He had undergone the proper rituals, he was a member of God’s chosen people, he was from a favored tribe in Israel, he had scrupulously maintained his orthodox heritage, he was one of the most devout legalists in Judaism, he was zealous to the point that he persecuted Christians, and he rigidly conformed to the outward requirements of Judaism. Yet he saw that as useless for salvation, and the reality of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ was revealed to him. The apostle did not come to believe that those things were good, but Christ was better; instead, he viewed all of them as bad. They were deadly because they deceived him into thinking that he was right with God.” The verb tenses of the words “have counted” and “count” indicate that Paul counted the meritorious works of his past as loss and continually counts anything he might use to try to earn God’s favor in the present or future as loss. Paul, through faith, chose God’s righteousness over his own legalistic self- righteousness. Faith is to be firmly persuaded so as to place full confidence in something or someone. It is based upon God’s truth as the only reality. It “is the confident, continuous confession of total dependence on and trust in Jesus Christ for the necessary requirements to enter God’s kingdom. It involves more than mere intellectual assent to the truth of the gospel; saving faith includes trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and surrender to His lordship. It is on the basis of faith alone that righteousness...comes from God to repentant sinners. We can know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. This is the same power that saved each of us, but more than that, it is the resurrection power of Jesus Christ that sanctifies us on a daily basis, empowering us to defeat temptation/trials, live godly, fruitful lives, and courageously proclaim the gospel in our world. It is this very power that transforms us into the image of Jesus. | 11/9/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 5 | Part 5 of Paradox, a series in Philippians. Focus: Temptation (Intermittent Audio Quality Issues) | 11/2/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox: An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 4 | Part 4 of Paradox, a series in Philippians. Focus: Humility Dr. Dave Earley | 10/25/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox: An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 3 | Part 3 of Paradox, a series in Philippians | 10/18/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox: An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances: Part 2 | Part 2 of Paradox, a series in Philippians | 10/11/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Paradox: An Unnatural Response To Natural Circumstances | Part 1 of Paradox, a series in Philippians | 10/4/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ripple Effect of a Community On Mission: The Collection | Pastor Jacob Atchley | 9/27/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ripple Effect of a forgotten follower: Boaz | Pastor Jacob Atchley | 9/20/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ripple Effect Of An Unlikely Leader: Esther | Pastor Jacob Atchley | 9/13/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
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The Ripple Effect Of a Forgiven Failure: Onesimus | Pastor Jacob Atchley | 9/6/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 137 Episodes |
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