Church Elder Don Bernard’s sermon on January 3rd prompted me to consider God’s reconciliation and just what it means to Christians. When I think of how great and magnanimous it was for God to reconcile us to Himself, I am in awe! Read more…
Posted on February 1st, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
In recent sermons, Pastor Pauley exhorted us to aspire to live holier lives, no matter what the circumstances entail. Believers in Christ are to live a life that is consistently and continuously growing with honor, pleasure and satisfaction to our Lord! Read more…
Posted on January 1st, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
Currently, Pastor Pauley has been teaching us seven ways God’s love is manifested to believers: sovereignly, demonstrably, eternally, historically, uniquely, prophetically and faithfully. During one of Pastor Pauley’s recent sermons, I could not help contemplating about the vast spectrum of God’s love. However, one word did come repeatedly to my mind as he preached—the word is “unconditional. ” Read more…
Posted on December 1st, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
Last month’s “From the Pew” article focused on the fact that becoming a Christian and truly following Jesus Christ might cost you significantly—even to the extent of relinquishing unity with other family members. Or worse yet, you might even become their enemy. This is exactly what Jesus Christ exclaimed in Matthew 10:34-36. After one of Elim’s elders preached a second part to a sermon approximately a month ago, the Holy Spirit, through the elder’s powerful preaching, prompted me to write a second part to last month’s “From the Pew” article. Read more…
Posted on November 7th, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
…His mother and brothers were…seeking to speak to Him. And someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are…seeking to speak to You.” But He answered…”Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” …”For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven… is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 10:46-50 NASB).
In past weeks Pastor Pauley implored us to “contend for the faith” while expositing the book of Jude. And when Elder Don Burnard taught on a recent Lord’s Day, I was affected in a whole different way. He explained that a Christian’s obedience to Christ might cause a significant fracturing of their earthly family. I believe he was absolutely right! His perspective gave me a whole different dimension to what “contending for the faith” encompassed. Read more…
Posted on October 1st, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
In a recent sermon, Pastor Pauley implored believers to always live godly, especially amidst this perverse and wicked society. As he exposits the small epistle of Jude, Pastor Pauley adamantly declared that believers must obey what the word of God teaches. Jude listed several examples from the Old Testament to illustrate just how ungodly living manifested itself. Incidentally, this ungodly living did not go unpunished by God, and today’s Christians can wisely learn from Jude’s examples. Read more…
Posted on September 1st, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
When Pastor Pauley outlined the epistle of Jude a few weeks ago and cited the last two verses, verses 24-25, I was reminded of its wondrous benediction. Perhaps, it is one of the most magnificent and reassuring doxologies recorded in the New Testament. It definitely brings us back to Jude’s initial intention for writing this small, powerful epistle about “our common salvation” (Jude 3). Read more…
Posted on June 1st, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
We have been reminded by Jude during our Sunday morning worship, not to forget what the Scriptures teach about God’s judgment on those who failed to abide by His Word (Jude 5). Jude used some vivid and tragic illustrations from the Old Testament to emphasize this point (Jude 5-7, 11, 14-15). Read more…
Posted on May 1st, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
We have been [studying in our morning service] for a while now that Jude’s succinct epistle is a warning to believers that false teachers will “creep in” among them and seek to infiltrate the church. Read more…
Posted on April 1st, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
Jude, Jesus Christ’s half brother, was well aware of a proliferation of false teachers who threatened the church, and he knew he had to address this evil and rapidly growing cancer. He wanted to write a simple, encouraging epistle to believers about their “common salvation”. But because of the serious threat of false teachers, he instead wrote a stern warning prompting Christians to “earnestly contend” for the faith (Jude 3). Read more…
Posted on March 1st, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Pew