For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:4-7; emphasis added).
Two months ago I wrote emphasizing the power and exclusivity a bold, straight-forward Gospel message has concerning salvation. As opposed to relying on various ineffective methods. Pastor Pauley, who has been expositing through the 13th chapter of Acts, recently taught that Christians ought to focus on the Lord of the work, and not the workers of the Lord. Read more…
Posted on July 1st, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Pew
Recently in a sermon Pastor Pauley cited Matthew 16:16-18 and then declared Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church. I could not say “amen” fast enough! I contemplated on how powerful and indispensable the Bible is to Christians. For in the Bible, the only Word of God, we have a sure foundation of God’s revelation. I was particularly enthralled by v. 18a, where Christ declared “…on this rock I will build My church…” For centuries this verse has been interpreted in a variety of ways, even by Christians. Read more…
Posted on June 1st, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: Elim Refresher Newsletter, From the Pew
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…And all who believed were together and had all things in common…And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42, 47b–emphasis added).
Pastor Pauley is currently expositing chapters 13 through 28 from the book of Acts. In his first sermon he provided a brief overview of the first 12 chapters. During that overview, I was significantly awe-struck as I read chapter 2, Read more…
Posted on May 19th, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
Last month’s From the Pew article talked about God’s reconciliation of us. This month, I felt compelled to expand on it and share what the Lord has taught about how God’s reconciliation ought to impact our lives. It is only because of God’s reconciliation that we are entitled to have citizenship in heaven. Read more…
Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Robert
Filed under: From the Pew
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