AM Scripture Reading: Psalm 92.12-15 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey STILL ON THE TRACK (“Faithful Until Death” ) Introduction: The 92nd Psalm portrays “the righteous” as healthy trees. “Flourish like a palm tree” and “grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (v.12). “They shall bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (v. 14). How important is it to “be faithful until death” (Rev. 2.10)? There is so much we can learn from the faithfulness and dedication of our senior saints… DOING WHAT THEY CAN DO Read Mark 14.1-9 } V. 8: “She has done what she […]

AM Scripture Reading: Revelation 2.1-7 Sermon Series: Keeping The Church Strong & Growing Brent T. Willey Lesson #5: LESSONS FROM EPHESUS Introduction: We may know more about the church at Ephesus than any other congregation we can read about in the New Testament. 50-52 AD: Paul’s 2nd journey (Acts 18) 54-57 AD: Paul’s 3rd journey – 3 year stay (Acts 19) 58 AD: Paul meets with elders (Acts 20) 62 AD: Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus 64-65 / 66-67 AD: Paul’s two letters to Timothy at Ephesus 78-79 [67/96] AD: Letter to the loveless church (Rev. 2.1-7) At […]

AM Scripture Reading: Romans 12.1-8 Sermon Series: Keeping The Church Strong & Growing Brent T. Willey Lesson #4: UNITY & ENTHUSIASM! Introduction: There are two spiritual malignancies that face many local congregations today: Division & Apathy! While these are not the only problems a local church can encounter, like cancer, division & apathy can destroy the body from the inside out. The obvious answers to these two insidious spiritual maladies are Unity & Enthusiasm! UNITY: LOVING INTEGRATION Jesus prayed for unity! (John 17.20-21) We are to be “One in Christ” (Gal. 3.26-28; 1 Cor. 12.12-27). We must remove divisive barriers! […]

PM Scripture Reading: 1 John 1.1-7 This Evening’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey Lofty Fellowship Introduction: The word typically translated as “fellowship” in the Greek New Testament is the word KOINŌNÍA; found nineteen times. Defined: “partnership, i.e. (lit.) participation,” “communion, joint participation,” & “fellowship, sharing in common” (Strong, Thayer & Vine). How is “fellowship” [KOINŌNÍA] used in the New Testament? THE “FELLOWSHIP” (KOINŌNÍA) TEXTS… Fellowship with God, His Son & the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 1.9; 2 Cor. 13.14; Phil. 2.1; 1 John 1.3 [2x], 6, 7) Relational fellowship – “right hand of fellowship.” (Gal. 2.9) Fellowship in worship for spiritual […]

AM Scripture Reading: Titus 1.4-9 Sermon Series: Keeping The Church Strong & Growing Brent T. Willey Lesson #2: GOD’S APPOINTED LEADERS IN THE CHURCH Introduction: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1.5). Why? The local church will always be in need of leadership! Notice how the apostle Paul addressed the Philippian church: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Phil. 1.1). DEFINING THE BIBLICAL DESCRIPTIONS The Eldership: […]

PM Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2.4-10 Brent T. Willey THE VALUE OF THE OIKOS FAMILY (Not the Yogurt Variety) Introduction: The OIKOS family is an important grouping of words found in the New Testament Greek and the Septuagint (LXX). OIKOS “denotes (a) a house, a dwelling, e.g., Matt. 9.6-7; 11.8; it is used of the tabernacle, as the house of God, Matt. 12.4…; (b) by metonymy, of the members of a household or family, e.g., Luke 10.5; Acts 7.10…” (Vine). OIKODOMEŌ “literally, to build a house [a house; dome/w, to build], hence to build anything, e.g., Matt. 7.24; Luke 4.29; […]

AM Scripture Reading: Acts 16.1-5 Sermon Series: Keeping The Church Strong & Growing Brent T. Willey Lesson #1: AUTHORITY, ATTITUDE & ACTION Introduction: Every biblical subject must be approached from a foundational standpoint, and this is certainly true with the Lord’s church. Luke records, “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16.5), which should be our goal as well. How can this be accomplished? This is achieved by a multi-faceted endeavor that demands three essential elements: Authority, Attitude & Action! The church continues to face perilous times as there are those individuals who […]

AM Scripture Reading: Genesis 17.1-8 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey Four Fathers (Godly Men Among Us) Introduction: Is it even possible to over estimate the value and the need of godly fathers in our society today? I don’t think so… I would like to briefly examine Four Fathers found in the Bible, men that made good choices for their families. ENOCH – HE WALKED WITH GOD Genesis 5.24: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not for God took him.” Enoch, the father of Methuselah, “before he was taken, had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Heb. 11.5). […]

PM Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.4-9 Brent T. Willey “God Is Faithful” Introduction: Who can we trust? Man? Rarely! (Psa. 116.11; Jer. 17.5) Consider God faithfulness, He, “who cannot lie” (Titus 1.2; cf., 2 Cor. 1.18-20; Deut. 7.9; Lam. 3.23; 1 Cor. 1.9). And so, “the just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1.17). IN YOUR DECISIONS – TRUST HIS WISDOM! Trust His words of wisdom. (Prov. 25.19; John 6.66-68) “If any of you lack wisdom…” (James 1.5). IN YOUR WEAKNESS – TRUST HIS POWER! Jesus encourages us to “ask…seek…knock” (Matt. 7.7). God can do more than we imagine! (Eph. 3.20) […]

AM Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4.6-8 This Morning’s Sermon: Brent T. Willey “Fighting the Good Fight” Introduction: Paul wrote: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4.7-8). Are we able to say the same with such confidence? ARE WE FIGHTING THE “GOOD FIGHT”? World wars are not “the good fight” Paul […]