Fellowshipmtz

2 Samuel 16:5-14 - Shimei Curses David

The (somewhat veiled) gospel in the First Testament.  David's faith in God's power to restore and save shines plainly!
(The audio has a few hiccups, but is mostly good.)

2 Samuel 15:30 -- 16:4 ; David’s Encounters As He Flees Jerusalem (Part 4)

NOTE:  Because of construction on our own church's building, we are currently gathering on Sunday evenings at Faith Baptist Church of South Shores (Decatur, IL).  For whatever reason, the audio board there generally does not produce a good recording -- but most recently, on November 26, it did!

2 Samuel 11-13 - Sin’s Consequences

We are taking a brief break from "Ephesians" to consider some lesser understood incidents from King David's life,  After David's sin with Bathsheba and subsequent killing of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11), the next five chapters demonstrate the fulfillment of Nathan's prophetic words of consequence.

Ephesians 5:22-33 - Christ & the Church!

Ephesians 5:22-33

As important as it is, the marriage relationship between husband & wife points to something MUCH BIGGER and MORE IMPORTANT: namely, the relationship between Christ and HIs Church.  Paul calls the disclosure of this truth a "profound mystery" (verse 32) and for very good reasons!

Wives ~ Husbands ; Submission ~ Love // It’s Bigger Than That!

Ephesians 5:21-33

Today's message dives in to some of the nitty gritty of mutual submission (v 21), a wife's submission (v 22), and a husband's love (v 25).  The most fascinating and important discovery comes when you realize the passage isn't really just about the relationship between wives & husbands.

Wives & Husbands ~ Complementarianism & Egalitarianism: Ephesians 5:17-6:9

Ephesians 5:17-6:9 / Household Codes

This Sunday's message puts the specific instructions to wives & husbands, children & fathers, servants & masters in context to Paul's larger teaching on "understanding what the will of the Lord is" (5:17).  The message briefly defines complementarianism and egalitarianism and explains how each approaches a passage such as this.  Ultimately, today's message provides the groundwork for next Sunday's more specific teaching of the text.

Be Filled with the Spirit - Ephesians 5:18

Ephesians 5:18-21

Paul commands believers that understanding God's will (verse 17) means understanding His intention that we ALL be "filled with the Spirit".  Today's message explores what that is and how it is accomplished.

Understanding the Lord’s Will - Ephesians 5:17

Ephesians 5:17 (along with 5:10)

I think it is significant that people usually talk about discovering the Lord's will, or finding the Lord's will; whereas Paul says that we should understand the will of the Lord.  I am increasingly convinced the difference is real.

Ephesians 5:15-16 - Walking Wisely (& Redeeming Time)

Ephesians 5:15-16

Walking as wise requires an accurate view of "the time" in which we live and an awareness that every detail of our lives needs to submit to the Lordship of Christ.  Alexander MacLaren (1826-1910) rightly comments: "We shall never walk as the children of light, unless we have the habit of referring everything -- trifles and great things -- to His arbitrament, and seeking in them all to do what is pleasing in His sight.  The smallest deed may be brought under the operation of the largest principles.  Gravitational pull influences the grain of sand as well as the planets and sun."

Ephesians 5:8-14 - Exposing Works of Darkness

Ephesians 5:8-14

Pastor Cliff is back this week and draws attention to two additional elements from the selected text:
(1)  How are Christians to understand "the fruit of light" ?
(2)  How are Christians to "expose" [reprove] the "unfruitful works of darkness" ?

Note: During our own church building's renovation we started gathering at Faith Baptist of South Shores (Decatur), so we are working out the technicalities of the audio recording.