This summer we’re focusing on intimacy with God. Scripture doesn’t explicitly address this, but it is displayed in the lives of godly people, and is an implicit goal for every Christian. What is intimacy with God?

Dr. Charlie Bing discusses water baptism and salvation.

Zechariah’s prophecies are in a rarely-read part of the Old Testament, forgotten to most Christians. After all, what could a prophet from 2,500 years ago have to say to us today? As it turns out, a lot!

Zechariah 9-11 foretold Messiah’s first coming, and rejection by Israel. The second oracle in chapters 12-14 describes the second coming, and the cleansing of the nation, finally ruled by her Messiah King.

The temple was finished in 515 BC. Thirty-five years later, Zechariah received revelations from God with details of future events. It is not a pretty picture, but it is a ‘burden’ the prophet must bear.

The temple in Jerusalem was being rebuilt but all was not well. A delegation arrives with a question for the priests. Zechariah senses a deeper issue, and God gives him four messages that expose our hearts.

Zechariah’s first four visions show God’s unwavering compassion for Israel. The second four visions pick up where the first four leave off – with the nation being cleansed from sin. This deeper need for spiritual cleansing is the focus of Zechariah’s second four visions.

Does God care about you? Does it really matter how you live your life? If there is a God, why doesn’t he fix this world’s problems? You may have wondered this. The Jews in Zechariah’s day did, too. Mysterious visions in the night revealed truth we still need to apply today.

Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God!

This morning we meet an amazing prophet who lived more than five centuries before Christ, yet prophesied details about His life and death, and details about His future second coming! His name is Zechariah.

What are the Eternal Things?  The Word of God, the People of God, and Jesus Christ!

The Messenger – How to Win More!  Understanding the Culture’s Influence – what you must win them from.  Saving some from the Culture.

Our culture is becoming increasingly hostile to the God and the church of Jesus Christ. Biblical truths are attacked in government and media. Our world is showing its ‘true colors’: It’s bad, but there’s good news, too. As salt and light, Christians point to a better way, and a better day!

When evil takes root in society, Christians face persecution. To avoid this, some will conform. Jesus warns against this: We must be willing to be persecuted for doing what is right. At the same time, we must not return evil for evil, but rather do good and show mercy.

God is sovereign over governments, but they are often evil. When they are, God’s people demonstrate allegiance to Him by refusing to obey, knowing full well that they may face temporal consequences.

Christians live in this world as ambassadors for Christ, but are citizens of the world to come. How are we then to treat government? God deals with nations and leaders, and calls us to submit to them for His sake.

Augustine wrote his famous City of God in 413 A.D. In it, he describes two cities, the city of the world and the city of God, and calls on society to choose which city it will be a part of. Our challenge as believers is to live in both ‘cities’ – to be in the world, but not of the world.

God is sovereign over all human governments; nothing can thwart His eternal purpose. Christians can be assured that though the wicked may prosper, and evil rulers may mock God’s truth with their evil schemes, God’s plans are not impeded, and His ultimate victory is sure.

In spiritual battles which lie ahead, Christians will confront the vacuum of truth in our relativistic world. Jesus said, You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:32). The challenge before believers will be severe: Do I know the truth?

We are living in changing times. Unbeknownst to most people, ‘social engineers’ without faith in God or His Word want to shape our future. What does the future bode for Christians? We who are used to freedom of worship must prepare ourselves to stand strong when trials come.

The start of a new year always brings hope and a fresh beginning.

Her name isn’t actually in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, but she is there – ‘she who was the wife of Uriah.’ Bathsheba was involved in the sin that stained the rule of Israel’s greatest king, David, resulting in death. But repentance and grace gave forgiveness, and new life.

Tamar and Rahab, the first two women in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, both present a moral challenge to Christians. But the third, Ruth, seems a saint by comparison! Her circumstances, however, were far from great. Yet her life exhibits God’s love and grace.

Tamar, the first woman listed in the genealogy of Jesus, playing the role of a prostitute one time.  Rahab, the second woman listed, ran a brothel! Have we gone from bad to worse? No. God’s just showing us what’s possible when a life is touched by grace.

This Christmas we’re going back, way back,  to four Old Testament women in Jesus’ family tree. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus records them for us – four unlikely women, who exhibit through their lives God’s redemptive purpose in sending Jesus to this world.

NBBC shares their thanks and praises! 

Paul’s at the end of his letter to the Thessalonian Christians, but he has two final things to say. One is a warning, the other a wish. But together they reflect Paul’s overriding goal for them: Walk worthy!

Jesus is coming, but we don’t know when. An issue that came up in Thessalonica and still matters today, was ‘What do we do while we wait?’  Some decided to shift their lives into neutral and do nothing. Bad Idea. This is our time… time to work.

The end is near, but difficult days lie ahead. Christians are suffering, and need encouragement. Paul requests prayer for the apostles, then expresses prayerful confidence that God will protect them in trying days. There is much here for us as we face these difficult last days.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Paul writes about a time of great evil and terrible judgment that is coming on the earth. All unbelievers who are alive will go through it. How should Christians respond to this truth? We learn this morning that we should stand firm, and take comfort.

Are we living in the last days? The COVID pandemic, advances in technology, threats of war and famine, and a rise in lawlessness all remind us of biblical prophecies. But to keep us from getting ahead of ourselves, Paul ‘fills in the blanks’ on what happens first.

We hear a lot about ‘justice’ today, but the harder we try to achieve it, the more we fail! In a world shrouded in sin, Christians look for Jesus’ return. When He comes, His righteous judgment will render rewards and retribution to every person.

One of the joys of parenthood is pride when our kids achieve great success. Paul’s ‘kids’ – believers in Christ in Thessalonica, were a source of pride to him: They stood strong despite persecution. And as a result, they would be ‘counted worthy of the kingdom of God.’

Here We Stand series, part 4, Our ‘Blessed Hope’: Jesus is Coming

Here We Stand series, part 3, Eternal Life is a Gift

Here We Stand series, part 2

Here We Stand series, part 1, The Bible is God’s Word

Heart of God Series – Love 

Heart of God series – Holy means: Exalted or worth of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.  Sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, or impure, or morally imperfect.

The Heart of God Series – Faithful to Keep, Perform, Deliver, Forgive, to the End.

Heart of God series – Grace for Me, You and the World

A five-part series on The Heart of God.  First, A God of Compassion.

We finish the foundation of victory over the sin nature established in Romans 6 and move to the power for victory provided by the Holy Spirit in Romans 8.

A continued study on Spiritual Warfare… Christ Died for you.

We continue to study spiritual warfare. This week is on The Flesh!

Be Strong, Put On, Take Up, Stand Firm…  A continuing study of Spiritual Warfare looking at the Armor of God.

Deceiver, Destroyer, Ruler… All names of a foe you need to be aware of!