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< Back Romans 12: Character Pastor Nate Brosher Feb 8, 2024 Romans 12 Series: Character Romans 12:12-21 NLT 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. 13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD. 20 Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." 21 Don't let evil conquer you but conquer evil by doing good. 1. Be Patient! Galatians 5:22-23 ESV 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience , bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The adjective eager describes someone is excited about or impatient for something. 2. Be Disciplined! Discipline is the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards. Galatians 2:20-21 NLT 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Matthew 11:28-30 NLT 28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." 3. Be Structured! When something is structured, it's arranged according to a specific plan. When someone is structured they are organized so that the parts relate well to each other; having a clear structure. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 NLT 33 Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." 34 Think carefully about what is right and stop sinning. For to your shame, I say that some of you don't know God at all. Let’s begin to walk this life of Integrity by showing character. Previous Next

< Back Encounters Series Pt. 3: Walking with God Pastor Nate Brosher Aug 25, 2024 Genesis 5:3-24 ESV 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. 6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. 7 Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died. 9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died. 12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died. 15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. 18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. 19 Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. 21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. 1. Where does your journey begin? ■ Noah was born 126 years after the death of Adam and 69 years after Enoch was taken up by God. Genesis 6:9, 22 ESV - 9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. ... 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. 2. Walking in the Spirit Galatians 5:16-17 ESV - 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ■ Overcoming our desires. Romans 8:3-4 ESV - 3 By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ■ We must walk according to His Spirit! Colossians 3:10-11 NLT - 10 Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Our desire is to know Him. Previous Next

Fasting Learn what the Bible teaches about the practice of fasting, and why you should embrace this spiritual discipline. ISAIAH 58:6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.” The biblical practice of fasting has been discussed, debated, and often misunderstood throughout Church history. Questions surrounding how, why, and with what motives we fast can make the practice feel confusing or inaccessible. This resource is designed to help clarify fasting as it is presented in Scripture, offering guidance for a thoughtful, Christ-centered approach to the practice. What Fasting is Not Before defining fasting, it is important to remove common misconceptions. Fasting is not: A way to earn God’s favor A means of forcing God’s hand A spiritual virtue badge A requirement to be legislated Reserved for “super-spiritual” people A way to improve our standing before God Fasting is never transactional. It does not secure salvation, preserve God’s gifts, or manipulate divine outcomes. When fasting is reduced to technique or performance, its purpose is lost. Its power rests not in human effort, but in God’s sovereign grace. What Fasting is At its most basic level, fasting involves abstaining from food—and often other activities—for the purpose of seeking God. Biblical Fasting Defined The Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible defines fasting as the restriction or abstinence from food, often accompanied by setting aside other activities, and replacing them with prayer and spiritual focus . Fasting must always be paired with seeking God in prayer. Fasting without prayer is just starvation. Three primary forms are recognized: Normal fast : No food, liquids permitted. Most fasts seem to fall under this category because water (or wine) were pointed out if those were abstained from as noted in the following examples. Partial fast : Limited diet (e.g. Daniel 10:3) Absolute fast : No food or liquids (e.g. Deuteronomy 9:9) Throughout Scripture, fasting consistently appears during moments of seeking God, repentance, mourning, intercession, and dependence. Voices from Church History Together, these voices affirm the Biblical teaching of fasting as a means of reordering desire, not merely punishing the body. FROM SERMONS ON FASTING + DISCIPLINE “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity.” Augustine of Hippo , 4th century bishop, theologian and philosopher Fasting in Scripture Scripture presents fasting across a wide range of contexts. The following is a comprehensive list of Scriptural references to fasting, categorized by context. Included are texts that relate only indirectly to fasting, such as those referring to a hunger or thirst for God. Thoughtfully and prayerfully review these passages. 01 Repentance, Humbling + Confession Examples: Israel, Nineveh, et al. Leviticus 16:29, 31; 23:27–29 (Note: the language of humbling or afflicting oneself expresses self-denial and self-mortification, connected with fasting and prayer — see Ps. 35:13; Isa. 58:3; cf. Ezra 8:21) I Samuel 7:6–8 I Kings 21:20–29 Nehemiah 1:3–11; 9:1–3 Daniel 9:3–20 Joel 1:14–15; 2:12–17 Jonah 3:4–10 Isaiah 58:1–5 Jeremiah 36:9–10 The Bible also warns against certain kinds of fasting: Hypocrisy and self-righteous fasting (Luke 18:9-14) Asceticism disconnected from love and obedience (Colossians 2:23) Legalistic or compulsory fasting (Luke 18:11-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-5) Notably, Scripture affirms Christian liberty while also presenting fasting as a meaningful spiritual response, not a command (1 Cor. 10:31). Old Testament vs New Testament Emphases We must always allow Scripture must interpret Scripture , considering the whole counsel of God's word. Just as we ought to distinguish Law and Gospel , so we ought to distinguish the God's will within the Old and New Testaments (or Covenants). Here, we’ll take a short look at how fasting, shaped by God’s will, carries forward from the Old Testament into the New. 01 Old Testament In the Old Testament, the practice of fasting is characterized by: National repentance and covenant renewal Mourning over sin, exile, or judgment Seeking God’s intervention Prophetic warnings against hypocrisy Representative Texts: Leviticus 16; 2 Chronicles 20; Ezra 8; Nehemiah 9; Daniel 9; Isaiah 58; Joel 2 Key Takeaway The whole of Scripture presents fasting not as a law to obey or compulsive act to earn favor or prevent wrath from God, but as a response of longing that emerges when God becomes more compelling than food, comfort, or control. It's about God transforming us to become the people He desires us to be, not us attempting to manipulate God for the results we desire to see. Fasting Today Applying the Biblical principles of fasting we can, as missionary and author Paul Washer wrote: FROM UNDERSTANDING THE DISCIPLINE OF FASTING “…[abstain] from any activity, event, or temporal pleasure for the sake of drawing near to God—abstaining from companionship to spend time alone with God; abstaining from sleep to pass the night in prayer; or abstaining from a certain labor, hobby, or pastime to dedicate time to God. ” In other words, fasting goes beyond food and can include abstaining from: Companionship (to seek solitude with God) Sleep (to extend prayer time) Any temporal pleasure that competes for attention and affection (e.g. hobbies, entertainment, sex; see 1 Corinthians 7:2-5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5, etc.) The aim is not deprivation for its own sake, but reorientation—redirecting trust, dependence, and delight toward God. Prayer connects us to God. Fasting disconnects us from the noise of the world. Biblical fasting is shaped by hope. We fast not because the Kingdom has not come, but because it has, and we long for its fullness. Practical Examples of Fasting The following are real life examples of how we can integrate the practice of fasting into our lives today. 01 Replacing meals with prayer Use the time you would normally spend preparing and eating meals to be alone with the Lord. This could be praying and meditating on a Psalm, The 10 Commandments, The Lord’s Prayer, interceding on behalf of others or simply stilling yourself in the presence of God. This can be done at your dining table, outside, on your couch, or in your car on your way to or from work. Examples: Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11; Cornelius in Acts 10:30; the early Church leaders in Acts 13:3, 14:23 Start where you are, not where you want to be or where you think you should be. Maybe it starts with a single meal, or only eating fruits and vegetables for a day. This is about growth, formation by gazing upon Christ. The key is to start with the right motive: to seek the face of God. PAUL WASHER "Are we so satisfied with this world and its temporal pleasures that we never long for God or ache for a greater measure of His presence? Are we so satisfied with our spiritual status quo that we have no zeal for greater conformity to the will of God and the image of Christ? Are we so apathetic to the needs and sufferings of others that we are never driven to passionate intercession for them? …are we not in danger when our passion for God's glory, our desire for greater sanctification, and our concern for the needs of others rarely overpower our desires for food and temporal entertainments?" Resources The following resources are recommended to you. We pray you are encouraged to continue to learn about the practice of fasting in Scripture, and practice this discipline that you will bear its fruit in your life. May your fasting bring you closer to Christ as other desires lose their power to draw you away. Understanding the Discipline of Fasting PAUL WASHER Download the Book The Fasting Practice PRACTICING THE WAY View the Resource The Purpose of Fasting BIBLE PROJECT View Playlist Note: While we do not affirm all of the teachings of the authors of these resources, we do recognize and recommend their work on the topic of fasting.

< Back Pathways: Gospel Threads (Session 3) Chase Radford Jul 17, 2024 We'll be covering chapters 3 and 4 of Gospel Threads (link to book PDF below). Zoom is also an option to join. Zoom Meeting link : https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9059697544?pwd=raYOIDDlDNjAbcQsi9pvxqjdLRFDG9.1&omn=74503545491 Meeting ID : 905 969 7544 Passcode : d0vBp2 You can get a free PDF of the book we'll be referencing here: https://radical.net/book/gospel-threads/ You can also purchase a physical copy here: https://bookstore.radical.net/.../97989855.../gospel-threads Our final session will be Thursday, July 25 @ 7pm via Zoom. Previous Next

< Back Letters from Paul Series Pt. 6: God’s Guarantee Pastor Nate Brosher Jul 31, 2024 Ephesians 1:3 NLT - 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 1. Every Spiritual Blessing ■ Spiritual - Pneumatikos - relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ, one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God ■ Blessing – Eulogia - a (concrete) blessing, benefit. [1Corinthians 12:7-11, 13 NLT] 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice ; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge . 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing . 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles , and another the ability to prophesy . He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages , while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. ... 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Ephesians 1:3 - has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ . ■ The common denominator is Jesus! Psalm 84:11 ESV - 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Ephesians 1:4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Romans 5:20-21 NLT - 20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Genesis 50:20 NLT - 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. ■ We have an advocate Ephesians 1:6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ--everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God , for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 12 God's purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. Previous Next

< Back Journey Through James Pt. 3: Selfish Ambition Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 13, 2024 James 3:13-18 NLT 13 If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. 1. Are we wise? Jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. James 3:15 “Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” 1. Earthly Ideology Earthly – (relating to the earth or human life on the earth.) Epigeios - existing upon the earth, earthly, terrestrial. 2. Unspiritual Thoughts Unspiritual - not spiritual; worldly. Driven by the desires of our heart and not our spirit. 3. Demonic Warfare Demonic - of, resembling, or characteristic of demons or evil spirits. Daimoniōdēs – This word in the Greek is only found right here in the Bible. Possible Origins of Demons: Spirits of pre-adamic men (Gap Theory). Spirits of monstrous offspring. Fallen Angels. Things that Demons do: Extend Satan’s power by being subject to him. (Matt. 12:24) Demons influence the philosophy and activity of world leaders. (Daniel 10) Demons promote false religions. (1Cor. 10:20) Demons can afflict the human mind and body. (Luke 13:11, 2Cor. 12:7) James said, “wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” Previous Next

< Back The Romans Journey Pt. 5: The Power of Sin Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 12, 2025 Romans 6:1-11 NLT - 1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. 1. Eternal Security ■ The doctrine of eternal security – means that true saving faith endures to the end and cannot be forfeited. True salvation should be accompanied by ongoing repentance and a desire to live according to God's will. John 10:27-28 NLT - 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me . Hebrews 10:26 NLT - 26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. Luke 22:31-34 ESV - 31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." 33 Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death." 34 Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me." Choosing to sin without remorse (repentance) could be considered a rejection of God's grace and could lead to consequences like spiritual separation or a lack of closeness with Him. Philippians 1:6 ESV - 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:38-39 ESV - 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. John Wesley defined sin as, "a willful and intentional turning away from God's will and a rejection of His love and grace. Sin is a condition of the human heart that leads us to prioritize our desires and self-interests over the will of God.” “Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” – Apostle Paul Romans 6:15 NLT - 15 Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 2. When continuation of sin is still present Why are we not allowing the word of God to examine our lives? 1John 1:8-10 NLT - 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. ■ Self-righteousness Self-righteousness is an attitude where someone firmly believes they are morally superior to others, viewing their own beliefs and actions as inherently better. Galatians 6:3 ESV - 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Philippians 3:8-11 ESV - 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 3. Crucified with Christ Romans 6:4-7 NLT – 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin. John 8:34-36 NLT - 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. ■ How do we embrace this freedom from sin? Luke 9:23-25 NLT - 23 Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? Romans 6:12-14 NLT - 12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace. Previous Next

< Back Letters from Paul Series Pt. 5: Freedom in Christ Pastor Nate Brosher Jul 24, 2024 Galatians 5:1-4 NLT - 1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace. 1. Regulations of the law ■ The Torah contains a total of 613 laws/commandments or what is called mitzvah. Galatians 5:5 NLT - 5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. 7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. 2. False Teachings 1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV - 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, Galatians 3:10-11, 13-14 NLT - 10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law." 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." ... 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. Galatians 4:4-5 NLT - 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. Galatians 3:21-25 NLT - 21 Is there a conflict, then, between God's law and God's promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 NLT - 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. ■ We must recognize there is no good thing in us and that we need a covering to be “right with God” Isaiah 64:6 KJV - 6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. ■ This is the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, we are no longer bound by the law, but are freed through the blood of the lamb! Previous Next

< Back Under Construction Pastor Nate Brosher Oct 27, 2024 Ephesians 2:17-22 NLT - 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. 1. He’s the potter, we are the clay. Isaiah 64:8 ESV - 8 But now, O LORD, you are our father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Potter – a person who makes objects from clay. What prohibits us from allowing ourselves to be put under construction? ■ Discomfort? ■ Fear of Change? Hebrews 10:11-14 NLT - 11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. - If God is the potter of our lives, why are we trying to get off the wedging board when he is molding us? Hebrews 10:14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 2. Being Made Holy ■ Holy/sanctified - hagiazō - to separate from profane things and dedicate to God. To purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin Philippians 1:6 NLT - 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Psalm 127:1 ESV - 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Romans 8:31 NLT - 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Isaiah 55:11 NKJV - 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper [in the thing] for which I sent it. Previous Next

< Back Journey Through James Pt. 4: Mountains Chase Radford Mar 20, 2024 Full message notes here: https://estd.craft.me/Lp4roa44RVHj5Q James 1:2–4 (ESV): Testing of Your Faith 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (endurance; perseverance). 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. “…when life goes into meltdown, when our feet are swept out from under us with the perplexing surprises of life, we do not throw in the towel. We return afresh to God. That moment of life implosion, taken to Christ, is where we will finally get traction and power in our Christian lives. Our agony is where God himself lives.” - Dane Ortlund James 5:10-11 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. "If we endure all things patiently and with gladness, thinking on the sufferings of our Blessed Lord, and bearing all for the love of Him: herein is perfect joy." - Francis of Assisi “Ability, strength, and success feel safe. But they are deadly dangerous, creating conceit. Inability, weakness, and failure feel dangerous. But they are safe ground, creating humility. Beyond this, our lowly weakness physically, psychologically, intellectually, educationally, and even spiritually is precisely the catalyst for divine power. Power for what? For calm, for growth, for joy, for communion with God, for evangelistic unction, for our preaching to sing. In short, for fruitfulness in the Christian life. Jesus himself taught, ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’ (John 12:24).” - Dane Ortlund Romans 8:37–39 (ESV) 37 ...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Previous Next

< Back Pathways: The Gifts of the Spirit (Session 4) Pastor Nate Brosher and Chase Radford May 22, 2024 Link to study guide: https://estd.craft.me/gifts Previous Next

< Back The Romans Journey Pt. 6: In Christ Alone Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 26, 2025 Romans 7:14-20 NLT - 14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can't. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 1. Identifying your problem Hebrews 12:1 ESV - 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Weight – ogkos – Whatever is prominent, burdened, encumbrance/dependent upon. Sin – hamartia – To miss the mark, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act. John 15:5 ESV - 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Romans 7:21-25 NLT - 21 I have discovered this principle of life--that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God's law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So, you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. 2. In Christ Alone John 1:29 ESV - 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1John 2:1-2 ESV - 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Propitiation – hilasmos – an appeasing, satisfies divine justice and allows for forgiveness and reconciliation. Romans 3:25 NLT - 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past. Philippians 3:12-14 NLT - 12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Hebrews 12:2 ESV - 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. Death could not hold Him! 1Corinthians 15:55-57 ESV - 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Victory in Jesus! Revelation 12:10-12 NLT - 10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, "It has come at last--salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth--the one who accuses them before our God Day and night. 11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time." Previous Next