Unless otherwise noted, the teachings below (2025) are from our Sunday Westbrook Fellowship, 10:30am AZ time, currently meeting both in our home and via “phone.” Anyone is welcome to call in at: 339-207-8502 (no pin required). There is a separate tab on the Home page for teachings from 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
12/28/2025 A Frame of Mind (24:12)
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This week’s teacher was Dave Bailey.
He shared some great qualities in living our lives with the mind of Christ. We can choose to live each day with that frame of mind, the mind of Christ.
12/21/2025 Glad Tidings (43:52)
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This morning we did a very brief word study of the Greek word (noun and verb) translated as, preach, preach the Gospel, bring good tidings, show glad tidings, bring glad tidings, declare, and declare glad tidings.
We also considered the “gift ministries” God has placed in the Body of Christ.
12/14/2025 Matthew Chapter 2 – Part Two (32:34)
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The background material we looked at last week was helpful in gaining insight and understanding of a number of details in the first part of Matthew, chapter 2.
This morning we continued on with Part Two, of Matthew Chapter 2.
12/7/2025 Matthew Chapter 2 – Part One (31:26)
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By understanding a number of details in the first part of Matthew, chapter 2, one gains great insight and understanding. I decided to cover this material in two consecutive teachings. This morning was Part One, and next Sunday, December 14, will be Part Two.
The material we covered this morning in Part One will add insight and understanding for what will be covered in Part Two.
11/30/2025 God Is Keeping Score (26:53)
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This morning we considered the phrase, “God is Keeping Score.” Some use that phrase in a negative sense, implying God is keeping track of all the bad things you do so He can punish you.
For those who are born again of God’s spirit, God is indeed keeping score. But what’s on His “scorecard” for His children is remarkably different than for those who are not His children.
11/23/2025 Be Thankful (32:59)
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There are many verses in the Bible where God encourages us to be thankful. Certainly, and without question, God deserves our gratitude for many, many things. Even if all He ever gave us was eternal life – how grateful we ought to be!
God knows the many mental, physical, and spiritual benefits for those who choose to consistently practise gratitude.
It would be very rewarding to sit down sometime and write out everything you can think of to be thankful for; spiritual and physical things.
11/16/2025 Psalm 23 (39:06)
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In Psalm 23:1 it says, “The Lord is my shepherd…” God is not literally a Shepherd. God is being compared to a Shepherd. An understanding of shepherds in Bible times adds great insight to this Psalm.
Figuratively speaking, God is our Shepherd in that He provides, He guides, He protects, He heals; He takes care of us. Literally speaking, God is our Father because we are born again of His seed.
As we went through this Psalm, we noted God’s great care and concern for His people. We were also mindful oft, “Would a loving father do less for his children than a good Shepherd would do for his animals?”
11/9/2025 Do You Want To Be Happy? (28:08)
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God wants us happy, blessed, and prosperous!
He told us how in 2 verses!
11/2/2025 Your Past (37:27)
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God’s Word in Philippians 3 exhorts us to forget those things which are behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before. Accepting God’s forgiveness is so important! Guilt, shame, sin conscious, and condemnation always interfere with your relationship with God; it hinders your prayer life, which in turn prevents you from trusting God. As it says in I John 3:21, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”
God wants us to accept His forgiveness and put our ugly past behind us. And there are other things in our past that we need to forget. What about forgetting the hurtful and unkind things other people have done to us? In Ephesians 4, after telling us to put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, it goes on to say, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
God wants us to forgive, to let it go, to forget that past. Carrying anger and resentment is very unhealthy, mentally and physically. And we are to forgive others like God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven us.
Regardless of our ugly past, God has forgiven us of all trespasses and He sees us as He made us in the new birth: holy and without blame, accepted, forgiven, reconciled, unblameable and unimpeachable in His sight! All this and more we have as born again ones because of God’s great grace. That’s why, with such an ugly past, Paul said in I Corinthians 15, “…by the grace of God I am what I am…”
10/26/2025 When He Comes (41:32)
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When it comes to the topic of death, there is so much ignorance among both believers and unbelievers. With so many opinions, theories, suppositions, etc., they can’t all be right. Yet, when it comes to this very sensitive topic, God in His Word has spoken very clearly on the topic. With a right understanding of the Scriptures, all people, especially born again ones, need not be ignorant.
Our loving God and Father not only gives great detail on that subject, but plainly reveals in His Word future events that will include all of mankind, both the living and those who have died.
This morning we briefly considered what God’s Word reveals concerning death, as well as future events that will most surely come to pass.
10/19/2025 Highlights (32:56)
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This morning we looked at some highlights from Chapter 1 of Colossians.
The main focal point in the epistle of Colossians is walking worthily or appropriately of the Lord. God shows us in His Word how to practically conduct our lives so as to walk worthily, appropriately, or, suitably as born again ones. God’s desire is that we be perfect. Perfect? What does that mean?
If you’re not too familiar with this epistle, perhaps these few highlights from Chapter 1 might inspire you to read this epistle over a few times. In doing that, may you gain insight into walking worthily, or appropriately of the Lord, and may it also be helpful in seeing yourself as God sees you.
10/12/2025 The Image of God (34:33)
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Most of the time on Sundays, I teach things we’ve all heard before. There are two reasons for that. First of all, and most importantly, it reinforces for you, and for me, what we already know and believe from God’s Word. And as you and I both know, there are a number of Scriptures that tell us things like, hold fast to sound doctrine; keep the faith; don’t be blown about with doctrines of men, and many other similar verses. Reviewing what we already know keeps us solid in the things we already know and believe.
Secondly, it keeps it fresh in our minds so we’re able to help others by sharing God’s Word with them. In I Peter 3:15 it says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:“
It’s very profitable to review great truths. And hopefully, having some of it fresh in mind, will be helpful for us in sharing God’s Word with others.
This morning, we considered a phrase we’ve all heard many times: “We are all created in the image of God.” But are we?
10/5/2025 Does This Matter Too? (32:17)
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Last week, we considered why it matters and makes a difference staying faithful to God our whole lives. That teaching ended with the question: “Is rightly dividing the Scriptures really important?” It was certainly very important for the Lord Jesus Christ!
9/28/2025 Does It Matter? (44:58)
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Does it matter and does it make a difference if we stay faithful and keep growing in our knowledge of God and His Word?
This morning we considered three very powerful reasons why it really matters and makes a difference staying faithful to God your whole life!
9/21/2025 How To Receive God’s Peace (33:10)
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In II Peter 1:2, God promised, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” Peace is tranquility, freedom from disturbance. The opposite of peace is turmoil, discord, contention, unrest, upheaval, and stress. And stress lowers your immune system!! No wonder God wants us to have His peace! Grace and peace multiplied! What a promise! Who wouldn’t want that?
Isaiah 25:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” That’s not automatic, is it? So, we can choose to dwell on the negatives, or, don’t nurse it, don’t rehearse it, but give it to God and let Him reverse it.
This morning we looked in God’s Word, seeing how God said we can receive His peace.
9/14/2025 Speak God’s Word (33:54)
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Politics aside, Charlie Kirk was not only a born-again believer, but he spoke publicly and confidently concerning Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and that God raised him from the dead. Only God knows how many people, by his boldness and courage he brought to the Lord. When once asked what was the one thing that he wanted to be remembered for, his answer was, “Courage for my faith – my faith is the most important thing.” No one except God knows how many young people turned to God and the Bible which he publicly and greatly encouraged. No one will know how many young people decided to get married and have a family based on godly principles, which he also actively promoted. While there are some deranged people celebrating the work of the evil one from last Tuesday, millions are mourning the loss
I pray for our country everyday, because it is the light of God’s Word that our nation needs. That’s the commission that our Lord Jesus Christ gave to Paul on the road to Damascus, which Paul shared part of to King Agrippa: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
In our world today, like always, there are plenty of fights we could engage in. But at the end of Paul’s life he said that he fought a good fight, that he finished his course, and that he kept the faith. While I am very far from being perfect, I endeavor to try and do that.
Hold your family dear, teach your kids God’s Word, and look to our loving God, especially in trying situations.
Let’s love each other more and more.
And let’s look for open doors to Speak God’s Word!
9/7/2025 Who Is Jesus Christ? (50:48)*
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*(Please Note: The teaching ends at 43:44, followed by around 7 minutes of comments.)
Many scholars know Jesus Christ was not born on December 25th; many recognize he was born in September, However, the way to salvation is not in knowing and celebrating the exact day Jesus was born.
No matter what topic you are dealing with, if you just go to the Scriptures with your own preconceived ideas, looking for verses to substantiate what you already believe, that’s not honest research. This morning, in looking very briefly at the topic, “Who Is Jesus Christ?, we first considered something very simple and obvious that continues to be overlooked, and that is, Mary conceived.
We spent some time in John 10, as well as considering some things God says in His Word that are very clear concerning Jesus Christ.
8/31/2025 The Gentiles and the Great Mystery (38:42)
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(Please note: There is about 6 and half minutes of comments following the closing prayer)
The Great Mystery God revealed to the Apostle Paul was mind-blowing to the Judeans. Who would have ever thought that Gentiles could be heirs together with the Judeans, that they are now of the same body with the Judeans, and that the Gentiles are partakers with them of the promise in Christ Jesus by the Gospel?
The epistle of Ephesians really elaborates and explains the Mystery. But it’s not the only place in the seven Church Epistles where God gives information concerning the Mystery.
This morning we looked at some verses in Romans where God’s Word offers vital information regarding the great Mystery.
8/24/2025 Unbelievers (39:53)
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God’s desire is very clearly stated in I Timothy 2.4: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth”. It is God’s will that every human get saved and receive eternal life, and He made it very easy. And His will is also that those who get saved come to a knowledge of the Truth.
As we go about our Father’s business looking for open doors to share the Gospel, we encounter “unbelievers.” We just speak God’s Word. And we don’t prejudge. Who would have ever thought Paul would get saved? What about Simon the Sorcerer? How about the man we heard about last week that Magie Mayfield encountered?
Let’s do our best to manifest the love of God wherever we go. We do what we do out of love and gratitude to God for what He has done for us through Jesus Christ. Let’s continue to pray for open doors to speak God’s Word and bring people a knowledge of salvation, and hopefully they will continue to grow, because God would have all people to not only get saved, but also come into a knowledge of the truth.
8/17/2025 Margie Mayfield (38:16)
This morning we listened to a recording by Margie Mayfield. (The YouTube audio is below) She relates an event in 1981, when she was abducted at gun point. She didn’t know he was a serial killer and on the FBI’s most wanted list for 10 years, and in fact, that day, they were closing in on him. She also didn’t know that earlier that day he had murdered another woman.
Her testimony is very inspiring and very encouraging on a number of levels. It exemplifies “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
She might use a few phrases different than maybe we would say it, but two things to take careful note of: 1. The Word of God she had hidden in her heart; 2. Her listening and obeying God’s instructions throughout this ordeal, especially at the very beginning of this audio recording.
8/10/2025 God Has Solutions For You (36:32)
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Last week we looked at our powerful and delivering God. This morning was a little follow-up. We focused on how God has solutions we’ve never even dreamed of!
Regardless of the circumstance, regardless of the facts, regardless of the odds, God said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
8/3/2025 Our Powerful Delivering God (30:00)
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Two of the keys as to how all Scripture interprets itself are, understanding orientalisms (Bible culture,) and figures of speech. This morning, a little understanding of Bible culture, as well as a figure of speech, helped us see very clearly that our God is a God of great power and deliverance.
7-27-2025 The Spirit of God (32:22)
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It is quite common to hear people say that we are all made in the image of God. What is the image of God?
Part of the misunderstanding concerning the spirit of God is due to ignorance in not recognizing Adam and Eve started out with a physical body, soul life, and spirit life. (They had God’s spirit in them.) That ignorance makes it difficult to gain an understanding of the spirit of God given to every who is born again. And who would be in favor of that ignorance? The same one who told Eve, “Thou shalt not surely die.”
God said in I Corinthians 12 that He does not want us ignorant concerning spiritual matters. . We have His Word that gives us information concerning the gift of holy spirit that He gave us, so we can utilize the spirit of God that is in us!
7/20/2025 They Were Great Examples (24:45)
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I encourage you to read I Thessalonians, being mindful of what it was like there when Paul came into town. (See Acts 17:1-10) This epistle will not only inspire and encourage you, but, you will see that even though they had reached the point where God referred to them as, “model believers,” God not only praised them, but God also exhorted them to keep growing! Our adversary does not want anyone to get saved; he doesn’t want anyone to gain an accurate knowledge of the Truth. And for those who do, he absolutely does not want you to stay put on God’s Word, or continue growing. So, let’s keep on growing in God’s Word!
7/13/2025 Overcoming Mental Pressures (33:03)
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God loves you and me, and His love for us never changes; We can be more than conquerors in all things, including mental pressure. In His Word, God shows us how to overcome mental pressures.
7/6/2025 Christ Has Made Us Free (25:34)
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Happy Independence Weekend! I recently posted on ConfidenceAndJoy.com an inspiring prayer by George Washington, along with a few other quotes from our Founding Fathers.
The great deliverance and freedom we have from the accomplished work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is available for all people, regardless of race or nationality, social status, male or female, young and old!
We enjoy great freedoms in our country that many others do not have. Stay Grateful! It gives us an opportunity to openly share with people, right here, where we live, to share the Good News; to bring people to the new birth and an understanding of the great deliverance and freedom that Jesus Christ accomplished for us.
6/29/2025 The Father’s Business (29:04)
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As sons of God, like His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,, we can choose to be about our Father’s business, serving His interests in His family! How do we do that?
First of all, continue growing in the knowledge of our Father’s Word. How can you work somewhere and not know what the boss said? Our Father told us in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12, to get busy doing what we do best; you are important and needed. He also told us, “by love serve one another.” So in being about our Father’s business, we continue to gain a knowledge of our Father’s words, and, by operating the spirit of God. In order to carry out the Father’s business, it takes His written Word and operating the manifestations of holy spirit: the spirit and the Word.
A wonderful thing to do each day is to pray and ask, “Father, what can I do for You today; is there something You want me to do for You?” Why? Because, who knows whether you are where you are for such a time as this?
God Has No Hands But Our Hands
God has no hands but our hands,
in which to feed them bread.
God has no feet but our feet,
to walk among the almost dead.
We say we are His and He is ours;
Deeds are the proof of this, not words;
And these are the proving hours.
6/22/2025 Receiving Healing From God (45:27)
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In today’s teaching, I shared seven keys on receiving healing from God. Hopefully, those keys will be helpful in getting you and me to the point of accepting and believing to receive healing from God.
When it comes to receiving healing, we want to arrive at the place of believing what God said; not what we see, not how we feel, not our experiences or somebody else’s. When Jesus Christ was in his hometown, Scripture says, “He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” For you and me, like Abraham, the father of all them that believe, we submit to what God said. Abraham got to the point where he was fully persuaded that what God said, God was able to perform. Receive healing by fully accepting that God is not only able to heal you, but have no doubts that God will indeed heal you.
6/15/2025 Why Are We So Concerned? (27:26)
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(Correction from last Sunday’s teaching: I said that the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, happened 8 days after the ascension. I meant to say that it happened 10 days after the ascension.)
I heard someone say, “Never be arrogant about what you think you know. And never assume that statement applies to everyone else except you.
In so many very vital areas of our lives, when we know the Truth, when we know what God has said, we can believe what God said and get results in our lives! Salvation, God’s gift of holy spirit, our finances, our marriage, and so many other vital areas, including healing. The question is, “What did God say?”
This morning’s teaching lays a foundation for next Sunday, when we look into God’s Word to see what God shows us regarding receiving healing from God.
6/8/2025 Pentecost – The Beginning (32:38)
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(Please Note: In the teaching I mentioned Pentecost was 8 days after the ascension – I should have said it was 10 days after the ascension. )
Happy Pentecost!
On the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, God’s gift of holy spirit was first made available. Jesus Christ in the Gospels on many occasions, made mention of the coming of holy spirit. On the day of his ascension, the last thing Jesus Christ told the apostle was that they were to wait in Jerusalem: the promise of the Father was coming in a few days and they would receive power when the holy spirit came upon them.
God had meticulously planned and waited long for the day human beings could once again be as He had intended them to be: to have His spirit in them. The Apostle Peter, in Acts 11, referred to that Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, as “the beginning.” The relationship between God and mankind changed drastically on that great Day of Pentecost. A new administration began, which Scripture refers to as, the Administration of the Grace of God, the Administration of the Mystery.
We are so very privileged to have an understanding that we’re saved by God’s grace, that it is a gift from God that we could never earn nor deserve. And we are also so very privileged to have an understanding that God’s gift of holy spirit is not only available, but that we have the ability to operate all nine manifestations of God’s gift of holy spirit.
We should never take this knowledge we have for granted, nor should we be arrogant and look down on those who don’t have this understanding. Rather, we ought to be grateful, and endeavor to manifest God’s spirit in our lives. We are very blessed and privileged to have something really wonderful to share with those who hunger and thirst to know the Truth!
6/1/2025 Right Before he Left (29:48)
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(Please Note: In the teaching I mentioned Pentecost was 8 days after the ascension – I should have said it was 10 days after the ascension. )
The record in Acts 1 shows us the ascension of Jesus Christ. One of the most important things to consider in that record is the very last thing Jesus Christ spoke to the twelve apostles right before he ascended. Acts 1:8 says, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
The last things he told them was that in just a few days they were going to receive holy spirit, power from on high, the promise of the Father. And indeed they did, just 10 days later, on the Day of Pentecost, when, “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
And for those who say that the gift of holy spirit was just for those apostles, they ought to read what Peter taught on that Day of Pentecost. He invited all those listening to him to preach, that if they would believe, they too would receive God’s gift of holy spirit!
On the day Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, the relationship of God and mankind was about to have a very, very dramatic change – and that very, very dramatic change happened on the Day of Pentecost.
5/25/2025 The Price Has Been Paid (38:23)
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What are you really worth to God!? Why think thoughts any less of ourselves than what God says! Who God says you are now is more important than anyone or everyone else’s opinion of you. It’s not ego to think that way!! Many Churches preach that we are broken. We may not be perfect people, but God says we are complete; we have all spiritual blessings, and so many wonderful rights, privileges and abilities recorded in the Church epistles. It’s not ego, rather, it takes humility to think that way because all that we are and have in Christ was what God did for us – by grace!
Our motivation for doing what God’s Word says we ought to do, is not out of guilt for falling short; not out of duty; not because we are so broken or unworthy, but out of gratitude and love for God, for what He has done for us! He bought and paid for you – HE THOUGHT YOU WERE WORTH IT!
5/18/2025 The Administration of the Grace of God (31:41)
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As you read the Bible, you can’t help but notice God dealing differently with human beings during different time periods. We refer to it as, “administrations,” meaning how God administers His affairs with human beings.
Most of the time we use words to describe those administrations based on what is fairly obvious. The first is, The Original, or Paradise Administration. After the Fall, before God gave Moses the Law, it’s The Patriarchal Administration. Next, The Administration of the Law. When Christ was here on earth, we refer to that time period as The Christ Administration. The administration we are living in now, since the Day of Pentecost will end abruptly when Christ returns, and we call that, The Appearing or Revelation Administration. And then, after that, it will be The Glory Administration, or, The Paradise Administration.
After the Christ Administration, beginning on the Day of Pentecost, God Himself, in the Scriptures, calls the time we are living in, in two different ways. It is called The Administration of the Mystery, and it is also called The Administration of the Grace of God. This morning we looked at a few of the many verses in God’s Word regarding this wonderful time period we are living in: The Administration of the Grace of God.
5/11/2025 Reverence God (35:06)
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This morning, after reading some of the great revelation from God recorded in the book of Colossians, we looked at a number of verses regarding our Great Big Wonderful God.
When we see in His Word how magnificent God Almighty truly is, how can we not humble ourselves before Him? How can we not thank Him for all He has done for us? How can we not give Him the reverence He so deserves?
5/4/2025 This Is Our Church (40:10)
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Today, there are a number of meanings of the word, “Church,” like, a church building, a particular denomination or, at times, “church people.” The Greek word basically means, “called out” – a group called out or assembled together. In the New Testament, the Greek word “Church” many times refers to the whole Church – all the born again ones. In other places, like in I Corinthians 16, it refers to the believers meeting together in Aquila and Pricilla’s house’ “the church that is in their house.”
This morning we considered some familiar verses with the goal of applying them right here in our “Church.”
4/27/2025 Do You Remember (31:40)
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This morning we considered why we take time and make time to read the Scriptures, listen to teachings, take classes, and review things we’ve already heard. To answer that, we looked at some verses in the OT, and then some from the Gospels and the New Testament.
4/20/2025 Resurrection Sunday (30:35)
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God raised His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. And God has promised to send him back someday to gather us together.
All four Gospels record the exciting events that happened on the first day human beings witnessed the resurrected Christ. It takes some study to put them all together.
This morning we focussed on the record in Luke’s Gospel, noting something very important that God shows us a number of times in that record.
4/13/2025 Holy Communion (25:29)
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We had an evening fellowship during which we shared bread and wine together. We remembered two very important things: we have forgiveness of all our sins and healing. It was all paid in full by our Lord Jesus Christ.
You may want to have some bread and something to drink on hand so you too can partake of this memorial Jesus Christ instituted at the Last Supper.
4/6/2025 The Price He Paid for You and Me (29:26)
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This morning, we looked at some of the verses that show the price Jesus Christ paid for you and me. It is not easy to look at this, but God had it written in His Word so that we would know the price he paid. .
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus Christ gave his life for you and me. Three days and three nights later, God raised him from the dead. One day he’s coming back to get us!
3/30/2025 He Knew (31:11)
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Jesus Christ knew the Old Testament Scriptures. In the Gospels we see he quoted from them many times. Therefore he knew all the prophecies concerning the coming Redeemer. He shared with the two men on the road to Emaus all of the Scriptures referring to him.
Jesus Christ not only knew he would be beaten so savagely that he would not be recognizable, but at some point he knew what kind of death he would need to endure for you and me: crucifixion!
3/23/2025 The Only Way (27:19)
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At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ made a very, very exclusive statement. It was not ego, but rather, it was very loving.
3/16/2025 God is at Work in You (35:30)
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“Well, it was just meant to be; God is testing me; everything happens for a reason; relax, God’s in charge; “God’s got this.” Although we so often hear phrases like those, and others, God’s Word is clear and explicit that we have an enemy, a personal adversary.
In the Gospels, Jesus Christ said that what he spoke and did was what the Father told him to say and do; he always did the will of the Father. We see him in record after record, victorious in a myriad of situations by operating the power of God. And when the enemy attacked, Jesus Christ listened to God’s instructions, believed God, and acted. What a sterling and stunning example he was!
And, it is equally stunning that Jesus Christ said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” After God raised Jesus Christ from the dead he was seen for forty days and then he ascended; he went unto the Father. A few days later God’s gift of holy spirit was made available.
The whole Bible, and especially the Church Epistles, contain so much information on how we too can walk with God, utilizing the power of the holy spirit that is in us! Jesus Christ stayed tuned into God – when he received information or instructions from God, he believed it, and he acted on it.
Because we, as born again ones, have received the spirit of God, His Word declares, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
3/9/2025 The End Times (36:41)
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Why did Jesus Christ never mention the Gathering Together of all born again ones, both those living and those who died, that we read about in I Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians 4, and other places? He did mention, in great detail, the time of the coming judgments and the events preceding that time. The Old Testament, in a number of places, makes mention of the coming judgments, but there is no mention in that section of Scripture regarding believers meeting Jesus Christ in the clouds.
It is very common to hear people, including preachers, say that the signs Jesus Christ talked about are happening now, indicating that “the end times” are almost here. Are we living in “the end times?” Is the Day of the Lord the same event as when all born again ones, both those who have died and those who are alive, will meet Jesus Christ in the clouds, and “so shall we ever be with the Lord?”
3/2/2025 Who We Were – Who We Are (37:52)
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This morning we looked at some familiar verses, but we looked at them from the perspective of noting the past tense, and the present tense. Many times you will see the words, “were” and “now,” and at other times, the past, or the present, is clearly implied.
The reason it’s important to note this is because when a person gets born again there is a dramatic change. A change from what was, to what is. Feelings and opinions don’t matter when it comes to a right understanding of the Scriptures. What God in His Word says, “was,” was; what God says, “is,” is; and what God says will be, will be.
It is most enlightening when you read the Church Epistles about who God says you are as a born again one, to stop and remind yourself – that’s not who you were before you got born again, that’s who you are now!: And note where you see the words, “was” or “were.” and the word, “now.” And of course, many times it’s simply implied.
The Church Epistles give details of so many things that changed the moment you got born again. In those epistles you find out, from God, who you really are now. And you discover your rights, privileges and abilities you have now! That’s where you discover your true identity as far as God is concerned, That’s who God says you are now! When we got born again, there really was a dramatic and monumental change.
2/23/2025 The Truth (30:06)
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In our culture today, especially with the internet and social media, at times, it’s hard to know what is true. When people testify in court, they swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Sometimes we hear people say, “Well. this is my truth.” What they really mean is, “This is what I believe.”
Something is either true or it’s not true. And it doesn’t matter if I believe something, or you believe something, because just believing something doesn’t make it true. Something is either true or it’s not true.
Things we see and read, and things people say may or may not be true. But when it comes to spiritual matters, when it comes to an understanding of who God is and what God will do, the Bible, rightly understood, is pure truth.
People can, and they do, say a lot of things about God that contradicts what we read in the Bible. But if the Bible, rightly understood, does not reveal who God is, what He has done, and what He will do, if the Bible is not the standard for truth, then what is?
One of the things the Bible tells us is that God desires that everyone would get saved, gain salvation. And in addition to getting saved, God wants you and me to know the Truth!
When it comes to the news, or the internet, or social media, I can’t be sure what is true or not. But I know that if you have a right understanding of the Scriptures, you have the absolute truth.
2/16/2025 The Gospel of God Time (36:50)
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The word translated, “gospel,” from the Greek means “good tidings,” or, “joyful proclamation.” Sometimes we say, “good news.” This morning we looked into God’s Word regarding, “the gospel of God… concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God’s righteousness is revealed In the Gospel, in God’s joyful proclamation “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We receive salvation and eternal life from believing this Gospel,
We receive God’s gift of Holy Spirit from believing this Gospel,
God’s joyful proclamation “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord,”declares the great Mystery God kept secret: no more “Jews and Gentiles,” it’s one body!
This joyful proclamation gives us the information concerning our great hope; the Return of Jesus Christ.
Our conversation, our behavior should be according to God’s joyful proclamation “concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
It is this Gospel that tells us what the right way of believing is to obtain salvation – to be saved – to obtain eternal life!
God would have us stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for that which has been given to be the right way of believing which originates from this Gospel.
And how humbling it is that God allows us, and trusts us, with the great privilege of sharing with others, God’s joyful proclamation concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord!
2/9/2025 Take Time and Make Time (26:59)
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In the Gospels, we see the Lord Jesus Christ teaching and encouraging people to pray. And, he not only taught and encouraged people to pray, but we also see that he himself was a man of prayer. And seeing that, really inspires me! Hopefully, you too!
Let’s remember what Jesus taught about prayer, and let’s follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was indeed a man of prayer.
2/2/2025 God’s Great Love and Grace (33:36)
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The grace of God is so many times undervalued and unappreciated, while the ego and pride of man is elevated.
Grace means favor – unearned and undeserved. God’s grace is unearned, undeserved favor from God Almighty. This morning, we looked at some verses, endeavoring to grow in our appreciation of God’s great grace, as well as God’s great love.
Because of God’s great love for all people, He gives salvation and eternal life to those who simply chose to believe on His Son. And for those who do, He has promised that in the ages to come, He will exhibit the exceeding riches of His grace in his kindness toward us!
And until that great day comes when God sends His Son back to come and get us, for the life we live now, God has put His spirit in us, and given us many rights, privileges and abilities! And our loving, gracious God has also given us exceeding great and precious promises! He truly is a God of great love and great grace!
1/26/2025 God Will Reward You (32:58)
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The Epistle of I Corinthians (which is reproof of the doctrine in the book of Romans) addresses many issues that were going on at that time in Corinth, Although it was first sent to those believers, it is part of the seven Church epistles addressed to and for the Body of Christ.
There is, therefore, much learning for all of God’s people, not only in that epistle but in all the epistles.
This morning we considered something discussed in I Corinthians that is not often talked about.
1/19/2025 Figured Of Speech (34:41)
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At our fellowship meeting this morning, Dave Bailey taught God’s Word, as I am recovering from some surgery.
Dave gave some wonderful insight to figures of speech found in the Bible. God utilizes figures of speech to show importance and emphasis.
There are of course many, many figures of speech used in the Bible, and Dave cited a few that can be easily recognized when one reads the Scriptures. One of those is called, polysyndeton, which simply means many “ands.”
God employs this figure of speech in a list. Rather than the normal structure of simply listing, followed by a comma, you will see the word “and” coming up many times. God’s intention in doing this is that with each section, the reader would stop for a moment and consider it, rather than just reading through the whole list.
My thanks to Dave for filling in for me today.
1/12/2025 God Is Able (43:09)
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Today was our first Sunday morning fellowship for this New Year. We considered the topic, God is able. There are many spectacular displays of God’s awesome power and deliverance recorded in the Bible. Perhaps a few might come to mind. In reading those miraculous accounts in the Scriptures, we need to remember those events really happened; they are not fairy tales or nice bedtime stories for little children.
In reading those records, it should be very obvious: God is able, there’s nothing too hard for our God; the Lord’s arm is not waxed short; and God is very reliable at bringing His Word to pass when we believe!
When it comes to believing God, it’s not just being mindful. It’s not just knowing where a verse is in the Bible. It’s not just memorizing a verse. It is being absolutely convinced, fully persuaded, fully convinced of what God has declared to us in His Word!