March 31, 2024 Christ Jesus has risen from the grave! Through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, we have peace with God, freedom from the shackles of our sins, and the promise of eternal life. Because He lives, we too may live with resurrection power and hope. This is truly the greatest news there could ever be. Today, we celebrate and cheer for the One who has given us life by giving up His own and taking it up again! Luke 24:1-12

March 14, 2024 "Peace on earth!" was declared by angels at the announcement of His birth. "Peace in heaven!" was declared by people at the announcement of His entry. Jesus Christ is the rightful King of Peace on earth and in heaven. As the people temporarily sang His praise, Christ wept knowing what was in their hearts as well as the future destruction of Jerusalem. Despite the rejection, our King made the way of redemption, securing our peace with God forever. Jesus, our King of Peace has...

March 17, 2024 Acts 19 is the story of God working in incredible ways in the city of Ephesus. Acts 19:11-20 is one of the wildest stories though in the Bible, dudes are just trying to make a buck doing some tricks and yet the Lord has “concern for his holy name” as the prophet Ezekiel would say. So God exalts himself by not allowing these exorcists to misuse his name rather they run out “naked and wounded.” God will always exalt his name above sin and evil. He will always have the last word...

March 10, 2024 Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Adventist, Pentecostal, Catholic, Episcopal, and Non-Denominational churches (just to name a few) are all around; each having its doctrinal and practical distinctives. Some even add cult groups such as Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witness to the list of Christian denominations. How are we to know and test what is genuine Christianity and what is not? When Paul entered Ephesus he encountered a group of people who had a form of religion that was not...

March 3, 2024 The 2nd mission trip finished out, with Paul leaving Silas and Timithy to lead the church in Corinth, and leaving Aquila and Priscilla to start a church in Ephesus, while Paul set sail to return for a respite at his home church in Antioch.  Paul didn’t stay long, and soon after began the 3rd mission trip, heading west back to Ephesus, encouraging the churches along the way.  Meanwhile, back in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla stepped into the life of Apollos, a well-educated,...

February 25, 2024 Paul’s ministry continues to Corinth where new ministry partners are found along with new believers and continued opposition to the Name of Christ. At the heart of Acts 18:1-17 is a vision Paul received from Jesus to not fear or be silent but to continue proclaiming the gospel trusting in God’s protection. God’s people are entrusted with the same message and called to the same work. We must not be silent because there are many around us God is calling to Himself. Acts 18:1-17

February 18, 2024 Paul’s speech on Mars Hill in Athens, Greece is one of the most important sections in the book of Acts. With only Gentiles in his audience, Paul models presenting the good news of Jesus using words and images that would relate to his hearers. While the delivery method is different, the message is the same. All people everywhere are accountable to God to receive or reject Christ as the One who died and rose again to make us righteous before God. Acts 17:16-34

February 11, 2024 Having rushed out of Thessalonica due to persecution, Paul and his companions travel to Berea in Macedonia. Here, they start, as was their custom, by preaching in the local synagogue. Instead of jealousy, as they ran into in Thessalonica, the Bereans were much more noble and examined the Scriptures that Paul taught. This sets an example for us to examine God’s Word, test the teachings we hear with it,  and allow God’s Word to examine us! Acts 17:10-15

February 4, 2024 The center point of this week’s passage is to establish the truth of the Christian faith based upon the evidence Paul and Luke provided the Thessalonians and the future readers of the book of Acts. The Christian faith is built upon the fulfilled promises and prophecies found in the Old Testament by Jesus and only Jesus. The Savior had to suffer for our sins and rise from the dead. Knowing the evidence will help all of us stand firm in the faith, especially during seasons of...

January 28, 2024 Paul and Silas continued to preach the Gospel in Philippi.  While preaching in the streets, Paul exorcised a fortune-telling demon from a slave girl.  The slave girl’s owners dragged Paul and Silas before the City Magistrates, who had them beaten with rods and thrown in jail.  That night, God caused an earthquake, which opened the jail doors, and freed all the prisoners.  The jailer was about to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped, but Paul stopped him.  Paul and...

Januray 21, 2024 Acts 16:11-15 shares the account of the first believer in modern-day Europe, Lydia. Ironically, Lydia came from the very place that God prevented Paul from going in his previous travels. Having left Asia, she moved to Philippi in Macedonia as a seller of purple cloths. A devout, God-fearing woman, Lydia heard the good news about Jesus from the apostle Paul while praying with other women. We are told that God was the One who opened her heart to hear and believe. He continues...

January 7, 2024 Redirection is all part of living a life of faith. Living by faith by definition is a life trusting in God’s guidance. God is the One who directs and redirects His people by His Spirit. This creates a challenge for us when we seem to be certain of His plan for us and then that plan changes. This week’s passage, Acts 16:6-10, sheds light on the leading of God’s Spirit and what is required of us to follow His lead.

January 7, 2024 Spurgeon wrote, “I tremble for a church whose continuance depends upon the talent and cleverness of one man. If he is removed, the whole thing will collapse; this is a wretched business.”  TBC cannot and will not be about one man. For our church to last and have a lasting impact beyond this generation, we must raise, equip, and make disciples of Jesus as we aim to grow in spiritual maturity. Acts 16:1-5

December 31, 2023 Our God is faithful! He is truly faithful for that is His nature. Our God can only be faithful and true. All we must do is to give prayerful pause, consider all His provisions in our lives and in our church. What do you find? God’s faithfulness remaining. In fact, His faithfulness is undefeated. May pause and reflection stir you to walk faithfully with the Lord. Psalm 86:1-17

December 24, 2023 Of all the ways God could announce the advent of His Son, God chose people. People! The ones who rejected and despised Him. The ones who were destined for His judgment and wrath. The ones who would eventually crucify the Son He sent. He chose people. He actually chose shepherds; those of humble standing and the last to be thought of as royal heralds. After the resurrection and ascension of Christ, God continues to send the humble to herald the advent of Christ our Savior and...

December 17, 2023 The next major event we anticipate in God’s plan is Christ’s return! This wondrous mystery has been a subject of hope, debate, confusion, and excitement since the angels promised the disciples Christ would return just as He ascended. This week we will explore what we believe will happen when Christ again appears and those who are in Christ (dead or alive) meet Him in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

December 10, 2023 Our Advent series is entitled “The Wondrous Mystery”. Two weeks ago, we focused on the mystery of Jesus Christ’s humility, how he stepped down into our condition as man in order to redeem his people. Last week, we moved to Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus’ purpose of coming to live among us and what his death accomplished for us. And this week, we concentrate on the revealed mystery of Jesus’ resurrection. Various Scriptures

December 3, 2023 Paul said in his letter to the church of Corinth, “I wished to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” For Paul and every believer in Jesus, the crucifixion is the apex moment that has completely altered the trajectory of the world. The cross is both offensive and beautiful at once. The cross offends mankind because it tells us that we are not good enough, and even worse, that we are broken to the core—sinners. The cross shows just how much the Triune...

November 19, 2023 In Acts 15:36-41, Paul and Barnabas are separated because of a sharp disagreement. This passage of Scripture shows us that even mature Christians will often disagree on 'judgment calls,' and sometimes need to separate or split up if the issue is serious enough. Separation among Christians should be done charitably. This passage encourages us to give sincere, immature Christians a second chance to mature. Acts 15:36-41

November 26, 2023 God humbled Himself by coming in human likeness, taking on flesh, and living among those He created. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a true mystery. How can God put such limitations on Himself for a humanity that had rejected Him? We peer into the wondrous mystery of our Savior’s humility to step down into our condition to redeem a people for His very own. Philippians 2:1-11

November 12, 2023 Acts 15 contains two scenarios of sharp disagreement between believers. The first (Acts 15:1-35) is a matter of right and wrong. The second (Acts 15:36-41) is a matter of preference. Both scenarios highlight the reality that every group of believers will have areas of disagreement. This week’s focus is on the right view of salvation for all people that lies at the root of our Christian faith. Acts 15:1-35

November 5, 2023 The final legs of Paul’s first missionary journey demonstrate key practices that are to continue in and through us who are sent for the Name of Jesus Christ. These practices flow from a central truth that our living God gives witness to Himself through all of creation, especially His chosen people. In light of this, we must continue in the same personal and public practices as those who have witnessed before us. Acts 14:8-28

October 29, 2023 In our fourth Family Worship series of 2023, we are focusing on “Love Endures All Things”. This is the ultimate trait of God’s love for us that we are to reflect, especially within families and in the church. We will look at three aspects of God’s enduring love from Psalm 136 as well as be encouraged and challenged by TBC ministry partners, Pastor Morris Ogenga and his wife, Ida. Psalm 136

October 22, 2023 Paul and Barnabas encountered a divided response to the gospel message they proclaimed in Iconium. When they first met resistance, they remained for a long time, steadfastly preaching the gospel with boldness. What they experienced was God’s empowerment through their faithfulness. God will empower us, and He himself will bear witness through us, especially when we encounter resistance as well. Acts 14:1-7