Shows
House Church SermonsHow To Pray - Part 2 - Allen WrightA study in Matthew 6:9-13.2024-07-2831 minHouse Church SermonsLove Does Not Dishonor Others - 1 Corinthians 13 Series - MatthewWe continue our lesson series in 1 Corinthians 13 in verse 5.2023-04-1713 minHouse Church SermonsThe Welcoming Attribute of Jesus - Matthew WrightExploring Jesus and how he welcomed people in Matthew 8 and 9.2022-03-0733 min
Tired Christian ParentsEpisode 49 - Why We Started a House Church Part 2 Featuring Allen WrightWe bring in our first interview of our podcast with Allen Wright from the Allen Wright Sermons podcast. We had a great conversation and really enjoyed his experience and insights!2022-03-0437 minHouse Church SermonsHave We Hardened Our Hearts? - Matthew WrightLesson from the Wright Farm House Church on 9 January 20222022-01-1030 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 160: Just A Christian - Matthew WrightMatthew Wright, the son of Allen Wright, delivers this lesson. 2021-08-0224 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 134: Romans 8 #3 - No Condemnation in Christ Romans 8:1-2We examine the first two verses of Romans 8 in this lesson. The beauty of living with no condemnation and the emphaisis that this is how we live in our present life is an encouragement from God. 2020-09-0834 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 133: Romans 8 - #2 - A Disconcerting Sentence Romans 7:25bWe are living paradoxes. The wonderful opening of chapter 8 in which we find that there is "no condemnation" has to be understood in the context of a disconcerting sentence. The sentence prior to the opening of chapter 8 tells us that even though we are a living paradox - Christians who know God's way, we are also people of human weaknesses. God is showing us that he understands and that we still live without condemnation. It drives us back to God. We need a Savior before we are saved; but we still need a Savior after we are saved. 2020-08-3132 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 132: Romans 8 #1 - Free In Christ - Romans 8:1To better understand chapter 8 of Romans we must place it in its context. The chapter begins with "therefore." This is a linking word and so the question is, "What is it linking us to?" Some think chapter 7:25, others believe it links back to chater 5 or as far back as chapter 3. I believe it is linking us back to the theme of the book found in 1:17 - the righteous will live by faith. In one sense this lesson is a summary of the first 7 chapters of Romans showing us how it links us to the thoughts on chapter 8. 2020-08-2442 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 131: Relationships: Our standing with Jesus, others & the world - John 15John 15 speaks about relationships.15:1-11 – Our relationship with Christ is one of remaining.• 15;12-17 – Our relationship with one another is one of loving• 15;18-25 – Our relationship with the world is antagonistic• 15:26, 27 – Our relationship with the Spirit is co-testifying.2020-08-1742 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 130: Remaining in Him - John 15:1-11 - Part 2The primary function of the branch (a Christian) is to remain or abide in Christ. This is the normal Christian life. When that occurs then there will be fruit. What is fruit in the Christian life? We will discover this in this lesson. 2020-08-0639 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 129: I Am The True Vine - John 15:1-11Where should our focus be? Our thoughts are going to be dominated by something. This passage calls us to live Christ-focused, God-centered and Spirit-directed lives. 2020-07-2735 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 128: Romans 6 #10: Payday or Birthday Romans 6:23We end our series in Romans 6 with a constrast between how the dimension of this world and the dimension of Grace plays out. One side is focused on you "paycheck". You can "get what you deserve" in this dimension. The other side celebrates your birthday with a gift from God. 2020-07-1240 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 127: Romans 6 #9: Where's Your Home? Romans 6:20-22Freedom is something we cry for - but free from right living? Paul shows that there was a time when you could be free from God's way of right living but what that looks like is slavery to Sin - in a sense, "enjoying" death. But Life is what God gives us - call it "slavery" to God but it is true Life. 2020-07-0529 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 126: Romans 6 #8: Slaves of Righteousness - Romans 6:19Paul begins in what seems to me an apologetice voice; "I'm sorry that I have to use this type of illustration" Slavery is not something we desire but it helps us see the change that God made in us when we were "buried with him in baptism into death." What does it means to be a "Slave to impurity" or a "Slave of righteousness"? 2020-06-2835 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 125: Romans 6 #7: Slaves of Life: Romans 6:15-18Trying to understand "WHERE" we live in Christ is an important but difficult concept. Paul speaks in these verses using the analogy of slavery. God has transferred us from slavery to sin to slavery of righteousness. We explore that topic in these verses. 2020-06-0831 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 124: Romans 6 #6: Exploring the Grace Dimension: Romans 6:14God has given us new life and this new life is in a new place. We live in the heavenly realms, we live in a new dimension called Grace. Our journey in this new life is an exploration of how God is calling us to live. 2020-06-0239 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 123: Romans 6 #5: Living in a New Dimension: Romans 6:14Paul equates living under law in the same catagory as having Sin as our master. But we are people who are comfortable with law and living under law. We want to know the rules, the 7 ways to master life or the 10 ways to live. Then God transfers us into a completely new dimension - the dimension of Grace. It is like Edwin Abbots book, "Flatland" where a 2 dimensional creature came in contact with a 3 dimensional creature. He had difficulty understanding. For law keepers it is difficult for us to understand how to live in Grace and under Grace but that...2020-05-3139 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 122: Roman 6 #4: Practical Purposeful Living: Grace Living with a Purpose Romans 6:12,13What should my life look like when I live in grace? Paul answers that question with four simple imperatives. But even though these are simple instructions, applying them takes thought and personal application. 2020-05-2641 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 121: Romans 6 #3: Purposeful Living - Part 2 - You Live What You Believe Romans 6:8-11Keeping our eyes in the proper direction is essential to a fulfilled new life in Christ. One direction we look is to our future resurrection. This lesson helps us see what that means and how to live it out. Paul re-centers us in Romans 6:9,10 when he brings us back to Christ. 6:11 is an application of these verses. 2020-05-1940 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 120: Romans 6 #2: Purposeful Living - Part 1: To Live, You Must Die. Romans 6:5-7Purposeful living means knowing who you are, remembering your new identity in Christ. It also entails being crucified with Christ. What does this "mystical" concept of being crucified with Christ means? 2020-05-1732 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 119: Romans 6: #1 - Life Changing Decisions: Romans 6:1-4A close friend of mine challenged me to write out Romans 6 in first person. The exercise was not only revealing but spurred me to do an indepth study of this chapter of Romans. The following lessons explore Romans 6 in depth and detail. 2020-05-1731 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 118: How To Live For Today: Hebrews 3:15This lesson was one of the first after the "shutdown" from the Corona virus. The focus for most people was centered around the virus. Although it is good to be reasonable and take precautions, I believe God's word directs us to center our life and thinking differently than from a fear-based stance. 2020-05-1018 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 117: 1 John #70 - A SummaryA summary of 1 John. We look at six lessons learned which include how we live our lives, who we are in Christ, how we approach God's written word and more. 2020-04-0147 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 116: 1 John #69 - The Danger Zone: 1 John 5:21John anchors his exhortion to "keep yourselves from idols" in the relationship that we have with God as his children. This relationship that we have with God is a thread that runs throughout this letter and is an important, although often overlooked concept, of this letter. 2020-03-3039 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 115: Shepherds Serving Sheep2020-03-2536 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 114: Sheep Serving Shepherds2020-03-2430 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 113: 1 John #68 - The Ultimate Quest: 1 John 5:20The whole point of John's teaching on "knowing" is summed up in this verse. Why do we "know?" It is not so that we can be smart or have more information. This point of "knowing" is directed toward a person. Our quest is to know him, the True One. Knowing God is the centrality of Christian living and this gives us our true identity and teaches us how to live. 2020-03-2041 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 112: 1 John #67 - We Know Good News - 1 John 5:20God coming to mankind could either be good or bad news. John was convinced that God came to mankind in the flesh and that the news he brought was good. In this lesson we see in more detail what John has been explaining to us in the whole of his letter. We know that the Son of God has come! 2020-03-1836 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 111: 1 John #66 - What We Do With What We Know Part 2 - 1 John 5:19John uses the word "know" around 40 times in his letter. What do we know? More importantly, what do we do with what we know. In this seond lesson covering this subject we find that we "do not compromise." What does that mean and how do we do it as children of light? 2020-03-1745 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 110: 1 John #65 - What We Do With What We Know - 1 John 5:19First part of two lessons exploring a Christian's worldview. What we know in Christ is essential to living the Christian life. John continually shows us in the letter what we "know" even though we have often forgotten it. But now we must put what we know into practice. 2020-03-0639 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 109: 1 John #64 - Christians Worldview: 1 John 5:19There are two facts presented in this verse that give us a true and correct worldview. If you don't have a correct worldview then you won't live your life in the right way. These facts are "We know that we are children of God" and "we know that the world is under the control of the evil one." In this lesson we disscuss how these two facts focus the way we think correctly so that we can live the life of Christ. 2020-03-0538 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 108: 1 John #63 - Choice to Believe: 1 John 5:18bWhat do you know in Christ? We have been taught certain spiritual truths. But they are useless to us if we do not believe them and put them into practice. 2020-03-0232 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 107: 1 John #62 - State of Reality: 1 John 5:18We discuss a difficult passage where John makes an absolute statement that may cause one to wonder if he or she has been born again. Does this mean that a true Christian never sins? 2020-02-2835 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 106: 1 John #61 - Sin Unto Death: 1 John 5:16The "sin unto death" is not some special sin that can't be forgiven or even a sin that I committ willingly. We discover and explore the meaning of this phrase in this lesson 2020-02-2838 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 105: 1 John #60 - This is Family: 1 John 5:16John begins by drawing us to our spiritual family roots. "If anyone sees his brother..." This is far more that a religious greeting but an actual fact. We are related through Christ. What is you first reaction when you find a brother or sister in sin? Often we approach them in a religious way instead of as family. 2020-02-2540 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 104: 1 John #59 - Confident in Prayer 1 John 5:14,15The key word that we center this study in is "Confidence" Confidence is linked to one of John's favorite words, "Knowing". Confidence is then linked to the asking which is joined to whom we are asking - the Giver. 2020-02-2150 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 103: Character of an Elder - 1 Timothy 3:1-7We look at each description of the overseer in this lesson. What we see is the character of Jesus is particular descriptions rather than a legalistic list of requirements a person must meet before becoming an elder. 2020-02-1835 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 102: 1 John #58 - John's Ultimate Aim: 1 John 5:13John states three purposes in writing this letter - that we will have joy, that we will not sin and that we will know that we have eternal life. Thirty-seven times he uses the word "know" in this letter. We will summarize what we know and then look at how we are to know that we have eternal life. 2020-02-1340 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 101: 1 John #57 - Who Wants to Live? 1 John 5:7, 10-12The quest for truth has eluded great thinkers. What is truth? John answers that question in these verses and in discovering what the Truth is we also discover how to live 2020-02-1040 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 100: Godly Leadership - Mark 10:35-45Mark 10:35-45 sets the fundamental principle for Christian life. The world strives for recognition and power. Godly leadership begins with being a servant. 2020-02-0937 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 99: 1 John #56 - The Ultimate Martyr/Witness 1 John 5:6-12John begins in chapter one of his first letters showing that he was a reliable witness of Christ in the flesh. John points to three witnesses in what is perhaps the most difficult verses in this letter. What is the witness described as the Spirit, water and blood? Hopefully we gain some insight to this question in this lesson. 2020-02-0747 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 98: 1 John #55 - Who Wants to Be a Winner Part 2: 1 John 5:4,5It is easy and the world's way to live according to our feelings. But Christians must learn to live, not according to their feelings but according to God's facts. John teaches us to move from the realm of feelings to the heavenly realms of God' reality. We live in the world but not of it. 2020-02-0343 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 97: Examine Your Faith Part 4 - ApplicationThe Principle of Inquiry is found throughout the scriptures. It was pointed out to me at lunch by my son who is a diligent reader of the Bible and studies God's word. The principle is simply this: Those who inquired of the Lord usually had good results and those who didn't often found themselves in trouble. We look at several Old Testament examples, make application from the New Testament and then make a simple, yet profound application in putting our faith into action with this principle. 2020-02-0233 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 96: 1 John #54 - Who Wants to Be a Winner: Part 1 - 1 John 5:4,5In this section we will see how we all desire victory in our lives. We will define what John means by "overcome" and then we will discuss how we are overcomers in Christ. The key is our faith. 2020-01-3133 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 95: 1 John #53 - How to Live Joyfully 1 John 5:2,3In this lesson we explore the phrase: "his commands are not burdensome". We break this down into two parts. First we explore what "his commands" are. Second we will see what they are not designed to be a burden but designed to lift us up, help us live as we are meant to live and be joyful. 2020-01-2940 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 94: Examine Your Faith Part 3 - James 2Faith-living is Obedient living. Faith-living is other-world focused. When we live by faith sometimes life goes well with us and sometimes it does not. Hebrews 11 shows us that and then the book of James helps us learn how to put this type of faith into action. 2020-01-2736 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 93: 1 John #52 - Born Of God; Family Likeness; 1 John 5:1-51 John 5:1-5 describes what a person "born of God" looks like. They are people of faith, displaying their faith in acts of love and obedience. 2020-01-2240 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 92: 1 John #51 - Love: Our Character, Our Command: 1 John 4:19-211 John 4:19 states the kind of character we are to have.1 John 4:20 states how NOT to love God1 John 4:21 states the command we are to follow 2020-01-2241 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 91: Examine Your Faith Part 2 - Hebrews 11:1An examination of faith from Hebrews 11 2020-01-2028 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 90: 1 John #50 - God is Love: We live without fear Part 2 “There is no fear in love” 4:18I continue part two of "No Fear" by expanding on thoughts from Johann Albrecht Bengel a German theologian and writer who lived between 1687-1752. He described people living in one of four states. Without fear and love; with fear without love; with fear and love; without fear with love. 2020-01-1754 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 89: 1 John #49 - God is Love: We live with no fear Part 1 “There is no fear in love” 4:18"We are like Jesus" the latter half of 1 John 4:17 says. We will see how we are like Jesus and therefore how we can live without fear. If understood properly we will see that this message is totally God-centered and we can live confident lives, without fear and in perfect love. 2020-01-1642 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 88: 1 John #48 - God is Love - Living in Confidence. 1 John 4:17So many Christians struggle with standing confidently before God. I think the reason is that they look at themselves, their failings, sins and struggles instead of looking confidently to his love and sacrifice that completely cleanses us and places us in a right relationship with him. 2020-01-1341 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 87: Examine Your Faith - Part One - 2 Corinthians 13:5,6We define faith in this lesson by looking at how non-Biblical thinkers define faith and then how the Bible defines it. The Bible talks of "the faith" meaning the historical record that lays out the perameters of what we are to believe. Then our application to "the faith" is "our faith," how we live out our lives the way God directs us. 2020-01-1327 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 86: 1 John #47 - God is Love: Part 1 – We live in love 1 John 4:16b-18Part of examining "God is love" is looking back to 1 John 3:11ff and seeing John's circular style of writing. He has already introduced love and now he brings it into a greater explanation. One helpful way to understand what love is, is to look at its opposite. I introduce several ideas based in previous scriptures in 1 John but look at "sin" as the opposite of love. We then look at the practical element of love in the Christian life. 2020-01-0939 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 85: Current State of Affairs - 5 January 2020 - James 4:6-10James helps us improve our "State of Affairs". The context of James 4 causes us to reflex on our worldview. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. We must see the world as it truely is and then rely on God's grace - he gives us more and more grace (4:5). We then find 10 imperatives that are in the aorist tense. This means we are to make deliberate decisions. Each command stated I need to ask myself - "Is this something I need to change in my life." We look at each of the 10 commands and discuss how we can apply...2020-01-0827 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 84: 1 John #46 - Fact/Agree/Trust Our journey in faith and love. 1 John 4:14-16aFor many, faith is based in believing something that cannot be proven. Yet, Biblical faith is not that - it is belief based in facts. We will see this in 4:14. Once faith comes then God calls us to live in agreement with him. This is living in God and God in us. We see this in 4:15. We then discover in 4:16 that knowing and trusting go hand-in-hand and we trust in God's love. 2020-01-0241 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 83: 1 John #45 - How Far Away is God? 1 John 4:13This verse gives us two anchors of how we can have confidence in our relationship with God. The first anchor is mutual abiding - he lives in us and we live in him. The second anchor is his Spirit working in our lives. We examine what John means by this in this lesson. 2019-12-3140 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 82: 1 John #44 - Craving for Certainty 1 John 4:12No one has ever seen God. Why bring this up at this point in the text. It seems to me that it is a sub-theme of "God is love" and how we can be assured of his love for us. It is based in his love in our lives being displayed toward one another 2019-12-1731 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 81: 1 John #43 - Spiritual Health Checkup “We also ought to love one another” 1 John 4:11Spirituality is for every Christian, not just an elite few. Spiritual health is based in what you do and what you know. It is based in being "so loved" and it is based in how we love one another. We examine these four concepts in this lesson. 2019-12-1335 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 80: 1 John #42 - Love Brought To Light 1 John 4:9,10God's message is more than words - it is an action. It is love shown. The gospel message is a demonstrated message in the action of love. It is important to understand what love is and how it was shown to the unloveable. To properly define love we must look at God and begin to get a glimpse of him for he is the definition of love 2019-12-1033 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 79: 1 John #41 - The Greatest Test of All 1 John 4:7,8The Greatest test of living and knowing God is in how we learn to love and love in the way God shows us. When we learn to love right we get to know God and begin to understand Him. 2019-12-0646 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 78: 1 John #40 - Where's Your Center? 1 John 4:1-6In searching out the Spirit of God we find in this passage it has to do with discovering what is central to your life. Where's your center? is the question I ask. It is not in what you do or how good of a Christian you are. It has everything to do with learning to live a Christ-centered life. It has everything to do with who you are listening to. Are you listening to the call of the world or the call of God? 2019-12-0343 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 77: 1 John #39 - Running the test - 1 John 4:1We do a quick review of 1 John 3 in this lesson and then begin examining 4:1. The first word of chapter four is "beloved" which I believe is God's description of his children. We are God's beloved ones. He then tells us one way of how to live based on who we are (the beloved). We are not to live naive lives but lives of wisdom. 2019-11-1843 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 76: 1 John #38 - The Relational Aspect of Life in God: 1 John 3:24I introduce this lesson by tying it into the previous verse. We then look at the relational aspect of life in God. A mutual abiding and obeying his commands. John writes in a circular fashion. He states a proposition and comes back and expands on it. This is an example. He has already spoken of this in 2:3-6. Here he expands on that concept. 2019-11-1336 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 75: 1 John #37 - Confidence Toward God: We Ask Anything 1 John 3:22,23We introduce this section looking at the awesomeness of God, yet he is a God who calls us his children and wants a relationship with us! Because of that we can approach God with confidence and we look at this centers us in God and the Scriptures. John says we will receive anything we ask, which is an all-encompassing statement that we unpack to discover what he means. 2019-11-0546 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 74: 1 John #36 - Confidence Toward God: A Heart at Rest 1 John 3:19-21When we remember the three reasons John wrote this letter (Joy, not sinning and assurance) it helps us disect this passage. We do not set our hearts at rest but God has set our hearts at rest because of what he has done in Christ. This, therefore, gives us confidence toward God. 2019-10-3144 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 73: 1 John #35 - Motivation: Jesus' Love 1 John 3:16-18In the section of 1 John 3:11-18 we have spent five lesson which have pointed us to God's motivation in our lives. Often Christian's take their cue for motivation from the world's way -fear, reward, ambition or others. John takes us back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis and says, "Don't be like Cain" and shows us where our true motivation lies. This is true motivation and is foundational in our walk in the Light. 2019-10-2940 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 72: 1 John #34 - Motivation: Knowing Where You Live - 1 John 3:14-18John is describing in these verses truths that motivate us in proper living. He contrasts our life of love with that of Cain and his life of "hate". Part of our struggle as Christians is that we forget where we dwell. We are not of the world but of Christ and live out the life of Christ in love. 2019-10-2441 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 71: 1 John #33 - Motivation: Cain's and the World's 1 John 3:12.13If we live our lives the way God calls us to live - lives of love - one would think that the world would find this appealing. However, the world's heart is a heart of hate and so John warns us not to be surprised when the world hates us. There is something radically and fundamentally wrong in the world and we are children of God helping turn an upside down right-side up. As good as this is, it will cause opposition and the world will hate us for our righteousness. 2019-10-2235 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 70: 1 John #32 - Cain, the antithesis of love - 1 John 3:11,12We are learning how to walk in the light. The first half of 1 John speaks of walking in the light but the second half is application, how we walk in the light. In one word it is "love" When we learn how to love properly we are walking in the light. It is a life long journey because we can never fully understand God-love but we can grow in it and learn how to live in God-love in our daily lives. 2019-10-1837 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 69: 1 John #31 - From the Beginning: Love, 1 John 3:11John is teaching us how to live in the light. In this verse he describes it as "love." We are to "love one another." The word "love" is used 35 times in 1 John so it is an important and essential concept in the Christian life. John states this in the positive (love one another) and the negative, "do not be like Cain". In this lesson we will explore both the positive and negative aspects of love.2019-10-1643 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 68: 1 John #30 - From the Beginning: Light 1 John 1:1-3:10Light means many things in the Bible. It speaks of God's holiness and purity. of life and its revelatory nature. Christian are not only in light but they are light. Light doesn't mean living a perfectly sinless life but means living in such a way as allowing God to continually reveal himself to you and to reveal your own character to yourself so that he can change it into his image 2019-10-0441 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 67: 1 John #29 - What is Your Desire? Part 2 - 1 John 3:4-10We have a sin problem - even Christians. John says, "everyone who sins..." (v.4) and that would include everyone. The solution to our sin problem is wrapped up in the concept of abiding in Christ. What does that mean? Later John expands upon the word, "abide" but here are the beginnings of God's answers for us 2019-10-0344 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 66: 1 John #28 - What is your desire? Part 1. 1 John 3:4-10As we listen to John's strong statements regarding sin we must seriously examine these words. In this first of two lessons covering these verses we examine the concept of sin and explore exactly what sin is. Secondly we will look at some of the traditional interpretations of this passage and note those weaknesses in the context of 1 John. 2019-10-0152 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 65: 1 John #27 - Fact/Promise/Labor Part 2 1 John 3:2,3The Fact is who we are (3:1). The Promise is what we will become (3:2) and The Labor is How we Change (3:3).The Fact that we are children of God has taken care of our sin problem. The Promise assures us of a complete and final redemption. But the Labor is what we do now, how we change and grow in our present lives. 2019-09-2538 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 64: 1 John #26 - Fact/Promise/Labor Part 1 - 1 John 3:1John's beginning words of chapter three are some of the most marvellous in the entire Bible. This is a truth, a fact in which we must establish ourselves firmly - who we are in Christ. Everyone lives in such a way in how they think of themselves. If you think you are worthless you will live that way. Here John tell you who you are and thus how you should live your life. 2019-09-1839 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 63: 1 John #25 - Make Your Home In Christ: Confident and Doing Right 1 John 2:28,29It is difficult to outline 1 John because he writes in a "circular" way, (going back to previous thoughts and expanding on them) rather than in a linear way. But it seems to me that these verses begin a new section. 2:28,29 are transitional verses tying back to the fundamental teaching that Jesus is the Christ and his second section will show a constrast between living righteously and sinfully. He introduces the thought of living righteously in 2:29. 3:1-3 are a parenthetical exclamation regarding who we are before he begins to fully develop his section section.2019-09-1141 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 62: 1 John #24 - The Ultimate Truth: The truth and the liar 1 John 2:20-27The foundation of knowing the truth is knowing that Jesus is the Christ. The annointing that he speaks of here is a present happening. We are, in fact, "little annointed ones." In constrast to "knowing" John explains "the liar" that is, the person who denies what you know. You know that Jesus is the Christ, those who deny this participate in "the lie." Then the charge of what we are to do with this knowledge is given. We are to "abide". 2019-09-0640 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 61: 1 John #23 - Synopsis - 1:1-2:21I have written an expanded paraphrase of 1st John. In this letter I combine a summary along with the paraphrase of chapters one and two. We see in our summary that this letter is completely God and Christ centered, and so should our lives. This is what true reality is - a God-centered life. In chapter two we are introduced to a major theme under the word "know" and also see how John uses his circular style of writing coming back to a previously stated theme and expanding upon it. He does this throughout the letter. 2019-09-0444 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 60: 1 John #22 - Who You Are; What You Know - 1 John 2:19-21We all live out our lives in what we believe we are. Part of living as a Christian is remembering who God has made us in Christ. The world makes it easy for us to forget and that is why we need constant and even daily reminders of who we are as new people in Christ. 2019-08-2730 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 59: 1 John #21 - Separating Fact from Fiction. The Last Hour & Anti-Christ 1 John 2:18We examine the meaning of Anti-Christ and Last Hour. It is all centered in Christ. Who he is and what he does for us. We live in a world where bad things happen to everyone so don't expect that at the next catastrophe Jesus will come again. John is saying that we are to expect these things, there have always been those who are Anti-Christ and there always will be. 2019-08-2441 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 58: 1 John #20 - A Negative Response to God's Positive Action - 1 John 2:15-17God's good news is so good that we can scarely believe it! It is easy to bask in the theological thoughts and principles but the Bible is always practical and brings us back to earth and how we are to live. John states it in the negative - Do not love the world. The world is always calling for Christians to return to its love. It is tempting and the call of the world can sound sweet. But it is antithetical to God-love, it is temporary and valueless. You will eventually become like that which you love. God, who is...2019-08-2141 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 57: 1 John #19 - What Drives You? 1 John 2:12-14Why is it difficult to be motivated by God's amazing grace? It seems people respond quicker to fear or punishment. In these verses, and as we will see, all throughout this letter, John is supplying us with proper motivation - God-centered motivation. 2019-08-1238 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 56: 1 John #18 - The New Old Command - Love 2:7-11We find here the command which directs our lives. It's been with us since the beginning of our walk with God. And then we see the evidence of not living this way - living in the darkness; and evidence of living this way - living in the light. How do we live this way when we are a parodox of inconsistencies? We are kind and yet unkind. We are patient yet impatient. It is a matter of where we focus our lives. When we focus our lives in our efforts to live well we find ourselves in darkenss. When we...2019-08-0935 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 55: 1 John #17- The Old Command - the first command from your new birth 1 John 2:7In our last lesson we saw John expand from "my dear children" in 2:1 to "dear friends" in 2:7. We explained his meanings behind these idioms. In this lesson he expands from his opening words, "...we proclaim concerning the word (logos) of life..." to the phrase in 2:7 "...the word (logos) you heard." By "expansion" I mean that John is taking a previous concept and then expands the meaning as he continues to write his letter. This is something he does in his "circular" writing - continuing to go back to previous concepts and expanding on them. 2019-08-0638 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 54: 1 John #16 - The Beloved Learning To Love 1 John 2:7We will see two "expanisions" in this one verse. First he expands from "my dear children" to "dear friends". We will see what John is pointing us to with these words. Second, he expands from "that which was from the beginning" in 1:1 to "which you have had from the beginning." Again we will see how these tie together along with the meaning. All this teaches God's beloved ones, Christians, how we are to love. 2019-08-0244 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 53: 1 John #15 - First Step in Assurance 2:3-6One reason John wrote this letter was "that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13). He spends much of his writing helping us know. Here will discover two keys that lead us into being fully confident of our relationship with Christ. 2019-07-2537 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 52: 1 John #14 - Two "Knows" to Know 2:3-6The word "know" is used 37 times in 1 John. But there are two Greek words that our English translates "know". Some commentaries say that John is using them as synonyms and do not put much stock in the subtle difference between the two words. I believe in most cases John is making a distinction but even if he isn't the overall goal is the same. He wants us to "know" we have eternal life. He wants us to be certain while living in an uncertain world. He wants us to know the Lord Jesus and know that we are "in Him"...2019-07-1733 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 51: 1 John #13 - What A Friend! Righteous Advocate, Perfect Propitiation. 2:1-2When we sin we have a friend who is our Advocate, the one who speaks in our defense. But our defense isn't in the good we have done nor is there a legal loophole that our Good Lawyer is able to 'get us off the hook." His defense for us is his propiation, his atoning sacrifice, his payment for our sins. We are forgiven because of his righteousness that is placed upon us. 2019-07-1042 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 50: 1 John #12 - Why Christians Don't Sin 2:1Unlike many preachers who approach teaching about sin, John begins with concern and tender affections. His approach is not to be harsh or angry. His approach is to expose our lives to the light of God and to clarify our thinking about sin. When we keep our focus where it should be, John states, "we will not sin." 2019-07-0741 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 49: 1 John #11 -Walking in the Light Part 5 - Facing up to reality 2 - 1:8-10Here we examine 1 John 1:8-10. We see the reality of our marred human condtion (1:8). Christians don't pretend to be perfect - they sin. Next we see how God views our marred and sinful condition (1:9) and we discover good news in this. Then in verse 10 we see the reality of sins and the revelation of God in our lives. This passage is full of truth, what is real and good news! 2019-06-2536 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 48: 1 John #10 - Walking in the Light Part 4 - Facing up to reality 1:8-10Christians should "face up to reality". That's the nature of living in the truth and living in the light. We explore verses 8-10 of 1 John one and see that we face up to the reality of our marred human condition (1:8). We do not pretend that we have overcome sin, only God, through Christ, can do such a thing. We face up to the reality of how God views my sin (1:9) and find that this is part of the good news. Third we face up to the reality sins and how the revelation of his word helps us (1:10). 2019-06-1824 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 47: 1 John #9 -Walking in the Light Part 3 - The Impossible Made Possible 1:7Light is a theme in John's writing and he uses the concept of light not only to describe God but to also describe the way we live our lives. Too many times we have been told that we are walking in the light when we don't sin and walking in the darkness when we sin. But a simple reading of this passage shows this is not true. Walking in the light has more to do with how we handle our sin and where our fellowship is. 2019-06-1532 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 46: 1 John #8 - Walking in the Light Part 2 - Vanquishing the Darkness 1:6-10This passage offers a great deal of hope and joy. Living in darkness does not mean sinning - it means more of living a "me-centered" life than a God-centered life. Me-centered living often involves in "me" trying harder or focusing on not sinning which leads to a life that is not very joyful. When we learn to be God-centered we learn that he deals with our sins properly and we can then live a life of joy. 2019-06-1135 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 45: 1 John #7 - Walking in the light Part1 - It’s Not About Me - 1 John 1:6-10The "if" clauses of this section have been used by some to cause a great deal of guilt in Christian's lives. Yet, properly understood, this is a wonderful section (1:6-10) that brings assurance in our relationship with God and much joy 2019-06-0740 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 44: 1 John #6 - God is Light 1:5After finishing John's prologue in the first four verses we now see that John's first words center in the gospel of God - God is light. The gospel is a message primarily about God and his first description of God is "Light" Here we find that God reveals himself. He wants us to know him and what it means to be holy. 2019-06-0541 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 43: 1 John #5 - The Joy of Fellowship 1:3The proclamation of John that there is good news to share brings us into a restored relationship with God. Through His Son we have the joy of fellowship with the Creator of the world and that relationship is extended to all who enjoy fellowship with God. This fellowship is maintained through the power of the Holy Spirit and is matured as we put into practice the fruit of the Spirit. 2019-05-3040 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 42: 1 John #4 - A Life of Proclamation 1:1-4After taking three lessons to introduce the first epistle of John we begin a closer examination of the first four verses. John is saying that he had a message to proclaim. Not an ideology or a theory but a message of a person. That person was God in the flesh, one who came to bring us a new way to live on this earth. 2019-05-2931 min
House Church SermonsEpisode 24: Fiji Islands/New Zealand Mission ReportThe Wright family and the Central church has a history of working in New Zealand and Fiji that dates back to 1963. Allen made a three week trip and shared. with the church some of the highlights of the trip 2018-12-0331 min