Shows
Meadowbrooke ChurchBe Watchful, Be Wise, Be Aware!Last fall, I preached a series of sermons on the armor of God as part of a series in the epistle to the Ephesians. Today, I am not preaching any of those sermons. I am preaching this sermon on a familiar passage out of a sense of urgency for all of us (me included). It might be because we are honoring six of our own from Meadowbrooke Church who have graduated from High School. It may also be because of multiple examples we are given in the Bible of individuals who started well, but whose lives ended poorly; people like...2025-06-0100 minMeadowbrooke ChurchBe Watchful, Be Wise, Be Aware!Last fall, I preached a series of sermons on the armor of God as part of a series in the epistle to the Ephesians. Today, I am not preaching any of those sermons. I am preaching this sermon on a familiar passage out of a sense of urgency for all of us (me included). It might be because we are honoring six of our own from Meadowbrooke Church who have graduated from High School. It may also be because of multiple examples we are given in the Bible of individuals who started well, but whose lives ended poorly; people like...2025-06-0100 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Delighting ShepherdThe Bible begins with a garden, and it ends with a garden. In the first garden, Adam and Eve sinned and what they received and what we inherited was a curse. To Eve and all her daughters, God said: I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall deliver children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you (Gen. 3:16). To Adam and all his sons, God said: Cursed is the ground because of you; with hard labor you shall eat from it all the days of your life. Both thorns and...2025-05-1800 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Delighting ShepherdThe Bible begins with a garden, and it ends with a garden. In the first garden, Adam and Eve sinned and what they received and what we inherited was a curse. To Eve and all her daughters, God said: I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall deliver children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he shall rule over you (Gen. 3:16). To Adam and all his sons, God said: Cursed is the ground because of you; with hard labor you shall eat from it all the days of your life. Both thorns and...2025-05-1800 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Relentless ShepherdHave you ever been chased by a dog? I have been chased numerous times, and not once did I ever feel wanted, special, or loved by any of the dogs that pursued me. Of all the times I have been chased by dogs while on a bike, my experiences have mostly been in Cheyenne. I now arm myself with canine safe spray that will not harm any dog that decides to pursue me but will most definitely stop them from continuing! So, what does any of this have to do with the 23rd Psalm?
In the 23rd Psalm, we have...2025-05-1100 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Relentless ShepherdHave you ever been chased by a dog? I have been chased numerous times, and not once did I ever feel wanted, special, or loved by any of the dogs that pursued me. Of all the times I have been chased by dogs while on a bike, my experiences have mostly been in Cheyenne. I now arm myself with canine safe spray that will not harm any dog that decides to pursue me but will most definitely stop them from continuing! So, what does any of this have to do with the 23rd Psalm?
In the 23rd Psalm, we have...2025-05-1100 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Benevolent ShepherdIn 1939, J.R. Tolkin took Robert Dickmans hypothesis one step further in a lecture he delivered titled, On Fairy Stories. In his lecture, Tolkin said the following about fairytales and those who create them:
Probably every writer making a secondary world, a fantasy, every sub-creator, wishes in some measure to be a real maker, or hopes that he is drawing on reality: hopes that the peculiar quality of this secondary world (if not all the details) are derived from reality, or are flowing into it. The peculiar quality of the joy in successful Fantasy can thus be explained as a...2025-05-0400 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Benevolent ShepherdIn 1939, J.R. Tolkin took Robert Dickmans hypothesis one step further in a lecture he delivered titled, On Fairy Stories. In his lecture, Tolkin said the following about fairytales and those who create them:
Probably every writer making a secondary world, a fantasy, every sub-creator, wishes in some measure to be a real maker, or hopes that he is drawing on reality: hopes that the peculiar quality of this secondary world (if not all the details) are derived from reality, or are flowing into it. The peculiar quality of the joy in successful Fantasy can thus be explained as a...2025-05-0400 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchPhilippians 2Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWM9ClJSohM2025-04-2700 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Triumphant ShepherdNobody expected Jesus to rise from the dead, not even His disciples and those closest to Him expected Him to get up and walk out of the tomb. It did not matter to His disciples that Jesus said that He would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise from the dead (Mark 8:31), because what He said fell upon deaf ears at the time. On the day of Jesus death, everyone believed that He had lost, and evil had won. There was no coming back...2025-04-2000 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Triumphant ShepherdNobody expected Jesus to rise from the dead, not even His disciples and those closest to Him expected Him to get up and walk out of the tomb. It did not matter to His disciples that Jesus said that He would suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise from the dead (Mark 8:31), because what He said fell upon deaf ears at the time. On the day of Jesus death, everyone believed that He had lost, and evil had won. There was no coming back...2025-04-2000 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Shepherd Who Guides and RestoresIn Genesis 1:1, the Bible begins with a simple but profound sentence. Most English translations of the Bible begin with ten words and end with ten words. In Genesis 1:1, we are told: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In the final verse of the book of Revelation the Bible concludes: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen (Rev. 22:21). What these two verses tell me is this: We are alive and are here today because of God and by His grace.
In Psalm 23, we discover that it is by the grace of God that I...2025-04-1300 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Shepherd Who Leads and ProvidesThe second verse in the 23rd Psalm is a peculiar one for those of us not accustomed to the undeveloped lands of the Bible. When you read of green pastures and quiet waters you most likely think of Goshen County, WY which produces more beef cattle than any other Wyoming county in our state. When I read Psalm 23, I think of the New Jersey Highlands consisting of lots of green and lots of water. But the green pastures that David had in mind was a dry and rocky set of rolling hills with tough grass sparsely scattered throughout. The grass...2025-04-0600 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Shepherd Who Leads and ProvidesThe second verse in the 23rd Psalm is a peculiar one for those of us not accustomed to the undeveloped lands of the Bible. When you read of green pastures and quiet waters you most likely think of Goshen County, WY which produces more beef cattle than any other Wyoming county in our state. When I read Psalm 23, I think of the New Jersey Highlands consisting of lots of green and lots of water. But the green pastures that David had in mind was a dry and rocky set of rolling hills with tough grass sparsely scattered throughout. The grass...2025-04-0600 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe LORD of the 23rd PsalmThe Psalms are the song book of the Bible, and as you are probably aware, songs and poems are written out of the deep well of the human heart. The difference between the Psalms and every other song or poem is that the Psalms are inspired by God Almighty and are the Word of God. Of all the Psalms, it is the Psalm before us that is most familiar. In my opinion, what the Lords prayer is to the New Testament, Psalm 23 is to the Old Testament. It is that familiar, and it is familiar for good reason.
Think for...2025-03-3000 minMeadowbrooke ChurchJesus & The Four Warnings2025-03-2300 min
Meadowbrooke Church"A City on a Hill"When I was a child, I remember the sense of security I had while Ronald Reagan served as our president. I also remember his farewell address to our nation and the great sense of loss that I felt knowing that he would no longer be serving as our nations president. John Winthrop preached in 1630 upon arriving in Massachusetts; in his sermon Winthrop declared his fellow pilgrims: For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. He also said of their future in Massachusetts:
Beloved there is now...2025-03-1600 minMeadowbrooke Church"A City on a Hill"When I was a child, I remember the sense of security I had while Ronald Reagan served as our president. I also remember his farewell address to our nation and the great sense of loss that I felt knowing that he would no longer be serving as our nations president. John Winthrop preached in 1630 upon arriving in Massachusetts; in his sermon Winthrop declared his fellow pilgrims: For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. He also said of their future in Massachusetts:
Beloved there is now...2025-03-1600 min
Meadowbrooke Church“Living My Truth...”My truth... Speaking my truth... Your truth... I have read a number of articles to try and learn what is meant by My truth. There are a number of suggestions such as:
The way I see things may be different than the way you see things.
Be true to yourself.
A pretentious substitute for a non-negotiable personal opinion.
The way I see and understand something may be different than the way you see
and perceive it.
I know some stuff, and its likely that may change over time.
In a recent trailer for a show on Hulu titled, Faces of...2025-03-0900 minMeadowbrooke Church“Living My Truth...”My truth... Speaking my truth... Your truth... I have read a number of articles to try and learn what is meant by My truth. There are a number of suggestions such as:
The way I see things may be different than the way you see things.
Be true to yourself.
A pretentious substitute for a non-negotiable personal opinion.
The way I see and understand something may be different than the way you see
and perceive it.
I know some stuff, and its likely that may change over time.
In a recent trailer for a show on Hulu titled, Faces of...2025-03-0900 min
Meadowbrooke Church“I’m Offended...”What is it about our tribe that we need to make sure it is clear that we are right and everyone else is wrong? What I mean by our tribe is Bible believing, church going, evangelicals who say that we agree with Jesus on everything that He said being right and true. Just so that there is no misunderstanding about what I mean by the word our, I want to be clear that I am including myself in my question about our tribe.
Let me begin by acknowledging and confessing some things that I know to be true about myself...2025-03-0200 min
Meadowbrooke Church"Forgive and Forget..."What does it mean to Forgive and forget after you have been wronged by someone? To forgive and forget is to stop blaming someone for something they did and to stop thinking about it. Maybe you have heard someone say to you: I forgive you, but I cant forget... What does that really mean? Can a person forgive and at the same time hold onto the memory of the wrong suffered?
The Bible makes a big deal about forgiving a wrong suffered. Just in case you are unfamiliar with what the Bible says about forgiving others, let me share a...2025-02-2300 min
Meadowbrooke Church“God is Leading Me...”Have you ever had someone tell you that the motive behind their decision(s) was that God was leading them? Did you ever wonder how it was that they knew God was leading them? What if He is not leading you and you make that claim? On some level, does that make you guilty of breaking the 9th Commandment? In case you have forgotten what that commandment states, here it is: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor (Exod. 20:16). Is it also possible that by using Gods name as an excuse for your choices in life, that you...2025-02-1600 min
Meadowbrooke Church“It’s Okay to Be Angry with God”Introduction (Bruce Almighty movie clip)
It is possible that you are here today and are wondering how and why it is that a good God would allow some of the hard things you were forced to experience so far. Maybe you have said or identify with Bruces description of his own experience with God: God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I'm the ant. He could fix my life in five minutes if He wanted to, buthe'd rather burn off my feelers and watch me squirm.
If God is good, and if he...2025-02-0900 min
Meadowbrooke Church“He/She is in a Better Place.”I have officiated dozens of funerals over the years as a pastor, which means that I was involved in the planning of the service, the delivery of a sermon, and some form of committal service involving the burial of the deceaseds body or placement of the ashes of those bodies that were cremated. The first funeral I officiated was that of my 47-year-old father and since I have been responsible for burying people of all ages as young as grade school to the oldest who was 101 years old. I have been asked to memorialize people from all walks of life...2025-02-0200 minMeadowbrooke Church“He/She is in a Better Place.”I have officiated dozens of funerals over the years as a pastor, which means that I was involved in the planning of the service, the delivery of a sermon, and some form of committal service involving the burial of the deceaseds body or placement of the ashes of those bodies that were cremated. The first funeral I officiated was that of my 47-year-old father and since I have been responsible for burying people of all ages as young as grade school to the oldest who was 101 years old. I have been asked to memorialize people from all walks of life...2025-02-0200 min
Meadowbrooke Church“All Dogs Go to Heaven.”What I mean by the statement, All dogs go to heaven, is really a question I have been asked numerous times by both young and old: Will my pet go to heaven when it dies? I want to do my best to answer that question, but I want you to know that my answer will also address a much broader question related to what Gods ultimate plan is for his creation. We know what His plan is for humanity, but do you know if Gods plan of redemption includes animals?
Let me begin by stating some things that could not...2025-01-2600 minMeadowbrooke Church“All Dogs Go to Heaven.”What I mean by the statement, All dogs go to heaven, is really a question I have been asked numerous times by both young and old: Will my pet go to heaven when it dies? I want to do my best to answer that question, but I want you to know that my answer will also address a much broader question related to what Gods ultimate plan is for his creation. We know what His plan is for humanity, but do you know if Gods plan of redemption includes animals?
Let me begin by stating some things that could not...2025-01-2600 min
Meadowbrooke Church"God Wants Me to Be Happy"All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought...2025-01-1900 minMeadowbrooke Church"God Wants Me to Be Happy"All people want to be happy. I have spent a lot of time with people as a pastor, and the majority of couples and individuals who met with me over the years did so because they longed to be happy. It is also true that the motivation for couples seeking marriage or divorce, the desire for a new job or the determination to quit a job, what led to substance abuse or a willingness to break an addiction is all the same: the desire to be happy. In fact, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who sought...2025-01-1900 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchWhere’s the Love?The church in Ephesus was planted sometime around AD 52 by apostle Paul with the help of Aquila and Priscilla. The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John sometime in the mid 90s. The church had existed in a very difficult city for many years; a city where Christians did not have rights, emperor worship was mandatory, and the economy was heavily dependent on the worship of Artemis. From the time the apostle brought the gospel to the city and the letter to Ephesus, written to the church and included in the book of Revelation, the challenges the church...2025-01-1200 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchRejoicing in Suffering1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at...2025-01-0500 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchRahab, A New BeginningMany of us are probably familiar to some extent with Rahab, the Jericho prostitute who turns to God and is spared along with her family when the Israelites destroy the city. But there is much more to her story that should cause us to marvel at Gods mercy and grace, and warn us against hypocrisy.
Lets go look at where we encounter her. Israel had sent out two spies to check out Jericho. They go to the home of Rahab, the prostitute, where presumably it would not be unusual to find strangers. But someone alerts the authorities and Rahab is...2024-12-2900 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Power to Stand FirmWe come to the end of Ephesians today. At the beginning of his letter to these dear Christians, Paul prayed that they would come to know the significance of what it meant to be a Christian and what it meant to be the Church: I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe (Eph. 1:1819a). Isnt this what we want...2024-12-2200 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Sword of the SpiritAncient warfare was fierce. It was close, it was personal, it was dirty, it was aggressive, it was violent, and it was in your face. In preparation for battle, soldiers lined up in tight formation side by side with about three feet separating each soldier so that they could move freely. Every piece of the armor was critically important: The belt kept everything he was wearing in its rightful place, the breastplate protected his vital organs, his shoes were designed so that he could stand his ground and maintain his footing, his shield helped protected him from any weapon that...2024-12-1500 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Sword of the SpiritAncient warfare was fierce. It was close, it was personal, it was dirty, it was aggressive, it was violent, and it was in your face. In preparation for battle, soldiers lined up in tight formation side by side with about three feet separating each soldier so that they could move freely. Every piece of the armor was critically important: The belt kept everything he was wearing in its rightful place, the breastplate protected his vital organs, his shoes were designed so that he could stand his ground and maintain his footing, his shield helped protected him from any weapon that...2024-12-1500 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Helmet of SalvationOn the first Christmas, an angel appeared to some shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks at night. We are told that at the angels appearing, the shepherds were terribly frightened. The angel announced to the shepherds: And so the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped...2024-12-0800 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Helmet of SalvationOn the first Christmas, an angel appeared to some shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks at night. We are told that at the angels appearing, the shepherds were terribly frightened. The angel announced to the shepherds: And so the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped...2024-12-0800 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Shield of FaithIt has been a few weeks since we were in Ephesians. The last sermon I preached was on the shoes of the gospel of peace. I have a confession to make, and it is not one to be proud of: I am not very good at creating space for my own rest. One of the symptoms that a break and vacation is needed is when your pastor takes 15-20 minutes to talk about shoes during his sermon introduction! In preparation for this sermon, I have been thinking about the importance of rest as it is related to faith.
One of...2024-12-0100 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Shield of FaithIt has been a few weeks since we were in Ephesians. The last sermon I preached was on the shoes of the gospel of peace. I have a confession to make, and it is not one to be proud of: I am not very good at creating space for my own rest. One of the symptoms that a break and vacation is needed is when your pastor takes 15-20 minutes to talk about shoes during his sermon introduction! In preparation for this sermon, I have been thinking about the importance of rest as it is related to faith.
One of...2024-12-0100 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchGrowing UpWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9f2eSfow6E2024-11-2400 minMeadowbrooke ChurchGrowing UpWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9f2eSfow6E2024-11-2400 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchCentered On JesusWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO9GZuNFu9I2024-11-1700 minMeadowbrooke ChurchCentered On JesusWatch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO9GZuNFu9I2024-11-1700 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchShoes of the GospelThere was a time when I could not stand the idea of exercise. I was tired of being on cholesterol and blood pressure medicine, and finally got to the place where I became desperate enough to get healthy. One of the first things I chose to do was join a gym, hire a trainer, and sign up for a 5K because I thought that if I did not train for it, I would die. So, I began running twice a week while I trained at the gym three times a week. What I learned soon after I started running was...2024-11-1000 minMeadowbrooke ChurchShoes of the GospelThere was a time when I could not stand the idea of exercise. I was tired of being on cholesterol and blood pressure medicine, and finally got to the place where I became desperate enough to get healthy. One of the first things I chose to do was join a gym, hire a trainer, and sign up for a 5K because I thought that if I did not train for it, I would die. So, I began running twice a week while I trained at the gym three times a week. What I learned soon after I started running was...2024-11-1000 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Breastplate of RighteousnessWhat does it mean to be a Christian? How do you know that you are a Christian? What assurance can you have that you will remain a Christian? Well it is mentioned over thirty times in Ephesians, in fact we are told about 10 times in the very first and very long sentence that makes up the first 14 verses of Ephesians:
In Christ, all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places now belongs to you Christian (v. 3)
In Christ, you were chosen before the foundation of the world (v. 4)
Through Christ, you were predestined and adopted as sons and daughters of...2024-11-0300 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Breastplate of RighteousnessWhat does it mean to be a Christian? How do you know that you are a Christian? What assurance can you have that you will remain a Christian? Well it is mentioned over thirty times in Ephesians, in fact we are told about 10 times in the very first and very long sentence that makes up the first 14 verses of Ephesians:
In Christ, all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places now belongs to you Christian (v. 3)
In Christ, you were chosen before the foundation of the world (v. 4)
Through Christ, you were predestined and adopted as sons and daughters of...2024-11-0300 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchStand Firm with the Belt of TruthOctober 31st marks the 507th anniversary of the protestant reformation when a Catholic monk by the name of Martin Luther wrote ninety-five complaints concerning the Roman Catholic Church and nailed those complaints to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg in 1517. Little did Luther know that his complaints would be taken down, translated into multiple language, and mass produced through the newly invented printing press.
It was because of what Martin Luther was reading and studying in his Bible that he wrote his complaints for the purpose of debating and dialoging over what he believed were inconsistences with the...2024-10-2700 minMeadowbrooke ChurchStand Firm with the Belt of TruthOctober 31st marks the 507th anniversary of the protestant reformation when a Catholic monk by the name of Martin Luther wrote ninety-five complaints concerning the Roman Catholic Church and nailed those complaints to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg in 1517. Little did Luther know that his complaints would be taken down, translated into multiple language, and mass produced through the newly invented printing press.
It was because of what Martin Luther was reading and studying in his Bible that he wrote his complaints for the purpose of debating and dialoging over what he believed were inconsistences with the...2024-10-2700 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchResist on the Evil DayCan I ask you a question? Why is it that we Christians in America tend to be surprised by the supernatural? Think about what it is that we say we believe. We believe the Bible to be true and supernaturally inspired by God Himself. Because we believe the Bible to be supernaturally inspired, we believe God created all things by the act of His omnipotent will. Because we believe the Bible to be inspired by God, we believe that there was a serpent in the Garden who successfully tempted Adam and Eve to sin, that Satan does indeed exist, as...2024-10-2000 minMeadowbrooke ChurchResist on the Evil DayCan I ask you a question? Why is it that we Christians in America tend to be surprised by the supernatural? Think about what it is that we say we believe. We believe the Bible to be true and supernaturally inspired by God Himself. Because we believe the Bible to be supernaturally inspired, we believe God created all things by the act of His omnipotent will. Because we believe the Bible to be inspired by God, we believe that there was a serpent in the Garden who successfully tempted Adam and Eve to sin, that Satan does indeed exist, as...2024-10-2000 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchStand Firm Against the Schemes of the DevilSome of the pets that I enjoyed the most growing up were the kind that ate other living things. Most of you know that I spent the first 12 years of my life in South Jersey just across from the Delaware and then moved into Pennsylvania on the other side of the Delaware. As a kid, I owned a lot of pets! I had hamsters, hermit crabs, at one time we had five Doberman pinchers, and a whole bunch of cats! If I am honest, my favorite pets were the kind that ate other living things. For example I used to...2024-10-1300 minMeadowbrooke ChurchStand Firm Against the Schemes of the DevilSome of the pets that I enjoyed the most growing up were the kind that ate other living things. Most of you know that I spent the first 12 years of my life in South Jersey just across from the Delaware and then moved into Pennsylvania on the other side of the Delaware. As a kid, I owned a lot of pets! I had hamsters, hermit crabs, at one time we had five Doberman pinchers, and a whole bunch of cats! If I am honest, my favorite pets were the kind that ate other living things. For example I used to...2024-10-1300 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Strength of the LordThe threat of sin within and among those who make up the Bride of Christ has existed since the beginning, and the danger of wolves is something we are warned about throughout the Bible. In fact, after three years of strengthening the Ephesian Church through the faithful preaching and teaching of Gods Word, Paul warned: Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you...2024-09-2900 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Strength of the LordThe threat of sin within and among those who make up the Bride of Christ has existed since the beginning, and the danger of wolves is something we are warned about throughout the Bible. In fact, after three years of strengthening the Ephesian Church through the faithful preaching and teaching of Gods Word, Paul warned: Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you...2024-09-2900 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Glory of Christ is the Beauty of His ChurchIn Genesis 1:26-27, we learn that both Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. He created Adam and Eve as male and female, and he created them equal as image bearers of God. When God created mankind, He declared: Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image...2024-09-1500 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Glory of Christ is the Beauty of His ChurchIn Genesis 1:26-27, we learn that both Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. He created Adam and Eve as male and female, and he created them equal as image bearers of God. When God created mankind, He declared: Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image...2024-09-1500 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Magnificence of MarriageI heard a well-meaning pastor and theologian say by way of application from his reading of Ephesians 5:22-25 these words: Godly women want to feed their men. Godly women are designed to make the sandwiches. This is not an absolute law, like the one about making babies, and there are times when a man fends for himself and makes quite a decent sandwich. But in the general scheme of things, the apostle Paul wants the women to make the sandwiches.[1] My question to you, is that what Ephesians 5:22-25 is teaching?
So, here is how I hope to answer that...2024-09-0800 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Magnificence of MarriageI heard a well-meaning pastor and theologian say by way of application from his reading of Ephesians 5:22-25 these words: Godly women want to feed their men. Godly women are designed to make the sandwiches. This is not an absolute law, like the one about making babies, and there are times when a man fends for himself and makes quite a decent sandwich. But in the general scheme of things, the apostle Paul wants the women to make the sandwiches.[1] My question to you, is that what Ephesians 5:22-25 is teaching?
So, here is how I hope to answer that...2024-09-0800 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Marvel of MarriageIf there were ever a sentence in the Bible to serve as a trigger for anger, resentment, and resistance towards the Bible it is most likely Ephesians 5:22, Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. The reason some women bristle at verses like Ephesians 5:22-24 is because they have not known the kind of love husbands are called to demonstrate in verse 25, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her...
Before we can even begin to address these verses, I need you to hear something. Marriage is an...2024-09-0100 minMeadowbrooke ChurchThe Marvel of MarriageIf there were ever a sentence in the Bible to serve as a trigger for anger, resentment, and resistance towards the Bible it is most likely Ephesians 5:22, Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. The reason some women bristle at verses like Ephesians 5:22-24 is because they have not known the kind of love husbands are called to demonstrate in verse 25, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her...
Before we can even begin to address these verses, I need you to hear something. Marriage is an...2024-09-0100 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Walk of the Wise (part 2)The definition of apathy is, a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. Atrophy is the gradual decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect. I said last week that spiritual apathy is the kind of thing that will happen when you are so paralyzed by shame that you stay in your shame instead of allowing it to motivate you into repentance. Spiritual apathy, if left untreated, will lead to spiritual atrophy. In Ephesians 5:14-21, we are given a four-fold pathway to keep us from spiritual apathy and to rescue us from spiritual atrophy; last week, I showed the...2024-08-2500 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchThe Walk of the Wise (part 1)I understand that Ephesians 5:1-13 is a difficult section in the Bible, for at least 50% of the men and about 25% of the women in churches across America view porn at least once a month. To listen to three weeks of sermons on Bible verses that address sexual sins when you already feel defeated is surely discouraging. According to one study, 43 percent of Christian men and 20 percent of Christian women acknowledge that your exposure to porn (and any sexual sin for that matter) has worsened their relationship with God.[1] What that means is that some of you not only feel stuck...2024-08-1800 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchRisen With JesusIn 2012, D.A. Carson published his book, The Intolerance of Tolerance. Around the time his book released, he spoke on the subject at a conference I attended; I remember thinking that his book was timely and potentially prophetic, but none of us could have fully appreciated the gravity of what was coming. The following quote from Carsons book illustrates exactly what I mean:
Neither the old tolerance nor the new is an intellectual position; rather, each is a social response. The old tolerance is the willingness to put up with, allow, or endure people and ideas with whom we disagree...2024-08-1100 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchLive the Jesus WayMy sermon today is meant to be both helpful and hopeful. What we read in verses 7-10 is encouraging to you if your faith and trust is in Jesus Christ as the only One qualified to atone for all of your sins as the Lion and the Lamb. These verses are encouraging if you believe that Jesus while fully divine was also fully human for the purpose of living the life you could not live to die upon the cross for your sins while He was perfectly sinless, and that all the wrath of a Holy God fell upon Him...2024-08-0400 minMeadowbrooke ChurchLive the Jesus WayMy sermon today is meant to be both helpful and hopeful. What we read in verses 7-10 is encouraging to you if your faith and trust is in Jesus Christ as the only One qualified to atone for all of your sins as the Lion and the Lamb. These verses are encouraging if you believe that Jesus while fully divine was also fully human for the purpose of living the life you could not live to die upon the cross for your sins while He was perfectly sinless, and that all the wrath of a Holy God fell upon Him...2024-08-0400 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchContenderGuest Speaker - John Byrne2024-07-2800 minMeadowbrooke ChurchContenderGuest Speaker - John Byrne2024-07-2800 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchWalk Jesus’ WayChristian, for what purpose did God save you? If Ephesians 1:4 is true (and it is), why did God choose you before the foundation of the world? Why was the blood of Jesus shed on your account? For what end were all of your sins forgiven? What is the motivation of the Holy Spirit to seal you and keep you until the day of redemption? Did God choose you so that you would be happy? Was it for your joy that Jesus shed His blood? Is it for your satisfaction that the Holy Spirit seals and keeps you?
We are in...2024-07-2100 minMeadowbrooke ChurchWalk Jesus’ WayChristian, for what purpose did God save you? If Ephesians 1:4 is true (and it is), why did God choose you before the foundation of the world? Why was the blood of Jesus shed on your account? For what end were all of your sins forgiven? What is the motivation of the Holy Spirit to seal you and keep you until the day of redemption? Did God choose you so that you would be happy? Was it for your joy that Jesus shed His blood? Is it for your satisfaction that the Holy Spirit seals and keeps you?
We are in...2024-07-2100 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchWalk the Jesus WayI know many of you know my story and how God saved me. Every year at this time I am more mindful of the miracle of Gods mercy, love, and grace upon my life! When God found me, I was so lost! I was not looking for Him, yet He found me! God got my attention on July 12, 1991, after I stepped in front of a big old car in the middle of Business Rt. 1 (aka West Lincoln Hwy.). My graduating class in 1993 was just under 600, the population where I grew up is currently over 70,000, and the hospital I was taken...2024-07-1400 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchLiving in Light of Your IdentityJohn Owen was a puritan who lived in the United Kingdom, the most published author of the 17th century, and considered by many as one of the most important theologians produced by the West. One of his most famous lines ever penned comes from his book, The Mortification of Sin, which was first published in 1656. Mortification simply means to put to death. Owens entire book is really a treatise on Romans 8:13, for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the...2024-07-0700 minMeadowbrooke ChurchLiving in Light of Your IdentityJohn Owen was a puritan who lived in the United Kingdom, the most published author of the 17th century, and considered by many as one of the most important theologians produced by the West. One of his most famous lines ever penned comes from his book, The Mortification of Sin, which was first published in 1656. Mortification simply means to put to death. Owens entire book is really a treatise on Romans 8:13, for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the...2024-07-0700 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchLiving in Light of the WayI want to begin our time together this morning by reading four different verses from the Bible followed by a story and then ask a question that I hope to answer in a way that is helpful. So here are the four different verses which are from four different books in the Bible, and from four different authors:
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets...2024-06-3000 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchLiving the Right WayThere have been men in my life whose influence had such a profound effect upon my life that had they not been a part of it, I would not be the man that I am today. These men include men whose lives continue to shape my life, men like Ralph Robinson and Ed HardestyRalph is home with Jesus and Ed is still faithfully teaching the Bible at a Bible college and faithfully preaches and shepherds at the church he planted years ago. There are others who I will leave unnamed who started out in ministry so well, but were derailed...2024-06-2300 minMeadowbrooke ChurchLiving the Right WayThere have been men in my life whose influence had such a profound effect upon my life that had they not been a part of it, I would not be the man that I am today. These men include men whose lives continue to shape my life, men like Ralph Robinson and Ed HardestyRalph is home with Jesus and Ed is still faithfully teaching the Bible at a Bible college and faithfully preaches and shepherds at the church he planted years ago. There are others who I will leave unnamed who started out in ministry so well, but were derailed...2024-06-2300 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchLiving for the Right ThingSome time ago I read a quote from Charles Misner about Albert Einstein regarding what he thought about church and religion. Listen carefully to what Misner said about one of the smartest men who lived:
The design of the universe is very magnificent and shouldnt be taken for granted. In fact, I believe that is why Einstein had so little use for organized religion, although he strikes me as a basically very religious man. He must have looked at what the preachers said about God and felt that they were blaspheming. He had seen much more majesty than they had...2024-06-1600 minMeadowbrooke ChurchLiving for the Right ThingSome time ago I read a quote from Charles Misner about Albert Einstein regarding what he thought about church and religion. Listen carefully to what Misner said about one of the smartest men who lived:
The design of the universe is very magnificent and shouldnt be taken for granted. In fact, I believe that is why Einstein had so little use for organized religion, although he strikes me as a basically very religious man. He must have looked at what the preachers said about God and felt that they were blaspheming. He had seen much more majesty than they had...2024-06-1600 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchOh Captain! Our Captain!With no real way of knowing how the American civil war would end, President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863; the most important part of his proclamation stated the following: That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.
The war began with shots fired at 4:30 a.m. in South Carolina at Fort Sumter, on April 12, 1881...2024-06-0900 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchWalking in UnityAlthough the word church is not used in these verses, it is used throughout Ephesians. The Greek word for church is ekklesia and means, assembly, gathering, community, congregation, or as you know it church. That is its meaning on the surface but dive a little deeper into the meaning of ekklesia and you will discover that the word is made up of a prefix and a root. The prefix is ek and means out of, and the root is kaleō, which means, call or summon. All I want you to know and appreciate is that the word for church (ekklesia) l...2024-06-0200 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchWalking TallIf you are born again, you are alive with Christ! If you are born again, everything listed in Ephesians 1:3-14 is true of you! In those twelve verses the phrase: In Him or in Christ is stated. Before we even touch Ephesians 4:1-3, I want you to marvel over what it means to be in Christ. In Jesus, I can now know the God for whom I was made. In Jesus God no longer sees my sin, but the righteousness of His Son. In Jesus, I am becoming more and more like the person I was born to be. In...2024-05-2600 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchQ & A Sunday // Ephesians 1-3Questions from Ephesians 1:1-3:21
If God chose me before the foundation of the world? Do I really have free will?
Yes. But the real question is this: Is your free will limited to your spiritual condition? In the second sermon of our Ephesian series, I preached an entire sermon on the infamous Ephesians 1:4-6, and in that sermon, I answered what it meant to be chosen by God, here is what I said: To be chosen means that God predestined you to something. Predestination means, to determine something ahead of time before its occurrence.[1] So, according to these verses, before...2024-05-1900 min
Meadowbrooke ChurchBeyond All That We Ask or ThinkSusanna Annesley was born on January 20, 1669 and was the youngest of her 25 siblings! Her father was the Rev. Dr. Samuel Annesley and was later referred to as the St. Paul of the Nonconformists who stood against the unbiblical practices of slumbering national church.[1] To give you some sense of the kind of Christian home Susanna was born into, the Annesley home was visited by some of the spiritual giants of their day, such as Richard Baxter, John Owen, and Thomas Manton. Susanna said of her childhood: I will tell you what rule I observed when I was young and too...2024-05-1200 min
Bite-Sized PLEpisode 41: Back to SchoolWe are back! We are so excited to get back to school and podcasting. Sit with Jenette and Kate as they interview two teachers on their "back to school" process. Carly Maloney teaches at Viewmont High School and Magali Cromar teaches at Meadowbrooke Elementary. Welcome back educators! New this season! Watch our podcast for our a more visual experience! Watch the video for these interviews here. 2022-08-1622 min
Gift Biz Unwrapped258 – Lots to Learn from this “Gourd-geous” Biz with Ben Bear of Meadowbrooke GourdsBen has spent the last thirty years helping to start and grow a company called Meadowbrooke Gourds. They now have twenty full-time employees dedicated to growing, designing, crafting and marketing gourd decor designs, each one intended to create smiles and make homes a little bit warmer.
They sell about half their gourds wholesale to customers located in every state. The other half are sold online, at their store, and through the many classes and community events that they host at their farm.
Ben attributes their success to many things, but none more important than constantly trying to be just a...2020-03-1654 min