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Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 4:6-8: To End Well In this passage of Scripture, we find the Apostle Paul penning his thoughts in a highly reflective state of mind. As he nears the finish line of his ministry, matters of time seem to be at the forefront of his thinking. The past, present, and future elements of life are condensed into three picturesque verses. In the past, churches have been planted, leaders have been trained, sufferings have been endured, and imprisonments have been experienced. Through it all, Christ was glorified.In the present, Paul describes himself as being poured out as a drink...
2024-08-1844 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 4:1-5 Preach the Word In our passage today, the faithful Bible teacher is commissioned: “tell us what God has to say,” or, “preach the Word of God.” It’s crucial that the whole church listen to what Paul says to Timothy here because it outlines the measure of faithfulness for every pastor/teacher at all times.
2024-08-1143 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesLuke 23:44-49: At The Cross Luke 23:44-49 offers us perspective regarding the final three hours of Christ’s experience on the cross. Just before darkness descended upon the land, Jesus found strength to assure a repentant criminal on an adjacent cross with the words Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise (23:43). Furthermore, John describes our Lord’s provision for his mother by arranging for John to offer her care and support (John 19:26-27).As our perfect substitute, we recognize that Jesus did not die in sin, but rather for our sins. Christ’s finished wo...
2024-08-0440 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 3:14-17: Inspired By God As the Apostle Paul passes on the baton of pastoral responsibility to the next generation of leadership, he reminds Timothy of what is changeless in changing times. Wisely, the Apostle Paul draws Timothy’s attention to the Word of God. In 3:16, Paul begins to develop the classic statement regarding the inspiration of Scripture with the words All Scripture is breathed out by God. At this point in time, the Scriptures pertained to the Older Testament, with Paul emphasizing that they have their origin in God.We will be examining the purposes of the Scriptures in th...
2024-07-2841 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 3:10-13: The Lord Rescues In 2 Timothy, Paul emphasizes God’s sovereignty: he saves the elect (2:10), he knows those who genuinely belong to him (2:19), he ‘may grant’ repentance to opponents (2:25-26), and, in all their rebellion, it is certain that false teachers ‘will not get very far’ (3:9).In our study today (3:10-13), we see a description of a godly life complete with content, tripping hazards, and ongoing opposition. Note that Paul never asks the “why” question about godly suffering. Instead, he underscores the endurance and power that accompanies maturing godliness, and the certainty that, under God’s gracious sovereignty, “the Lord rescues” th...
2024-07-2139 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesMark 10:13-22: Questions About the Kingdom As we look at Mark 10:13-22 today, we discover that Jesus addresses the question about who can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.He explains that only those who recognize their weakness and helplessness and submit fully to the God of Heaven will enter.
2024-07-1433 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 3:1-9: In The Last Days In our opening verse, Paul wrote But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty (3:1). What does Paul mean by the phrase in the last days? He is referring to the period of time that began with the coming of Christ and will continue until the day of Christ’s return. As Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds us, this is a period of time established by God for the fulfillment of his plan for his people.A major distinctive of the last days is the presence of false teachers. At least 18 diff...
2024-07-0743 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 2:20-26: In A Great House In every generation, the church will face false teachers who try to twist and distort what God has said clearly. To do this, these false teachers often generalize on a theme (in our passage, it’s the nature of the resurrection, v.18) and then run down a path of human speculation about that theme. The most dangerous false teachers arise from within the church (1 John 2:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1; Numbers 16; Galatians 1:6-10).The question in this passage (2:14-26) is, “How shall the Church deal with false teachers?” As Paul encourages Timothy, the pastor at Ephesus, he speaks...
2024-06-3043 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 2:14-19: The Word of Truth God is building his covenant people on the firm foundation of his inspired, preserved and infallible Word. In every generation there will be unique challenges to God’s definition of sanctification and holiness (how shall we live?) and the gospel (what is the ‘good news’?) and Christian doctrine. In every generation, God's people cling to his Word.As we experience questions, doubts and even challenges to God’s Word and authority, it is incumbent upon us to respond with wisdom. In our passage today, Paul instructs Timothy that there is a time to “remind” and to “charge...
2024-06-2348 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesEphesians 6:1-4: Honor Your Father In Ephesians 4-6, Paul outlines how Christian people will (and must) relate to one another and to the world around us. His instruction involves church life (4:1-5:21), family life (5:22-6:4), work life (6:5-9) and a vigilant attention to our own relationship with God (6:10-20 and chapters 1-3).As we focus on 6:1-4, we will see clear instructions for those who have dads (like you) and those who are dads. These instructions are always life-giving to the whole church, so that those who are dads, those who are orphaned, those who had a rough situation...
2024-06-1641 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 2:8-13: Remembering Jesus As the Apostle Paul begins a new paragraph in this letter to Timothy, the term endure seems to be central to his thoughts. In 2:10, Paul writes Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, and in 2:12 he adds if we endure, we will also reign with him. The word endure carries with it the meaning “to last,” and is associated with terms such as “endurance” and “duration.”Jesus Christ serves as the Apostle Paul’s inspiration for endurance. This is why Paul challenges Timothy to remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead (2:8). This idea is f...
2024-06-0945 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesRevelation 19:11-16: King Of Kings And Lord of Lords On this special Sunday in which we honor our high school graduates, Pastor Robert Lee delivers a message called "King of Kings and Lord of Lords,"' based on Revelation 19:11-16.
2024-06-0238 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesPsalm 27: The Lord Is My Stronghold Originally called “Decoration Day,” Memorial Day is a National Day of Mourning which calls Americans to reflect upon the personal sacrifice of 1.3 million soldiers who have died in US military service for the cause of freedom and liberty in our land. Indeed, “some gave all,” and we thank God for them. In the 27th Psalm, David teaches us how those who face great conflict and threat can have confidence in total victory as we draw near to the LORD. On this Memorial Day, it is imperative that we set our hopes on the Friend of sinners...
2024-05-2647 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 2:1-7: Strengthened To Entrust We are not surprised that the word entrust appears in this passage, since the term was used by the Apostle Paul in prior instructions to Timothy. In 1 Timothy 6:20, Paul wrote O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul states that God is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Two verses later, Paul challenges Timothy to guard the good deposit entrusted to you (2 Timothy 1:14).In 2 Timothy 2:1-7, we can see how Paul’s transition plan is to unfold. In verse 2, the Apostle writes and what you ha...
2024-05-1942 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesLuke 2:39-52: Treasures of the Heart The heart of Mary, the mother of Jesus, is revealed in the second chapter of Luke. Upon Christ’s birth, shepherds arrived in Bethlehem to witness what God had revealed. After this occurrence, Luke tells us that Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart (2:19). At the age of twelve, Jesus joined his parents in traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover. It was such a memorable experience that, when the family returned to Nazareth, Mary treasured up all these things in her heart (2:51). Mary’s heart was a storehouse of treasures.
2024-05-1238 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 1:15-18: A Ministry of Mercy The Apostle Paul demonstrated a great capacity for developing personal relationships. His vast circle of friendships included Timothy, Titus, Priscilla and Aquila, Silas, Luke, Barnabas, Ananias, and John Mark. Clearly, Paul invested himself in the lives of others to bring honor to the Lord. When we examine the final chapter of Romans, we find Paul sending greetings to thirty-three people, twenty-four of whom were in Rome.In 2 Timothy 1:15-18, we find Paul in a reflective state of mind. The great Apostle wants to equip Timothy to use discernment when choosing ministry associates. Through the...
2024-05-0538 min
RISENGod Meant It For Good With such a great transition ahead for our graduating seniors, it is God's providence that we close out our series in the book of Genesis with one last short devotion that reveals how God works everything out for His people in this message titled, God Meant It For Good.4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me b...
2024-05-0216 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 1:12b-14: Entrusted As the Apostle Paul unfolds a transition strategy for the next generation of leaders, the word entrusted becomes a key term in his vocabulary. In 1 Timothy 6:20, Paul wrote “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you.” At the end of 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul reminds us that the Lord “is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” Shortly after that, Paul challenges Timothy to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” As we will eventually observe, this idea is reemphasized in 2:2.The word picture associated with entrust involves guarding a significant deposit. In...
2024-04-2840 minRISENThe School of Hard Knocks Genesis 40:1-23 ESVSome time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.5 And one night...
2024-04-2523 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 1:8-12a: Now That Christ Has Appeared In 2 Timothy, we have Paul’s last words and final thoughts as he mentors Timothy, who pastors the church in Ephesus. As persecution was ramping up, it seems that Timothy struggled with fear and timidity in his proclamation of Jesus. Paul speaks a word of encouragement to Timothy to “not be ashamed,” and to be ready to “share in the suffering” that comes with the gospel. All of us are called to stand courageously as we minister the message of the good news about Jesus, and all of us wrestle with some fear and timidity. As Paul encourages Timothy, he does so...
2024-04-2146 minRISENThe Lord Was With Him The presence of God brings great blessing and power into our lives. In this message titled, 'The Lord Was With Him', we see what happens when God stays by the side of Joseph as he's sold into slavery, tempted by an adulteress, and put into prison.GENESIS 39:1–23Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he...
2024-04-1837 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 1:3-7: Days of Remembrance As we examine 2 Timothy 1:3-7, note the Apostle Paul’s reflective state of mind. In verse 3, he writes, I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. In verse 4, Paul tells Timothy, I remember your tears. Reflecting upon Timothy’s spiritual heritage, Paul writes in verse 5, I am reminded of your sincere faith, and in verse 6, Paul challenges Timothy with the words, For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God.2 Timothy reveals the heart of this preeminent apostle whose death is near (2 Timothy 4:6-8). These last words writ...
2024-04-1440 minRISENThrown In The Pit Even on the worst day of our lives, God is working all things together for our good. In this message titled, Thrown In The Pit, we see how God uses the most painful moment of Joseph's life to bring about the best day of his life. GENESIS 37:12–3612 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “...
2024-04-1132 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday Messages2 Timothy 1:1-2: According To The Promise The time had come for the passing of the torch. Throughout his far-reaching ministry, the Apostle Paul had kept younger men by his side, with the result being that new leaders would continue to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ through subsequent generations. Just as Moses passed the torch to Joshua and Elijah passed the torch to Elisha, so too did the Apostle Paul pass the torch onward to Timothy.2 Timothy, the last of Paul’s writings, was penned during a time when persecution against Christians throughout the Roman empire was accelerating. As a yo...
2024-04-0744 minRISENHope For Broken Families God works through imperfect families to bring about His plan. In this message titled, Hope For Broken Families, we see how God purposefully places Joseph in a dysfunctional family in order to get Joseph exactly where He wants him.Genesis 37:1-11 1 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad re...
2024-04-0425 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesLuke 24:1-12: The Resurrection Question The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the two most significant events in the history of humankind. By understanding the connection of these events, we are able to attest to the fact that Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:36). Clearly, Christ’s work of salvation had been completed and accepted (Romans 1:4; 4:24-25). Through his victory over death, Jesus Christ guarantees the certainty of eternal life for all who trust in him as Savior and Lord (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 20).Ponder the words Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Ma...
2024-03-3144 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesLuke 23:32-46: At the Cross On Good Friday, we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
2024-03-2933 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesJohn 13:31-35: At the Table Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter when Jesus celebrated his final Passover with His disciples. We honor this Last Supper with a Communion service to remember Jesus' sacrifice.
2024-03-2829 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesLuke 19:28-44: Arrival in Jerusalem Today we will examine the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. This marks the clear and required sign that Jesus, the King of all kings, has arrived in Jerusalem, the “city of peace.” 500+ years prior, Zechariah told the whole world that the King’s coronation in Jerusalem would look like this (Zechariah 9:9):Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the...
2024-03-2448 minRISENLife-Changing Prayer 1. Alone (22-24)22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children,[a] and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone.2. Difficult (24b-25)And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
2024-03-2129 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesIf Anyone Would Come Mark 8:31-3831 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”34 And calling the...
2024-03-1741 minRISENThe Heart of Integrity Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, but where does our motivation for integrity come from? In this message titled, The Heart of Integrity, we see that out of a heart to honor and obey God, Jacob lived with integrity, even amidst most unfair and challenging circumstances.
2024-03-1440 min
Sheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 14:16-21: Year After Year In Zechariah 14:16-21, the author describes a future time when the LORD is worshipped as King, with Jerusalem designated by God as the site for worship (14:16). Three times throughout this passage, reference is made to the Feast of Booths (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Indwelling). This feast is described in Leviticus 23:33-43 and Deuteronomy 16:13-16. Similar to the American 'Thanksgiving Day,' it is a time when the year's harvest is brought in, and the people rejoice in the goodness of the LORD. What Zechariah describes is a future day when...
2024-03-1043 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 14:8-15: King Over All The closing chapter in Zechariah provides perspective regarding the final battle in history, with Jerusalem serving as the epicenter of the conflict. Chapter 14 is an expansion upon what Zechariah wrote in 13:9. Last week, we covered 14:1-7 and noted two significant aspects of the battle. First, the conflict described by God (verses 1-3), and second, the conqueror sent by God (verses 4-7).The key verse in today’s exposition is 14:9, which states: And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. We wi...
2024-02-2502 minRISENFaithful Through It All Through it all, no matter what comes our way, God promises to remain by our side. In this message titled Faithful Through It All, we see Jacob take the next step in his spiritual transformation as he learns the all-important lesson of God's faithfulness.
2024-02-2236 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 14:1-7: Known To The LORD Jerusalem has been a central battleground throughout the centuries. In AD 70, Roman armies surrounded the city, and after a 143-day siege, Jerusalem with its temple was destroyed. After the Holocaust, Israel reestablished statehood in 1948, only to be thrust into an intense 10-month war. The years 1956, 1967 (the famous 6-Day War), and 1973(the Yom Kippur War) provide recent examples of a nation under siege, with Jerusalem as the epicenter.Zechariah 14 introduces us to the climactic, final battle in history. No prior battle compares to this siege. What distinguishes this war (referred to as the Battle of...
2024-02-1843 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 13:7-9: The Shepherd Story When Zechariah quotes the LORD who declares Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the one who stands next to me (13:7), he is drawing from the rich heritage of shepherds in Jewish history. The term shepherd was first used to describe Abel in Genesis 4:2. Subsequently, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s sons are referred to in Scripture as shepherds (Genesis 13:7; 26:20; 30:36; 37:2 ff). Great leaders, such as Moses and David, were shepherds (Exodus 3:1, 1 Samuel 16:11 ff).As Zechariah prepared his readers for anticipating both first and second comings of the Messiah, he could draw upon Ezekiel 34:23-31, wh...
2024-02-1138 minRISENHumiliation Before Humility God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble; therefore, we need humility! In this message titled, 'Humiliation Before Humility,' we see how an utterly humiliating moment in Jacob's life contributes to his radical spiritual transformation by teaching him the all-important lesson of humility.
2024-02-0838 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 13:2-6: House Cleaning Zechariah 12-14 communicates a "burden" (an authoritative word from God) regarding what will occur in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. Yahweh, “who stretched out the heavens” and “formed the spirit of man” (12:1), will miraculously deliver his people from external global military threats (12:1-9). He will also give great gifts (12:10, “grace”), including widespread repentance and loyalty to Jesus, the Messiah, described as “a fountain . . . opened to cleanse them.” (13:1)In our passage today, we see that another characteristic of cleansing “on that day” is the permanent eradication of both idolatry and false prophets from th...
2024-02-0447 minRISENJacob Meets God God can take even the greatest lying, two-timing cheaters and completely transform their lives. In this message titled, Jacob Meets God, we see the beginning of Jacob's massive spiritual transformation start to take place as he meets God for the very first time.
2024-02-0137 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 12:10-13:1 |The Spirit of Grace A repeated phrase in Zechariah 12-14 is the wording On that day, occurring seventeen times, which refers to the return of Jesus Christ. The focal point for our Lord’s return is Jerusalem, which is referenced twenty-two times. In prior verses leading up to today’s passage, we noted how our Lord will defend his city (1-3) and deliver his people (4-9). As we examine today’s passage, it becomes clear that our Lord’s objective is more than physical deliverance. What is truly needed is a spiritual transformation among his people.Consider how God uses...
2024-01-2842 minRISENScandalous Grace God often gives unimaginable blessings to the most unqualified people--the worst of the worst--all to show His amazing grace. In this message titled, Scandalous Grace, we see just that as we're introduced to Jacob, a man full of selfish ambition and deceit, yet chosen by God to be the next heir of an eternal and glorious promise.
2024-01-2538 minRISENGold-Eli and the She-Bears God blesses and upholds those who stand up for truth, even in the face of harm and humiliation. In this message titled, Gold-Eli and the She-Bears, we study an often misunderstood passage that shows us God's holiness and protection of His truth-tellers.
2024-01-1830 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 12:6-9: The Glory Revealed One of the key phrases found in Zechariah 12-14 is on (or in) that day, which occurs seventeen times. This phrase is associated with the return of Jesus Christ. During this time, the combination of God’s justice and grace is fully exhibited. Justice is demonstrated toward those who stand opposed to God and his people, while grace in the form of deliverance is provided to those who trust in the LORD. Let’s examine 12:6-9 carefully and note what God reveals about his plans.
2024-01-1441 minRISENFinding The Right One One of the most important decisions of a person's life is choosing a spouse. Besides following Jesus, no other decision will shape and direct the trajectory of your life more. In this message titled, Finding The Right One, we discover four principles given to us in God's Word to guide us in making this crucial decision.
2024-01-1143 minSheboygan eFree Church Sunday MessagesZechariah 12:1-5: The Heavy Burden Zechariah, whose name means Yahweh remembers, served as both prophet and priest during the post-exilic times. His ministry began around 520 B.C., coinciding with the work of Haggai. The book of Zechariah can be easily divided into two parts. Chapters 1-8 were most likely written at the start of Zechariah’s ministry, at about the age of 30. Chapters 9-14 were composed during the latter years of Zechariah’s life.Chapters 9-14 are organized around the phrase the oracle of the word of the Lord, found in both 9:1 and 12:1. The word oracle needs to be unde...
2024-01-0745 minRISENWhat Is Faith? (Part 3) Faith is essential to having a right relationship with our Creator. It is what allows us to receive every glorious blessing of heaven. And in this third installment of a three-part message titled, What Is Faith?, we see Abraham exercise deep trust in God at a crucial moment in his life, showing us what true faith really looks like.
2024-01-0433 min