FBC Independence Podcast

Purposes of the Church: A Proclaiming People

I recently hear someone say to a family member, “How am I supposed to know if no-one tells me?”

 

That’s a good point, isn’t it?  It applies to so many situations – even in the area of faith! If someone is never told about Jesus, how can they know and follow Him?

 

This is exactly the truth behind what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Christians in Colossae. In today's episode we reference Colossians 4:2-6

 

This passage shows us that:

 

• Evangelism is God’s plan for drawing people into the faith

 

• The Church has been given the task of sharing the gospel message

 

Rev Kev also shares some Guidelines for Evangelism

 

• Approach with a spiritual attitude

 

• Strengthen your witness with your lifestyle

 

• Personalize the message

 

One other thing Paul adds at the end is especially important, especially in times of conflict and social upheaval – Be nice!  “Let your speech always be with grace.” God calls us to share the message of Jesus with a gracious and loving attitude, and relate to others in a way that communicates the generous nature of this great gift from God.  Avoid name-calling and judgmental comments, and treat people like you would like to be treated, and spoken to.

 

If you will be in the Independence Square area for Santa Cali Got. Please consider parking with us. All funds raised go to support our Children's and Youth Ministries as well as our Benevolence Funds to help families in need. You can also contribute financially to our Ministry here

 

We would love to have you worship with us in person! We meet Sunday mornings at 9AM for Sunday School and then at 10:30 for Worship service. We are at 500 West Truman Road in the heart of the Historic Independence Square just one block from the Harry S. Truman home.

Purposes of the Church: An Intentional People

Why do we have “The Church?”  Is it just religion, or is there more to it than that? 

 

 

If we understand that The Church is nothing more, and nothing less, than God’s people, then we can gain a good understanding of why we have The Church, and what the purpose of The Church really is.

 

 

Even though The Church is a New Testament concept, established in the time of Jesus, the Old Testament stories can help us gain a sense of God’s purposes for His People.

 

 

Our Bible Passage comes from Jeremiah 29:4-14 which shares some great truths:

 

• We are a part of God’s plan for eternity

 

• God’s plans are best discovered and experienced within the Church

 

 

 

We are a part of God’s plan for eternity

 

 

God is eternal; He has always existed, there has never been a time when God did not exist.  The very definition of God rejects the notion that someone created Him – by definition, God “is.”  He always has been, is now, and will forever be!  And, at some point before time as we know it began, God decided to create that which is our universe, and us.

 

 

In the passage we read, we see that God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah about his plans for the people of Judah.  Some background will help:

 

 

• The Southern Kingdom, called Judah, was all that existed of the nation of Israel

 

• The Northern Kingdom, Israel, had been destroyed in 722 b.c.

 

• The passage we read was written about 590 b.c. 

 

• Assyria was in a many-years long conquest against Judah, which fell in 586 b.c.  as part of God’s judgment against them.  

 

• The Babylonian leader, Nebuchadnezzar, had deported the leaders and academics, and would eventually bring others to Babylon to captivity.  

 

 

Jeremiah’s letter was written to them, in captivity.

 

 

 

In these verses Jeremiah spoke for God; The message was simple, and contained “The Plan”

 

 

  

The key verse in v.11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

 

 

 

This was God’s Plan for them - “Make the best of where you are now.  Live your life, establish relationships, build your homes.  My plan is to bless you, and give you hope in the future.  Trust me.”* God was reminding them of who they were, and that He had given them a purpose in life – They were to be God’s people, representing Him to everyone they encountered!  They were to be obedient to His teachings, worship Him and Him alone, and bring other nations into the true faith, given by God.  The future was going to bring challenges, but God would be with them!

 

 

 

This is not only a passage out of history:  This can also serve as a sort of “parable” of God’s plan for all of His people!  The simple truth is, God had a plan for His people in history – as worked out in Israel’s history; but the greater truth is that God has a plan for His People into all eternity!  God’s plan for the Hebrew people, is God’s plan for His people in all ages and eras, into eternity!

 

 

 

This is where our lives are given meaning and purpose! Our lives are given meaning and purpose as we live out our lives in the mundane routines of life – our discoveries and experiences, and our relationships with both man and God.  There is a purpose to all we experience – to experience the joys of relationships with others, and with God!  What we do now in this life, affects us into eternity.

 

 

 

Our lives of faith, lived out in The Church, have an eternal purpose and meaning, because the experiences and relationships that are “our life” are a part of God’s grand plan for us!

 

 

 

Your task as a Christ-follower is to discern God’s plan for your life, and live out that plan.  More than a simple “map,” though, God’s plan is revealed and experienced as we live our lives in relationship with others, and with God!

 

 

 

God’s plans are best discovered and experienced within the Church

 

 

 

Don’t think this is just a trick to get you to go to a certain building on a certain day. The Church is best understood as people who have received Christ as Savior, and made him Lord and Master of their lives.  They follow Him with their lives, they study the Word of God together, they worship together, and they live their lives, nurturing the relationships that are part of “the Plan.”

 

 

 

In our passage in Jeremiah, the people were separated from each other – their relationships with each other had been broken by their captivity, and their relationships with God had been broken because of their sin.  Jeremiah was calling them to get back into “the Plan,” by telling them to get on with their lives, where they were – nurturing their relationships with each other:  v.6, “marry, and have children.  Then find spouses for them, and have many grandchildren.” They were to multiply, and nurture their relationship with God.  vv.13-14a, “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.  I will be found by you, says the Lord.”

 

 

 

This is no obscure teaching that you’ve never heard!  Real life – life that has meaning and purpose, and gives us hope for the future – is best founded upon a relationship with God, and worked out in relationships with others. There is nothing easy to it!  It comes as you live each day with faith, struggling against sin and apathy, and loving and serving others.  God’s Plan for you and for The Church may not include a life of ease, or a “cure” for every problem, but it is worth it!

 

 

 

One day, centuries after Jeremiah gave this message to his people, Jesus was questioned by one in the crowd, a lawyer: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  Jesus looked him in the eye and said these words, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as Yourself.”  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”  (Matthew 22:34-40)

 

 

 

Jesus made a sincere religious faith simple, and showed us how to be in tune with “the Plan.”  Live in good relationship with others; and live in good relationship with God!

 

 

 

 

God’s Plan for The Church is profound, and life-changing, but very simple:  Love God and follow His will, and love others as you serve them every way you can.  When we follow God’s plan our lives are changed and blessed by Him, and His name is glorified!

 

 

You can support our Missions financially by Giving Here

 

If you would like more information about our church, please email us at FBCIndep@gmail.com

 

Worship in person with us every Sunday morning at 10:30AM at 500 West Truman Road in Historic Independence, Missouri. We are one block East of the Harry Truman Home.

 

 

Old School Gospel

It was Vacation Bible School Week at the Church this week. The theme was Old School and the building was brimming with energy from all the kids all week! When something is “old school,” we understand it to be a positive thing – it means that whatever we’re talking about might seem to be a little “old fashioned,” but it is as good, or better, than anything else that has come along!  That’s what we talked about this week with our children – we talked about the way that the Gospel is “old school,” because it has been around a very long time and, even though it may seem old fashioned to some, it is still relevant and viable, and even better than anything else that has come along.

 

We are surrounded by new things!  Smart Phones and electronic devices, new forms of shopping,  and even dramatic changes in cars, moving from gas to electric. Begrudgingly, we have to admit that the new ways are good; maybe even as good as the old ways. But sometimes, the old ways are better!

 

Here are a few of the “Old School” ideas our Vacation Bible School kids learned this week:

• Our God is the all-knowing creator. 
• God speaks to us and leads us through His Word, and His Spirit.
• God has offered us the chance to get things right – to start over in this life!

 

The Gospel is primarily about God saving us from our sin!  It has nothing to do with how good you are, or who you know, or what you’ve done – It is all about God working, through his crucified and resurrected son Jesus, to cleanse you, and save you from your sin. And after that, God intends to use you in the fight against evil; He gives you a purpose, and a way to make a positive difference in this life!

 

 This is the “old school” gospel – and we can definitely say here, “Sometimes, old school is better!” 

 

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘but the righteous man shall live by faith.’”           Romans 1:16-17

 

Our passage today comes from Genesis, Deuteronomy, and Ephesians

 

You can support our Missions financially by Giving Here

 

If you would like more information about our church, please email us at FBCIndep@gmail.com

 

Worship in person with us every Sunday morning at 10:30AM at 500 West Truman Road in Historic Independence, Missouri. We are one block East of the Harry Truman Home.

Temptations of Jesus: A Compromised Religion

The Church was and is a great idea – unless we mess with it. “The Church” it is not a place or a building, it is us!  We are formed by God, to serve.

 

Have you ever begun a task or project that was pure and simple, but before long it had been tweaked and changed to the point that it barely resembled the original goal?  It’s called “Mission Creep,” and it can affect projects, companies, and even those in the Church. Satan tempted Jesus to fall for the temptation of “mission creep” in the way that He would lead his Church.

 

Jesus final temptation teaches us that

 

• God’s people must resist the world’s effects upon the practice of our faith.

 

• A compromised faith appeals to our desires to “get what you want.”

 

Our passage today comes from Luke 4:9-13

 

You can support our Missions financially by Giving Here

 

If you would like more information about our church, please email us at FBCIndep@gmail.com

 

Worship in person with us every Sunday morning at 10:30AM at 500 West Truman Road in Historic Independence, Missouri. We are one block East of the Harry Truman Home.

 

 

A Special 4th of July Message: God's Blessing on our Nation

It's a special 4th of July Message as Rev Kev has returned from vacation and is ready to talk about how if we allow God into our lives, He will bless us. That goes for our Nation too!

 

It may not be politically correct to say this in our culture today – but we have been blessed by Almighty God!

 

Today we gather and worship, just as we do every Sunday of every week of every year.  We gather to worship a God who has worked to bring us salvation, forgiveness of sins, the ability to live a life with joy, and the eternal rewards that await those that follow Jesus – just like every other week of the year.  Except that this Sunday is just a little different, isn’t it?  We gather like every other Sunday to worship – but on this day, the day before we as a nation celebrate the Freedoms and privileges that came so dear, we gather to worship the God who has worked to bring our great nation into existence!

 

It may be unpopular for us to say this because our nation is struggling with the idea of God and faith, and whether or not He matters;  but we gather today, and celebrate our faith in the God that has changed our personal lives, and the ways in which God has acted in our own nation’s history!

 

This act of worship is nothing new:  The Hebrew people often stopped their activities to do this very thing.  Even though they as a people went through difficult times, economic downturns, and even military defeats, they continually came back and recognized that the very reason they existed as a people was because God had worked to bring that about.

 

In our passage, the Psalmist writes of God’s blessings on nations. We reference Psalms 33:12-22

 

12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

 

13) The Lord looks from heaven;

He sees all the sons of men;

 

14) From His dwelling place He looks out

On all the inhabitants of the earth,

 

15) He who fashions the hearts of them all,

He who understands all their works.

 

16) The king is not saved by a mighty army;

A warrior is not delivered by great strength.

 

17) A horse is a false hope for victory;

Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

 

18) Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope for His lovingkindness,

 

19) To deliver their soul from death

And to keep them alive in famine.

 

20) Our soul waits for the Lord;

He is our help and our shield.

 

21) For our heart rejoices in Him,

Because we trust in His holy name.

 

22) Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,

According as we have hoped in You.

 

In this Psalm, which was written to honor God and recognize His blessings upon a people, there are a couple of teachings we acknowledge:

 

• God chooses those whom He will bless.
• God watches over the people who choose to follow Him.

 

God chooses those whom He will bless

 

The old phrase was simply, “How odd of God, to choose the Jews.”  This was a way of saying that God chose to bless the Jewish people before they were a people – and blessed them, even though no-one knew them, loved them, or cared about them.  Indeed, when God chose to work in and through Moses to bring the people out of Egypt, the Jewish nation did not even exist.  They were a slave people thrown into a miserable situation, and poor and helpless.  They cried out to God and He heard their prayers, and began to work to bring them from slavery to the Promised Land, and make them a people that would stand forever.  God “chose” to bless them, form them into a nation, and be their God.

 

That is not so different from the way he has chosen to bless our nation, is it?

 

The earliest settlers here – the Pilgrims – rejoiced that God had brought them safely to our shores, and their first act upon arriving at Plymouth Rock was to kneel and have prayer – thanking God for bringing them here, to begin a new nation that was free from the tyranny of an overpowering government.  They also dedicated their new colony to God’s use and glory.

 

Over and again our early leaders reaffirmed their faith in God’s work and blessings, oftentimes writing of their faith, and God’s work in historical events.

 

Our first president, George Washington, wrote often regarding our Christian faith.  Here is just one quote: “It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.  Of all dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are indispensable supporters.”

 

Our early leaders were not perfect, to be sure; and, we must acknowledge the evil of some of their actions; but within them there was the sense that they were involved in something much larger than themselves – they really believed God was at work!  In retrospect we can see that God chose to use them, flawed as they were, and to bless them and guide them in their efforts – to form us and to bless us as a nation!

 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” (v.12)

 

There is something else here for us as we prepare to celebrate our nation’s birth, and blessings:

 

God watches over the people who choose to follow Him

 

Pslams 34:18-19

 

18) The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 

19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

 

The history of God’s people was one of blessings when they were faithful to God, and one of troubles when they rebelled against His leadership.  God never required them to be perfect, but He did require that they worship only Him, and make efforts to live according to his will and desires.   He was gracious and patient, and fully willing to protect and bless them – as long as they would follow Him in faith!

 

The pattern was the same under Moses, and the Judges, and the Kings – when the people rebelled against God they suffered the consequences, but when they turned from their sin and followed God they were blessed!  

 

This is the way God has always worked with His people – He always loves us and desires to bless us – but our sin and rebellion invariably brings suffering and loss.  

 

Again, this is the way God has always worked with His people – even in our own nation’s history: 

 

Our nation is at its best when we live true to biblical teachings, and at its worst when we reject them:

 

• When we rejected the biblical teaching that all are created equal and utilized slavery and prejudice, we brought great misery and destruction to everyone.  The slaves and their families suffered immeasurably, and our nation to this day struggles with the emotional impact that slavery has had upon our people.
• When we rejected the biblical teachings regarding human sexuality and the importance of the family, we began a downward spiral that has damaged the mental and emotional health of millions of children, and threatens the very strength and unity of our nation.  
• When we followed the leadership of God’s people in the past, and our leaders and our people united in prayer after the tragedy of 9-11, our nation became stronger and better than ever before!  When Christians united in hurricane relief after Katrina (over 60% of volunteers were Christian!); we saw a nation that was generous and loving, and worked for the common good.

 

When we acknowledge God’s place in our lives God forgives and works and blesses, especially in times of fear and desperation!

 

Our nation is a great nation, blessed by God!  We are not perfect; we have profound flaws in our society that have come as a result of rejection of God’s leadership; at the same time, however, God loves us and continues to bless us and make us strong.

 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.  I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.  O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

 

Psalms 33:12; 34:1, 3, 8

 

What are your biggest takeaways from today's sermon?

 

 

Do you have feedback on today's sermon? Is there something you would like to discuss further? Drop me a line either at revk@fbcindep.org or fill out our Connection Card and let's talk!

 

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Flee, Freeze, or Fight

Rev Kev is on a well deserved vacation, but nothing to worry the congregation was left in the very capable hands of Russell Peirce. Listen along as Russell discuss how Christians are often faced with the important decision to Flee, Freeze, or Fight. He also draw parallels in how Jesus responded when he was put in these same situations.  

Challenges to our Faith - A Fiercely Tolerant Culture

One of the greatest challenges to Christians of every era is the resistance to godly faith that exists everywhere. A pagan culture or belief system is one that is not focused on Christian teachings, Jesus, and the Bible. Many cultures do not practice Christianity but accept its teachings as good and moral, where some cultures actively resist some/all biblical teachings, particularly those re: Jesus. The challenge for Christians is:1) to be strong in their faith and not compromise on essential teachings in the face of cultural rejection and ridicule; 2) To boldly and openly practice/proclaim their faith in light of culture; and 3) Resist tendency of reductionism, i.e., to reduce all religion to "the same” based on ethical teachings, etc.

Challenges to our Faith - A Weak and Impure Faith

Over the last few weeks we’ve looked as some of the challenges to our faith – the assertions of science, skepticism over miracles, etc. But one of the most drastic and devastating challenges to our faith comes from within – it is a faith that is weak and impure that is vulnerable to attack.

Challenges to our Faith - Eternity

What happens when you die?” is a huge question for most people. Today, Kevin discusses how Jesus guides us as we deal with those that would challenge our Christian beliefs regarding eternity. He mentions two major ideas; the first is the person of God:

• God is the righteous and discerning judge
• The issue of eternal destinations is an important part of our faith

Challenges to our Faith: Miracles

The scriptures encourage faith in the miraculous, and challenge the modern mind. Over time we have become a little suspicious when we hear the word miracle.  We understand many things of nature now that were once considered miracles, and Doctors everyday do what was once considered “miraculous.”  Due to these realizations some Christians may feel threatened or intimidated, or even embarrassed, because of their belief in miracles.