The sermon centers on the church's mission to gather, grow, and go, grounded in the example of the early church in Acts, where faithful gathering around the preaching of God's Word, consistent prayer, and bold gospel proclamation defined Christian life. It emphasizes that true spiritual growth comes not from programs or personalities, but from the Spirit-empowered proclamation of Scripture, which demands attentive listening and obedient response. Prayer is presented not as an optional practice, but as essential to spiritual vitality, guiding decisions, sustaining missions, and fueling bold witness, with the early church modeling a life of constant dependence on God. The call to go is not a strategy for growth, but a divine mandate to share the gospel in everyday moments, through personal relationships, public preaching, and cross-cultural outreach, trusting that God adds to His church as believers faithfully proclaim Christ. Ultimately, the church's purpose is not to preserve itself, but to be a living witness—dropping off the 'groceries' of the gospel—so that others may see, believe, and be saved, fulfilling God's mission with humility, faithfulness, and courage.

Some technical difficulties cut off the start of the sermon - Apologizes! The sermon calls the church to a life of faithful gathering, deep spiritual growth through Scripture, and intentional mission, rooted in the example of the early church in Acts 2. It emphasizes that true discipleship requires consistent fellowship not as an optional activity, but as a vital means of grace, where believers are sharpened by one another and sustained by God's Word, which is uniquely inspired and transformative. The church is not to be a comfortable retreat, but a lighthouse—faithful in worship, grounded in doctrine, and actively sending believers to share the gospel, trusting that God, not human strategy, adds to His church. The call is to commit in 2026 to gather regularly, grow through the Word with depth and intentionality, and go forth in bold witness, knowing that spiritual vitality comes not from programs or comfort, but from faithful obedience to Christ's command to make disciples.

This is a short sermon directly following our Children's Christmas Program that centers on the profound truth of Emmanuel—God with us—rooted in Isaiah 7:14, where God offers a sign of hope amid national fear and political desperation. Though King Ahaz, paralyzed by anxiety and distrust, refuses to ask for a sign, God graciously provides one: a child born in his time who will symbolize divine faithfulness and deliverance, even as Ahaz's reliance on foreign alliances leads to spiritual compromise. The passage is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose incarnation—God entering human history not in glory but in vulnerability—demonstrates that salvation begins not with human effort but with divine initiative. The message calls believers to trust God not in moments of calm, but especially in anxiety, failure, and spiritual weakness, reminding them that Christ's presence is not symbolic but real, sustained by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Ultimately, Christmas is not a retreat from life's struggles, but a declaration that God has come to dwell with us, offering strength, presence, and hope in every trial.

This sermon centers on the profound truth that Jesus, the promised Messiah, is God with us—fully divine and fully human, sent to save His people from their sins. Through the narratives of Mary, Joseph, and Christ, it emphasizes that God chooses ordinary individuals—Mary, a humble young woman, and Joseph, a righteous man of quiet faith—not for their merit, but for His grace and sovereign purpose. The sermon underscores the necessity of the virgin birth as foundational to Christ's sinless nature and redemptive mission, while affirming that Jesus' name—meaning 'the Lord saves'—reveals His divine mission: to justify, sanctify, and ultimately glorify His people. It calls believers to respond with humble faith, obedient trust, and a life centered on Christ, who fulfills God's promises and completes salvation through His finished work on the cross, ensuring that no one who belongs to Him will be lost.

God's desire to dwell among His people is the central theme of this passage, revealed through the detailed instructions for building the tabernacle, which serves as a profound picture of divine presence, holiness, and the necessity of sacrifice. The text emphasizes that God does not merely dwell in proximity but demands a sacred, divinely ordered approach, marked by specific materials, boundaries, and rituals that underscore His holiness and the separation between humanity and the divine. These elements—especially the Ark of the Covenant, the veil, and the altar—point forward to Christ, who fulfills the law, tears down the dividing wall, and becomes the ultimate sacrifice and dwelling place of God with humanity. The sermon calls believers to respond with reverence, gratitude, worship, and joy, recognizing that access to God is only possible through Christ, and that the purpose of salvation is not merely escape from judgment but intimate fellowship with God for life and mission.

This sermon, drawn from Exodus 24, presents a profound vision of God's redemptive purpose: not merely to save His people from bondage, but to draw them into intimate, joyful fellowship with Himself. Through the imagery of a covenantal wedding, the sprinkling of blood, and the elders' vision of God's glory while eating and drinking, the passage reveals that God calls His people near, requires obedient faith, invites them into joyful communion, and reveals His glory in patient, unhurried intimacy. The preacher emphasizes that true Christianity is not defined by duty or religious performance, but by delight in God's presence, sustained through daily, intentional time with Him—mirroring Moses' 40-day sojourn on the mountain. The sermon calls believers to move beyond legalism, to cherish the cost of their access through Christ's blood, and to prioritize unhurried, meditative fellowship with God, framing the Christian life as a redeemed enjoyment of God Himself.

The sermon centers on the divine pattern of worship, justice, and holy living revealed in the Book of the Covenant, following the giving of the Ten Commandments. It emphasizes that true worship begins with God's self-revelation through His Word, not human preference, and demands reverence that excludes human glory, as seen in the command to build an altar of uncut earth. From this foundation, the law unfolds as a reflection of God's heart—protecting life, defending the vulnerable like widows and orphans, and establishing a holy people marked by integrity, justice, and compassion. The laws are not merely rules but a way of life shaped by God's character, calling His people to remember His redemption, trust His provision, and live in joyful obedience. Ultimately, the passage culminates in God's promise of His abiding presence, leading His people into victory and rest, not by their strength but by His power, pointing forward to Christ who fulfilled the law and now leads believers daily in faith, gratitude, and dependence.

Bro. Kelby's sermon this Lord's day centers on the revelation of God's holiness and grace through the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, emphasizing that divine law is not a burden of legalism but a mirror reflecting both God's perfect character and humanity's profound need for redemption. It unfolds with a powerful call to reverence God, not as a distant deity but as the Redeemer who delivered Israel from bondage, establishing that grace precedes obedience and that the law flows from relationship rather than obligation. Through a detailed exploration of the commandments—both the upward commands that govern our worship of God and the outward commands that govern our treatment of others—the sermon reveals how each command exposes human sinfulness, particularly in areas like idolatry, hypocrisy, covetousness, and moral failure, showing that no one can perfectly keep the law. Yet, rather than leaving listeners in despair, the message pivots to Christ, who fulfilled the law perfectly, serves as the ultimate mediator, and brings believers near to God, transforming the law from a condemning force into a guide that points to grace. The sermon concludes with a call to tremble before God's holiness while trusting in Christ's atoning sacrifice, where the thunder of Sinai is replaced by the peace of Calvary.

The sermon, centered on the book of Amos, confronts the dangerous illusion of spiritual prosperity without genuine faith, exposing how Israel's outward religiosity—marked by ritualistic worship, feasts, and sacrifices—was hollow and disconnected from a heart devoted to God. Though the nation appeared prosperous and peaceful, Amos reveals that God's judgment is not based on external success but on the condition of the heart, particularly the people's indifference to justice, their oppression of the poor, and their hypocrisy in worshiping both God and idols. The prophet's message, delivered with unflinching clarity, shifts from judgment on surrounding nations to a devastating indictment of God's own people, emphasizing that true worship is inseparable from love for God and neighbor, as affirmed in Jesus' Great Commandment. The sermon concludes with a call to repentance, urging believers to recognize that sin is a heart condition, and that authentic faith is evidenced by a transformed life marked by love, justice, and humility—ultimately pointing to God's promise of restoration through Christ.

Exodus 19 presents a powerful revelation of God's holiness and grace, calling God's people to prepare their hearts for a sacred encounter. The passage begins with God's gracious reminder of His deliverance—carrying Israel on eagles' wings—not as a reward for obedience, but as the foundation for it, emphasizing that grace precedes law and that salvation is rooted in divine initiative, not human merit. This divine grace is followed by a call to holy preparation: the people must sanctify themselves, wash their clothes, and set boundaries, symbolizing the need for purity before approaching a holy God. The dramatic theophany at Mount Sinai—marked by thunder, fire, smoke, and a loud trumpet—reveals God's majesty and holiness, evoking awe and fear, and underscores that no one can approach Him without mediation. The sermon draws a clear connection to Christ, the ultimate mediator who, through His sacrifice, has torn the veil and made access to God possible, calling believers to live in reverent worship, not casual familiarity. Ultimately, the chapter calls the church to rediscover the true nature of God—holy, majestic, and unchanging—and to respond with worship, obedience, and a transformed life rooted in grace.