dcahavat

Sermon given during the Ten Days of Awe, in which Pastor Finley reviews the biblical fall feasts: Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).  He surveys the biblical and traditional evidence and observances for these special days and then begins to unpack their prophetic significance.

A sermon on repentance given by Pastor Hilton Yhap on Shabbat Shuvah (the Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur).  Repentance is always a good thing; it is a gift of God,  but isn't always easy.  Pastor Yhap examines the life of King David as an example of how to find joy in repentance.

Pastor Ralph Finley continues his series on the book of Hebrews, focusing particularly on Hebrews 6:2 and the author's reference to eternal judgement.  He expounds upon the following key points: 

1. There is a resurrection.

Why is resurrection so central to our faith?  How have other sects of Judaism viewed resurrection?  And what does the Bible say about resurrection?  Does it speak only of the resurrection of the soul, or of the body as a whole?  Pastor Ralph Finley continues his series on the book of Hebrews, focusing on the foundational issues found in Hebrews 6:2, and particularly the author's reference to the resurrection of the dead.  

Pastor Ralph Finley continues his series on the book of Hebrews, focusing on the author’s reference to the laying of hands in Hebrews 6:2.  He explains the importance of the laying of hands and its practice in Jewish tradition, in the Tanakh (Old Testament), and in the Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament).

Pastor Ralph Finley concludes his sermon series on the doctrine of baptism and addresses the purpose of baptism, candidates for baptism, the mode of baptism advocated in Scripture, and baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Ralph continues his series on the book of Hebrews, discussing the biblical doctrine of baptism.  He reviews the various washings found in the Old Testament in order to help listeners gain a better understanding of the historical context for these washings in the first century.  

He then examines the baptisms that occur in Acts chapters 2 and 8 to see how the early apostles applied the immersion/baptism that Yeshua taught.  Pastor Ralph goes on to Romans 6:3 to make a case for believer's baptism -- that is, for baptism as an outward sign of what has already happened within a believer spiritually (i.e. new birth, regeneration).

We tend to forget about the promises God has made to us.  Pastor Marcellus encourages Christians to simply be obedient to the things God has asked us to do, and not worry about what other people are (or are not) doing.

God is gracious, and has given us all we need to walk in righteousness, and not fall.

Hebrews 6 speaks about washings that occurred in the first century.  Pastor Ralph delves into the historical context of washings in the Bible -- both their literal and symbolic meaning -- and traces their usage first in the Torah, and then their later elaboration in the Prophets, and appearance in later Jewish writings and thought.

Pastor Ralph then takes this theological and historical context and applies it to the Apostolic Scriptures, to help listeners gain a better understanding of the meaning and significance of mikvah (baptism) in the first century.

Hebrews 6 talks about believers "moving beyond the elementary teachings of Messiah," going on to maturity, and not laying again "a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God."

But what does it mean to move beyond the elementary teachings of Messiah?  And what kind of foundation is the author of Hebrews talking about?  And how does a biblical conception of faith and repentance help us understand the author's meaning?  

Join Pastor Ralph Finley as he illuminates this seemingly perplexing passage.