FPC Bellingham

Join in as Doug and friends discuss the teachings and interpretations of NT Wright.

Find more recommendations to dig further into the teachings of NT Wright at Doug's sabbatical web page.

Message by Pastor Doug Bunnell, recorded live October 19, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Elodie Bates.

In Resurrection Bodies

• Kingdom Resistance involves lament, grief and hope, hold tight to the hope of resurrection.
• What concern does Paul address in verse 13? What is the basis of Christian hope in death?
• What comfort is found in the belief that Jesus died and rose again (v. 14)?
• How does this passage shape your understanding of Christian death and grief?
• In what ways can you encourage someone who is grieving with this truth?
• How might new creation resurrection affect your priorities today?
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1 Thessalonians 4:13-1813 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Message by Pastor Doug Bunnell, recorded live October 12, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Laurie Bunnell.

Jesus is Our Everything

The prime value of the kingdom resistance movement is Jesus, until further notice, be more about Jesus.

• How is Christ described? What two titles are given to Him? What is his relationship to creation?
• What does it mean that Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (v. 15)?
• How does this passage shape your understanding of who Jesus is?
• What does it look like in your life to live in response to being reconciled to God?
• How might this passage impact your worship and view of Jesus?

Colossians 1:15-20

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Message by Pastor Doug Bunnell, recorded live October 5, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Lynn Schuman.

Every Spiritual Blessing

• We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, live Kingdom abundance.
• According to verse 3, what has God blessed us with, and where?
• How often is the phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” used in this passage? What might be its significance?
• How does knowing you are “chosen, adopted, and redeemed” affect your identity and daily life?
• In what areas of life do you need to trust more fully in the Holy Spirit as your guarantee?
• What spiritual blessings do you sometimes overlook or take for granted?
• How might this passage shape your prayers or worship?

Ephesians 1:3-14

1 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Listen as PeaceHealth Palliative Care Chaplain, Rev. CandaceFrawley, BCC-PCHAC shares about how palliative care can improve your quality of live - hosted by the FPC Health Ministry Team.

Message by Pastor Doug Bunnell, recorded live September 28, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Ann Hinz.

A Bigger Table

The good news of Jesus welcomes all Jesus Followers to the table, let us walk in unity.

• What issue arose in Antioch that led Paul to confront Peter (v. 11–12)?
• What does Paul accuse Peter of in verse 14?
• Why did Paul view the pressure to circumcise Gentile believers as a threat to the gospel? What does it mean that Peter was “not acting in line with the truth of the gospel” (v. 14)?
• Are there ways today that we might add requirements to table fellowship?
• Have you ever felt pressured to compromise your beliefs to fit in with a group?
• Why is it essential for church leaders and mature Christians to model gospel-consistent behavior?

Galatians 2:1-14

1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 But because of false brothers and sisters secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us— 5 we did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you. 6 And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those leaders contributed nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood self-condemned, 12 for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction. 13 And the other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the gentiles to live like Jews?”

Message by Pastor Doug Bunnell, recorded live September 21, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Diane Tate.

Loving with Our Whole Mind

The Kingdom Resistance values both sides of our hemispheres, so most of us need to beef up our right brain faith.

• What kind of experience is Paul describing in verses 1–4 and why does he do so in the third person?
• What is the purpose of Paul’s vision and revelation from the Lord?
• What does the “thorn in the flesh” represent?
• Why would Paul delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties?
• Have you ever experienced something like a “thorn in the flesh”—a persistent struggle, pain, or limitation? How have you seen God use it in your life?

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

1 It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3 And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— 4 was caught up into paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Message by Pastor Doug Bunnell, recorded live September 14, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Jake Truemper.

Contain Multitudes

We do not lose heart because we can hold contradictory truths at the same time.

• What does Paul mean when he says “we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (v. 5)?
• What motivates Paul to continue preaching, despite suffering (v. 13–14)?
• What do “jars of clay” represent? What is the “treasure” within them (v. 7)?
• How do the contrasts in verses 8–9 (e.g., “hard pressed but not crushed”) reflect the paradox of Christian life?
• In what way does verse 15 summarize Paul’s entire view of suffering and ministry? In what ways do you experience pressure, discouragement, or weakness in your walk with Christ? How does this passage encourage you?
• How can you be more transparent about your weakness, so that God's power is more clearly seen in your life?

2 Corinthians 4:1, 7-12

1 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.

7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, 9 persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed, 10 always carrying around in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11 For we who are living are always being handed over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us but life in you.

Meeting Joys and Sadness - Unity in Christ

Pastor Kerrie interviews Chelsea about the spring 2025 mission trip to Chitul.

Learn more about our Food for the Hungry and Chitul relationship ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

The Story of a Translator

Pastor Kerrie interviews Vanessa (the team's amazing translator).

Learn more about our Food for the Hungry and Chitul relationship ⁠⁠here.