Grace Bible Church of Conway's Podcast

Jeffrey Johnson's sermon "Approaching Christ's Table" delves into the importance of self-examination before partaking in communion, based on 1 Corinthians 11:27-34. Paul emphasizes that eating and drinking in an unworthy manner brings judgment upon oneself, leading to severe consequences such as illness and even death, as witnessed among the Corinthians. Self-examination means discerning one's relationship with Christ, acknowledging personal sins, and understanding the significance of the bread and cup as symbols of Christ’s body and blood. Johnson asserts that believers should approach the Lord’s Table with the same reverence as they would approach Christ or the gospel, recognizing Christ’s sacrifice, repenting of sins, believing in the gospel, and maintaining love and unity within the church.

Johnson outlines a fourfold exhortation for communion: examine oneself, believe the gospel, repent, and love the church. He warns against treating the Lord’s Table as a common meal, which shows disrespect and can make one guilty of disrespecting Christ’s sacrifice. The Corinthians had turned the Lord’s Table into a common fellowship meal, leading to division and irreverence. Johnson advocates for regular observance of communion to continually remember the gospel and maintain a sincere relationship with Christ. He suggests weekly communion to keep the gospel central in believers' lives, while cautioning against letting the ceremony become mundane. Regular practices like prayer, preaching, and singing retain their significance despite their frequency, and the same should apply to communion.

Practical applications include ensuring that only believers in right standing with Christ and the church partake in communion, using it as a teaching moment for non-believing children and visitors. Johnson notes that church practices vary, with some holding open communion (for all), some closed communion (for church members only), and some close communion (for believers in fellowship). Self-examination involves recognizing sin, believing in Christ's worthiness, and confessing sins for forgiveness and right standing with God. The Lord's Table signifies communion with Christ and unity among believers. Johnson encourages addressing personal grievances, seeking reconciliation, and loving the saints, reflecting Christ's love for the church. In conclusion, believers should approach the Lord’s Table with reverence, self-examination, faith, repentance, and love. Regular communion helps believers stay grounded in the gospel and maintain a joyful, celebratory remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice.

In his sermon "The Grace of God," Ryan Bush explores the profound and central theme of God's grace within the Christian faith. He emphasizes that grace is foundational to the identity and hope of believers, as well as to God's plan for redemption.

Bush begins by highlighting the significance of grace to his church and its associated press, underscoring its vital role in their spiritual lives. He illustrates the concept of grace using an adoption analogy, explaining how, like adoptive parents who choose a child without regard to the child's merits, God adopts believers into His family purely out of His love and compassion. This divine adoption is unearned and reflects God's unconditional favor.

Bush defines grace using A.W. Pink's description: "the eternal and absolute free favor of God manifested in the giving of spiritual and eternal blessings to the guilty and unworthy." He emphasizes that grace is unmerited favor, a gift to those who do not deserve it. He outlines three key characteristics of God's grace: its eternality, freeness, and sovereignty.

1. Eternal Grace: Grace was planned before the foundation of the world. God’s decision to extend grace was made before any human action, ensuring that it is not contingent on human worthiness.
   
2. Free Grace: Grace cannot be earned or purchased; it is given freely according to God's good pleasure. This highlights the gratuitous nature of grace and underscores that no one is entitled to it.

3. Sovereign Grace: God bestows grace according to His sovereign will, choosing whom He pleases. This can be challenging to accept, but it underscores God's ultimate authority and wisdom.

Bush also discusses the occasion for grace, emphasizing that before creation, there was no occasion to exercise grace, as there was no need. He clarifies that Christ did not come to overturn a wrongful conviction but to take the place of the guilty, illustrating the depth of God's grace in Christ’s sacrificial act.

The sermon also delves into the mechanism of grace, particularly the concept of double imputation: Christ taking on human sin and imparting His righteousness to believers. This exchange underscores the transformative power of grace.

Bush concludes by discussing the practical effects of grace in the life of a believer. When grace begins to work in an individual's heart, it results in faith, repentance, and a new orientation towards God. This change is compared to being hit by an 18-wheeler truck—so profound that it is evident in the believer's life.

Finally, Bush encourages self-examination for evidence of grace, urging those who might struggle with assurance of salvation to seek counsel and reaffirming the importance of recognizing grace's work in one's life.

In essence, Ryan Bush's sermon powerfully articulates the transformative and unmerited nature of God's grace, urging believers to live in the joy and thanksgiving of this divine gift.

Jeffrey Johnson began his sermon by sharing his experiences from a recent youth camp, where he was deeply impressed by the respectful and spiritually engaged behavior of the young attendees. He emphasized the significance of seeking a personal relationship with Christ, likening it to maintaining a deep friendship through transparency and dedication. Johnson stressed the necessity of personal communion with Christ, independent of church activities, while still valuing the church community.

He then discussed the importance of discerning the Lord's body, particularly in the context of the Lord's Supper. Johnson criticized the behavior of the Corinthian church members, comparing their lack of discernment during communion to disruptive boys at a funeral. He highlighted three key points: the Lord's Supper should symbolize unity among believers, but the Corinthians' behavior caused division; the bread and wine are sacred symbols representing Christ's body and blood, not ordinary food; and participants must introspect and recognize their own misbehavior to partake in communion worthily.

Johnson explained different theological views on the Lord's Supper, rejecting both transubstantiation and consubstantiation, and advocating for a memorialist perspective. He urged the congregation to remember Christ's sacrifice—His broken body and spilled blood—as a profound act of love and substitutionary atonement, which frees believers from God's wrath. He concluded by encouraging believers to partake in the Lord's Supper with faith and confidence, reflecting on Christ's sacrifice and the forgiveness it offers, leading to guilt-free joy and spiritual nourishment.

Jeffrey Johnson's sermon, "The Truthfulness of God," emphasizes the absolute and unwavering truthfulness of God, contrasting it with the pervasive dishonesty in human society. He begins by acknowledging the difficulty in trusting various institutions and individuals today, including the media, politicians, scientists, and even religious leaders. This widespread mistrust, he argues, stems from the inherent deceitfulness of humanity, as described in the Bible.

Johnson asserts that truth is fundamental to the nature of God, who cannot lie. Unlike humans, who can still exist despite lying, God’s very essence is truth. If God were to lie, He would cease to be God. This inherent truthfulness is rooted in God’s perfect, holy, and immutable nature. Johnson explores various attributes of God—His omniscience, sovereignty, immutability, and perfection—to illustrate why God is inherently truthful and incapable of deceit.

He explains that God’s truthfulness means that His Word, the Bible, is also completely true, reliable, and free from error. The truthfulness of Scripture is a reflection of God’s own nature. Johnson stresses that God's promises are certain and trustworthy, providing a firm foundation for believers. He encourages believers to trust in God’s promises and not be swayed by the doubts and uncertainties of the world.

Johnson also touches on personal faith, addressing common struggles with doubt. He emphasizes that assurance of salvation comes from trusting in God's promises and the finished work of Jesus Christ, not in one's own faith or works. The sermon concludes with a call to trust in God’s truthfulness for all aspects of life, encouraging believers to seek and rely on God’s promises with confidence.

In his sermon "The Church's Role and The Great Commission," Ryan Bush emphasizes the crucial relationship between local churches and the fulfillment of the Great Commission, using 2 Corinthians 8 as his foundation. He asserts that churches are not only responsible for appealing to their members to consider missionary work but also bear the duty to send, test, and appoint missionaries with meticulous care. Bush outlines that churches should actively make appeals to their members, encouraging them to become missionaries. However, he clarifies that this call doesn't imply every member should go, but rather it’s about recognizing those whom God specifically calls. 

Churches have the biblical mandate to send out missionaries, referred to as "apostles of the churches" or "sent ones," ensuring they are well-prepared and supported. To fulfill this role, churches must rigorously test potential missionaries for their doctrine, giftedness, and character, akin to the process for elders and deacons. This thorough examination ensures that those sent are genuinely prepared for the mission field's challenges. Bush highlights several key qualities of missionary candidates, including earnestness, willingness, sound doctrine, the ability to teach, and a life above reproach. Earnestness reflects a genuine, Holy Spirit-inspired zeal for the mission, while willingness indicates a sincere, voluntary desire to serve without compulsion. Additionally, missionaries should be well-grounded in biblical doctrine and capable of effective teaching and preaching, living lives of integrity and holiness that meet the same standards as church elders.

Bush underscores that the local church must take its role seriously in the Great Commission, ensuring that those it sends are well-prepared and spiritually equipped. This responsibility includes making appeals, testing, and supporting missionaries to honor God and effectively advance His kingdom.

In the sermon "What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do" by Tommy Walls, the focus is on finding guidance and comfort in the face of overwhelming difficulties, illustrated through the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. Walls begins by addressing the common human experience of feeling besieged by multiple problems simultaneously, leading to a sense of helplessness and desperation. He recounts how Jehoshaphat, facing an insurmountable threat from multiple armies, turned to God for help by seeking the Lord, proclaiming a fast, and gathering the people to pray.

Walls outlines several key actions taken by Jehoshaphat that serve as a model for believers:

1. Invoking the Sovereignty of God: Jehoshaphat acknowledges God's supreme power and control over all nations and situations, reinforcing faith that nothing is beyond God's capability to handle.

2. Invoking the Providence of God: He recalls God's past deeds and faithfulness, reminding the people of how God had helped them before and trusting that He will do so again.

3. Involving the Promises of God: Jehoshaphat leans on God's promises, particularly those related to the temple, where God assured that prayers made in times of distress would be heard and answered.

4. Invalidating the Enemies of God: He points out that the enemies of Judah had no legitimate claim over God's people, drawing a parallel to the Christian's victory over sin and Satan through Christ.

5. Inviting the Presence and Power of God: Finally, Jehoshaphat prays for God's intervention, demonstrating reliance on God’s power to deliver them from their dire situation.

The narrative culminates in God’s miraculous intervention, where the enemies of Judah turn on each other, leading to their complete defeat without Judah having to fight. Walls emphasizes the importance of worship and praise in times of trouble, noting how Jehoshaphat's people sang praises to God, which led to their deliverance. He concludes by encouraging believers to trust in God's faithfulness, to stand still and witness God's salvation, and to lean on worship as a powerful response to life's challenges. Through the story of Jehoshaphat, Walls illustrates that in moments of uncertainty and weakness, turning to God and relying on His sovereignty, providence, promises, and power will lead to deliverance and peace.

Tommy Walls' sermon "The Wisdom of God" delves into the attribute of God's wisdom, emphasizing that God's wisdom is perfect and integral to all His other attributes. He explores the concept of wisdom, defining it using Webster's 1828 definition: "the right use or exercise of knowledge, the choice of laudable ends, and the best means to accomplish them." Walls contrasts this with modern definitions, suggesting that the older definition better captures the essence of divine wisdom.

Walls references Wayne Grudem's view that God's wisdom goes beyond knowledge, as God always chooses the best goals and the best means to achieve them. This divine wisdom is perfect, unlike human wisdom which is acquired through experience. God's wisdom is intrinsic to His nature; He doesn't possess wisdom—He is wisdom.

Walls cites various theologians, including A.W. Tozer, who describe wisdom as the ability to devise perfect ends and achieve them by the most perfect means. He uses Isaiah 46 to illustrate that God, unlike idols, declares the end from the beginning and accomplishes His purposes through His perfect wisdom.

The sermon highlights that God's wisdom is evident in creation, the order of the universe, and the execution of His plans. Walls underscores that God's wisdom is ultimately displayed in the cross of Jesus Christ, a plan of salvation that no human could devise, showcasing God's perfect wisdom, power, and glory.

Walls concludes by encouraging believers to seek wisdom from God, who generously provides it, and to reflect divine wisdom in their actions, which is characterized by purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy.

Cole Dixon's sermon, titled "The Sacramental Crown of the Temple Building King," explores themes from Zechariah chapter 6, focusing on God’s active involvement in the world and His promises to His people. The sermon begins by contrasting the negative aspects of the world and personal life with the hope provided by biblical prophecy and God’s enduring work.

Dixon interprets the directive in Zechariah 6:9-15, where the prophet Zechariah is instructed to make a crown from silver and gold and place it on Joshua, the high priest, symbolizing the intertwining of royal and priestly duties. This crown represents God’s promises and is to remind the people of the forthcoming temple that the "Branch" will build. This Branch is a figure of Christ, who is depicted as both a king and a high priest, destined to establish a spiritual temple not made with hands but built through the unity and faith of God’s people.

The sermon further explores the historical and emotional context of the Jews in Babylon, emphasizing the struggles and eventual divine redemption they experience. Dixon points out that the real significance of the narrative isn’t found in the immediate return and rebuilding efforts but in the future work of Christ, the ultimate temple builder.

The crown made for Joshua is more than an artifact; it's a sacramental symbol of the deeper covenant between God and His people, indicating the dual roles of Christ as both monarch and mediator. Dixon elaborates that this figure, the Branch, fulfills God’s promises through a new covenant, not merely through physical construction but through the spiritual building of a community of believers.

The sermon closes with a call to recognize Christ's ongoing work in the world and in individual lives, urging believers to see beyond the temporal and perceive the eternal purposes of God’s kingdom, thus finding hope and motivation to live in accordance with God’s will, contributing to the building of the spiritual temple through faith and obedience.

Jeffrey Johnson's sermon, "Buying Joy," emphasizes the universal human quest for happiness and joy. Johnson asserts that every person, regardless of their spiritual state, inherently seeks joy and fulfillment. He argues that this pursuit is a fundamental drive, influencing daily activities and overall life direction. However, Johnson highlights that earthly pleasures and achievements do not offer lasting satisfaction, instead suggesting that true, enduring joy can only be found in a relationship with God.

The sermon outlines a seven-step path to achieving this joy, each grounded in biblical principles. The first step involves recognizing one’s own misery and dissatisfaction without God. Johnson uses scriptural metaphors of hunger and thirst to describe this state of spiritual need. The second step challenges common beliefs about wealth and happiness, emphasizing that joy is freely given by God and cannot be bought. Subsequent steps include turning away from worldly pursuits that promise but fail to deliver happiness, and actively seeking fulfillment in spiritual life and communion with God.

Throughout the sermon, Johnson weaves personal anecdotes and biblical stories to illustrate his points, culminating in a powerful call to embrace the free and abundant joy offered through Christ. His message encourages both believers and non-believers to reconsider where they seek happiness and to turn towards God for true contentment.

In "The Guarantee of Glory," Gilbert Barr explores the assurance of salvation, emphasizing the idea that those chosen by God are eternally secure in their relationship with Him. He draws from Philippians 1:3-6, where Paul expresses his confidence that God, who began a good work in believers, will see it to completion. Barr likens this to the believers' unbreakable bond with God, highlighting that once someone is truly saved, they cannot lose their salvation.

He underscores this point by addressing common misconceptions and arguments against eternal security. Barr references various scriptures, including John 6:39, Romans 8:29-30, and 1 John 2:19, to support his argument that true believers will endure to the end and that any apparent fall from faith indicates that a person was never genuinely saved to begin with.

Barr also reflects on the deceitfulness of appearances, using Judas Iscariot as an example. Despite Judas' outward actions, he was never truly a believer, which is evident by his ultimate betrayal of Jesus. This distinction between outward appearances and genuine faith is crucial in understanding the perseverance of true believers.

Moreover, Barr provides encouragement to believers, emphasizing that their endurance and perseverance are evidence of God's work within them. He quotes Job 17:9 and other scriptures to illustrate that the righteous will grow stronger in their faith over time. He also reassures that nothing, including tribulation, distress, or persecution, can separate believers from the love of God.

Barr concludes by reminding believers of their victory in Christ, encouraging them to remain steadfast and unmovable in their faith. He emphasizes that their labor for the Lord is never in vain, reinforcing the eternal security and ultimate glory promised to those who truly belong to God. This sermon serves as a powerful reminder of the unwavering faithfulness of God and the assurance of salvation for all true believers.