LBFC Weekly Sermons

Just what is the point of being a Christian, anyway? What is the purpose in following Christ? Why are we separated from God? What is the nature of that separation? Just where are we going in this life with Jesus, following Him? These questions were answered very differently by many early Christians than they are commonly answered today. In this message I try to open up the big picture vista for us to see the depth and breadth of God's purpose for us in His creation. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Nearly all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. One passage of scripture is from the The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament: The Nestle-Aland Greek Text with a Literal English Translation, Copyright© 1998 by the United Bible Societies. Used by permission. Background photo showing a cave fresco of the Apostle Paul on the title image from BiblePlaces.com.

If Jesus is Lord, what obligation does that place on his followers to avoid certain kinds of speech - of not using particular kinds of words? We consider how Paul instructs Jesus people to speak only what is helpful for building others up.

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

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Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Background photo of Jerusalem on title image from BiblePlaces.com.

If Jesus is Lord, what obligation does that place on his followers to speak up for the truth, even if the truth is unpopular? We consider how faithful followers of Yahweh have spoken up in the past when it was unpopular and how we might think of this for us as Jesus people today.

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Background photo of Jerusalem on title image from BiblePlaces.com.

"Every knee will bow..."? Really? What does this mean? Is God or Jesus into domination, an insecure wannabe tyrant who coerces subservience?I've heard him described as such based on these words. I don't think this interpretation is accurate. So, following on from covering epiphany and allegiance, we consider what it means that every knee will bow.

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Background photo of Jerusalem on title image from BiblePlaces.com.

Allegiance is a word I've not often heard associated with how we describe our relationship with Jesus; but when I heard Skye Jethani describe it this way recently is made me think more deeply. So in this message we consider what it means to put our allegiance on (or in?) Jesus.

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Background photo of Jerusalem on title image from BiblePlaces.com

The naturalization ceremony photo were used under Creative Commons Attributions 2.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ The photo was downloaded from Grand Canyon National Park's photostream on Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/50693818@N08/5021872334

The International Gateway Bridge photo was taken by Joseph R Ginder

Epiphany! Epiphany is both a Christian Calendar Holy Day recognized in many traditions on January 6, a word with a generic meaning in English, and a description of a spiritual reality central to what it means to be "Christian." In this message we consider the crucial and central meaning of "epiphany" for a follower of Jesus, as Jesus makes himself known.

The Brian Zahnd essay that mentioned in the podcast can be viewed at https://substack.com/home/post/p-182885070

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

While you cannot see the photos referenced in this podcast via audio (obviously), you can view the video version of this podcast from the link at lbfc.org or view the photos themselves using the information below.

Two Epiphany practices photos were used under Creative Commons Attributions-Share Alike 4.0 International license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en These photos are: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9A%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%B2_%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8_%D0%B2_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA_%D0%9A%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8F.jpg -and- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22Christ_Bless_This_House%22_Chalk_Marking_on_the_West_Face_of_the_Church_of_St_Michael,_Welling.jpg The King Cake box photo was taken by Joseph R Ginder: https://flic.kr/p/2qN5rEb

Advent is a time when those who follow the classic church calendar look forward to Jesus returning - an Advent, a coming. Many others look back to remember when he came born as a baby in Bethlehem. In this first Advent message we look at the theme of hope, which implies we are waiting for... what? We are patiently waiting for what we hope for - the reconciliation of all things in Jesus! We also consider the impatience of the "Christian Nationalism" which has confused so many Christians these days.

The Bible Projects Advent resources may be found at https://bibleproject.com/advent/

The Bible Project video on Advent Peace may be viewed at https://bibleproject.com/videos/shalom-peace/

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Advent is a time when those who follow the classic church calendar look forward to Jesus returning - an Advent, a coming. Many others look back to remember when he came born as a baby in Bethlehem. In this second Advent message we look at the theme of peace, better explained through the Hebrew word "shalom." What is our purpose in this time between Jesus' Advents, or comings? In this message, we consider our purpose of being peacemakers.

The Bible Projects Advent resources may be found at https://bibleproject.com/advent/

The Bible Project video on Advent Peace may be viewed at https://bibleproject.com/videos/shalom-peace/

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

It's the Halloween season again. These days, Halloween has a bad reputation among many Christians. Is it deserved? Should Christians participate in the events surrounding Halloween? At the very least, we need not be afraid. In this message, recorded live on October 19 (apologies for the echo in the audio), Joe discusses some brief history of Halloween, positioning it in relation to All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day, and then discusses how we might approach this holiday as people who follow Jesus.

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

The photos used in this message are taken from Wikimedia and used under a Creative Commons License, are in the public doman, or are property of Joe Ginder.

Well, we are certainly in a time when hate and violence seem to be gaining momentum and acceptance - even among some who claim to be Christian. The temptation to become a fierce, crusading warrior "for Jesus" is strong in our time, apparently. But no. Just no. This is not a new temptation. It is not Christian and not of Jesus. It is a deception. In this episode of the Christians, Politics, and Government series, we explore how regular people - even among Christians - are deceived into actions that are not of God, or not of Jesus.

Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.

Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS

Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Background photo of two denarii on title image from BiblePlaces.com.