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A message from the series “Missionary Speakers.”

A message from the series “Christmas.” It’s actually one of the great Christmas passages and yet it doesn’t talk about angels, shepherds, wise-men, mangers, or Mary and Joseph. But they are foundational to our understanding of who He is and why He came. It may sound like a question a parent might ask a child under various circumstances. “What were you thinking?”
What was He thinking? What does the answer have to do with what He is after from us? How seriously does He want us to take this and exactly where will our response take us? His message delivered to us from the pen of the apostle Paul is, “You must have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.”

A message from the series “The Church and Our church.” This has been a year of unprecedented opportunity. Can I hear an Amen? Say what? Recognizing serious dangers in the face of this present pandemic, you may have discovered challenges and opportunities through it all. How would you characterize your thinking throughout this turbulent year? Knowing my love for sailing, a friend gave me a small plaque that reads, “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” No matter what life throws at us, God’s word lays out a persistent plan; “Be still, think deeply, and thank God.”

A message from the series “The Church and Our church.”

A message from the series “The Church and Our church.” Today, we are focusing on the last few items of our Statement of Faith. What is your authority for what you believe? Can you articulate the what’s and whys of our shared faith? Pay close attention to these essentials. What difference do these make in your life?

A message from the series “The Church and Our church.” Last week we began to focus on the major items found in our Statement of Faith. As members of El Calvario Ministries become part of Calvary Baptist Church both English and Spanish services are going through our membership class. We pick up today where we left off last week, turning our attention to the doctrine of Man. Bringing two or more cultures together in one ministry is exciting but also requires a lot of work, and commitment to what we say we believe. Our relationship to God and to each other stands on the Bible, God’s Holy Word. We preach it, teach it, study and follow it. We organize our lives around our Savior, Jesus. Our full and final authority for faith and life is God’s revealed Word.

A message from the series “The Church and Our church.” Last week we described some important matters of unity for the local church. They included core elements of oneness such as doctrine, friendship, and philosophy of ministry. Jesus said he would be known by our oneness. His strategy includes the apologetic of the herd whose gaze is fixed on Jesus. Bringing two or more cultures together in one ministry is exciting but also requires commitment, and a lot of work because, our oneness depends upon the authority of God’s revealed Word.

A message from the series “The Church and Our church.” For the next few Sundays we will be talking about church membership. We are doing this as part of our morning worship services in harmony with our sister Spanish speaking congregation. As our two churches move toward oneness as a local church we are inviting members of El Calvario to become official members of Calvary Baptist Church.

A message from the series “The Fear of the Lord.” What goes through your mind when someone mentions things like election polls, racial unrest, protests, public disturbances, shortages, rationing, critical race theory, closures, $ markets, inflation, recession, depression…? Now, go to a beautiful place in your thoughts: family vacations, music that sooths or lifts your spirit, scripture that reminds you of the character and lovingkindness of God. How would you describe the metrics or rhythms of your thought life? Over the past few weeks, we’ve focused on how we think. Paul’s letter to the Philippian church has challenged me to examine my own thought patterns and invite you to do the same. The admonition found in Philippians 4:8 is clear, “…if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” So, let’s do that.

A message from the series “The Fear of the Lord.” Judges is a depressing catalogue of unfaithfulness to God on the part of Israel. We can get enough of violence, intrigue, false religion, and immorality on the news of our day. Why would we want to study Israel’s unfaithfulness? It was philosopher George Santayana that stated, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

The book of Judges deals with the history of Israel from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the monarchy with the accession of Saul. Many call this 350 year period the Dark Ages of the Bible. But, we are not traveling to another planet when we look at the Book of Judges; we are simply looking in a mirror.