Sunday, May 26, 2024

Understanding The Call | Pastor Tre Townsley | 5.26.24

Understanding the Call


Ephesians 1:1-14

1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Redemption /apolytrōsis/ (n.): deliverance; redemption; ransom in full

Forgiveness /aphesis/ (n.): freedom; pardon;  liberty; remission

Sin /paraptōma/ (n.): unintentional error or willful transgression, fall, fault, offense

The path from SIN to FORGIVENESS is the process of REDEMPTION and this is the call of salvation

The Weight of the Call—why is it so heavy?

The pervasiveness of sin. Sin invades every area of our lives and continues to grow.

Sin is commonly viewed as a ‘mishap’. “Everybody sins!”

What does the bible say about sin?

Hebrews 12:4 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. /antagōnizomai/ v. : struggle against; to compete against; fight; labor fervently

Romans 6:12 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Romans 6:16 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

Romans 7:11  11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

When sin enters, it enslaves, reigns, deceives, and kills

1 Corinthians 15:54-56 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 

Sin is the weapon by which death injects its poison


Sunday, May 19, 2024

Don't Think it Won't Happen Here | Pastor Chris Searcy | 5.19.24

 Ephesians


CONTEXT:

The city of Ephesus is located in modern day Turkey. hosted around 250,000 residents

Ephesus was known as a city of size, wealth, and power.

The major economies of the city were rooted in trade and idol worship.

The temple of Artemis, located in the heart of the city, was prized as one of the seven wonders

of the ancient world.

The church at Ephesus was established 15-20 years after the death of Jesus Christ. 

Paul planted the church. And wrote them letters which are called Ephesians

While he was in prison in Rome. 


Three major roads led from the seaport:

One road went east towards Babylon via Laodicea (the rebuke was they left their first love)

Another to the north via Smyrna

A third south to the Meander Valley

On Paul’s second missionary journey (A.D. 52), he visited Ephesus after leaving Corinth, and

evidently planted the church there (Acts 18:19).

Acts 19:23-31

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named

Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the

craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men,

you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only

in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great

many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not

only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great

goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her

magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the

Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into

the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were

Paul's companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples

would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and

were urging him not to venture into the theater.

Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7

2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in

his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those

who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them

to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and

you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love

you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works

you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you


repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who

has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will

grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’


Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of

God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle

against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic

powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly

places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the

evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of

truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having

put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of

faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet

of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the

Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance,

making supplication for all the saints,

Sunday, May 12, 2024

WOMAN! | Bishop Kyle Searcy | 5.12.24

 WOMAN!


Gen 2:21-23

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs,

and closed up the flesh in its place. 22  Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He

made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23  And Adam said: “This is now bone of my

bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man

I. PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY

There are many biological and physiological differences between men and

women.

1. Chromosomes: Women have two X chromosomes (XX), whereas men have one X

and one Y chromosome (XY). The Y chromosome contains the SRY gene, which

triggers the development of male characteristics.

The X chromosome carries many genes that are vital for various bodily functions.

Since women have two X chromosomes, they have two copies of these genes.

The Y chromosome is much smaller than the X chromosome and contains fewer

genes. It includes the SRY gene, which is crucial for the development of male

characteristics.


2. Hormones: Men have higher levels of testosterone, which influences muscle

mass, bone density, and body hair. Women have higher levels of estrogen and

progesterone, which regulate the reproductive cycle and affect the distribution

of body fat.

3. Reproductive System: Women possess ovaries, uterus, and other structures

necessary for ovulation, pregnancy, and childbirth. Men have testes, prostate,

and other organs supportive of sperm production and ejaculation.

4. Muscle Mass and Strength: Men typically have a higher percentage of muscle

mass and greater upper body strength compared to women, influenced largely

by testosterone.


5. Fat Distribution: Women tend to store more fat subcutaneously (under the skin,

especially in the hips and thighs) as a preparation for pregnancy and lactation.

Men more often store fat viscerally (around the organs), which is linked to

different health risks.

6. Brain Structure: While brains vary widely between individuals, some studies

suggest differences in the average volume of certain brain structures. For


example, areas involved in spatial awareness and muscle control are typically

larger in men, whereas areas involved in language and fine motor skills are larger

in women.

7. Brain Hemispheric Connectivity: Women have more fibers connecting the left

and right hemispheres of the brain, potentially enhancing communication

between these hemispheres. This may contribute to faster integration of verbal

and intuitive processing.

8. Heart Size and Rate: Men's hearts are larger than women's, but women's hearts

beat faster, even when asleep or at rest.

9. Bone Structure: Men have larger, denser bones, with broader shoulders and

longer limbs, whereas women typically have a wider pelvis, which is

advantageous for childbirth.

10. Metabolism: Men have a higher basal metabolic rate (BMR) than women. This

means they expend more energy at rest, which is partly due to having a greater

muscle mass.

11. Skin Thickness: Men's skin is typically about 20-25% thicker than women's skin

due to higher collagen density, which also makes it less prone to wrinkling early

on.

12. Voice: Men have deeper voices than women due to longer and thicker vocal

cords, which result in lower pitch frequencies.

13. Lung Capacity: On average, men have larger lung capacity than women. This

difference can influence endurance and physical performance.

14. Pain Perception: Research suggests that women may experience pain differently

and more intensely than men, influenced by hormonal differences and a higher

density of nerve receptors.

15. Hair Loss: Men are more likely to experience male pattern baldness, which is

largely influenced by genetics and testosterone levels.

16. Hemoglobin Levels: Men typically have higher hemoglobin levels in their blood,

which allows for more efficient oxygen transport. This difference is partly due to

the menstruation cycle in women.

17. Immune System: Women have a stronger immune response than men, which

can be both a protective and a predisposing factor for autoimmune diseases.


18. Kidney Size: Men usually have larger kidneys than women, relative to body

mass, which can affect the rate of drug clearance from the body.

19. Sweating and Body Heat: Men tend to sweat more than women and are better

at regulating body temperature during prolonged physical activity.

20. Anatomy of the Eye: Women have a higher blink frequency than men. Research

also suggests differences in visual acuity and susceptibility to certain eye

diseases.

21. Fertility Window: Women have a finite number of ova and a specific

reproductive timeline, typically ending with menopause. Men produce sperm

continuously, with fertility potentially extending into older age.

22. Sensitivity to External Stimuli: Studies suggest that women are generally more

sensitive to touch, taste, and color.

23. Athletic Performance: Due to physiological and hormonal differences, men often

perform differently from women in various sports, showing differences in speed,

strength, and endurance.

24. Cognitive Strategies: Men often excel in tasks that require more spatial

awareness and targeted problem-solving, while women generally perform better

in memory tasks and social cognition, which involves understanding and

managing the emotions of others.

25. Risk-Taking Behavior: Men are generally more likely to engage in risk-taking

behaviors, which has been linked to higher testosterone levels.

26. Longevity: Women tend to live longer than men on average, a difference that is

partly attributed to biological factors such as the protective effects of estrogen

and genetic advantages provided by having two X chromosomes.


II. GOD’S VALUE OF WOMEN

Gal 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male

nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus

What would the status of women be if Christ never came?

Ex. Lets look at countries who have rejected Christian Influence


 Some Islamic countries women still have to be veiled

 In Saudi Arabia can only drive since 2017

 Koran on Women:

A man has the right to beat and sexually desert his wife, all with the full

support of the Koran, which says,

“Men stand superior to women. . . .But those whose perverseness ye fear,

admonish them and remove them into bedchambers and beat them; but if

they submit to you then do not seek a way against them” (Sura 4:34). 3

 The Word

Eph 5:25,28

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself

for her, 28  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who

loves his wife loves himself

1. Greeks and women

Athenian women were not permitted to leave her house unless she was

accompanied by a trustworthy male escort, commonly a slave appointed by

her husband. 4

The only woman who had some freedom was the hetaera (het era), or mistress, who

often accompanied a married man when he attended events outside his home. The

hetaera was the man’s companion and sexual partner. 5

 The average Athenian woman had the social status of a slave.

Ex. Boys school girls could not

Ex. Female infanticide was much greater than male

2. Romans and Women

While many upper-class girls informally received some education in grammar

and reading, a Roman wife, like her Athenian counterpart, was not allowed to

be present with her husband’s guests at a meal. 6

There were numerous other restrictions on women as well. For instance, a

married woman was commonly under the Roman law of manus, which placed

her under the absolute control of her husband, who had ownership of her and

all her possessions. 7

A man could divorce her if she merely went out in public without a veil,

according to Plutarch (Romulus 22.3). She could never divorce him.

A woman could not even tell her husband’s slave what to do 8


This law was still in force in the early part of the fifth century and received

strong criticism from Augustine, the Christian bishop of Hippo in northern

Africa.

3. Hebrews and Women

Although it did not use women sexually in religious activities, the Hebrew

culture was in some other ways as badly biased against women as was the

culture of the Greco-Romans. This was particularly true during the rabbinic

era (ca. 400 B.C. to ca. A.D. 300). The rabbinic oral law (now essentially

recorded in the Talmud and Midrash), like the customs of the Greeks and

Romans, barred women from testifying in court (Yoma 43b). 9

4. Jesus and Women

a. He treated women humanely and respectfully

(Woman at the Well)

John 4:27

And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a

woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with

her?”


b. Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)

Jesus taught Mary as a Rabbi against rabbinic oral law

Sotah 3:4

“Let the words of the Law [Torah] be burned rather than taught to women.

. . . If a man teaches his daughter the Law, it is as though he taught her

lechery.”

c. He appeared to women and sent her to tell the disciples after His

Resurrection`

Matthew 28:10

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to

Galilee, and there they will see Me

d. Woman with the issue of Blood (Mark 5:25-34)


5. Paul and Women

a. House church Leaders

Apphia, “our sister,” was a leader in a house church in the city of Colossae

(Philemon 2).

In Laodicea, there was Nympha, who had a “church in her house”

(Colossians 4:15).


In Ephesus, Priscilla, with her husband Aquila, had a church that met “at

their house” (1 Corinthians 16:19). Paul called Priscilla one of his “fellow

workers” (Romans 16:3)

Phoebe in Romans 16:1–2 is referred to by the male title of diakonos

(deacon), a position she held in the church at Cenchreae. Paul did not use

any feminine form of the word.

Pheobe  had a “position of authority in the churches.” 10

She was so highly regarded as a leader that scholars believe Paul even

chose her to deliver the Epistle to the Romans for him from Corinth to

Rome, a distance of 400 miles.


6. Other Issues

 Child Brides..

 Freedom to Dress…

 Freedom to Vote

 Ending Burning Widows

James 1:27

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans

and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world

 Jesus had compassion on the widow of Nain, whose son he raised from the

dead (Luke 7:11–15).

He chided the Pharisees for taking financial advantage of widows (Mark

12:40),

He commended the widow gave two mites in her offering (Luke 21:2–3).

Writing to Timothy, St. Paul urged him to have the Ephesian Christians,

especially the children and grandchildren, honor their widowed mothers (1

Timothy 5:3–4).


Ex. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Sunday, May 5, 2024

I Can Do This | Bishop Kyle Searcy | 5.5.24

I CAN DO THIS!

Media Copy


Intro: Simplicity


I. WE ARE CALLED TO BE LIKE CHRIST

2 Cor 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new.

1 John 2:6

6  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Eph 5:1-2

Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. 2  And walk in love, as Christ also has

loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-

smelling aroma.


II. AN INSTRUMENT

1. Tri-partate Being

1 Thess 5:23

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole

spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ

Soul

 Mind: intellect, thoughts, reasoning, and cognitive functions.

 Will: volition, the ability to make choices and decisions.

 Emotion: feelings, passions, and desires.

Spirit

 Intuition: ability to sense and discern spiritual truths or realities without the

need for conscious reasoning. (knowing)

 Communion: Ability to commune with God

 Conscience: inner moral compass that convicts individuals of right and

wrong according to God's standards

2. Paul and Conscience

Rom 9:1

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in

the Holy Spirit,


Acts 23:1

Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived

in all good conscience before God until this day”

Acts 24:16 KJV

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence

toward God, and toward men

a. Is where God expresses His holiness.

b. It testifies concerning inclination and action.

c. Before Saved it exist but in a coma

d. After saved it is awakened by the Holy Spirit

e. Never argues or reasons just informs of what God’s will is and whether we

are obeying it.

3. Stewarding Conscience

a. Never violate it.

Rom 14:23

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from

faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin

b. When you do there is usually trouble

1 Tim 1:18-19

This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies

previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good

warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected,

concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck

c. Sometimes Conscience can be off and need readjusting

1 Tim 4:2

speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron

1 Cor 8:4-8

Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an

idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5  For even

if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many

gods and many lords), 6  yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are

all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all

things, and through whom we live. 7  However, there is not in everyone that

knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a

thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8  But

food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better,

nor if we do not eat are we the worse


III. A RULE

Matthew 7:12

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law

and the Prophets

 Interpersonal Relationships

I CAN DO THIS!