Each week our pastors prepare to speak to a congregation—some have been attending church their whole life—even this church, some have only been in a church once or twice, some have a deep grasp of Scripture, others are just beginning their journey. Each has a different story. And yet the messages prepared each week are carefully prepared to make sure each person can walk away challenged to reflect Christ more vividly.
Only so much can be conveyed in a 40-minute message on Sunday. This new feature is designed to help each of us dive deeper into the subject matter that is being introduced to us in each series. Each week Pastor Phil will shed some insight with a Biblical deep dive to provide even greater context.
What was the Star in Matthew 2?
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="" title_type="single" animation="none" implicit="true"] What was the Star in Matthew 2? The answer to this question has to be “a miracle” since there are a great many variables to say with any sort of certainty that it was any...
We Three Kings?
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="" title_type="single" animation="none" implicit="true"] We Three Kings? The story of the Magi is filled with images of the “three kings” riding camels in robes and crowns, carrying chests of gold, etc. Typically this event is...
The Sign of Immanuel – Matthew 1:18-23
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="" title_type="single" animation="none" implicit="true"] The Sign of Immanuel - Matthew 1:18-23 In the carol Silent Night, we sing the words “Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child, Holy infant so tender and mild.” This well know...
The Original Sign of Immanuel – Isaiah 7:1-14
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="" title_type="single" animation="none" implicit="true"] The Original Sign of Immanuel - Isaiah 7:1-14 At Christmas we are used to hearing about the “sign of Immanuel” and that the “virgin will conceive a child.” Rarely does a...
God Will Visit His People – Luke 1:68
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="" title_type="single" animation="none" implicit="true"] God Will Visit His People - Luke 1:68 In Luke 1:5 we are introduced to Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. Like many couples in the Old Testament, they...
Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="" title_type="single" animation="none" implicit="true"] Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem? At this time of year we sing the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem. Everyone knows that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and “laid in a manger...
The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica Part 2
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="Paul’s Successful Preaching in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-8)" title_type="double" animation="none" implicit="true"] According to Acts 17:4, many were convinced and joined Paul, establishing a church in the city of Thessalonica. Luke...
The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica Part 1
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-8)" title_type="double" animation="none" implicit="true"] Acts 17:1–4 (ESV) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a...
The Church in Philippi
[column width="1/1" last="true" title="Paul in In Philippi (Acts 16:12-40)" title_type="double" animation="none" implicit="true"] As is typical in the book of Acts, Luke uses a series of short episodes to describe how a church is established in a new community. The...