Genesis 50:15-21: God Invades Evil with His Grace and Works It to Our Good

As Christians, we believe that God brings some good even out of the worst of evils.  We know we live in a fallen world.  We even know that we are the cause of the problems in this world.  We were the first cause when we rebelled against God, bringing sin and ruin into God’s perfect […]

Radio Interview on the Purpose of Singing in Church

Issues Etc. interviewed our pastor on the topic: The Purpose of Singing in Church.  You can hear the interview here: http://issuesetc.org/2013/06/19/4-the-purpose-of-singing-in-church-pr-richard-futrell-61913/   The interview centers on the article our pastor wrote for our July-August 2013 newsletter.  

Why We Sing What We Sing in Church

This is our pastor’s article for the July-August 2013 newsletter. One of the deep enigmas in the current-day church is why we sing what we sing.  Few of us have ever given much thought to that.  We grew up singing hymns in church, and we like what we like.  And we want to sing what […]

No Thursday midweek Bible classes on June 20th and July 4th

On Thursday afternoon, June 20th, our pastor has a medical appointment.  That’s why we won’t be having class that day. We will, however, still have class on Thursday, June 27th.  We will continue our study of the Old Testament Apocrypha book of 1st Maccabees. On July 4th, we won’t have class because of Independence Day.

Our Pastor is Published in Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy

One of our pastor’s sermons was published in the Trinity 2013 issue of Gottesdienst: The Journal of Lutheran Liturgy.  Our pastor originally preached the sermon in the journal for a local pastors’ conference, commemorating St. Augustine. To find out more about Gottesdienst, click here.  Below is his sermon for the Commemoration of Augustine of Hippo, Pastor […]

Luke 15:1-10: Found For a Purpose

When you read the first two chapters of Genesis, you find that after God created something, He always said that it was good.  Well, almost always–the exception is Adam.  After God created Adam, He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). When God said that, we learn something about […]

1st Maccabees, Lesson 6: Victory and Consolidation

Judas and his forces were successful is driving out Antiochus’ forces from Jerusalem.  He was also able to restore the Temple for proper worship of God.  What we don’t know is the response to these events.  That’s what we find out today. Read 1 Maccabees 5:1-8 The Edomites were the descendants of Esau.  They are […]

Luke 14:15-24: Receiving God’s Invitation

A good father provides for his family.  He doesn’t do this by giving what he likes, or by doing what only happens to be convenient.  No, he provides for his family by making sacrifices.  The father sacrifices his time, pleasure, and personal preferences to provide for his wife and children.  And from all that a […]

Pastors’ Roundtable

Our pastor was part of Issues Etc. Pastors’ Roundtable on June 6th, 2013.  The discussion was on the Parable of the Invited Guests, Luke 14:15-24. Click here to go to the Issues Etc. link for the program.  

1st Maccabees: Lesson 5, Against the Odds, Israel Succeeds

We see, so far, that Judas is successful as a military leader.  He has used brilliant tactics to bring his war to the Seleucids instead of fighting their war where larger numbers of forces and cavalry would destroy him and his forces. Lysias vs. Judas (1 Maccabees 4:26-35) Read 1 Maccabees 4:26-27 –          How is […]