Tri-Annual Singing!
February 21, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Sermon: “Am I my brother’s Keeper?”
Speaker: Ian Tilley
Ian discusses the obligations we have to edify and encourage one another, with many applications.
Contrasting the 1st and 2nd Advents
A simple definition of the word advent — the arrival of a notable person, thing or event. Typically, in religious discussions, the arrival of Jesus on the earth is described as His advent. This is appropriate in that He is truly a notable person, and His coming was a notable event!
When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he considered putting her away, until an angel of the Lord appeared to him. “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:20-23).
The Patternists: A Different Approach to Social Drinking
Full disclosure, I believe the Bible teaches that it is a sin to drink alcohol socially. I mean by that the use of alcohol in social situations such as dinners, banquets and parties, is a sinful use of alcohol. As such a Christian should not imbibe. I believe that an understanding of the English translations and the use of the term “wine” to translate the Greek and Hebrew supports my view. I believe that the Greek word (potos), used in 1 Peter 4:3 has reference to drinking socially (without respect to amount), and is condemned in that passage as sin.
However, I know that not all Christians agree with that assessment. So, I would like to take another tact to help explain the danger of drinking alcohol, or engaging in the use of other intoxicants.
There are two passages which help form the thought. The first is Proverbs 31:1-9, where King Lemuel’s mother taught him, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink…” The second is 1 Timothy 3:3, indicating that an overseer in the church is one who cannot be “given to wine…”
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Not Quick-Tempered
This interesting phrase consists of two Greek terms, the familiar (me), translated “not”; and the word (orgilos), translated in the NKJV “quick-tempered”.
The word orgilos, an adjective, only appears in Titus 1:7. It appears four times in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), in Proverbs 18:48, 21:9, 22:24, and 29:22.
Though the adjective only appears once, the verb forms (orgizo and parorgismos) and the noun (orge) also are found in the New Testament. Of interest is the verb (orgizo) in Ephesians 4:26, “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” “Be angry” indicates provocation, and Vine states in this passage it indicates a “just occasion for the feeling.”
Everyone gets angry, but is there a legitimacy to the anger? If so, one may be angry, but is not allowed to let that anger cause him to sin — “do not let the sun go down on your wrath.”
It is not acceptable, though, to be prone to anger, or soon angry (Thayer and Strong’s definition of our word). In the KJV the phrase is translated “not soon angry.”
This should be true with every Christian. “For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife” (Proverbs 30:33).
For an elder, to be quickly provoked to anger leads to destruction rather than edification. Overseers are to feed and protect the flock. This takes patience, and a mildness of manner that is incompatible with being “quick-tempered.”
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Sermon: Biblical Leadership – Lesson 3 of 3
The third of three lessons using Nehemiah as an example to establish what constitutes leadership that is acceptable to God.
Sermon: A New Commandment
Jesus gave a new commandment to His disciples in John 13:31-38. This lesson discusses that commandment, and His conversation with Peter.
Not Self-Willed
The word self-willed comes from the Greek term (authades), that is found two times in the New Testament. In Paul’s list of qualifications for elders in Titus 1:7, it is preceded by the word “not”, i.e. – “not self-willed.”
Thayer defines the term: self-pleasing, self-willed, arrogant. It comes from the root words autos (self) and hedomai (to please).
In 2 Peter 2:10, the word is used to describe the ungodly character of false teachers, and is coupled with the word presumptuous.
W.E. Vine states that it, “denotes one who, dominated by self-interest, and inconsiderate of others, arrogantly asserts his own will.”
Biblical leadership necessitates an attitude of service rather than entitlement. Peter establishes this in his admonition in 1 Peter 5:2-3, that the elder is not to serve “for dishonest gain” nor “as being lords over those entrusted to you.”
The self-willed person is not particularly concerned with how his decision affects others, because he is focused on his own pleasures and desires. It is an inherently selfish characteristic, and has no place in the Christian’s life. God calls us to humble ourselves, and to be selfless in our love for God and man.
There are few things as destructive to the welfare of God’s people than a self-willed man serving as an elder.
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Sermon: Biblical Leadership – Lesson 2
Lesson 2 of 3 in series.
The second in our series of 3 lessons discussing what God reveals to be characteristics of effective leaders.
Sermon: Don’t Worry!
Speaker: Josh Cox.
With so many worrisome things in life, it is important that we listen to Jesus’ exhortation to worry not! Josh supplies some biblical principles to help in this quest.
Blameless #2
We have already studied a Greek term (anepilemptos), that occurs several times in 1 Timothy, and is translated by the English term blameless. Interestingly, there is another Greek word used by Titus in his list of qualifications for elder that is also translated blameless. It is the word (anegkletos). While the words are different, the meaning of the two words is for all intents and purposes identical.
So, if you were considering the qualification of elders there are two words, but really one qualification under consideration. Blameless correctly defines both.
The word Titus uses consists of the negative (a), and a root word that means “to call in.” Literally, to not call in. Vines describes the term: “with nothing laid to one’s charge (as the result of public investigation)… It implies not merely acquittal, but the absence of even a charge or accusation against a person. This is to be the case with elders.”
As noted in the discussion of the first term, this can’t be stretched to indicate that false accusations would automatically disqualify a man to serve as an elder. If this were so, God’s people would be at the mercy of those who are opposed to righteousness (cf. 1 Peter 3:16). So we note what we said before regarding the other Greek term.
“The idea is to be a person against whom no accusation can be proven. This requires righteous living. No matter the attack, it is destined to failure because the character and reputation of the Christian is unassailable. This is a lofty, but worthy goal to seek and to meet.”
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Sermon: Biblical Leadership
The first of three lessons establishing what God considers the most important attributes for a Christian to have to be an effective leader, in the church and in life.
Sermon: Judas Iscariot, Betrayer
A discussion of John 13:18-30, where Judas Iscariot is identified by Jesus as His betrayer.
Glorifying God’s Word
There is an interesting phrase from the pen of the apostle Paul, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). The phrase is, “that the word of the Lord may…be glorified.” Paul was asking that these faithful brethren petition God on his behalf. It was his desire that through his efforts, the word of the Lord would spread swiftly. That is, that many would hear and repeat it. Also, that it would be glorified. By this Paul meant, as noted by Thayer, that through his efforts the value of the word of God would become evident or made manifest.
A similar statement is made by the Lord regarding our influence. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We extol the greatness and righteousness of God whenever we live in accord with His will. Men see it, and “glorify” Him.
The Patternists: “All that the Lord has spoken”
Exodus 19 chronicles the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where Moses was to receive God’s commandments on the mount. The Lord instructed Moses to tell the people, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…” (Exodus 19:5-6).
Moses relayed God’s message to the people, and they responded in a commendable fashion. “Then all the people answered together and said, ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will do…’” (Exodus 19:8). We know, of course, that they reneged on that promise many, many times through the course of their history as a nation. But, the words remain a basis of the covenant God held with them. He promised a special place for them, above all people, conditioned upon their obedience. They promised that obedience to “all that the Lord has spoken.”
Continue reading “The Patternists: “All that the Lord has spoken””
Good Testimony Among Those Who Are Outside
1 Timothy 3:7 states that in order to be qualified to serve as an elder, a man “must have a good testimony among those who are outside.” Unlike some of the other qualifications, there is a reason stated for this qualification, “lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
This qualification is straightforward. “Must” is an imperative. It is absolutely necessary because of the importance and nature of the position of elder. “Good” means pleasing, commendable. “Report” in the context of this verse is described by Thayer, “In an ethical sense, of testimony concerning one’s character.” “Are without” has reference to “those who do not belong to the Christian church” (Thayer).
This does not mean that false accusations will not be made by those antagonistic to the church (even Jesus suffered the same). It does mean that any true accusations that would sully a man’s reputation in the world would disqualify a man, lest he bring reproach to the people of God. He must not be worthy of blame! “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).
If he lacks character, Satan will snare an elder. He will use the man for his own purposes, and hinder truth.
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