The Hard Work of Sanctification

As believers we cannot expect a life of ease; in fact, we should anticipate a life of labor.  We labor to serve one another in the church.  We labor to disciple and discipline our children well.  We labor to cultivate and develop our spiritual gifts.  We labor not to sin — to control our personal […]

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Sermon: It’s Time (Pt 3)

It’s Time (Part 3) Romans 13:11-14 May 2, 2021 In 1899 just months after being sworn in as governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in Chicago which remained one of his most well-known and well-loved oratorical masterpieces.  In it, he calls the technologically-growing, wealth-amassing Americans to be wary of the life of […]

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Sermon: It’s Time (Pt 2)

It’s Time (Part 2) Romans 13:11-14 April 25, 2021 In 1940, Japan formed an alliance with Axis powers Germany and Italy, to the dismay of Isoroku Yamamoto, the commander-in-chief of Japan’s Combined Fleet.  He protested the alliance without success and then set about the task of preparing for what he perceived as an inevitable war […]

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Sermon: It’s Time (Pt 1)

It’s Time (Part 1) Romans 13:11-14 April 11, 2021 Larry Walters had always dreamed of flying, but because of poor eyesight was unable to get into the US Air Force.  So he made his living with another kind of transportation service — driving a truck.  But he would still frequently think about flying. At some […]

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Sermon: An Acceptable Debt

An Acceptable DebtRomans 13:8-10March 28, 2021 What makes a church a church?  Biblical preaching and teaching.  Corporate worship (including baptism and communion).  Purity of the gospel.  Evangelistic proclamation.  Generous fellowship.  Sacrificial service.  Church membership and church discipline. What makes Grace Bible Church Grace Bible Church?  What sets us apart and makes us unique?  What identifies […]

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Five reasons to submit to government

Submission isn’t easy.  It isn’t easy for children to submit to parents.  Or students to teachers.  Or slaves to masters (or employees to employers).  Or wives to husbands.  Or church members to elders. And it’s not easy for citizens to submit to governing authorities. In 2021, it seems especially true that it is hard for […]

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Sermon: You and the Government

You and the Government, Pt. 1 Romans 13:1-7 March 7, 2021 If you are a baseball fan, you know this face — one of the most successful managers in baseball history. If you are not a baseball fan, you might still recognize his name:  Casey Stengel.  Casey had an ability to say the right thing […]

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Sermon: The Government and You

The Government and You Romans 13:1-7 (Pt. 1) February 14, 2021 A number of years ago, U.S. Rep. Jack Metcalf (WA), revealed that the US Forestry Service and a Washington State agency planned to spend $18,000 to dye rocks gray and brown along a scenic highway in the Cascade mountains, because the rocks in question […]

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After jury duty

I spent the first two days of this week serving our community in the juror’s box. On Monday I was part of the selection process for two different juries before eventually being seated as a member of the second jury.  I’ve been called for jury duty before but never had the privilege of sitting on […]

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