We are so pleased and excited to hear a special message from our student pastor Mark Cornelison, former contestant on The Biggest Loser.  As Mark relates his experiences on the show through the lens of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6, we get to hear just some of the amazing stories of what God did in Mark’s life and what God did through Mark while on the ranch.  This seven month adventure was much more than just weight loss.  It was life change, ministry, reformation and the joy of being used by a very Big God.

What does the resurrection of Christ truly offer the world?  We see in the brief but powerful words of Paul that the resurrection both validates all that Jesus said and did in his earthly ministry. What is more, as we identify with Christ in his death we find that we are also raised with Christ to a brand new life. To illustrate we take a common symbol of religion and flip it on its head.

Using the temple as a guide, Teaching pastor Scot Polok takes us through a solemn reflection of what Jesus Christ endured, offered and accomplished on that dark and glorious Friday.

In this special sermon, Teaching Pastor Scot takes us from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Sunday all the way to the intimate and ultimate Passover meal with his best friends on Thursday night.  As we experience that “last supper” together as a family, we work hard to place ourselves there in the room that evening – perhaps even leaning back on the chest of Jesus as John did.

In this second sermon in our Sharing Our Hope equipping time, Teaching Pastor Scot Pollok studies Paul’s statement about the simple Gospel.  It is beautiful in its simplicity and heavy in its cost.  Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures.  We can have eternal life and forgiveness of sins by trusting in Him.  That’s it.  One condition: faith.  Our job is to present that simple message without complication, without adding or taking away and in the role of “witness.”

Adult Pastor Gavin Carrier brings the first of a two-part pause in our study of the book of Acts in order to focus on evangelism.  In this message Gavin focuses in on the messenger – you and I.  With a great look at 1 Thessalonians 2, we see how extremely important our heart and perspective are in the great and joyous task of evangelism.

Executive Pastor, Dr. Bill Yarger leads us through 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.  He shares how Christianity stands alone from all other major world “religions” with a simple, yet profound truth – grace.  Be encouraged as we affirm that what the world calls weakness, God transforms into strength through our humility and dependence on Him.

In short, the world says: Deny your weakness. Avoid your weakness. Overcome your weakness. Fix your weakness.

Jesus says: Welcome your weakness, let it humble you. Bring your weakness to me in prayer. The weaker you are, the greater the demonstration of My power. Acknowledge your weakness, embrace it, tell others about it. Quit trying to be strong, get used to being
weak.

One of our old friends and one of the most loved professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. Scott Horrell shares a heart-felt message from Luke 10.  Drawing from his many years as a missionary in South America and countless experiences sharing the gospel and loving people before and since, Dr. Horrell challenges us with the words of Christ himself.  If we go…we will grow…others will experience Jesus…and God will be glorified.

In Exodus 12, at the first Passover, God instructed Israel that the new meal He was about to institute among them was not only to be a consistent and annual memorial throughout their generations, but it was also supposed to rearrange their calendar.  This month would become the FIRST month for them.  It was that important.  What better way to begin a new year than to remember and celebrate God’s glorious revelation from first Passover to Passover in the time of Jesus, and from Last Supper to the Lord’s Supper in the early church.  We begin our new year with a memorable meal – the most important meal.

On this special Christmas Day service, Teaching Pastor Scot Pollok takes a look at the familiar story of Luke 2…but after the familiar section.  We focus in on the shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem: the unclean, forgotten outcasts of religious society that were likely caring for the special group of lambs that were raised for Passover sacrifice.  These humble men were the first worshippers of the infant Jesus and the first missionaries of His incarnation.

After this service, over 300 members of the Faith Bible Family sacrificed special time with their family to go and GIVE Christmas away, visiting fire stations, emergency rooms, elderly and independent living facilities and shut in families.  It was a sight to behold: humble sinners giving of themselves because a humble Savior first Gave Himself.

On Christmas Eve we somberly reflect on one of the most sublime and meaningful passages in our Bible.  The prologue to John’s gospel describes the Nativity scene for us in language unlike any other.  It is the Christmas story wrapped in theological language and practical significance.  The Word that created all things wrapped himself in human flesh and humbled Himself to become like us.  He did this so that He could save us.  On that first Christmas, we received the ultimate gift – the gift of God Himself.  He gave first.  He gave most.  We give because He gives.

Missions Pastor Ethan Collins opens up a seminal passage about the application of God’s grace in our everyday lives.  Giving Grace actually gives Life to others.  That is what God did for us…and we get to enjoy emulating Him in this grace-giving.  Ethan closes our study by sharing a ton of stories of grace-givers from our very own Faith Bible Church family.

As Teaching Pastor Scot Pollok studied 2 Corinthians for this sermon, the vital link between God’s grace in our lives and our generosity became very clear.  We continue our Season of Giving by discussing how the reality of God’s grace flowing into our lives must lead to great generosity flowing out of our lives.  God wants our heart.  All of us.  Without the silly matters of percentages and decimals, the New Testament resoundingly teaches that Christians are generous – sacrificially, faithfully and joyfully.

Teaching pastor Scot Pollok “bites off more than he can chew” (in his own words) with this sermon.  Continuing our series during the Season of Giving, we come to 1 Peter 4, one of the central passages on our spiritual grace-gifts, given to us by God.  In just a few verses, the depth and beauty of God’s gift to “each of us” who believe begins to take root in very practical and relevant ways.  We can serve others in the name and power of Jesus without compromise.  We must.  Grace acts because it must.

With this sermon we begin some special talks during our Season of Giving.  Today, Adult Pastor Gavin Carrier opens up Philippians 2, that amazing “emptying” passage about Jesus’ attitude towards servanthood and sacrifice.  There may be no better way to begin a season in which we each are intentionally focusing on others, on giving, on serving and being Light in a dark and lost world.

Our good friend Peter Swan from Aid Sudan delivers a powerful message from Acts 9 on a special Local Missions Sunday.  How does a servant for Aid Sudan speak to “local” missions?  You’ll have to listen.

This week our Associate Student Pastor Ryan Jasper brings us a motivating message from Acts chapter 2 on a special Youth Sunday.  What exactly was the first church like?  How does the record of the life of the early church challenge and motivate us?

Teaching Pastor Scot Pollok opens up Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 as a window into the God-sized vision given to the Faith Bible Church family.  Jesus transformed students into missionaries – disciples into apostles – and then sent them out.  But the sending was “as sheep in the midst of wolves.”  It was designed to be impossible apart from the grace, power and presence of the Great Shepherd.  Our mission in this world is accomplished by God’s power, unleashed by our obedience to His calling.

Faith Bible Church Executive Pastor, Dr. Bill Yarger teaches us that the Presence of God Changes Everything about Everything.  Join him and our church family for a beautiful study of perhaps the most meaningful truth in the Christian life.

In this stand-alone sermon, our Adult Pastor, Gavin Carrier, challenges and inspires us with Jesus’ words in Luke 5: “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”  Although these words were originally spoken to Simon, a professional fisherman having a very bad day, they remain extremely relevant to the church today.

On of our own members, Matt Koppelman, former pastor, current deacon and all around super-dad, opens up for us the tucked-away story of Naaman, captain of the Aramean army in 2 Kings 5.  That’s right, 2 Kings 5.  It’s a story and a sermon worth listening to.