As a Christian, do you ever get discouraged? With your circumstances, with struggles, with your sin? Yeah…I do too! Our holy and gracious Father knows you and I are easily tempted to be downcast. He knows we’re quick to shrink back from believing and living in light of His great promises and provision in […]
September 27, 2017church growth, Exaltation of Christ, Holiness, Ministry, SermonsFrom Pastor Greg: As most of you know, the Destin Family (Willio, Neecole, Abigail, and Gabrielle) will be with us at RCG this Sunday, Aug. 6. As we have the privilege of partnering with these dear folks for the advancement of Christ’s gospel in Haiti, please make plans to join us in both the morning […]
August 2, 2017Ministry, The Church22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
November 2, 2016Exaltation of Christ, Holiness, Ministry, The Church, Truth1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more […]
October 19, 2016Ministry, Pride and Humility15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, […]
October 12, 2016Holiness, Ministry, worship18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
October 5, 2016Ministry, Sanctification, The ChurchOver the last two Lord’s Days (Sept. 18 & 25), we’ve been looking at some sobering issues from Eph. 5:3-14. Against the backdrop of the great spiritual blessings God has given His children in Christ (Eph. 1-3), and the clear call to walk worthy in light of these blessings (Eph. 4:1–5:2), Paul zeroes in on […]
September 28, 2016Exaltation of Christ, Holiness, Hope, Ministry, Sanctification, Sin7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards […]
August 31, 2016Holiness, love, Ministry7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards […]
July 27, 2016love, Ministry, Prayer, Stewardship, The Church, Training12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in […]
July 20, 2016Ministry, The Church9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of […]
July 13, 2016Holiness, Ministry, Sanctification, Stewardship, The ChurchNews of the massacre at an Orlando gay night club a little over a week ago was shocking and tragic, on many levels. 49 people killed, 53 injured, and millions upon millions horrified at such brutal, cold-blooded carnage. Since the shooting, there has been no lack of rhetoric regarding how Christians should think and […]
June 22, 2016Godly Speech, Holiness, Ministry, The Church, TruthEvery Christian has been created in Jesus Christ for good, hard work! This is clear with what Paul says in Eph. 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Paul reinforces this truth in Eph. 4:28 – […]
June 15, 2016Holiness, Ministry, Stewardship, Training, worshipAs we’ve been letting you know, the annual Sacramento Gospel Conference is just over a week away. It will take place on Friday, May 6 (7-9:30pm), and Saturday, May 7 (9:00am – 4:30pm), at Immanuel Baptist Church in midtown Sacramento. The cost is $30/person (or less, if you’re only able to attend one of the […]
April 27, 2016church growth, Exaltation of Christ, Gospel, Ministry, The ChurchHow Jesus Christ cares for His body, His church! Now exalted at the right hand of our Father in heaven, Jesus has sovereignly and diversely gifted every member of His body. “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Eph. 4:7) As Paul goes on to explain […]
March 16, 2016church growth, Exaltation of Christ, Ministry, The Church, Training, worshipPreserving unity in the church matters because of the eternal unity of God! This is the heart of Paul’s exhortation and explanation in Eph. 4:1-6. 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and […]
March 9, 2016Exaltation of Christ, Holiness, Ministry, The ChurchBeloved, we find in Eph. 4:1-3 that the proper posture of a worthy walk is to have an eager readiness to do God’s will. And as Paul makes clear, this involves embracing godly attitudes (“…with all humility, gentleness, and patience…”), and fulfilling godly actions (“…bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity […]
February 24, 2016Holiness, Ministry, Stewardship, The Church, TrainingAs we prepare to gather again this coming Lord’s Day, let me encourage you in a few specific ways. First, take advantage of the “order of service” information we include in this newsletter. Individually, or with family/friends, take some time in the days prior to our Sunday gathering to read through the various Scripture passages […]
February 3, 2016church growth, Holiness, Ministry, Stewardship, The Church, worshipPeople often ask me how they might pray for me. Such inquiries are a kind blessing and encouragement. Here’s a great place to start: 10 Reminders for Preachers (think of this as “10 Prayers for Preachers”!). And as you pray for me, know that myself and the other elders are praying fervently for you […]
January 6, 2016Ministry, Prayer, ThanksgivingOver the last two Sundays in our corporate gatherings, we’ve been gazing intently into Eph. 2:19-22. What we’ve seen in this powerful passage is that as Christians, we belong to God and to one another. As such, our identity is not determined by any earthly categories (ethnicity, socio-economic status, abilities, etc.). To the contrary, our […]
October 28, 2015Exaltation of Christ, Holiness, Hope, Ministry, The ChurchMost of you were with us this past Lord’s Day as Pastor Vanensio Bamwitirebye from Uganda preached from John 2:12-23 (you can find his sermon at our church website). I had the privilege of joining Pastor Vanensio and a few other people for lunch following our service. Among other things, he shared the story of […]
October 14, 2015evangelism, Exaltation of Christ, Gospel, Ministry, TruthThis coming Lord’s Day, we have the special privilege of having a faithful brother and pastor from Uganda preach in our morning worship service. I first met Vanensio Bamwitirebye a few years ago, when he was a student at The Cornerstone Bible College & Seminary. He has since returned to Uganda, where he is involved […]
October 7, 2015Ministry, Sermons, worshipPerhaps you’ve heard – the Pope was here, right here in America. Suffice it to say that for many, this was a BIG deal! Oh beloved, how God’s people need to be discerning, loyal to Christ, and saturated in God’s word in these days! Contrary to the gushing adulation so many have expressed toward Pope […]
September 30, 2015Exaltation of Christ, Gospel, MinistryIn His great wisdom and goodness, God has designed singing to be an instrumental (no pun intended 🙂 ) means of grace among His people. Our singing to God, with and to one another, expresses thanksgiving to Him, along with instruction and admonition for each other. And so God graciously commands us: Let the […]
September 16, 2015Ministry, music, The Church, worshipA few important items… First, as a follow-up to this past Sunday’s sermon from the book of Job, check out these resources: A timely blog from Desiring God, The Promise of God in Threatening Pain A memorable song from Wes King, Do You Tremble Second, our Equipping Hour resumes this coming Sunday, […]
September 9, 2015church growth, Ministry, music, Training, worship
