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SERMONSGood news! Parker Road Bible Church now streams our Sunday Worship Service live via Facebook. If you missed a service or would like to revisit a sermon, you can watch and/or listen to past service below -- both audio and video versions are provided below.
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MARCH 7, 2021
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 28, 2021
Rising Up and Building | Nehemiah 2:17-20, 3:1-32
| February 28, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 21, 2021
Moving Ahead in the Face of Opposition | Nehemiah 2:9-20
| February 21, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 14, 2021
Stepping Out in Faith | Nehemiah 1:4-2:8
| February 14, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 7, 2021
Time to Rebuild | Nehemiah 1:1-4
| February 7, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 31, 2021
The Impact of an Encourager | Acts 11:19-26
| January 31, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 24, 2021
Using the Gifts God Gives Us | 2 Timothy 1:3-14
| January 24, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 17, 2021
The Essentialness of the Gospel | Romans 5:1-11
| January 17, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 10, 2021
Everyday Disciple Making | Colossians 4:2-6
| January 10, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 3, 2021
| January 3, 2021 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
THE ONE AND ONLY - CHRISTMAS 2020 SERIES
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We are beginning a new series as we begin Advent this Sunday. The One and Only focuses on Jesus' birth and His uniqueness through five themes: His arrival in perfect timing, the power of His name, the reality that He is God with us, the need to make room for Him in our lives, and the fact that peace on earth can come only through Him. Please join us as we focus on Jesus Christ, The One and Only.
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DECEMBER 27, 2020
| December 27, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
DECEMBER 24, 2020
Christmas Eve Service
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
DECEMBER 20, 2020
No Vacancies | Luke 2:1-7
| December 20, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
DECEMBER 13, 2020
God With Us | Matthew 1:22-24
| December 13, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
DECEMBER 6, 2020
The Power of His Name | Matthew 1:18-21, Isaiah 9:6-7
| December 6, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
NOVEMBER 29, 2020
The Fullness of Time, Galatians 4:3-7
| November 29, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
A STUDY IN HAGGAI
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Haggai’s prophecy came when the people of Judah were vulnerable having just returned from the Babylonian Exile. They begin to rebuild the temple and were discouraged by opposition within and without. They quit rebuilding and began to focus on themselves. Although we are not Israel in 520 B.C., Haggai’s prophecy challenges us to reexamine our priorities in life, it exposes the type of excuses that distract us from pursuing God’s kingdom priorities, and it helps us stir up the flames of our passion for serving Christ so we don’t get discouraged when things are not going as we had hoped.
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NOVEMBER 22, 2020
A Message for Zerubbabel | Haggai 2:20-23
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
| November 22, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
NOVEMBER 15, 2020
Guest Speaker Pastor Steve Clark: Preaching from Psalm 73
Guest Speaker: Pastor Steve Clark
NOVEMBER 8, 2020
Another Project | Haggai 2:10-19
| November 8, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
In the book of Haggai, God called out Israel for their out of place priorities. They focused on their personal comfort and had nice houses but left the house of the Lord unfinished. He called them to begin to build the temple again. They received their orders from God through Haggai, and they went to work. But the temple wasn’t the only project God gave the Israelites. He didn’t just want the temple renovated; He wanted an internal renovation of their souls. They had been going through the motions for years, but their hearts were not in the right place. They were a defiled people who let the world set their agenda, and it was time to allow God to set their agenda. God gives Haggai an object lesson and a history lesson to underscore their need for internal change. He made a promise to them and in doing so communicated that the point of the law itself, is that only faith can produce genuine obedience. What can we learn from Haggai’s fourth message?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
NOVEMBER 1, 2020
Be Strong & Work | Haggai 2:1-9
| November 1, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
We’ve previously talked about unfinished business. It always seems like it is easier to start a project than finish it. There is an excitement. We have a picture in our mind as to how it’s going to turn out. We begin with the best of intentions. Then things begin to get difficult. What we are seeing in reality does not match what we saw in our mind. We want to quit. However, when we are doing the work God desires of us, quitting is not an option. We cannot allow a comparison of what we knew in the past stop us from following God in the present. What makes all the difference is that God encourages us and assures us that trusting Him and doing His work is more important than what we think of the results. Success is ultimately defined not by practical results, but by obedience to God. What can we learn about comparison and encouragement from our passage today?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
OCTOBER 25, 2020
Getting Right With God | Haggai 1:12-15
| October 25, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Unproductive harvests, unmet hunger, unquenchable thirst, clothes that could not insulate, and an income that disappeared, characterized the Israelites that had returned from their exile in Babylon. Why did they face these trials? In their specific instance, it was because they prioritized their will above God’s will. They valued their selfish needs above their relationship with their God. God sought to bring them back. He sent Haggai to call them to Him, and something amazing happened . . . they listened. They got right with God, and their hearts were in the right place. What are the characteristics of a people who get right with God?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
OCTOBER 18, 2020
The Priority | Haggai 1:1-11
| October 18, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Think about your home for a moment. Do you have any unfinished projects? A better question would be: How many unfinished projects do you have? Think about your finances, cards you have not wrote, visits you have not made, and conversations you have put off. Spiritually do you have any unfinished business with God or regarding what He has directed you to do? Procrastination sneaks into our lives, and the more we procrastinate the harder it is to get the job done. Haggai’s prophecy came when the people of Judah were vulnerable having just returned from the Babylonian Exile. They begin to rebuild the temple and were discouraged by opposition within and without. They quit rebuilding God’s temple began to focus on themselves. They did not finish a project of utmost importance. Haggai’s prophecy challenges us to reevaluate our own lives and to make sure Christ is our priority and that we call important what He calls important. As we look at our first passage, what do we learn about our failure to fulfill our responsibilities to God?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
GROWING IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, A STUDY IN SECOND PETER
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As we now move forward into the second letter written by Peter, we find that he writes with two major purposes on his mind. First, he wants believers to continue to grow in Jesus Christ. He wants them to have a vibrant, developing relationship with Jesus. Second, he wants them to be careful not to be led away by false teachers. If false teachers hi-jack their faith, then the first purpose will be derailed. Join us as we discover these and more truths during this series as we examine how we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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OCTOBER 11, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ | 2 Peter 3:11-18
| October 11, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Peter wrote this letter to churches that needed to be encouraged and prepared to be faithful while being infiltrated by false teachers. He wanted to prepare the church and reaffirm that God would work out His plan in His own time. He wanted these churches to flourish amid adversity. He wanted the church to know they could trust God regarding the end times. In this last passage, he now turns to the final application. How should this effect the way you and I live each day? How must we live as we await the Lord’s return while being harassed by enemies of God?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
OCTOBER 4, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ | 2 Peter 3:8-10
| October 4, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Peter writes about false teachers. These spiritually deceptive leaders said people have been saying Christ is returning for years, but He has not returned. These people will ridicule the return of Christ and God’s intervention throughout history. They will say things will continue just as they have always been. They will overlook the way that God acted in creation and the way He judged the world in the flood. They will not be prepared to face judgment in the end, because they are banking on God not returning. Peter now warns the church not to overlook the Lord and His plan. He has refuted the argument of the false teachers through historical evidence of what God has done in the past, and now he will continue to provide a rebuttal to these who seek to attack God’s people. What can we learn about God that further refutes the false teachers’ arguments?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ | 2 Peter 3:1-7
| September 27, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Peter describes the behavior and characteristics of false teachers in the second chapter of his second letter. He paints a picture of false teachers so the church can identify them when they see them. Now, in chapter three, he describes their motives and their incorrect teaching. He describes how they will take aim at the return of Christ and try to replace it with a philosophy called uniformitarianism. Peter identifies their motives and refutes this argument with several biblical arguments of his own. What does Peter teach us in these chapters?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ |
2 Peter 2:10b-22, Part 2
| September 20, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
When a criminal commits a crime, a profile of the perpetrator is created and released. It could be a drawing, picture, video, or even a verbal description of what he looks like. Why is this the case? So that, anyone who sees this description can identify the perpetrator. The criminal could be living in your neighborhood, going to the same stores as you, even someone in your family. Yet if you have the description you will be tipped off. Peter wants the churches that he is writing to, to be able to identify false teachers among them. Because they are deceptive, bold, and persuasive, they often can hide or talk their way out of situations. Peter shares what they look like and how they act, so that we can identify them. What is the profile and future of false teachers?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ |
2 Peter 10b-22, Part 1
| September 13, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
SEPTEMBER 6, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ | 2 Peter 2:1-10a
| September 6, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Like a virus in your body, or a spy in the camp, false teachers enter Christ's church and cause fear and destruction. Jesus warned His disciples of this in Matthew 7. Paul warned the Ephesian elders of this in Acts 20. In our passage for today, Peter warns the churches to whom he is writing. Destruction is a key word in this passage. The false teachers lead others to destruction; however God will destroy them in judgment. Peter points us to three examples from the Old Testament to assure us that God will hold false teachers accountable. Peter warns us of these teachers, which is a motivator to help us to stay focused on Jesus Christ and grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. What can we learn about false teachers today?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
AUGUST 30, 2020
The Gideons International: Life Experiences & The Gospel | Matthew 28:18-20
Today, Parker Road Bible Church Elder, Dave Kiester, shares truths from God's Word as he serves faithfully with The Gideons International which shares the Holy Bible, with millions of people all over the world and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dave's testimony of life experiences have taught him many things through the years and with that comes wisdom and learning. What can we glean from Dave, his life and experiences in going out and making disciples of all nations as Jesus told us to do?
Speaker: Elder, Dave Kiester
Speaker: Elder, Dave Kiester
AUGUST 23, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ | 2 Peter 1:16-21
| August 23, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Peter has two major purposes on his mind as he writes his second letter. First, he wants believers to continue to grow in Jesus Christ. Secondly, he wants them to be careful not to be led away by false teachers, who want to hi-jack their faith for their own selfish gain. As Peter is writing, the Holy Spirit is directing him and guiding him. Today’s passage makes this as clear as ever. So as Peter is writing to a group of specific churches in the First Century, the Holy Spirit is directing him to write in a way that both you and I can be spiritually transformed. As the Lord applies Peter’s words to us, we grow closer to Jesus spiritually while at the same time avoid being led astray by competing philosophies, religions, or worldviews. In this passage there is a sense that Peter is telling us to PAY ATTENTION! What does he want to make sure we do not miss?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
AUGUST 16, 2020
Growing in Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ | 2 Peter 1:1-15
| August 16, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
As we begin a new series and open this second letter written by Peter, we will glean that he wants believers to know God has given them what they need to live a vibrant, growing Christian life. What has God supplied to those who trust in Him?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
STANDING STRONG IN OUR LIVING HOPE
A STUDY IN FIRST PETER
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As we go through a 12-week series on First Peter, one of the key evidences of Jesus’ resurrection was transformed lives. Peter was transformed as much as anyone. When Jesus began His ministry, Peter was chosen by Jesus to be one of the apostles and was with him for three years. With knowledge of his impulsiveness, temper, pride, and denials, Jesus still chose him (John. 15:16). In John 21, Jesus restored Peter’s ministry after he denied Him three times. In Acts 2, we see Peter preaching as the church is born, and 3,000 people come to Christ. He was a changed man. As he was imprisoned and released and faced adversity on a regular basis, he remained steadfast and faithful. He was not perfect even post-resurrection, but He is faithful to his very death. As He writes this letter people are in a battle. They have trusted Christ and went from part of the culture to being persecuted outcasts.
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AUGUST 9, 2020: "Worship & Picnic in the Park" Service at 10:30 a.m.
"Moved with Compassion", Matthew 9:35-38
| August 9, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
A common internet insult is to call someone a sheep, or a group of people sheeple. When used in a derogatory manner, it means someone who blindly follows something without thinking. If you are a “sheep” you may blindly follow the government, media, a politician, your parents or a respected or self-proclaimed expert. However, in actuality, we are all sheep. Some vacillate from sheep to wolves. Some have stepped up to take the protected roll of a sheepdog. Some are called to ministry and may be considered under shepherds. King David at times was a shepherd, a wolf, and a sheepdog, yet he recognized in his very nature he was a sheep. What sheep need is a trustworthy, Good Shepherd. Jesus’ heart broke when He saw people who were like sheep without a shepherd. He rebuked bad shepherds and hired hands. What do we feel about people who have gone astray and wander like sheep without a shepherd? How about those who are paralyzed with fear? Mistreated? Helpless? How do we respond?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
AUGUST 2, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 5:12-14
| August 2, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Peter wrote his first letter to encourage believers to stand strong amid persecution and attack. He wanted the grace of God to be evident to an unbelieving world because believers stood fast in God’s grace and did not crumble in the face of opposition. He wanted them to know they were a people called to proclaim the excellencies of God who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. He wanted them to silence fools by doing good. He wanted them to know they were living stones built up into a living temple having recognized and returned to Jesus Christ, their Living Hope. As Peter closes, he reminds the churches (and us) of these things. What should we take away from 1 Peter?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
July 26, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 5:6-11
| July 26, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Closing words are important. As Peter’s letter nears the end, if we are serious about following Christ, we should pay attention. As people end a letter or finish a conversation, they have a way of summarizing what is crucial. They will normally let you know how they want you to respond going forward, what they are asking for, or what is important to keep in mind. Peter is no different. As he writes his closing remarks to suffering churches, he wants them to keep a few crucial principles in mind. They are principles we would do well to remember as we face suffering or difficult situations. What must we remember as we face trials as followers of Christ?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
July 19, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 5:1-5
| July 19, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
In trying times, the church needs godly leaders: Leaders that are true followers of Christ. Those who lead by example. Leaders who are steadfast and willing to persevere through tough times. Peter was that type of leader. God created him for a special purpose to lead His church purchased by Jesus Christ at the cross. He was trained by Jesus. His natural abilities and personality were refined in fire as he became the man God desired, he would be. He fell, he failed, and he got back up. Despite setbacks he continued to follow Christ and lead people to Him. Now, Peter challenges the leaders to whom he is writing to lead well. What are the characteristics of a godly leader?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
July 12, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 4:12-19
| July 12, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Have you ever walked into a building and saw an Evacuation Plan? It is a fairly common practice to prepare for a crisis. In our volatile age, organizations are beginning more and more to prepare Emergency Action, Crisis Management, and Active Shooter plans. As we approach our passage today, we want to ask: Do I have a crisis management plan for my spiritual life? What happens when I face suffering or an unexpected attack? Peter teaches us some very applicable principles that help us prepare for attacks, suffering, and persecution. How can we be prepared to face adversity?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
July 5, 2020: Elements of a Growing Christian | 2 Corinthians 5:17
| July 5, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
There are five elements that every growing Christian should be practicing in their relationship with the LORD. What are the elements and how are you doing in these areas of spiritual growth? Listen to this message and glean some insights from God's Word as a new creation in Christ.
Speaker: Brother Mike McCutcheon
Speaker: Brother Mike McCutcheon
June 28, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter
| June 28, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Complacency is a subtle enemy. It doesn’t take long, and it settles in. We begin to exchange that which is God-honoring for comfortable lives. We trade mission for convenience. We stumble off course. Peter teaches us to operate with a sense of urgency and a willingness to embrace our God-given mission at the expense of comfort. Colin Smith summarizes this passage of scripture with three clocks: Your clock, the clock of those far from God, and our clock as a church. How are we to live with these things in mind?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
June 21, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:18-22
| June 21, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
The Christian is to remain strong even while he or she faces opposition. It is necessary to realize we cannot rely on our own power to remain strong. Real spiritual power comes from Jesus Christ and His work on the cross as the Holy Spirit works through us. How do you remain resolved in the face of opposition, rejection, ridicule, etc.? Peter suggests we look at the perfect example of our triumphant Lord Jesus. If our confidence is in Him, we will remain strong, because He has obtained victory. When we step out while trusting Him, our faith grows stronger. Our passage today is difficult to interpret, but answers the question: How can suffering or opposition be the context for triumph?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
June 14, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:8-17
| June 14, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Let’s revisit why Peter wrote this letter. He wrote to Christians spread out in first century regions which are in what we know today as modern-day Turkey. These followers of Jesus are in a battle. They have trusted Jesus Christ and went from being part of the culture to being persecuted outcasts. He wrote to them about being respectful to civic authority, authority on the worksite, and within the home. Now he advises these believers how to live victorious lives amid opposition. We are now part of the kingdom of the beloved Son instead of the dominion of darkness. Therefore, until Christ returns, we will face opposition as believers. How should we live while facing opposition?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
June 7, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 3:1-7
| June 7, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Does God always hear our prayers? Do you want to be precious in God’s eyes? Do you want your spouse to follow Christ and step up spiritually? Do you want to be the type of spouse who steps up? Do you want to win others through how you live your life? These are the questions Peter answers in today’s passage. Colin Smith writes: “Cultivating healthy relationships in the home and in the church is critical to fulfilling our mission in the world. Our primary strategies in reaching out to highly resistant people are to act redemptively and to pray effectively. Our top priority is to live in such a way that nothing hinders our prayers.” Our home life is important to God. How can we live as men and women who honor God at home?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
May 31, 2020: The Authority of the World, The Authority of God & Pentecost
Acts 2:1-13
| Sunday, May 31, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
As we focused on First Peter chapter two last Sunday, Peter directed the church to respect and obey civil authority but hold God’s authority above all. This week has been a hectic one concerning civil authority, so we will take a ‘pitstop’ to address some issues from what I believe to be a biblical perspective. This Sunday is also Pentecost. Pentecost in the Old Testament marked the summer harvest. In Acts 2, we see a remarkable harvest of souls. The church is born as the promised coming of the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles. It is an amazing event as God gives them authority to launch the church age. How do we live as followers of Christ in this tumultuous season?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
May 24, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 2:11-25
| Sunday, May 24, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
R.E.S.P.E.C.T It’s a rare thing these days. Yet as God’s representatives, we are called to be respectful, disciplined, God-honoring people. Peter powerfully told the church who they were in Christ. He said they were being built collectively into a spiritual building; they were priests with a relationship with God who intercede for others. Then he declared in no uncertain terms that they were a holy nation of God, recipients of His mercy, redeemed from a dark way of life, and commissioned to proclaim that God is truly excellent. As those who are to represent Christ, he now directs them to have a right attitude toward self-discipline and authority. What principles does he teach them? How should we live in a way that is respectful and disciplined, so that God receives glory through our lives?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
May 17, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 2:4-10
| Sunday, May 17, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Who are you? What is your identity? Where do you find your significance? Why are we here? Do we belong? If so, where? Are we merely chemical and biological reactions? Are we only physical? These are key questions we ask and wonder. If we focus only on what we personally see, we can come to a microscopic conclusion. We only see the tiny part of the world and history that we currently live in and can get this totally wrong. Peter shows us the big picture. He is telescopic when he focuses on that which is enormous and makes it visible. In our passage today, we recognize who we are and why we are here. Who are we as followers of Christ?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
May 10, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 1:22-2:3
| Sunday, May 10, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
One of the defining marks of an authentic Christian is understanding the incredible things God has done for him or her; in one word: grace. God has poured upon us blessings we do not deserve. The greatest blessing is a relationship with Him through the death and resurrection of Jesus and the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Once we understand the magnitude of what God has done for us, we embrace a new mindset, mission, and motivation. When we begin a new relationship with God, and are born again, we live differently. Our new nature needs to work itself out in how we love and what we long for, especially during trying times. Peter’s life was changed, and he lived out what he taught. What can we learn from Peter, a transformed follower of Jesus, about caring for others and longing for God in our current season?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
May 3, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 1:10-21
| May 3, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
First century Christians were rejected by their society, mistreated, and even physically persecuted. However, God sent Peter to make it clear to them that they had been chosen by God, set apart by the Holy Spirit, and made clean and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ. He wanted them to know that they were born again into a living hope by the mercy of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He wanted them to know that they now had authentic faith and relentless perseverance through trial. He wanted them to realize that in their new nature they were lovers of Christ, filled with faith and joy. Now it was time for them to realize the magnitude of what God had done for them, and to live with a new mindset, mission, and motivation. As followers of Christ today, we too are challenged to understand the magnitude of what God has done for us. We are commanded to live with a certain mindset, mission, and motivation. How are we to respond to what God has done for us?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
April 26, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 1:3-9
| April 26, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
We have just begun a series exploring First Peter. Peter wrote this letter to Christians spread out in first century regions which are in what we know today as modern-day Turkey. These followers of Jesus are in a battle. They have trusted Jesus Christ and went from being part of the culture to being persecuted outcasts. But God chose Peter, the fighter, for such a time, to encourage the believers to trust in God, experience His blessings, and suffer well. In his intro, Peter explained: God sent me to you. I knew Jesus, and better yet He knows me, and chose me. I walked with Him. I let Him down and denied Him. I was forgiven and reinstated by Him. I love Jesus. I preach Jesus. I suffer for Jesus. I want you to know--You’ve been chosen by God, too, you’ve been set apart by the Holy Spirit, and you’ve been made clean and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ. Next, Peter turns to the DNA of a follower of Jesus. He explains our very nature has changed. In today's message, learn the three characteristics Peter describes as our new nature.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
April 19, 2020: Standing Strong in Our Living Hope | 1 Peter 1:1-2
| April 19, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
God chose Peter, the fighter, for such a time to encourage the believers to suffer well. He will point them to our Living Hope: His God, His Lord and His Friend, Jesus Christ. He begins this letter by diving in to the deep end of theology and reminding us of three truths that amount to the matchless grace of God. What are these three truths and how are they relevant to us today?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
HE CAME, HE LIVED, HE DIED, HE LIVES AGAIN!
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As our world is in crisis and confusion regarding the corona virus and its impact on our future, for the follower of Christ, this world was never meant to be our home. This life is a vapor and is quickly fleeting. However, our future is not uncertain because of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel can be summed up in four short phrases regarding Jesus culminating in His resurrection: He came, He lived, He died and He lives again. This sermon series will focus on these four facts about Jesus.
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APRIL 12, 2020: He Lives Again!
| April 12, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
| sermon.mp3 |
Thomas was a follower of Jesus. We don’t know much about him, but we know at some time, he received the nickname, “Doubting Thomas”. His skepticism of Jesus’ resurrection is so well known that when people are reluctant to believe something that is likely, they are called a “doubting Thomas.” Thomas was skeptical, but I also believe he was intelligent. The implications of following Jesus were huge, so he had to know that Jesus truly did rise from the dead. Jesus met Thomas in his doubt and disbelief. He visited the disciples a second time when Thomas was there. He said, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas believed! This Easter, Jesus tells us “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” There is nothing that will affect your life more than placing your trust in the Risen Jesus. Why should we believe Jesus is alive?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
APRIL 5, 2020: He Died
| April 5, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Jesus came from heaven to earth. He was sent by God and faithfully embraced His mission. His mission was to seek and save us when we were lost and hopeless. He came to redeem and restore a dying world. He came to bring us back to God. As Jesus lived, He showed us the Father, testified to truth, lived a perfect life, and became our perfect substitute. He related with us as one who lived on earth as a human and set an example of service. But Jesus also died. The irony of Palm Sunday is that so many believed Jesus was going to be crowned as king in that moment when instead that day moved the hands of the religious leaders to aggressively push for His crucifixion. It led to Jesus’ death. Why did Jesus die? The Son of God- God the Son, dying a criminal’s death on a cross? A horrific, shameful death, for an innocent man? Why was Jesus’ death necessary?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
MARCH 29, 2020: He Lived
| March 29, 2020 - Sermon Outline (PDF) |
Last week, we talked about Jesus coming from heaven to earth. He was sent by God and faithfully embraced His mission. His mission was to seek and save us when we were lost and hopeless. He came to redeem and restore a dying world. Ultimately, He came to bring us back to God. But He didn't just come to die. He LIVED on earth, He was born as a baby as we were. He grew up as a child, experienced the teen years and walked dusty roads as a grown man. We ask why He spent that time on earth as we continue to deep dive into the Gospel. What was the significance of Jesus' life on earth?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
MARCH 22, 2020: He Came
John 3:16-18, Romans 8:18-23
The gospel can be summed up in four short phrases regarding Jesus culminating in His resurrection: He came, He lived, He died and He lives again. Today, we will focus on Jesus' coming and some of the reasons why He came.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
The gospel can be summed up in four short phrases regarding Jesus culminating in His resurrection: He came, He lived, He died and He lives again. Today, we will focus on Jesus' coming and some of the reasons why He came.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
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We live in days much like the time of the Judges, where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. More and more, we embrace moral relativism. It’s the idea that there are no absolutes and what is right and wrong is determined by each person or culture. But in the midst of our self-inflicted confusion, God is still on His throne. His Word guides us to truth and His commandments reflect what is truly good. Colin Smith wrote that "the God you worship will shape the values you hold, and the values you hold will shape the lifestyle you choose. When God doesn’t fit where we want to go, we find ourselves desperately looking for another god." Who is your God, and what can we learn about His heart from the Ten Commandments?
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MARCH 15, 2020: The Grass is Always Greener . . .
Your neighbor has a new car. Your co-worker gets the latest smartphone. Your friends have what appears to be the perfect marriage. You think to yourself, “My life would be so much better if I just had . . . ““I would be so happy if I had . . .” “My life would be great if I didn’t have . . .” Our hearts are the source of our discontentment. That discontentment leads to the breaking of the Tenth Commandment. But how do we keep this commandment? What is the secret of contentment? What is covetousness, and how do we combat it?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
MARCH 8, 2020: What is Truth
God desires His people to tell the truth. He desires His followers to represent Him to the rest of the world. However, deceit can be subtle, and the tongue is extremely hard to tame. These are some of the reasons why it is so difficult to keep the Ninth Commandment. What do we learn about deception from this commandment and the rest of the Bible, and what does God desire from His followers today?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
MARCH 1, 2020: Give or Take
Exodus 20:15
The Eighth Commandment forbids us from stealing. We instantly may think of someone shoplifting or kids rummaging through open cars in the middle of the night. It seems simple enough to avoid this commandment. But as we’ve seen in the previous commandments, there’s more than meets the eye. How are we tempted to steal? What does God desire from us regarding the Eighth Commandment.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
The Eighth Commandment forbids us from stealing. We instantly may think of someone shoplifting or kids rummaging through open cars in the middle of the night. It seems simple enough to avoid this commandment. But as we’ve seen in the previous commandments, there’s more than meets the eye. How are we tempted to steal? What does God desire from us regarding the Eighth Commandment.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 23, 2020: Love the One You Marry
Exodus 20:14
There are great enemies to marriage. None is more lethal than adultery. God instructed Moses to warn the Israelites of this enemy, when He said you shall not commit adultery. What constitutes adultery and how do we avoid it? What truths must we realize from this commandment? Let’s look at the 7th Commandment as well as the words of Jesus, Moses, Solomon, and a myriad of New Testament writers in order to discover the pitfalls of adultery.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
There are great enemies to marriage. None is more lethal than adultery. God instructed Moses to warn the Israelites of this enemy, when He said you shall not commit adultery. What constitutes adultery and how do we avoid it? What truths must we realize from this commandment? Let’s look at the 7th Commandment as well as the words of Jesus, Moses, Solomon, and a myriad of New Testament writers in order to discover the pitfalls of adultery.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 16, 2020: 6 Facts About Taking a Life
Exodus 20:13
Jesus gave us a summary of the Ten Commandments when He said the greatest commandment is to love God with one’s whole being, and the second like the first, to love our neighbor as ourselves. The ultimate violation of loving one’s neighbor is to take his or her life. The sixth commandment takes aim at this behavior and the decisions people make to destroy another’s life. Why is murder so offensive to God? What constitutes as murder? What doesn’t? Would we be shocked to discover who has broken this commandment?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Jesus gave us a summary of the Ten Commandments when He said the greatest commandment is to love God with one’s whole being, and the second like the first, to love our neighbor as ourselves. The ultimate violation of loving one’s neighbor is to take his or her life. The sixth commandment takes aim at this behavior and the decisions people make to destroy another’s life. Why is murder so offensive to God? What constitutes as murder? What doesn’t? Would we be shocked to discover who has broken this commandment?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 9, 2020: Honoring & Being Parents
Exodus 20:8-11
Jesus gave us a summary of the Ten Commandments when He said the greatest commandment is to love God with one’s whole being, and the second like the first, to love our neighbor as ourselves. The first four commandments focus on our relationship with God, while the next six focus on our love for one another. The first four are vertical (between us and God) and the next six are horizontal (between us and other people). God is guiding Israel as they are moving through the wilderness and He will eventually lead their children into the land He promised. We cannot miss the fact that as God is establishing a nation, he first focuses on the family unit. What does it mean to honor our parents? How does this change over the course of our lives? What implications does this commandment have on us who are parents? Let’s look at the fifth commandment to find out.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Jesus gave us a summary of the Ten Commandments when He said the greatest commandment is to love God with one’s whole being, and the second like the first, to love our neighbor as ourselves. The first four commandments focus on our relationship with God, while the next six focus on our love for one another. The first four are vertical (between us and God) and the next six are horizontal (between us and other people). God is guiding Israel as they are moving through the wilderness and He will eventually lead their children into the land He promised. We cannot miss the fact that as God is establishing a nation, he first focuses on the family unit. What does it mean to honor our parents? How does this change over the course of our lives? What implications does this commandment have on us who are parents? Let’s look at the fifth commandment to find out.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
FEBRUARY 2, 2020: How Do We Keep Holy The Sabbath?
Exodus 20:8-11
In this series we’ve learned the Ten Commandments are guard rails that define the road of true morality-what is right and what is wrong. They are a tutor that teaches us that we fall short of God’s standards. They communicate God’s heart and who God is making the born-again believer in Christ. Jesus summed them up when He said the greatest commandment is to love God with one’s whole being, and the second like the first, to love our neighbor as ourselves. As we examine the commandments, how do we live them out as believers under the New Covenant? Specifically, what does it mean to keep holy the Sabbath? Does this apply to us? If, so when is it? Let’s take a closer look to learn what God teaches us in the fourth commandment and how we are to honor Him?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
In this series we’ve learned the Ten Commandments are guard rails that define the road of true morality-what is right and what is wrong. They are a tutor that teaches us that we fall short of God’s standards. They communicate God’s heart and who God is making the born-again believer in Christ. Jesus summed them up when He said the greatest commandment is to love God with one’s whole being, and the second like the first, to love our neighbor as ourselves. As we examine the commandments, how do we live them out as believers under the New Covenant? Specifically, what does it mean to keep holy the Sabbath? Does this apply to us? If, so when is it? Let’s take a closer look to learn what God teaches us in the fourth commandment and how we are to honor Him?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 26, 2020: The Name Above Every Name
Exodus 20:7
Names are important. In our culture we talk a lot about branding: marketing our unique name and image as a professional, company, etc. People have websites, logos, and blogs based off their name. Often people google their names. In one way, our name is a sound bite of who we are. All we are is summarized in a dozen or so letters: our name. Our name is a representation of who we are as people. Therefore, God’s Name is of supreme importance, because how we use it reflects upon who He is. How we use God’s Name is extremely serious, as we never want to misrepresent Him or denigrate His character in any way. What should we be aware of as we study the 3rd commandment? How should we use the Name of the Lord?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Names are important. In our culture we talk a lot about branding: marketing our unique name and image as a professional, company, etc. People have websites, logos, and blogs based off their name. Often people google their names. In one way, our name is a sound bite of who we are. All we are is summarized in a dozen or so letters: our name. Our name is a representation of who we are as people. Therefore, God’s Name is of supreme importance, because how we use it reflects upon who He is. How we use God’s Name is extremely serious, as we never want to misrepresent Him or denigrate His character in any way. What should we be aware of as we study the 3rd commandment? How should we use the Name of the Lord?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 19, 2020: Re-Imaging God
Exodus 20:1-3
Our culture says we can be anything we desire if we put our mind to it. We’ve now come to a place where we make whatever we want, into whatever we want. We are consumed with personalizing everything, and this means even reshaping of God according to our tastes and sinful desires. God challenged the people of Israel in the second commandment to not create other gods or distort His image by creating idols of Him. He promised blessing for those who worship Him alone. Colin Smith writes: In the first commandment that God calls us to embrace Him unconditionally. In the second He calls us to embrace Him as He is. It is clear in the first two commandments that God is to have no rivals. What are the results of creating idols?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
Our culture says we can be anything we desire if we put our mind to it. We’ve now come to a place where we make whatever we want, into whatever we want. We are consumed with personalizing everything, and this means even reshaping of God according to our tastes and sinful desires. God challenged the people of Israel in the second commandment to not create other gods or distort His image by creating idols of Him. He promised blessing for those who worship Him alone. Colin Smith writes: In the first commandment that God calls us to embrace Him unconditionally. In the second He calls us to embrace Him as He is. It is clear in the first two commandments that God is to have no rivals. What are the results of creating idols?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
JANUARY 12, 2020: I AM the LORD Your God
Exodus 20:1-3
We live in days much like the time of the Judges, where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. More and more, we embrace moral relativism. It’s the idea that there are no absolutes and what is right and wrong is determined by each person or culture. But in the midst of our self-inflicted confusion, God is still on His throne. His Word guides us to truth and His commandments reflect what is truly good. Colin Smith wrote that the God you worship will shape the values you hold, and the values you hold will shape the lifestyle you choose. When God doesn’t fit where we want to go, we find ourselves desperately looking for another god. Who is your God, and what can we learn about His heart from the Ten Commandments?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe
We live in days much like the time of the Judges, where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. More and more, we embrace moral relativism. It’s the idea that there are no absolutes and what is right and wrong is determined by each person or culture. But in the midst of our self-inflicted confusion, God is still on His throne. His Word guides us to truth and His commandments reflect what is truly good. Colin Smith wrote that the God you worship will shape the values you hold, and the values you hold will shape the lifestyle you choose. When God doesn’t fit where we want to go, we find ourselves desperately looking for another god. Who is your God, and what can we learn about His heart from the Ten Commandments?
Speaker: Pastor Frank Volpe