FBCC - Second Serving

Jude 24–25 Now to Him Who Is Able to...Present You Blameless Introduction As we reach the end of a turbulent book that has pressed warnings into us like few others, it would be natural to feel unsettled. Jude has pulled back the curtain on false teachers, ungodly influences, and the dangers that creep into the church. We could leave this letter with more fear than faith, wondering if we are strong enough to endure. But Jude does not close with fear. He closes with hope and worship. These verses remind us that the security of our faith does not rest in our grip on God but in His grip on us. God Himself is the one who keeps His people. He is the one who presents them blameless. He is the only God, our Savior, who deserves every ounce of glory, majesty, dominion, and authority forever. This truth is not just a comfort, it is the dividing line of eternity. God has declared you blameless in Christ, do not reject Him or there is no hope. 1. Why We Cannot Reject Jesus, God Keeps Jude...

Do You See Who Is Before You? A Summary of Mark 6:30–44 Introduction Have you ever played a game where you had all the pieces to win, but you couldn’t put them together in time? Or maybe you’ve worked on a puzzle, knowing all the pieces were there, but you couldn’t see the full picture until it was almost complete. This is similar to what the disciples experienced in this passage. They had been following Jesus, witnessing His miracles, and listening to His teachings, but they had yet to fully understand who He truly was. In Mark 6:30–44, we see Jesus perform one of His most well-known miracles—feeding over five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Through this, Jesus was revealing something important, not just to the crowd but especially to His disciples. He was showing them that He was the same God who had provided for His people in the past. But even as they saw the miracle, they struggled to grasp what it meant. Like a puzzle missing its final piece, th...

Jude 20-23 Building Yourselves Up in Your Most Holy Faith Introduction If someone wanted to steal your money, they would not say, “I am here to rob you.” Instead, they might sit across from you in a nice suit, call themselves a financial advisor, and promise to help you invest wisely. They would smile, assure you that your future is secure, and convince you that your money is in good hands. But in reality, they would not be multiplying your wealth, they would be draining it away. That is how spiritual deception works. Jude warns that certain people have crept into the church unnoticed. They do not announce their intentions. They look trustworthy, they sound convincing, they claim to offer security, but they are siphoning faith away from Christ. So Jude turns to the church and says, “You must be vigilant. You must build yourselves up in the faith. You must pray in the Spirit. You must keep yourselves in the love of God. And you must show mercy.” False teachers offer counterfeit ...

Jude 17–19 But You Must Remember, Beloved... Main Idea: False teachers are not merely mistaken. They are spiritually dead and stand in direct opposition to the promises of God. The church must remember what has been taught, reject distorted versions of the gospel, and remain grounded in the Spirit-led truth of Christ. Introduction Although the book of Jude is short, it carries explosive spiritual weight. Every verse is loaded with urgency, and by the time we reach verse 17, Jude has already issued a fierce warning about those who have crept into the church unnoticed. These individuals use the right words, but they are not sent by the Spirit of God. Instead of pointing people to Christ, they subtly twist the truth and block others from entering the kingdom of God. Jude has described them in vivid detail, exposed their character, and warned of their destruction. Now, he turns his attention back to the church with tenderness and purpose. “But you, beloved...” This is the turning ...

The Church on Mission: Continuing the Work of the Apostles Mark 6:7-13 Introduction: Imagine preparing for an event. You ask someone to bring key items—ingredients for a meal, tools for a task, or supplies for a project. But they return having worked hard on things you didn’t ask for and forgot the one thing you needed. That event wouldn’t be complete. The work wouldn’t move forward. In Mark 6:7–13, Jesus sends His disciples out with specific instructions to proclaim the kingdom. Their faithfulness wasn’t measured by effort alone—it was measured by obedience. The same is true of the church today. We have a task given by our King. The mission hasn’t changed. Sent with Authority (Mark 6:7) Jesus sent the twelve out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. Their message was one of repentance—the kingdom of God had arrived. The authority to heal and cast out demons confirmed the truth of that message, not to glorify the messenger but to glorify the King (Acts 26:15–18...

Colossians: The Fullness of God Revealed in Jesus of Nazarethh Introduction and Purpose Foreword The book of Colossians is about clarity. It confronts confusion, corrects compromise, and calls believers to center their entire lives on Jesus Christ. In a world full of ideas, traditions, philosophies, and spiritual trends, Colossians gives the church a firm foundation. It tells us plainly: Christ is enough. This letter was written to a young church being pulled in different directions. Some were drawn to religious rituals. Others were tempted by cultural wisdom or secret knowledge. But Paul does not argue with all the competing voices. He simply lifts up Jesus. He shows that Christ is the image of the invisible God, the Creator of all things, the Head of the church, the hope of glory, and the fullness of God in bodily form. I preached through this book during a season when clarity was hard to come by. Our church, like many others, was facing pressure from within and without. W...

Colossians 2:1–5 Reach All the Riches of Full Assurance of Understanding and the Knowledge of God’s Mystery Main Idea: The church must be rooted in the person of Christ, who is the mystery of God and the source of all wisdom and knowledge. We grow in maturity by understanding him, not by chasing worldly arguments or partial truths. Introduction Businesses and companies are successful when they identify a need and produce a service or product that solves a problem or improves the lives of their customers. The church is not a business. But this business principle is not lost on the church. What does the church produce? What is the product that solves the problems that face humanity? The gospel of Christ. It is the hearing of the gospel and trusting in the person of Christ that ensures the salvation of the souls that believe. The church is not responsible for ensuring that people have “good lives.” The church is not responsible for giving people “purpose.” For so...

Colossians 2:16–23 Let No One Disqualify You Main Point Christ has freed us from man-made religion, legalistic rules, and outward appearances so that we may live in the freedom of His finished work with sincere devotion. Introduction: Losing Our Identity In sports, there’s a phrase used to describe what happens to a championship team that falls apart the next season: “they lost their identity.” They stop doing the things that made them successful and start chasing something else. They add too much. They forget what worked. The same thing happens in the restaurant world. In the show Kitchen Nightmares , failing restaurants are often plagued by bloated menus. They keep adding items—trying to please everyone—and forget what they were good at in the first place. The confusion leaves them weak, scattered, and unfocused. As believers, we are not immune to this danger. Over time, we can drift from the simplicity of the gospel. We add to the work of Christ—without even realiz...

Colossians 2:6–15 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit Main Point True spiritual maturity comes by staying rooted in Christ, guarding against deception, and remembering that our full salvation has already been accomplished through Him. Introduction: The Right Source of Power Think of a time when you grabbed the wrong batteries for an electronic device. You came home, full of hope that it would work again, only to find out you picked up AA batteries when you needed AAA. Or imagine pumping fuel into your vehicle, then realizing too late that you used unleaded when it required diesel. No matter how much you try, the machine will not run properly if you use the wrong source of power. This same truth applies to the Christian life. You cannot fuel your faith with anything other than Jesus Christ. You cannot grow into spiritual maturity by drifting into human tradition, religious effort, or empty ideas that sound wise but leave you cold. The onl...

Colossians 4:7–18 That You May Stand Strong Main Point: The church is not built on one person, but on many faithful servants who work together for Christ’s glory. Introduction A divided Congress. A collective body of people with competing goals pulling in different directions. Inefficient. Ineffective. Unable to move forward. What a contrast to the church. The church is a collective body of people with one goal—to obey Jesus and exalt His name. That goal brings unity. That goal moves us forward. As Paul closes his letter, he shows us the kind of teamwork, maturity, and endurance it takes to fulfill the mission of Christ. 1. Paul’s Network of Co-Workers (Colossians 4:7–11) Paul mentions five men who were serving alongside him in the gospel. Ministry was not a solo event for Paul. It was a team effort, where each person had a role to play. Tychicus and Onesimus were faithful messengers. Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus were comforting com...

Colossians 4:2–6 Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious Main Idea: Our foundation must be built on prayer, marked by gospel clarity, and demonstrated in gracious relationships so that Christ is clearly seen through us. Introduction Some of the most important things in life are easily taken for granted. We rarely notice a good foundation until something starts to crack. But when the foundation is bad, everything built on it eventually suffers. This passage draws our attention back to the foundational elements of the Christian life—prayer, gospel-centered mission, and our witness to the world. Consider two reminders from this past summer: the threat of a saltwater wedge reminded us how desperately we need rain, and broken air conditioning showed us what happens when we fail to perform maintenance. Small things left unchecked cause major disruption. The same is true in our spiritual lives. Colossians 4:2–6 reminds us what must remain solid. 1. Continue Steadfastly in Pray...