Returning to Romans
This week we return to our verse-by-verse study of Romans. Understanding Romans is essential to our Christian life, and the truths we find in Romans are essential to us becoming true Christians. ...
Keep ReadingToday, Easter Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 'He is Risen!' is the most incredible and important declaration in human history. Jesus' resurrection changes everything. Because He rose from the grave, all of the claims He made are true and He is worthy of our absolute love and devotion and obedience.
Because Jesus rose from the grave, the idea of our faith being a 'Christmas and Easter' only faith is nonsensical as is the idea of being a 'Sunday only' Christian. If we belong to Him, we belong to Him every hour of every day and we give Him our best-not our leftovers.
Because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and because He is the Head of the Church, died for the Church, loves His Church, we do as well. It is in the context of the church, in community, where we learn and grow together, help each other become more like Christ, encourage each other and challenge each other to grow. We learn to love one another, to be patient with one another, to forgive one another, to persevere with one another. We build each other up. We are on mission together. That is Christ's intent for His people and His Church.
While it is true that we can worship Christ anywhere, it is equally true that we are saved into community and there are certain things that can only happen in terrms of our growth, in a corporate context. Much of the growth He desires for us cannot take place in any other context than in the community of believers, the Church.
Today we celebrated the resurrection, as we should, as is fitting! May we never grow dull and complacent as we consider the incredible reality: Jesus Christ, God the Son, took on flesh, dwelt among us, willingly laid down His life as a ransom for many, was crucified, paid the penalty for our sins, died, was buried and three days later rose from the grave!
But, even as we celebrate today, we must remember something very important: now the real work begins. When we look at the Gospels, after Jesus has shown Himself as the Risen Savior to His disciples, He does something very important: He commissions them (as He has us) to make disciples of all people. We are not to keep this incredible news of the Risen Savior to ourselves! Too much is at stake. Everything is at stake.
So, as a church as we look to the next few months, we ask the Lord to grant us the grace, wisdom and strength needed to pesevere, to lean into the things He has for us, to press forward to the calling He has for us individually and as a congregation. As we saw today in our sanctuary, a sanctuary that was for all practical purposes in overflow condition, we cannot reach more people if we do not move to a second service and Bible study. We have already begun taking first steps toward that. We are in process.
For the sake of the King and His Kingdom, let us stay in prayer, stay focused and move forward in faith! The Love of the Risen King compels us!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kevin
March 14, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather
Jesus made amazing claims about Himself. There are only so many options when it comes to these claims. Jesus was either a legend, a liar, a lunatic or He was who He claimed to be, and if He was and is who He claimed to be, we must respond to Him. ...
March 3, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather
Our God is simply amazing! Pray for His will and he will open doors....
January 1, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather
There is so very much to be thankful for! We journeyed far in 2016, and we have more to look forward to in 2017....
April 7, 2024 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: The gospel, Jesus Christ, Truth, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Salvation, Romans, Doctrines, Systematic Theology, Verse-by-Verse Study, Christian Living
This week we return to our verse-by-verse study of Romans. Understanding Romans is essential to our Christian life, and the truths we find in Romans are essential to us becoming true Christians. ...
Keep ReadingSeptember 13, 2022 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Love, Truth, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Renewal, Scripture, God's Word, Refining, Pruning, God's Goodness, Unity, Reviving, God's Greatness, Life Transformation, The Work of God
What an amazing work the Lord is doing in our church! We must stay in prayer, in the Word, and praise and thank God for who He is, what He is doing, and continue to seek Him as we walk by faith. God is moving in our church!...
Keep ReadingDecember 28, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Grace, Love, Truth, Jesus, Christianity, God, Spiritual Maturity, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Growth, 2022, New Year Sermon Series
Many people struggled the past two years with their faith and in their personal lives. As we enter into 2022, these things are necessary if we are to grow spiritually on an individual, familial and church level. ...
Keep ReadingAugust 16, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Love, Truth, Evangelism, prayer, Christianity, Culture, DIscipleship, Lies, Boldness, Scripture, Following Jesus, Transformation, Courage, Do Not Conform
As the culture continues to buy and sell lies, and to demand conformity to the lies, Christians must be a people who walk in Truth, even if it is costly. ...
Keep ReadingMarch 29, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Truth, Resurrection, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Who is Jesus, Easter Sunday
If Jesus rose from the grave, He is exactly who He claimed to be and is worthy of all praise, glory and honor. He is worthy of our everything. If He did not rise from the dead, then He is of no importance whatsoever....
Keep ReadingApril 11, 2020 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Resurrection, Scriptures, Apologetics, Claims of Christianity, Truth, Answering Objections, Resources, Church, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Easter
If you are wrestling with the claims of Christianity and want to examine the claims of Christ in an intellectually honest manner but don't know where to start, there are many resources to investigate. Here are a few....
Keep ReadingOctober 14, 2019 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Church, Culture, Females, Young Women, Parents, Feminism, Illusions, Objectifying, Lies, Truth
Many young women (and their parents) are confused over the issue of what it means to be a female. The church must unapologetically proclaim the Truth, speaking Goodness into these confusing times....
Keep ReadingFebruary 6, 2019 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Christianity, Evangelicalism, American Christianity, American Evangelical Churches, Church, Jesus, Faith, Post Christian Culture, Truth, God, Holy Spirit, Relationships, Conviction
Evangelical Christians can learn much from our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Western Europe. As America slides into a Post-Christian culture, there will be new challenges for most believers in the culture. We can learn from those who stand firm overseas....
Keep ReadingJanuary 31, 2019 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Children, Infanticide, Babies, Life, Pro-Life, Abortion, Murder, Christianity, Created, Value of Life, Sanctity of Life, Subjectivism, Objectivism, Truth, Salt and Light, Engaging the Culture, God, Christ, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Church
With recent events in the states of New York and Virginia, and calls for more similar legislation in more states, Christians must have a clear, Biblical understanding of the sanctity and value of human life. And, Christians must be willing to lovingly but clearly and firmly articulate Truth and take redemptive, positive action to minister to the unborn to save lives. ...
Keep ReadingApril 30, 2018 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Gospel, Life, Faith, Journey, Deliverance, Healing, Forgiveness, Grace, Mercy, Love, Truth, Goodness, Church, Sermon Series on Faith, Mother's Day
From one sermon series to another, we will see how God continues to call us to walk by faith...
Keep ReadingMay 21, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Gospel, Church, Truth, Meaning, Life, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, DIscipleship, Consumerism, Lies, Meaningless, Time
Twobooks have profoundly grabbed my attention the past few months. One is "Impossible People," by Os Guinness, the other is "The Benedict Option," by Ron Dreher. Both books address something we may not want to hear, but if we are honest, can sense, because the evidence is all around us: Rome has already fallen (the West-and that includes America) and we (Christians) have ...
Keep ReadingJanuary 1, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: All In, Gospel, Stonebridge Baptist Church, 2017, Christ, Church, Faith, Grace, Heart, Journey, Love, Mercy, Mission, Opportunities, Praises, Priorities, Truth
There is so very much to be thankful for! We journeyed far in 2016, and we have more to look forward to in 2017....
Keep Reading