The 10 Commandments
Psalm 119 tells us that the commandment of God is "exceedingly broad." While His moral law may be memorized quickly, its application covers every area of life. Using the Ten Commandments as a framework, we will examine the precise moral code which is propagated throughout the Scriptures. Of course, no sinner may of his own effort keep this law perfectly. The study of the commandments thus always drives us back to Christ, the only hope for those who have broken God's perfect law.
Teachings That Define Our Church
What are the teachings that define our church? More importantly, where did we find those doctrines? Are they anything more than the musings of theologians? In this series we will examine the key doctrines by which we identify ourselves. We will see that our beliefs are firmly rooted in Scripture, which is our only authority.
Esther
The book of Esther has rightly been called a treatise on the Providence of God. It is a most unusual portion of Scripture - one in which God Himself is never named. Through this device we are reminded that even when He works invisibly, God always works. Like ourselves, Esther did not live in an age of miracles, but she served a God who nevertheless controls the events of this world and works them to His own ends. It is also a book intended to bolster our faith in God. Insurmountable difficulties melt away like spring snow as soon as God turns His eye upon them. The people of this God may bear up under the worst of circumstances, certain that He will work all things together for their good.
Haggai
When the chaos of a sinful world and the difficulties of day to day life overwhelm God's people, they must often be reminded of the priority of the work of God. Haggai ministered for a brief period (only 4 months!) in Jerusalem after the return from captivity. His message was one of admonishment and encouragement to those who had forgotten the need to give of their time and energy to the Lord. His message rings true in every age in which Christians find themselves too overwhelmed by hardship to make the things of God their top priority.
The Gospel of John
Having identified Jesus Christ, the Word, as being God and being with God, it would be natural for John to be faced with a request for clarification: just what God is he talking about? He supplies this by looking at the question from the angle of Creation. Jesus is the One through whom all things were created; He is the Creator God. This revelation gives clarity to the method of Creation which, in the Old Testament, is said to be "by the Word of the Lord." Christ is revealed as the Agent of the Father in Creation, just as He would be in Redemption.
The Life of Samuel
How can a godly man hope to persevere in a time of moral chaos among God's people? What can one man do when even spiritual leaders have sunk into unrepentant sin? Samuel, the last judge of Israel, lived in just such a time. His entire ministry was one in which he stood in opposition to the wicked men who ruled God's people. His life demonstrates consistent faith in God through an extended period of setbacks and disappointments. Although he died before the spiritual darkness had lifted, God used his ministry to usher in a period of genuine revival.
Genesis 1 - 3
The opening chapters of the Bible provide the necessary foundation upon which
the rest of the message of Scripture is grounded. Here we read of the creation
of the world, the nature of mankind, and the problem of sin. Here, too,
we read of the first mention of God's wonderful offer of salvation from sin.
Tom Chantry explores these themes in ten messages.
Ecclesiastes
Postmodernists often complain of the meaninglessness of life. Attempts to create meaning are ridiculed as hopeless. Christians may struggle to know how to address this “new” attitude in the world. In reality, though, the problems of today are not at all new. Solomon encountered the same difficulties nearly 3000 years ago. The book of Ecclesiastes traces his various attempts to find meaning and his ultimate realization that only true religion and dedicated service to God can give meaning to life. Tom Chantry has been teaching through this book on Wednesday nights.
The Book of James
The Letter of James could be titled, "A practical guide to living the Christian life". James was the head of the Jerusalem church until 62 AD when he was martyred. With this brief letter, James instructs authentic Christians how to live a distinctly Christian life. He speaks authoritatively about trials, suffering, guarding our tongues and dealing with sin in our lives. Two thousand years after it was first penned, James' letter is still relevant, helpful and beneficial to Christians. It is one of the oldest letters in the New Testament.
1 Timothy
What is a New Testament church supposed to look like? What is it meant
to do, and how is it to be organized? Paul's letter to Timothy, pastor
of the church in Ephesus, supplies the biblical answer to these questions.
As CRBC organizes as a church, Tom Chantry is preaching through this important book.
The aim of these messages is to build a basic understanding of the nature of
a biblical church.
Reformed Distinctives
A series of five messages on our definition of 'Reformed'. The subjects are neither the Five Points nor the Five Solas. Rather, they define the word 'Reformed' in five distinct but complementary ways.
We examine the Reformed Perspective on the Bible, on History, on Salvation,
on the church, and on the Christian life.
Church Membership
What is church membership, and why do we encourage it? Our constitution urges Christians to seek membership in the local church. We view membership more in terms of responsibilities than privileges. The church is a community in which members may expect certain behaviors from one another. This series summarizes the biblical arguments for those expectations. Of course, participation in such a community caries with it profound benefits. Those benefits may only be experienced, however, by committing oneself to the church.
Constituting Weekend
On this special weekend CRBC formally became a self-governing church, and Tom Chantry was installed as an elder. Special speakers preached sermons throughout the weekend.
The Temptation