Faith Free Presbyterian Church

Alice Gingery, 95, passed away on July 26, 2026. Alice is survived by her daughter, Christa (Randy) Habegger and son, Philip (Becky) Gingery; twelve grandchildren: Rand (Lindsey) Habegger, Ariel (Olivier) Blanchard, Taryn Gamble, Adam (Erika) Gingery, Ben Gingery, Will (Hannah) Gingery, Sam (Anna) Gingery, Sarah Gingery, Joseph (Hannah) Gingery, David (Annanya) Gingery, Matthew Gingery, Greyson Gingery; and seventeen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of sixty-four years, her brother, W. "Corkey" Christman, and granddaughter Laura Gingery. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/greenville-sc/alice-gingery-12981745

This sermon introduces a new series on decisive moments in church history, beginning with the Council of Jerusalem and the reign of Constantine. The speaker analyzes Acts 15 to demonstrate that the early church resolved the Judaizing controversy by affirming salvation through faith alone, establishing Christianity as a universal faith rather than a Jewish sect. The discussion then shifts to Constantine's victory at the Milvian Bridge, highlighting both the positive end of persecution and the negative precedent of state-church entanglement. By examining these events, the transcript emphasizes the importance of learning from historical turning points to understand current theological realities. The overall tone is instructional, aiming to provide a balanced view of historical influences on the Christian faith.

The sermon explores the Christian pursuit of discerning and doing God's will, emphasizing that this is the central focus of a believer's life. It outlines three specific tests derived from Romans 12 to evaluate whether a decision aligns with divine purpose: it must be morally good, acceptable to God, and perfecting for the individual's spiritual maturity. The preacher argues that true discernment requires total consecration, rejection of worldly conformity, and constant renewal of the mind through Scripture. By applying these criteria, believers can move from uncertainty to confident obedience, ensuring their actions glorify God and benefit others. Ultimately, following this path leads to genuine joy, contentment, and spiritual fruitfulness.

The sermon explores the vital necessity of discerning God's will for believers, emphasizing that this ability is rooted in specific spiritual preparations. It highlights three key steps: the consecration of one's entire being as a living sacrifice, the repudiation of worldly conformity, and the continuous transformation of the mind through truth. The preacher argues that true holiness requires mortifying the deeds of the body and rejecting the transient patterns of the world to remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit. By aligning personal desires with Christ's example, Christians can move beyond mere curiosity about God's will to a sincere commitment to obey it. Ultimately, the message asserts that knowing and doing God's will is the defining mark of a genuine child of God.

The sermon examines artificial intelligence through a theological lens, distinguishing between human identity created in God's image and AI's mere linguistic processing. It argues that while AI exhibits emergent intelligence, it lacks a soul, self, or genuine understanding, often resulting in hallucinations and suggestibility. The speaker identifies three primary dangers: dependence on tools that dull critical thinking, delusion from anthropomorphizing machines, and domination through the illusion of inevitable technological power. Drawing on Mark 13, the message urges believers to prioritize the health of their souls and spiritual responsibilities over societal disruptions. Ultimately, Christians are called to use AI wisely for tasks like translation while remaining grounded in their distinct, God-given identity.

The sermon emphasizes the supreme value and necessity of God's Word for the believer's life, drawing primarily from Psalm 147. It highlights that while God governs all creation, He uniquely reveals His statutes and judgments to His people, providing guidance, healing, and peace. The preacher argues that Scripture is perfect and trustworthy, serving as the essential foundation for salvation, sanctification, and daily decision-making. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is identified as the crucial agent who illuminates the text, enabling believers to understand and apply divine truth effectively. The message concludes with an exhortation to pray for a deep appreciation of Scripture and to rely on it for glorifying and enjoying God.

The sermon interprets Revelation 13 as a prophetic warning against the rise of artificial intelligence, viewing AI as the modern manifestation of the beast and its image that speaks. It traces the historical development of computing from early rule-based systems to deep learning and large language models, explaining how these technologies mimic human intellect without possessing true consciousness or soul. The speaker argues that while AI demonstrates a functional understanding through pattern recognition, it remains a man-made idol lacking the breath of life found in biblical descriptions of false worship. This technological advancement presents a spiritual crisis for post-modern society, challenging believers to maintain faith amidst a godless pursuit of synthetic intelligence. Ultimately, the message calls for discernment and reliance on divine supremacy rather than trusting in human ingenuity.

The sermon explores the spiritual disciplines of allowing God's peace to govern the heart and letting Christ's word dwell richly within the believer. It emphasizes that these are daily, cumulative practices rather than one-time commitments, leading to a life marked by gratitude and unity in the church body. The preacher highlights how putting off sinful behaviors and putting on virtues like love and humility fosters harmony among diverse individuals. By focusing on Christ's teachings and maintaining a thankful disposition, believers can experience true peace amidst worldly conflicts. Ultimately, the message calls for a consistent, day-by-day reliance on divine grace to shape thoughts, words, and actions.

This sermon addresses the spiritual burden of past sins that resurface to torment a believer's conscience. Drawing primarily from Psalm 25, it outlines three biblical responses: honestly naming and owning one's specific transgressions before God, casting them entirely upon His covenant mercy rather than self-effort, and fixing one's gaze on Christ as the sin-bearer who absorbed their guilt. The preacher emphasizes that true relief comes not from forgetting or minimizing the past, but from trusting in the finished work of Jesus and the assurance of justification. This perspective fosters humility, dependence on grace, and a merciful attitude toward others, while ultimately calling unbelief to repentance and faith in Christ for complete pardon.

The sermon explores the theological significance of Leviticus 25, focusing on the provision for a kinsman to redeem lost property as a foreshadowing of Christ's redemptive work. It outlines three key aspects of this redemption: the desperate loss incurred by humanity through sin, the lawful qualification of Jesus as the incarnate Kinsman Redeemer, and His willing love in paying the ultimate price on the cross. The text emphasizes that while humans are spiritually impoverished and unable to save themselves, God provides a Savior who is both near enough to understand human frailty and mighty enough to overcome it. This gospel truth assures believers of their secure standing not through personal merit but through the finished work of Christ, who restores what was lost in Eden. The message concludes with an invitation to trust in this Redeemer and find rest at the Lord's Table.

The sermon uses the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18 as a metaphor to critique the modern internet's attention economy and surveillance capitalism. It traces the technological evolution from ARPANET to smartphones, highlighting how commercial interests have transformed digital infrastructure into a system that monetizes user data and exploits psychological vulnerabilities. The preacher argues that this environment fosters anxiety and distracts believers from eternal truths through relentless advertising and algorithmic manipulation. Consequently, Christians are called to exercise spiritual discernment, reject the pervasive culture of surveillance, and guard their hearts against the covetousness and fear driven by these technologies. The message concludes with a prayer for wisdom to remain spiritually unspotted amidst a world obsessed with ephemeral gains.

The sermon explores the distinguishing mark of a Christian as the undeniable evidence that they have been with Jesus, illustrated by the boldness and clarity displayed by Peter and John in Acts 4. It emphasizes that true spiritual transformation stems from intimate proximity to Christ's person, words, and wounds, which imparts courage to confess sin, forgive enemies, and proclaim the gospel without equivocation. The preacher argues that this divine empowerment enables believers to stand firm against opposition while pointing others exclusively to Jesus as the sole source of salvation. By dwelling in Scripture and meditating on the Lord's sacrifice, Christians acquire a distinct spiritual authority that reflects Christ's own character to the world. Ultimately, the message calls believers to live lives so illuminated by His presence that their faith becomes visibly recognizable to all who observe them.

The sermon examines the spiritual condition of America at its 250th anniversary through the lens of Isaiah 59, contrasting national blessings with impending moral battles. It highlights the foundational wisdom of liberty and the necessity of restraining governmental power while warning against the dangers of foreign interventionism, expansive statism, and unassimilated immigration. Drawing parallels between the decline of the United Kingdom and current American trends, the preacher argues that political structures alone cannot preserve a nation without a vibrant moral conscience. The central message calls for a return to biblical truth, regular worship, and personal repentance as the only viable hope for national restoration. Ultimately, the text asserts that true salvation and stability come not from human effort but from fearing the Lord and relying on the Redeemer.

The sermon examines the intersection of Christian faith and modern video gaming by tracing the technological history from early computers to immersive virtual worlds. It argues that while play has biblical precedent and can offer benefits like socialization and discipline, unchecked engagement with digital entertainment poses spiritual risks. The speaker warns against the dangers of financial waste, time mismanagement, and the depravation of imagination through violent or escapist content. Ultimately, the message urges believers to reject disembodied virtual realities that encourage escaping physical life, instead anchoring their desires in God's tangible redemptive plan for the material world.

The sermon emphasizes the absolute omnipotence of God, urging believers to maintain a vision of His power over creation and human inability. Drawing from John the Baptist's ministry, it challenges the tendency to measure situations by probability rather than divine capability. The central argument asserts that faith must be oriented around God's ability, particularly in prayer for the conversion of hardened hearts. It warns against idolizing circumstances by doubting God's power, which effectively places difficulties above Him. Ultimately, the message calls for persistent prayer and trust in God's limitless capacity to accomplish the impossible.

This sermon explores the theological and philosophical implications of software by drawing a profound parallel between human programming and God's creative work, particularly through the metaphor of DNA as divine code. Centered on Daniel 6, it reflects on the ancient law of the Medes and Persians—immutable yet subject to divine providence—and uses it as a lens to examine how modern software, though a human invention, mirrors God's ordering of creation. The speaker argues that programming, while not true ex nihilo creation, reflects humanity's image-bearing capacity to impose order on chaos. Through the wonder of genetic code and the limitations of human software, the sermon calls for reverence, humility, and worship, warning against the dangers of technological dependence that erode discernment and leadership. Ultimately, it affirms that technology, when rightly understood, can point to God's wisdom and glory.