Mandeville Bible

2025-06-08 Stand Firm with Worthy Thoughtsby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 4:8-98 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,   whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,   if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,   think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice   these things, and the God of peace will be with you.English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/kybuej5g87i39skv/2025-06-08_Stand_Firm_with_Worthy_Thoughts7xdzq.mp3https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A8-9&version=ESV

2025-06-01 Stand Firm By Rejoicingby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 4: 4-74 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2025-05-18 Stand Firm By Agreementby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 4:1-31 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

2025-05-11 Mother's Day Encouragementby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Psalm 145 (Berean Standard Bible)I Will Exalt You, My God and KingA Psalm of praise. Of David.1 I will exalt You, my God and King;I will bless Your name forever and ever.2 Every day I will bless You,and I will praise Your name forever andever.3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;His greatness is unsearchable.4 One generation will commend Your works tothe next,and will proclaim Your mighty acts— 5 the glorious splendor of Your majesty.And I will meditate on Your wondrousworks.6 They will proclaim the power of Yourawesome deeds,and I will declare Your greatness.7 They will extol the fame of Your abundantgoodnessand sing joyfully of Your righteousness.8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and abounding in lovingdevotion.9 The LORD is good to all;His compassion rests on all He has made.10 All You have made will give You thanks,O LORD,and Your saints will bless You.11 They will tell of the glory of Your kingdomand speak of Your might,12 to make known to men Your mighty actsand the glorious splendor of Yourkingdom.13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and Your dominion endures through allgenerations. The LORD is faithful in all His wordsand kind in all His actions.14 The LORD upholds all who falland lifts up all who are bowed down.15 The eyes of all look to You,and You give them their food in season.16 You open Your handand satisfy the desire of every living thing.17 The LORD is righteous in all His waysand kind in all His deeds.18 The LORD is near to all who call on Him,to all who call out to Him in truth.19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;He hears their cry and saves them.20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.21 My mouth will declare the praise of the LORD;let every creature bless His holy name forever and ever.

2025-05-04 Avoiding Discouragement with Eye Disciplineby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 3:17-4:117 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.4:1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

2025-04-27 Avoiding Discouragement By Pressing Onby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 3:12-1612 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

2025-04-20 Things Jesus Saidby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: John 20:11-2920 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.”24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!”26 Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.” 28 Thomas replied to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.”

2025-04-13 Avoiding Discouragement with Proper Accountingby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 3:1-111 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—  4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

2025-04-06 Further Examples of Humilityby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 2:19-3019 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

2025-03-30 Joy in Obedienceby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 2:12-18 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

2025-03-23 Christ, our Example in Humilityby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 2:5-115 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2025-03-16 Joy from Humilityby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 2:1-11 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,  2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2025-03-09 The Joy of Worthinessby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 1:27-3027 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

2025-03-02 Joy In The Faithby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 1:19-2619 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

2025-02-23 Joy in Advancementby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 1:12-1812 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.15 It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.

2025-02-16 The Joy of Partnershipby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 1:3-113  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4  always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7  It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in    my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8  For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

2025-02-09 Living Joyfully - A Study through Philippiansby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Philippians 11 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

2025-02-02 Bring On The Newby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Revelation 211 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”The New Jerusalem9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

2025-01-26 What Will It Be Like?: The Millenial Kingdomby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Isaiah 2:2It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the Lordshall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and shall be lifted up above the hills;and all the nations shall flow to it,

2025-01-19 Heaven: Part 2b - The Thousand-Year Reignby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Revelation 20:1-720 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.4 Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.The Defeat of Satan7 When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison.

2025-01-12 Heaven: Part 2 - The Thousand-Year Reignby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Revelation 20:1-720 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison

2025-01-05 Heaven: Part 1by Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: John 14:33 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

2024-12-29 Jesus Has Authorityby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Mark 1:21-4521 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

2024-12-22 Christmas Brings Joyby Pastor Chris Berg Scripture Reference: Isaiah 12:1-6 1 In that day you will sing:   “I will praise you, O Lord!You were angry with me, but not any more.    Now you comfort me.2 See, God has come to save me.    I will trust in him and not be afraid.The Lord God is my strength and my song;    he has given me victory.”3 With joy you will drink deeply    from the fountain of salvation!4 In that wonderful day you will sing:    “Thank the Lord! Praise his name!Tell the nations what he has done.    Let them know how mighty he is!5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.    Make known his praise around the world.6 Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy!    For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”

2024-12-15 Christmas Brings Comfortby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Isaiah 40:1-111 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,    and cry to herthat her warfare is ended,    that her iniquity is pardoned,that she has received from the Lord's hand    double for all her sins.3 A voice cries:“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.4 Every valley shall be lifted up,    and every mountain and hill be made low;the uneven ground shall become level,    and the rough places a plain.5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,    and all flesh shall see it together,    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”6 A voice says, “Cry!”    And I said, “What shall I cry?”All flesh is grass,    and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.7 The grass withers, the flower fades    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;    surely the people are grass.8 The grass withers, the flower fades,    but the word of our God will stand forever.9 Go on up to a high mountain,    O Zion, herald of good news;lift up your voice with strength,    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;    lift it up, fear not;say to the cities of Judah,    “Behold your God!”10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,    and his arm rules for him;behold, his reward is with him,    and his recompense before him.11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;    he will gather the lambs in his arms;he will carry them in his bosom,    and gently lead those that are with young.

2024-12-08 Our Hope Is In Christmasby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Isaiah 9:1-71 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice.They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.5 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!

2024-11-17 What Are We Learning?by Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 3:12-1512 I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to stay there for the winter. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.15 Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us.

2024-11-10 Avoid Timewastersby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 3:9-119 Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. 10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. 11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.

2024-11-03 The Gospel: A Poemby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 3:4-84 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

2024-10-27 Godly Citizenshipby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 3:1-33 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

2024-10-20 All About God's Graceby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 2:11-1511 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.15 You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don't let anyone disregard what you say.

2024-10-13 Being Christian in Unjust Circumstancesby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 2:9-109 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

2024-10-06 Young Men Are Capableby Pastor Chris BergSermon Scripture Reference: Titus 2:6-86 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

2024-09-29 Why Get Baptized?by Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Matthew 28:19-2019 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

2024-09-22 Teach The Youngerby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 2:3-63 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.

2024-09-15 Six Traits of Maturityby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 2:1-21 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

2024-09-08 Silence False Teachersby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 1:10-1610 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

2024-08-25 Proclaim The Good News!by Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Titus 1:1-41 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

2024-08-18 The Victorious Lifeby Pastor Chris Berg Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:50-5850 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:“Death is swallowed up in victory.”55 “O death, where is your victory?    O death, where is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

2024-08-11 The Cruel Crossby Steve HudsonScripture Reference: John 3:14-17 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, somust the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone whobelieves will have eternal life in Him. For God so loved theworld, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believesin Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did notsend the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that theworld might be saved through Him.

2024-08-04 Faith, Finallyby Pastor Chris Berg Scripture Reference: Habakkuk 3:1-191 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you,    and your work, O Lord, do I fear.In the midst of the years revive it;    in the midst of the years make it known;    in wrath remember mercy.3 God came from Teman,    and the Holy One from Mount Paran. SelahHis splendor covered the heavens,    and the earth was full of his praise.4 His brightness was like the light;    rays flashed from his hand;    and there he veiled his power.5 Before him went pestilence,    and plague followed at his heels.[a]6 He stood and measured the earth;    he looked and shook the nations;then the eternal mountains were scattered;    the everlasting hills sank low.    His were the everlasting ways.7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction;    the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.8 Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord?    Was your anger against the rivers,    or your indignation against the sea,when you rode on your horses,    on your chariot of salvation?9 You stripped the sheath from your bow,    calling for many arrows.[b] Selah    You split the earth with rivers.10 The mountains saw you and writhed;    the raging waters swept on;the deep gave forth its voice;    it lifted its hands on high.11 The sun and moon stood still in their place    at the light of your arrows as they sped,    at the flash of your glittering spear.12 You marched through the earth in fury;    you threshed the nations in anger.13 You went out for the salvation of your people,    for the salvation of your anointed.You crushed the head of the house of the wicked,    laying him bare from thigh to neck.[c] Selah14 You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors,    who came like a whirlwind to scatter me,    rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret.15 You trampled the sea with your horses,    the surging of mighty waters.16 I hear, and my body trembles;    my lips quiver at the sound;rottenness enters into my bones;    my legs tremble beneath me.Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble    to come upon people who invade us.17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,    nor fruit be on the vines,the produce of the olive fail    and the fields yield no food,the flock be cut off from the fold    and there be no herd in the stalls,18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.19 God, the Lord, is my strength;    he makes my feet like the deer's;    he makes me tread on my high places.To the choirmaster: with stringed[d] instruments.English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

 2024-07-21 A Frustrated Prophetby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Habakkuk 1:1-171 This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision.2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help?    But you do not listen!“Violence is everywhere!” I cry,    but you do not come to save.3 Must I forever see these evil deeds?    Why must I watch all this misery?Wherever I look,    I see destruction and violence.I am surrounded by people    who love to argue and fight.4 The law has become paralyzed,    and there is no justice in the courts.The wicked far outnumber the righteous,    so that justice has become perverted.5 The Lord replied,“Look around at the nations;    look and be amazed!For I am doing something in your own day,    something you wouldn't believe    even if someone told you about it.6 I am raising up the Babylonians,    a cruel and violent people.They will march across the world    and conquer other lands.7 They are notorious for their cruelty    and do whatever they like.8 Their horses are swifter than cheetahs    and fiercer than wolves at dusk.Their charioteers charge from far away.    Like eagles, they swoop down to devour their prey.9 “On they come, all bent on violence.    Their hordes advance like a desert wind,    sweeping captives ahead of them like sand.10 They scoff at kings and princes    and scorn all their fortresses.They simply pile ramps of earth    against their walls and capture them!11 They sweep past like the wind    and are gone.But they are deeply guilty,    for their own strength is their god.”12 O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal—    surely you do not plan to wipe us out?O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us,    to punish us for our many sins.13 But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil.    Will you wink at their treachery?Should you be silent while the wicked    swallow up people more righteous than they?14 Are we only fish to be caught and killed?    Are we only sea creatures that have no leader?15 Must we be strung up on their hooks    and caught in their nets while they rejoice and celebrate?16 Then they will worship their nets    and burn incense in front of them.“These nets are the gods who have made us rich!”    they will claim.17 Will you let them get away with this forever?    Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?

2024-07-14 The Seven C's of Historyby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: 1 Timothy 1:17To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

2024-07-07 Avoid the Detour to Idolatryby Pastor Chris BergScripture: 1 John 5:18-2118 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

2024-06-30 Let There Be Lightby Shane O'HaraScripture: Genesis 1:1-31  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.    And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2024-06-16 Avoid the Detour of Discounting God's Testimonyby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: 1 John 5:6-126 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

2024-06-09 Avoid the Detour of BurdenScripture Reference: 1 John 5:1-5by Pastor Chris Berg1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is God's Messiah has become a child of God. And if we love God, our Father, we will love his other children too. 2 How do we know that we love God's children? We know it when we love God and we do what he tells us to do. 3 Because, if we really love God, we will obey his commands. And those commands are not difficult for us to obey. 4 Because we have become God's children, we can live in a good way. We can refuse to live like people who belong to this world. We are able to win against the wrong ways of this world because we trust Jesus Christ. 5 It is only people who believe that Jesus is the Son of God who can do that. Only they can win against the wrong ways of this world.

2024-06-02 Avoid The Detour Of Fearby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: 1 John 4:7-217 My friends, we should all love each other. It is God who makes us able to love other people. Everyone who loves other people has become a child of God. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love other people does not know God. We know this because God's own nature is love. 9 This is how God showed that he loves us: He sent his only Son to come and live in the world. He did that so that we could have true life with God because of his Son. 10 This shows what love is: It is not that we have loved God, but that he loved us. He loved us so much that he sent his Son to save us from sin. He sent Jesus to die as a sacrifice, to take the punishment for our sins.11 My friends, this shows how much God has loved us. So we should also love one another.12 Nobody has ever seen God. But, if we love each other, it shows that God lives in us. As a result, we can love people completely, in the same way that God loves us. 13 God has given us his Holy Spirit to live in us. Because of this, we know that we live together with God. And we know that he lives with us. 14 God the Father sent his Son to come into the world. God sent him to save the people of the world from their sins. We apostles have seen that this is true. So now we are telling people about it.15 If anyone says clearly that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in that person. And that person lives together with God. 16 So we know the kind of love that God has for us. We believe that God has put that love in us. God's nature is love. So, if someone continues to love other people, he is living together with God. And God lives in him. 17 That is how we are able to love other people completely. Then, we will not be afraid on the day when God will judge all people. We can be sure that God will not punish us. We know this because we have lived in this world in the way that Jesus lived.18 If we really love God, we will not be afraid of him. We cannot love him completely and also be afraid. We would only be afraid of God if we thought that he would punish us. So, if someone is afraid that God will punish them, it shows that they do not completely know God's love.19 We are able to love God and other people because God loved us first. 20 Someone may say, ‘I love God.' But if he says that and he hates another Christian, he is telling a lie. He sees other believers but he does not love them. So he surely cannot love God that he has not seen. 21 This is the command that God has given us. He has told us that anyone who loves him should love other Christians too.

2024-05-26  Avoid the Detour of False Teachingby Pastor Chris Berg Scripture Reference: 1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God:every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

2024-05-19 Avoid the Detour of Selfishnessby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: 1 John 3:16-2416 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,[a] and God[b] in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

2024-05-12 Avoid The Detour Of Envyby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: 1 John 3:10-1510 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.