Ambassador Presbyterian

Equipping the Saints with the Gospel - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Kyle O'Donnell preaches on 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11. This week, as we remember Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, Paul would have us remember the gospel he preached to us. But what is the gospel? Not just it's content; but before that: what 'is' a "evangelion"? Join with us as we answer these very questions in the hopes of not only making sense of "the gospel" but making ourselves ready to receive it.

Equipping the Saints to Worship With Care - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Warren Harvey preaches on 1 Corinthians 14:1-40. Jesus said that God is seeking worshipers to worship him in spirit and in truth. And God equips us to do that through the various spiritual gifts he gives to each member of his body. But how do we know if God is really among us? For some in Corinth and some today, the gift of speaking in tongues was a sure sign that the Spirit had shown up. And while tongues may build up the gifted individual, it can be confusing to those who don't understand. The greater gifts are those that strengthen, encourage and build up not just the individual but others in the body of Christ who gather for worship. And that happens as God speaks to and through us in a manner that enables all to hear and understand and be encouraged by his Spirit and truth. Join us as we consider how to pursue love and desire and exercise the spiritual gifts that promote care and not confusion in the body of Christ.

Equipping the Saints to Love - 1 Corthinians

Pastor Warren Harvey preaches on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

1 Corinthians 13, the "love" chapter, is likely one of the more well-known, oft-quoted passages in the New Testament. Yet far being simply a celebration of marital bliss or ode to romantic sentimentality, it is given to us as a convicting and challenging description of the central characteristic and defining mark of our life together as God's people. Love, as exemplified by Christ and experienced through his Spirit undergirds, informs and outlasts all that we are called to be and do together in the body of Christ. It is the more excellent way, and the question we must constantly keep before us in our life together as believers is "Are we walking in it?"

Equipping the Saints With Spiritual Gifts - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Kyle O'Donnell preaches on 1 Corinthians 12:1-31. On Christmas morning, would you rather each receive an individual gift, or receive one great group gift? ... What if they're one and the same thing? ... There is a variety of spiritual gifts; yet there is only one gift: the Spirit Himself; for there is only One Giver: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In fact, He is both Gift and Giver, Who is both Three and One, to us who are both many members and one Body. It is enjoyable to receive and use gifts, and even more so together -- how much more, when we enjoy them together with the Gift Giver! Indeed, that's why He's given them.

Equipping the Saint to Worship in Honor - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Warren Harvey preaches on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Whatever we do, we are created and called in Christ to "do it all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). In our worship of God together it's not just what we do, but also how we do it that matters. As we've seen in our study of 1st Corinthians, the transforming freedom we have in the gospel creates distinct tensions and calls for humble discernment in how we live and worship together in unity in the body of Christ. And one place where that tension was particularly felt in the early church and among believers down to today is in the area of gender equality and distinctions and how that informs and impacts our glorifying God in our worship together. And it's not as simple as hats on or off in church. Join us as we look at equipping the saints, male and female, to worship in honor.

Equipping the Saints to Worship in Communion - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Warren Harvey preaches on 1 Corinthians 10:13-22; 11:17-34. As we come to participate in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper this Sunday, it is fitting that we are reminded by the apostle Paul of the sanctity and significance of that participation. The table of the Lord serves as both a warning against spiritual compromise with the world, as well as a welcome into spiritual communion with Christ and with one another. Just as you might eagerly anticipate and prepare for a special meal with a loved one or at a family gathering, even more so, God would have us equipped for and eagerly enter into communion together at the table he himself has prepared for us. Let us do so this Lord's Day.

Equipping the Saints to Endure Temptation - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Warren Harvey preaches on 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:13.

Equipping the Saints to Win the Lost - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Warren Harvey preaches on 1 Corinthians 9:1-24. As we saw last week, the freedom which the Gospel affords to us and the rights which the Gospel endows upon us are not to be exercised for self-interest and exaltation, but for the glory of God and the good of the others in love, not only in the body of Christ, but to those who do not yet believe. In calling us to imitate him as he imitate Christ, Paul gives a personal testimony of what it means to lay down your rights and enter into the lives of the lost in such a way that they might be won over by Christ in salvation. What might need to change in our lives, what rights might we need to lay aside in order to become all things to all people in order that we might win some to salvation and freedom in Christ? Join us as we look at being equipped as God's saints to win the lost.

Equipping the Saints: Free to Love - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Kyle O'Donnell preaches on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 10:23-11:1. We are free in Christ to do whatever we can: whatever we can for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor. In other words, we are free to love. Love determines right. Rights and right knowledge are right only insofar as they are employed, or not, for the love of God and others. Do we exert our rights and right knowledge for their own sake, or for the sake of others? Do our consciences or convictions help or hinder our love? For this is the commandment our Lord gave us: to love one another, just as He has laid down His life in love of us.

Equipping the Saints to Glorify God in Undivided Devotion - 1 Corinthians

Pastor Warren Harvey preaches on 1 Corinthians 7:25-40. There are certain relationships and circumstances in life to which we will by necessity devote a good amount of our time, attention and energy. Which means they will by necessity divide our devotion to other things, including how we are able to serve the Lord. Marriage is certainly one of those relationships, which is why in giving counsel to the Corinthians on the subject or singleness and marriage, Paul says it is good to consider the practical implications that marriage as well as other circumstances bring to our being able to be fully devoted to the Lord. Join us as we are equipped to glorify God in undivided devotion to God whether single or married or in whatever circumstance we may find ourselves.