Monday, June 30, 2014

The Book of Hebrews: Our High Priest

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
(Hebrews 4:15)

What does it mean that Jesus was tempted as we are? It means Jesus was tempted to despair, rage, lust, be prideful, arrogant, deceitful, irreverent, and unholy. Yet throughout all his temptation he was without sin. Therefore he knows our struggles, can empathize with our weakness, and draws us to the throne of God's grace. In this sermon we look at Hebrews 4:14-5:10 and see what Jesus does as our high priest.
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday June 29th, 2014.

Monday, June 23, 2014

The Book of Hebrews: Our Rest

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
(Heb 4:1-2)

Rest is something that we crave as human beings. And according to Scripture, Jesus is our rest. In this sermon we look at what it means for us to find our rest in Christ alone.
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday June 22nd, 2014.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Summer is for building...and a whole lot else.

Unalakleet River
How's your summer going? Ours has been up until this point far beyond excellent. I think that's in part to the fact that anything we got to this summer was going to be an improvement to what we didn't get to do last summer. We said goodbye to our students and school faculty in late May and began preparing for the massive rotating group of awesome volunteers that have been cycling through. I was able to be the camp speaker for a week at the Unalakleet Covenant Bible Camp and met some amazing staff who will be serving there all summer. 
We have also been moving forward on many of the church projects that were undone from last year. We have two teams currently committed to come and serve, but would gladly take additional help. The mission house next to the church will be the primary project, followed by a boiler installation, new windows for the church, a wood shed, and a splattering of other small projects. If you or your church are interested in helping with these, please let me know.
This past week I had the opportunity to help a family at church logging upriver. I took the boys with me and we had a great time camping and helping with the whole process. The family will be milling the lumber to build a garage.
Finally we have been doing our "Summer Bucket List" as a family too. Above pictured we took a family canoe trip and even got a muskrat. The boys and I made several beaver hunting trips and currently have 21 pelts in the freezer. They'll be on the market around October if you're interested.
The Bible Church is experiencing our normal summer slump in regular attendees, but thanks to the volunteers we have a pretty packed house. We are going through the Book of Hebrews and I'd invite you to join alone with the sermons weekly. 
Things you can be praying for:
- safety for volunteers. 
- provision for volunteers to work on church projects. 
- wisdom and continued favor as we seek to plant churches outside Galena. 
- boarding school students who are having a challenging Summer

The Book of Hebrews: The Cure for the Common Heart

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
(Heb 3:12-13)
Christians have historically used all kinds of terms for nonChristians: unbelievers, pagans, heathens, etc. Pastor Lenard Sweet uses a different term...Normal. All of us at one time were at a place of rebellion against God. In this sermon Pastor Chris Kopp continues in the series "The Book of Hebrews" and looks at the "Cure for the Common Heart".
Delivered to Galena Bible Church, Sunday June 15th, 2014.

Friday, June 13, 2014

The Book of Hebrews: The Greatest Story

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
(Hebrews 2:10)
The greatest story ever told is a war story that begins and ends with a wedding. The Bible is God's love story as we war against Him in our sin and yet he lovingly sends His Son to bring our hope and salvation. In every epic story there is: Setting, Conflict, Climax, and Resolution. The Bible is no different in that manner. In this sermon we examine what Hebrews 2:5-18 tells us about the story of God and His redemptive work in Christ on our behalf. 
Delivered to Galena Bible Church, Sunday June 8th, 2014.