Doctrine to Doxology: Trinity

Probably, no aspect of the nature of God is more misunderstood than the nature of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, three in one. What is the practical implications of the doctrine of the Trinity. How does it effect our daily activity? What does it mean in Romans 8 that God the Holy Spirit prays for us to God the Father over us on the basis of the finished work of God the Son in us?
These are questions we'll deal with today as pastor Chris walks through the doctrine of the Trinity. Delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday January 25th, 2015.

Sometimes you sprint in a marathon

The heavens declare the Glory of God...

When it comes to ministry the old clique is still true overall: "It's a marathon, not a sprint." But there are times in the marathon that you had better sprint. I know that's really bad runners logic, but in ministry it's absolutely essential. The cost of not accomplishing the tasks and goals that we work on are too high. Lives are literally at stake. Obviously we seek to never get ahead of the Holy Spirit in His work of drawing men and women to Jesus, but we also do not stand idly by and wait for something to happen. That's not what Jesus told us to do. (Matthew 28:19-20) Day after day I read the news around Alaska and hear of another suicide, another murder, another "accidental death", another rape, another teen pregnancy, and on and on the heartbreak continues. Student after student pours their heart out to me, their YoungLife leader, their coach, their teacher of the heartbreak of their world. Meanwhile 80% of villages continue to exist with no Gospel influence or witness at all.

It's time to sprint.

Recently I was talking to a native leader from a village we pray for regularly. They shared with me that in the last 7 months there have been 7 forcible rapes, no arrests, and no convictions. They were either too drunk or too beat up to remember who did it. One young man I mentor has lost two family members in the past three weeks. Another lady I was talking with was preparing to attend or assist 4 funerals in 5 days. During the first 7 weeks of school this year there was not a single day that some student did not experience loss from their home village.

It's time to sprint.

We have a calling to bring the Gospel to the world. That's you included. And God ordained that He would use His church to accomplish that task. Are you burdened with the world around you? Does your neighbor who doesn't know Jesus and doesn't love and cherish Him break your heart? Do you long for there to be strong healthy vibrant Gospel centered churches in every place where there isn't one?

It's time to sprint.

I'm praying diligently that the Lord would raise up laborers for the fields of Alaska. They're cold, hard, and isolated fields, but they belong to the Lord. He has a harvest of men and women who desire to break the bondage of sin and death and walk in Christ. But how will they hear unless someone tells them? How will they grow without believers walking with them. No less than an awakening is what we are pleading God for. 

It's time to sprint.

Things you can be praying for:

• State YoungLife gathering happening in Galena next week. Pray that God would use youth ministry as an avenue to plant gospel centered churches in every community in Alaska.
• Casey family (SEND North Missionaries partnering with Galena Bible Church) as we continue to look down river for open doors for ministry and church planting.
• An awakening of hearts toward the message of the Gospel.
• Galena Bible Church as we go through a teaching on Doctrine. Pray that the messages would be solidified in the minds of students so that they can walk in the truth. 

Baptizing a young brother in Christ!

How my wife dresses up for a date! (Snogo date that is)

One of our students leading worship for GBC. Uber-proud of this brother.

That's Chris on top the ladder trying to fight the fire at the school dining hall.

Volunteer fire department! (Me and my brother Jason)

Well at least it's gonna be sunny.

Doctrine to Doxology: Rightly Ascribing Greatness to Our God

Deuteronomy 32:3 For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! 

Everyone worships. But not everyone worships the God of scripture. Even some people who profess to be “Christians” believe in a god that can be found nowhere within the revelation of scripture. Therefore doctrine (What we believe) always effects our doxology (praise of God). In this sermon series Pastor Chris Kopp will teach on the major Doctrines of the Christian faith and how they affect our worship to God. This sermon introduces the subject and asks the question, “Who are you really worshiping?” 

Delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday January 11th, 2014. 

God Dreams Bigger Than You Do

Genesis 41:42  Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.

The 17 year old boy Joseph who had his varicolored robe ripped from him and was sold into slavery could have never imagined that one day Pharaoh would robe him in his own fine linens. God's dream was bigger than Joseph's dream. Yet Joseph also couldn't see that it would take a dungeon to get him there. Are we willing to let the Lord strip us of the things that we dream of in order to robe us in His righteousness? In this sermon Pastor Chris Kopp explores the narrative of the life of Joseph.

Delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday December 28th, 2014. 

 

 

Good News of Great JOY

Luk 2:10  And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Joy is a consistent theme throughout scripture but our experience of it is far from what we naturally expect. What we expect is more in line with the word "Happiness" but what is offered through Jesus at His coming is Joy. When you understand that the "good news of great joy" includes the cross you can stare down even death and cry "JOY"! This is the good news.
Delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday December 22nd, 2014.

1 John: We Know

1Jn 5:13  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

Because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ there are a lot of things that we know. We know we have eternal life. We know we have confidence to pray to the Father and he hears us. We know that we are loved. In this final sermon from 1 John, Church Elder Martin Hornfischer teaches us what we can know through the Gospel.
Delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday December 14th, 2014.

Leaving an inheritance

I have thought a little over the past several years of ministry about legacy. What will I be remembered for? Today I lost a mentor and friend. Randy and his beautiful daughter Ariana died in a freak interstate accident. My heart is heavy for myself and Shell as we personally grieve. My heart aches for his amazing wife Jennifer and his three other children. There are no words for the pain so I want to give words to the joy. 

Randy was my youth pastor and first ministry boss as I interned under him the summer of 2000. Randy had a unique way of explaining God's Word in a way that people could understand and grab on to. His passion for loving Jesus was only equalled by his determination to show teens that Jesus was worth everything. I saw in him a preacher that I wanted to be like in my ministry. He also loved his wife well. Adored is a much better term. I remember going on youth trips and seeing the longing in Randy's eyes to be home with his bride. When he performed Shell and my marriage I did think that I wanted to love Shell like Randy loved Jen. 

Proverbs 13:22 says "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children..." The text is talking about money but I believe there is a spiritual truth too. A good man pours into his children in such a way that his grandchildren are blessed. Seeing the tributes to Randy have reminded me that that's true. If you've been blessed by any aspect of my ministry, it's because you've received an inheritance from Randy that he shared with me. An inheritance of joy in Jesus. He has his great joy now. And I would share with you the same Joy. I will see you again Ari and Randy and it will be in joy. 

I've started a gofundme account to be used by Jennifer however she sees fit. Please share and give as you feel led. 

http://www.gofundme.com/iv43ro