Neediness (Loved by Jesus but Still Lost)

To the extent that we know our need for Christ is the extent that we will experience His graciousness. The Rich Young Ruler lacked "one thing" and it cost him eternal live. How are the needs around us connected with God's grace? In this sermon Pastor Chris Kopp addresses these subjects. Delivered to the Galena Bible Church Sunday March 30th, 2014.

Spiritual Friendship

Who do you have in your life that can see things about you that you can't see? David had Nathan. When everything in David's world looked to be going perfectly, there was a spiritual cancer festering in his soul. Nathan called him out when he said, "You are the man!" In this sermon pastor Chris Kopp shares about the Galena Bible Church's vision to be known as "a group of people who love and care about each other." Delivered to the Galena Bible Church Sunday March 23rd, 2014.

Saying Goodbye

Galena, Alaska is over 3,000 miles away from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Yet by God's gentle grace I was able to make that distance so that I could spend five precious days with a remarkable woman. She's my mawmaw, my father's mother. When asked what has been the hardest part about making bush Alaska home, it isn't the cold, nor the darkness, nor the cost of living. It has been the heartache of being so far away from family when health fails. Since living in Galena, Shell and my's families have had some tremendous health issues. And we've been 3000 miles away. When my grandfather died I was boarding a plane in Anchorage to come see him. 

I did not want to experience that with my mawmaw. As I fly back to Galena I leave her behind. Walking out of her hospice room was one of the most painful things I have ever experienced. The next time I see her it will just be a shell. Not the glory of the once vibrant tenatious Christ loving woman she has been. And this breaks my soul. Yet there is not grief without hope. She and I openly wept as we said good bye but as she spoke a blessing over me I was reminded again that In Christ death is swallowed up in victory. Her name is Lois and I am a living Timothy. 

2Timothy 1:4-7 encourages me today as I read "As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

No fear of death lays upon the heart of a disciple of Jesus. Grief, sorrow, mourning, pain, and loss may be acutely present, but not fear. As she lives with a beautiful smile and prays for every nurse, doctor, and visitor, she fans into flame the  gift given to her. And I pray her example would give to you what it gives to me. Unshakable hope in the faithfulness of Christ. 

I leave with you this prayer posted by my mawmaw in her bedroom that she would read and ask you to pray for her and us in her final days. 

Momentary Light Affliction

What does suffering have to do with us, the Gospel, and those around us? According to the apostle Paul, a whole lot. He says in 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our momentary, light affliction is preparing for us and eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. In this sermon Pastor Chris Kopp teaches how this passage can be applied in our current circumstances.
Delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday February 23rd 2014.

Taking the Opportunity

When Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair, she was taking the opportunity given to her to show how much Jesus is worth. How do we take the opportunities given to us to show the worth of Jesus. In this sermon Pastor Chad Alexander from Lake Jackson TX shares with the Galena Bible Church about what opportunities he sees for declaring Jesus' worth to this community. Delivered to the Galena Bible Church Sunday December 16th, 2014.

Be a Hero

What is a spiritual hero? Someone who lives out the reality of their lives, submits their rights for the betterment of others, and saves lives. Take a look at Paul's letter to Philemon with us as we look at what it means to be a spiritual hero. This sermon was delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday February 9th, 2014.

Waiting and Working

What do you put your faith in? Everyone has faith. It's just a matter of "in what." In this sermon we seek to  understand saving faith by looking at Galatians 5:4-6 and imagining four types of faith that people could have had during the Yukon flood. This sermon was delivered to Galena Bible Church, Sunday February 2nd, 2014.