Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ, In our continuing preaching series on the Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation, last week we looked at the church at Pergamum. Pergamum was a city filled with many pagan cults, temples dedication to idols, and worship of the Roman Emperor. It was
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, The sermon last week focused on the Church at Smyrna, as found in Rev. 2:8-11. The risen Christ warned this church of coming persecution which would be more severe than what they had already been experiencing. While we are likely not facing genuine persecution,
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, Last Sunday I began a new preaching series from Rev. 2-3, which records the messages the risen Christ gave to seven first-century churches in a vision to the Apostle John. We will consider these seven messages week-by-week. Last week we focused Jesus’s message to
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, A couple months ago we finished our study of the life of Abraham. He has so much to teach us! There are, of course, other characters from the Old Testament from whom we can learn much. But there is also something about them that
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, Last Sunday in worship we considered God’s wonderful gift of joy. As we saw, joy is much deeper than happiness, which is dependent on outer circumstances. Joy is rooted in the character, faithfulness, and love of God. Knowing this is how God always is,
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, First, I want to thank the Elders for writing the news articles for the past several months so I could spend more time focusing on my German studies. Second, I invite you to prayerfully consider attending our next church camp – Nov. 1-3 in
Continue readingLast Sunday we considered the fascinating account in Gen. 18 of Abraham inquiring of God if God would spare the evil town of Sodom if a certain number of righteous people could be found there. Abraham asked God, “What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, The Apostle Paul wrote in Phil. 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” When I was in seminary, I audited a couple courses. That means I did not have to
Continue readingThis Sunday following our worship service, we will have our “Finger Food Pot-Luck Fellowship Lunch.” At the surface level, this may seem to be just a fun get-together, an opportunity to enjoy a meal over conversation and probably some laughter. I hope it is that, but I also hope it
Continue readingDear Members and Friends of IBCZ, One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the gift of prayer. Through prayer God invites us to bring all our concerns and joys to Him. Scripture assures us that as we pray according to His will, God answers. In prayer, we
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