Emmanuel Baptist Church, Sterling, Co

Elders are sovereignly and supernaturally called by the Holy Spirit to shepherd the flock through godly integrity, mature leadership, and expositional preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 gives 15 qualifications of an elder. Pastor Sean starts in Acts 20 with Paul's instructions to elders in Ephesus and then goes through each of the 15 character traits.

Galatians 4:21-31

In this controversial passage, Paul addresses how both men and women should conduct themselves in the church. Men are to lead with moral purity, a spirit of unity, and earnest prayer. Women are to joyfully respect and submit to the male elders who teach them. What does it mean when Paul prohibits a woman from teaching or exercising authority over a man? Pastor Sean attempts to navigate these difficult waters in this podcast.

Galatians 4:12-20

Galatians 4:1-11

Pastor Sean continues the podcast through 1 Timothy. In 1:12-17, Paul reminds us of the power of the gospel in God's mercy of saving sinners. In 1:18-20, Paul returns to the issue of false teachers and reminds Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. This passage shows the extravagant nature of God's mercy in Christ. May we never "get over" the amazing grace of Jesus coming into the world to save sinners!

One of the greatest privileges of our salvation is being adopted by God as our Heavenly Father. In this passage, Paul presents two contrasts: (1) Being UNDER the laws brings traumatic despair while (2) Being IN Christ brings tremendous blessings. Pastor Sean explores four blessings of what it means to be "IN" Christ from Galatians 3:23-29.

For the summer of 2018, Pastor Sean will be doing a verse-by-verse teaching through 1 Timothy. If you're a pastor, elder, deacon, or church leader, this series will benefit you as you lead the church. If you're not a church leader, 1 Timothy gives great insight into what it means to function as a Biblically faithful church. This introduction focuses on the city of Ephesus in Acts 19 Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 to set the context for the letter. He then provides an exposition of 1 Timothy 1:1-11.

In Galatians 3:15-22, Paul gives the second use of the law. The law is a mirror to show us the sinfulness of sin and compound our guilt. The law also imprisons us in a bondage of despair to drive us to flee to Christ for salvation. You have to be bruised and hit by the law until you can admit your need for Jesus. You need to feel the overwhelming guilt of being imprisoned by the law before you can call out to Jesus to rescue from your chains. You need to be killed and cut by the law before you can call to Jesus to give you new life and heal your soul. You need to be humbled to the very depths of hell before you can turn to Jesus in the gospel to give you the gift of heaven.

Galatians 3:6-9: Galatians 3:6-9: When you trust in Christ alone by faith alone, you experience the wonderful blessing of being counted righteous before God. If you're a believer in Christ, you are a true child of Abraham--the man of faith. What should be our response? Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had father Abraham. I am one of them, and so you are; so let's just PRAISE the LORD!!

What does the doctrine of unconditional election produce in God’s chosen people? Using insights from the Canons of Dort, Pastor Sean gives five fruits or responses we should have in regards to God's sovereign election. (1) A solid assurance in our salvation, (2) A reason for daily humility, (3) An opportunity to love the depths of God’s mercy, (4 ) A motivation to live holy and unpolluted lives, and (5) To give fervent love back to God in return of His love for us.

The church has two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the initiating oath-sign of the new covenant whereby a new believer formally submits to the Triune God in obedience to Jesus’ command to be baptized by immersion. Baptism does not save anyone, but instead shows visually and verbally that God has saved him or her by His free grace alone. Baptism is a sign of the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. The Lord’s Supper uniquely depicts continuing fellowship with God, a repeated act whereby the believer remembers the Lord’s death and renews his commitment to Christ and participation in His church. Lord’s Supper is a means of grace through which Christ is present by his divine nature and through which the Holy Spirit nourishes the souls of believers with the benefits won for us by Christ’s death.

Pastor Sean continues this series on famous pastors and theologians who have shaped his life and ministry. Jonathan Edwards, the father of America's First Great Awakening, was a prolific writer, pastor, missionary, and seminary president. Pastor Sean gives a brief history of Edward's life and then interacts with a Treatise Concerning Religious Affections and the marks of genuine conversion.

Galatians 3:1-5

Pastor Sean addresses a highly misunderstood topic--spiritual warfare. What is it? He demonstrates how Genesis 3 serves as not only the essence of spiritual warfare but as a paradigm for all expressions of spiritual warfare. He then explores Revelation 12 to show how Satan and his demons have been cast down to earth and their time is short. He then shows how God sovereignly uses or ordains Satan to carry out His purposes in both believers and unbelievers.