Words
LBFC Weekly Sermons
If Jesus is Lord, what obligation does that place on his followers to avoid certain kinds of speech - of not using particular kinds of words? We consider how Paul instructs Jesus people to speak only what is helpful for building others up. Visit us on the web: . Give: Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. Background photo of Jerusalem on title image...
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Obligations of Love
LBFC Weekly Sermons
If Jesus is Lord, what obligation does that place on his followers to speak up for the truth, even if the truth is unpopular? We consider how faithful followers of Yahweh have spoken up in the past when it was unpopular and how we might think of this for us as Jesus people today. Visit us on the web: . Give: Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan....
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Every Knee?
LBFC Weekly Sermons
"Every knee will bow..."? Really? What does this mean? Is God or Jesus into domination, an insecure wannabe tyrant who coerces subservience?I've heard him described as such based on these words. I don't think this interpretation is accurate. So, following on from covering epiphany and allegiance, we consider what it means that every knee will bow. Visit us on the web: . Give: Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978,...
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Allegiance
LBFC Weekly Sermons
Allegiance is a word I've not often heard associated with how we describe our relationship with Jesus; but when I heard Skye Jethani describe it this way recently is made me think more deeply. So in this message we consider what it means to put our allegiance on (or in?) Jesus. Visit us on the web: . Give: Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0) Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan....
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Epiphany!
LBFC Weekly Sermons
Epiphany! Epiphany is both a Christian Calendar Holy Day recognized in many traditions on January 6, a word with a generic meaning in English, and a description of a spiritual reality central to what it means to be "Christian." In this message we consider the crucial and central meaning of "epiphany" for a follower of Jesus, as Jesus makes himself known. The Brian Zahnd essay that mentioned in the podcast can be viewed at https://substack.com/home/post/p-182885070 Visit us on the web: . Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front Porch" by Adam...
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2025 Advent Hope - and Waiting
LBFC Weekly Sermons
Advent is a time when those who follow the classic church calendar look forward to Jesus returning - an Advent, a coming. Many others look back to remember when he came born as a baby in Bethlehem. In this first Advent message we look at the theme of hope, which implies we are waiting for... what? We are patiently waiting for what we hope for - the reconciliation of all things in Jesus! We also consider the impatience of the "Christian Nationalism" which has confused so many Christians these days. The Bible Projects Advent resources may be found at The Bible Project video on Advent Peace may...
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2025 Advent Peace - Shalom
LBFC Weekly Sermons
Advent is a time when those who follow the classic church calendar look forward to Jesus returning - an Advent, a coming. Many others look back to remember when he came born as a baby in Bethlehem. In this second Advent message we look at the theme of peace, better explained through the Hebrew word "shalom." What is our purpose in this time between Jesus' Advents, or comings? In this message, we consider our purpose of being peacemakers. The Bible Projects Advent resources may be found at The Bible Project video on Advent Peace may be viewed at https://bibleproject.com/videos/shalom-peace/...
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Halloween?
LBFC Weekly Sermons
It's the Halloween season again. These days, Halloween has a bad reputation among many Christians. Is it deserved? Should Christians participate in the events surrounding Halloween? At the very least, we need not be afraid. In this message, recorded live on October 19 (apologies for the echo in the audio), Joe discusses some brief history of Halloween, positioning it in relation to All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day, and then discusses how we might approach this holiday as people who follow Jesus. Visit us on the web: . Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music...
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Christians, Politics, and Government - Today's Deception
LBFC Weekly Sermons
Well, we are certainly in a time when hate and violence seem to be gaining momentum and acceptance - even among some who claim to be Christian. The temptation to become a fierce, crusading warrior "for Jesus" is strong in our time, apparently. But no. Just no. This is not a new temptation. It is not Christian and not of Jesus. It is a deception. In this episode of the Christians, Politics, and Government series, we explore how regular people - even among Christians - are deceived into actions that are not of God, or not of Jesus. Visit us on the web: . Give:...
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Wilderness Living - Recorded Live on Sunday morning, September 7, 2025
LBFC Weekly Sermons
We took a two week break from our ongoing series starting Labor Day weekend. Circumstances conspired to make it impractical to release a pre-recording of the message for this past week (September 7, 2025). However, we recorded the message live in our English-language service on Sunday and decided to put it out on our podcast feed. It's about living in the wilderness of a broken world, and uses a rather different perspective on the life of Moses as an example of wilderness living. You will hear sounds of our downtown Long Beach, California wilderness as emergency vehicle sirens punctuate our...
info_outlineIn this episode we consider what God is like. Following up on the description God gives of himself in Exodus 34, we consider what it means that God is compassionate. It may seem simple, but we often have a difficult time with compassion!
Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org.
Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS
Music "Front Porch" by Adam Selzer, see https://openchurch.com/free-download/front-porch-1011834/, (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.