Christians, Politics, and Government - To Love My Neighbor
Release Date: 08/08/2025
Ephesians 1.15-23 - Knowing God
LBFC Weekly Sermons
This message discusses Ephesians 1.15-23, focusing on the major theme of knowing God. 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. Photos of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis are from BiblePlaces.com.
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Ephesians 1.1-14 - Inheritance
LBFC Weekly Sermons
This message reviews a bit of the background for Paul's letter to Ephesus and then discusses Ephesians 1.1-14, focusing on the major theme of inheritance. 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. Photos of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis are from BiblePlaces.com.
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Special Episode on Peacemaking
LBFC Weekly Sermons
This message on peacemaking interrupts our planned sequence in the series on Paul's Prison Letters due to the need to express Christian views on the war that the United States has entered into. Long Beach Friends Church is a peace church - a part of the larger Friends/Quaker (among others) Peace Church movement; so that's a major theme in this message. However, in a time when many highly-placed voices in our society claim to represent Jesus, yet claim the war is justified and pray for God's favor to kill and destroy "enemies", we also consider their claims in light of classic Christian Just...
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Paul's Prison Letters - Introduction
LBFC Weekly Sermons
This message is the introduction to our series on Paul's Prison Letters. In it, we cover portions of Acts that give background for these letters, particularly background for Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus. 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...
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Palm Sunday
LBFC Weekly Sermons
In this message we talk about Palm Sunday and Holy Week, the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday. Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem... on a donkey? 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 a donkey on the title image from BiblePlaces.com.
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What Is the Point?
LBFC Weekly Sermons
Just what is the point of being a Christian, anyway? What is the purpose in following Christ? Why are we separated from God? What is the nature of that separation? Just where are we going in this life with Jesus, following Him? These questions were answered very differently by many early Christians than they are commonly answered today. In this message I try to open up the big picture vista for us to see the depth and breadth of God's purpose for us in His creation. Visit us on the web: https://www.lbfc.org. Give: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=3ZJ93YXC6X9AS Music "Front...
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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....
info_outlineIn our series on Christians, Politics, and Government we are moving into considering what it means to love our neighbor. This message only mentions briefly any application of this idea to government and politics, so expect to be personally challenged. Of course, listeners are encouraged to consider how the concept of loving one's neighbor is embodied in our current politics and government policies. Questions for discussion and personal application are reproduced here for your convenience:
Questions for Discussion:
- What does “neighbor” mean when Jesus tells us to love our neighbors?
- Is there someone – even an enemy – that God brings to your mind as we discuss this?
- How do I love that person in a way that honors who I am in Jesus?
For Personal Change: Is there one thing God wants you to do to love the person He brought to mind before in a way that honors Jesus? Or, is there one thing God is leading you to do to prepare to better love that person?
Lair Ky's slides from her self-care message are here.
The previous message in this series in which the Good Samaritan story is covered in more depth is episode 1 of this series, Christians, Politics, and Government.
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.
Background photo of two denarii on title image from BiblePlaces.com.