Have you ever had a friend say something so surprising that you asked, "Who have you been talking to?" Somehow the friend knows a secret or has gained a perspective that sounds like someone or something other than themselves.

"There is no excuse not to know what the Bible says these days."  May we give ourselves to knowing God's Word for our enjoyment of him and to give him glory.

In your walk with Jesus, what fundamentals bring fluid function to your faith?…In my life, I continue to run into gaps in my knowledge and practice that have made obedience to Jesus extra challenging.

Rome International Church held its first service eight years ago this week. The church was planted and led by pastor Brian Kirby who had recently moved from Paris, France, where he had pastored Emmanuel International Church for many years. We are so grateful for the Lord's sustaining hand in fulfilling his promise to build his church.

God's grace given to sinful man in the person of Jesus Christ is the essential center of the gospel. However, as we'll discover this coming Sunday, that isn't the end of the gospel. The gospel is true, but the truth leads to action.

On Sunday, we followed the Word of God together! It was time for us to "put what remained into order." (Titus 1:5)…Eldership is meaningful and crucial to the ongoing spiritual growth of the local body. I'll let the apostle Paul take it from here.

Over the past two years we have watched as the Lord has led men, women and families to us who desire to grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord.  With the growing number of disciples, the need for leadership has increased.

In anticipation of the new year, allow me to present our 2023 Bible reading plan.

The light of the visible gospel, displayed in the community of believers and proclaimed to the world, cannot be hidden. 

Christmas time can often feel this way.  So overwhelmed in every life 'department' that any escape can sound really attractive.  Even descending into a slump of depression or self-focused, self-righteous pity party.

Let's talk about sermons... should we take notes?  If we do, what should we do with them?

We do advent readings in the Old and New Testament to see how God fulfills his promise of a Savior. Since he has proven himself faithful to keep the greatest of promises, we can rest all our hope on the promises of God still to come.

Godly wisdom is proven over time. Good seed reproduces good fruit. Jesus words and works were doubted by the religious leaders…What he was doing and saying made little sense to those who had a self-righteous motivation.

But, wisdom from above removes self as authoritative and directs the follower of Jesus to God as one's first authority…It is pure; no tension between God and other allegiances or authorities in one's life. It is open to reason…

As we look at our wisdom section in James and ask God for wisdom in our daily discernment of his will and wisdom for godly living, it's important to know that godly wisdom is a gift.

Have you ever asked God for wisdom in decision making? He promises to give it doesn't he? (James 1:5.) But, how do you know when you've gotten wisdom?

In the world we live in today, the strongest voices are saying that each individual must determine his or her own identity based entirely on feeling and preference, and is then given an array of options. Most notable today is the "spectrum" of genders. Young persons especially are encouraged to choose without the influence of 'traditional' community identities i.e. male and female.

God present among his people goes well beyond physical buildings, organizational structures, operating budgets and marketing. In fact, just as we can have all of those things, yet God be absent, so we could have none of those things but God be present and the church would very much exist!

The Word of God has not stopped creating "firsts"? It is always making new disciples, new creatures in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). It is carried everywhere by those who have experienced first hand, faith in the truth of the gospel. This continues to be what makes life in the local church exciting. Who will come to faith in Jesus next?

It has been by the grace of God that the church we enjoy today is the answer to many years of prayer. But what about the church of the years to come? Who will pray for that church?