When looking at the structure of the Church, you can’t help but come across the diaconate — deacons.
But just what is a deacon?
Why are they needed?
And what do they do??
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao takes a necessary break in our study in the book of Romans to further our understanding of deacons — because this morning we’re installing not one, but two!
We’ll see that while the deacon certainly plays a special role in the Church, their role isn’t far off from ours:
BREAKING NEWS:For the first time in its 93 year history, Scandia Bible Church will break with its long-standing tradition of observing communion on the first Sunday of each month… and instead, will celebrate communion each and every week.
Today on the Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao preaches a special sermon to unpack this major and historical decision.
Simao preaches that while coming to the Lord’s Table weekly is certainly not a command we find in Scripture, we do find it to be the normative practice of the early Church
Simao clip: “It was such a central act that the Church could be said to gather for THAT purpose.”
— centering the service upon the finished work of Christ.
All fun aside… this is a BIG DEAL — one we should welcome, and not take lightly.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Elder Keith Barker pinch-hits for Pastor Monty and shares a message on murmuring from the book of Numbers that should give us all pause.
If we’re honest, our critical spirit nature does nothing but reveal our utter depravity and absolute need for Him.
Avg Guy:Okay… I just read Hebrews chapter 5, versus 5-10, and I have questions.
SBC Host: Let’s hear them.
Avg Guy: All right…
If Jesus is God and knows all things then how can He learn obedience?
What does God require by which men can be saved and have fellowship with Him?
If Jesus is God and perfect, how can He be made perfect?
And… What qualifies Jesus to be our Savior, anyway?
SBC Host: These are daunting questions, to be sure.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that questions like these can leave our minds reeling if we have not acquired the theological framework to think through them.
How we answer these questions will say much about our understanding of Christ – the only Savior.
Description: Mankind’s greatest need is forgiveness — the forgiveness that is made possible only in Christ Jesus.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, brother in Christ Josh Peglow fills in at the pulpit to show us that forgiveness was Jesus’ message and mission — transcending even great physical need.
For only Christ has the authority to forgive… and when He does, it results in the praise of God.
Description: What does it mean that Christ is our Great High Priest? And how is His priesthood different from the priesthood of, say, Aaron?
These and other questions must be answered in order for believers to have assurance of their acceptance before God.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that our assurance begins and ends in the person and work of Jesus Christ…
…And that His priesthood means that His completed work is being applied by our great Mediator and Savior resulting in our perseverance despite our weakness.
Description: We know that Jesus was tempted as we are tempted… and yet, He was without sin.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and points out that Jesus’s temptation, and corresponding sinlessness, is supposedly mentioned in the book to help us draw near to Him, for He sympathizes.
The problem is that Jesus’ sinlessness makes us think Him unapproachable.
Description: God’s word reflects God’s nature. And because He is living and active, His word must also be.
…It is purposeful.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows that not only does God’s word reveal God to us, but it reveals us… the innermost secrets of our hearts — exposed.
Ultimately, for each one of us, God’s word will either be a word of PROMISE or a word of JUDGEMENT.
* Unfortunately, our LIVE Stream started glitching and then dropped at the tail end of the sermon. To catch the rest of the sermon, tune into the audio podcast on the player above at the 43:14 mark (or jump right to it by clicking here).
Description: Their wandering the desert floor for forty years not only provides us with a great WARNING, but a great PROMISE: the promise of rest.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and reminds us that even Joshua and Caleb — the two faithful spies of the Wilderness Generation who were able to enter Canaan — did not receive this “promised rest.”
For it would be the “Greater Joshua,” Jesus the Son of God, Who would be the Champion for His people and complete His work to enter into His rest; and we, if we are partakers of Him, of Christ — having received the Good News — enter, in faith, into this rest that only He alone deserves.
Description: If podcasting is roughly defined as “time-shifted media,” and modern scholars believe that the book of Hebrews was actually a sermon instead of a text… then one could argue that the Bible’s “delivery” of the book of Hebrews is one of the earliest podcasts!! [spoof “Epistle Podcast”]
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, brother in Christ Josh Peglow answers the last minute call to stand behind the pulpit as Pastor Monty nurses a disabling case of lumbago and shares with us that the public reading of an entire text in this way was how it was done in the earliest days of the church.
Actually, all the New Testament epistles were meant to be read aloud to the congregation and then passed on to neighboring churches… a practice that promoted a unity of understanding in that together everyone could receive the message, The Word of God.
Description: If he was known for anything, the Pharaoh of the Exodus was known for his hardened heart that was calloused to hear the word of the Lord. This hardened heart cost him his kingdom and his son… and finally his life.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and tells the sad continuation of this story: even the entire Israelite generation — the Hebrews who witnessed Pharaoh’s demise — would not believe the word of the Lord either and hardened their hearts as well.
Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea, while they were buried in the wilderness… on the wrong side of Jordan.
Avg Guy: Oh to be wise. Wisdom is such a good thing!
SBC Host: It is… if the source is right.
Avg Guy:Huh?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, brother in Christ, Josh Peglow, fills in at the pulpit and shows us that wisdom — as the book of James lays out — can come from above… or from below.
And therefore, the child of God must be on guard to desire and pursue true Christian wisdom which eschews prideful strife and promotes peace.
The whole community was in an uproar, wailing all night long. All the People of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: “Why didn’t we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? Why has God brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don’t we just head back to Egypt? And right now!”
Soon they were all saying it to one another: “Let’s pick a new leader; let’s head back to Egypt” (Num 14:1-4, MSG).
Why would the Israelites — in the middle of the Exodus, after having seen the Red Sea part and manna fall from heaven — want to return to Egypt?
Why would they prefer slavery in the hands of cruel task masters, once again?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and states that when it comes to the Israelites wanting to return to Egypt, a more dramatic example of foolishness would be hard to find.
But, incredibly, there is a greater example: those who turn back from Christ.
Description: There is perhaps no one in the mind of the Jew who has as much distinction as Moses:
He was miraculously saved as an infant, raised with royalty, sent to liberate his people, and spoke with God face to face — not to mention that he was the writer of the Torah, as well as the mediator of the Old Covenant.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and concedes that it’s a pretty long resume that put Moses in this position of honor.
But then in steps Christ who brings a better covenant …and in order to argue this position, the author of Hebrews demonstrates that Jesus is superior to even the great covenant mediator, himself, Moses.
While we may not be able to gather in the traditional sense for this year’s Christmas Eve Service… we can gather with those in our homes to enjoy a service from our “Christmas Eve Past” — a small step, to help us celebrate this most joyous time of year: the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Click on the masked wisemen (below) bearing the gifts of our Christmas Eve Past to jump back in time to reexperience THE story of stories that is timeless.
SBC Host: [Bible Reading, Hebrews 2:10] “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings. For bot—”
Avg Guy:Wait!!! Hold up for a moment! You can’t just read that without prompting some questions: What does it mean that it was *fitting* for Christ to suffer? And what does it mean that Christ was being made *perfect*?? …Isn’t Christ *already* perfect? …And hasn’t He *always* been perfect?
SBC Host: Fair enough.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast —on the Sunday before Christmas — Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us that, indeed, these and other questions arise from this Advent passage that we find in Hebrews chapter 2.
Description: God created man in His image. He created him with an intent and purpose. But, was God’s intent thwarted by sin?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that some do say God’s initial intent was thwarted by sin, and yet God doesn’t throw man on the scrap pile of bad ideas.
Rather, He sets about redeeming man and restoring mankind to His original intent… showing us that His plans are never thwarted.
Avg Guy:Well for starters… the whole author and release details are shrouded in mystery. And then the book doesn’t waste any time and gets right to the good parts, talking about how God speaks and all! And then we learn how Jesus is the Heir of All Things, the Agent of Creation, the Hight Priest, and that He is infinitely superior to the angels! I can’t wait to read what’s next!!!
SBC Host: A Warning.
Today on Scanida Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues with our study in the book of Hebrews and shows us how at the head of the second chapter, we encounter a warning — and it’s one that we cannot ignore.
The warning, actually, is the peril that comes from ignoring: Ignoring the Gospel. Ignoring the salvation provided for by God. Ignoring the Revelation from God, the apostles of Christ, and the testimony of God the Father.
To ignore these things is to put yourself in eternal peril from which no man escapes.
* Due to conditions out of our known control, we experienced “unstable” internet service during today’s sermon. The Live Stream began experiencing problems at 1:02:03 — about 30% into the sermon. Gratefully, the audio podcast recorded the sermon without error. To pick up where the video drops out, advance to 16:03 on the podcast player (or jump right to it by clicking here).
Description: In the first section of the book of Hebrews the author labors a point:
Christ is infinitely superior to the angels.
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao continues our study in the book of Hebrews and explains that it’s a point which may make us wonder, because our thoughts of angels are not the same as the first readers of this book.
However, in a sense, their struggle is our struggle, not because we think too highly of angels… but, perhaps, too lowly of Christ.
Sermon Archives
Given New Life
in SBC Classic Edition
We’re in the process of digging through the colossal SBC Sermon Archive Library to bring forth the rich and timeless Biblical Truths found within the hundreds and hundreds of sermon cassettes from yesteryear, in our Tape to Podcast Project.
Currently on the workbench:
The Jim Allen Gospel of John Study (1997-1998) is underway in our SBC Classic Edition collection!
Watch our Steeple Study grow! … Great for a listen-study through a book or series.
Our Find-A-Sermon resource page helps you find what you’re looking for.
With the increased release of sermons from our archives, SBC Classic Edition is now podcasting on its own dedicated feed, separate from our current Sunday sermons.
Sermon Notes
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Sermon Notes
Sermon Notes
Scandia Bible Church 