By Rev. James Jester

September 29, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: I John 1:5-7

A study in First John. What is sin?

INTRODUCTION

I grew up in a typical Christian family during the 1960’s. My two brothers and sister and I were sent to Vacation Bible School, and our family attended the Cokesbury Methodist church. Years later, after my father was converted, we went to a different church (that’s another story).

I distinctly remember sitting in church, listening to the preacher, but not really understanding anything since I was so young. He occasionally used a word that I had never heard before, and I wondered just what it was. Was it something good or something bad? Then the next thing I heard from the preacher was a thundering, “God hates sin!” I suddenly knew that sin was something bad, something awful, and something that offended God. That event impressed the young boy for the rest of his life.

by Rev. Jim Jester

August 25, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: I Peter 1:3-12

What did the prophets know and speak about concerning the coming Redeemer of Israel? And what did the angels desire to investigate? Let us take a brief overview of the last 3 verses of our Scripture Reading:

“Of which salvation the prophets have enquired” (v 10):A system of faith, securing the salvation of the soul, would be revealed. This hope of the prophets seems to lead them to value the faith they professed more highly, and to encourage them to bear their trials with patience. The prophets saw from a distance somewhat vaguely, and were obliged to search that they might understand the nature of that system. They sought out with care the revelations made to them, that they might understand exactly what was implied,because they were appointed to write about the salvation which was to be made known through the Messiah.

Rev. Jim Jester

July 7, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Ezekiel 36:22-25

INTRODUCTION

I have spoken on this topic about two years ago. But recently, someone asked me about Baptism, so this sermon is the result of that. Keep in mind that I am not trying to make enemies here, so I am not picking on my Baptist friends. I simply want to give the topic some balance, since in my lifetime I have seen lots of imbalance on the subject. And, I want you to see how different a subject can actually be when considered in the light of its full Scriptural context (not just part of the Word).

Rev. Jim Jester

May 19, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 17:1-7

The first mention of God’s covenant with Abram is found in chapter 15 of Genesis. Chapter 17 continues that thought and is crucial to our understanding of the Bible.

We have just read how Abram had his name changed to Abraham, because he was elected to be “a father of many nations.” The name change signified a change in his status under God. Most seminaries teach our clergy that Abraham was only the father of the “Jews.” This makes God a liar, for the modern jews (until 1948) have never founded any nation, much less many nations. And just imagine, if you lived prior to 1948 and are reading the Bible and see the words “a father of many nations have I made thee” and you were told, as today, that the jews are the country of Israel, when there was no such country, you would respond with something like, “You’re nuts!” The people of Israel are not holed up in a particular country, but are scattered throughout the west. Israel is a people, not a geo-political state.

by Pastor Jim Jester

March 31, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 53:1-6

We'll start today with the Apostle's Creed.  The Creed outlines the basic doctrines of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ came as incarnate Deity; was tortured, crucified and died for our atonement; resurrected from the grave for our redemption and sanctification; then ascended to the Father; from whence He shall come in judgment, bringing to earth the restitution of all things. The Creed exemplifies basic Christian doctrine.

by Pastor Jim Jester

February 25, 2024

SCRIPTURE READING: Joshua 4:1-3

It is a new year, January and February have special significance, so I thought of Memorials. I need not mention what February is about; besides the Dresden holocaust against Germany on 13-14 February, 1945.

January is often referred to as “Generals Month” since no less than four famous Confederate Generals claimed January as their birth month: James Longstreet, Jan. 8, 1821, Robert E. Lee, Jan. 19, 1807, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson, Jan. 21, 1824, and George Pickett, Jan. 28, 1825. It is ironic that MLK day sits between two of these birthdays, Lee and Jackson.

Lee-Jackson Day was a state holiday in Virginia begun in 1889. Its observation was eliminated in 2020, replaced by Election Day as a state holiday. Confederate History month, begun in 1994, happens to be in April because the Confederate Memorial Day falls during this month. It has been observed by seven southern states.

Of course we realize that all Confederate memorials have been under attack and nearly all of them removed. The Robert E. Lee Monument in Richmond, Virginia, was the first installation on Monument Avenue in 1890, and would ultimately be the last monument removed from that site. The statue was taken down on September 8, 2021, then sent to storage.

by Pastor Jim Jester

January 14, 2024

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1-2

The subject of the doctrine on Original Sin, also known as the Sin Nature and other terms (as we shall see), always brings up questions. What is it; how many are there; is it defined in Genesis? But this is not the purpose of this sermon, so I won’t be listing the sins that occurred in the Garden of Eden or sins that similarly plague us today.

The Sin Nature, or “sin” (singular), is a part of our fallen mortal nature and personality that we inherited from Adam. It is not any particular “thing,” for many things can be sinful if they hinder our fellowship with God. It is those times when we fall short of what we, or what God expects of us. It is inward sins that we feel inside, such as: impatience, anger, or jealousy; even though we do not act upon them.

With Jews We Lose

Pastor Jim Jester

December 10, 2023

Scripture Reading: John 8:31-32

First I should discuss and define the term “ethno-religious” as it pertains to jews.   Ethno, of course, is from ethnic, signifying that there is a genetic (or racial) aspect to the religion that one follows. I made up the term; only to find later that it is not a new term. The concept certainly is not new, and is demonstrated throughout the history of the world: When we think of western culture, we think Caucasian and Christian; when we think of the East, we think of the Orientals and Buddhism; when we think of the Middle East, we find quite a racial mix (mostly cousins of Abraham) among Muslims and Jews. So, it becomes obvious that there is a connection between race and religion; although there are many racial cross-overs into other religions. It is not always simply a matter of “belief,” it is something deeper. Could genetics be involved? I think so: for just a casual observation of the various nations and societies seems to support this conclusion.

The purpose of this list of little-known facts is to draw attention to the public of the very serious national threat from the anti-Christ Jews of our day — in fact, all of history if the truth be known. This list will educate the readers about evils they could never even imagine from the most prominent ethno-religious sect in the world, the Jews. Christian Identity likewise, is an ethno-religion, because our faith and our race are tied together by the covenant God made with Abraham. It is as simple as that. Those called “Jews” today have no connection as such, but they are an ethno-religious society which they defend vehemently.