Galena Bible Church

Acts: A Hard Witness

Acts 7:59-60  And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  (60)  And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
What does church history, church ministry, and Christian character have in common? They witness to the faithfulness of God. Even to the point of martyrdom, as Stephen witnessed for us. Even when the witness is hard we are called to witness.
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, October 16th, 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.

Acts: Unstoppable Witness

Acts 3:5-8  And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.  (6)  But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"  (7)  And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  (8)  And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
What is the greatest need of a lame begger outside the temple in Jerusalem? Money? The ability to walk? How about the ability to walk into the presence of God? Yes this was his greatest need, though he didn't know it at the time. But there was a witness there (Peter) who did. Many around us don't know what their greatest need it. Can we who know Jesus meet that need?
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday October 9th, 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.

Acts 2:Ingathering

Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The day of Pentecost was the closing of the first of the harvest. As it was with produce so it was with souls. 3000 to be exact. It was the beginning of the harvest that still continues today.
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday October 2nd, 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.

Acts: Witnesses

Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
A witness is someone who is telling what they've seen. The risen savior, or a transformed life. Either way we are witnesses.
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church Sunday September 25th, 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.

We the Church: Who Leads the Church

1 Corinthians 12:11-14  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.  (12)  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  (13)  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.  (14)  For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
Who leads the church? Well, Jesus does. But if the hand isn't willing to listen to the head then things get messy.
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday September 18th, 2016 by elder Martin Hornfischer.

We the Church: Members Together

Romans 12:1-2  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  (2)  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
What unites you to the Body of Christ? Sermon delivered by elder Josh Kaufield to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday September 11th, 2016.

We the Church: So just what is the church anyway?

Ephesians 1:22-23  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  (23)  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
A  called out assembly on mission...does that describe your church?
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday September 4th 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.

The Holy One of Israel: The End through a Child's Eyes

Isaiah 62:3-5  You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.  (4)  You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.  (5)  For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Does talk of "End Times" weird you out? The view in the Lord's prayer of end times was that of a child looking to their father. Remember "Our Father....Thy kingdom come!" Isaiah closes out his book with a view to the Kingdom of God. He sees it through unshakeable faith, joyful hope, and God's incredible love.
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday August 28th, 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.

The Holy One of Israel: One of these is not like the other

Isaiah 57:18-21  I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,  (19)  creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him.  (20)  But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.  (21)  There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
Many times when we read we come with the wrong assumptions about the text. We assume that a text that is talking about "the wicked" is talking about those in the world and not those in the church. But often times it is. When we lift up those who profess to follow Jesus and say "One of these is not like the other." we do the same thing that Jesus did when he said, "Some will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, in your name did we not (do church type things)!' and he replies, 'be gone from me'." One of these is not like the other...which are you?
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday August 21st, 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.

The Holy One of Israel: Sing and Feast

 Isaiah 55:1  "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Have you ever known that a phone call was coming that was going to have TERRIBLE news, only to find out that it was actually good news? That leap of joy that you experience is captured in Isaiah 54 and 55 were the prophet calls us to sing and feast because of the salvation and blessing that God has brought about. Is this your inheritance?
Sermon delivered to the Galena Bible Church, Sunday August 14th, 2016 by pastor Chris Kopp.