Plymouth Haven Baptist Church

Core Truth: Though Christians in many parts of the world are increasingly being called to remain faithful to Christ in the face of growing persecution, such has not been the case for believers here and in most of the free world. However ominous signs are starting to appear that would suggest that may be about to change, and change very quickly – which leaves us with the questions “What would it take to cause us to deny our faith?” How irrevocable is our resolve to follow Christ and remain true to Him no matter what the cost?

Matthew 28:18-19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Core Truth: The storms of life in which we may find ourselves always reveal at least two important things: one, how genuine the quality of our trust in God and His work in our lives really is… and two, how absolutely sufficient Christ is in bringing us to safe harbor, even when it means passing through some of the most difficult and treacherous storms we may be facing, because His own ironclad promise is “and behold, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually – regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the very end (consummation) of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)

Core Truth: Trying to ‘keep the rules’ and follow Christ in our own strength will – literally – wear us out! It is only as we enter into the sweet reality of knowing that because of the His finished work on our behalf at Calvary we are now and forever ‘accepted in the Beloved’ that we can actually start to understand and enjoy the reality that His yoke truly is easy and His burden really is light.

The Core Truth is: As important as hearing God speak to us in a way that first brought us to faith and salvation, equally important is our need to hear His voice on a day-by-day and moment-by-moment basis. Only this will enable us to live our lives in ways that maximize our personal peace, help us define our purpose, and determine our kingdom productivity, while bringing the most possible honor and glory to our Lord and the greatest blessing and encouragement to others.

Core Truth: A Biblically engaged church is a church that seeks to understand and live out the God-intended role in the culture in which it has been providentially placed, ever vigilant lest it be co-opted by that culture and thus rendered largely ineffective by the very environment it seeks to serve and redeem for the glory of God.

Core Truth: Throughout human history names have always carried their own meanings and significance… sometimes easily understood, and at other times rather puzzling and even humorous. However, as we once again celebrate the wonderful season of Christmas, we need to remind ourselves that “it’s ALL about HIM! And that long after every other name has faded into history – there is one Name that will stand forever and before which every knee shall bow… in heaven… and on earth… and under the earth… and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Core Truth: Far from being the impotent, irrelevant, and inconsequential presence that much of the world assumes it to be, when Christ returns His Church will be the ONE thing He considers worth saving and the primary means by which He will one day rule the world, and all who accept His call to join Him in His great work must understand several important things.

Core Truth: Far from being the impotent, irrelevant, and inconsequential presence that much of the world assumes it to be, when Christ returns His Church will be the ONE thing He considers worth saving and the primary means by which He will one day rule the world, and all who accept His call to join Him in His great work must understand several important things.

Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was born and lived a sinless life. He died, was buried, and He rose again from the dead. He will come again, in glory, one day to judge the living and the dead. Who do you say that Jesus is?

Core Truth: No celebration of Christmas would be complete without at least some reference to the Magi, usually as the “three kings.” However, there is no scriptural evidence that they were kings nor that there was just three of them. The larger question is – why they were included in Matthew’s account of Christ’s birth to begin with, and does their being part of the Christmas story have any significance for us today?

Core Truth: The wisest man in the world, once said “There is a time to keep silent and a time to speak.” (Ecc. 3:7b). It is a much-needed lesson our beloved Peter had to learn and one that we do well to learn as well.

Core Truth: A church’s ability to influence its culture for Christ will always be in direct proportion to its understanding and acceptance of the authority and leadership of its Founder and Great Shepherd Who has also vested that leadership in His under-shepherds, variously described as pastors, elders, overseers and bishops. Today and over the next few weeks we will be examining this important Scriptural doctrine more fully.

Jesus taught that we should Treasure Heavenly Treasures. They are indestructible and eternally secure. And, most importantly, He knows the location of our heart and treasure are linked. He longs that our hearts be centered on the place and things of Heaven.

Core Truth: “As we noted in last Sunday’s message, Christ’s call to discipleship is an all-consuming call, leaving absolutely no relationship in our lives unchallenged by Him. However, His call is also a call to learn from Him personally how to live a life of peace, rest, and tranquility, even in the midst of an increasingly troubled world.” (Eugene H. Peterson)

Core Truth: It can be reasonably argued that the Church suffers from a seriously inadequate, even impoverished understanding of itself and its divine purposes, and that the Adversary is relentlessly at work to keep it that way, lest it arise into the power and glory intended by its Head, the Lord Christ!

Core Truth: As Christ’s literal body on the earth, the church is called to be His living presence here and now, doing and saying the things He did, while ever remembering that its ultimate purposes – far beyond this present life - are both incredibly glorious and eternal.

Core Truth: God has always delighted in confounding the wisdom of men and acting in ways that challenge human logic and disarming even the wisest so that “no flesh can glory in His presence.”

Core Truth: In the end, there is only one thing that matters – our willingness to do whatever it takes to gain what matters most and thus secure true success in this life and in the life to come!

Even winds and seas obey Him.

Core Truth: The storms of life are never meant to harm or destroy us; rather they are intended to uncover our weaknesses, correct our disobedience or deficiencies of faith, and force us to decide what really matters most in life.

Core Truth: The reality of the Empty Tomb has consequences His followers are obliged to do something about. We are called to tell the story, to tell it correctly, and to tell it everywhere!

May the Lord help us live sent lives – reaching people with the message that saves.

Core Truth: Our soul is that invisible and eternal part of us that makes us different from all other forms of life on earth and according to our Lord’s own words is the most valuable of all our possessions. Therefore, it is the one thing above all that should never be up for any sort of trade or barter for the things of this world.

Core Truth: “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining - they just shine.” Dwight L. Moody.

Core Truth: While it is easy to criticize the world for its sins, that is not our assignment as Christians. Rather, it is by our daily lives – our works, our attitudes, and our conduct that we are to bear witness to the truth of God’s righteousness and of His generous love and grace.

Core Truth: The question is not whether we should or not, because the fact is that we do! In fact, from the beginning of time, some of God’s greatest servants have had times of real and serious doubts. The real question is what should we do when we experience doubts in our own journeys of faith.

Core Truth: As followers of Christ in a dark and unrighteous world, the reality of the faith that we claim with our words ought to be increasingly evident in every area of our lives.

Core Truth: "Prayer does change things, all kinds of things. But the most important thing it changes is us. As we engage in this communion with God more deeply and come to know the One with whom we are speaking more intimately, that growing knowledge of God reveals to us all the more brilliantly who we are and our need to change in conformity to Him. Prayer changes us profoundly." (R.C. Sproul)

Core Truth: The ultimate purpose of the church on earth is to hasten the day when "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom or our Lord and of His Christ ...(Rev 11:15)

Core Truth: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

Core Truth: At the end of life... when we have spent our last dollar...done our last good work of service...carried out our last responsibility...and drawn our last breath...the Master will have something to say to everyone of us. How blessed those will be who hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!"

Core Truth: A father’s approval is a great gift and no child should ever have to grow up without it.

Core Truth: We are all the products of our theology and a false concept of God can make Him uncomfortable if not intolerable to live with.

Core truth: “God’s greatest means of effecting lasting change in the world is through the presence and witness of the church.”