Philemon is one of the shortest books in the Bible, and for that reason, it is easy to read in one sitting. And while it doesn't contain a theology of the cross, like Romans or Galatians, and it doesn't contain a theology of the church, like Ephesians, it is a wonderful example of theology-in-action. It is lived theology. It is a theology of the cross or a theology of the church as lived out in the lives of Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus. Let's take a loo

Philemon is one of the shortest books in the Bible, and for that reason, it is easy to read in one sitting. And while it doesn't contain a theology of the cross, like Romans or Galatians, and it doesn't contain a theology of the church, like Ephesians, it is a wonderful example of theology-in-action. It is lived theology. It is a theology of the cross or a theology of the church as lived out in the lives of Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus. Let's take a look!

Perhaps because we are products of our hyper-individualistic culture, we have a habit of turning the gospel into something individualistic. It goes something like this: the gospel is about how I can get to heaven, and how you can do the same. This, however, does not begin to do justice to what the gospel calls us to. As Jesus preaches over and over, he is summoning us into a “kingdom,” or community, or a new way of living together. When the church is launched in the first century, it is like a laboratory for living out kingdom lives here and now. With this in mind, let’s take another look at our core values at SRBC and how they invite us to participate in the kingdom in the here and now as we await its fulfilment in the age to come.

Every church is unique, just as every individual is unique, every marriage is unique, and every family is unique. There is no doubt that all churches should share some common goals and doctrines and practices, and these commonalities unite us as one body of Christ. But if the last 2000 years are any indication, the church has flourished in a variety of times and places and in a variety of ways that require it to fit the unique nature of a specific time and place. I believe that here at South Run Baptist Church God desires to use our uniqueness for His glory. As we dig into Ephesians chapter 4, let us consider both what is common to all churches and what is our unique calling here at 8712 Selger Drive.

Our guest preacher, Deen Salami, gave us a message titled “The Purpose of Prayer.” Scripture came from Matthew 6:5-15.

The purpose of prayer is not to manipulate God, but to get us right with God and each other so we can be released to advance the kingdom.

Our summer intern, Jackson Ervin, talked to us about what it means to follow Jesus and what that “cost” may look like.

To be human is to desire a place to belong. But belonging is not any old desire. The desire to belong is a longing that is so deep within us that it constitutes an essential part of the human experience. As we explore what it means to be the church, we discover that it is a place where—when done rightly—everyone finds belonging. It is a union of souls into one body, the body of Christ. A union in which our differences are respected, and yet our longing to belong is met in full.

We are in the middle of a series on what it means to be the church. So it is only natural that at some point, we should take notice of what we are doing in the worship service on Sunday mornings. Why do we sing? Why do we collect the offering? Why do we always have a sermon? Why do we do the things we do on a Sunday morning? As it turns out, there are good reasons. Let's explore!