Pastor Jerry Johnston - Upcoming Sermon Series
We have some really exciting sermon series slated.
Here is the lineup.

Pastors Jerry and Jeremy Johnston team up to deliver an energizing and inspiring series on
How We Got the Bible?  Find answers to key questions about the Bible.  Many sermons have been taught about the Bible, but few explain its origins. This new series will provide a fascinating overview of how the Bible was first inspired, canonized, read as sacred literature, copied in ancient Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, and eventually translated into the languages of the world. How did the Bible come to be? How has it been passed down to us through the ages? How and when did the books of the Bible originate? In what sense are these books different from other books? How accurate are modern translations? Why does the Roman Catholic Bible have more books than most Protestant Bibles? Jerry and Jeremy will deal with these technical issues in non-technical language that will bless your spiritual formation and give you the tools necessary to answer skeptical questions. Straightforward and easy to understand, this new series, How We Got the Bible?, will teach the background and historicity of the Bible. If we are to defend the truths we learn in Scripture, we have to know why Scripture is credible. The Bible is the bestselling book of all time and the basis of faith for billions of people around the world. Encompassing the fields of archaeology, Biblical studies, and history, the story of how the Bible has come to us today is a fascinating one.

Why a sermon series on How We Got the Bible?

• To be informed If we claim the Bible as the Word of God we should have a basic understanding of how it came to be.
• To give a defense 1 Peter 3:15 states, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” Christians should be able to explain intelligently the basis of the Christian faith. This certainly would include our trust in the Bible.
• To have greater assurance A study of “how we got our Bible” will give you greater assurance that the Bible you hold in your hand is accurate and truly represents what God originally gave to the prophets.

"Trial by Fire:
Heroes Every Christian Must Know Who Gave Their Lives for the Bible"
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
6:30 p.m.

"From God to Us: How We Got the Bible"
Sunday, February 7, 2010
9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

"The Canon Controversy:
Do We Know We have the Bible in Completed Form"
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
6:30 p.m.

"Doubters, Skeptics, & Cynics: Answering the 5 Greatest Objections of the Bible"
Sunday, February 14, 2009
9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

"Why Only Four Gospels: Why Were More Not Included?"
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
6:30 p.m.

"Errors, Variants, Mistakes:
Can I Really Trust the Transmission of the Bible"
Sunday, February 21, 2010
9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

"The Legends: Heroes of Bible Transmission"
Wednesday, February 24, 2009
6:30 p.m.

"Why You Don't Read the Bible"
Sunday, February 28, 2009
9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Where are the prophets in the United States today?  Weak preaching in today’s pulpits has contributed to the downward spiral of our morals and values.  The modern church, in its compromised state, is serving a shallow, unsalted Gospel.  It lacks comprehensive truth to shape the minds of believers and redirect their behavior.  In 2010 at First Family Church we recapture through careful study the crucial ministry of the prophet.  By our discovery and biblical examination of the prophetic, we will experience new power and transforming connection to God.  In an increasingly decadent society we have hope and inspired record of how these ancient “truth-tellers” were catalysts for change essential for national survival.  Could there be a more important applicable parallel to reclaiming the Judeo-Christian heritage of the United States of America?  God will not wink at or ignore our nation’s sins.  Come join me on a rare journey in 2010 that will cause you to become a Spirit-filled change agent in your home, state, nation, and world!

March 2010 – Wednesdays @ 6:30p.m.

Hosea – “The Nation’s Sin Imperiling Its Future”

Hosea served as a prophet to Israel (the Northern kingdom) from 753 – 715 B.C.  Hosea was a contemporary with Isaiah, Micah, and Amos.Just as Hosea’s wife, Gomer was unfaithful to him, so the United States of America, like Israel, has been unfaithful to God.  How does America parallel Israel, who sought illicit relationships with Assyria and Egypt in pursuit of military might while simultaneously mixing Baal worship with the worship of God?

March 2010 – Sundays @ 9:00 & 10:45a.m.

Joel – “The Day of the Lord – When?”  

Joel served as a prophet to Judah, possibly from 835 – 796 B.C. The ancient prophet introduces languages (“the day of the Lord” – 1:15; 2:1-2; 2:30-31; 3:14-16) which describes a period of time when God “comes down” in a dramatic way to bring wrath and judgment on the wicked and salvation to the righteous.  God enters the space-time arena to assert in bold, dramatic ways that He is in control!  The Day of the Lord is a major theme of Old Testament Prophecy – one you must know!  When is God’s patience with America over?  This little book is like an atom bomb – it is not very big, but it is potent and powerful.

April 2010 – Sundays @ 9:00 & 10:45a.m.

Jonah – “The High Cost of Running from God”

Jonah served as a prophet to Israel an Assyria from 793 – 753 B.C. The
prophet of Israel did not want the Assyrians of Nineveh, the Assyrian capital city, to be included in God’s redemption.  So he ran – like we do.  The Lord “prepared a great fish” (2:1) to thwart Jonah’s rebellion.  The liberals will tell you it is all fiction – untrue!  It is dangerous to be out of the will of God!  Even Jesus referenced Jonah while illustrating His death and resurrection (Matt.12:40).  Lean about how God is sovereign and in control of every circumstance in your life! 

April 2010 – Wednesdays @ 6:30p.m.

Amos – “The Eclipse of God’s Mercy – How Long Do We Have?”

Amos, a farmer from Tekoa (six miles Southeast of Bethlehem), served as a prophet to Israel from 760 – 750 B.C.China, Iran, North Korea, and fanatical Islam threaten America similar to the way that Assyria threatened Israel.  Amos’s day, like ours, is filled with fake prophets like Amaziah (7:10) offering people a false hope.  Following shortly after Elisha the prophet, Amos, who recorded a total eclipse of the sun on June 15th, 763 B.C. (8:9), warns it is time to “prepare to meet your God.”

May 2010 – Sundays @ 9:00 & 10:45a.m.

Obadiah – “Who Are the Edomites of Our Day – Why Did God Hate Esau?”

Obadiah, the “servant of the Lord,” is an enigma of Scripture.  One year after Babylon decimated Judah in 587 B.C., during the ministry of Jeremiah, this prophecy was given! Two nations emerged from two brothers:  Jacob – Israel and Esau – Edom.  Uniquely, Esau’s sin earned God’s hate (Mal.1:3; Rom.9:13).  Why?  Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, gives the astonishing reason!  Here is a lesson you simply cannot afford to miss!  God will judge and fiercely punish all who harm His people.  Edom’s home, Petra, will play a key role in the apocalypse to come.

May 2010 – Wednesdays @ 6:30p.m.

Micah – “How Long Does the U.S.A. Have?  A Nation in Parallel Peril.”

Micah served as a prophet to Judah from 742 – 687 B.C.  His contemporaries were Hosea and Isaiah.  Jeremiah quoted him (26:18). King Ahaz, a politician, set up pagan idols in the temple and finally nailed the temple doors shut!  Four different nations harassed Judah due to her compromise and sin.  Lying prophets deceived God’s people.  As Micah warned, the kingdom of Israel was terminated.  Samaria’s doom was inescapable (1:9).  Micah predicted the doom before it happened!  A sterling prophecy of hope in the Messiah’s coming is given while the nation descends (5:2).

June 2010 – Sundays @ 9:00 & 10:45a.m.

Nahum – “If the Light In You Be Darkness, How Great Is That Darkness!”

Nahum served as a prophet to Judah from 663 – 612 B.C.  Zephaniah was his contemporary. The book of Jonah records that the entire city of Nineveh repented and turned to God.  No doubt a Guinness book of world records!  Now, 100 to 150 years later, the revival wore off – people went back to paganism.  Just as England has forgotten Wesley and Spurgeon, Nahum’s prophecy defines the results of turning from God.  The average life of the great civilizations of the world has been about 200 years!

June 2010 – Wednesdays @ 6:30p.m.

Habakkuk – “How to Overcome Doubt and Learn to Trust”

Habakkuk served as a prophet to Judah from 612-589 B.C.  Jeremiah (627-586 B.C.), Daniel (605-536 B.C.), and Ezekiel (593—571 B.C.) were contemporary prophets. For over 20 years Jeremiah had hammered away relentlessly, warning of an unheard of impending Babylonian invasion and captivity (Jer. 6:1, 22-25; 10:22; 34:3).  Nineveh fell in 612 B.C.  By 605 B.C., Assyria and Egypt suffered defeat by Babylon at Carchemish.  Judah’s days were numbered and Habakkuk knew it and yet was overwhelmed with the question we often ask, “Why God?”  Doubt can set in even as we obey the Lord.  Habakkuk’s prophesy gives us the road map to overcome doubt and confidentially trust in God.

August 2010 – Sundays @ 9:00 & 10:45a.m.

Zephaniah – “Quiet Rest in the Storms of Life by His Love”

Zephaniah served as a prophet to Judah from 640-621 B.C.  Jeremiah was a contemporary to him. Zephaniah teaches us that the God of judgment is also the God of love.  Specifically the prophet promised, “God will quiet you with His love” (3:17).  Zephaniah stood up to preach in Jerusalem at a critical time.  Amnesic regarding the earlier defeat of the northern tribes of Israel, the sins of Manasseh had now pushed Judah over the hidden boundary of God’s mercy into His wrath.  When it was all said and done, God’s love won out.

August 2010 – Wednesdays @ 6:30p.m.

Haggai – “Proper Priorities Produces Performance”

Haggai’s ministry lasted only four brief months in Judah, 520 B.C.  Zechariah (520-480 B.C.) was a contemporary. Cyrus, the Persian conqueror, had defeated Babylon and reversed the quarantine by allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem.  Only 50,000 of God’s chosen people had to will to return.  The P.O.W.s had come home but so much had to be done to rebuild a destroyed Temple, city, and walls.  The obstacles seemed gigantic!  The work had stalled until the prophet Haggai came to town.  Revival in recording-breaking speed occurred – just 21 days!  This book will show you what can happen when God’s people get their priorities right.

Zechariah – “The Thrilling Prophecies of Mr. Z and Jesus: Jerusalem, the Jew, and You”

Zechariah, prophet to Judah, wrote his apocalyptic vision in 520 B.C.  Haggai, and older man, was a contemporary (Ezra 5:1; 6:14). W hat does tomorrow hold?  For centuries, men sought answers to that question.  To understand this future, we must understand Zechariah’s many peculiar visions and images.  What are the two Olive Trees or the Flying Scroll?  Who is the rider on the red horse?  What good could a wall of fire be?  How could Zechariah foretell so many details of the Greek conqueror Alexander the Great?  Zechariah foretells an exciting age when all of Israel will see their Messiah.

September 2010 – Sundays @ 9:00 & 10:45a.m.

Malachi – “Revival or Ruin: The Path to God’s Blessing & Protection”

Malachi stands alone at the end of Old Testament biblical revelation in 396 B.C.  After his prophesy 400 years of spiritual darkness filled the earth.  The Promised Land became a pawn in the struggle between Syria and Egypt as, eventually, political power moved westward into Europe.  Judea became a small province in the Roman Empire.  The Jews fell into obscurity that lasted for centuries.

When we ignore the facts regarding disobedience, deception rules us.  When Malachi prophesied in 396 B.C. the Persian Empire was creeping to its end.  By 338 B.C. Philip of Macedon would ascend the Greek throne and bring all the Greek states under his control followed by Alexander the Great.  In Malachi we find the final “curtain call” for the entire Old Testament in a prophesy which can truly change our lives for good!