
Hosted by Gwathmey Baptist Church · EN

This week's message comes from Elder Mike Holland. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul describes himself as a skilled master builder who laid the only true foundation—Jesus Christ—and warns that everyone who builds upon it must take care how they build. On the Day of judgment each person’s work will be tested by fire; lasting materials will bring reward, while inferior work will be burned up, though the builder himself will still be saved.

Daniel Hansen is this week's guest speaker. In Acts 1:6-14, the disciples ask the risen Jesus whether He will now restore the kingdom to Israel, and He replies that the timing is the Father’s alone; instead, they will receive power from the Holy Spirit and become His witnesses to the ends of the earth. After Jesus ascends into heaven, the disciples return to Jerusalem and join together in constant prayer with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.

We wrap up VBS week, with our theme for the week and Psalm 23. It's beloved psalm of trust in which David portrays the Lord as a faithful shepherd who provides rest, guidance, protection, and abundant care for His people through every season of life. Even in the darkest valleys, God’s presence brings comfort and security, culminating in the confident hope of dwelling with Him forever.

Psalm 21 is a royal psalm of thanksgiving in which David praises God for granting the king’s heartfelt desires, bestowing long life, glory, and victory. It celebrates God’s strength and favor toward the anointed king while affirming that the Lord’s enemies will ultimately face judgment and defeat.

We begin our summer sermon series this week with Psalm 20, a short royal psalm that functions as a prayer for the king before going into battle. It’s a confident, corporate plea for divine help and victory.

In his recent guest message at Gwathmey Baptist Church, Dr. Mark Becton unpacked Ephesians 5:22-33 as God’s beautiful design for marriage. It portrays marriage as a profound picture of Christ’s sacrificial love for His church and the church’s respectful response.Wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, reflecting the church’s submission to Christ. Husbands are commanded to love their wives sacrificially—just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her—to sanctify, cherish, and nourish her as His own body.The passage culminates in the profound mystery: marriage is not merely human but a living illustration of the gospel, calling couples to reflect Christ’s self-giving love and unity in their daily lives. Dr. Becton emphasized building strong, Christ-centered marriages that honor God and point others to Him.

Ephesians 6:1-9 instructs Christian households on mutual respect and responsibility. Children should obey their parents in the Lord, while parents must not provoke their children but raise them in godly discipline. Servants are to obey their masters sincerely as serving Christ, and masters should treat servants justly, knowing both answer to the same heavenly Master.

Ephesians 6:14-23 describes the pieces of the armor of God and calls believers to prayer and steadfastness. Stand firm with the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith (to extinguish fiery darts), helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the word of God).Pray continually in the Spirit, stay alert, and intercede for all the saints—especially that Paul would boldly proclaim the gospel. The chapter closes with Tychicus delivering news and a blessing of peace, love with faith, and grace to those who love the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10-13 urges believers to be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God. The passage explains that our real battle is not against flesh and blood (people), but against spiritual forces of evil—rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, and dark spiritual forces. Therefore, we must take up God’s full armor so we can stand firm against the devil’s schemes and withstand in the evil day.

Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her—cleansing, nourishing, and cherishing her. Wives, respect your husbands. This profound mystery reveals that marriage is far more than a human union: it is a living picture of Christ’s sacrificial love for His bride, the Church.In these closing verses of our two-week series on Godly Marriage, Paul pulls everything together. A Christ-centered marriage isn’t built on cultural ideas of romance or equality, but on the gospel: husbands leading through self-giving love, wives responding with honor, and both reflecting the beautiful, unbreakable relationship between Christ and His people. When we live this way, our marriages display the glory of the gospel to a watching world.