Introduction: The Mission That Transcends Our Debates For centuries, the church has grappled with one of theology’s most profound mysteries: the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation. Reformed theologians have championed God’s absolute sovereignty in election, while Arminians and others have emphasized human free will and the universal offer of the gospel….
Category: Christianity
Repentance by J.C. Ryle: A Comprehensive Book Summary
Download the PDF to print at home (4 pages): Repentance Introduction: The Foundation of the Gospel Message J.C. Ryle’s classic work “Repentance” centers on the sobering words of Jesus Christ from Luke 13:3-5: “Except you repent, you will all likewise perish.” While these words may initially appear stern and severe, Ryle explains they emanate from…
Love Made Visible: Showing Christ This Christmas
The Gift of Kindness This Christmas The shepherds didn’t keep the good news to themselves. After encountering the Christ child, they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). Their joy overflowed into action—they told everyone what had happened. This Christmas, we’re called to do the same, not just…
A Glimpse of the King’s Return: A Comprehensive Sermon & Study of Luke 9:28-36
This Sunday, Pastor Joey Sampaga led us through Luke 9:28-36, “A Glimpse of the King’s Return.” Have you ever experienced a moment so profound, so overwhelming, that words failed you? A moment when heaven seemed to break through into your everyday reality? For three disciples on a mountain in first-century Judea, such a moment came…
The Transformation of Church Music: From Heartfelt Worship to Commercial Enterprise
An Examination of How Modern Worship Has Lost Its Way The scene unfolds in countless Baptist churches across America each Sunday morning. Congregants stand, holding hymnals or gazing at projection screens, as music fills the sanctuary. Yet something profound has changed. The older hymns possess singable melodies, logical harmonic progressions, and rhythmic patterns that invite…
The Biblical Legitimacy of Contemporary Worship Design: A Critical Theological Analysis
The relationship between form and substance in Christian worship has occupied theologians throughout church history. In recent decades, the rise of contemporary worship movements has introduced increasingly sophisticated approaches to worship planning, often drawing from entertainment, psychology, and emotional design principles. “The Ultimate Setlist Building Guide” (download at this link) from Worship Artistry represents a…
Dismantling The Prison Of Tomorrow’s Troubles
Slaying The Giant Of Worry The call came at 2:47 AM. Sarah stared at her phone’s glowing screen, watching it vibrate on the nightstand, her heart already racing before she even answered. It was the hospital. Her father had been admitted. As she drove through empty streets toward the emergency room, her mind became a…
The Cost & Confession of Following Christ: A Bible Study and Pastor Joey’s Sermon on Luke 9:18-27.
The digital landscape isn’t a boundary—it’s a frontier that God already inhabits. At East Valley International Church, we embrace screens and servers not as obstacles, but as new waters where the Spirit stirs. From WiFi signals to instant messages, there’s room for grace to travel further and deeper than ever before. AI and digital platforms…
E.V.I.C. Sunday School Notes: A Biblical Study of Romans 6:22: The Freedom of Slavery to God.
Welcome to Sunday School at East Valley International Church! Each week, we gather to explore the essential truths that form the foundation of our Christian faith. Through our “Fundamentals of the Faith” study, we’re discovering together what it means to follow Jesus, understand God’s Word, and live out our beliefs in everyday life. Today, we’re…
E.V.I.C. Sunday School Notes: “Fundamentals of the Faith” – Free Will, Predestination, and Salvation
Welcome to Sunday School at East Valley International Church! Each week, we gather to explore the essential truths that form the foundation of our Christian faith. Through our “Fundamentals of the Faith” study, we’re discovering together what it means to follow Jesus, understand God’s Word, and live out our beliefs in everyday life. Today, we’re…