Current Sermons by Pastors Ryan Cochran and Symps Ndlovu, delivered from the pulpit of Broadway Christian Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Pastor Ryan prepares our congregation for our next semester's series (Study of Scripture) by reintroducing our fellow members, young and old, to the value and benefit that small groups has on a child of God's spiritual growth. The intimacy, vulnerability, honesty, accountability and nature the comes from such close contacts aids much in "being tran…
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Pastor Ryan concludes our short series on Esther with an impassioned discourse on Chapters 9 and 10. Sorrow, as the Jews knew of their fate at the hands of their enemies, who hated them so much. Joy, as God's providence once again is revealed, through Mordecai's edict for Israel to defend itself, and out of this comes the only festival created as e…
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One of Broadway's elders, Sage San Martin, guest preaches for us today, providing a startling exposé on the importance of King Xerxes' signet ring and the power this symbol had for Mordecai, granting him authority to do as the king's will dictates. Elder Sage also compares this as a type to our Lord Jesus, Who grants US His authority to act in His …
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We explore Chaps. 6 and 7 of Esther in today's sermon, a tale so full of God's direction and expressed purpose and Will that His name, though never spoken, is clearly stamped on every incident of this amazing turn-around of events. Pastor Ryan also compares the scaffold, intended for Mordecai, to the cross of Christ. In both cases, what was meant f…
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Pastor Symps shares from Esther Chap. 5. We focus on all the expressions of wisdom Esther demonstrated while prayerfully deliberating on how she was to save (i.e., on how GOD was going to save) her people, wisdom clearly given by our Lord God to her. What can we learn about the expression of God's wisdom in our times of tribulation?…
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In Esther, Chapters 3and 4, we find certain individuals who are close to the king. Many times, we desire to be in that special inner circle, invisible to most, but deeply, many times proudly, counted as one who is important, influential, and has the ear of the "king" in our lives-one of the "In" crowd! We see how our main characters respond to this…
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Pastor Symps explores the virtues of Esther as declared in Chapters 2 and 3 of the Book of Esther. Can we, in our modern world's increasingly hostile culture, stand firm for our Lord Jesus in the way that Queen Esther modeled this unswirving faith in God?By Symps Ndlovu
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"The hidden providence of God is a wonderful thing!"So begins our short series on the intriguing story of Esther, beginning today with an overview of Esther, Chap. 1. Here, Pastor Ryan explores some of the historical narrative and Biblical realities that positions Esther and Mordecai into this unique and crucial moment in Israel's past. We learn to…
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Today is a special day for Broadway, having one of our domestic missions fill our entire service with devotionals, testimonies and song. Our guests come from Inspiration Ministries. Inspiration is a Christ-centered organization with a passion to serve the least, the last, and the lost. They are active in leading many addicted, disenfranchised and b…
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Pastor Bruce Cochran (father of our Pastor Ryan) guest preaches today, giving a heartfelt and heart-searching study into Psalm 73, where author Asaph, a Levitical priest, knows of God being the eternal answer to all challenges, yet experiences dismay at all the prosperity the evil enjoy. Again, we see examples in Scripture where people, in honest p…
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Dawn Etzel (director of Hope Alive women's ministry and member of Pastor Ryan's preaching class) delivers a deep and resonating message of hope, comfort and consolation to our congregation today, leading us in an exploration of Psalm 88, considered to be the most painful and pathos-laden Psalm in the whole book. Out of this great "confession" we le…
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Pastor Ryan points out the unique content of this declared "michtam" (engraving-stone covering), in that it -Psalm 16-declares the trust in our enduring, sustaining God yet does not declaring a fear or enemy. Pastor Ryan shares the teaching that David's fear is his own wandering heart. As with us, to forget the kindness, protection and sustenance o…
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Pastor Symps brings us right to the beginning of the Psalms, expounding on Psalm 1, where we meet Jehovah El Shaddai: the "All-Sufficient God". The righteous experience all provision and worth in the sufficiency of our Father, whose delight is in His Law. The ungodly are as chaff - we are exhorted to not let the wicked one tempt us away from the Lo…
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Today we look to the attribute of God imbued in His special name of "El Elyon", the God Most High. Pastor Ryan emphasizes the amazing beauty proclaimed in an initial version, "Sing to the Lord a new song!". Our praises, sung in unison (which singing compels us to do), catapult our hearts and affections to reflect the highness of God's Highness! God…
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Today, Pentecost Sunday, is celebrated with our brethren in Christ, Northeast Christian Church. Pastors Ryan Cochran and Tony Oplinger join together to share a joint sermon focusing on the Holy Spirit, Who baptized the believers on the first Pentecost Sunday to be witnesses to the world. As Pastor Tony introduces, "the same superlative Spirit of Go…
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Our guest, Dan Scheeringa, member of BCC, delivers a heartfelt and thorough devotion of this imprecatory psalm, Psalm 109. We look deeply at David's plea to the Lord, our Lord "Who is there", and tackle difficult questions such as "where are you, O God?" and "why are You taking so long to answer me?".We learn a yet deeper way to trust in God's plan…
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Pastor Symps leads us in an instructional and devoted study of Psalm 97, where we learn the character of God being Lord of all - in all the universe, in all creation, in all who oppose Him, in all who love and obey Him, He IS God Almighty!By Symps Ndlovu
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Today's Psalm is 8. We explore the attribute of God our Lord...our Master...our Lord. His Name is majestic, towering above all names. ALL names are subject to His great Will, and we stand in awe of His great power! "Out of the mouths of babes" will His glory be proclaimed!By Ryn Cochran
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Pastor Ryan begins us on a new journey through the Psalms, concentrating on those Psalms that express unique names of our Lord God Almighty. Today we concentrate on Psalm 20, where the character of God our General is expressed. The name of YHWH (Yahweh) Nissi. the Lord our Banner is used here, our Gd going forth before us in battle, the great, alwa…
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Pastor Symps leads us through a spiritual tutorial on Biblical fasting, sharing the distinction that fasting, with an eye towards greater intimacy with our Lord, is far different from general fasting; not all fasting is Biblical, not all fasting must be done alone, NO Biblical fasting is a hunger strike! Matthew 6:16-18 and Acts 13:1-4 are our pass…
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Pastor Ryan provides a review of the "I Am" statements from Jesus in the Gospel of John - we concentrate on their universal declaration: Jesus IS the Life! He offers abundant, deep, spiritually purposeful and eternal Life for all who follow Him. Pastor Ryan concentrates on the 3rd soil from the Sower Parable - here worldly concerns and affections c…
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He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! We shout this almost as loud as Jesus shouted "Lazarus..come OUT!" giving Lazarus' family, and us, the most celebrated of His miracles (in John ch. 11). As Pastor Ryan expounds, Jesus displays His power and authority now more than ever, even over death itself. The Scripture records our Christ's compelling action abo…
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Today, Palm Sunday is delivered to us via a special presentation given by our youth ministry, "Face2Face".Senior student member Samuel Birkey delivers a learned prequel regarding the OT understating of Christ's entry into Jerusalem (our Palm Sunday). Following dramatic excerpts of the Passion by our youth, Youth Minister Shane Heidinger delivers a …
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Pastor Ryan continues with the second affirmation from Christ's famous divine declaration, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life". Here we are confronted with the awesome reality that the Truth is a Person, this wonderful Person who is God Incarnate, who knows us intimately...and yet offers us life, eternal life!…
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Pastor Symps shares of that glorious proclamation that Lord Jesus gave to his disciples at the Last Supper, "I Am the way, the truth, and the life." Pastor Symps exhorts the truth that Jesus is THE way, for eternal life, and for Kingdom service here. John 14:1-15 is our Scripture passage for today.By Symps Ndlovu
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Pastor Ryan leads us in a study of John 15:1-17, where our Jesus extols His divine attribute as the True Vine, supplying all the spiritual nutrients to His branches. He is the true Vine, and our Father is the Good Gardener. We must learn, out of this passage, to submit to God's glorious pruning so that we bear much good fruit. And, we learn to cond…
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Our regular sermon series is interrupted so that we can focus on the blessings of our outreach ministry, "In As Much". Director Mary Ann Mings shares what "In As Much" is currently experiencing during these challenging but rewarding times, and through report and testimony, shares what her vision for the future holds. In As Much (and its daughter mi…
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Pastor Ryan continues our study in John Chap. 10, moving on the the next great "I AM" statement from our Lord Jesu: "I Am the Good Shepherd. We see Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promise in Ezekial 34, where He declares that He Himself will be Israel's shepherd. We also explore all of the fulfilled attributes of what it takes to be the Good Shep…
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We have two passages today: Ezekial 34:1-16 and John 10:1-10. Ezekiel prophesies of God's displeasure with the spiritual shepherds of his day, their carelessness, abuse, and cruelty angering Him. God declares that He will be the Good Shepherd to His flock, and Jesus declares His fulfillment of this beautiful promise. Jesus IS the gate to the sheepf…
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In John 6: 1-40, Jesus declares that He is the One who satisfies, eternally! Only He can sustain us through all the temptations of earthly desires and needs. Unlike the people during Jesus' time, we have little worry over having our belly full, but Satan, that great liar, convinces us of our appetites and hungers - it is Jesus that assures us of ou…
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Pastor Symps speaks lavishly on the great "I Am" declaration from Jesus that He is THE light of the world, and how Scripture demonstrates that He has always been and will always be the Light of the World. Also, how the Lord's intent, command, and gift to us is to not only. continue IN His light, but for us to convey and to be, to a desperately need…
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We delve into one of Jesus' most lengthy discourses with the people, found in John 8:31-59. Many people, wanting to believe, but perplexed (some angry) at Jesus' claims of intimate deity with the Father, climaxing with the resounding, eternal description that Jesus gives of Himself: I AM!By Ryan Cochran
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Pastor Ryan leads us through Exodus 3: 1-15, the moment, after 40 years of waiting, the Lord reaches out to Moses to call him to free Israel from the clutches of Egypt.This Scripture passage, Paster Ryan reminds< declares emphatically that God cares, God hears, and God is with us!By Ryan Cochran
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Pastor Ryan introduces us to a new year of Scripture messages. Anticipating a difficult year ahead for all, we explore James 1:1-5 and Philippines 2:10-25, where we read of the Lord's plan to lead us "through" trials and difficulties instead of going around , over or under them. Just as Jesus went through the cross for us, we too can look beyond th…
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We close our short series, and our year, with testimonies from several of our BCC family. Pastor Ryan introduces us to the reality that "grief and hope are sisters". Our testimonies today are from God's children who have experienced both during this year's journey, sharing from their heart how God carried them through, and how, unlike the rosy pict…
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Highlights from our BCC Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24th. Pastors Ryan and Symps provide devotional messages focusing on the rich theological content found in our classic Christmas carols, and their significant proclaiming of the Good News, Christ's arrival and its offer of redemption and salvation.…
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Our passages are from the glowing reports of Luke, Chap. 2. Children's Minister Jena Schwab shares with our children the meaning of prophet Anna's long-anticipated reward for her patient waiting for the Messiah, and Pastors Ryan and Symps co-share of Simeon's equally joyous blessing as he too sees the young Savior- in the temple, many saw Mary, Jos…
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"God is coming to rescue us from our enemies!" That, says Pastor Ryan is the main point of the song from Zechariah, who understood that man had found favor with Gos as He gave unto us a Savior! How the enemy wishes we would miss such a Christmas gift as this!Luke Chapter 1: 5-25, 57-80 are our Scripture passages for today.…
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Our BCC children, directed by our Children's Minister Jena Schwab, present their annual Christmas play, this focusing on the Nativity story. After the play, Elder Steve Snyder delivers our Communion devotion.By Children's Christmas Pageant
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We look at Luke 1:26-56, the famous story of Mary's conception, visit with Elizabeth and her famous first Christmas song, known as the Magnificat. Pastor Ryan emphasizes the content and character of her song, no lullaby here, but a declaration of deep conviction that God will delver, God will save, this Most High God has shown and will show mercy.…
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Pastor Symps closes out our semester series on "Uncommon Unity" with a glowing and exciting description of our final destination to the Church's uncommon unity. Working with Revelation 7:9,10 and 21:1-8, Pastor Symps expounds on the promise from our Lord of what this wonderful oneness with Him will look like in His now-perfected Kingdom. Hallelujah…
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We start with Ephesians 2:1-10, a glorious proclamation of God's eternal intent to call us into service and conformity of our Lord Jesus, this by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Ryan expounds on the wonderful paradox of how unique, even individual, our callings from the Lord are, yet He has the power to make us and declare us one in the Spirit…
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We look soberly at Acts Chapter 15. We see a significant divergence in the this stage of the Apostle Paul's life, where at chapter's beginning we see him working diligently for that uncommon unity befitting the Body of Christ. Yet at chapter's end, a dispute cancels his missionary relationship with brother Barnabas. How can we discern between dispu…
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Pastor Ryan concentrates on Romans 14, where the Apostle Paul exhorts for the Body of Christ to not mistake our wonderful diversity as something to foment disputations - we learn that our God-given differences are to model every opportunity to be lead by the Spirit to delight in acceptance, forbearance, and uniqueness. Do not let disagreeing in opi…
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We explore the Gifts of the Spirit, as described and defined in I Corinthians chap. 12:1-11. Here, Pastor Ryan explains, the Apostle Paul declares emphatically the intent of the gifts: as diverse and unique as they are, they are truly the Lord's working to build and unite the Body. Every gift is needed, every good for the common good of the Body of…
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Pastor Symps shares a bounty of Scripture dealing with the Lord's command to forgive, and to reconcile, and their roles in exercising our uncommon unity in the Body. Pastor Symps examines the differences between forgiveness and reconciliation, looking at God's Word for definition and the unique properties that are necessary to execute in order for …
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Pastor Ryan explains the Biblical vision for this uncommon unity found in the Body of Christ, and how diversity can demonstrate the miraculous vision of our innate uniqueness in creation yet profoundly united in the Holy Spirit. Pastor Ryan explains, using Gen. 1 and Ephesians 2, the Biblical vision for diversity, and the worldly barriers to experi…
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Our unity in God is blessed with His intentional expression of diversity, found from His inception of our creation to now. The world attempts to imitate His unity with a contrived expression of uniformity, but we can only celebrate how different we are when we acknowledge and live His divine creative reality of "one in the Spirit", an essence of Hi…
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The Indwelling Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of the Godhead, inhabits every one of God's children, uniting us with each other through spiritual gifting from Him, and through common understandings of our hope for now and for the future, for the obedient desire for the Church, and to see God's will be done on this earth as well as Heaven. we see how i…
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Pastor Symps leads us through a deep look into John 15. Here our Lord shares one of the more intimate and expressive titles bestowed upon us: "I call you friends". Our unity with Christ is declared by such a familial identity! And not only this, our Lord instructs us to spread such deep and personal connection with one another, that our abiding fri…
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