Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Bible Teaching by Rev. Percy Gutteridge
Shownotes for episode #26: The Law of the Firstfruits 

Scripture Reading:

The firstsfruits belong to God – materially and spiritually!

Leviticus 23:9-14

Summary:

There is much significance in the fact that the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Pentecost were to be celebrated on the first day of the week. It signifies God's law of firstfruits. The Lord Jesus Christ, “the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20), rose from the dead on the first day of the week. But there is a greater significance: all of our firstfruits must be given to God; “it shall be a statute forever” (Leviticus 23:14).

God's laws never become void, and they each have a purpose. When one of God's physical laws is broken, there is a physical reaction; for example, when Jesus' life was taken, there was darkness over the earth for three hours; and when He rose from the dead, there was a great earthquake. God's law of rest is illustrated in [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Bible Teaching by Rev. Percy Gutteridge
Shownotes for episode #25: The Year of Jubilee 

The famous Liberty Bell is inscribed with the words of Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” — the proclamation of Jubilee!

Scripture Reading:

Leviticus 25:1-55

Summary:

In this message Percy Gutteridge clearly explains the wonderful analogy between the Old Testament celebration of Jubilee and the glorious and complete freedom and joy which the Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, gives to those who trust Him and His sacrifice on Calvary. Just as the Israelites were freed from their debts and servitude at the Year of Jubilee, Jesus sets sinners free from their bondage to Sin. And just as an Israelite could declare his love for his master and his desire to remain in His service, we can choose out of love to [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Bible Teaching by Rev. Percy Gutteridge: Why Elijah Must Make Way for Elisha (show notes for podcast episode #24)

Scripture Readings:

2 Kings 2; Luke 1:17

Summary:

Elijah and Elisha
by Gustav Doré

The Scriptures include many types, or figures, which help illustrate important foundational truths. In this look at the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, we see Elijah as a type of Old Covenant prophet, while Elisha is a type of the New Covenant prophet. Similarly, John the Baptist is the last of the Old Covenant prophets, ministering in the spirit of Elijah with repentance, while Jesus is the greatest Prophet under the New Covenant. All who are baptized in the Holy Spirit are meant to carry on this New Covenant prophetic ministry. Just as Elisha's ministry brought the removal of a curse, Jesus ministers in the Spirit of His Father, removing the curse of sin and bringing life. In 2 Kings 2, after Elijah was taken up, Elisha healed the [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #23:
The Resurrection of Our Lord by Rev. Percy Gutteridge

Resurrection Day:
Jesus on the Road to Emmaus
by Gustav Doré

Scripture Reading:

Luke 24:1-35

Summary:

This message examines the false theories concerning our Lord's resurrection, including

• the “Swoon” Theory;
• the Telepathic Communication Theory;
• the Intoxication Theory,

and shows their errors. Pastor Gutteridge's teaching fully vindicates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on the third day, and shows [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

5+ Weeks in Central America

These are supplementary notes to the podcast interview.

Click on the image above
for a zoomable-map version of Jim's travel

Itinerary:

• Tuesday, April 22, 2014: Denise drives Jim to the airport a las mil (the Spanish equivalent of “o'dark thirty” for those of you familiar with military parlance; 04:00 for you sticklers).  Jim flies via Miami to Managua, Nicaragua (point “B” on the map), where the teaching team sent by LendAHand Mission Teams assembles during the day, including Dr. Gladys de Chávez from Guatemala.
• Wednesday, April 23, 2014: The team travels overland travel for five hours to Quilalí (point “A” on the interactive map).
• Thursday-Saturday, April 24-26, 2014 — teaching conference for about 125 attendees.  Jim's subject: Hermeneutics (module 1) — how to read and preach the Bible in context.

Pastors Nelson, Mario, and Ramon in Quilalí

• Sunday, April 27: Team returns to Managua, participates in Sunday-evening meeting in a local church.
• Monday-Tuesday, April 28-29: Teaching conference for about 40 pastors in Managua, the capital city (point “B” on the map). As in Quilalí, Gladys teaches on the importance and the “how-to's” of Sunday School, while Jim concentrates on hermeneutics, with a special emphasis on the importance of the “context” of the entire Bible. (See the podcast Are You Fulfilling Bible Prophecy? for a challenging message on this subject.)
• Wednesday, April 30: Rare “day off” due to a communication mix-up with the local pastors. Jim spends the day working on notes for the Guatemala conferences; Gladys starts the 20-hour bus ride back to Guatemala.

[continue reading…]

The Holy Way by Isaiah Reid

Currently available in e-book formats only

It's a good thing that a growing number of Christians are discontent in their spirits, seeking the Lord, searching the Scriptures, looking for something beyond the shallowness of status-quo Christianity, something beyond the empty hype that characterizes “worship” services, something that draws them closer to their Beloved. Such restlessness can be the first thaw on the way to the springtime of personal revival.

If this resonates with you, it's not a surprise to God. A better way has always been in His heart, and He has made provision for it. That better way is what Isaiah Reid calls “the holy way.” His book “The Holy Way” is a signpost pointing the way to that “something” that so many feel is missing — a heart close to God, full of love, and freed from indwelling Sin. The book delivers what it promises: it is a short, clear, concise overview of the heart-experience of entire sanctification, its Scriptural basis, and, very practically, how to obtain the blessing of this “holy way” from God.

The Holy Way first debuted in 1892, and due to its popularity and usefulness, it went through at least three American editions and two British editions. Altogether, it enjoyed a nearly thirty-year run. It has been a labor of love to update the formatting, add the annotations and appendices for modern readers, and to make this helpful title available again.

Lord willing, this title represents the first book in the Passion, Purity, and Power series.

E-book only: $2.99. Available for Kindle, Nook, and Kobo.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #22:
The Three Parables of Loss, a message by Rev. Percy Gutteridge

The Lost Sheep
by Alford Usher Soord

Scripture Reading:

Luke 15

Summary:

“Uh, oh — another message on the parables of Luke 15!” If that was your first thought as you read the title, it's time for an attitude check. And that check would be very appropriate, because in this message, Pastor Percy Gutteridge looks at the different attitudes of the things and persons mentioned by Jesus in these three stories, including the attitudes of:

• the unconverted moral man;
• the devil;
• a coin;
• the lost sheep;
• the lost son; and
• the angels of God.

For example, the coin was lost but didn't [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #21:
The Three Seed Parables, a message by Rev. Percy Gutteridge

“Behold, a sower went forth to sow.”

Scripture Readings:

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, 24-30, 31-32

Summary:

As detailed in Matthew 13, Jesus told many parables, three of which had to do with seeds. With the words, “A sower went forth to sow,” the first parable describes a sower who casts the seed of the word; the final disposition of the seed sifts out the true heirs of the Kingdom. The second parable is concerned with the seed of God, which shows the refining of the Kingdom by the final rejection of the false seed sown by the evil one. Then comes the final seed parable, that of the mustard seed, which reveals the growth and glory of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Other Scriptures Cited:

[continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The Harul Interview – 45 Minutes with Romanian Pastor Teofil Ciortuz

Romanian Pastor Teofil Ciortuz
at his desk

It's wonderful when Christian parents prayerfully name their children, especially when that name turns out to be prophetic.  Teofil Ciortuz (tay-oh-FEEL chor-TOOS) seems to be the prophetic fulfillment of his first name — Teofil, an eastern European form of Theophilus (see Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1), meaning lover of God. One of the great blessings in my travels is to meet sanctified, joy-filled, no-nonsense servants of God, men and women who are loving and serving the Lord Jesus with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.  Teofil certainly fits that bill.

Pastor Teofil is the second assistant pastor at Biserica Crestina Baptista Harul Lugoj (Grace Christian Baptist Church in Lugoj). Harul means grace.

The red dot marks the location
of Lugoj in Romania

Teofil earned his degree in mathematics and taught that subject for a time before he was tapped by the Lord to go [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #20:
The Vineyard Parables, a message by Rev. Percy Gutteridge

“Go and work in My vineyard.”

Scripture Readings:

Matthew 21:28-32
Matthew 20:1-16
Matthew 20:20-28

Summary:

Jesus taught us both the parable of the vineyard and the servants and the parable of the vineyard and the sons. One of the revealed truths in Scripture is the difference that the Lord makes between Servants and Sons. The exposition of these two parables brings out the difference clearly; although they share the same eternal life, they differ in character and responsibility.

Other Scriptures Cited:

[continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Why Romania? [Alternate Title: Mutiny on the Podcast]

Romanian Pastor Marius Apopi (left) translates for Bible teacher Jim Kerwin

This episode's rearranged cast:

• Host: Jim Kerwin
• Co-Host: Denise Kerwin
• Guest Co-Host: Al Strickland (remember him from last episode, 50 Years? What's Your Secret?)
• Guest: Jim Kerwin (who wants to know: Is this a demotion or a promotion? And is he still re­spon­sible for audio editing and writing the show­notes, or does Denise have to do it?)

Al's Short Report on His Guatemala Recent Trip

Lord willing, the second-story construction on the Coatepeque church (the one pastored by Fermin and Lilian Chávez) can commence in March 2014.

Guatemalan Pastor Fermin Chávez tightens the knots of friendship.

• For background, please listen to The Coatepeque Kitchen Interview (KernelsOfWheat.com/b3) with Fermin and Lilian, and The Lake Atitlán Interview (KernelsOfWheat.com/b5) with Atilio and Gladys Chávez.
• The initial construction team on this multi-month project will consist mainly of members from Trinity Worship Center in Burlington, North Carolina, working in conjunction with LendAHand Mission Teams. For more on LendAHand, listen to our interview with LAH founder Bobby Hoyle in We Lend a Hand with LendAHand (KernelsOfWheat.com/k22).
• The completion of the project will afford the Coatepeque church Sunday school and youth space, training space for regional pastors and leaders, and more living space for the Coatepeque pastors and their family. You can donate towards this project.
• And then there's the part about the friend-to-friend clothesline upgrade…

Jim Kerwin Responds to the Question “Why Romania?” [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #19:
Good Servants and Unprofitable Servants

Parable of the Talents
(Anonymous)

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 25:14-30

Summary:

From the parables of Jesus, the Good Servants and the Unprofitable Servants are delineated with their ultimate rewards. But there are not just two divisions on earth — the saved and the unsaved. There is a division in the ranks of the saved: there are servants and servant-sons. Servants may believe they are sons because they have been taught so. But sons have an inner witness to sonship, given by [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

A Fiftieth-Wedding-Anniversary Interview
with Al and Sue Strickland

Al & Sue Strickland

Not What I Was Expecting…

I fully expected this episode to be a praise and victory report about the recent missions trip to Romania. But on the flight home from Munich, Germany, to Charlotte, North Carolina, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit that the “top priority” was to interview Fellowship members Al and Sue Strickland at this milestone in their marriage — their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

…But You Can Expect a Blessing!

Al and Sue are Fellowship members, part of its heartbeat, and definitely part of its life's blood when it comes to our work in missions overseas.  (Al has been on more missions trips than I have, I think!)  But to everyone who knows them, “Papa Al” and “Momma Sue” have a blessed and enviable marriage. Listen, learn, and be inspired to love in ways that are deeper and very practical as they answer the question Denise and I put to them: “Fifty years? What's your secret?!” Click here for two more photos and a few links…