Island Community Church

09/01/2026

We Can Work it Out!
Pastor Paul Esposito, Th.D.

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is working in you, both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil 2:12-13, EMTV)

I borrowed the title for this from the Lennon/McCartney song, “We can work it out.” The good news is that you indeed can work it out, because as verse 13 reveals to us, “it is God who is working in you, both to will, and to do, for His good pleasure.”
Remember, you do not work FOR your salvation. You are to work OUT your salvation—to work out what God has placed inside of you. Christians are compelled to serve the Lord, in one form or another.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26)

08/31/2026

People Pleasers
Pastor Paul Esposito, Th.D.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10)

Yesterday we looked at what a “God-pleaser” looked like. (Ultimately, a person who sides with God, and makes no compromise, in order to avoid controversy—things like, creation, marriage, lifestyles, holy living, etc).
Here’s what people-pleasers (politicians, et al) believe, and speak:
Regarding creation, they believe in evolution.
Regarding marriage, they believe whatever feels right.
Regarding holy living, that’s optional.
Regarding salvation, that too is a personal choice.
Regarding life being sacred, they believe that life begins at birth.
So there’s your two choices. Just know and understand, you can’t be a Christian and be a people pleaser at the same time! The two positions are diametrically opposed to one another.
You must side with God, or with the world.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)

08/30/2026

Audio Podcast

Podcast Episode · WGOD Radio: All Truth, All the Time. · August 30 · 36m

08/30/2026

https://youtu.be/eotx6i1tfFo?is=OxTg_bdiLoN6OVTa

In today's sermon, we're going to look at why so many people are of...

08/30/2026

What About These Guys?
Pastor Paul Esposito, Th.D.

“There were present at that season some who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all
other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-3)

Just like yesterday’s tough word is this response today, from the Son of God.
People brought a local tragedy to His attention, and I guess they wanted to see how He would respond. His response doesn’t win the Compassion of the Year award, to say the least!
They said, “Look at this tragedy!” And, “This is not fair!!”
And Jesus’ response?
“Do you suppose these were bad people because this happened to them? (A common superstition in their day). No! But unless you repent, you too will perish!”
Now THERE’S a tough word if I’ve ever heard one!
Death is inevitable. We never know what will happen at any given moment.
All that truly matters is, “Is your name in the Book?”
How about you?

08/29/2026

God Pleasers
Pastor Paul Esposito, Th.D.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10)

Once again, make no mistake about it! If you are a people pleaser, then you cannot be a servant of Christ! You can’t have it both ways.
Here’s the platform for the God-pleaser:
Gen 1:1 (creation)
Gen 2:24 (marriage between a man and a woman)
John 14:6, Acts 4:12 (Jesus is the only way)
1 Peter 1:16 Be Ye Holy!
Psalm 139:13-16 (life is sacred, and God is the giver of life)
Tomorrow we’ll look at the opposite—people pleasers.
Which, by the way, is incompatible with being a Christ follower!

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4)

08/28/2026

Take it to the Bank!
Pastor Paul Esposito, Th.D.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

Make no mistake about it—a child can understand this; and millions upon millions of children HAVE understood!
“MOST ASSUREDLY, I say to you, that he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me, has everlasting life.”
Do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and is the Savior of the world?
If you do, then keep reading:
“They (YOU!) shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
All that’s required of you is to Hear, Believe and Receive!

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 8:1)
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom 10:17)

08/27/2026

Nobody Knows
Pastor Paul Esposito, Th.D.

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matt 25:13)

No one, except for the thousands of Christians recently who set a specific day for the Rapture, due to the arrival of the Feast of Trumpets. And once again, they were all wrong!
Reminds me of the number one best seller, “Eight-eight reasons why Jesus is returning in 1988.”
Or the sequel, “Eighty-nine reasons why Jesus is returning in 1989.”
A con man long ago once said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
So know and understand, no one knows when the Lord will return.
He Himself has said,
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’ (Mark 13:32)
That’s good enough for me!

“Let God be true but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/dailyinchrist/

Read Daily in Christ devotional from Neil Anderson. Free online daily Bible devotions from Freedom in Christ Christian teaching ministry of pastor and book author Dr Neil Anderson.