http://www.bereanhomechurch.org/

Berean Home Fellowship, 3628 Torrance Drive, Toledo, OH (2026)

09/27/2026

It’s been a while since we’ve been in the Gospel of Mark. We took a detour talking about a subject that I haven't heard from the pulpit ever, which is talking deeply about drugs and alcohol. We took this detour because of where we are in Mark 9, where a young man is possessed by an evil spirit. I presented a possibility that it could have been from drugs or alcohol that a doorway was opened into this young man's life for this evil spirit to come in and wreak havoc as they do so often, even today.

Though many people might be loath to admit it, the reality is that evil spirits and demonic possession are alive and well in 2026. You can find some of these things just by going to YouTube, Kick, Twitch, or many of the video social platforms. Manifestations happen there, live in front of our eyes. However, there are many people who won’t admit that is what that is. They just say that the person is crazy or out of control when it's clearly something beyond that.

That falls in line with what we talked about when we were in the Gospel of Mark last time: all demonic activity doesn’t manifest the same. Unclean spirits are not monolithic in their methods.

In the example in Acts 16:16-18, we pointed out it is one of the most dangerous because it appears to be the opposite of what it is. That slave girl spoke the truth about the situation. However, the motive was demonically inspired because it was not done to support Paul and Luke, but to distract and obfuscate. Clearly, she was possessed because Paul cast it out of her.

Part of the reason we don’t see demonic activity for what it is is because of unbelief. On top of that, our discernment isn’t sharpened. Too many immature Christians running around when it is unnecessary. The way to sharpen your discernment is through the Word of God (Hebrews 5:14).

Also, if you remember, the Lord Jesus was frustrated in His response. Contrary to popular belief, sometimes frustration is the correct response. There is an unreasonable expectation of people that pastors and teachers are to always be patient and never get frustrated with their people. That’s not what we see here. It is more in line and proper to be frustrated with people who should know better.

This morning, we will take a look at how this young man was being affected by this evil spirit and how it weighed on his family to the point that his father was compelled to bring him to Jesus. We’ll see what that says about the condition of the father and of us.

Join us at Berean Home Fellowship.

09/20/2026

In Part 1 of our series on The Bible, Alcohol, and Drugs, there are several key points worth noting that most Christians get wrong when it comes to the topic of w**e, spirits, and alcohol in general which we covered exclusively.

They key point is that it’s not the same. This is probably one of the most overlooked, misunderstood and maligned truths. The w**e and spirits in the culture today are not the same as those in Scripture.

You cannot impose modern American culture on top of ancient Biblical culture and plug in whatever you want as if they are the same. They are not, by any stretch of the imagination. Morally, they were. Culturally they were not.

This is because of distillation which was not around during biblical times. Because of this, both ancient Greeks and Jews diluted their w**e before drinking it, with typical ratios ranging from 2:1 to 3:1 water to w**e. This is with an estimated alcohol content of about 7% to 10%.

By comparison, all alcoholic beverages today would be considered strong drink in Scripture of which there is only one positive thing said about it and, ironically, it’s when a person is about to die (Proverbs 31:6).

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and w**e unto those that be of heavy hearts. (Proverbs 31:6)

In every other instance, the Bible speaks negatively about strong drink. It warns consistently about the two (Isaiah 28:7)

Yet, if we are being thorough and objective about our biblical overview, then we have to point out that the Bible speaks on the social use of w**e as a positive. (Ecclesiastes 9:7)

This is w**e, not strong drink.

So, it is not that the word of the Lord is giving a blanket prohibition against w**e. It is not. The abuse of it is the problem, and remember the cultural context here: it’s not the same w**e as what we have today. We do not culturally dilute our w**e which is two to three times stronger in alcoholic content which is not good for your body, which is another issue — health. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

There are things within Scripture where there is no cut and dried prohibition. Consuming w**e is one of them. As we have seen, there are situations when w**e was consumed at things like weddings or other celebrations. Even Jewish festivals.

However, what is also clear in context and through a careful study of Scripture, is that we are warned in the consumption of alcohol, and more often than not, discouraged in its use, especially drink.

This is like debt. The Bible doesn’t say debt is a sin. It says that whenever possible, avoid it. If you do it, you better know what you are getting into because it can destroy your witness and life. I think we have one of those situations with the use of alcohol.

This morning, we will tie to this a topic I have never heard anyone do an in depth teaching on yet it is ubiquitous in the Western culture, especially in the United States — the use and abuse of drugs and what it actually is biblically.

08/30/2026

Over the years, I have preached and taught many things. However, surprisingly, I have never taught about what the Bible has to say about alcohol and drug use.

This is widespread today and of epic proportions, so much so I decided to teach a foundational overview on the subject.

Why am I doing this in the middle of the Gospel of Mark?

If you recall, we began a new pericope of Scripture dealing with a demon-possessed boy. I thought about the ways a person can come into that state. Alcohol and drugs are two doorways evil spirits use to get access into a person’s soul and control.

Yeah. I know. It’s about to get deep. But not how you would expect.

Having said that, I want to have a BIBLICAL (not opinion, not feelings) understanding of the topic and make people aware of how it addresses this topic, especially for Christians. This passage in Mark 9 is interesting in that there was a knowledge of things that were and were not the direct result of demonic influence.

If anything, if you have not performed your due diligence on the topic (the majority have not), I invite you to take a trip with me in this two-part series.

Join me at at Berean Home Fellowship, where we teach independence in dependence on Christ.

08/16/2026

When we were last in the gospel of Mark, we noted how the presence of Jesus is power. Many times, you will meet someone who commands respect when they enter a room. You may even do that yourself on occasion. For us, as believers, our very presence brings a sense of power because of the Holy Spirit the One who Jesus sent to glorify Him.

In other words, if the Holy Spirit is there, Jesus is there.

People can sense these things and will either accept or reject you because of that presence. They will think it is you, but it is the power of Christ who works in us.

We also looked as Jesus as our example in that leaders are not afraid to lead.

Leaders put themselves on the front lines. They are not afraid to take the hits, especially when it comes to the people who they lead. They will take the criticism, the blame, the brunt of the displeasure. That’s their job. The Lord Jesus exemplified that in the previous passage.

Lastly, the most uncomfortable truth we gave was that demonic manifestation and influence are still here today.

The evil spirits who plagued the Lord and His ministry still operate in the world to a far greater degree than we are willing to admit. Many believe they are on the rise because of the interaction of many people through occult practices and pagan rituals.

They have always been here and will continue to be so until the Lord comes back.

This morning, we will continue in Mark, looking in detail at the condition of this demon-possessed man and the Lord’s response which seems off-putting in light of the dire situation.

Join us this morning ever at Berean Home Fellowship, where we teach Independence in dependence on Christ.

08/02/2026

When we were last in the gospel of Mark, we focused on Mark 8:13. In that verse, we saw that evil is an incessant enemy of God.

Evil always attempts to set itself up as the standard and will kill to do so. The Pharisees and scribes had a system that they worshiped. They thought they were the good guys.

There’s a reason why people today are so hostile when talking about culture and politics. In their eyes, it’s not just politics and culture. It’s their religion. Instead of having a religion that informs their politics and shapes their culture and ideology, they make their politics, culture, and man-made ideologies their religion.

The fights in the media and culture are not just political, cultural, or ethnic. Those are just arenas. To the contrary, every arena being fought in is built on the foundation of the spiritual. There is nothing in all of reality that is not spiritual. It all is.

We also extrapolated the truth that God hates sinful weakness and cowardice.

Sinful weakness is a condition of excusing your God-given role and calling, whatever that may be in, abdicating or excusing yourself from the responsibility God has given you.

Cowardice is not the absence being afraid. That is not cowardice. You can be afraid and not be a coward.

Cowardice is letting self-preservation become your god to where you will do anything to preserve it, even throw other people under the bus. Cowards avoid danger, hardships, and lack the internal fortitude to have convictions to do what is right in the face of opposition. To go through something difficult. They let fear dictate what they do and not faith, its opposite.

Verse 13 spoke of how they did to John whatever they wanted. Mistreatment is part of the Christian calling.

It should come as no surprise that John the Baptist was killed. Nor the Lord. This is what has happened throughout the centuries. Evil will not tolerate the good, neither will good tolerate evil. We, as God’s people, are to expect mistreatment. It comes with the package of being a Christian (Joh_15:19, 1Pe_2:21).

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19)

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (1 Peter 2:21)

This morning we start a new series on what part of the protocol is for dealing with unclean spirits as we go about our lives in ministry to the Lord and we encounter them, because contrary to many, they are real.

07/05/2026

We have just celebrated this nation’s 250th year in existence. It is a bit of a milestone and it comes at a critical time in this nation’s history.
Most people today are clueless to the past and are constantly spoon-fed a litany of lies when it comes to history. This is especially true of the United States. Let’s keep it real — people love to see the big dog fall. When it comes to nation’s on the planet Earth, the United States is it. We are the big dog. This is the place where the Lord has placed us.

We constantly fight an enemy within and without that would want to see our nation fall.

This is not to say the United States does not have its historical skeletons in the closet. We have done some horrible things as a nation — slavery, experiments like the Tuskegee Study, MK-Ultra, the use of Agent Orange with our military, feminism, homosexual normalcy, and more. But even in the midst of all of that, even though we are a nation under judgment, we are still the greatest nation on earth.

Today, it is considered evil to want your nation to be a great nation. The phrase “Make America Great Again” has been cast as some evil, secret statement. People who like to belabor the past instead of learn and move on from it have decided that virtue signaling is must better than trying to work together as a nation.

The root cause of all of this is sin. This is not going away anytime soon. But to be patriotic, to love your nation, is right and good when done in a way that is right and good.

In light of this milestone celebration, this morning I want to focus on how the Lord has kept this nation, despite its sin, how He has (and is) punished this nation, and what can ultimately turn this nation around to be better than it has ever been.

Join us at Berean Home Fellowship this morning as we teach independence in dependence on Christ.

06/21/2026

Today, we live in an era of crisis on multiple levels. The homosexual agenda is in full effect, having its own month where deviance and sinfulness are celebrated. Godless, evil individuals want to make ethnicity about everything and demonize others because of the shade of their skin. Before our eyes, we’re seeing the breakdown of American society as a nation under the judgment of God. These people say they champion freedom when what they actually do is champion wickedness, moving headlong into bo***ge. God is watching, and He is keeping the books.

At the root of all of this — and what is arguably one of the major causes of it — is the widespread cultural reality of the absence of fathers. Let’s look at the facts:

• As early as in the infant stage within the first 28 days, infant death increases to four times higher for those with absent fathers.
• Children who come from fatherless homes are four times more likely to be poor.
• Though we love to champion the independent mother and the single-parent home as a norm, its effect is killing our children’s future. Children of single-parent homes are twice as likely to commit su***de and are 4 times more likely to be in poverty next to children in married couple families.
• Of fatherless young women, they are 7 times more likely to get pregnant as a teen.
• 71% of high school dropouts grew up fatherless and overall they are twice as likely to drop out of high school.
• 85% of youth in prison have an absent father; fatherless children are more likely to offend and go to jail as adults.
• 90% of runaway children have an absent father. This then contributes to them being victimized in human trafficking.
• Children from fatherless homes are 279% more likely to carry guns and deal drugs than those who live with their father.

Today we celebrate the gift God has given to each of us, which are our fathers. In this morning’s teaching, we’ll look deeper at what God expects from men when fulfilling the role of father.

Join us at Berean Home Fellowship where we teach independence in dependence on Christ.

06/14/2026

Last time, we examined Mark 9:9-10, where Jesus and the disciples descend the mountain after the Transfiguration, and He commands them to keep silent about what they'd seen until after His resurrection. From that text, we drew out three takeaway points.

First, God has a timetable. Jesus placed a time limit on this secret — “till the Son of Man had risen from the dead” — reminding us that God operates within a redemptive plan set in motion since creation even though He Himself is eternal and beyond time.

Second, God’s timetable is redemptive. From the Exodus out of Egypt to Christ giving “his life a ransom for many “ (Matthew 20:28), every marker on God's calendar points toward redemption — and the full revelation of who Christ is was reserved for the appointed time, after the price of redemption was paid.

Third, God speaks plainly to His people. The disciples kept Jesus’s word but were perplexed by “rising from the dead” — not because it was hidden from them, but because, as with the temple riddle in John 2:19-21, believers are given understanding that unbelievers are not (Matthew 13:11). God isn’t obscure with His own; we simply aren’t always ready to receive what’s plainly stated, and our hearts can harden like the disciples’ did (Mark 6:52, Mark 8:17).

That brings us to this morning’s text. The disciples, still processing what they’d just seen — Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus — bring up something else that had been taught in the synagogue: that Elijah must come before the Messiah. It seems like an odd question, but it isn’t. Their minds were connecting dots from Scripture, even if they didn’t yet have the full picture.

As we’ll see, Jesus addresses their question, affirms part of what the scribes got right, and then redirects them back to “the important matter” — the very thing they’d just been told to keep quiet about: His coming death, burial, and resurrection.

Join us at Berean Home Fellowship this morning, where we teach independence in dependence on Christ.

Berean Home Fellowship

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