Posts by Phil Layton

Here is a video clip from Tuesday when I was asked to give the invocation prayer for our County government board meeting. I tried to model the principles of 1 Timothy 2:1-4 which we use to pray for our governing bodies at times in our church, with thanksgiving and the gospel in mind. It was good for me to be with those serving our communities and to interact with them a bi...

Compassion for Congo is a ministry for the care and support of churches and orphans in Democratic Republic of Congo, Lubumbashi area. It was a ministry of Community Bible Church (CBC) Placerville until August 1, 2023 when the CBC elders voted to make it a ministry of Riverbend Church, under the oversight of the Compassion for Congo board. The board members are Riverben...

A couple weeks ago as we began our sermon series on the Ten Commandments we introduced this song that introduces God's Law in a very helpful way. It was written in 1863 by Matthias Lioy and does a good job bringing Old Testament and New Testament and Law and Gospel together: TheLawofGodisGoodandWise [sang to tune ofBeforetheThrone ofGodAbove] 1.ThelawofGodisgoodandwi...

TESTIMONY OF PASTOR DIDIER KIBUNDJI MUKOTSHI I was born in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in May 25, 1969. I am married to Annie Mukotshi and we have 7 children (3 girls and 4 boys). Both my parents were Catholics. I left the family in 1990 at the age of 21 to Lusaka in Zambia with the intention to continue my trip to UK as it was ...

Is there a call to worship also for those who feel unfaithful, weak and unstable, or alone in these times? We've loved this newer song by Sovereign Grace (spinning off of "Come All Ye Faithful") that calls all to come, not just those who "have it together" (which none of us do, even if we act like it!). The video below shows the faces of people in various ages and stages ...

This past Sunday I preached on "Our Infinite God and Infants in the Womb" and the audio and video and notes and footnotes are at this link. In Sunday School we also had a discussion on abortion arguments and the gospel and some shared of their own abortions and God's grace and how we can share it. Here is the link to that audio. Several asked for the link to the video we ...

A prayer of praise for the end of Roe v. Wade Our Father in heaven, you are the infinite Creator who has infinite care for all of life you create in your image, from the unloved to the unborn. Your Word speaks of pregnant Rebekah and Mary and Elizabeth and others as having children inside them. You say in Ps 139 "you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you...

Last Sunday (5/1) I was honored to pray before an an honor ride for fallen Elk Grove PD officer Ty Lenehan, a member of our church killed in the line of duty early this year (click here for some of what I shared before I prayed or click here for more of the back story and testimony). This week there also was the CA Peace Officers Memorial in our State Capitol, and Sunday ...

Great is Thy Faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me! A couple months ago I shared about God's faithfulness in providing all our needs as a church by His hand and we continue to see new mercies and provision. I also talked about how we need to be faithful in light of His faithfu...

"Not to us O LORD, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness" (Psalm 115:1) Today (3/31/2022) by God's love and grace, I passed my oral examination of my dissertation on God's love in 1 Corinthians 13! There is still some work to do on my final paper but "just a few hours" so I am set to graduate on May 8th with my D. Min. in Expository Preach...

I am very impressed with Pacific Justice Institute as on organization and Kevin Snider in particular, who wil be speaking Wednesday night. They have don a lot of good working during the pandemic for churches and Christians. This will be helpful info for people concerned about the below topics. Pacific Justice Institute is presenting at a Town Hall on Wednesday, February 2...

God's Attributes, Pt. 3: God's Wrath and Our World...

For the first part of this blog series click here How Heaven Is a World of Love The final sermon of Jonathan Edwards in his series on 1 Corinthians 13 (Charity and Its Fruits) focused on heaven.Hisdiscussion of abiding love in heaven is among the clearest and most compelling sermons I've ever read, and it rejoiced and refreshed my soul. Entitled "Heaven is a World of Lo...

In my last Sunday sermon hereI mentioned this message by Jonathan Edwards. For the first part of this series of blogs, click here Jonathan Edwards preached during the revival known as the Great Awakening where the Spirit of God moved mightily in the American colonies in the 1730s-1740s. During that time he preached a series focusing on the fruit of the Spirit of love (cha...

This past Sunday I introduced the message on 1 Corinthians 13 talking about Jonathan Edwards and his teaching on this passage during the Great Awakening. Here's more on that from a paper I wrote for my D. Min. seminary research project paper (this is part 1, with part 2 to follow). Click here for a more print-friendly version (5 pages in PDF followed by end notes) or cli...

Last Sunday we looked at the first phrase in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient ..." Here are a some further reflections to help us continue to meditate and make this our pursuit together, to glorify God, be more Christlike, and grow in the fruit of the Spirit. Phil Ryken explains: 'Children get impatient with their parentsParents get impatient with their childrenAt...

Yesterday we kicked off the series on "The Supreme Excellence of Christ's Way of Love" and I pray this will study will change us in our families and in our church family. I mentioned this book by Philip Graham Ryken that I'd like to recommend to you all further as a "book of the month" and as a great resource to read along in this series to get even more from this chapt...

GCBC Family Camp 2021 was such a blessing, so thankful to Jen and Kiana and Brittany for coordinating and all who helped and served and shared.For pictures of family camp set to videoclick here Below are links to the testimonies shared by Cory and Hannah Freeman and Ethan and Lisa Trepepi, the Beauchamp family (new to our church) and Jerry and Donna Layton. The messages...

Last Sunday (6/20) I preached on God's wisdom for the woke movement and critical race theory (CRT). Here are links to some of the resources I mentioned. Click here for the link to the audio, video, and full notes, and I've added related links below. For a shorter version of a study I took our Young Adult Group through last June with audio clips from Voddie Baucham (and PD...

Sunday 5/25 we resumed our series in James where we left off on Sunday evenings last year. I mentioned in the sermon (click here) this may be helpful to watch and reflect on The above gives a visual message of the aim of James for our lives (think James 3:10-14, 1:22-27, etc.). How we speak of and to each other and the consistency of our faith and works is seen by Go...

Last Sunday Jaime and I visited Church at the Cross in Pine Grove, where I was a guest preacher to help out their pastor who has had some health struggles and was taking a break from the pulpit. It was such a blessing to be with these sweet saints and also to watch this video in their service that was put together by our sister in Christ there, Holly Franco. It was moving ...

CLICK BELOW FOR SOME OF THE FACES OF CANADIAN PASTORS TO PRAY FOR The weekend of May 2nd another church building in Canada (this time in Ontario, Trinity Bible Chapel) was seized by the government for gathering to worship according to their biblical convictions rather than man's restrictions. Their pastor is a graduate of Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentuck...

In last week's message, the "woke movement" was mentioned by Pastor Corey briefly in relation to our witness for the gospel (I also referenced the "woke mob" in the prior week on why people rage against oppression in Psalm 2). For those unfamiliar with the term, the slang term "woke" arose in popular culture with the Black Lives Matter movement and describes those who are ...

Let's keep praying for my seminary classmate and fellow soldier in the spiritual war zone up north! Putting him behind bars for 35 days didn't stop his church, so on April 7 they've put the church building behind bars - 3 layers of steel security fencing! Sad to see a church building taken over, but glad the church is not a building and that the story is not over for Chri...

We all need the Lord's help to enjoy and be more faithful in prayer. Here are some practical helps to assist us. Click here for a print-friendly 1 page version of below and Click here for the audio or video of the message on Colossians 4:2 where this was shared For Personal Prayer (A.C.T.S.): A Adoration of God (His attributes, who He is) C Confession of sin T...

It's Palm Sunday But Friday's Coming Poem by Pastor Phil Layton It's Palm Sunday. A donkey is borrowed, a fig tree will be cursed tomorrow. Jesus will weep over Jerusalem in sorrow for what's coming for its sin. It's Palm Sunday. The first day of the week. All Israel is there for the feast. The city is filled with sheep, as the Lamb of God is coming ...

Here is a follow up tothis earlier post about my former classmate at Masters Seminary now in jail for leading and meeting with his church according to his conscience and convictions from God's Word.Be sure to scroll down to read the appeal of Erin Coates for her husband where she explains his convictions and the impact on her and their family. PRAYER UPDATE: On Friday 3...

Today let's soberly obey Hebrews 13:3 "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." Scroll to the bottom for updated prayer requests for Pastor James Coates from his elders and updates from his wife. This hits close to home as this pastor is a classmate of mine in my seminary program at...

Church family, I wanted to to remind you of the challenge from last Sunday AM to memorize Colossians 3:16-17 to help treasure His word:Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in t...

Below is the prayer list referenced in today's sermon. Click here for a print-friendly bookmark size version of this you can keep in your Bible or prayer journal. How to Pray for Your Church, Shepherds and Teachers Humility - that we would be constantly fighting personal pride and cultivating humility, and striving to spread a high view of God and low view of self. ...

Here are some the links pastor Phil mentioned in his sermon here on racism, divisions, and how Christ is sufficient Each of these in different ways I found helpful to hear conversations with our black brethren and to have compassion and sensitivity to their perspectives. Article by Shai Linne to a white friend on how he processes protests and prejudice Link to pod...

Our last Lord's Day's message (click here) considered the Word of the Lord that calls us to come to worship corporately as His people, in psalms like this: "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD ...Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving ...Oh come, let us worship..." - Psalm 95:1-6 As we come to worship and sing with thanksgiving, we transition to the Christmas seaso...

A bunch of our men were blessed and refreshed in person by these messages and we wanted to share with all and encourage you to share far and wide (not just for men, good for all believers!) Click herefor the audio from last weekend at the Man of God Conference, shared by our friends at Grace Bible Church Fair Oaks. I was so blessed to be with men of God and to hear t...

Some have asked about the BLM and CDC source information mentioned in last Sundays sermon here. Below are some of the statements from the message with the website data for reference: I would argue biblically "unborn lives matters" (Psalm 139:13-14). I said in the message "Black lives matteris a profoundly true argument. They matter to God and don't miss the cry behind t...

Click here for the Questions and Answers from Sunday night. Topics include: County health updates, children's ministry, civil disobedience, upcoming election, Grace Community Church and John MacArthur update, Marxism, Black Lives Matter, keeping our focus on Christ https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=97201432497096target=safari ...

These are the application questions from Sunday's message on the back of your song sheet. I would encourage you to use this for those you are in relationship with from our church to help interact about things of the Word, or use in your personal or family devotions. If this is helpful for you or your family or something you'd see valuable for small group or discipleship ti...

In February, Pastor Cliff announced to the church his plan to transition away from his staff pastor role at the end of June. We are thankful he's continuing to serve as an elder. In his words, he's not stopping or retiring from ministry, he's just stepping away from office tasks and redirecting his gifts to serve outside the office. He's also refocusing on family in this s...

Last night our Young Adult Group met as the first part of our Counter-Culture study, introducing the topic of justice biblically, what scripture has said on this subject and what social justice movements like Black Lives Matters have said (among other related topics). Click here for the handout, including perspectives on the movement from Al Mohler, John Piper, Voddie Bau...

I'm so thankful for our sisters in Christ, how they have ministered to me and so many in these times. Their contribution and creative gifts and insights in serving are an inspiration and encouragement to me. Earlier this month I shared this blog (click herefor Encouragements from Sisters in Christ). Another sister in Christ later shared her reflections and recollection of ...

Many of you have been asking when we can all be together again in one place and we're excited those plans are coming together for this Lord's Day at 9:00 AM! This will be the first time our body has gathered at the same time since March 8th and we have longed for this day like many of you have and hope you can make it! We're moving to one service with the revised State gu...

Here are some encouragements from four GCBC sisters in Christ in four different stages of life, answering the question "how has God grown you or encouraged you in these times?" One wrote: "As for the blessings during this time, seeing more of my husband ... as well as not having so many commitments and slowing down. The quiet pace suits my lazy nature, I like not being "b...

Last week I was out of town so I recorded Sunday's sermon early in the week before the grievous footage and fate of George Floyd played out in the streets of Minnesota, and the grievous aftermath unfolded last weekend in streets across America. If I was doing the service live, I would have mentioned these events in the message and/or in my opening prayer after reading the ...

Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You --Psalm 119:11 (NASB). In our fight against sin, we need to treasure God's Word in our heart, that's the heart behind fighter verses being hidden or stored up in our heart like treasure or riches for ourselves and to be shared with others. Below is the next "fighter verse": Let the word of Christ dwell...

The one thing I wanted to take time to write this week is much bigger than our church and what's on our minds. There are great concerns about our nation, but let's keep the Great Commission on our mind, and the Glorious Christ's concern for all nations. It's been my burden in these times to keep missions before us, as a pastor but also as a person who grew up on the missio...

What are the current guidelines for gathering in homes? What is the church’s plan going forward? Will we be able to meet in small groups or come together in larger groups (outdoors)? How should we handle those who respond to the laws differently within the church?...

Click here for Part 1with biblical and historical perspectives from Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, and American pastors during the 1918 Spanish Flu (closest parallel). Part 2 below considers modern respected pastors and proponents of religious liberty who weigh in on the 2020 pandemic's restriction of church assemblies. Note: GCBC has participated in a series of meeting...

Martin Luther practiced civil disobedience by illegally preaching, but saw black plague health restrictions differently...

Praying together from Colossians 1, and for our community and leaders...

Lamentations 3:25-26, this weekend's fighter verse says "The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly..." The Lamentations 3 passage goes on to say there can be good in bearing a yoke, or sitting alone in silence at times (v. 27-28), as we hope in God as our portion, our sufficiency (v. 24). "Let us test an...