ScriptureStream

How Babies Grow Up

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

“Dealing with Babes” – Greg Gwin
I Corinthians 3:1-2

Deepen your love for God and others.

Matthew 22:36-40
John 21:15-17 – Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. Love is important!
I John 4:19 – God loved us first.
Hopefully, our love for our spouse continues to grow after the wedding day.
Our love for God helps us be more like Him.
- Luke 10:33
We don’t want to stay a spiritual baby forever. We must continue to grow.
I Thessalonians 4:9-10

Become more fluent in God’s Word.

I Peter 2:2-3
The Bible grows with us as we mature.
If we don’t keep up with our Bible study, we get rusty.
Hebrews 5:12-14
Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”

Continue to repent and grow.

Acts 17:1-3
I Thessalonians 1:3-10; 3:2
II Thessalonians 1:3-4 – They started from scratch, but months later, they were growing!
I John 2:1-2
Philippians 1:9 – Don’t stand still. Keep growing!
II Peter 3:18
II Peter 1:5-7

The Marriage Bed

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A note about Bible language and euphemisms.

I Corinthians 7:1
Genesis 16:2, 4
Hebrews 13:4

This is a blessing from God! Don’t let the devil steal it!

Genesis 1:27, 31 – Male and female = very good
Genesis 2:24 (I Corinthians 6:16) – “they shall become one flesh”
Song of Solomon 4:1-11; 5:10-16 – The joy of marital love!
Hebrews 13:4 – “the marriage bed is to be undefiled”

What makes this wonderful is that it’s part of a complete relationship.

II Samuel 13:1-2, 14-15 – Lust and sex are not necessarily associated with true love.
Genesis 29:30-35 – The bed can be empty and bitter when it’s not part of a true, loving relationship.
In this class we’ve studied: companionship, love, respect, communication, forgiveness, etc. Now we’re talking about physical intimacy. If any one of these pieces of the puzzle are missing or minimized, the rest don’t fit together as well. As per usual God’s way is the best way.

This is very important to make the marriage happy and to limit Satan’s temptations.

I Corinthians 7:1-5
- Mutual obligation
- “Do not deprive one another”
- Satan uses that to make headway! This is not a joke!
Proverbs 5:15-19
- Sandwiched between warnings about adultery.
- The imagery here (“cistern … well … fountain”) is a poetic way of referring to marital sex.
Luke 6:31 – “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”

Guard your mind.

Genesis 39:6-7 – Lust of the eyes is not limited to men.
II Samuel 11:2-4 – One thing leads to another.

Questions in Malachi

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

God used a question and answer rhetorical technique in Malachi to make His point with Israel.

“How have you loved us?” (Malachi 1:2)

Malachi 1:1-5
God punished Edom because of their disobedience but blessed Israel.
Deuteronomy 4:7
The audacity of even asking this question is amazing!
I Peter 1:10 – God has done so much to love us for thousands of years!

“How have we despised Your name? … How have we defiled You?” (Malachi 1:6-7)

Malachi 1:6-8 – Would you offer this level of sacrifice to even a human ruler?
Do we offer sorry, insincere worship to God?

“For what reason?” (Malachi 2:14) [God no longer accepted their worship.]

Malachi 2:13-16
God is looking at the whole picture of our lives. What we do affects our fellowship with God.
I Peter 3:7
I John 4:20-21 – Love God and your neighbors all the time.

“How have we wearied Him? … What have we spoken against You?” (Malachi 2:17; 3:13)

Malachi 2:17; 3:13-15
They were not worshiping God well.
They were looking at serving God as being transactional: If I do this for God, He will do this for me.
Psalms 73:3, 24-26

“How shall we return? … How have we robbed you?” (Malachi 3:7-8)

Malachi 3:7-12
We must be aware of the power of self-deception.
- Galatians 5:20 – Am I guilty of jealousy?
- Romans 1:29 – Am I guilty of gossip?
Notice the word “rob”:
- Luke 17:7-10
- God looked at offerings and tithes as things owed to Him. To not give them was robbing Him.

Luke 11

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

[Unfortunately, about the first 10 minutes of this recording was lost due to technical difficulties. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Luke 11

Luke 11:1-13 – How to pray

Luke 11:1 – See Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28-29; 22:41-44; 23:46.
Luke 11:2 – This starts with respect for God and His purposes.
Luke 11:3 – Thi sis not asking for luxuries or anything beyond the day’s needs. It emphasizes daily dependence on God.
Luke 11:4 – This reminds us of our needs for forgiveness and the attitude we should have toward others.
Luke 11:8 – If even a reluctant neighbor can be persuaded to help, how much more so will God?
- II Corinthians 12:8-9; James 4:3; I John 5:14 – Persistence in prayer is good, but not a blank check.
- Sometimes God’s answer is “no.” Sometimes it is “wait.”
Luke 11:11-13 – See Matthew 7:11. God wants to give us good things. Note that v13 says God will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him. What exactly did Jesus mean by this?

Luke 11:29-36 – Authentic Christian living

Luke 11:29 – See Luke 16:31. They just wanted to see more signs. They were not willing to believe. Regarding the sign of Jonah, see Matthew 12:39-42.
Luke 11:31-32 – The queen of Sheba traveled a great distance to hear Solomon. How much more should we strive to hear Jesus?

What Paul Did that Judas Didn't Do

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Our eternity depends on the level at which we examine ourselves.
Judas was called to be an apostle, but we don’t know his origin story.
Paul’s life had the opposite direction to Judas’ life.

I Corinthians 9:27

Paul disciplined himself.

Matthew 26:20-26

Some translations render this to indicate that Judas was already betraying Jesus.

Honest and detailed self-examination

Acknowledge that we might be wrong

I Corinthians 10:12
II Peter 3:17-18 – “be on your guard”

Critically examine specific aspects of our life

It’s easy to look at the surface only and think we are great. We must look more deeply than that.
II Corinthians 13:5 – “test yourselves;” “examine yourselves!”
Luke 18:11 – Don’t be arrogant like the Pharisee here!
Galatians 6:3-5 – Don’t think you are something when you are nothing.

Look for the warning signs

An unbelieving heart
- Hebrews 3:12-14
A “root” of sin
- Hebrews 12:14-17; James 1:14-16
- Fix sin before it gets to be a bigger problem!
Decreased love
- Revelation 2:4-5 – Remember how zealous you once were!

Love ...

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Does not keep account of a wrong suffered.

Luke 23:34
Luke 17:4
Matthew 18:21
Hebrews 8:11-12
How does Jesus exemplify the ideal?
- By forgiving us!
When is it hard?
- When I make it about me or my ego?
How do we love anyway?
- Mark 11:25
- Hebrews 8:9-10
- Remember our purpose in the relationship.

Is not provoked

Acts 17:16
Acts 15:39 – Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking John Mark with them, so they went separate ways. This works for preachers but not husband and wife!
Hebrews 10:24
John 3:17; 12:47
John 3:18
If your spouse is truly sinning, we must help them see that, but we must first make sure it is not just a personal annoyance.

Believes all things

Love wants to believe the best. It is optimistic.
Acts 26:14-18 – God had no evidence that Saul would do any of these things when He called him. He laid the opportunity in front of Saul and Saul took it.

Does not act unbecomingly

I Corinthians 12:23-24
II Samuel 6:20-23 – What David did embarrassed Michal.
Matthew 12:15-21 – Jesus was careful in his interactions with people.
I Corinthians 10:23 – Seek the good of your neighbor.
Be sensitive to what might embarrass your spouse.

Do You Understand?

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 4:1-4 – When we study with people, are we going back to “it is written?”
- Psalms 119:11

We may often ignore the context.

“I know this is the context, but it’s still a good rule for this case …”
I Timothy 5:19

What does context mean?

That which comes before and after.
Acts 17:1-4 – Paul reasoned from the scripture and some were persuaded.
Acts 17:16
Nehemiah 8:2-8 – The people stood in their place and those reading did so clearly and gave the sense so the people could understand.
Acts 8:26-40 – “Do you understand what you are reading?”
The scriptures were written so that we might know how to behave.
I John 5:13
John 21:15-19

Luke 10

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 10

Luke 10:1 – See Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. There was a benefit in sending disciples out in pairs to preach.
Luke 10:11 – See Luke 17:20-21.
Luke 10:16 – The disciples were just the laborers. Jesus did not want them to take it personally if the message was rejected.
Luke 10:20 – The real cause for our joy is in heaven – it is our relationship with God.
Luke 10:17 – Satan and demons are real!
Luke 10:21 – Jesus thanked God that these things had been revealed to the disciples because of their childlike hearts. These were not great and powerful people by earthly standards, but they had the right heart.
Luke 10:25-37 – Parable of the good Samaritan
- Luke 10:26 – Jesus asked how it read to him.

Jesus Our Foundation

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 16:16, 18

Matthew 21:33-46 – The Jews should have accepted Jesus. So should we!

Psalms 118:22
Acts 4:8-12
If you reject Jesus, you cannot be saved.
Ephesians 2:19-22

Romans 9:30-10:3 – We must do things God’s way.

Isaiah 28:16
Many Jews rejected Jesus thinking they could be saved because of their perfect living.
All of us need Jesus and His forgiveness!
Romans 6:3-4

I Corinthians 3:9-15 – I must work hard to convert people to Christ.

Our work of converting others will be tested by fire.

I Peter 2:4-10 – What will I do with Jesus?

Growth and Forgiveness, Part 2

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

It’s really important to forgive each other.

Genesis 2:21-24; 3:6, 12, 15 – Eve was not a mistake. But she was human.

Weakness early on …	But strength later, thanks to God’s mercy
Rahab: “harlot” (Joshua 2:1)	“justified by works” (James 2:25)
Noah: “became drunk, and uncovered himself” (Genesis 9:21)	“hear of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7)
Sarah: “laughed” at God’s promise (Genesis 18:12)	“she considered Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11)
Job: “contend with the Almighty” (Job 40:2)	“You have heard of the endurance of Job” (James 5:11)

I Timothy 2:3-4; II Peter 3:9. God wants all to be saved!
Matthew 18:21-35. How often? 70 x 7
Matthew 6:12, 14-15. “if you do not forgive others”
Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-13. “forgiving each other”
First, we need to come clean. James 5:16
Second, we need to forgive each other. Proverb 17:9
Third, we need to grow and change. Galatians 6:1
Try: “I’m not upset at you – it’s the situation.”

“Love’s Double Cross”

“those traits and characteristics that attract us to our mate in the first place sometimes become the very traits and characteristics that cause us the most concern and trouble later in our relationship” (Cox, p. 65)
Traits and characteristics
- Organized ➡ annoying
- Spontaneous ➡ irresponsible
- Ambitious ➡ negligent
- Physical attractiveness ➡ vanity
- Decisive ➡ rash
- Brave ➡ reckless
- Easygoing ➡ lazy
- Generous ➡ wasteful
- Frugal ➡ cheap
- Talkative ➡ draining
Recognize that life changes, and we have to change with it (Ecclesiastes 3:1; 7:10)
I need to change (Philippians 2:3-4)
Communicate and compromise (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Luke 9

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 9

Charge given (Luke 9:1-6)

Jesus delegates His authority
- Luke 9:2 – What did they preach?
  - Kingdom of God
- Compare:
  - Mark 6:7-13 – repentance
  - Matthew 10:5-15 – kingdom of God is at hand
Power to work miracles
- Power and authority over all demons
- Ability to cure diseases
Travel light
- Don’t take any supplies or extra clothes
- Go as you are, right now

Herod’s curiosity (Luke 9:7-9)

Herod = Roman Tetrarch (governor of the area)
- Work got back to him regarding … “all that was happening”
- Worldly “power” struggles to understand spiritual authority.

Feeding 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17)

Multitudes followed Him
- Not much alone time anymore.
- Jesus provides for them all.
  - 5,000 adult males
  - So, total count was likely much higher.

Peter’s confession (Luke 9:18-20)

Who do people say that I am?
- John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the old prophets
- Peter said … “The Christ of God”
  - Luke 9:21 – What are the instructions?
- Compare Matthew 16:13-21; Mark 8:27-31
Do not tell anyone …
- Luke 9:22 – I must suffer, be rejected, be killed, rise again the third day
- Matthew 16:20 – I am the Christ
- Mark 8:30 – about me

Healing the boy (Luke 9:37-43)

Demon-possessed boy
- Luke 9:40 – I begged your disciples to case the demon out but they could not do it.
  - Why not? Luke 9:41 – “ye of little faith”

Luke 9:49-50

How do we view people who do things differently than we do in the name of Christ?

Lemon Juice and Self-Deception

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The danger of self-deception.

Wrong thoughts lead to wrong actions.

What if I deceive myself and follow the world’s wisdom about …
- Marriage?
- Money?
- Parenting?
- Fellowship with God?

We need a Bible and a big dose of humility!

Growth and Forgiveness, Part 1

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Love is a choice. It’s not about finding my “soul mate.”

Malachi 2:14. Notice the phrase “wife by covenant.”
Colossians 3:19. The very fact that God is commanding this implies that husbands have a choice: love or be bitter.
I Peter 3:1. Some men are nice even if they’re not Christians. But others are not. Either way, the wife is told to choose and control her behavior.
I Corinthians 13:4-7. Love is not based on the feeling of the moment. Love does what is right.
Romans 5:8. Vine comments on this verse in his dictionary: “It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.”

Keep strengthening your relationship through all of life’s stages and changes.

Dating
- “Now Jacob loved Rachel” (Genesis 29:18)
- “Joseph … along with Mary, who was engaged to him” (Luke 2:4-5)
Early marriage
- “When a man takes a new wife … he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to his wife” (Deuteronomy 24:5)
- “rejoice in the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18)
Kids
- “children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Psalms 127:3)
- “teach … your sons” (Deuteronomy 6:7)
Empty nest
- “leave his father and his mother” (Genesis 2:24)
Grandkids
- “Grandchildren are the crown of old men” (Proverbs 17:6)
Old age
- “youth, before the evil days come …” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
Loss
- “Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah” (Genesis 23:2)

More and More Like Moses

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

We should follow his example of leadership.

We should learn the importance of obedience.

We should grow into greatness.

Luke 8

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Availability of scriptures to early Christians

Today we have an infinite number of Bibles and translations.
Before the Gutenberg Bible (1454), only hand-written copies
Handwritten copies cost several years’ salary.
Did churches have complete Bibles?
Most experienced Scripture through sermons and readings.

Application to our study

Early Christians heard the word read.
Early Christians would remember the principles taught.
Emphasis on “doing it” – Luke 8:21

Women / parable of debtors (Luke 7:36-50)

Sinful woman, wash feet with tears
Pharisee critical
Two debtors, small / large amount forgiven
Debtor with largest debt loves more.
Woman had great sin, great love.
Principle: Great love results in great forgiveness.

Parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15)

(Seed is word of God)
Road (no root, devil takes away)
Rocky (shallow root, believe then fell)
Thorny (root, choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of life)
Good soil (firm root, held and shared)
Principle: The condition of our heart determines the effectiveness of God’s word in our lives.

Parable of the lamp (Luke 8:16-21)

Principle: We have a responsibility to let God’s light shine, share the good news.

Jesus stills the sea (Luke 8:22-25)

Principle: Have faith in Jesus. He has power over nature.

Demonic cured (Luke 8:26-39)

Principle: Have faith in Jesus. He has power over demons.

Jairus / woman with hemorrhage (Luke 8:40-56 / Mark 5:21-43)

Principle: Have faith in Jesus. He has power over sickness and death.

Summary of principles

Great love results in great forgiveness
Effectiveness of God’s word depends on our heart
Let God’s light shine
Jesus has power over nature
Jesus has power over demons
Jesus has power over sickness / death
These are simple principles. The challenge is incorporating them into our lives.

When it's time to move home ...

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hebrews 11:13-16
Philippians 3:20
Acts 1:9-11 – Heaven is a real place!
I Thessalonians 4:16
Ecclesiastes 12:7 – Our spirit goes back to God who gave it.

… I’ll finally be with God.

Matthew 25:34, 41, 46
Hebrews 9:24
Matthew 7:23
Hell is the place where God is not.
I John 3:1-2
I Thessalonians 4:17-18.

… I’ll be with other saints.

I Thessalonians 4:15-17
Will we have our memories in heaven?
Revelation 6:9-11

… my problems on earth will be left behind.

Luke 16:19-26
Hebrews 4:8-11 – God’s people have a better rest than what the Israelites received in the promised land.
Matthew 5:11
Romans 8:18

… I will enjoy it!

James 1:17-18 – God knows how to bless us. If He can make earth, surely, He can make Heaven amazing!

Therefore, I should live life like a citizen of Heaven.

Philippians 3:19-20
Our conduct must match our citizenship.
Colossians 3:1-2
Matthew 6:19-21 – Lay up treasure in Heaven.
Philippians 2:5-8

Communication, Part 2: Speaking

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 119:105
James 3:2

Use a bunch of positive words.

Job 13:4-5; 19:1-3; 2:9 – Job’s friends and wife.
Proverbs 18:21 – Words can do a log of good or a lot of bad.
Proverbs 21:19 – “a nagging and hot-tempered wife”
Colossians 3:19 – a better and harsh husband
One the positive side, think about how husbands and wives fulfill the verses in Ephesians 5:28-29, 33 and I Peter 3:7.
Proverbs 12:25 – Say positive things to your spouse.
Use those little words that mean so much.
- “I’m sorry” – Luke 15:21
- “I forgive you” – Matthew 6:14-15
- “Please” – Acts 26:3; Nehemiah 5:10-11
- “Thank you” – Luke 17:16
- “Good job” – Proverbs 31:28-29
- “I love you” – Song of Solomon 1:7

Plan your words carefully and soften your start-up.

Proverbs 15:1-2
Ephesians 4:15, 29 – Speak in love, for edification.
Proverbs 12:18 – “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tonque of the wise brings healing.”

De-escalate (and respond when your spouse is trying to de-escalate).

James 1:19 – “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger”
Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:8-9, 12-13 – As Christians, we can’t continue to communicate in the same old ugly ways as the past. We are new people, growing and maturing in our attitudes and words.
“Four horsemen of the apocalypse” – From The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
- Horseman 1: Criticism
- Horseman 2: Contempt
- Horseman 3: Defensiveness
- Horseman 4: Stonewalling
“Demon dialogues” – Dr. Sue Johnson, Created for Connection
- Find the bad guy
- Protest polka
- Freeze and flee

Learn how to learn and compromise with perpetual differences

Acts 3:19 – If we’re guilty of any sin, that needs to change.
Ephesians 5; I Peter 3 – love, sacrifice, nourish, cherish, respect, honor, understanding
I Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love!

Speak with clarity

Genesis 11:1, 7-9
- There are a lot of ways God could have stopped that project. But messing up their ability to communicate was the method He chose, and it put an immediate end to their work.
- Imagine and husband and wife who aren’t able to communicate clearly. How will they share their lives together?
I Corinthians 14:8, 19 – If your communication is not clear, what’s the point?
Titus 2:4 – Who are they supposed to love? THEIR husbands.
Ephesians 5:28 – Love who? THEIR wives.

True Happiness

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Jeremiah 2:13
Psalms 16:7-11

Give up on counterfeit happiness.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Barna OmniPoll, August 2015:
- 86% of US adults believe that “To be fulfilled in life, you should pursue the things you desire most.”
- 84% believe “The highest goal of life is to enjoy it as much as possible.”
The Happiness Project
- “living the life that’s right for you …”
“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer.”

Find joy in serving the Lord.

Psalms 1:1-2
Psalms 2:12
Psalms 32:1-2
Psalms 34:8
Psalms 40:4
Psalms 84:4
Those who are happy in the Lord are happy because they are living in the Lord.
I Corinthians 15:58
One kind of work is never useless: serving God.
Philippians 3:1; 4:4
Lamentations 1:8
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Matthew 22:37
Luke 9:23

Put negative things in perspective.

Philippians 1:12-18 – Paul saw the positive in his imprisonment – the gospel was spreading more!
Philippians 3:7-8, 18-21
Philippians 4:11-12 – Paul learned to be content in Christ.
A Christian always has reason to rejoice.
True happiness is only in the Lord.

Luke 7

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 7

Luke 7:48 – Who is this?
Luke 7:6-7 – The centurion was a man with authority, yet he showed great humility.
Luke 7:9-10 – Jesus’ power was so great that he didn’t even need to see the sick servant or do anything physically obvious to heal the man.
Luke 7:14 – Jesus was more concerned about helping and having compassion on the widow than on the possibility of ceremonial uncleanness. (Of course, Jesus was not unclean after touching the coffin because the man wasn’t dead!)
- Compare Elijah raising the woman’s son in I Kings 17:23-24.
Luke 7:16 – The response from the people included nothing about blasphemy or some kind of trick here. The people were both in awe and fearful of what they’d seen.
Luke 7:19-20 – Did this question come from Jesus looking different than the Jews expected (i.e., not a political leader)? It is possible that this question came not from John doubting Jesus but from John trying to prove Jesus’ identity to his disciples by sending them to talk to Jesus directly.
Luke 7:28 – This was a tremendous compliment to John! Under the New Covenant, even the least would be greater than John!
Luke 7:47 – Jesus came to help the people that need forgiveness the most.

Sincerely Wrong

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 26:9-11 – Paul was sincere, but he was wrong.
A journalist in New York City in the 1800s made up stories about an astronomer who saw all sorts of men and animals on the moon. He was successful in fooling many people before he was found out.

People become sincerely wrong by following false standards of authority.

Conscience

Proverbs 14:12
Galatians 5:20
Acts 23:1
I Corinthians 4:3

The wisdom of people

I Corinthians 2:4-5; 1:20 – God makes foolish the wisdom of this world.
Jeremiah 10:23

The majority

Matthew 7:13-14 – The majority are likely to be wrong!
II Peter 3:9

Family tradition

68% of people practice the same religion (or nearly so) that they did growing up.
Matthew 10:37
Galatians 1:13-14

People become sincerely right because of the Bible!

Galatians 1:11-12, 1
John 8:32 – The truth will make you free!
The Bible seems to be the most sold, least read book in the world.
I Timothy 4:1-7
James 3:15
I Timothy 6:3

Communication, Part 1: Listening

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

First, I must WANT to listen.

Proverbs 2:1-2 – “attentive … incline your heart”
Matthew 13:15 – “with their ears they scarcely hear”
Luke 8:15 – “heard the word in an honest and good heart”
John 10:20 – “Why do you listen to Him?”
It starts with the right heart.
Listening does not mean you agree. But we must be courteous enough to listen.
Things that prevent good listening.
- Differing interests
- Different personalities

Slow down to avoid “flooding.”

James 1:19-20
The “flooding” response in men is more reactive and slower to recover than in women. Men are more easily overwhelmed by marital conflict.
Ecclesiastes 3:7 – “A time to be silent and a time to speak.”
Showing down and controlling anger: Proverbs 15:28; 14:29; 16:32; 17:27; 19:11; 29:11
Psalms 4:4 – In other words, “sleep on it.”
Withdrawal – pursuit
- Plan a time to talk

Focus on listening before figuring out your response.

Proverbs 18:13 – “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.”
Proverbs 17:14 – “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.”
Proverbs 20:3 – “Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel.”
Luke 2:46-47 – Jesus listening an asking questions.

The Speaker Listener technique

From the book Fighting for your Marriage
(This is a great way to apply James 1:19.)
One person is the Speaker and the other is the Listener.
Rules for both of you:
- The Speaker has the floor.
- Share the floor.
- No problem-solving.
Rules for the Speaker:
- Speak for yourself. Don’t mind read.
- Don’t go on and on.
- Stop and let the Listener paraphrase.
Rules for the Listener:
- Paraphrase what you hear.
- Don’t rebut. Focus on the Speaker’s message.

Seven Ways to Help the Next Generation

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Exodus 12:24 – Who would think they could ever forget the tenth plague? But God set up a memorial for it right from the beginning.

Proclaim the Lord’s death to them.

I Corinthians 11:23-26 – The Lord’s Supper
Galatians 2:20

Show them how to benefit from a sermon.

Acts 17:10-11 – The Bereans carefully considered Paul’s words.
The real benefit is in our daily living.

Point out good Christians as role models for them.

Philippians 3:17
Acts 16:1-3

Pray with them all the time.

II Kings 19:8-20
II Kings 20:1-3 – When trouble came, Hezekiah turned to God.

Get them in the habit of reading the Bible.

Luke 10:25-26
Luke 16:30-31 – The scripture is more powerful than someone rising from the dead!
Bible reading must become a habit.

Put down your device and have human interaction.

Acts 2:44-47

Show them how to recover from a sin.

II Samuel 12:7, 13 – We must be able to admit our sin.
Psalms 51:1
I John 2:1

Luke 6

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

[Due to technical difficulties, this class was not recorded. Sorry about that! —MRW]

Luke 6

Luke 6:1-11

The Pharisees kept trying to catch Jesus doing something they considered illegal on the Sabbath. See also Luke 14:3; Matthew 12:9.
See Mark 3:4-5 – Jesus knew there was hardness in their hearts.
John 7:23
Matthew 15:19
Proverbs 4:23
Compare the application in Luke 6:37-42. Clean up yourself first, then you can help another.
Luke 6:43-45 – Out of a good heart comes good things.

Luke 6:12-19 – Jesus chooses His apostles, teaches, and works miracles

John 20:30-31

Luke 6:20-26 – Beatitudes and woes

Luke 6:21, 25 – See Ecclesiastes 3:4. What time is it?
- II Corinthians 7:8-10
- Psalms 32:1-5, 10-11
- Jeremiah 6:15 – It is necessary that we sorrow over sin, but we must not sorrow for too long.
- II Corinthians 7:11
- Acts 2:37-38 – Godly sorrow led to repentance, baptism, and salvation.

Luke 6:46-48

Miracles in the New Testament, Part 2

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Are people doing miracles today?

I Corinthians 13:8-13 – Miraculous gifts would go away when the perfect came.
Romans 8:24
John 20:30-31

What about Mark 16?

Mark 16:14-20 – Is verse 17 saying that signs would accompany everyone who believed?
Even in the New Testament period, not all Christians could work miracles.
Also, Jesus said that miraculous gifts would go away.
Possible explanations:
- Jesus was talking about some people being given spiritual gifts, speaking in a general sense.
- Jesus was only referring to the apostles.

Is this conclusion falsifiable?

Yes – if someone works a miracle!
Acts 3:1-13

Then (Acts 3)	Now
Acts 3:2, 10 – everyone knew him	People healed are unknown to crowd.
Acts 3:1-2 – random guy they met	People healed are carefully screened.
Acts 3:7-8 – immediate	Invisible or slow healing.
Acts 3:14-15, 26 – unlikely to get donations!	Little or no strong preaching.
Acts 3:5-6 – no exchange of money either way	“Send in your money!”
Acts 3:12-13 – redirects attention to Jesus	“Healer” is exalted.

I Corinthians 14:22
We should at least be able to agree that if someone is claiming to do miracles and signs today, including speaking in tongues, they shouldn’t be contradicting anything taught in scripture. I Corinthians 14:37; I John 4:1-6; II Thessalonians 2:9-10
I don’t know what God does in answer to prayer. James 5:16

How to Love Your Spouse, Part 2

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

You see what you’re looking for … so look for the GOOD in your spouse.

Philippians 4:8 – Dwell on these (positive) things
I Corinthians 1:4; 11:2; II Corinthians 7:3-4, 16; 8:7; 9:2 – Paul found things to compliment about the Corinthians. (Yes, those!)
Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:19 – Heart actions
Proverbs 21:9, 19 – Marriage can be miserable.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is optimistic.
Proverbs 17:19 – Drop it already.
Genesis 29:20 – This is what it looks like when positive interpretations outweigh the negative.

Little things every day are more powerful than empty grand gestures.

I John 1:6-7 – Nowhere does God instruct people to do the right thing only occasionally.
I John 3:16-18 – If you were put on trial, and the court was trying to determine if you love your spouse, could they find enough evidence to prove it?
- How does your wife know you love her?
- How does your husband know you love him?
Matthew 6:5 – Consistent love > empty gestures

Miracles in the New Testament, Part 1

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 19:36-38

What was their purpose?

Hebrews 2:3
Miracles proved the message was legitimate.
Acts 5:36-37
Acts 2:22-23
Acts 11:15-18
John 3:1-2 – Nicodemus recognized Jesus because of His signs.
Luke 5:20-26
I Corinthians 2:3-5
I Corinthians 12:8
I Corinthians 14:22 – Speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelievers.
II Corinthians 12:12

Who was doing miracles?

John 16:7
John 13:1
Who was Jesus talking to in John 13-17?
- “His own” (John 13:1)
- “twelve disciples” (Matthew 26:20)
- “the twelve” (Mark 14:17)
- “the apostles” (Luke 22:14)
Luke 24:49
Acts 2:4 – Who got the Spirit here?
- Acts 1:15, 26
- Follow the pronouns in Acts 1:26-2:4. The apostles received the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 2:7, 14, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43
Luke 1:67
Luke 9:45
Luke 10:1, 9, 17 – The seventy
Acts 9:10-12 – Ananias
Acts 10:44-48 – Gentiles: Cornelius and his household
Acts 6:5-6; 8:5-7, 12-24
Acts 19:2-6 – Not everyone who was baptized had the Holy Spirit in a miraculous way.

Luke 5

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 5

Luke 5:5 – Peter had the wisdom and knowledge to defer to Jesus’ authority.
Luke 5:11 – These men immediately left their entire livelihood behind to follow Jesus, apparently including the enormous catch of fish they had just hauled in.
Luke 5:13 – Jesus didn’t rebuke the man or turn away. Instead, He had compassion and healed the man.
Luke 5:16 – Even though Jesus was incredibly busy, He took time to pray.
Luke 5:29 – Levi (Matthew) was clearly a wealthy man based on the reception he gave. This would have been quite expensive.

True Worshipers

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

What does it mean to be called a worshiper of God?
John 4:7-24

Good worship comes from sincere emotion (but not emotionalism).

Jeremiah 20:9 – Worship should be like this – we can’t NOT worship.
Luke 17:15-16
Romans 1:20

God is the center.

Matthew 14:32-33 – They worship after seeing Jesus walk on water.
Matthew 28:8
Luke 24:50-53 – They worship after Jesus ascended to heaven.
John 9:35
Our worship is to God.
We also edify each other.
Matthew 4:10
Revelation 22:8-9
Colossians 3:16
My heart and mind need to be fervently connected because we know who is on the receiving end of our worship.
Hebrews 9:11-12
Hebrews 10:12

God wants my whole life, not just a few hours a week.

Malachi 2:13-14
Romans 1:25-31
Matthew 15:9

How to Love Your Spouse, Part 1

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

[Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this class were not recorded. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Love unconditionally. It’s a decision, not a reaction.

Matthew 22:39 – “as yourself”
Matthew 5:43-48 – “love your enemies”
- We should treat our spouse at least as good as an enemy!
Matthew 7:12 – “the same way you want them to treat you”
Ephesians 5:28-30, 33 – “as their own bodies … himself … his own flesh … himself”
Ephesians 5:22 – “as to the Lord”
Ephesians 5:25-27 – “just as Christ also loved the church”
- Don’t keep score.
  - “If you find yourself keeping score about some issue with your spouse, that suggests it’s an area of tension in your marriage.” (Gottman and Silver 2015, p. 33)
Genesis 1:27 – “in the image of God”
I Peter 3:7 – “fellow heir of the grace of life”
Titus 2:3-4 – “encourage the young women to love their husbands”

Build up the balance in your “Love Bank.”

Luke 6:27-28 – “love … do good … bless … pray for”
Romans 13:8-10 – “Love does no wrong”
Proverbs 31:10-12 – “She does him good and not evil”
Romans 12:10 – “Outdo one another in showing honor”
Ephesians 4:31-32 – “bitterness …” vs. “Be kind …”
- The magic ratio is 5:1 positive to negative interactions. Successful couples manage this even in conflict. When not in conflict, successful couples have a ratio closer to 20:1.
Proverbs 31:28-31 – “Her husband … praises her”
David and Michal’s marriage deteriorates
- I Samuel 18:20 – She loved him.
- I Samuel 18:27-28 – They get married. She still loves him.
- I Samuel 19:11-12 – She even helps David escape her father’s wrath.
- She’s later given to another man, then David reclaims her.
- II Samuel 6:15-16, 20-23 – She views David with contempt.

Luke 4

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 4

Luke 4:1 – This phrase “full of the Holy Spirit” is used several times in the Bible referring to different people. It is not entirely clear what it means in this case. Possibly it means Jesus had the ability to work miracles or was now fully aware of God’s will.
Luke 4:2 – Jesus had to be given the opportunity to decide against God or it would not mean anything if He was sinless.
Luke 4:3 – It’s possible Jesus did not want to submit to Satan in any way, even if the act itself would not have been sinful.
Luke 4:4 – See Deuteronomy 8:3.
Luke 4:8 – Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 6:13.
Luke 4:5-7 – Why was this a temptation to Jesus? Was Satan offering him the souls of all these people?
Luke 4:12 – Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.
Luke 4:13 – Satan just left for a time. He didn’t quit. If he didn’t quit trying to tempt Jesus, he certainly won’t stop trying to tempt us either.
Luke 4:18-19 – Jesus is reading Isaiah 61:1-2.
Luke 4:30 – This was surely miraculous. How could they lose track of the man they were actively trying to kill?
Luke 4:35 – Jesus had previously refused to work a miracle, yet here he immediately acts with power. Jesus surely knew how the different crowds would react when He demonstrated His power.

Takeaways

Satan knows how to tempt us.
We can use biblical principles to resist temptation.
We should seek God’s will and do it.

You Can Be Thankful

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philippians 4:6
Being deliberate in your gratitude can be a huge benefit to you.

You can be thankful even in bad situations.

Daniel 1:1; 2:17-23 – Daniel gave thanks and praise.
- Jonah on the other hand had a terrible attitude.
- The Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt after witnessing God’s miracles.
Job 1:20-22 – Job was suffering terribly, but he praised God.
Luke 17:11-19 – One of the ten lepers returned to thank Jesus for healing him.
Habakkuk 3:18
No matter how bad my day is, there is something to be thankful for. I see what I am looking for.

You can be thankful even when plans don’t work out.

II Samuel 7:1-29 – God did not allow David to go forward with his plans for the temple, but David showed gratitude.

You can be thankful even when you don’t think you need to be.

Mark 8:6 – Jesus gave thanks for the loaves.
John 6:11 – Jesus gave thanks!
John 11:41-43 – Jesus thanked the Father for hearing his prayer.
Luke 22:19 – Jesus gave thanks for the Passover meal.
Why would Jesus thank the Father?

Respectful, Tranquil Submission

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Wives: how does God-given authority work?

The wife is subject to the husband (Titus 2:4-5; Genesis 3:16)
Being under authority does not mean one is inferior in value (Genesis 2:18, 20; 1:27; I Peter 3:7; Psalms 115:9-11; John 14:26; I Corinthians 11:3; Philippians 2:5-7)
Rebellion against a God-given leader is rebellion against God (Exodus 3:10; 19:6; Numbers 16:3, 28, 31-33; I Samuel 8:7; Romans 13:1-2)
There’s a lot of male-bashing in our society today (Proverbs 14:1)
- Be careful what you absorb from the culture!

Ephesians 5:22-24, 33: everything, respect

First, a word about Ephesians 5:21 (Ephesians 6:1, 5; Hebrews 13:17).
Be subject “in everything” (v24) – but harmonize that with all of Scripture (Acts 5:29; I Peter 3:7; Hebrews 13:17; Genesis 3:17; I Timothy 2:14).
- The husband will answer to God for how he led his wife. He cannot abdicate that responsibility.
Each spouse must focus on themselves (Ephesians 5:22-33; Colossians 3:18-19).
- The husband is not told to make the wife submit. He is told to love her.
- The wife is simply told to respect their husband, not to make him love her.
“as to the Lord” (v22) (Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:23-24)
- Give your husband the breathing room to lead. Managing your responsibilities properly makes it easier for him to lead properly.
“respects her husband” (v33) (John 8:29; Philippians 2:8)

I Peter 3:1-6: gentle and quiet spirit

Women, there’s a lot of learning to do

Men have a very strong desire to lead, protect, and provide (Genesis 2:15; 3:16-19; Nehemiah 4:14; I Corinthians 16:13; I Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:33).
Women tend to bring out those strong, God-given instincts in men.
Your husband will make decisions differently than you (Ephesians 5:23).

Distractions

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Busyness

Solution: Make time for what’s important (Mark 1:35, 38)
- Despite Jesus’ extremely busy schedule, he made time early in the morning to pray.

Wealth

Wealth does not have to be possessed in order to distract you.
Solution: Put God’s word into action (Luke 8:14-15)

Sin

The time and energy you spend sinning is time and energy you are not spending serving God.
Hebrews 11:24
Solution: continue in the word to become free (John 8:31-32)

Luke 3

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 3

Luke 3:23-28 – This shows the genealogy of Jesus all the way back to Adam, roughly 27 generations, through Jesus’ earthly father Joseph.
- Luke 3:23 – Joseph’s father is Heli? Compare Matthew 1:16.
Luke 3:2 – See John 1:6-9 regarding John the Baptist.
Luke 3:3 – See I Peter 1:18-19; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24-26. There had been no blood at this point in time, but John was already preaching about forgiveness of sins. John was preaching about a different kind of baptism than what Jesus would teach later.
Luke 3:7 – See John 1:24. John began very aggressively, but he knew his audience.
Luke 3:7-14 – John was essentially teaching them to love their neighbor in whatever way might have been most problematic for each group.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 9:35-39
Mark 10:13-16
Children’s Letters to God

What are kids learning from parents?

Psalms 78:1-8
James 1:26
Matthew 21:14-16 – Sometimes kids are the most honest. Jesus defended them here by quoting Psalm 8.
II Timothy 3:15

Struggling with morality

Matthew 7:12
Matthew 5:43-45 – Love everyone! This is not easy.
Genesis 3:22-24 – Man’s sin brought death into the world. I Corinthians 15:21-22
Psalms 73:2-3, 16-17, 28 – Why do the evil prosper? Things looks different with eternity in the equation.
I Peter 5:6-7
II Corinthians 12:7-9

God’s wisdom and power

Psalms 63:1-7
Exodus 20:1-6 – God is a jealous God. God wants our attention and devotion.
I Timothy 1:17
Psalms 139:1
Psalms 90:1

Conclusion

Kids: Ask all your questions about God.
Adults: Let’s do our best to answer their questions.

Loving, Sacrificial Leadership

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Husbands: how does God-given authority work?

I Corinthians 11:3-12
I Samuel 15:17-26 – Saul did not lead as God required and sinned because of it.
Colossians 3:18

Bad leadership causes misery.

I Samuel 8:5-7
I Samuel 8:1-5 – Part of the reason they wanted a king was because Samuel’s sons were corrupt.

Ephesians 5:22-33: sacrifices and love

Husbands are to sacrifice themselves for the spiritual wellbeing of their wives.
Matthew 20:25-28
John 13:12

I Peter 3:7: understanding and honor

Compare Isaiah 40:11

Men, we’ve got a lot of learning to do.

Girls tend to practice conversations about emotions and relationships from an early age much more than boys do (if boys ever do this!).

Something to Think About

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philippians 4:8

A word about meditation

I’m not talking about anything weird.
- Psalms 1:2 vs. Genesis 6:5
Meditation is a lost art
- Joshua was very busy, but he was instructed to meditate to help with his problems.
- Genesis 24:63; Joshua 1:7-9; Psalms 63:1-7
- When is the last time you had quiet time to just think?
- Psalms 4:4
- Psalms 77:12
- Psalms 119:78, 148
- Psalms 143:5
- Psalms 145:5
- When should I meditate? Any time!

God is my Creator

Psalms 33:6-9
Proverbs 3:19
Psalms 104:19-35

Jesus loved me enough to die for me.

John 1:14
Hebrews 2:14, 17
Philippians 2:5-8
John 15:12-13 – Jesus’ love motivates me to love.

I have an eternal soul.

Genesis 1:26-27
John 4:24
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Zechariah 12:1
Hebrews 12:9; 9:27
Romans 8:16-18 – Our time on earth is so short compared to eternity!

Luke 2

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 2

This is the time that all followers of God were looking forward to.
Overview of the chapter:
- Luke 2:1-7 – Birth of Jesus
- Luke 2:8-20 – Reception of the shepherds
- Luke 2:21-24 – Sacrifices at the temple
- Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon
- Luke 2:36-40 – Anna
- Luke 2:41-52 – Jesus in the temple
Luke 2:1-7
- Bethlehem means, “house of bread” and Jesus was described as the bread of life.
- Rome was at peace at this time and Rome was roughly at the peak of its power. It was a massive transportation hub, which suited God’s purpose perfectly.
- This was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 2:44.
Luke 2:24 – Jesus’ earthly parents were not wealthy – they had to offer the “back-up” offering for those that could not afford a lamb. Goin gto pay the tax levied against them would have been especially burdensome.
Luke 2:7 – This was an enormously humble birth. A manger (feeding trough) was not a clean place for a baby!
Luke 2:14 – Even the heavenly host were excited about the coming of Jesus!
Luke 2:21 – Mary and Joseph were both told independently that the baby’s name would be Jesus.
Luke 2:22 – See Leviticus 12.
Luke 2:24 – The fact that Mary offered a sacrifice and had to go through purification contradicts the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Three Questions About Baptism

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Colossians 2:12
Galatians 3:27

Why do y’all talk about baptism so much?

Mark 7:1-8 – Why did Jesus talk about hypocrisy or tradition so much?
Baptism did not seem controversial in the New Testament. We don’t have records of anyone believing in Jesus and then balking at being baptized.
Mark 16:15-16
Acts 2:38
Romans 6:3-4
I Peter 3:21

What about all the other verses?

Things involved in salvation:
- Titus 3:4-6 – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Ephesians 2:-5 – Mercy, love, and grace
- Romans 8:24 – Hope
- Ephesians 2:13-16 – Blood and cross of Christ
- Romans 5:10 – Resurrected life of Christ
- Acts 4:10-12 – Name of Christ
- Romans 1:16 – Gospel
- Romans 10:14-15 – Inspired preachers
- John 8:32 – Truth
- Matthew 17:5 – Reception of the gospel (hearing, reading)
- Romans 5:1 – Faith
- II Corinthians 7:10 – Repentance
- Romans 10:9 – Confession and belief
- I Peter 3:21 – Baptism
- James 2:24 – Works
- Revelation 2:10 – Endurance
All these verses are true at the same time!

What about Ephesians 2?

Ephesians 2:8-10
Hebrews 11:4-5, 7-9, 11, 17, 20-24, 27-33 – These people took action because of their faith.
Salvation is a gift from God, but we must obey His instructions in order to receive it.
John 6:28-29 – Belief here was listed as a work.
This passage is teaching against the idea of trying to save yourself.

Companionship, Part 2

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 2:18

Companionship, part 2

I am here for you and always will be

In the Bible, marriage is important and permanent.
Matthew 19:3-12 – God’s marriage law has been the same from the beginning.
Malachi 2:14
Hebrews 13:5-6 – God is here for us and always will be.
Romans 8:33
Hosea 2:2, 7-13; 6:4 – God portrays Himself as a heartbroken husband to Israel.

My priority is to know you and share my life with you.

The Bible doesn’t always use the word “marriage” to refer to marriage. It often uses descriptive phrases:
- Genesis 2:24
- Deuteronomy 24:2
- Deuteronomy 7:3
- Ezekiel 16:8
- I Corinthians 7:2
- Romans 7:3
Deuteronomy 24:5 – Under the Law of Moses, a newlywed man had one year at home with his wife with no responsibilities or military deployments that took him away from home.
I Corinthians 7:32-35
I Corinthians 9:5
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Proverbs 18:22

You can trust me with your deepest feelings.

James 5:16
Proverbs 17:9 – Once a sin is dealt with, stop bringing it up!
I Corinthians 13:4-7

Jonah: The Prophet with a Bad Attitude

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Jonah 1:1-2
Obadiah 1:1
If Jonah had done what God asked, we might only have a single chapter like Obadiah.

I need to love souls like God does.

Jonah 1:3-15
It was about a month’s journey to get to Ninevah.
Jonah 4:1-2 – Jonah was displeased that God was not destroying them! He didn’t want to go because he was afraid God would forgive them. This was a terrible attitude!
While God is not afraid to punish sin, He always prefers salvation.
Jonah 4:5-11 – Jonah’s priorities were all wrong. He cared for the plant, but did not care about 120,000 people!

Distress should help me turn to the Lord.

Jonah 1:15-17
Jonah 2:1-10 – In the water, Jonah thought he would die, but God sent a fish to save him.
Sometimes hitting rock bottom is the only thing that will wake us up.

If the Ninevites could repent, so can I!

Jonah 3:4-10
Jonah 1:2 – These were wicked people!
Nehemiah 1:1; 3:1
The Ninevites even recorded their own cruelty in their history, amputating, impaling, and skinning prisoners.
Matthew 12:41
We should never feel like we’ve don’t anything so bad God can’t forgive us.

Luke 1

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Who wrote Luke?

Consider “them” vs. “we”
- Acts 1:1-5 – Luke obviously not an apostle.
- Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-12; 21:1-28:16 – Was a participant in Acts
  - Shows Luke with Paul and his entourage
  - Shows companionship with Paul
Irenaeus, Tertullian
- “According to Luke”
- Mid-second to early third centuries
Muratorian fragment from late second century
Written after Mark, before Acts, circa AD 80-90

Luke 1

Luke 1:1-4 – Luke’s preamble

Making an account
- From eyewitnesses
- Investigated from the beginning
- Wrote “in order”
- Show Theophilus the “exact truth”
Inspiration?

Luke 1:5-25 – Prophecy of the birth of John

When? Luke dates it for us
- In the days of Herod the king
- When Zacharias was priest
- When Abijah’s clan was in rotation (I Chronicles 24:5-18)
  - Eighth of twenty-four lots
  - As commanded by David – symbolic?
Wife also descendant of Aaron, barren
Both righteous
Both advanced in age (beyond normal child-bearing age)
Zacharias drew the lot to burn incense
- Alone in the temple?
  - One cleaned the altar of incense
  - Another placed new incense into altar
  - Third priest entered alone to offer the incense and prayers
- Altar of incense in Holy Place before the veil
  - Veil separates Holy Place from Most Holy Place
  - Veil torn at the death of Jesus
  - Offering incense, making intercession for Israel
  - People outside offering prayers
  - People beyond the courts offering prayers
- Gabriel appears
  - Don’t be afraid – prayer heard and granted
  - A lot goes with that answered prayer
    - Son, name him John
    - No wine or liquor
    - Filled with the Holy Spirit
    - Turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God (Luke 1:16)
    - He’ll go before Him in spirit and power of Elijah
      - “Him” meaning God (Luke 1:16)
      - Between the lines: Jesus is God
    - Hearts of fathers back to children (eye to the future)
    - Disobedient to attitude of righteous
    - Preparing a path for the Lord
Zacharias’ response – Gabriel’s reaction
- Questions possibility
  - What made him doubt?
  - Was that wrong?
- Gabriel – seems insulted
  - I’m Gabriel
  - Sent to bring you this good news
  - You’ll be mute because you didn’t believe
  - Until it all takes place
  - Muteness happens immediately
Zacharias’ reception outside
- Large crowd outside the temple
  - He was taking a long time – wondered why
  - He came out mute
  - They recognized he’d seen a vision
  - He spoke with his hands, couldn’t speak
- Went home at rotation’s end
  - Elizabeth conceived
  - Secludes herself five months
  - Said God had taken away her reproach among men
    - Why reproach?
    - Instruction repeated: Be fruitful and multiply
    - She’d been unable to be part of that command and its promise

Luke 1:26-38 – Jesus’ birth foretold

Gabriel’s message
- Greeting – you’ve received grace
- The Lord is with you
- You are blessed among women
- Mary perplexed by the greeting
- Gabriel saw her perplexion
- Don’t be afraid, you’ve found favor with God
- Conceive, bear a son, name Him Jesus
- He’ll be great, be called the Son of the Most High
- Lord God will give Him throne of His father David
- He’ll reign over the house of Jacob forever
- His kingdom will have no end
What does this say to Mary? Any religiously informed Jew?
- MESSIAH!
Mary’s question
- How? (Not, “will it happen” or “how can I know/believe” but “how will it be done?”)
  - How different from Zacharias’ question?
  - Belief vs unbelief
- Answer: Holy Spirit will come upon you
  - Power of the Most High will overshadow you
  - That’s why your holy Child will be called the Son of God
Oh, by the way …
- Elizabeth is in her sixth month
- Conceived in her old age, no longer barren
- NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD
Mary
- Behold, the bondslave of the Lord
- May it be done according to your word

Luke 1:39-45 – Mary visits Elizabeth

Don’t know exactly where
- A city of Judah in the hill country
- John leaped inside Elizabeth’s womb.
- Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Elizabeth speaks
- Blessed
  - You among women
  - The fruit of your womb
- Blessed by visit of “the mother of my Lord”
- Mary blessed for having believed that spoken by the Lord
Mary praises God
- Her joy
  - In God
  - In His regarding her, His bondslave
  - She’ll always be regarded as blessed
  - Done great things, His name is holy
  - His mercy is on every generation who fears Him
  - His strength, His deeds
  - Exalts the humble
  - His help and mercy upon Israel
Mary’s attitude of obedience
- Importance in God having selected her?
- How about Joseph?
- Obedience springs from belief – Luke 1:45
- Jesus would learn obedience in His life

Luke 1:57-66 – The birth of John

Mary goes home after three months
Eighth day – circumcision
- Naming was coincidental – Zacharias, after his father
- Elizabeth: “No, John”
- Defer to father (signing with hands) – “John” not a family name
- Zacharias writes, “His name is John.”
- All in the region talked about it
- Zacharias now speaking, filled with the Holy Spirit

Luke 1:67-80 – Zacharias’ prophecies of his son

Praises God
Reminds of the covenant
Says John will by the prophet of the Most High
He will go before the Lord to prepare His ways
Knowledge of salvation
Forgiveness of sins
John grows up
- And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

The Difference Between "Church" and "Churches," Part 3

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Review

The universal church is NOT composed of local churches. It is composed of individual Christians.

Oversight

“church”

Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). There are no earthly leaders.
John 10:14
Matthew 16:18

“churches”

Elders are to be appointed in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
Acts 15:2; 20:17; Philippians 1:1
I Peter 5:1-2
There is no reference to elders being overseers of anything other than a local church.
I Thessalonians 2:13
Acts 8:18
Acts 15:7, 12-13 – They were revealing what God had already decided. It was not men getting together to decide church doctrine.

Treasury

“church”

There is none.

“churches”

Churches collect and use money on a congregational level. (I Corinthians 16:1-4; Philippians 4:15-16)

Work of the church

“church”

The word “church” in this sense simply refers to all saved people (Ephesians 5:23-29; Hebrews 12:22-24), but they are not a universally functioning entity.
Romans 16:16 – Multiple churches sent greetings, but this is not a collective action.

“churches”

Churches engage in lots of different actions and work.
- Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
- Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
- Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
- Assemble to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
- Have overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
- Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
- Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
- Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
- Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
- Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
- Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
- Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)
- Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
- Support preachers in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
- Etc.
The work was done on a local level.

Takeaways

Don’t think of the church as a denomination.
- Romans 14:12
Jesus is my primary authority, not the local church.
- Acts 11:20-26
- Local churches make mistakes!
- No person has the authority to rewrite God’s rules.
The local church is a spiritual team.
- Philippians 1:27

Companionship, Part 1

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 2:18-25 – God created the marriage relationship.

Stats from Barna

Currently married: 46% (down from 66% in the 1950s)
Cohabitation is considered morally acceptable by a majority of people.
God’s marriage law has not changed.
Christians are experiencing divorce as often as the general population now.
Young people believe in marriage less and less.

What is the standard?

Mark 7:8
Is it possible for people who have been married a long time to give bad advice? Yes!

Let’s start with some basic Bible truths.

Ecclesiastes 11:9
II Timothy 4:3-4
James 1:21-25

Companionship, part 1

God’s purpose in marriage

Genesis 1:27, 31 – God’s creation was “very good”
Genesis 2:18 – At the beginning of Day 6, Adam’s situation was described by God as “not good.”
Genesis 2:22 – Eve was created during Day 6 to solve the problem of Adam’s loneliness. That was the purpose of Eve – not to help him in the garden. Her purpose was companionship.
Malachi 2:14

When we stop sharing life together, the marriage erodes.

Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33
Titus 2:4
Dave Carder – “Anatomy of an Affair”
- Tell-tale signs of a degrading marriage
Romans 12:15
“When you are in pain, the world stops and I listen.”

Judges 21:1-25

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Part 3: The depth of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25), continued

Moral and societal corruption (Judges 19:1-21:24), continued

Chaotic aftermath (Judges 21:1-24)

Final verdict (Judges 21:25)

Review

Historical context of Judges

Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and then thoroughly and repeatedly warned against the pitfalls of living in Canaan (Deuteronomy 4, 11).
Covers a period of about 300 years and depicts part of the transition from “house of the father” (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) ➡ tribal confederacy ➡ dynastic monarchy.
The Israelites go from a time of relative unity (under Moses and Joshua’s leadership) ➡ assimilating with heathen nations ➡ anarchy and civil war
Proverbs 26:11

Outline of Judges

Chapter 1-2 – The roots of Israel’s apostasy
Chapters 3-16 – The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy
Chapters 17-21 – The depths of Israel’s apostasy
Latter part of the narrative focuses on two points (Judges 21:25):
- “In those days, there was no king in Israel.”
- “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
Several graphic depictions of God’s judgment (Ehud and Eglon) but also of wanton violence and depravity (Levite’s concubine).

Israel’s downward spiral

Judges 2:19
Rejection ➡ Reaction ➡ Retribution ➡ Repentance ➡ Rescue ➡ Relapse

Conclusion

Hebrews 12:28-29, 1

The Cold, Hard Truth: Lessons from the Winter Storm

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

God is strong, we are weak

Job 38:1-7
Job 38:22-24, 28-30
Genesis 8:22
Matthew 5:36
Job 38:25-27, 33-38
We have so little control!
Psalms 147:1-11, 15-20 – Just praise God! Fear the Lord and praise Him.

Count your (basic) blessings

I Kings 17:10-12 – The widow had nothing left.
Philippians 4:11
II Corinthians 11:27
I Timothy 6:8

It’s wise to be prepared.

Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew 25:41
We must be prepared spiritually.

Titus 2:4-3:15

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Titus 2

Titus 2:1-10 – Instructions for various categories, continued

Titus 2:5 – See I Peter 3:5. Submission should not be out of fear.
Titus 2:6-8 – Young men are to be sensible and have self-control. See I Timothy 4:12. Be sound in speech.
Titus 2:9-10 – See I Timothy 6:1-2.
Notice the four purpose statements:
- Titus 2:4 – “so that they may encourage the young women”
- Titus 2:5 – “so that the word of God will not be dishonored”
- Titus 2:8 – “so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us”
- Titus 2:10 – “so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect”

Titus 2:11-14 – “the grace of God has appeared”

Titus 2:14 – See I Peter 1:18-19. God wants us to be zealous for good works – not just avoid evil.

Titus 2:15 – “speak and exhort and reprove with all authority”

The authority comes from God – it is not anything in the speaker.
The Bible must be the reason we do or teach things. We can’t just say, “because I said so.”

Titus 3

Titus 3:1-3 – General reminders

If we are being disobedient and constantly griping, we are sinning!

Titus 3:4-7 – “He saved us”

Titus 3:5 – “Washing of regeneration” here likely refers to baptism.

Titus 3:8-9 – “Speak confidently … avoid foolish controversies”

Titus 3:10-11 – “Reject a factious man”

Try to work with a divisive man, but if he won’t stop causing trouble, he must be removed from the group.

Titus 3:12-15 – Final greetings

Spiritual Maturity

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 2:6
I Corinthians 14:20

I need to recognize my own faults and improve.

Genesis 3:11-13
Exodus 32 – Aaron blamed the fire for the golden calf.
I Samuel 15 – Saul tried to shift blame to the people.
I Kings 18:17 – Ahab blamed Elijah.
Blaming others is spiritually immature.
Adam and Eve both told the truth but still erred in blaming others for their sin.
Luke 23:39-43
I John 1:8
Proverbs 28:13

I need to know that my actions have consequences and plan ahead.

Proverbs 6:27-32 – These behaviors set you up for trouble.
Proverbs 19:3 – We mess up our lives and then blame God.
I Corinthians 8:9, 13 – We must think ahead and watch out for our brethren.
I Corinthians 9:11-14, 23
I Corinthians 10:27-33

I need to prioritize spiritual things.

Luke 9:23
Luke 12:19-21 – parable of the rich fool
Luke 16:25 – the rich man and Lazarus
Luke 18:22 – the rich young ruler
What is the main thing I need to keep in mind?

Judges 19:22-20:48

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Part 3: The Depths of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25), continued

Moral and societal corruption (Judges 19:1-21:24), continued

Moral outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19:22-30), continued

See Leviticus 18:22. This was, of course, specifically forbidden by the Law of Moses.
This is similar behavior to what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).
This is the kind of behavior that eventually results when everyone does what is right in his own eyes.
Judges 19:27 – The Levites’ behavior toward her was extremely callous.
Judges 19:29 – Compare I Samuel 11 when Saul dismembered an ox and sent it throughout the land to bring urgent attention to a matter.
Judges 19:30 – This low point in Israel’s history is referenced in Hosea 9:9; 10:9.

Civil war (Judges 20:1-48)

Judges 20:1 – Mizpah is in Benjamin, so Israelites were assembling at Benjamin’ doorstep.
Judges 20:15 – The 26,000 Benjamites were up against 400,000 Israelites – about a 15:1 ratio.
Judges 20:18 – Compare Judges 1 when Judah was also called on to go first.
Judges 20:26 – This was not something often seen from Israel in the book of Judges. They were tearfully seeking God and His guidance.
See Mark 3:24. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Judges 20:12-13 – The Benjamites were offered a way out, but would not take it. How often do we make the same mistake out of pride?

Class 13 Takeaway

The Israelite civil war began because of the wicked actions of a few men in one town and was exacerbated by their brothers’ unwillingness to stand up against their evil deeds.
To avoid a similar firestorm in our lives, let’s ensure we are always pursuing what makes for peace and promotes unity in our relationships, but also that we have the courage to take a stand against evil – even when it hits close to home (Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:3, 13; 5:11).

The Difference Between "Church" and "Churches," Part 2

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Scope

“church”

This refers to ALL the saved (Ephesians 5:23).

“churches”

This refers to a limited group of (presumably) saved people in a certain location (Philippians 1:1).

Entrance and removal

“church”

God decides
Acts 2:47 – The Textus Receptus manuscript (used as the basis for the KJV and NKJV) includes ekklesia here. Other manuscripts do not.
John 15:6

“churches”

People decide (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:2, 7, 13; III John 1:9-10)
Acts 18:27
In I Corinthians 5, they were told to control their membership.
Diotrephes was attempting to keep people out of a local church in III John 1.
Church directories are not the same as God’s book of life! II Timothy 2:19

Remember

The universal church is NOT composed of local churches. It’s composed of individual Christians.

Beginning and ending

“church”

The church began when people were first saved (~ 33 A.D., Acts 2:36-47) and will never come to an end (Matthew 16:18; I Thessalonians 4:17).
Hebre3ws 9:15 – Jews under the Law of Moses were also redeemed by the blood of Christ. See also Galatians 4:5
Hebrews 9:11-12 – When were these Old Testament people saved? When Jesus entered the most holy place and gave Himself as a sacrifice.
The church will never end. Satan can do nothing to stop it.

“churches”

They begin and end any time since Acts 2 (Acts 11:21-26; 15:41; 16:5; Revelation 2:5).
The church at Benchley began on October 23, 1994.

Conclusion

Are you a member of THE church described in the Bible?

Titus 1:1-2:3

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Titus 1

Introduction

Titus was likely written while Paul was free, between his two imprisonments.
II Corinthians 7-8 – Titus was a good man and instrumental iin some work in Corinth.

Titus 1:1-4 – Salutation

Titus 1:2 – What God promises will happen.

Titus 1:5-9 – Elder qualifications

Titus 1:5 – This implies that a church without elders is not yet fully formed. See Acts 6:3.
Elders oversee the work of the church. This includes monetary decisions, but decisions about money are not their primary responsibility.

Titus 1:10-16 – The opposition – why there is a need for truth!

Titus 1:12 – This quote is probably from Epimenides from Crete. In those days, Cretans had a terrible reputation, even to the point that highway robbery was considered honorable.
The plan and need was for Titus to simply teach the whole gospel. Titus was not told to water down the message because of the environment in which he was preaching.
How much must Titus has cherished this letter!

Titus 2

Titus 2:1-10 – Instructions for various categories

Titus 2:4 – In the current environment, it can be tricky to give advice in a way where it will be accepted, but it should still be given. Young ladies, see out advice from wise older women!

The Difference Between "Church" and "Churches," Part 1

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Greek word “ekklesia” in the New Testament

Israel in the wilderness (Acts 7:38)
Riotous mob (Acts 19:32, 40-41)
Legal court (Acts 19:38-39)
Here’s the first place we find it in the New Testament: Matthew 16:18
- “I will build my church” (singular)
- Matthew 4:4; Ephesians 1:22-23
Here’s the last place we find it: Revelation 22:16
- “the churches” (plural)
- Acts 15:41
- Romans 16:16

Salvation

“church”

Membership is equivalent to salvation
Ephesians 5:23-29
Hebrews 12:22-24
Matthew 16:13-20

“churches”

Members are not necessarily saved (I Corinthians 5), and the saved are not necessarily members.
Acts 8:38-39 – The eunuch was not a member of any local church (yet), but he was in a saved relationship with God.
Revelation 1:9

Important note

The universal church is not composed of local churches. It’s composed of individual Christians.

Judges 18:1-19:21

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Part 3: The depth of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25), continued

Religious corruption (Judges 17:1-18:31), continued

Religious corruption of a tribe (Judges 17:1-18:31)

Judges 18:6 – Notice that this is a very ambiguous response. There is no indication that the priest actually inquired of God.
Judges 18:20 – The Levite’s allegiance was not to God or even to Micah, but to his own ego.
Judges 18:25 – See Judges 17:13. This did not turn out well for Micah.

Moral and societal corruption (Judges 19:1-21:24)

Moral outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19:1-21)

Judges 19:12 – Gibeah was associated with several faithful priests who took a stand against sin in the Old Testament. Eleazer was buried there (Joshua 24:33) and it was the town of his son Phinehas (see Numbers 25:1-13). The contrast here seems to be the declining values of the city since the days of Phinehas. Gibeah was also the hometown of Saul.

Class 12 takeaway

Idolatry was so endemic to Israelite life that they were unable or unwilling to recognize it and root it out of their culture, ultimately leading to their captivity. This is clearly seen in the Micah-Levite-Danite affair.
We can be similarly entrenched in idolatry and self-made religion. When we fail to carefully and thoughtfully study the Bible – and respectfully question long held conclusions in light of God’s truth – we risk stumbling into the same trap these Israelites (and later Jews who killed the Messiah) fell into.

What We Learn When We Read Our Bibles

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 1:10

People sin.

Genesis 6:5-6
II Timothy 3:1-5, 13
We may be tempted to think we live in uniquely horrible times, but sin has been here from the beginning.
II Peter 3:3-4, 7 – Judgment is coming!
II Peter 3:17 – Don’t let the sinful ideas of the day or wars and strife get you down!

Wisdom fails.

Genesis 11:4 – They were doing this out of pride.
I Kings 12:26-30 – Jeroboam set up idols out of political fear and envy. He consulted with fools!
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 – Solomon’s view was pessimistic because he was looking at life without God.
I Corinthians 1:19, 30-31 – Wisdom from God brings us fulfillment and salvation.

Promises remain.

Genesis 12:2, 7, 3 – God keeps His promises!
Joshua 23:14
Psalms 33:1-22 – We are frail and have little control. God controls all. Lean on His promises.

God saves.

Genesis 3:14-15 – God had planned for man’s salvation.
Hebrews 2:14
I John 3:8
Jeremiah 31:31-34

2 Timothy 3:13-4:22

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

II Timothy 3, continued

II Timothy 3:13-17 – Sacred writings

“Man of God” was used 71 times in the Old Testament, usually referring to either an angel or prophet. Here it seems to be referring to Timothy specifically.
If God required diligent study from people of this time, how much more so from us with much better access to the scripture?

II Timothy 4

II Timothy 4:1-4 – “Preach the word”

II Timothy 4:2
- “reprove” – to show someone they are wrong; to correct
- “rebuke” – to punish; overlaps with “reprove”
- “exhort” – to help; encourage
II Timothy 4:3 – This was already happening in Paul’s day. The tendency of people is to stray, so we must work against it.

II Timothy 4:6-8 – “I have fought the good fight”

II Timothy 4:6 – See Numbers 15:7; Philippians 2:17. Paul evidently thought his time of death was near.
II Timothy 4:7 – Paul says that now he has fought “the good fight.” Before his conversion, Paul had been in some fights that were not so good.

II Timothy 4:9-22 – Companions and enemies

II Timothy 4:16 – At that time, persecution was severe. It might have been dangerous for others to even stand beside Paul at his defense.

Adoption

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Physical

Esther

Esther 2:5-7 – Esther was an orphan. Mordecai was her cousin, but he raised her as his own daughter.
Esther 4:1, 4 – It deeply hurt Esther that Mordecai was distressed.
Esther 4:13-17

Moses

Acts 7:20

Samuel

I Samuel 1:11, 20, 24-28; 2:11
I Samuel 2:12, 19-20 – Eli’s own sons were disobedient and abused their positions, but Samuel served the Lord and was a bright spot in Eli’s life.

Jesus

Luke 1:35
Luke 3:23
John 6:42

Modern adoption

Psalms 68:5
James 1:27 – Those who adopt are going far beyond this command.

Spiritual

I Peter 1:3-5
Romans 8:14-17, 22
Romans 9:3-4
Galatians 4:1-7
Because God adopted us, we are heirs of the blessings.
Ephesians 1:1-10
We are adopted as full heirs.
Physical adoption is precious. Spiritual adoption is even more so!

Judges 16:1-17:13

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31)

Samson (Judges 13:1-16:31)

Samson and the Philistines, part 2 (Judges 16:1-31)

Judges 16:1-3 – The gates would have weighed close to 5,000 pounds. Removing these gates would have also weakened the defenses of the city.
Judges 16:4 – It is not stated what Delilah’s nationality was. It’s possible she was either Philistine or Israelite.
Judges 16:5 – Why did the Philistines think there was something that could diminish his power? Samson could have just said his strength was a blessing from God and left it at that.
Judges 16:7-17 – Samson lied three times before telling her the truth.
Samson continually flirted with sin and acted with hubris, considering himself untouchable. This got him in trouble, just like it would us.
Samson could not see the danger he was putting himself in. How often do we do the same? After not being able to see, it’s ironic that his greatest act of deliverance came once he lost his eyes.

Part 3: The depths of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25)

Religious corruption (Judges 17:1-18:31)

Religious corruption of a household (Judges 17:1-6)

Judges 17:1 – Micah is an abbreviation of Micah-yehu, which means “who is like Yahweh?”

Religious corruption of a Levite (Judges 17:7-13)

Judges 17:6 – Are we effectively leaderless today, doing what is right in our own eyes?

Class 11 Takeaway

Samson was strong and heroic but lacked an essential characteristic to be pleasing to God: self-control (Proverbs 25:28; Galatians 5:23). His Achilles’ heel was lust for women, and he was driven by that lust – and revenge – to his downfall.
Left unchecked, our desires will lead us down the same deadly road Samson was on. When we fail to exercise self-control, our unbridled desires separate us from God and leave a damaging wake in our path, jeopardizing others’ souls (II Peter 1:6, 8-11). Like Samson, we may do some good, but it will be nowhere near what God intends.

Beginning With Unity

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

What kind of student, employee, husband, wife, leader, or influence will I be this year?
Psalms 133:1-3 – This entire Psalm is about unity.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Unified by God’s word for God’s purposes

Unity apart from God

Genesis 11:1-9 – These people were 100% united, but they were in error.

Unity through God

Philippians 1:27
Colossians 3:17
Isaiah 3:21
Acts 2:41 (Acts 6:3-5; I Corinthians 3:6)

Unified by looking forward, not backwards

Philippians 3:8-14 – Let go of things from the past, both good and bad.

Unified in our actions

Everyone here can be an encouragement to others.
Don’t make excuses for not doing more.
Exodus 4:10-14 – Moses tried to make excuses.
Jeremiah 1:6-7
I Corinthians 12:18
(Matthew 25:30)

Unified in our love for one another

I Peter 3:8-9
Romans 12:15
Matthew 5:44
John 13:34-35

How Inspired Writers Viewed Scripture

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 4:14 – The writer tells us Jesus is our high priest. See Hebrews 7:11-14. Jesus could not be a high priest under the Law of Moses because that law said nothing about priests from the tribe of Judah.
- Leviticus 10:1-2 – Nadab and Abihu sinned by doing something they did not have authority to do.
- II Chronicles 29:25 – Instruments for music were commanded at this time.
In 1789, the same argument came up in regard to having a national bank in the United States, which the constitution made no provision for. The Constitution did not prohibit it, but it also did not authorize it.
John 13:34-35 – In two verses, we have command, example, and inference.
Romans 1:18
John 20:30-31 – This book was written to teach us about the deity of Christ.
- John 2:1-12 – Jesus shows mastery over matter.
- John 4:46-54 – Jesus shows master over space and distance.
- John 5:1-9 – Jesus shows mastery over time by curing instantly an affliction the man had for thirty-eight years.
- John 6:1-14 – Jesus shows mastery over quantity.
- John 6:16-21 – Jesus shows mastery over natural law.
- John 9:1-12 – Jesus shows mastery over misfortune.
- John 11:1-44 – Jesus shows mastery over death.
We are supposed to draw conclusions based on the evidence.
Acts 17:1-3
The better we have the word in our minds, the better we will be able to grow.
Mark 2:1-12 – They were so close to drawing the right conclusion!

Judges 14:1-15:20

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31), continued

Samson (Judges 13:1-16:31), continued

Samson and the Philistines, part 1 (Judges 14:1-15:20)

Samson disregarded his parents’ advice, although they stopped short of condemning his choice.
Judges 14:5-6 – Lions were unclean under the Law of Moses, which might have had something to do with why he did not tell his parents. See Leviticus 11.
Judges 14:7 – Samson was apparently short-circuiting the social conventions of the time by talking to the woman directly.
Judges 14:14, 18 – The quotes here are all six words long in two lines in the original Hebrew.
Judges 15:11-13 – The men of Israel showed no inclination of trying to align with God and Samson or overthrowing the Philistines. Instead, they were just trying to avoid violence from the Philistines.
Judges 15:19 – En-hakkore means “the stream of him who calls.”

Class 10 takeaway

Samson’s parents refused to condemn his relationship with the Philistine woman. They may have justified it by saying, “He’s going to do whatever he wants anyway, so what’s the point?”
We do others a great disservice by not sharing God’s will with them when they are heading down a dangerous path spiritually. Let’s not be like Samson’s parents in enabling sin, but helping others avoid and overcome it (which was Jesus’ mission).

Three Ways to Practice Brotherly Love

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 15:12 – Jesus was the example of brotherly love.

Help them center their lives around serving God and going to Heaven.

Luke 9:57-62 – Nothing was more important than kingdom word. The way Jesus loved people was by telling them how to love God.
Luke 9:23-25
Do people feel like their spiritual cup is being filled when they are around me?

Allow them to move on from sin.

Luke 19:5-10 – Jesus said Zaccheus was also a son of Abraham. He helped Zaccheus to move on from sin. The grumblers were working against Jesus. Are we doing the same?
Luke 15:1-7 – Jesus corrects the grumblers. They should have been rejoicing!
If people have put sin behind them, we must let that be in the past and move on. Don’t continue to label them with sin from their past.
Galatians 5:14-6:2
Let us not create a culture where if we ever sin, we will always carry that label and never be equal to other Christians.

Express optimism about their future.

Luke 22:31-34 – Jesus told Peter what would happen but was already preparing Peter for his recovery after sin.
Philippians 1:6-11 – Paul was looking forward to the great things they would do.
There is something powerful about optimism.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is optimistic!
II Corinthians 7:3-4, 16 – Paul was saying this about a church riddled with problems!
Hebrews 10:24

2 Timothy 2:11-3:12

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

II Timothy 2

II Timothy 2:11-13 – “If we …” statements

This is a statement of personal responsibility. These are things we must do.
If we die with Him in baptism, we also live with Him.
II Timothy 2:12 – Compare Daniel 2:44 regarding the reign of Jesus’ kingdom.

II Timothy 2:14-15 – “accurately handling the word of truth”

“Diligent” here is the same word as used in II Timothy 4:9. The idea is to make every effort. We must dig into the things that matter in God’s word and gain an accurate understanding. Don’t just stay at a surface level understanding.

II Timothy 2:16-18 – “avoid worldly and empty chatter”

Stick with the word of truth and avoid dangerous heresies.

II Timothy 2:19-22 – “useful to the Master”

Even though people may twist things, God’s truth is unchanging and He knows those who are His.
We must be the type of people who are putting sin out of our lives so we can be useful to God. Is this how I am living my life?

II Timothy 2:23-26 – “the Lord’s bond-servant”

Our goal is to get as many people to know Christ as possible. To that end, we need to remove anything from our lives that stands in the way of that goal, including our own egos.

II Timothy 3

II Timothy 3:1-5 – List of sins

II Timothy 3:1 – Regarding “last days,” see Acts 2:14-21. “Last days” seems to be a reference to the era of the gospel.
II Timothy 3:2 – “disobedient to parents”
- God cares about this. See Deuteronomy 21; Ephesians 6:1. Children should be raised to learn to submit to authority.

II Timothy 3:6-7 – Error spreads!

II Timothy 3:7 – They were always learning but never understanding the truth. Compare Acts 17:21.

II Timothy 3:8-9 – Jannes and Jambres

These names are not recorded elsewhere in the Bible. Extra-biblical sources indicate these are the names of the magicians that opposed Moses in Egypt.

II Timothy 3:10-12 – Timothy’s experience with Paul.

What Timothy experienced with Paul
- Teaching various women (Acts 16:13)
- Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown in jail (Acts 16:22-24)
- Praying and singing in jail (Acts 16:25)
- Converting the jailer (Acts 16:34)
- A mob in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5)
- Eager students in Berea (Acts 17:11)
- Agitators stirred up the Bereans (Acts 17:13)
- Jews resisted and blasphemed (Acts 18:6)
- Starting of Corinthian church (Acts 18:8)
- Beating Sosthenes (Acts 18:17)
- Baptizing John’s disciples into Christ (Acts 19:5)
- Reasoning and persuading about the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8)
- Handkerchiefs from Paul healed people (Acts 19:12)
- Man with evil spirit beat up Jewish exorcists who used names of Jesus and Paul (Acts 19:13-17)
- People burned magic books valued at 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts 19:19)
- “So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing” (Acts 19:20)
Timothy dispatched to work
- I Corinthians 4:17
- I Corinthians 16:10
- Philippians 2:19
- I Thessalonians 3:2
- I Thessalonians 3:6
- Hebrews 13:23

How Can I Be Like Barnabas?

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Judges 11:29-13:5

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31), continued

Jephthah (Judges 10:6-12:7), continued

Victory and Jephthah’s foolish vow (Judges 11:29-40)

Judges 11:30-31 – Some translations add a footnote on verse 31 saying it could be translated “whoever.”
- Old Testament vows
  - When made, God expected vows to be fulfilled in a timely manner under normal circumstances (Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21).
  - Human sacrifice was expressly forbidden while animal sacrifice could acceptably accompany a vow (Deuteronomy 18:10; Jeremiah 19:5; Leviticus 22:18-20).
  - If a rash (thoughtless) vow was made, atonement could be made with a sin offering (Leviticus 5:4-6).

Jephthah’s conflict with Ephraim (Judges 12:1-7)

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (Judges 12:8-15)

Samson (Judges 13:1-16:31)

The birth of Samson (Judges 13:1-25)

Judges 13:5
- Nazirite vow: Numbers 6
  - No grape juice or strong drink
  - No cutting of the hair
  - No contact with dead bodies
- Manoah entertains an angel. Compare Gideon’s case in (Judges 6:11-21) and Abraham (Genesis 18:5-8).

Class 9 takeaway

Jephthah was exceedingly foolish in making his vow of a burnt offering if the Lord gave the Ammonites over in victory. He made a terrible situation worse by placing blame on his daughter instead of accepting responsibility for his grave lack of sense.
We create messages in our lives when we fail to guard our hearts and control our speech (Luke 6:43-45). We must always be people of integrity who thoughtfully make commitments and stick with them (James 5:12). And we must always remember we will be judged by our speech (Proverbs 10:19; 21:23; Matthew 12:33-37).

Discipleship Wrapped

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 139:23
Lamentations 3:40
II Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves! This is a good prompt for all of us.

Your top influences

Psalms 1:1-2
What has influenced you the most in 2025? Who and what are you listening to?
Did God’s word actually shape my thinking?
Proverbs 13:20 – “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Temptations and repentance

Proverbs 28:13
II Timothy 2:22 – “flee youthful lusts”
- How many times did I flee? See Genesis 39; Matthew 4.
Matthew 5:27-30 – Which temptations usually got to me?
What I sinned did I repent? Psalms 51:7

Relationships strengthened and people helped

Romans 12:9-18
The second greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself.
How have you been treating people?

Your daily habits

Daniel 6:10
What would my stats say about prayer?
Acts 2:42
Our habits should come naturally out of loving the Lord.
What do my habits tel me about my heart?
Proverbs 4:23
Hebrews 12:1-3
For the year ahead, are my eyes fixed on Jesus?
Do I have people in my life who will help me spiritually?

1 Timothy 6:11-21; 2 Timothy 1:1-2:10

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I Timothy 6

I Timothy 6:11-16 – “Fight the good fight”

I Timothy 6:12 – This confession is not recorded, but it seems to be referring to Timothy confessing faith in Jesus.

I Timothy 6:17-19 – “Instruct those who are rich …”

I Timothy 6:20-21 – “guard what has been entrusted to you”

I Timothy 6:20-21 – This appears to be a criticism of Gnosticism.

II Timothy 1

Paul will be executed soon

I Timothy 3:14
It appears that Paul was imprisoned twice and executed during the second imprisonment. He wrote I Timothy and Titus between the two imprisonments.
II Timothy 4:6

II Timothy 1:1-4 – “To Timothy, my beloved son”

II Timothy 1:3 – Paul now had a clear conscience.

II Timothy 1:5 – Lois and Eunice

II Timothy 1:6-7 – “power and love and discipline”

II Timothy 1:6 – What is this gift of God? It could be a miraculous spiritual gift or a non-miraculous gift to preach the gospel. See I Timothy 1:18; 4:14.

II Timothy 1:8-12 – “join with me”

II Timothy 1:13-14 – “Retain the standard of sound words”

Don’t allow yourself to be pushed around because of your youth. Stick to the truth!

II Timothy 1:15-18 – Paul’s interactions

II Timothy 2

II Timothy 2:1-2 – Teach others to teach

It was important for Timothy to not only to teach, but to encourage others to teach as well.

II Timothy 2:3-7 - Three analogies

II Timothy 2:3-4 – The soldier
II Timothy 3:5 – The athlete
II Timothy 2:6 – The farmer
The common denominator is effort. We must be willing to work.

II Timothy 2:8-10 – “Remember Jesus Christ …”

Pros and Cons of Eight Bible Translations

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 119:169-176

Translation philosophies

On the left:
- Word-for-word: Preserves original wording, English may feel less natural.
On the right:
- Thought for thought: Takes liberties to emphasize readability and meaning.

New American Standard Bible; New King James Version; King James Version	English Standard Version	Christian Standard Bible	New English Translation	New International Version	New Living Translation

King James Version (1769)

Pros

Highly accurate
Beautiful, nostalgic wording

Cons

Outdated words – I Thessalonians 4:15
Based on limited manuscripts

Sample verses

Philippians 2:6; I Thessalonians 4:4; James 2:1

New King James Version (1984)

Pros

Still accurate
Modernized

Cons

Still mainly based on manuscripts the King James Version used.
Starting to get a bit dated itself.

New American Standard Bible (1977)

The 2020 update for the New American Standard Bible added gender inclusive language. See Philippians 4:8, where NASB 2020 changes the rendering from “brethren” to “brothers and sisters.”

Pros

Extremely accurate
Great for detailed study

Cons

Stiff, unnatural wording
May not be best for casual or devotional reading

New English Translation

Published for free online, including 60,000 marginal notes from the translators.

Pros

Translator notes
Very modern

Cons

Physical version is big
Not widely used

New International Version (2011)

Best-selling translation in the world.

Pros

Highly readable
Widely available

Cons

Less precise
Some choices are controversial

English Standard Version (2016)

Pros

Very popular
Sweet spot

Cons

Some awkward wording
Little transparency

Christian Standard Bible (2020)

Previously known as the Holman Christian Standard Bible, then rebranded.

Pros

Sweet spot
Very modern

Cons

Some non-traditional choices
A few quirks

New Living Translation (2015)

Pros

Super easy to read
Very modern

Cons

Lots of interpretation from translators
Much less precise

Conclusion

I Thessalonians 2:13

Judges 10:1-11:28

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy

Tola and Jair (Judges 10:1-5)

Judges 10:4 – These 30 cities were tent settlements. Donkeys were associated with royalty at that time. Donkers were also better ssuited for battle in hill country than horses.

Jephthah (Judges 10:6-12:7)

Apostasy and distress (Judges 10:6-18)

Judges 10:6 – Here we get a full list of all the idols that Israel served.
Judges 10:14 – See Deuteronomy 32:37; Nehemiah 9:26. This is the first and only time in Judges where we get an extended interaction between God and Israel and the Israelites make concrete steps toward repentance.
Judges 10:17 – The name Mizpah just means “overlook” and is a common place name in the Old Testament.
Judges 10:18 – They apparently had no good candidates, so they had to go recruit Jephthah.

Introduction to Jephthah (Judges 11:1-13)

Judges 11:3 – Jephthah did not have the best group of friends.

Jephthah’s commissioning (Judges 11:4-11)

Judges 11:7-10 – Jephthah uses his position to negotiate and get back some of what he’d lost in Judges 11:2 when his brothers drove him out.

Diplomatic discussions (Judges 11:12-28)

Judges 11:12 – Jephthah first starts with diplomacy. If the Ammonites had this territory, it would have greatly their territory.

Class 8 Takeaway

For the first and only time in the Judges narrative, the Israelites’ cries for deliverance are accompanied by concrete acts associated with repentance: “putting away the foreign gods from among them” and serving the Lord (Judges 10:16).
Acceptable repentance today follows this same pattern (II Corinthians 7:10-11). Turning from sin and toward the Lord involves definite, visible steps to expel sin and (re-)center our lives on Jesus (Matthew 18:8-9; Acts 26:20; Romans 2:4).

Making Sure SUNDAYS Affect Our MONDAYS

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 7:21-27

Worship …

I Samuel 15:22
Isaiah 1:10-17 – We can’t live however we want and then think we can still worship God.
Psalms 63:1-4 – Our worship should be a response to the greatness of God.
Luke 6:46

Preaching …

Luke 3:3-14, 18 – John the Baptist presented some hard teaching but included some useful applications. Modern day preachers should do the same.
II Timothy 4:2
Luke 3:10 – The audience also has a responsibility. They asked what they should do.

… and now it’s up to ME!

Matthew 23:1-4
Luke 18:9-14
We must apply the lessons to ourselves. The first application must always be to myself.
Luke 8:5-8, 15 – I need to commit myself to living the word, even in hard times.
Ezekiel 33:30-33 – They were just listening to Ezekiel’s lessons like one listens to a song – enjoying it but going away unchanged. Let us not do the same!

1 Timothy 5:1-6:10

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I Timothy 5

I Timothy 5:1-2 – Timothy dealing with people.
I Timothy 5:3-16 – Widows
- I Timothy 5:9 - “Enrolled” here seems to mean, “included in ongoing support.” “Wife of one husband” seems to mean that she lived in harmony with God’s marriage law.
- I Timothy 5:10 – Washing the feet of saints here seems to just be an elaboration of hospitality. It does not necessarily mean that she must have literally washed feet.
I Timothy 5:17-25 – Elders

I Timothy 6

I Timothy 6:1-2 – “Under the yoke as slaves”
I Timothy 6:3-5 – “a different doctrine”
I Timothy 6:6-8 – “contentment”
I Timothy 6:9-10 – “the love of money”

God: Who He Is and What That Means For Us

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 146:1-10

Creator

Psalms 95:4-6 – He is our Maker!
Psalms 95:7-11 – Massah and Meribah are a reference to Exodus 17. God knows our needs!
James 1:19-20 – God knows how our bodies work we get angry and He says to slow down.

Father

I John 3:1-2 – We are children of God.
I John 3:7
II Corinthians 6:18, 14
We may have to give up earthly relationships, but it will be worth it to be welcomed into God’s arms.
Romans 8:15-17
Galatians 4:6-7

Judge

Acts 17:30, 21
Romans 2:16
In the end, we will stand before God and give account for ourselves.
Luke 16:14
When I read the Bible, I must be sincerely looking for ways to change myself.

Judges 8:31-9:57

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31), continued

Gideon (Judges 6:1-8:35), continued

Abimelech, apostate “king” (Judges 9:1-5)

Abimelech’s sordid rise (Judges 9:1-6)

Abimelech hired worthless men and went and killed all his brothers except for Jotham.

Indictment of Abimelech; Jotham’s fable (Judges 9:7-21)

The image here is of a bramble ruling over cedars of Lebanon. Jotham was trying to expose their hypocrisy.

Abimelech’s violent reign and end (Judges 9:22-55)

Judges 9:26 – Gaal means “abhor” and Ebed means “servant.” Some suggest this was not actually his name but was a commentary on him by the author.
Judges 9:45 – Sowing the ground with salt would make the soil infertile, making it difficult to inhabit the city.
Judges 9:54 – Compare the death of Sisera by Jael (Judges 4:21-22) and the death of Saul (I Samuel 31:4).

Final verdict on Abimelech

Proverbs 5:22
See Judges 9:7-21 regarding Jotham’s curse.

Class 7 Takeaway

The Shechemite leaders aided and abetted Abimelech in his sinful act of murdering his half-brothers. This resulted in their condemnation along with Abimelech’s (Judges 9:24, 57).
We need to be very careful not to support, promote, or otherwise aid the sins of others.

Real Living: Laying Down My Life

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

John 13-15

John 13:34-35 – Other people would know they were disciples because of the love they showed for each other.
John 13:37
John 14:21-24
John 15:12-13
Jesus taught us to love by setting the example.
Laying down my life for others involves serving others.
Sometimes, “laying down your life” means literally dying.
Keeping Jesus’ commandments is part of laying down my life for Him.

I John 1-3

John 2:15 – Don’t love the world.
I John 3:4-10 – Every person is known by their deeds.
I John 3:14-15
I John 3:16 – We know what love is based on what God did.
Love is action!
I must walk in the light as God is light.
If I don’t love my brother: I don’t belong to God, I don’t have redemption.
God defined love: He laid down His life for us.
Laying down my life for others involves: action and sharing physical resources.

Matthew 25:31-46

How important is it that I lay down my life for God and others?
To those who laid down their lives:
- “Came, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
To those who did not lay down their lives, Jesus says:
- “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Showing compassion for others is laying down my life for them.

Galatians 6:1-10

Working to bring a straying soul back to God.
Bearing each other’s spiritual burdens.
What I sow is what I will reap; invest wisely.

Matthew 18:21-22

Giving grace

Applications

Can you tell who is laying down their lives for others and who is not?

Challenges

Open a dialog within your family about how each of you are laying down your lives for each other.
Ask yourself and others: What am I not laying down in my life that I need to?
Build the mindset: “Real living is laying down my life.”
John 14:24-26

Update on Colombia and Mexico; Justice, Kindness, and Walking with God

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Update on work in Colombia

Congregations tend to be small and spread out.
Christians there tend to be very strong and knowledgeable.
Nationally, there is not much desire to serve God. The government is indifferent to religion.

Recap of work in Mexico

Several young men from Benchley went on the trip and preached their first lesson via translator.
Several young women also went and taught classes for ladies and children, which were very well received.

Justice, Kindness, and Walking with God

Micah 3:8
Micah 6:1-2, 6-8
- The people’s response is an insult to God. What did God want from them? Micah 6:8 gives the answer: justice, kindness, and walking humbly with God.
- See Ephesians 4:28.
- See Amos 3:3. To walk humbly with God, we must be in agreement with Him.

Judges 7:1-8:31

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31), continued

Gideon (Judges 6:1-8:35), continued

Gideon’s first battle (Judges 7:1-8:3)

Judges 7:5 – It is not stated exactly why this particular test was used. Possibly it was just an unusual behavior that would cut the size of the force drastically.
Judges 7:9-15 – Gideon immediately worshiped when God strengthened his faith. God can also strengthen our faith when He deems it necessary.
Judges 7:16 – The three hundred men would essentially be unarmed with torches and trumpets in their hands. This maneuver required faith!
Judges 7:22 – God set the enemy against themselves, defeating themselves in the chaos.
Judges 8:1-3 – Gideon wisely shows humility and quells the anger of the Ephraimites.

Gideon’s second (Judges 8:4-21)

Gideon’s apostasy (Judges 8:22-28)

Judges 8:23 – This was a complete defeat of the Midianites.
Judges 8:27 – Gideon’s ephod had catastrophic results – he facilitated idolatry.

Class 6 Takeaway

We are tempted to think, like the Israelites, “My own hand has saved me” (Judges 7:2). Further, we may seek glory rightly due to God, like Gideon’s army did in shouting, “For the Lord and for Gideon” and “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon.” (Judges 7:18, 20).
Let us always remember God delivered our souls from sin by his grace, not by anything we did (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our lives are meant to glorify him and not seek glory for ourselves (Matthew 5:16).

Culture of Benchley: Our Identity

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s make Jesus our identity

Let’s be diligent in Bible study

1 Timothy 3:12-5:25

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Peer Pressure

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Judges 6:1-40

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

What Does the Lord Require?

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Salvation and Justification

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Written in Blood

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Judges 4:1-5:31

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31), continued

Deborah (Judges 4:1-5:31)

Victory over the Canaanites (Judges 4:1-24)

Miriam (Exodus 15:20) was also called a prophetess. There are not many female prophets listed in the Bible.
Judges 4:7 – See Judges 5:21. It could be that God miraculously disabled the chariots with floodwater.
Judges 4:8 – Barak’s reluctance to go alone seems to indicate a lack of faith on his part.
Judges 4:11 – Here Hobab is referenced as the father-in-law of Moses rather than his brother-in-law as he is elsewhere. It could be a father and son with the same name.
Judges 4:14 – See Hebrews 11:32-34. Barak is mentioned among the faithful, despite his initial reluctance. Is there someone you know like Barak, that is willing, but needs someone to go with them?
Judges 4:17 – Note that Jael was not part of Israel. She and her husband were friendly with Jabin.

Deborah and Barak’s victory song (Judges 5:1-31)

Other songs of note:
- Moses:
  - Exodus 15
  - Deuteronomy 31:19-21; 32
Judges 5:14 – See Numbers 26:29. Machir was the son of Ephraim. Gilead was the son of Machir.

Takeaways

The faithfulness of God’s people must not depend on a leader or leaders in the church. Faithful leadership is a great blessing and should be a reflection of faithful individual Christians.
Each of us, then, must devote ourselves fully to God and his work, ensuring the continual building up of Christ’s body. As part of that work, we will submit to and encourage our leaders but also hold them accountable (I Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17).

Are You Confident in Your Salvation?

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Probably every congregation has some members that are weak or lacking in confidence in their salvation.

Confidence in your salvation

Acts 2:38 – Peter answered the question about what must do to be saved.
Romans 1:16 – The gospel is God’s power to salvation.
John 3:16
Everything you can think of with relation to confidence in salvation relates to Acts 2:38 and Romans 1:16.

Scriptures that should give us confidence

I John 1:7
Galatians 2:20
I Corinthians 9:27
Ephesians 2:10
I Timothy 5:22
Jude 1:21
II Corinthians 5;17
II Corinthians 13:5
Romans 3:13-14

Other considerations

II Timothy 2:15 – We can’t have confidence if we don’t spend time studying.
II Peter 1:5-7
Make sure you pray for forgiveness of sins and pray that you can walk in the gospel.
II Timothy 4:8

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Elder qualifications, part 2 (continued)

“above reproach as God’s steward”
- Titus 1:7
“not self-willed” (arrogant)
- Titus 1:7
- I Peter 5:3
“not quick-tempered” (not soon angry)
- Titus 1:7
- Mark 3:5
- Ephesians 4:6
“not addicted to wine” (not a drunkard, not given to wine)
- I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7
“loving what is good”
- Titus 1:8
“just” (upright)
- Titus 1:8
- Able to be fair and objective.
“devout” (holy)
- Titus 1:8
“self-controlled” (disciplined, temperate)
- Titus 1:8

I Timothy 3 (continued)

I Timothy 3:8-13 – “Deacons likewise …”
- The word behind “deacon” or “servant,” but deacons are servants with special roles within the church.
- Deacons must also match the qualifications laid out for elders.
- I Timothy 3:11 – The most natural reading seems to be referring to deacons’ wives.

Elder Qualifications, Part 2

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 3:1-7

Review

We are seeking a balanced approach to this topic.

“Manages his own household well”

I Timothy 3:4-5
Dignity or reverence here could be referring to either the father or the children.
Titus 1:6
- Does faithful here mean that the children are faithful to the earthly father or that they are Christians?
- The word behind it (pistos) can be translated either “believers” of “faithful.” Context is key to determining the precise meaning.
- Faithful to their earthly father:
  - Strengths:
    - Context seems to favor the more specific contrast.
    - Harmony: If I Timothy 3:4-5 is a parallel.
  - Weaknesses
    - The number of translations going with “believe” is greater.
    - Is I Timothy 3:4-5 an exact parallel, or supplemental information?
What about children who are grown and gone?
- What about Proverbs 22:6?
  - Proverbs are general truths that have exceptions.
Must a man have a plurality of children?
- Does the plural include the singular?
- I Timothy 5:4
- Matthew 22:24
- Genesis 21:7 – The plural includes the singular here.

“holding fast the faithful word”

Titus 1:9
An elder must be able to refute error.

“not pugnacious” (violent, striker, bully)

I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7
Elders shouldn’t be itching for a fight.

“gentle” (patient)

I Timothy 3:3
Contrast I Peter 2:18

“peaceable” (not contentious, not quarrelsome)

I Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2

“free from the love of money” (not covetous)

I Timothy 3:3

“not fond of sordid gain” (not greedy for gain, not greedy of filthy lucre)

Titus 1:7

“not a new convert” (novice, recent convert)

I Timothy 3:6

“good reputation with those outside” (well thought of by outsiders)

I Timothy 3:7

Judges 2:6-3:31

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 1: The roots of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 1:1-3:6), continued

The unfolding and consequences of apostasy (Judges 2:6-3:6), continued

Joshua’s death and the coming apostasy (Judges 2:6-10)

There are ancient monuments and reliefs that reference Israel in the land of Canaan in roughly 1400 B.C.

The recurring pattern of Israel’s apostasy, God’s grace, and God’s anger (Judges 2:11-23)

Deuteronomy 12:29-32 – Baal was a storm God.
God told them clearly that worshiping idols was abhorrent to Him.
Judges 2:19 – Israel’s downward spiral. When they relapsed, they did even worse than before.

The testing of Israel (Judges 3:1-6)

Judges 3:5-6 – Israel fails to remove the Canaanites.

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31)

Othniel (Judges 3:7-11)

Othniel was either the younger brother or nephew of Caleb and was married to Caleb’s daughter.

Ehud (Judges 3:12-30)

Ehud was left-handed, or “restricted in the right hand” as the Hebrew says literally.
Eglon’s name means, “little calf.”

Shamgar (Judges 3:31)

Shamgar is mentioned again in Judges 5:6, but not much is known about him.
An ox goad is not normally a particularly lethal instrument.

Takeaways

The pattern in Judges – described in Judges 2 and oft-repeated throughout the book – demonstrates God’s steadfast love. He listens to the cries of his oppressed people and arranges for their deliverance.
God responds in like manner today to those who cry out for his help out of sincere repentance. He has sent the perfect judge-deliverer, Jesus, to save us from the bondage of sin (Romans 5:6-8).

The Work of Elders

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 20:17, 28
I Thessalonians 5:12-13
I Timothy 3:1

Why study this?

To help our current elders be motivated in their work.
To help other men prepare for this work.
To help the rest of us appreciate their work.
To differentiate between tradition and God’s word.

Overseeing souls

Acts 20:28-32
I Thessalonians 5:12
I Timothy 3:4-5
Hebrews 13:17 – Elders are keeping watch over souls!
Acts 11:27-30 – This is the only passage in the New Testament talking about elders handling money.
James 5:14-16 – Is this physical or spiritual illness?

Wielding the sword of the Spirit

Titus 1:9-14 – Elders use the Bible in both positive and negative ways.
Acts 20:32
I Timothy 5:17-18 – It is authorized to pay elders for their work.
Elders must be able to use scripture appropriately.

Developing their character

I Peter 5:1-4
Ezekiel 34:1-6, 10
Acts 20:30
I Thessalonians 5:12
Titus 1:9, 13
Men need to be developing their character so they can take on this role.

1 Timothy 2:9-3:7

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I Timothy 2

I Timothy 2:9-10 – Women’s adornment
- She might be fashionable, but the focus shouldn’t be fashion.
I Timothy 2:11-14 – “A woman must quietly receive instruction”
- “quiet”: Compare II Thessalonians 3:12; Acts 11:18; 21:14; I Timothy 2:2; I Peter 3:4
- Acts 18:26 – Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos.
- Colossians 3:16 – This teaching includes women.
I Timothy 2:15 – “preserved through the bearing of children”
- This would be referring to salvation coming through Mary bearing Jesus. It could also be a figure of speech, referring to all the things that women do (metonymy).

Elder Qualifications, Part 1

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Balanced approach

I Timothy 3:2 – “an overseer, then, must be …”
I John 1:8 – “If we say that we have no sin …”
It’s possible to be too lenient or too strict.
I Peter 5:1 – Peter was writing this as an elder. Yet Jesus at one point called him Satan and also rebuked him. Peter also denied Christ.
People grow over time.
- ~ 30s A.D. – impetuous, immature
- ~ 48 A.D. – Acts 15 – Has grown, taken stands
- ~ 50 A.D. – Galatians 2 – Hypocrisy
- ~ 60 A.D. – I Peter – Elder

“above reproach” (blameless)

I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6
Colossians 1:21-23

“the husband of one wife”

I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6

“the husband of one wife”	My thinking
if he has a wife; can be a bachelor	No. We would need more evidence to interpret it this way.
in his whole lifetime, can’t be remarried	No. We would need more evidence to interpret it this way. (I Timothy 5:9)
can’t be a bachelor, polygamist, or adulteress	Yes. He’s married and there’s nothing amiss about his marriage.
he’s a one-woman type of man; focuses on his character instead of current marital status, may allow for widower or divorce	Maybe, but I’m still skeptical. (Consider I Timothy 3:4.)

“temperate” (vigilant, sober-minded)

I Timothy 3:2

“prudent” / “sensible” (sober-minded, self-controlled)

I Timothy 3:2

“respectable” (orderly, of good behavior)

I Timothy 3:2

“hospitable” (given to hospitality)

I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8
The root word behind “hospitality” means “love of strangers.”
Hebrews 13:2

“able to teach” (apt to teach, skillful in teaching)

I Timothy 3:2

Judges 1:1-2:5

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Part 1: The roots of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 1:1-3:6)

Prelude to apostasy (Judges 1:1-2:5)

Initial battles and seeds of apostasy (Judges 1:1-21)

Judges 1:4-7 – The Israelites were acting as God’s agent of justice.
The tribes of Judah and Benjamin feature heavily in the book of Judges. David and Jesus both later came from Judah. Saul came from Benjamin.
Judges 1:8 – Jerusalem would change hands many times over the years. It wasn’t fully conquered by Israel until II Samuel 5.
Judges 1:13 – Othniel would later be the first judge. Depending on how you read this, it seems that Othniel married his cousin (Caleb’s daughter).
The Israelites tended to better be able to hold positions in the hill country. The Canaanites had iron chariots and tended to hold locations in the plains more easily. Of course, with God helping them, if the Israelites had been doing as He instructed, they should have been able to easily hold any position.

Incomplete conquests portending apostasy (Judges 1:22-36)

Judges 1:24 – They seem to be asking for the secret entrance here, which ancient cities often had in case of siege.
See Deuteronomy 20:16. No one in Canaan was to be spared.

The angel of the Lord and Israel’s apostasy (Judges 2:1-5)

Takeaways

An incomplete eradication of sin will result in a disastrous downward spiral into unfaithfulness for us as it did for the Israelites.
Matthew 18:8
What is lingering in your life which is causing – or could cause – your spiritual demise?

Nebuchadnezzar

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Nebuchadnezzar was known as a great builder (the hanging gardens of Babylon, for example) and a fierce conqueror.
Jeremiah 52:4, 10-16 – Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and took some of the people back to Babylon, leaving only the poor in the land.
Jeremiah 25:8-12 – God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish Israel.

He would ‘learn his lesson,’ but then turn around and sin again.

Daniel 2:3, 26, 46-49 – Nebuchadnezzar glorified God and blessed Daniel and his friends.
Daniel 3:1, 6, 14, 19-21, 28-30 – Nebuchadnezzar set up an idol and tried to force others to worship it.
Daniel 4:29 – Nebuchadnezzar is back with more pride!
II Corinthians 12:21
Have I truly repented of my sin?
It is time to die to sin (Romans 6:2)!

He never focused exclusively on God.

Daniel 4:1-3 – Nebuchadnezzar calls God “the most high God.” See also Daniel 3:26. Although this is a correct term, it seems that Nebuchadnezzar might have thought of God as just being the highest of many gods.
Daniel 4:8-9, 18
Nebuchadnezzar changed the names of Daniel and his friends:
- Jewish names:
  - Daniel: God is my judge
  - Hananiah: Who is what God is?
  - Azariah: Yahweh has helped
- Babylonian names:
  - Belteshazzar: Bel protect the prince
  - Shadrach: Command of Aku
  - Meshach: Who is like Aku?
  - Abed-nego: Servant of Nebo
Daniel 5:11 – He never got rid of the other “magicians” even though he made Daniel chief of the magicians.
Acts 17:23-24, 31
Acts 4:12 – Salvation is in no else!
Matthew 16:18
Ephesians 4:4-6 – There is one God.

He was guilty of pride.

Daniel 4:25-37 – God humbled Nebuchadnezzar.
Are we guilty of pride?
Belshazzar saw what happened to Nebuchadnezzar and was still guilty of pride.

1 Timothy 1:1-2:8

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I Timothy 1

I Timothy 1:1-2 – Greeting

The letter is from Paul to Timothy.
Paul points out that God chose him to be an apostle.

I Timothy 1:3-7 – “instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines”

I Timothy 1:4
- Ephesus timeline:
  - Paul’s second journey: Acts 18:19-21
  - Paul’s third journey: Acts 19
  - Paul’s farewell: Acts 20 – trouble brewing
  - Paul’s letter: Ephesians
  - Timothy in Ephesus: I and II Timothy
  - John’s letter: Revelation 2:1-7
I Timothy 1:6-7 – Just because someone is confident doesn’t mean they know what they are talking about.

I Timothy 1:8-11 – “The Law is good”

I Timothy 1:9 – This is a not-but passage.

I Timothy 1:12-17 – Paul and Jesus

I Timothy 1:15 – See Acts 7:58; 8:1-3. Paul stood in approval of Stephen’s stoning. Acts 9:1-9, 17-22 tells of Paul’s conversion afterwards.
I Timothy 1:16 – Paul used himself as an example of the extreme change Christ can bring about in others.

I Timothy 1:18-20 – Timothy fighting the good fight

I Timothy 1:18 – This seems to be a reference back to I Timothy 1:3 about instructing people not to teach strange doctrines.

I Timothy 2

I Timothy 2:1-8 – Praying for people God wants to save.

I Timothy 2:1-2 – Pray that, if nothing else, the authorities will leave us alone.
I Timothy 2:4 – God wants everyone to be saved! See II Peter 3:9.
I Timothy 2:8 – Various postures in prayer are discussed in the Bible (Matthew 26:39; Acts 9:40; Mark 11:25). The emphasis here seems to be on holiness. It does not enforce a particular posture.

Holiness, Part 13

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness means action

Key passage of the quarter

I Peter 1:13-16

Why did God create us?

We have love to give, so we “create” children. God also has love to give, and He wants love in return.
Ephesians 2:8-10
James 2:14-26 – faith without works is dead
Hebrews 13:16
Titus 2:11-14 – special people zealous for good works
Titus 3:1 – be ready for every good work
Titus 3:8 – believers should engage in good works
Titus 3:14 – maintain good works so we are not unfruitful
I Timothy 6:17-19 – rich should be good, rich in good works, giving and sharing
II Timothy 3:16-17

Don’t grow weary

Galatians 6:7-10 – don’t grow weary in doing good, you will be rewarded
Romans 2:6-10 - don’t grow weary in doing good, you will be rewarded
Hebrews 6:10-12 - don’t grow weary in doing good, you will be rewarded

What is the point of good works?

Matthew 5:16 – people may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven

What are good works?

Fear

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

We were made to have fear.

Proverbs 22:3
Fear is useful and keeps us alive.
Healthy fear can be a good thing.

Fear is real.

Man and beast have fear.
- God made us and them that way.
- Protected and fed by animals’ fear of us – Genesis 9:2
Fear can help us – Proverbs 1:7
Fear can hinder us – Matthew 25:24-28
- Fear of acting in this case was called wicked and lazy.

What causes fear?

Danger
The unknown or unfamiliar
Overwhelming opposing force
Personal experience – II Corinthians 12:20-21
Other people’s experiences – Acts 9:26
Disapproval of others – John 9:17-22
Immediate consequences for actions – Jonah 3:4-9

Kinds of fear

Reverence and respect
- Cornelius – Acts 10:1-2
- Jonah – Jonah 1:1-3
Mortal fear
- Belshazzar – Daniel 5:1-6
- Saul and the Israelites – I Samuel 17:8-11, 21-24
- Peter – Matthew 14:27-31
Phobias
- Spiders, snakes, etc.
- Heights, people, situations
Memory fear
- “I remember what happened last time I did that.”
Fear of consequences
- Jonah – Jonah 3:10-4:3
- Ecclesiastes 8:11

It can be controlled

If we couldn’t control our fears, God wouldn’t have told us not to fear.
Some general guidelines
- Objectively examine what makes you afraid and why (awareness)
- Known what you can use to mitigate it (knowledge)
- Learn to use those items of mitigation (confidence)
- Example – fear of flying

Subjecting fear

Knowledge
- Proverbs 1:7
- Matthew 10:24-33
Familiarity
- Doing activities that make you fearful
- Understanding better through instruction
- Confidence through repeated exposure
Faith
- Matthew 10:29-30 – Truly believing you will be all right
- Faith that God is with you
  - Jeremiah – Jeremiah 1:4-8
  - Apostles – Matthew 28:19-20
  - Other times and other ways

Love

I John 4:16-19
Motivation to put the fear behind you.

Helping others gain courage

“Encouragement”
- Isaiah 35:3-4
- Acts 11:22-24 (Acts 4:36)
- Colossians 4:7-8
- Hebrews 3:13
Mentorship and examples
- Missionary activities rarely done alone.
- Titus 2:1-8

Why is courage so important?

Why work so hard for it
Why strive to encourage others?
- God instructs us
- It has eternal consequences – Revelation 21:8

Take courage

Encourage others

Introduction to Judges

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

When you think of the book of Judges …
- What event comes to mind?
- What character comes to mind?
- What quality of God comes to mind?
- What spiritual takeaway comes to mind?
Judges depicts a bleak chapter in Israel’s history: one of idol worship and faithlessness, necessitating God’s continual intervention to punish and deliver the Israelites from oppression.
- Psalms 106:34, 37-38
- Ruth 1:1

Historical context of Judges

Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and then thoroughly and repeatedly warned against the pitfalls of living in Canaan.
Deuteronomy 4:1, 9, 23-24; 11:18-23, 26-28
Covers a period of about 300 years and depicts part of the transition from “house of the father” (e.g. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to tribal confederacy to dynastic monarchy.
First event chronologically – Judges 2:6
The Israelites go from a time of relative unity (under Moses and Joshua’s leadership) to assimilating with heathen nations to anarchy and civil war.

What did the judges do?

God intended for judges to lead throughout Israel (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:8-13).
Described using one or two Hebrew words – the first associated with saving or rescuing and the second with dispensing judgment.
- Both found in the accounts of Othniel and Deborah (Judges 3:9-10; 4:4, 9-10), but more often the judges are said to serve as deliverers, (military) leaders, or decision makers.

Outline of Judges

Chapters 1-2 – Roots of Israel’s apostasy
Chapters 3-16 – The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy
Chapters 17-21 – The depths of Israel’s apostasy
Latter parts of the narrative focuses on two points (Judges 21:25)
- “in those days there was no king in Israel”
- “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”
Several graphic descriptions of God’s judgment (Ehud and Eglon) but also of wanton violence and depravity (Levite’s concubine).

General observations

God’s intervention does not imply either commendation or condemnation.
- Judges 14:4
God’s silence does not imply either commendation or condemnation.
Imagine trying to please God while living in Israel during this time.
God’s people need godly leaders.
Worldly surroundings negatively influence us.
We must take God’s warnings seriously!

Class goals

Better understanding of the text and its place in the Bible story.
Greater appreciation for God’s character.
Increased knowledge of the divine perspective on human nature.
Learn how to escape the trap into which the Israelites fell (Judges 8:34; II Peter 1:9).

Can We Trust the Bible?

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Many people consider the Bible an old book that has been endlessly copied. How do we know we can trust what it says?
The first big translation was the Septuagint. But Jesus, Paul, and other New Testament writers quoted from it.

Three sources of evidence

Jesus

Luke 4:14-21 – Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2, which was a messianic prophecy. Jesus called this passage scripture – God’s divinely inspired word. Were there copying mistakes in this scroll? Probably. But still, Jesus called it scripture.

Peter

II Peter 3:15-16 – Note that Peter called Paul a beloved brother despite Paul previously sharply rebuking Peter for hypocrisy.
I Peter 1:1 – Paul’s letters were all in wide circulation to all the churches by AD 70. Peter considered them equal to Old Testament scripture.
Colossians 4:16 – Paul directed that his letters be copied and read by all.

Paul

I Timothy 5:17-18 – Elders who rule well can be paid for their work. This is a quote from Luke 10:7. Paul quoted it and put it on par with Old Testament scripture.
All of these quoted from old, likely flawed manuscripts and called them scripture.

Conclusion

II Timothy 1:12

Holiness, Part 12

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Discerning between good and evil, continued

Questions that help us test, continued:

Does the action bother my conscience?

The conscience is a person’s inner awareness of conforming to the will of God or departing from it, resulting in either a sense of approval or condemnation.
Scripture talks about having a “good conscience”
- I Timothy 1:5
- I Timothy 1:19
- Acts 23:1
- Acts 24:16
Conscience can be tainted:
- I Timothy 4:1-2 – seared with a hot iron
- Ephesians 4:19 – being past feeling
Limited or incorrect knowledge is no excuse!
Romans 14:5 – let each be fully convinced in his own mind
Romans 14:23 – one who doubts is condemned

Does this action hinder my influence?

Matthew 5:13-16 – you are the light of the world
Philippians 2:14-15 – shine as lights in the world
Does my language hinder my influence?
- Ephesians 5:1-11 – obscenity, foolish talk, crude talking
- Ephesians 4:29 – no corrupt word
- Ephesians 4:31 – put away evil speaking
- If people are not ashamed of obscenity around you, maybe you aren’t having the influence you should.

Does the action dominate my life?

I Corinthians 6:12 – I will not be mastered by anything.

Could this action cause others to stumble?

I Corinthians 8:13 – if food makes my brother stumble, then I will never eat meat again

Can I carry out this action to the glory of God?

I Corinthians 10:31
Can I do this action and at the same time glorify God?

Culture of my Family: Social Media

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 13:34 – Love is the hallmark of Jesus’ disciples. They had personal contact with each other.
Time on devices is starting to replace time with other people.
When people cut back on social media, within two weeks they were happier and less depressed.
10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High Tech World by Jean Twenge

Make sure your daughters and sons know how valuable they are.

Genesis 1:26-27 – We are made in God’s image.
Genesis 9:3-6
John 4:24
I Corinthians 15:50-53
My body is not me. I just live here right now.
I Peter 1:14-16
I Peter 3:3-4
Our value comes from being created in the image of God.

Teach your sons and daughters to be pure.

Job 1:1; 31:1
II Peter 2:14
I John 2:16
Matthew 5:27

Help them grow comfortable being different from the world.

Matthew 5:29-30 – It is worth whatever it takes to make it to Heaven.
Matthew 7:13-14 – We want to be one of the few.
Romans 12:2
Meta’s internal research shows that most people wish Instagram didn’t exist – including Instagram’s own users!
Matthew 5:14-16

Jude, Part 3

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Jude 1

Jude 1:8-9
- See Deuteronomy 34:5-8 regarding the death and burial of Moses. It is not clear what this dispute was about or when it happened.
- II Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15 – We can rebuke sin, but we must do so with humility.
- Michael the archangel:
  - Daniel 10:13, 21
  - Daniel 12:1
  - Revelation 12:7-9 – Michael was in a position of elevated power.
Jude 1:10 – See I Corinthians 2:14; 3:1; 1:18.
Jude 1:11 – See Numbers 22:16-17; 16:3
Jude 1:12-13 – “love feasts”: See Proverbs 25:14; Matthew 21:19; II Peter 2:13.
Jude 1:14-15 – This is the only place where we read of Enoch prophesying. There is a Book of Enoch, but here Jude claims to be quoting Enoch himself.
Jude 1:17-19 – See Acts 20:29; I Timothy 4:1; II Timothy 3:5; II Peter 2:1; I John 4:1.
Jude 1:20-21 – Trouble is coming. Build yourself up spiritually!
Jude 1:22-23 – Help people, but do so in whatever way is appropriate to the situation.
Jude 1:24-25 – When we are obeying God, He can protect us from the devil.

"Do not let any iniquity have dominion over me"

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 119:129-136

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Romans 7:14-25

“… grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”

Ephesians 4:15-24 – Growing is a process over time. We must put on the new self. We can change! We can get out of old habits and change the way we live.
Hebrews 5:12-14
Over time, we can become stronger spiritually.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Proverbs 13:20
II Chronicles 24:1-2, 15-19 – The influences in Joash’s life changed and he also changed, turning away from God.
It’s hard to have mature, spiritual conversations with worldly people.
Psalms 119:9-16
Philippians 4:8
James Clear, Atomic Habits – example of heroine addiction and change of environment
Can you change your environment to make things easier for yourself?
Proverbs 5:8; 7:7, 25 – Get out of bad situations!
What can I do to get away from temptation?
James 4:7
Luke 15:18-24 – God and the angels rejoice when we forsake sin!

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it.”

– C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, 1945

Holiness, Part 11

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Discerning between good and evil

Sins that Christians “used to do”

I Peter 4:1-4 – lewdness (indecent behavior), lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, idolatry

What happens when we aren’t sure?

I Thessalonians 5:21-23
- Test everything
- Hold fast to what is good
- Abstain from every form of evil
- May God sanctify you

Questions that help us test

Is the action like something the Bible condemns?

Galatians 5:19-21
- Sexual immorality, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft (sorcery), hatred, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, division, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries

Sin, Grace, and Righteousness

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 15:10

When we recognize the ugliness of sin, we appreciate grace even more.

Ezekiel 16:15-17, 32-37
Micah 3:1-4
Malachi 2:1-3
II Peter 2:20-22
The ugliness of sin is totally contrary to the beauty and purity of God. Yet God is willing to forgive!

Grace is forgiveness, not a repayment plan.

Isaiah 1:18
Romans 4:1-5, 23 – No one earns their way into heaven. God deeds cannot wipe away sins.
Romans 6:3-4

Grace should motivate righteousness, not sin.

Acts 2:37-38 – See Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 53:11; Joel 2:32. The gift of the Holy Spirit is salvation.
Acts 2:42-47
Ephesians 2:8-10 – They were not working off the sin, but they were living righteously.
Titus 2:11-14
Grace is not a license to sin.
Our response to grace should be gratitude and motivation to live righteously.
I Corinthians 15:10

Jude, Part 2

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Jude 1

Jude 1:1
- Jude is the same word as Judas, but it is traditionally translated as Jude. He is the brother of James and Jesus.
- See Matthew 13:55
- It’s interesting that Jude introduces himself as the servant of Jesus, not the brother (see John 7:5).
- Acts 1:14
- This letter was probably written between 60-80 A.D. The letter is written to Christians.
Jude 1:3
- The word translated “contend” is a very strong word. The English translation is not strong enough. The Greek word behind it carries the idea of a vigorous fight.
- Galatians 1:6-9 – The faith was once delivered – there are no upcoming revelations.
Jude 1:4 – They were twisting God’s grace into a license for sin. See Romans 5:20-21; Galatians 5:13.
Jude 1:5-7 – God punished His own special nation (Israel) repeatedly for disobedience. We cannot think that we will not be punished.
- Jude 1:6 – See II Peter 2:4. Even angels were punished when they sinned.
- Jude 1:7 – See Genesis 19:4-5, 24-28; Romans 1:26-27 – Some take this verse to imply that punishment in hell is not actually eternal. See Mark 9:47. It could mean that Sodom and Gomorrah were just a taste of the punishment to come. Note that the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah was a one-time event, but the people were condemned to eternal destruction, which could be the point of the verse.

Prayer of the Levites

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Nehemiah 9 summarizes the Old Testament timeline.

The prayer of the Levites

Nehemiah 9:1-3 – This was a special event.
Nehemiah 9:6-8 – They are remembering their roots, so to speak.
Nehemiah 9:16-21 – Our of God’s compassion, He preserved them despite their rebellion.
Nehemiah 9:22-25 – Thought they didn’t deserve any of it, God blessed them to live in the land of Canaan, where much of the work of setting up cities and farms was already done.
Nehemiah 9:26-31 – For centuries, God was patient with them despite their rebellion.

The goodness of God

James 1:17 – The blessings come from God When we rebel against God, we bring problems upon ourselves.
At every turn, God was good to the Israelites.
Do we appreciate the goodness of God like we should?
I Peter 1:3-5 – Has anyone been blessed more than us?
Hebrews 11:39-40 – We are privileged to live at this time in history.

The disobedience of the people

Romans 2:2-11 – If we are punished, that is on us.
The Exodus generation saw so many miracles and yet were unfaithful.
Romans 6:16, 20-23
Why would we be disobedient, given all our blessings?

The need to walk in God’s law

Nehemiah 10:28-31 – They rededicated themselves to serve God.
Romans 12:1-2
I need to repent.

Holiness, Part 10

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Putting to death the deeds of the flesh

Anything wrong with these?

“I have been praying that the Lord will motivate me to stop …”
“Lord please remove this temptation from me.”
Key passage: Romans 8:12-14

We must cultivate a conviction to do so.

Conviction is: the state of being convicted: belief
Conviction that living a holy life is God’s will for my life.
- I Peter 1:14-16
- Romans 6:1-2
- I Thessalonians 4:7
- II Corinthians 6:17
Conviction that without holiness no one shall see God
- Hebrews 12:14
Conviction that the efforts and pain required to “kill” the misdeeds of the body is with the reward*.*
- James 1:12
  - … endures temptation …
  - … crown of life …

We must be committed to our convictions.

Daniel 1:8 - … purposed in his heart …
James 1:21-22

Truth

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 18:37-38 – “What is truth?”
“There is no truth”
“Truth is subjective.”
“Truth is what you want it to be.”
“Truth is different for everyone.”
“Truth changes.”
“I have my truth and you have your truth.”
III John 1:1-4, 8, 11-12
58% of adults agreed: “There can be multiple, conflicting moral truth views in any given situation without anyone being wrong.”

Truth comes from God.

John 14:5-6
John 15:26; 16:13
Truth is not something the apostles were making up.
John 17:17-19
Colossians 1:1-6
If you want absolute truth, go to God’s word!

Truth is an objective reality that is external to human emotions, religious trends, social fads, and political movements.

Genesis 37:31-34 – Sincerity does not equal truth.
Genesis 39:7-10 – Joseph did the right thing because he recognized objective external truth.
I Corinthians 13:4-6 – Love rejoices with the truth.
33% of adults agreed: “Truth is a social creation; it is not an absolute, consistent reality unaffected by cultural differences.”
44% of adults agreed: “Different religions/philosophies having conflicting ideas about moral truth proves there are no moral absolutes.”
45% of adults agreed: “Perceptions of moral truth change over time and across cultures, proving there is no absolute moral truth.”
Dr. David Zuccolotto: “Find your truth is no longer about honesty – it’s about authority. It doesn’t just encourage self-expression; it commands you to build a worldview from the inside out, as if your private sense of self could bear the weight of defining reality.”
Brett McCracken: “the philosophy of ‘your truth’ destroys families when a dad suddenly decides ‘his truth’ is calling him to a new lover, a new family, or maybe even a new gender. It’s a philosophy that can destroy entire societies, because invariably one person’s truth will go to battle with another person’s truth, and, devoid of reason, only power decides the victor.”
Isaiah 5:20-21
Ephesians 4:11-14

Truth is what matters on the Day of Judgment.

John 12:46-49
I Corinthians 6:10
Galatians 5:22-23
I Peter 1:22

Philemon, Part 3; Overview of Jude

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Philemon 1

Philemon 1:8-9 – Paul could have ordered Philemon (he had authority as an apostle) but instead appealed to him in love.
- See II Corinthians 8:8
- See also Philemon 1:14
- What precisely was Paul asking Philemon to do here? Possibly, he was asking Onesimus to be allowed to stay and minister to Paul. Or he may be asking Philemon to simply receive Onesimus (Philemon 1:17).
Philemon 1:10-11 – The name “Onesimus” means “useful.” This is apparently a play on words. Paul seems to indicate here that he converted Onesimus while he was in prison.
- See Colossians 4:7-9.
Philemon 1:14 – Paul did not want to be presumptuous with his handling of Onesimus. He wanted to operate out of love rather than authority.
Philemon 1:15-16 – Despite the previous relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, Paul is reminding them that they are now brothers in Christ.
Philemon 1:17-19 – The literary device in verse 19 is called a paralipsis, in which something is mentioned by saying you are not mentioning it. See other uses of this device in I Thessalonians 4:9; 5:1.
- The meaning of verse 19 is not entirely clear. Paul could mean that he converted Philemon.
Philemon 1:21 – Paul continues to appeal out of love.
Philemon 1:22-25 – Paul was hoping to be released from prison. Colossians was written after Philemon and Paul was still in prison at that time. Paul was thriving and being productive, even in prison.

Jude – quick overview

Observations

Error is a serious problem, and not unique to Jude.

Compare II Peter 2. Some of the same examples as Jude are used.

The Holy Spirit inspires Jude to use a lot of triads and triplets.

Jude 1:1, 2, 5-7, 8, 11, 19, 22-23

There are several things mentioned here that are not mentioned elsewhere (at least, not in any great detail).

Don’t run wild with curiosity and speculation. John 21:20-23; Deuteronomy 29:29

Holiness, Part 9

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness is a daily battle, continued

The external battle … with Satan, continued

He is an active enemy … but one we can fight.

James 4:7 – submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you
I Peter 5:8 – your enemy walks about like a roaring lion, resist him
- Be soberminded – there is something for us to do!

He is persistent …

Luke 4:13

He is crafty …

II Corinthians 11:3, 13-15 – serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, transforms into an angel of light
Matthew 7:15-16 – false prophets dressed like sheep
II Corinthians 2:11 – he uses schemes and tricks

He is subtle …

Psalms 1:1-2 – progression of sin: walk, stand, sit

The internal battle … within ourselves

Galatians 5:16-17 – lust of the flesh vs. spirit
Why does the flesh have lust?
- James 1:12-16 – drawn away by his own desires and enticed
Romans 7:22-25 – Paul says the internal battle is hard!
- I do the things I hate
- I do evil I do not want to do
- He recognizes the battle

Greed

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 11:6

Greed is the desire to have more.

Romans 1:28
I Corinthians 6:9—10
I Corinthians 5:9
I Thessalonians 2:5
II Peter 2:1-3, 14 – False teachers were greedily extorting them.
Mar 7:21-23 – Greed comes from the heart.
II Corinthians 9:5-7 – Don’t let greed spoil things.
Ephesians 4:19; 5:3 – Greed can involve desires other than money.
Colossians 3:5

Money is not the answer we think it is.

I Timothy 6:9-10 – The love of money is the problem.

“lottery winners declare bankruptcy at twice the normal rate”

Ecclesiastes 5:10 – If you loe money, you won’t be satisfied with money.
Matthew 22:39
Ephesians 4:28
Gambling is an avenue for greed.
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Greed is fixed by spiritual maturity, not more money.

Luke 12:13-21
Philippians 4:11 – Paul learned to be content.
Colossians 3:1-4
I Timothy 6:6-12

Philemon and Slavery, Part 2

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

New Testament slavery, continued

Ephesians 6:5-9
Colossians 3:22-4:1
I Timothy 6:1-2
Titus 2:9-10
I Timothy 1:10
Matthew 20:26-28 – If you wish to be great, be a servant.
John 13:13
Luke 17:1-10 – The centurion and his relationship with his slave.
Philemon 1:10-17 – This might indicate that Paul was involved in the conversion of Onesimus. The gospel transforms every relationship, even master/slave.
Colossians 4:7, 12, 9 – People referred to as slaves of Christ.

Philemon 1

Philemon 1:1-3 – Apphia and Archippus might be Philemon’s wife and son (Colossians 4:17). Possibly, Archippus was a preacher working there.
Philemon 1:4-5 – Paul constantly mentioned his prayers for others.

Authority For Our New Building

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Colossians 3:17
Hebrews 10:25
I Corinthians 14:23
Acts 20:7
We have authority to assemble and need a place to do so.
John 4:21

Classrooms for Biblical teaching

In the New Testament, we find authority for churches to be involved in the teaching of God’s word.

Acts 15:35
Acts 13:1
Acts 18:4, 8, 11
I Corinthians 4:17
I Corinthians 14:26
Acts 20:28, 32 – Arranging Bible classes is one way that elders can shepherd the flock.

As far as I know, there are two main arguments against classes:

First, some object to classes by saying that it divides the assembly, and we have no authority to divide the assembly (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 15:30; 11:26).
Another objection to Bible classes is that it involves women in an unscriptural way.
- I Corinthians 14:34-35
- I Timothy 2:11-12

No kitchen or fellowship hall

The church building is not sacred like the temple was.

As a local church, we need to abide by what the New Testament authorizes us to do as a church.

Provide for needy Christians
- Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
- Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
Preaching the gospel
- Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
- Support preachings in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
Worship and edification
- Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
- Assemble to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
- Have elders (Acts 20:28)
- Have deacons (I Timothy 3:8-13)
- Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
- Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
- Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
- Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
- Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
- Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
- Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)

There is no passage that gives a church authority to provide facilities for regular meals.

Churches can provide for needy Christians
- Acts 6:1
Churches can provide for the Lord’s Supper
- I Corinthians 11:17-22, 34

The difference between an individual and the church

Matthew 18:15-17
Philippians 4:15 – Sometimes the church acts via money.
Acts 4:32-5:4
I Timothy 5:16
Matthew 9:10
Acts 16:34
Acts 2:46-47

Can’t the church practice fellowship?

(share, contribute, participate)
Philippians 4:15
Luke 5:19
I Corinthians 10:16
I Timothy 5:22
I John 1:7
Acts 2:42

We can make the same point about edification

Acts 20:32; I Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:11-12

Holiness, Part 8

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness is a daily battle

What prevents us from being holy?

External influences
Pride
Doubt

This battle takes on two forms:

External
Internal

We are being lied to by external influences all around us:

Godless society
Moral relativism
- The idea that there is no absolute right and wrong.
- Judges 17:6; 21:25
Pluralistic ideology
- The idea that we’re all going to heaven, just on different paths.
- This is somewhat related to the idea of multiculturalism when it is applied to religion.
- Isaiah 5:20

Reminders:

Romans 12:1-2 – Don’t conform, be transformed
II Corinthians 6:17 – Come out and be separate
I Peter 1:15-16 – We CAN be holy

Battle – Ephesians 6:10-13

Ephesians 6:10 – Be strong
Ephesians 6:11 – Put on armor; stand firm against devil’s schemes
Ephesians 6:12 – Struggle not against flesh/blood

External battle … with Satan

He is an active enemy … but one we can fight
- James 4:7 – Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The Importance of Congregational Singing

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Singing has always been important to God’s people.

Exodus 15:1-7 – The song of Moses.
I Samuel 18:6-7
The book of Psalms is a collection of the songs of God’s people.
- Psalms 72

Congregational singing is a fellowship.

Psalms 95:1-7 – This is something we do together. God’s people are always stronger together.
- “O come”
- “Let us”

Congregational singing IS and IS NOT

It IS a command – NOT an option

Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:12-16 – Don’t make excuses for why you don’t sing. It is a command right along with kindness, humility, and patience.
Exodus 4:10-14
Psalms 100:1
We are not commanded to sing only if we are good at it.

It IS worship – NOT entertainment

John 4:24
Psalms 100:1-5
Singing is about God – not us. It is not a time for us to showcase our talents – that is worshipping me.

It IS from the heart – NOT empty words

Mark 12:30
Psalms 103:1
Malachi 1; Matthew 15:8-9

It IS a sermon – NOT a “warm-up”

Singing teachings – Colossians 3:16
Singing encourages – Hebrews 10:24-25
Singing comforts – Acts 16:25; Matthew 26:30
Singing draws us closer to God – James 4:8
- … and each other

Differences Between First and Second Generation Christians

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 1:5 – We must make our faith our own.
I John 4:1 – This is my responsibility.

First generation Christians

When he hears the truth for the first time, it’s always from the vantage point of unbelief and error. He had his beliefs and faith called into question in terms of truth.
Conversion is always a traumatic experience, paying a great price.
With reference to truth, what he is concerned with is, is it right or am I right with truth? Am I faithful and lower to the truth? Sees faith differently.
The problem: Apt to become radical. Identifies any variation with innovation or defection. Equates own belief and own perception with the truth. It’s personal.

Second generation Christians

He hears the truth for the first time from the vantage point of belief. Had things to be sorry for, but not like the first generation Christian.
Conversion is not traumatic. Parents were there when baptized. Grew up in a context of belief.
Concern becomes the people. Let’s not disturb them, because it’s going so well. Not am I right, but who will I upset. Have I just inherited what I believe and grew up with – go back over old ground.
The problem: Seldom becomes radical. He becomes liberal. Rationalizes innovation as a way to do it better. Doesn’t have background to be a radical.

Testimonies from those who are first generation Christians

What was your conversion experience like? How were you taught? What were the major roadblocks to conversion for you? What sacrifices did you make or continue to make after conversion?

Lazarus

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 11:1-16

Jesus let Lazarus die.

John 11:5-6 – Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, yet He did not leave immediately to see Lazarus when He heard he was sick.
Jesus loved them … so he let Lazarus die.
- Jesus let Lazarus die because he loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
- John 11:4, 15 – Jesus had a plan all along.
They were allowed to suffer, though they were loved by the Lord, so God’s glory could be displayed.
Matthew 10:28-31
Whatever happens in life, use it to glorify God.

Martha’s response

John 11:17-27 – Martha was a great woman of faith. Martha never questioned Jesus’ love or His power.
Martha declares her faith in the Lord in the midst of grief.
II Corinthians 4:7-8
Psalms 42:5; 109:21-30 – It’s natural to be upset, but we must not lose our faith.
Martha keeps things in the right perspective.
- For those who follow Christ, death is not permanent.

Jesus cares deeply

Lazarus’ death caused Jesus to be deeply moved.
- John 11:32-40
Even though He let it happen … He still had so much compassion for His children.
- Luke 2:12
- Matthew 20:34
- Mark 8:2; 1:41
God still has compassion on us today.
- John 11:40-44

Holiness, Part 7

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

How is holy living possible? (continued)

The process of sanctification

The work of the Holy Spirit

Romans 15:16 – Gentile offering … sanctified by the Holy Spirit
Romans 15:18-19 – by word/deed, by miracles (signs/wonders), by power of the Spirit of God
I Corinthians 6:11 – washed/sanctified/justified … by the Spirit
II Thessalonians 2:13 – sanctification by the Spirit
I Peter 1:1-2 – the sanctifying work of the Spirit
Holy Spirit – what do we know?
- He is a He, not an “it” – John 14:16-17
- He spoke – I Timothy 4:1; Acts 8:29; 10:19-20; Acts 13:1-4; John 14:26
- He intercedes – Romans 8:26
- He has a mind/knowledge – Romans 8:27; I Corinthians 2:11
- He has love – Romans 15:30
- He can be hurt by us – Ephesians 4:30; Matthew 12:31-32; Hebrews 10:29; Acts 5:3
- Gift of the Holy Spirit received at baptism – Acts 2:38-39; 11:7; I Corinthians 12:13
Location of the Holy Spirit
- Titus 3:5-6 – He is instrumental in our spiritual regeneration when we become Christians.
- I Corinthians 6:19-20 – Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
- Ephesians 3:14-16 – strengthens our inner man
- John 14:17
- Romans 8:9-11
- Galatians 4:6
- Ephesians 3:20

The work of the Word of God

Ephesians 6:17 – word=sword of the Spirit
John 17:17 – sanctified by truth=word
Ephesians 5:25-26 – sanctify … by the word

Sanctification:

… is received through Christ
… takes place at baptism upon obedience (death of the old man)
… is ongoing (as we walk in the light)
… is work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God (Bible)

Our Crooked and Perverse Generation

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philippians 2:15

What is going on?

Genesis 4:6-10
Genesis 6:11-13
Sin is going on. It is nothing new.
Hebrews 1:1-3
Ezekiel 7:23
Hebrews 11:36-39
Mark 15:22-25 – The creation murdered the Creator.
Luke 23:41 – Jesus did nothing wrong!
Mark 16:10-15 – Jesus’ disciples were so confused that they did not believe that He had been resurrected.

What is the solution?

Matthew 15:18 – Change the heart!
Laws and law enforcement are important, but more fundamental than that is the hearts of men. No laws can be good enough or law enforcement comprehensive enough if the hearts of men are not aligned with God.
Matthew 10:7-23, 28 – People were hostile to this message.
Jonah 3:1-8
Hosea 4:1-7 – The more people left God, the worse society became.

What should I do today?

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:25-37 – Prove yourself a neighbor to others.
Matthew 5:44

Put on the new self.

Ephesians 4:24
People need to submit to Jesus. We must be the example showing the way.

Support justice, but not vengeance.

Romans 12:17-21
Romans 13:1-4

Pray

I Timothy 2:1-2

Endure

Hebrews 12:1-3

Philemon and Slavery

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The slavery practiced in America was full of sin.

Stealing people is slavery.

I Timothy 1:10 – Enslaving listed as a sin.
Exodus 21:16 – Death penalty for selling someone into slavery.
This is not the same as imprisoning criminals.

Mistreating people is sinful.

Galatians 5:19-21
Matthew 7:12
James 5:4
Philippians 2:3

Racism is sinful.

Genesis 1:27
Acts 17:26
I John 4:20-21
Matthew 22:39

Slavery existed in various forms and was regulated in various ways in the Old Testament.

“a Hebrew man or woman”

Deuteronomy 15:12-18

“slaves from the pagan nations”

Leviticus 25:44-46 – Under the Old Covenant, it was permitted to buy and own slaves with certain restrictions.
Leviticus 18:2-3, 24-30 – Don’t do what these other nations were doing.

New Testament slavery

I Corinthians 7:18-24 – There are different kinds of slavery: physical and spiritual.
I Corinthians 12:13
Galatians 3:28 – You can be a Christian no matter what state you are in.
Colossians 3:11

Two Big Problems I Need to Fix

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Procrastination

I Thessalonians 5:2-3 – The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Luke 12:20
II Corinthians 8:10-12 – Do what you can today! Don’t wait for the perfect time.
II Corinthians 6:1-2 – Now is the favorable time.

Desire

Genesis 3:6 – People often do things just because they want to.
I Timothy 2:14
Numbers 25:1-8 – Why serve idols? Because it involved, food, fornication, and fun.
Revelation 2:14
If I want to be a better Christian and better influence on others, I must work on my desire. I need to learn to desire what God wants, not what I want.
If I really want to do something, I will find the time to do it.
Matthew 5:6
Acts 20:7; 17:11
Matthew 22:35-38
I Corinthians 12:13
Galatians 3:28 – You can be a Christian no matter what state you are in.
Colossians 3:11

Holiness, Part 6

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

How is holy living possible?

Is holy living even possible?

Key passage: Romans 6:5-7
- This is our goal.
Romans 6:12-19
- Do not let sin reign in your body
- Sin shall not have dominion over you
- We are under grace
- Slaves of sin no more
- Slaves of righteousness now
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ
I John 5:14-15 – Ask according to His will. He hears us.
What is the risk if we don’t believe we can be HOLY?
- We might get the idea that all we need is grace.

God’s role in our holiness

Hebrews 10:10 – Through the body of Christ, sacrificed once for all people, we can be made holy.
Ephesians 2:8-10
- Saved by grace (God’s favor)
- Through faith (man’s part)
All Christians are “sanctified”
- I Corinthians 1:2 – people who were “sanctified in Christ Jesus”
- I Corinthians 6:11 – people had been “sanctified”
- I Corinthians 3:1-3 – Who were these sanctified people?
  - Faithful Christians, but they also still had problems
Christians are also “being sanctified”
- Hebrews 2:11 – Greek tense is continual
- Our relationship to God and Jesus is different through sanctification.
- I John 1:6-7 – Blood of Christ continually cleanses us from sin

The Lord's Model Prayer

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 6:9-13

The point of prayer

It’s not to show off (Matthew 6:5)

Long prayers are not bad – Jesus Himself sometimes prayed for long amounts of time.
The problem is when you are making a long prayer just to show off.

It’s not to have “meaningless repetition” (Matthew 6:7)

Don’t just say the phrases by rote without meaning.

It’s not to provide information to God (Matthew 6:8)

God already knows what we need before we ask.

It’s a personal connection with God (Matthew 6:6)

God is not too busy to listen to us. He wants to hear from us.

“Pray then, in this way …”

“Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name.”

“name” can refer to more than just your literal name.
- Matthew 10:22; 12:21; Acts 3:6
- It can also refer to a person’s power, reputation, etc.
We should keep God holy and revered in our minds.

“Your kingdom come.”

Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17
At the time, the kingdom was imminent.
Acts 2:29-36 – Jesus fulfilled the prophecy made to David a thousand years before.
After Acts 2, the kingdom was already in existence. Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9
We could still pray this in the sense of God’s rule coming into people’s hearts.

“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Matthew 26:39

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

I Peter 5:6
God cares about things that matter to us.
I Thessalonians 5:17 – We should be praying daily.

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Matthew 6:14
This is referring to transgressions and spiritual debts.
Acts 8:13, 18-22
Christians maintain their relationship with God via prayer.
I John 1:9

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

James 1:13-14
Scriptures often references indirect action. We know that God Himself does not tempt anyone, but He allows us to be tempted through our own free will.
- Acts 1:18
- John 4:1
- Job 42:11

“[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]”

This verse was not included in the most ancient manuscripts.

James 5:1-20

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

James 5

James 5:3 – The meaning of the end of this verse is a bit unclear. It may just mean that this problem had become especially bad recently.
James 5:4 – Under the Law of Moses, workers were to be paid at the end of every day.
James 5:6 – Compares James 2:6. The rich were abusing the poor.
James 5:7 – Be patient! The “coming of the Lord” may mean the second coming of Christ or it may just mean God’s punishment on the unrighteous wealthy men in James 5:1-6.
James 5:10 – Be patient like the prophets. Many of them were treated horribly.
James 5:11 – Job is the example of patient suffering. But the Lord is full of compassion and merciful. This is the lesson we should get from Job!
James 5:13-15 – Is this referring to spiritual or physical illness?
- The work of elders – Titus 1:9; I Timothy 5:17
- Anointing with oil – Psalms 23:5; Hebrews 1:9
James 5:20 – This is a concise refutation of “once saved, always saved.”

Holiness, Part 5

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness: optional for Christians?

Holiness is not optional because:

It is given through Christ

II Timothy 1:8-10 – This was the plan from the very beginning.
Hebrews 10:10-14, 19-26 – By Christ’s one perfect sacrifice, we can be made holy.

It is required for fellowship with God

Who will see the Lord?
- Hebrews 12:14
- Psalms 15:1-5 – Who shall sojourn in your tent?
  - Psalms 15:2
    - He who walks uprightly
    - He who works righteousness
    - He who speaks truth in His heart
  - Psalms 15:3
    - Does not slander with his tongue
    - Does not do evil with his neighbor
    - Does not take up reproach from his friend
  - Psalms 15:4
    - Despises vile people and honors God-fearing people
    - Who keeps an oath even when it hurts
  - Psalms 15:5
    - Who is fair and honest in financial matters

It is required for effective service to God

II Timothy 2:19-21 – Do you have “china” (place settings) in your house?
- II Timothy 2:21 – Gives a description of the honorable vessel. “Set apart as holy” and therefore “useful to the master.”

Serving Christ (when you're not a spring chicken anymore)

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 16:31

Be realistic, but optimistic

Acts 1:16
Psalms 71:9, 15, 5-8 – He had learned to trust in the Lord.
Philemon 1:8-9 – Paul appealed to him as an old man. Can you do this as well?
II Samuel 19:39-39 – Barzillai returned home and sent his servant on to help David. He aged gracefully and wisely.
Older people are often very content. This can be a great lesson to others.
II Corinthians 4:16

Younger folks should honor older folks

I Timothy 5:3
Philippians 3:17
Thank you to all of our older folks!

You ain’t done yet!

Psalms 92:12-15
Luke 1:36 – Elizabeth bore a son in her old age.
Luke 2:36-38 – Anna served in the temple in her old age.
Exodus 7:7 – Moses was eighty years old when he stood before God.
Leviticus 19:32 – Honoring the older people was part of the Law of Moses.
I Timothy 3:6 – Elders must be men with experience.
Example: Dr. Chibanda trained grandmothers in Zimbabwe to help those with psychological issues. The grandmothers were more effective than the doctors!
II Timothy 1:5
Titus 2:3-4

James 4:1-17

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

James 4

James 4:1 – See James 1:14; 3:13. The source of our trouble is our own lust – not God. Other people might create problems, but we must look inward and see what problems we might be causing ourselves.
James 4:2-3 – See I John 5:14. We should not think that prayer is a magic ability to satisfy our physical desires. It should not be used as an avenue for selfishness.
James 4:4 – See II Corinthians 11:2.
- Friendship with the world:
  - John 17:15
  - Ephesians 5:7
  - I John 2:15
  - I Thessalonians 5:22
  - Romans 12:2, 9
  - Romans 1:32
  - Galatians 6:14
James 4:5 – This is often presented as a quote in various translations, but there were no quotes in the original. There is no verse in the Old Testament or New Testament that matches this. The NIV translation has a good take on this – it is not a quote but something that Scripture says in general.
James 4:6 – Pride separates us from God.
James 4:7 – We don’t negotiate with God. He has already given us His offer. It is up to us to accept. We are more powerful than Satan. If we resist him, there is nothing else he can do.
James 4:8 – Put the sin out of your life!
James 4:10 – God is looking for humble hearts.
James 4:11 – See John 7:24. Don’t let this conflict with Jesus’ commands to discern rightly. Don’t attempt to put yourself above the law.
James 4:13 – It is not sinful to make a plan, but don’t leave God out of your plans.
James 4:17 – The “right thing to do” is what he just said in James 4:15 – live with God in mind.

Lessons from Football

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 1:17
John 4:13-14, 34 – Jesus often used physical things to teach spiritual lessons.
John 7:37-38

Self-control and discipline

I Corinthians 9:24-27
Athletes put tremendous effort into training and preparing for their sport. They practice great discipline over themselves.
How is my spiritual preparation and training going?

Sacrifice

II Corinthians 12:14-15
Philippians 2:14-15
Paul sacrificed his time, energy, and health to spread the gospel.
II Timothy 2:8-10, 3
There is no cause more worthy than the cause of Christ.
Whatever it costs to serve God is worth it!

Wrong priorities

Matthew 6:25-34
I Corinthians 6:12
We should not be completely obsessed with anything outside of God.
Matthew 22:37
Ephesians 5:3

Football crowds are nothing … compared to Heaven!

Revelation 5:11-14

Holiness, Part 4

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness of Christ

Scripture calls Him holy

Mark 1:24 – I know who you are – the Holy One of God!
Luke 1:35 – Holy One who is to be born
Hebrews 7:26 – High Priest who is Holy

How did He demonstrate His holiness?

Christ was sinless

Hebrews 4:15 – tempted as we are, yet without sin
II Corinthians 5:21 – knew no sin
I John 3:5 – in Him there is no sin
John 8:12, 42-47
If Jesus had sin, then …
- His teaching would be discredited.
- He would not have been God.
- He would have needed salvation.
- He would not be qualified to be our sacrifice.

Christ knew His purpose

Holiness of God – Jesus was sinless – perfect, unmatched
Holiness of anything else – Jesus made the common into something special.
John 6:38 – I am here to do the will of my Father.
John 8:29 – I always do those things that please Him.
John 4:34 – My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.

How should His holiness affect us?

He was perfect in all holiness – without sin

How does that affect me?
- Hebrews 7:25-27 – Earthly priests needed their own sacrifices. Jesus did not.
- II Corinthians 5:20-21 – He became the sin offering for us.

Christians on Campus

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 1:7

Academic integrity

II Corinthians 8:20-21 – It would have been easy for Paul to steal some of the money, but he didn’t want his integrity to be questioned.
Ephesians 4:25
Colossians 3:23
We are now in the age of AI. Texas A&M University is trying to crack down on cheating via generative AI.
This could be a challenge if you are not cheating, but you see cheaters getting away with it and having a much easier time in school.

Independent faith

Hebrews 11:1-3, 6-7
Romans 10:17
I must read and come to my own faith.
Noah built the ark because of his faith.
Asking questions is the way to develop faith.
Ephesians 6:16

Pure dress

Romans 6:12-14 – Am I using my body as an instrument of unrighteousness?
Romans 13:13-14
Be careful of the effect your clothing has on others.
Luke 17:1-2 – Woe to those who cause others to stumble.

Budgeted time

Ephesians 5:15-16
Luke 8:14
Plan and be deliberate with how you use your time.
Psalms 1:1-3
Make a resolution to put God first!

Faithful friends

Mark 3:31-35 – Jesus was emphasizing the closeness of His spiritual family.
II Peter 1:1
There are many clubs and groups to be involved with. Take advantage of the people in this room! Spend time with the people that you have the most important things in common with.

James 3:1-18

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

James 3

James 3:1-12

James 3:1 – Be careful about being teachers. We have plenty of authority to teach, but we must be careful with that responsibility.
James 3:2 – If you can control your tongue, you are doing well! This is something we must constantly work on.
James 3:3 – Proverbs 20:21 – Speech is powerful!
James 3:6 – A single word or sentence can have enormous consequences.
James 3:7-8 – We can control so many creatures, but not the tongue.

James 3:13-18

James 3:13 – Wisdom is shown by good behavior.
James 3:17
- Pure – wisdom that is true
- Peace-loving – not inclined to break the peace unless necessary.
- Reasonable – able to be reasoned with
- Full of mercy – Mercy is not weakness. Our example is God’s mercy.
- Impartiality – without prejudice or bias
James 3:18 – Peacemakers create the fruit of righteousness.

Remarks About the New Church Building

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 14; Acts 20:7 – It’s God’s will that local churches assemble. Buildings are authorized under this general authority.

Let’s keep our focus on the spiritual.

Matthew 23:5, 23-24

Let’s thank God for the building.

Acts 2:46; 3:11; 5:12 – Where did the first Christians meet? Solomon’s portico.
Isn’t the need for a new building a wonderful problem to have?
Many brethren in the world do not enjoy such comforts.

Let’s not compromise the gospel to fill the pews.

Galatians 1:10

Wherever we worship, let’s try to do it well.

Philippians 4:17

In matters of judgment, let us practice love.

Romans 14:13
Let us be kind, patient, and loving.

Holiness, Part 3

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness: Its expression in scripture

God’s name is holy (Matthew 6:9; Luke 1:49)
- Before scribes would write the name of God, they would change clothes, purify themselves, and use a different quill and different ink.
- Using the name of God correctly shows respect and humility. It shows the right mindset.
- There are many different names for God in scripture which emphasize different aspects of His character.
Godhead (John 17:11; Mark 1:24; Acts 5:3)

Holiness: Its emphasis

Holiness is the attribute that defines His other attributes:
- God’s love is holy
- God’s mercy is holy
- God’s judgment is holy
- God’s justice is holy
- God’s goodness and severity is holy
- God’s patience is holy
- God’s … is holy
It’s the bedrock of God’s glory.

Holiness: Its implication

Leads to conviction of guilt
- Isaiah 6:5 – Isaiah’s recognition of Holiness, I am not worthy
- Luke 5:8 – Peter falls to his knees – why?
- II Corinthians 7:8-11 – Godly sorrow
Produces careful obedience
- Leviticus 10 – Nadab and Abihu … didn’t approach God properly

Culture of my Family: Love for Each Other

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

God formed the family at the very beginning. It is a critical relationship.
God uses “family” in both physical and spiritual relationships.
I Corinthians 4:14-17 – Paul uses familial terms about them and about Timothy.
I Timothy 3:4-5 – Family is involved in the qualifications for an elder.

Love each other!

Matthew 22:37-40 – Love for others is one of the greatest commandments.
Matthew 5:43-46 – Love even your enemies. If your family members are your enemies, love them also!
John 3:16 – God loved the world full of sinners!
Romans 5:6-8 – God loved us while we were sinners. My love should be based on God, who loves all unconditionally. God demonstrates His love. He is active in His love. If I love my family, I will take action.

Sacrifice for each other!

Hebrews 13:16, 15 – Doing good and sharing are sacrifices that God is pleased with.
Worshiping God is good, but we have obligations beyond that.
When is the last time you sacrificed in some way for your family?
Philippians 2:4 – Look out for the interests of others.
John 15:12-13 – If Jesus sacrificed His life for sinners, what will I sacrifice for my family?

Help and encourage each other!

I Thessalonians 2:7, 11 – Paul said he was as close as a nursing mother to them.
I Timothy 5:1-2 – Help and encourage others like family.
Galatians 6:1-2 – Help bear one another’s burdens.
Proverbs 17:17

Forgive each other!

Matthew 6:12-15 – If we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us! See also Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32.
II Corinthians 2:6-8 – When one comes back and makes things right, forgive and rejoice!
- Parents, help your children to feel sorry rather than forcing them to say they are sorry. The words will come if the thoughts are sincere.

James 2:1-26

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

James 2

James 2:1-4

James 2:1 – Faith and favoritism do not go together.
James 2:2-4 – In those days, the senatorial class wore gold rings. The peasant class would typically only have a single cloak and would likely be dirty. We might be tempted to make friends with the wealthy people for our own evil motives (business deals, etc.). We should instead emphasize what is common. We should have the attitude from Luke 6:5 and love all men.

James 2:5-7

You can serve God or not whether you are rich or poor. The poor were often especially responsive to the gospel. The gospel is an avenue by which the poor can be elevated. See Proverbs 30:9; Matthew 19:24; 13:22. Do not reject someone that God accepts.
Something was apparently going on where the rich were oppressing people.
James 2:7 – The rich people of that day had apparently been blaspheming the name of Christ or Christians in general.

James 2:8-13

James 2:8 – “Love your neighbor as yourself” is called the royal law. It goes all the way back to Leviticus 19:18 and was repeated several times afterwards, including Matthew 22:39.
James 2:10 – If you break any part of the law, you are guilty of the law as a whole.
James 2:12 – The law of liberty gives us liberty from sin – not from laws or obligations to God.
James 2:13 – God causes our behavior to come back around and meet us. If we do not forgive, God will not forgive us. Matthew 18:35

James 2:14-26

James 2:14 – Faith means nothing without action behind it.
James 2:15-16 – If someone is in legitimate need and your faith is not sufficient to act in helping the person, your faith is dead.
James 2:19 – The demons also believe in God. Clearly their faith is not sufficient. See Luke 4:33-34; Acts 19:15.
James 2:21-23 – Exhibit A: Abraham was justified by acting on his faith and sacrificing his son Isaac. Compare justification in Titus 3:7; Romans 5:9; I Corinthians 6:11. How are we justified? By all of these things!
- Genesis 22:1-18 – Abraham offered Isaac.
- Hebrews 11:17 – Abraham acted out of faith!
- It is not faith or works. Abraham showed his faith by his works of obedience.
James 2:24 – Man is not justified by faith alone.
James 2:25 – Exhibit B: Rahab was justified by her active faith.
- Hebrews 11:31
James 2:26 – Faith without works is like a body without a spirit – it is just a corpse.
See Romans 4:1-5. Is this saying the opposite of what we just read? No. It is comparing “works” here to wages that are due to a working man. It is pointing out that we do not earn our way to heaven. We are justified because God has forgiven our sins.

The Authority of Jesus

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Authority – the right to exercise power

Jesus has authority

Matthew 1:1
Matthew 2:1-2
Matthew 3:1-3, 11-12 – The kingdom was coming! Jesus is described as coming with authority!
Matthew 4:3, 12-17, 23-25 – Even Satan addressed Jesus as having authority. Who has authority to heal like Jesus did?
Matthew 5:7, 21-22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44 - The Sermon on the Mount shows Jesus’ authority even more. Jesus said, “I say to you …” Even Old Testament prophets did not phrase it like this.
Matthew 7:26, 28 – “these words of mine”
Matthew 9:6 – Jesus had authority to heal and forgive sins.
Matthew 16:16 – They recognized He had authority
Matthew 21:23 – Leaders questioned His authority, but never bested Him.
Matthew 24:34

That authority was delegated to inspired men who wrote it down.

Matthew 28:16-20 – What gave the disciples the right to go out and teach? Jesus had authority to tell them to do so. Jesus delegated it to them.
John 14:26
John 16:13-15 – There was perfect harmony between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
I Corinthians 1:1 – Paul had authority because Jesus called him.
I Corinthians 4:17
I Thessalonians 2:13
Acts 20:17, 32

We should submit to that authority.

Matthew 7:24-27 – Do I love and respect Jesus enough to do what He says?
Matthew 15:3 – Do we follow the traditions of the day or obey Jesus? We have no right to replace Jesus’ authority.
Colossians 2:20-23 – They were doing things that were a self-made religion.
II Thessalonians 3:6 – This tradition was passed down from the apostles. It was authoritative!

We should not be timid about using and declaring His authority.

II Thessalonians 2:15 – Why should they hold to those traditions? Because they were authoritative.
We should not be afraid to call something sinful based on God’s word.
I Timothy 4:1-6, 11, 16 – He was not telling Timothy to just get along if error comes along. Timothy was to point out error to the brethren.
Titus 1:9
What gives any man the right to tell another he is wrong? The word of God.
Titus 2:15 – This can also be translated as, “show that you have every right to command.”
I John 2:3-6

Holiness, Part 2

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness begins with God

Greek: hagios – sacred, physically pure, morally blameless, ceremonially consecrated, set apart
The Bible uses the word “holy” in two different ways:
- Holiness of God – refers to unmatched majesty of His incomparable being
- Holiness of anything else – something / someone that has been separated from the “common.”
The word “saint” comes from hagios.

Holiness: Its expression in scripture

“Holy, holy, holy” – Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8
- All of God’s attributes come from His holiness.
God is set apart – I Samuel 2:2
- Hannah’s prayer points out how no one is holy like God. There is one God and no one is like Him.

The Ethiopian Eunuch

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This man was serious about serving God!

Acts 8:26-28 – This man was likely a proselyte. He was a treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia, who held the title Candace (it was a title like Pharaoh, not a name). This man traveled possibly 1,000 miles, a journey that could have taken six months.
In today’s money, it would have cost several thousand dollars to have a personal copy of the book of Isaiah.
Luke 8:11-15 – This Ethiopian seemed to have a good heart.

The Old Testament mysteries are revealed in the New Testament.

Acts 8:29-35 – This is a quote from Isaiah 53:7-8.
Isaiah contains four “servant songs.” Once of these is in Isaiah 53.
Isaiah 53:1-2, 5-7 – We understand this is Jesus, but the Ethiopian didn’t know that yet.
I Corinthians 2:6-13
Deuteronomy 23:1 – If this man was physically emasculated, he would have been under restriction under the Law of Moses.

Philip preached Jesus and the man wanted to be baptized.

Acts 8:35-40 – Acts 8:37 may not have been in the original manuscripts. It was likely a marginal note that got included in the text. Having it in the text or not does not change any doctrinal points, though.
How did the Ethiopian know he needed to be baptized?
- Acts 8:4-5 (“preaching the word”) Acts 8:12 (baptism)
- Acts 8:35 (“he preached Jesus to Him”) Acts 8:36 (baptism)

The Holy Spirit was involved, but the man still had to make his own decision.

Acts 6:6
Acts 8:6 – Philip was doing miracles.
Acts 8:26, 29 – The Holy Spirit was highly involved in Philip meeting the Ethiopian. The Holy Spirit connected the eunuch to a man who could answer his questions. Then it was up to the Ethiopian to decide what he wanted to do. We don’t see any Calvinist ideas of God overriding man’s free will here.

James 1:13-27

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

James 1, continued:

James 1:13-18

James 1:13 – See Matthew 4:1; Hebrews 4:15. How was Jesus tempted if God cannot be tempted? Some argue that this means Jesus was not deity, but that view conflicts with many other passages in the Bible. See John 14:30. Satan tried to tempt Jesus, but there was no desire in Jesus at all to do anything evil.
- Genesis 22:1; Hebrews 11:17 – “testing”
- Deuteronomy 8:2
- Judges 2:21-22
- II Chronicles 32:31
James 1:14-15 – We are tempted because of our own lust.
- Lust (restrained) ➡ Sin (unrestrained lust and/or action) ➡ Death (separation from God; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)
- Sexual desire (I Corinthians 7:3) ➡ Sin (Matthew 5:28 and/or Hebrews 13:4) ➡ Death (separation from God; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)
- Desire for money (I Timothy 5:8) ➡ Sin (Colossians 3:5 and/or Ephesians 4:28) ➡ Death (separation from God; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:23)
James 1:16-17 – God gave the desire, but we must keep it in check. God gives us all good things.
James 1:18 – James might be saying they were the first generation of Christians.

James 1:19-21

James 1:19 – God created our bodies and knows how they work. He says slow down your anger.
James 1:21 – Remove the bad and put in the good.

James 1:22-27

James 1:22 – If we know God’s word, but aren’t doing it, that’s a problem.
James 1:25 – Because of the law of liberty, we are free from sin. Seem James 2:12. We will (I Corinthians 9:2) be judged by this law. Romans 6:18
James 1:26 – Compare James 1:16, 21. Don’t deceive yourself about your position with God if you are not truly serving Him.
James 1:27 – In those days, widows and orphans were in particularly dire straits.

Satan's Schemes

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Corinthians 2:11
I Peter 5:8
II Corinthians 4:3
Acts 26:18
John 8:44
Matthew 13:39
I Thessalonians 3:5

Satan wants us to think God’s laws are unfairly limiting.

Genesis 2:8-9 – The Garden of Eden was as perfect as any place on earth has ever been.
Genesis 3:1-3 – Satan only wanted to talk about the limitations!
Deuteronomy 6:24 – God’s laws are good for us!
Ephesians 4:28; Colossians 3:5 – Some of God’s limits.
I Timothy 4:8 – Following God’s laws makes for the best life possible on earth, not to mention in the eternal life to come.

Satan exploits our desires.

Job 1:7-11; 2:4-6 – Satan knew what to do to test Job’s faith.
James 1:14-15
I John 2:16 – Compare Genesis 3:3-6. Satan used the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life in both cases.
Genesis 3:22-24 – Man suffered spiritual death and eventual physical death because of this sin.
John 8:44
II Corinthians 11:3-4
II Corinthians 5:9 – The answer is to focus on God’s desires instead.
Ephesians 5:7-10
Hopefully, over time our will starts to match up more and more with God’s will.

Satan makes it easy to sin.

Genesis 3:6
I Timothy 2:13-14
Eve made it easy for Adam to sin. She just gave him the fruit.
The devil is an expert at taking the friction out of sin.
The answer is to try to make sin inconvenient for ourselves.
Proverbs 7:25
II Timothy 2:2 – We cannot just hide from the world.
Make it easier for yourself to be righteous.

Holiness, Part 1

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Holiness: for every child of God?

Key passage for the quarter: I Peter 1:13-16

I Peter 1:14 – not conforming yourself to your former lusts
I Peter 1:15 – He who called you is holy, you also be holy.
I Peter 1:16 – “Be holy, for I am holy.” See Leviticus 19:1-2.

Why is holiness confusing to some people?

Misconceptions
- Isn’t holiness only descriptive of a select few?
  - No, it is for all Christians. But God’s laws apply whether you submit to them or not.
- Isn’t holiness a characteristic to describe those who are self-righteous and hypocritical?
  - No. Those who are self-righteous and hypocritical are not holy in the way God demands of us.
- Isn’t holiness unattainable? Wouldn’t you have to be perfect (sinless) in order to be described in such a way?
  - No, because God demands holiness of us and God doesn’t ask things of us that we can’t achieve.
- Aren’t holy people just plain strange?
  - It depends on the perspective of the person asking the question!
- Is holiness optional as far as Christian living is concerned?

Holiness is for every child of God

I Peter 2:9 – a chosen generation, a holy priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people
Titus 2:14 – His own special people, zealous for good works
II Corinthians 6:17 – Come out from among them and be separate
I Thessalonians 4:3-7 – the will of God, your sanctification … God did not call us to uncleanness, but in HOLINESS
I Peter 1:14-16 – not conforming yourselves to the former lusts … you also be holy in all your conduct
Ephesians 4:22-24 – to put off your old self … be renewed … put on the new self … created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and HOLINESS

What Kids Learn from Family Bible Reading

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 119:1-6 – We should develop to the point that we delight in God’s word.

That this is important

Romans 8:5
Colossians 2:21-3:2
II Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15 – Timothy’s mother and grandmother made sure he knew the scriptures.

That focus is possible

Galatians 5:22-23
Psalms 119:36-37
Proverbs 25:28 – The important of self-control.

That questions are welcome

II Samuel 11:2-4 – At some point, we need to have talks about marital relations with our kids.
Don’t let the world take the initiative away from you on talking about difficult topics.

That the Bible belongs in our lives, not just at the church building

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Deuteronomy 4:1
James 1:21

James 1:1-12

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A practical book

James 1:2, 19, 22, 27; 2:1; 3:10; 4:4, 14; 5:12, 16

James 1

James 1:1 – Which James is this?

People named James in the New Testament
- James, son of Zebedee (apostle)
- James, son of Alpheus
- James the less – Mark 15:40
- James, father of Judas the apostle
- James the brother of Jesus – probably this man wrote the book of James, but not sure
  - Matthew 13:55
  - John 7:5 – Jesus’s earthly brothers did not believe.
  - I Corinthians 15:7
  - Acts 12:17
  - Acts 15:13
  - Acts 21:18
  - If these are all talking about the same James, he went from not believing in his own brother to being a prominent man in the early church.
“bond-servant” – Compare Romans 1:1.
“to the twelve tribes” – See Acts 8:1

James 1:2-4

Be joyful when hard times come!
- Acts 20:19
We are building endurance by handling trials. It is good for us!
Endurance is part of being perfect and complete. We become mature and have all the parts we need.
- James 3:13; 4:8; 5:11 – Action!

James 1:5-8

Wisdom – the capacity to understand and act accordingly.
How does God give wisdom?
- James 3:15
- Scripture – II Timothy 3:16-17
“without reproach” – God does not give grudgingly. We should not be hesitant to ask!
We must ask in faith and not waiver or doubt.

James 1:9-12

This may be talking about how we should glory in our trials, no matter what sort of change in position may be involved.

Joshua 22-24

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 22

Joshua 22:1-9 – Reuben, Gad, half tribe of Manasseh go to their tents

See Numbers 32; Joshua 1 regarding their obligation to help continue the fight. At this point, these tribes have been away from their new home for about six years.

Joshua 22:10-34 – Misunderstanding about altar almost leads to war.

Joshua 22:26-28 – The altar was to be a witness between the tribes to show that they were united.
Thankfully, the tribes communicated and resolved the issue. This is a good reminder to go directly to the person you have an issue with.

Joshua 23

Joshua 23:1-16 – Joshua’s farewell speech

“These nations which remain” – Joshua 23:4, 7, 12-13
- God would end up using these remaining nations to punish Israel.
“just as the Lord your God promised you” – Joshua 23:5, 14
- See Genesis 12:7.
“for if you ever go back” – Joshua 23:6-8, 11-13, 15-16
- Centuries later, they would be removed from the land by invading armies.

Joshua 24

Joshua 24:1-13 – God reminds them of His help through the years.

God’s PERSONAL help through the years: “I took … I gave … I sent … I did …”

Joshua 24:14-28 – Joshua warns them to obey.

Joshua 24:15 – No excuses. You choose who you will serve.

Joshua 24:29-33 – Joshua and Eleazer die. Joseph’s bones are buried.

Culture of Benchley: Avoiding Counterfeit Christianity

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 3:14-17
I Peter 2:2

“Every interpretation of the Bible is equally good.”

II Timothy 2:15

Truth: There is only one truth, and we should strive to unify on it.

Ephesians 4:1-6
Matthew 15:1-14 – They were adding their own traditions on to God’s law.
Ephesians 4:4 – There is one church.
Ephesians 1:22; 5:23 – Body refers to the church.
John 15:5 – Are there different branches of Christianity? No, denominations are not spoken of in the Bible. Jesus is speaking of His apostles here.
Matthew 7:1 – Jesus is condemning hypocritical judging. Compare Matthew 7:15 where Jesus was teaching them to judge rightly.
Romans 14:1-14, 20 – This passage is talking about things that are not sinful on their own.
Romans 16:17 – There are some things that are just wrong!
- Hebrews 13:14 – Adultery is just wrong!

“Jesus offers unconditional acceptance.”

Luke 15:1-6

Truth: Jesus demands repentance!

Matthew 4:17
Hebrews 6:1
Acts 20:21
Matthew 11:20-24 – These people had no excuse. Jesus rebuked them for failing to repent.
Matthew 23:33
Mark 2:15-17 – Jesus dined with sinners, but He never approved of their sin.
Mark 3:6 – What would provoke this kind of response? Jesus was teaching hard things.
Luke 23:34
II Peter 3:9
Luke 17:3
Acts 2:23, 36-38 – Despite Jesus’ prayer, Peter was still holding them to account for this sin.
Acts 3:14, 19-20
Romans 1:32
Ephesians 5:6-12 – Beware the wrath of God! God does not tolerate sin.

Faith, Part 12

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Review

What is faith?
What does faith mean to you?
Hebrews 11:1-3
II Peter 1:5 – Give diligence! You must want to grow your faith.
Faith builds trust, creates courage, dispels fear.
Love for God and each other.
John 14:15
Obey God and seek things above.
Put on the new man! “Be holy because I am holy.”
Grow a one-on-one relationship with God through faith and prayer.
The cycle: Our faith grows, we love more, we want to be more like God, we seek God, our faith grows. (Hebrews 11:2)

Culture of the World: Making Bad Decisions

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 1:1-7

We listen to the wrong people.

Proverbs 1:8-10
People often do not listen to good advice.
Proverbs 4:14-17
Proverbs 2:16; 5:3; 7:13-21, 24 – Be careful of the words of an adulteress! Listen to God instead.
Advertising: The Rule of 7
- It takes about seven ad impressions before someone will take action.
Psalms 1:1-2
We must minimize the influences that pull us away from God.
II Timothy 4:3

We lack spiritual common sense.

I Peter 5:8
Don’t go near things that are likely to lead to sin.
Proverbs 5:8; 7:7-16
Proverbs 14:15-16 – What is the wise thing to do?
Proverbs 22:3

Instead of dying to sin, we try premeditated repentance.

Proverbs 3:7-8
I John 1:6-7
Romans 6:1-4, 7, 13 – This is talking about dying to sin.
Am I truly loving God if I’m making plans to sin every day?
Proverbs 8>13
I’m also affecting other people when I do this.
Proverbs 6:27-29 – Sin hurts!
We will never better ourselves by committing any type of sin.

Worship: The Sixth Element

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

What worship is

In both spirit and truth (John 4:23)
- Spirit – proper reverence and attitude
  - Focused
  - Offered to God
- Truth – as God has established by His word
Planned by intent (Genesis 22:5)
Exclusive (Leviticus 10:1; Numbers 3:4)
Lacking these, our worship falls short.

Elements of worship

Singing – I Corinthians 14:15
Prayer – I Corinthians 14:15
Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7 (first day of week)
Contribution – I Corinthians 16:2 (first day of week)
Sermon – Acts 20:7
Sixth element – Romans 12:1

The sixth element

Romans 12:1 – Sacrifice
Hebrews 9:6, 1

Offering ourselves

In both spirit and truth (John 4:23)
- Spirit – proper reverence and attitude
  - Focused – Philippians 3:12-14
  - Offered to God – I Peter 2:5
- Truth – as God has established by His word (John 17:17)
Planned: by intent (II Thessalonians 3:7; Titus 2:11-12; Matthew 16:24)
Exclusive
- We exclude many things from our lives (I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-10)
- We give ourselves only to God.

Burnt sacrifice	Living sacrifice
Commanded by God – Exodus 8:27	Commanded by God – Romans 12:1
Pure offering – Leviticus 1:3	Pure offering – I Timothy 5:22; James 4:8; I John 3:3, 2
Pure maker – Leviticus 21:21	Pure maker – Philippians 2:14-16
Comes at a cost – II Samuel 24:24-25	Comes at a cost – Matthew 16:24; Titus 2:11-13
Is a physical offering - Leviticus	Is a spiritual offering – I Peter 2:5

Discussion

Things that aid us in offering ourselves

Examples (II Timothy 3:10-11)
Study (Acts 17:11)
Encouragement; teaching from others (Titus 2)

Things to consider

Time management (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Money management (Ephesians 4:28)
Preparation, planning, goal setting (Luke 14:28-30)
Self-discipline (Titus 2:11-12)
Relationships (I Corinthians 15:33)
Peer pressure (Galatians 2:11-13)

The Texas Floods

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Corinthians 4:16-18
II Corinthians 11:23-28 – This is the man who talked about momentary light afflictions!

Remember that Jesus Himself shared in human suffering.

Philippians 2:5-11
Jesus is not asking us to do something He hasn’t already done.
Hebrews 2:14
Hebrews 5:8
John 11:33-36 – Jesus wept at Lazarus’ death.
I Peter 2:21

Don’t take this as a sign that God was punishing people.

Luke 13:1-5 – Tragedies are not necessarily punishment for sin.
John 9:1-2
Sometimes bad things just happen.

God does take away our suffering … just not necessarily in this lifetime.

Hebrews 11:13-16
I Peter 2:11
This is a temporary stop on the way to eternity.
Job 3:17
Romans 8:17-25

This is an opportunity to help.

Luke 10:25-37
Ephesians 4:23-24, 28 – Now, I’m generous and look to help others.
James 1:27

When a Christian is in need, the church can jump in.

Acts 2:44-45
Acts 4:32-35
Acts 6:1-3
Acts 11:27-30
Romans 15:25-26
I Corinthians 16:1-3
II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
II Corinthians 9:1
I Timothy 5:16, 5

Faith, Part 11

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith and prayer

Prayer is a calibration

The model prayer – Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:8-13
- This is not just empty phrases (Matthew 6:7-8).
- He said in Matthew 6:9 to pray “in this manner.”
- This prayer resets our hearts (priorities) according to God’s will (priorities).
- Jesus starts by introducing God as our Faither in heaven to plant the idea that we are God’s children and God deserves our honor. We are subject to Him. Put aside our focus on ourselves and look at God and His priorities.
  - Matthew 6:9 – Honor God daily
  - Matthew 6:10 – Pray for God’s purposes to be accomplished. Remembers Matthew 26:39, 42.
  - Matthew 6:11 – Pray for our physical needs. See Matthew 6:33-34
  - Matthew 6:12 – Pray for forgiveness daily.
  - Matthew 6:13 – Pray for help with temptation.
  - These are the things that should be our priorities in prayer.

Prayer is a test.

Jesus tells us repeatedly to “ask and receive.” Matthew 7:7; 18:19; 21:22; John 14:13-14; 15:7, 16. It is our opportunity to ask God for what we need.
Solomon in I Kings 3:5-9.
- Mark 6:22
How is it a test? Look at the caution we are given in James 4:2-3. Is the desire of our heart to seek the will of God, or to seek our own passions? Matthew 6:5. What are our motives for praying?
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21.

How to Worship Like We Mean It

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 4:23-24 – God is a spirit. We are spirits also.
Matthew 15:7-9 – There is such a thing as vain worship.

Focus on God – the object of our worship.

Psalms 29:1-11
Romans 1:21, 25, 28-31 – They did not honor God as they should. We will seek and serve something. If we don’t seek God, we will likely serve ourselves.
Acts 17:22-28 – Paul was trying to focus them on the one true God.
Revelation 5:11-14 – Scenes like this can help us think about God.
Revelation 22:8-9 – “Worship God”

Develop gratitude for what God has done for us.

Genesis 8:19-20 – Noah worshiped when he got off the ark.
Genesis 12:2-8; 13:16-18 – Abraham worshiped out of thankfulness.
Exodus 14:30-15:18 – Moses and the people sang in gratitude for God’s salvation.
Psalms 51:12-15
Colossians 3:15-17
We should be tripping over ourselves to thank God for what He has done for us.
Psalms 100:4

Good living goes hand-in-hand with good worship.

Psalms 51:16-17
We can’t live a sinful life and worship God appropriately.
I Samuel 15:18-22 – Your life must match up with your worship.
Micah 6:6-8
God has always demanded sincere worship and a sincere life.
Amos 5:23
Malachi 1:10
I Peter 3:7 – I can’t mistreat my wife and still worship acceptable.
James 4:8 – “Cleanse your hands, you sinners.”

Joshua 15-21

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 15

Joshua 15:1-12 – Territory of Judah

Joshua 15:8 – Jerusalem is on the border between Judah and Benjamin (called Jebus at this time). See Joshua 15:63; 18:28.

Joshua 15:13-19 – Caleb’s portion

Joshua 15:14 – Caleb drove out the Anakim
Joshua 15:17 – See Judges 3:9. Othniel would be the first judge of Israel.

Joshua 15:20-63 – List of Judah’s cities

112 cities are listed in total. Seven more cities are listed but not counted in this 112, perhaps because they are later reassigned to Simeon (Joshua 19:1-7). Jerusalem is also mentioned but not counted (Joshua 15:63).
The city of Jerusalem: See Judges 19:10-12. Even at this time, foreigners occupied Jerusalem. In II Samuel 5:4-7, David finally conquered Jerusalem.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12

Joshua 16

Joshua 16:1-10 – Territory of Ephraim

Joshua 16:10 – Another pocket of resistance that was not conquered.

Joshua 17

Joshua 17:1-18 – Territory of Manasseh

Joshua 17:3-4 – Daughters of Zelophehad. See Numbers 27:6-8; 36.

Joshua 18

Joshua 18:1-10 – Seven tribes remain

Joshua 18:1 – The tabernacle was set up at Shiloh. See Exodus 25.
Joshua 18:6 – God directs the process via casting of lots.

Joshua 18:11-28 – 1st lot: Territory of Benjamin and cities

Joshua 19

Joshua 19:1-9 – 2nd lot: Territory of Simeon and cities

Joshua 19:10-16 – 3rd lot: Territory of Zebulun and cities

Joshua 19:17-23 – 4th lot: Territory of Issachar and cities

Judges 1:27-36 – The Amorites forced the people of Dan out. See Judges 18:1, 27-31. They instead took Laish, renamed it Dan, and started worshiping an idol.

Joshua 19:49-51 – Joshua’s inheritance

Joshua 20

Joshua 20:1-9 – 6 cities of refuge appointed

Joshua 21

Joshua 21:1-42 – Levites receive 48 cities

Joshua 21:43-45 – God has fulfilled the land promise

God fulfilled His promises!
Titus 2:11 – God made salvation available to all men, but we have to take it!
Matthew 7:13-14

Church Authority

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Why do we study only the Bible?

Who and what holds authority?

Matthew 28:18-20
The doctrine of apostolic succession?

Authority of elders

Acts 20:28
I Thessalonians 5:12-13
There is no evidence of succession through.

Apostolic succession

The continuation of church leaders from a church’s apostolic origin helped indicate that a church was continuing to teach the original doctrines that were taught by the apostles.
Apostolic succession loses its purpose when a leader teaches or practices error.
Designed to preserve church doctrine, not create new doctrine!

How did we get the Bible?

How writings were evaluated
- Was it written by an apostle or non-apostle?
- Was it read aloud in weekly assemblies?
- Is it consistent and contradiction-free?
- Did it reinforce the consensus of belief?
- Was it written during the apostolic age?
Books that are not in the New Testament

How do we ensure Scripture is interpreted correctly?

We have always had this problem.
- II Timothy 4:3-4 – Men will turn to teachings that appealed to them.
- Galatians 2:2-5 – Even apostles faced the issue of false doctrine.
Only later did men change how the church was lead.

Takeaways

All authority stems from God.
God made scripture evident through the Holy Spirit rather than men with authority.
Local church elders and our fellow Christians must work to stop false doctrine instead of a centralized authority.

Faith, Part 10

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith and prayer, continued

Prayer is a habit

Make prayer a priority. Find time to pray alone. Find a private place to pray. Make it one-on-one.
- Matthew 6:6
Example: Daniel had a predetermined time and place to pray.
- Daniel 6:10
Jesus’ life was saturated with prayer.
- Mark 1:35 – Christ made a specific time and a solitary place.
- Luke 6:12 – Jesus prayed at pivotal points, again in a solitary place where He made time to pray.
- Mark 14:32-34; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46; 23:34 – In the garden before His betrayal, against He found a place and time to pray.
Is our life saturated with prayer? Do we pray always?
- I Thessalonians 5:17
- Luke 18:1
Do we pray at pivotal moments in our life? Do we ask for guidance with decisions? Do we ask for help during our storms?
Do we make prayer a priority?
When we make the effort to establish the habit of prayer, our faith grows, and we begin to feel the instinct, the impulse to go to God in prayer. We feel a NEED to have a one-one-one relationship with God through faith and prayer.
Note that in Luke 11:1, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

Prayer is a calibration

The model prayer – Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:8-13

The Greater Reality

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 2:16-17, 23 – Adam and Eve did not literally die the day they ate from the tree.
II Timothy 3:12
I Peter 3:14
Luke 21:16-18 – The protection and deliverance were more real than the persecution.
I John 4:2
John 19:27 – Jesus acknowledged and respected physical reality.
Luke 8:19-21

We must remember the greater reality of spiritual things.

We must focus on the greater reality when a choice presents itself.

My perspective on prayer changes when I consider the greater reality.

Service focuses on both lesser and greater realities.
Matthew 25:36, 30
Matthew 6:2, 5
Colossians 4:12
Prayer is no small thing!
I Timothy 5:5
James 5:16
Isaiah 62:6-7

My perspective on my country changes when I consider the greater reality.

Hebrews 11:13
I Peter 1:17
I Peter 2:11
Ephesians 2:18-19
We are strangers and aliens on earth, but not in heaven.

My perspective on my church changes when I consider the greater reality.

Revelation 2:2, 6, 15, 19; 3:1, 17
The greater reality is whether or not we can hold to truth.

My perspective on hope changes when I consider the greater reality.

I Corinthians 15:53, 42-44
My perspective on discipleship will change.
I Corinthians 15:49
I John 3:2
John 1
We should want to be like Jesus now so we can move toward Him.
II Corinthians 5:1-7
Our lives are like dreams compared to the greater reality.
We must be careful to allow our physical life to make us doubt the greater reality.

Why Are We Here?

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Do you ever think about why you are here?

We know that it is our duty here to serve God. God told mankind this going all the way back to the Israelites:

Deuteronomy 10:12–13 (NASB95)

12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

But I want to take a little different look at this idea tonight and look at it from the perspective of why did God put us here on earth? Why would He go to all the trouble to create this amazing universe, give us these incredible bodies, and put us here? He could certainly just create us in Heaven with Him.

Certainly, the full wisdom of this rests in God alone. But tonight, I’d like to look at some scriptures and do some reasoning from what we find there to get some hints about why God might have done what He has done. From that, hopefully we can make some applications in our lives.

I’m hoping for this to be an interactive class. If you have questions or comments, please ask and I will happily tell you I don’t know!

First, let’s get started with some logical axioms.

God said His creation was good.

God said as much when he created the world.

Genesis 1:31 (NASB95)

31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Whatever else comes afterwards, we know that what God created in this universe was good. I suspect God meant much more by the phrase “very good” here than maybe we realize. Whatever else it entails, we know that God’s creation was good for His purposes.

God gave man free will.

From the very beginning in the garden of Eden, God set man up with everything he needed and then gave him the freedom to choose what to do with those blessings.

Genesis 2:15–17 (NASB95)

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;

17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

So, Adam and then Eve had free choice in the matter. God explained how to do well in this new place.

Joshua reiterated this to the Israelites:

Joshua 24:15 (NASB95)

15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua was pointing out that it was in their power to make the choice whether to serve God or not. God was not making that choice for them and Joshua wasn’t either – he was just trying to be the best example he could be in leading his own family towards God.

God loves us and desires our love in return.

Certainly, God loves us. If nothing else about Creation tells us this, God sending Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins tells us this.

John 3:16 (NASB95)

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

God also desires our love in return, going so far as to command it.

Matthew 22:36–40 (NASB95)

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.

39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

This points all the way back to the Old Covenant.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NASB95)

5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

God does not in any way need our service or our love. Surely, He will be disappointed in us if we do not obey, serve, and love him, but it’s not the case that we can somehow harm God by not doing so.

Acts 17:24–28 (NASB95)

24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

So, given all this, why would God put us here on Earth?

Can you really love if you cannot choose not to?

For your consideration: Is it possible to love someone if you have no choice in the matter?

I would suggest to you that true love is not possible unless it is also possible to not love.

One possibility

Here is a take on it that I have heard that I offer for your consideration. Let me lay this out for you for a minute and then I’d be glad to hear your comments before we move on:

Is it possible that God allows us an opportunity to live on earth so that we will learn His way is best and learn to love Him “from afar”?

The idea is that if we simply existed in Heaven with Him, His love would be so abundantly apparent that we would have no real choice but to love Him. But by blessing us with life on earth, God gives us the opportunity to “go off to college” in a way and see for ourselves that His way is best.

Is it possible that God put us here to help us grow?

James 1:2–4 (NASB95)

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God clearly allows us to be tested here on earth. We have already established that God loves us, so this testing must be something that works out to the best for us.

Consider also 2 Corinthians 5.

2 Corinthians 5:1–10 (NASB95)

1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,

3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.

4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—

8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Notice especially verse 5 – we were prepared for a purpose.

Note also verse 6, which states that while we are “at home in the body” we are “absent from the Lord.” What does that mean?

God is everywhere. There is not any place on Earth we can go and be away from God. Jonah could certainly attest to this after trying to escape God’s command to preach to the Ninevites.

I would suggest this could mean a couple of different things:

Metaphorical: If we are too at home in earthly pursuits, we are not serving God properly.
More literal: We are not in Heaven, the abode of God, so in that sense we are away from God.

I personally prefer the second option because of verse 8 because it says we prefer to be absent from the body and at home with God, which sounds more like Paul is saying we’d all prefer to be in Heaven if we could.

Also note verse 10, which says that whatever happens here on Earth, we must stand and answer for what we’ve done.

So then, how should we live on earth?

Remember that we are spiritual beings having a temporary earthly experience.

Consider John 4:

John 4:24 (NASB95)

24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

God is a spirit. That should be axiomatic.

But combine that with Genesis 1:

Genesis 1:26–27 (NASB95)

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

And Psalm 8:

Psalm 8:4–5 (NASB95)

4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?

5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!

We are created in the image of God. We are spiritual beings, first and foremost. We are temporarily inhabiting a physical body. James makes this especially clear:

James 4:13–14 (NASB95)

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.”

14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

It is easy to be so involved in this life that we think of ourselves as physical beings first, but that is not the truth of the matter.

See our earthly lives as a blessing from a loving Father.

Even the grass under our feet is a testament to the glory of God!

Take time to look at the sky, the clouds, the trees, the plants, the animals, the stars in the night sky. Marvel at the amazing bodies we all inhabit. See all that God has created and be in awe at His handiwork. His wisdom and His glory is far beyond our understanding! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Psalm 19:1–6 (NASB95)

1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Revelation 4:11 (NASB95)

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Let us never forget that the simple fact that we exist in this amazing universe is an incredible blessing from God.

Show love for God!

Matthew 22:37–40 (NASB95)

37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.

39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

How do we show love for God? By focusing on Him and putting His ways first, forsaking our own desires.

Show unconditional love for each other.

1 John 4:16–21 (NASB95)

16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

19 We love, because He first loved us.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

Matthew 5:43–48 (NASB95)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Love even your enemies! Remember that your inner thoughts have a way of working out into the world. Work to rid yourself of bitterness and spite, even if you think you are not showing it outwardly.

Our love for others does not depend on how they behave toward us.

Think about how terrible our situation would be if God took that approach with us! Instead, God loved us even in our sin, sending Jesus to die for our sins.

Whatever the situation and no matter the cost, always seek to show love first. Let God sort out the rest.

Take a positive view of strife, suffering, and pain.

When we have difficulties, instead of being angry with God (who initially created the universe and called it good), let us make an effort to try to see what we should learn from the experience:

Patience (James 5:7-11)
- Is this something we must just work through?
Humility
- Are we having this problem because we are being stubborn and refusing help or alternate solutions?
Love for others (maybe we are on the receiving end of something hurtful from someone else)
- Are we supposed to learn what it feels like to be slighted by someone else so that we are more careful not to do the same to others?
Love for Christ (He suffered life on earth and then died a torturous death for us!)
- Are we supposed to grow in respect and thankfulness to Christ for living a physical life just to die for our sins?
If we can’t understand the situation, humble yourself. God’s wisdom is so much greater than ours!

James 5:7–11 (NASB95)

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.

8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Try to see your situation from God’s perspective.

If you were reviewing a playback of your situation with Jesus sitting beside you, how would you feel about your actions? What would you change?

Many people who have near-death experiences report having some kind of a “life review” with Jesus. Regardless of what you think about these stories, it is helpful to think about our life from this perspective. One day we will have to give account for ourselves!

Matthew 12:36–37 (NASB95)

36 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.

37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB95)

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Remember the power of prayer.

James 5:13–18 (NASB95)

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

I have certainly seen many examples in my own life of answered prayers. I have also had opportunities in the last year or so to see examples of people who really prayed hard and God’s blessings coming swiftly afterwards.

To be honest, this convicted me because I realized that for most of my life, I have not really prayed properly. Perhaps you are in the same position, treating prayer as throwing wishes into the wind and believing intellectually that prayers go to God’s ears, but not really believing they would be answered in any substantial way.

That sort of prayer is not what the writer is talking about here. We are to pray fervently and give our troubles to God, then trust fully that He will see us through whatever difficulty we may be having. Perhaps one day God will allow us to see how He answered our prayers in so many ways, whether subtle or not, that we did not see at the time.

Think about a small child coming to you with a problem that matters to them greatly (being hungry, being in pain, etc.). Seeing their earnestness, would you not do everything you could in their best interest, even if doing so was not exactly what they asked for? How much more so must God be doing for us!

"We have such a high priest ..."

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hebrews 8:1-6
Exodus 29:29

We can be at peace on earth knowing that our High Priest is always at work in Heaven.

Hebrews 7:11-12, 18-19
Hebrews 2:17
Leviticus 16:15, 32-34 – The priest was to offer a sin offering.
Hebrews 9:23-28 – The physical things of the old law were only shadows of better things to come.
Hebrews 5:6, 9-10 – Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:18-20; Psalms 110:4 – We have limited knowledge about Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:3-28
Hebrews 6:19-20

That encourages me to hold to my convictions.

Exodus 28:9-30 – The garments of the high priest. The high priest was in a sense carrying all the people before the Lord.
Leviticus 16:6
Hebrews 5:1-4
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 3:1
Hebrews 10:19-23
Matthew 10:32-33

And I am reminded just how much God loves me.

Hebrews 4:15
Isaiah 59:2, 15-16, 20 – God reconciled humanity to Himself.
Hebrews 2:17-18
Hebrews 9:11-14 – Let us never think no one loves us.

Faith, Part 9

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith changes us: putting on the new man

Colossians 3:10
Ephesians 4:24
What does a “new man” look like?
II Peter 1:5
There are specific sins to avoid. These are inherently sinful and have always been so.
Colossians 3:5, 8-9 – See also Galatians 5:19-21; I Corinthians 5:11; 6:9; II Timothy 3:1-5
I Thessalonians 5:22
These are negative things that we must get out of our lives.
What are the positive things that faith encourages us to add to our lives?
Colossians 3:1-2, 10
Titus 2:11-12
I Corinthians 3:16-17
I Peter 1:16
Hebrews 11:6
- Note again two elements:
  - Believe that He is (faith)
  - Action (seeking Him)
- God rewards those seeking Him and God does what He says.
- The action (obeying Him) from faith (love of God) is diligently seeking Him (obeying Him and wanting to be like Him).
We just don’t declare ourselves holy: it takes faith!
Faith and wanting to please God becomes our catalyst to be wanted to be like Him and having a direct relationship with God.
This connection to God comes through prayer.
Revelation 21:3 – Through prayer we develop a one-on-one relationship to God. He becomes our God, and we become one of His people.
This strengthens my faith, my trust, my courage, and makes my love Him even more.
I Thessalonians 5:22
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:1-2, 12-13
I John 1:8-9

Joshua 12-14

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 12

Joshua 12:1-6 – Kings and lands conquered by Moses

Joshua 12:7-24 – Kings and lands conquered by Joshua

These lands are given but not fully conquered yet.
Joshua 12:24 – Thirty-one kings were defeated.

Joshua 13

Joshua 13:1-7 – Joshua is old, and God says more land needs to be conquered.

Joshua 13:8-33 – Listing of lands east of Jordan: Reuben, Gad, half tribe of Manasseh

Joshua 13:14 – The Levites did not receive a land inheritance because they were supported by the offerings from Israel. See Deuteronomy 18:1-3.
Joshua 13:22 – See Numbers 22:5-24:5; 31:8, 15-16. Balaam was a major thorn in the side of Israel and caused them to sin. See also Revelation 2:14.

Joshua 14

Joshua 14:1-5 – Explanation of nine and a half tribes and two and a half tribes, and Levi

See Proverbs 16:33. God would sometimes use casting of lots to make His will known. See Acts 1:23-26. In Numbers 26:55-56, God had commanded that the distribution be done by lot. In Acts 13:17-19, it states that God distributed the land. God was in charge of this process. See Joshua 18:6.

Joshua 14:6-15 – Caleb wants Hebron, where the Anakim live. Joshua gives it to him.

See Numbers 13:6, 8, 16, 30; 14:22-24, 34.
Joshua 14:6 – Caleb was descended from Esau – not a native Israelite, yet he was a leader among the Israelites.
Joshua 14:7-13 – Caleb was 40 in Numbers 14:34. He is now 85. This is 45 years later, but he still has his amazing faith and defeats the Anakim.

Christianity in 7 Verses

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 9:20: “The Christ of God”

I Peter 2:24 – Jesus’ crucifixion was a sacrificial offering.
Hebrews 9:28
I Corinthians 15:3-4 – Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
Luke 9:23

Ephesians 2:8: “by grace you have been saved through faith”

Noah – ark (Genesis 6) – Hebrews 11:7
Israel – Jericho (Joshua 6) – Hebrews 11:30
Naaman – Leprosy (II Kings 5)
Ephesians 2:4-10

Matthew 22:37: “You shall love the Lord your God.”

Matthew 22:34-40
I John 5:3 – Loving God means keeping His commandments.

I Peter 2:2: “long for the pure milk of the word”

I Peter 2:1-3
James 1:21-22

Colossians 1:18: “He is also the head of the body, the church”

Jesus is the authority.
Ephesians 5:23 – The body is composed of the saved.
The church does not make laws. God has already made the laws.
The church does not save – it is composed of the saved.
II Corinthians 5:15

I John 2:15: “Do not love the world”

I John 2:15-17
We must get used to being different.
James 4:4
John 15:18

II Timothy 4:18: “the crown of righteousness”

II Timothy 4:6-8
John 5:28-29 – There will be a day of judgment.
Psalms 130:3-4

Conclusion

In 1000 years, what will you wish you had done?

Faith, Part 8

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith, love, and obedience

We see the evidence of God’s love for us (Creation, care, the sacrifice of His only Son)
How do we show love to God?
God tells us what it means to love Him.
John 14:15
In modern terms, this is God’s love language.
There is a direct connection between faith in God, loving God, and obeying God.
We show our faith and our love by obeying God and through this obedience, we become more like Him, and our faith grows.
II Peter 1:10-11
Romans 6:12-13
I am compelled to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). I serve God from the heart and in harmony with the truth as revealed in the gospel.
I Corinthians 9:27 – Disciplining our body is part of obedience.
We want to please God by obeying Him and worshiping Him the way He wants us to.
What does obedience look like?
II Peter 1:5 – I will try to develop these qualities in my everyday life.
- My activities will be more virtuous.
- I will strive for more knowledge.
- I will develop self-control.
- I will learn patience.
- Godliness will be my goal.
- I will try to show kindness to all.
- In all things I will show a spirit of love.
II Peter 3:17-18
Hebrews 11:6
- Note again two elements:
  - Believe that He is (faith)
  - Action (seeking Him)
- God rewards those seeking Him and God does what He says.
- The action (obeying Him) from faith (love of God) is diligently seeking Him (obeying Him and wanting to be like Him).
If we fail, we have faith that God will forgive us.
I Thessalonians 5:22
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:1-2, 12-13
I John 1:8-9
That should make us love Him more.

Lessons From Philippians

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 16:11-34, 40 – The examples of Lydia and the Philippian jailer.

Pual gives an excellent example of unselfishness.

Philippians 1:1-8 – Paul was focusing on them. Paul was writing from prison, but didn’t focus on himself.
If someone asks you how you are doing, do you always answer with complaints? Are you always focusing on the negative?
Philippians 1:12-14 – Paul spoke about his imprisonment in a way that focused on the good that was being done because of it.
Philippians 2:1-5, 19-21
Philippians 4:1, 17

Paul exemplifies the joy and peace Christians have in the face of distress and death.

Paul’s example of staying positive

Pray

Philippians 4:6-7 – God won’t necessarily take away the storms of life, but He will give you a raincoat and hold your hand.

Engage with brethren

Philippians 1:3

Stay busy

Philippians 1:13 – Paul was busy and productive, even in prison.
I Kings 19:2-4, 14-18 – Elijah was literally running for life. God gave him something to do to help his depressed spirit.
Philippians 1:21-24
Philippians 2:17
II Corinthians 12:15
Philippians 3:5-11
Philippians 3:20

Joshua 10-11

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 10

Joshua 10:1-15 – Five kings align against Gibeon

Joshua 10:1-2 – Adoni-zedek feared greatly because of how Israel had conquered Ai.
Joshua 10:9 – The Israelites marched all night – a distance of 15-20 miles and then they had to fight in a supernaturally long day.
Joshua 10:12-15 – The sun and moon stand still at Joshua’s request so the Israelites have time to finish the fight.
- A story has circulated on the Internet for a while claiming that NASA had “found” Joshua’s last day. This is a hoax. See https://apologeticspress.org/the-sun-stood-stillreally-5529/.
Joshua 10:13 – The Book of Jasher (also mentioned in II Samuel 1:18) was evidently known to the people of the day, although we do not have copies of it today.

Joshua 10:16-27 – Five kings killed

Joshua 10:24 – Placing the foot on the neck was possibly a customary way to show dominance over an enemy in those days.

Joshua 10:28-48 – Quick listing of more battles

Joshua 11

Joshua 11:1-23 – Israel fights another coalition

There are many similarities between this fight and the one in Joshua 10.

Southern Alliance (Joshua 10:1-5)	Northern Alliance (Joshua 11:1-5)
Divine reassurance (Joshua 10:8)	Divine reassurance (Joshua 11:6)
Victory employing surprise (Joshua 10:9-11)	Victory employing surprise (Joshua 11:7-9)
Execution of kings / destruction of cities (Joshua 10:16-39)	Execution of kings / destruction of cities (Joshua 11:10-15)
Conquest summary (Joshua 10:43-48)	Conquest summary (Joshua 11:16-23)

Joshua 11:9 – God did not allow the Israelites to add the military resources to their arsenal.
Joshua 11:20 – Compare Exodus 9:34-10:1.
Joshua 11:21-23 – The Anakim that the spies were originally so scared of were defeated and nearly eradicated.

The Thief on the Cross

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 23:33, 39-46

Answering the baptism question

Acts 2:38 – People sometimes try to use the case of the thief on the cross to prove that baptism is not necessary for salvation.
The simple answer is: the thief was living under the Old Covenant, and baptism into Jesus was not yet in force.
- Luke 3:3
- John 3:5
- Matthew 28:19
- Mark 16:15-16 – These are Jesus’ words after His resurrection.
- Acts 2:37-41 – This is the first time baptism into Jesus was commanded.
- What about David, Moses, and Abraham? They weren’t baptized either.
- Hebrews 9:15-17 – Jesus’ sacrifice covered those under the Old Covenant.
- Galatians 4:5 – Jesus redeemed those that were under the law.
- The transition to the New Covenant took place in Acts 2.
Romans 6:3-6 – Baptism is “into His death.” No one could have experienced that baptism BEFORE He died.
Romans 10:9 – If the thief proves that baptism is not required, he also proves that belief in Jesus’ resurrection is not required.

The other thief

If he had humbled himself in his last moments, he could have been saved. What regret must he have now!

The penitent thief

Matthew 27:38-44 – At first, both criminals mocked Jesus.
Luke 23:40-42 – One thief evidently had a change of heart.

Jesus

Luke 23:43 – In some of Jesus’ last breaths, He made time for one more soul.
Jesus loves you too!

Faith, Part 7

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith dispels fear (continued)

Let go of fear.
Be introspective. What are you so afraid?
Pray for help and healing, Philippians 4:6-7.
- James 4:13, 15 – “pray for your plan”
Evaluate past storms.
Look beyond storms to the ultimate ends.
- I Peter 1:6-9; Matthew 10:28
Choose faith
- II Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:6
- God loves us and always wants our good.
II Peter 1:5
I John 4:17-19
I John 4:20

Two Good Bible Study Habits

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 1:10-12
I Corinthians 2:13

Be content with the Holy Spirit’s revealed word.

Joshua 2:15-18 – Some ancient writers looked at the scarlet cord as being a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Both saved. However, the Holy Spirit never made that connection.
Exodus 27:19 – All the pegs of the tabernacle were to be bronze. M. R. DeHaam in The Tabernacle tries to connect the pegs to the resurrection in that they were in the group and also rose above the ground. Against, the Holy Spirit never makes this connection.
Absurd example: The “David Church”
Ezekiel 37:15-23 – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints interprets the two sticks as foretelling the Bible and Book of Mormon being joined.
Hebrews 8:1-5 – The Holy Spirit makes the connection between the tabernacle and heaven.
Hebrews 9:23; 10:1 – The Holy Spirit makes more connections for us.
Be careful about making connections beyond what has been revealed.
Romans 5:14-19 – The Holy Spirit connects Adam and Christ.
II Peter 1:20

Study the context!

“He made it!” – This means completely different things depending on the context.
Examples:
- Psalms 14:1
- Ecclesiastes 2:10
- Matthew 10:8
- Acts 27:31
- Hebrews 9:24
Ephesians 3:1-6 – We can read and understand!
- Examples from Dr. Mark Strauss:
  - Philippians 1:14
  - Luke 4:43
Matthew 5:7, 20; 6:1; 7:13-14
- Matthew 7:28
Exegesis – to draw out the meaning of the text.
Eisegesis – to read your own meaning into the text.
Luke 10:29-37 – Augustine tried to read this story as an allegory, but that is going beyond the simple meaning of the story.

The Basic Storyline of the Old Testament

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

If asked by someone for help in their reading of the Old Testament, giving them just the basic storyline, could you do it?
- Hebrews 5:11-14
Of the 39 Old Testament books, only twelve need to be read in order to get the chronological story. The other 27 are valuable for the details.

Genesis

Three men: patriarchs (Acts 7:8)
- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
Three promises: Genesis 12:3; 26:4; 28:14; 49:10
- Land – the land which I will show you
  - Fulfilled, Joshua 21:43-45; 23:14
- Nation – I will make you a great nation
  - Fulfilled, Exodus 1:7
- Special descendant – in you all the families of the earth will be blessed
  - Fulfilled, Galatians 3:14-16
The balance of the Old Testament is all about the fulfilling of these three promises.

Exodus

215 years of bondage
Reason for Jews being in Egypt in servitude; had become a great nation, a thread to Pharaoh, Exodus 1:14
Exodus 12:37 – 600,000 men
Exodus 3-7 – Moses raised up as deliverer
Exodus 8-11 – Plagues intended to soften Pharaoh’s heart and release the Jews.
Exodus 12-13 – Passover instituted
Exodus 14-40 – Jews escape Egypt, come to Sinai, events at Sinai
Exodus 19 – Ten Commandments
Exodus 24 – Golden calf
Jesus our Passover lamb – I Corinthians 5:7

Numbers

40 years of wandering
Numbers 1-10 – Preparations for leaving Sinai
Numbers 10-12 – Events before Kadesh
- Murmuring against Moses and Aaron
Numbers 12-20 – Events at Kadesh
- Numbers 12 – Murmuring of Miriam and Aaron
- Numbers 13 – Spies sent to Canaan, evil report
- Numbers 14 – Rebellion of people and punishment
Numbers 20-36 – Events prior to entering Canaan

Deuteronomy

“Remember” – 24 times
Deuteronomy 1-31 – Retelling of the law
Deuteronomy 32-34 – 120 years of Moses’ life ends

Joshua

Seven years to conquer the land
Joshua 1-5 – Entering the land
Joshua 6-12 – Conquest of the land
Joshua 13-21 – Distribution of land
Joshua 22-24 – Settling in land
Joshua 21:45 – None of God’s promises failed

Judges – I Samuel 8

14 judges, 300 years
Judges 2:11-23 – 300 year cycle of apostasy: sin, oppression, repentance, deliverance, relapse

I Samuel 8 – I Kings 11

“Give us a king”
- 120 years, united kingdom: Judah and Israel
  - Saul, David, and Solomon
II Samuel 7:12-17 - David’s desire to build temple; God assures him a descendant of His (Jesus) will fulfill prophecy.

I Kings, II Kings – Divided kingdom

Israel – 931-722 B.C.
- 19 kings, all of them evil
- Lasts for 200 years before being taken into Assyrian captivity, from which they never returned.
Judah – 931-586 B.C.
- 20 kings, some good, some evil
- Lasts for 130 years after Israel goes into captivity before being taken captive by Babylon for seventy years, then return.

II Kings 23-25

Three groups taken into Babylonian captivity

Ezra and Nehemiah

Three groups return from Babylonian

The Greatest Father

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ephesians 6:4
I John 3:1

He always prioritizes our souls.

Genesis 13:2, 5-6 – God is okay with us being prosperous.
I Kings 3:13
Job 1:1
II Thessalonians 3:7-10 – God exalts a good work ethic.
Proverbs 17:17
Matthew 10:16, 28, 39
Revelation 2:10
We need to make it clear to our children that their souls are what are most valuable.
Matthew 16:26

He balances tough love and tender love.

Genesis 6:12-13 – God destroyed the earth with a flood.
Psalms 86:14-17 – God also showed compassionate love.
Kids need to hear, “no” and it needs to be enforced.
There are also times when kids make a mistake and need compassionate love.

He tells His children to be different.

Exodus 19:5
Leviticus 18:3 – Don’t walk like the Egyptians, Canaanites, or anyone else.
Leviticus 19:2
Leviticus 20:22
Deuteronomy 18:9 – Don’t imitate the nations.
Jeremiah 10:2
I Peter 2:9-11 – We are sojourners here.
Teach your kids to be different!
II Corinthians 6:14-18

Faith, Part 6

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith dispels fear (continued)

Mark 4:37-41
Fear and faith are incompatible (Mark 4:40).
Fear assumes God does not care (Mark 4:38).
- “Teacher, do you not care …”
Fear assumes God can’t (or won’t) help me.
- Sometimes we don’t feel worthy of God’s help.
- We may project our own shortcomings on God.
Fear assumes God cannot be at work in the storm like He is in the calm.
God is with us in the storm.
- Matthew 28:20; Mark 16:20; Acts 18:10; II Timothy 4:17
- Hebrews 13:5-6
God cares for us in the storm.
- Christ’s compassion: John 11:33-38; Luke 7:13; 19:41-44. He cares at all times.
- God wants us to trust in His care, rather than react to our own anxiety.
- God’s care is an answer to anxiety: Matthew 6:30
God brings good out of storms.
- Philippians 4:6-7
Fear tells us that God’s presence and care will mean no storms. The Bible teaches us that God works in storms to bring the good out of them.
- Joseph – Genesis 50:20
- Paul – Philippians 1:12
We can learn and grow by enduring trials and hardships.
- James 1:2-4
Let go of fear.
Be introspective. Why are you so afraid?
Pray for help and healing. Philippians 4:6-7
Evaluate past storms.

John 5

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Spiritual health is the most important thing.

John 5:2-9
John 5:13-15 – It doesn’t seem that Jesus is telling the man he was lame because of sin. Jesus is saying that if the man sins, something worse than lameness will befall him, namely hell.

I need to double-check if I am mistaken.

John 5:10, 16
The Jews thought that this was a sin, but the fact that Jesus commanded it shows it was not.

Don’t see a contradiction where there is harmony.

John 5:17-18 – The Jews thought this was blasphemy, not understanding who Jesus was.
John 5:19-24
Jesus gives four lines of evidence to show He was the Christ:
- John 5:30-36 – The testimony of John the Baptist (1) and His own works (2).
- John 5:37-38 – God the Father bore witness of Jesus (possibly His baptism – Matthew 3:17) (3).
- John 14:24
- John 5:39-40 – The scriptures also testify of Jesus (4).
- John 5:45-47
- Luke 24:27
How are you saved?
- Ephesians 1:7
- I Peter 3:21
- James 2:24
- Ephesians 2:8
- Acts 3:19
- Romans 10:10
- Titus 3:5
- All of these are true! It is wrong for us to try to drive wedges between them.

Joshua 7-9

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 7

Joshua 7:1-15 – Defeated at Ai

Joshua 7:1 – Achan violates the ban on plunder that God had put in place (see Joshua 6:17).
Joshua 7:4-9 – Because of Achan’s sin, Israel loses a battle. Joshua went straight to God in prayer, which was the correct response.

Joshua 7:16-26 – Achan punished

Achan “saw … coveted … took … concealed.” This is the way sin always works! Compare James 1:14-15.
We must stop sin right at the beginning and not let it proceed.
Joshua 7:22-25 – Achan’s punishment was swift and severe. See Deuteronomy 13:6-11.

Joshua 8

Joshua 8:1-8 – Instructions about Ai

Joshua 8:2 – The firstfruits of the conquest were from Jericho and were dedicated to God. Thereafter, God allowed the people to plunder. Ultimately, God rules and can make commands as He wishes. (If only Achan had waited for one more battle, he could have had his plunder and still been acceptable to God! We must operate on God’s timetable.)

Joshua 8:9-29 – Defeat of Ai

God instructs Joshua to set an ambush for Ai, utterly defeating them.

Joshua 8:30-35 – Altar and reading the law

Joshua 9

Joshua 9:1-27 – Gibeonite deception and covenant

Joshua 9:14 – They did not consult God!

Because of Your Good Deeds

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 2:12

Put a positive, spiritual spin on life.

Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 5:10-12 – Christians react to things differently.
Acts 5:40-6:1
How do I react when things happen?
Philippians 1:12-14 – Paul had a positive outlook on his imprisonment.

Tell stories about your repentance.

I Corinthians 13:6
Galatians 1:23-24 – They glorified God because of Paul’s repentance.
I Timothy 1:13-15 – Paul talked about himself as a way of talking about Christ.

Choose words that reflect your spiritual mindset.

Titus 2:7-8 – Every time we communicate, it’s an opportunity to turn toward spiritual things.
“I’m blessed.”
“I’ll pray for you.”
“It’s a good day God has made.”
Acts 9:1; Romans 1:7 – Look at how Paul talked to Christians before and after his conversion.
Our speech should reflect our faith.
I Peter 4:11
If we’re too afraid to mention God around non-spiritual people, who is influencing who? We are to be salt and light in the world.

Invite someone to Benchley.

John 4:7-42 – This woman saved many just be inviting people to hear Jesus. Can we do that?

Faith, Part 5

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith creates courage (continued)

Terror: a state of intense fear
Hebrews 11:30-40 – Through faith, these people had the courage to deal with all these troubles.
Gideon goes from having no great faith and no courage to leading God’s people as one of the judges. Judges 6-8
Gideon’s faith becomes stronger.
- Obedience despite doubt. We may have doubts about our abilities and God’s plan for us. God uses us when we follow through.
- God’s strength is in our weakness. God often uses the humble and unlikely to accomplish His purpose. Our weakness can become a platform for God’s strength and glory. Judges 7:20
- Giving credit to God. Judges 7:13-15 (Gideon worshipped God.)
The recounting of Gideon’s journey from fear to faith and the courage it instilled in him reminds us that:
- God can work through our doubts and weaknesses.
- When we submit to His will and trust in His strength, we can overcome obstacles.
- Gideon shows us that God’s presence and power are with us, even in our moments of uncertainty.
How does out faith grow our courage?
How does our courage grow our faith?
How does the world see our faith and the courage it brings us?
John 15:13
Hebrews 9:26 – How much faith and courage must this have taken for Christ to die willingly?
II Peter 1:5

Faith dispels fear

Fear
- Torment: extreme pain
Mark 4:40 – Fear and faith are incompatible.

The Minor Judges

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hebrews 11:32-34

God cares about each one of us.

Judges 12:8-15 – Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
John 20:30-31; 21:25
Jonah 4:11
Genesis 1:16 – “… He made the stars also.”
Luke 12:6-7 – God knows the number of hairs on your head. You are valuable to Him!
God loves each one of us!

Humans repeat mistakes.

Judges 2:16
The judges may have been local leaders.
The time periods of the judges may have overlapped.

There was a lot of peace.

Oppression: 114 years
Rest: 296 years
Judges 3:30 – 80 years of peace. Some of the people living during this time may have known nothing other than peace!

The cycle of sin continued.

Judges 10:1-5
Ecclesiastes 1:4-9
The cycle:
- Sin: Judges 3:7
- Oppression: Judges 3:8
- Cries to God: Judges 3:9
- Judge to deliver: Judges 3:9-10
- Period of rest and peace: Judges 3:11
God is a god of grace!
What problem can God not help with?
I John 4:14; 1:9

Strength comes through struggle.

Judges 2:20-3:4 – God left these nations on purpose to test the Israelites.
Judges 3:31 – Shamgar; more struggle, more fighting
II Corinthians 12:7-9 – God allowed Paul to have a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.
II Timothy 3:11; 4:14-18
James 1:2-4

Joshua 5-6

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 5

Joshua 5:1 – Kings’ hearts melted
- They were terrified of the Israelites!
Joshua 5:2-8 – Circumcision
- It did not make military sense to do this at this time, but God put fear into their enemies and they did not attack.
- Leviticus 12:3 – Circumcision was supposed to be an ongoing law, but it had not been followed.
- Joshua trusted that God would protect them while the army healed.
Joshua 5:9 – Gilgal
- God is calling this out as a new beginning.
Joshua 5:10 – Passover
- See Exodus 12:6. It’s not clear that the Passover had been observed since they left Mt. Sinia. Going by Exodus 12:25, it’s possible that observance was not to begin until they entered Canaan.
Joshua 5:11-12 – Manna ceased
- The manna continued from Exodus 16 to Joshua 5. If you multiply it out, God provided at least 50 billion meals!
- Now they would eat the produce of the land.
Joshua 5:13-15 – Captain of the Lord’s host

Joshua 6 – Jericho

Joshua 6:1-5 – God gave them Jericho, but they had to meet His conditions.
Joshua 6:6-9 – Modern day Tell es-Sultan could be the site of ancient Jericho. It is one of the most excavated archaeological sites in the world.
Joshua 6:15-21 – The walls of Jericho fall and the Israelites take the city.
Joshua 6:22-27 – Rahab and her family are spared.
- Joshua 6:27 – Joshua’s curse was fulfilled in I Kings 16:34 when Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt the city, losing his firstborn and youngest son in the process.

Applications

God can “give” something with conditions

Hebrews 11:30
Ephesians 2:8

	Jericho	Salvation
God gives it	Joshua 6:2: “I have given Jericho into your hand”	Ephesians 2:8: “it is the gift of God”
You didn’t earn it	Deuteronomy 9:6: “it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land”	Ephesians 2:8-9 – “not of yourselves … not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”
And yet there are conditions	Joshua 6:2: “You shall march around the city …”	Matthew 7:21: “he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter”

God rewards faith wherever it is found.

Matthew 21:31
Rahab was in the lineage of both David and Jesus.
Isaiah 42:3
God is willing to forgive and help us grow.

No stronghold can resist God.

Culture of My Family: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 12:31

This is the law!

Romans 13:8 – This is not saying it is sinful to take out a loan. Instead, it is emphasizing the importance of loving each other.
Galatians 5:13-14
Hebrews 13:2-3 – Treat everyone as valuable.

Prove to be a neighbor.

Luke 10:25-37 – Jesus gives the parable of the good Samaritan to show how to be a good neighbor. I need to be a neighbor. I Need to take initiative and do the right thing.
Matthew 7:12 – Jesus calls us to a higher standard. We are to initiate kindness.
Matthew 5:38-45 – Love everyone, even your enemies.

Get in the habit of thinking about what would help others.

Jonah 3:10-4:2, 11
Romans 15:1-3 – Seek to please your neighbor, not yourself.
I Corinthians 10:24
We must look to see the value in others – we are all souls!
James 2:8

Faith, Part 4

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith establishes trust

John 11:40 (everyday life) – Jesus wants us to believe in extreme moments just like we do in the mundane, everyday moments.
Matthew 17:20 (evidence)
II Corinthians 5:6-8 (walk by faith)

Examples from scripture

Noah – Genesis 6:14-7:6-20
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego – Daniel 3:11-26, 17
- They trusted in God’s plan. They also trusted that if God chose not to deliver them from the furnace, He will still deliver them.

Examples: evidence in our lives

Answered prayers
Maturity in our lives through the scriptures (virtue, knowledge, self-control) and the evidence that God is working in our lives (II Timothy 1:7)
Love for one another (add to godliness, brotherly kindness, love) – Matthew 22:37-40
Death (ultimate trust in God’s promises) – II Corinthians 5:7-10

Faith creates courage

Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
Fear:
- To have a reverential awe (God), to be afraid of
- An unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

Joshua 3-4

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 3

Joshua 3:3 – See Exodus 25:10, 22; 26:34. In Hebrews 9:2-5, 9 the previous tabernacle is compared with the greater tabernacle.
Joshua 3:17 – The Israelites crossed on dry ground – it wasn’t even wet ground even though the water was just stopped in v16. Compare Exodus 14 when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. This time, the Israelites were the aggressors.

Joshua 4

Joshua 4:1-24 – The twelve-stone memorial

Compare Exodus 12:23-27 when the Passover was instituted, as well as Exodus 13:13-14; Numbers 15:37-41; I Corinthians 11:23-24. God knows we need reminders!
Joshua 4:18 – As soon as the priests left the riverbed, the water went back to its normal flood stage for this time of year.
Joshua 4:19 – Compare Exodus 12:29-41. This was within five days of being exactly 40 years. One day we will reach our Gilgal in our Promised Land!
Joshua 4:22 – They were to teach the children about this memorial. God put the responsibility on the Israelites to teach their own children these things.

"I wish this church ..."

Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Corinthians 12:20-21

Stop looking for the perfect local church.

Revelation 2:4-5, 8-11, 12-17 – Messages to the churches. They all had problems and difficulties.
No local church will be perfect because it is composed of people and people have problems.
Acts 14:21-23 – These new churches needed to grow.
Every local church is a work in progress!
If you find a perfect local church, don’t join it because you will make it imperfect.

Start perfecting yourself.

Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-12, 15-16 – These are the things they needed to work on in Ephesus. The church is built up as each member grows.

What are some things I can do to make Benchley better?

Romans 12:10-13
“I wish the preaching were better.”
“I wish the elders were more active.”
“I wish people were more hospitable.”
“I wish people made better comments in class.”
Nehemiah 1:1; 2:17
Pray before I criticize.
Be active.
Sincerely and humbly commit to making Benchley better.

Faith, Part 3

Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Faith establishes trust

Trust: the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.
Matthew 6:25-30 (worry)
Matthew 14:28-31 (doubt)
Mark 5:36 (fear) – God is so much bigger than anything we fear.
John 11:40 (everyday life)
Matthew 17:20 (evidence)
II Corinthians 5:6-8 (walk by faith)
I John 4:18
I Timothy 6:17-19
II Corinthians 1:9
I Timothy 4:10

The Discipline of Waiting

Sun, 25 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 37:1-7

The Bible gives us plenty of examples of those who had to wait

Genesis 6:3; 7:23 – Noah
Genesis 12:2, 4; 15:1-4; 21:5 – Abraham had to wait 25 years for Isaac.
I Samuel 16:1, 12-13; II Samuel 5:4 – David had to wait to become king, possibly 15 years.
The marshmallow experiment
- Children who are able to wait and delay gratification historically have much better outcomes in life.

Waiting until marriage

Hebrews 13:4 – Pre-marital sexual relations are sinful.
II Samuel 11:2-4 – David’s sin with Bathsheba
I Corinthians 7:1-5 – Sex within marriage is holy and commanded by God.
God’s laws are good!
James 1:14

Material possessions

I Timothy 6:6-10
Young people tend to want what their parents have now, even though it took their parents decades to achieve.
Hebrews 11:24-26
Philippians 3:17-20 – We must think of ourselves as citizens of heaven.

Joshua 1-2

Wed, 21 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 1

Deuteronomy 34:5, 9

Joshua 1:1-9 – “the Lord spoke to Joshua”

Joshua 1:2-4 – See Genesis 12:7. This promise will be fulfilled in the book of Joshua, but this plan started before Creation (I Corinthians 2:7).
Joshua 1:5-9 – God repeatedly told Joshua to be “strong and courageous.” See Ephesians 6:10-11. We are also in a battle – a spiritual one.

Joshua 1:10-18 – Get ready to cross the Jordan River.

Joshua 1:14 – This would take faith for the fighting men to leave their wives and children and go off to fight, but God would protect them.

Joshua 2

Joshua 2:1-24 – Rahab and the spies

Joshua 2:10-11 – See Exodus 14-15. Exodus 15:14-16 tells of the terror that other people would have of them. See also Exodus 23:23, 27-30.
See Matthew 1:5. Rahab ends up in the lineage of Jesus.
See Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25. Rahab is commended for her faith in welcoming the spies and sending them out safely. She is not commended for lying.

"Your Faith Has Made You Well"

Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 20:29-34
Mark 10:46-52
In that time, there was very little in the way of a social safety net for a blind man.
Bartimaeus could possibly have heard that Jesus had previously been healed near this area.

He inquired … Have we lost our curiosity?

God despises a lack of curiosity and knowledge.
Hosea 4:6

He cried out … Have we lost our urgency?

He called out to Jesus as “Son of David.”
Luke 7:22 – The Messiah would be able to heal people. Jesus could do that!
- [Note: Verses may have been quoted incorrectly here. The correct references are Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1. Thanks to Joel for the correction! -MRW]
Bartimaeus sprang up and ran to Jesus.
Luke 16:24
Revelation 3:15-17
II Corinthians 8:10-11 – We can fail if we are not persistent.

He followed Jesus … Have we lost our way?

Mark 10:52 – Bartimaeus immediately followed Jesus.
Matthew 13:4-23 – Have we gone back to being beggars after hearing the gospel? We must not go back to our old ways of living.
Mark 10:46-52

Faith, Part 2

Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

We can develop and strengthen our faith

Luke 17:5 – The apostles said to the Lord, “increase our faith.”
John 20:24-29 – Thomas believed with evidence. Jesus said those who believed without seeing were blessed.
Christ expects our faith to grow
- Matthew 16:8-12; Hebrews 5:12-14

Why study faith? Why build our faith?

Faith is challenging because it is under attack in our age. Some view faith as opposed to fact and reality.
It is important for new Christians to help them grow.
It is important to those who grew up in the church. I’ve seen many that take their faith for granted.

Goals for this quarter

Study examples of faith and make application.
Use these lessons to strengthen our relationship with God.
- John 3:16; Hebrews 11:6 – Two parts: belief and action
- Hebrews 10:35-39
- Jesus is looking for us to have faith. Will he find it? Luke 18:7-8; 17:11-19

Building our faith requires action

II Peter 1:5 – This process to build our faith ends in love!
Faith is active!
- James 2:18-19, 20-24
- Not just an intellectual assent to the promises laid out by God.
- It is an embracing of those promises in their fully glory and detail, and the effect that has on our lives!
- Faith is more than simple belief; it is an active trust in the future God has assured us. Hebrews 10:39
- Faith is active and it should be active in our lives.

Faith establishes trust

Trust: the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.
Matthew 6:25-30 (worry)
Matthew 14:28-31 (doubt)

"You're in Good Hands"

Sun, 18 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

“You’re in good hands.”
Isaiah 41:10

We are protected in God’s hands

Protection from our enemies

Psalms 31:14-15; 138:7-8
Hebrews 13:5-6
(Ephesians 6:11-12)

Inseparable from His hands

John 10:29; Romans 8:37-39

We are made beautiful in God’s hands

Beauty in Creation

Psalms 95:1-7; Genesis 1:2, 31; Ecclesiastes 3:11

Made beautiful by the potter

Isaiah 64:8
Jeremiah 18:2-11; 19:1-6, 10-12
I Corinthians 6:9-11

Being moldable clay

Stay pliable so God can form you to His purpose.
Psalm 51:1-12 – David did not try to hide his sin from God. He asked forgiveness and put his life in God’s hands.
I Peter 5:6

We are taken care of in God’s hands

The hand that provides

Job 12:7-15; Psalms 145:1-3, 14-17
(Genesis 22:7-8, 13-14; Matthew 6)

Faith in God’s provisions

Poem: “Footprints in the Sand”

One night I dreamed I was walking

along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that

during the low periods of my life, when I was

suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,”You promised me

Lord, that if I followed you,

you would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods

of my life there have only been

one set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most,

you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,

“The times when you have

seen only one set of footprints,

is when I carried you.”

Psalm 91

Wed, 14 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

[Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this lesson were not recorded. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Introduction

Where do we turn in times of trouble?
- We should be turning to God.
We must put our trust in God.
- II Chronicles 16:7
- II Kings 16; Isaiah 7
- If we look to ourselves rather than God, the outcome will not be good.
- Isaiah 39; II Kings 20 – Hezekiah’s mistake
- II Kings 17:3-6 – King Hoshea
- It is foolish to look to man for protection.
- Hardship builds character and trust in God.

Psalm 91

Psalm 91:1-2 – We should have an intimate relationship with God.
Psalms 91:3-4 – Compare Job’s hardships and challenges.
Psalms 91:5-6 – God will protect you whether you see it coming or not.
Psalms 91:7-8 – See Joshua 23:10.
Psalms 91:9-10
Psalms 91:11-13 – See Luke 4:10-11. Satan uses this verse when tempting Christ.
Psalms 91:14-16 – God is not promising there will not be trouble, but that He will be with us when that trouble does come.

Applications

Trust in God’s protection.
Obedience to God is crucial to receiving God’s peace and protection.
God’s protection goes beyond the physical.

Conclusion

See II Kings 6:16-17. God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant so he could see God’s protection.

Basing Your Family on the Bible

Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ezra 7:6-10
Ezra 9:3-4, 6-8 – Ezra was appalled at the sin of Israel and prays to God.
Ezra 10:3-5

Spend time in the Bible.

Psalms 119:161-168 – We should rejoice in our time in the Bible.
Colossians 4:16
I Thessalonians 2:13
Luke 11:28
If you want peace, stability, and wisdom in your house, spend time in the Bible!

Live the Bible.

Matthew 7:15-27 – People can tell who you truly are by your actions. Beware of hypocrisy and empty lip service to God.
There must be:
- Forgiveness
- Thankfulness
- Handling criticism well
- Prayer – Romans 12:12
Ephesians 5:25
Ephesians 6:4
Genesis 12:11-13; 20:2; 26:6-7 – Isaac told the same lie as Abraham.
I Kings 12:28; 15:25-26
What bad habits are my kids picking up from me?

Plan with the Bible.

Genesis 17:7-8; 18:19
Deuteronomy 6:7
Psalms 78:6-7
II Timothy 2:2
II Peter 3:18
God wants us to grow.

Word of the Day: Amen

Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

“Amen”

Origins

Egyptian – amun
Hebrew – amen
Greek – amen

Use

Old Testament – ceremonial
New Testament – dual usage

Archaic

What would we use today?
Would it be appropriate?

How was it used?

Old Testament uses

First uses – Numbers 5:22, trial of jealousy
Next use – Deuteronomy 27, curses from Mt. Ebal
- Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim
  - Curses for violating God’s commands
  - Blessings for obeying all His commands
Common use in I Kings 1:36?
- Speaking to King David
David’s song of thanks
- David’s song
- People replied “amen” and praise the Lord
- I Chronicles 16:8, 36
Other uses
- Twice in Nehemiah – Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6
- Four times in Psalms – Psalms 41:13; 22:19; 89:52; 106:48
- Twice in Jeremiah – Jeremiah 11:5; 28:6

New Testament uses

Greek word “amen”
Not exactly same in meanings
“Verily” – 101 times
“Amen” – 51 times
Case in point
- John 21:25 – Some have “amen” at the end. Most do not.
Some uses
- End of “Lord’s prayer”
  - Matthew 5:13
- Added at end of great commission
  - Matthew 28:20
- I Corinthians 14:16
- The last word in the New Testament.

Conclusion

No dedicated word
No exclusive use
Used as it was in Israelite worship
From where does the meaning come?

Sayings

Sun, 11 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 4:10-11

What do we mean when we say … ?

“Lord willing”

James 4:13-15

“Pastor”

Ephesians 4:11 – Only occurrence of the term in the Bible.
The term refers to a shepherd or elder.
I Peter 5:1-2
Pastor and preacher are two different roles.

“Promised Land”

Genesis 12:7
Hebrews 11:9

“Lord’s Supper” / “Communion”

I Corinthians 11:20-26
I Corinthians 10:16

“The inspired writer …”

II Timothy 3:16
We usually mean that the writer was inspired by God.
I Thessalonians 2:13
I Corinthians 2:13

Jargon or insider language

“Gospel meeting”

“Go forward” and “invitation song”

Acts 2:37
James 5:16

“Local church” and “universal church”

Ephesians 5:23

“liberal church”

II Corinthians 9:13
If it means generous, every church should be liberal.
If it means loose with the scriptures, no church should be liberal.

“institutional” vs. “non-institutional”

How is the church’s money to be used? Institutional churches take the position that the local church’s money can be used to fund orphan’s homes and missionary societies. Non-institutional churches take the position that these institutions should not be funded with money from the church, although individuals can certainly contribute to them as they wish.

“marriage, divorce, and remarriage” and “Scriptural marriage / divorce”

A number of cultural sayings come from the Bible:

“wash my hands of this” – Matthew 27:21
“writing on the wall” – Daniel 5
“by the skin of your teeth” – Job 19:20
“apple of my eye” – Deuteronomy 32:10
“wolves in sheep’s clothing” – Matthew 7:15
“go the extra mile” – Matthew 5:41
“eye for an eye” – Exodus 21:24
“fall from grace” – Galatians 5:4
“forbidden fruit” – Genesis 3
“spare the rod, spoil the child” – Proverbs 29:15
“a little birdie told me” – Ecclesiastes 10:20

Some sayings sound like they’re in the Bible, but they’re not.

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
- Ancient Babylonian or Hebrew proverb that was revived during the Victorian era.
“God works in mysterious ways.”
- Not an exact quote from the Bible. Compare Isaiah 55:9.
“Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”
- Compare II Thessalonians 3:11; I Timothy 5:13.
“This too shall pass.”
- From an English poem called “Deor’s Lament.”
“God helps those who help themselves.”
- From Aesop’s Fables: “Hercules and the Wagoner”
“Good things come to those who wait.”
- From a poem by Violet Fane in 1892. The original wording was “all things come to those who wait,” but it got changed over time.

Matthew 27-28

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 27

Matthew 27:1-5 – Judas tries to return the betrayal money, but the Jews refuse to take it back. This fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12-13.
Matthew 27:7-8 – This “field of blood” was a clear geographical fact that early readers of the gospels would have been able to check.
Matthew 27:11-14 – Jesus did speak, but He did not answer to any charges, in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7.
Matthew 27:17-23 – Pilate tried to rally support for Jesus, but when he couldn’t, he bowed to pressure from the crowd and sent Jesus to be crucified.
Matthew 27:26 – The fact that scourging is mentioned so lightly here indicates that this writing is inspired. A human author would have made much more of this.
Matthew 27:35 – Like scourging in Matthew 27:26, crucifixion is almost treated as an aside here. The soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments fulfills the prophecy in Psalms 22:18. See John 3:14 where Jesus compares His own death to the bronze serpent.
Matthew 27:38 – See Isaiah 53:9. Jesus being crucified with criminals and being buried in the tomb of a wealthy man were both prophesied.
Matthew 27:39-44 – See Psalms 22:7-8. This prophecy is fulfilled almost word for word.
Matthew 27:46 – See Psalms 22:1.

Matthew 28

Matthew 28:1-10 – See I Corinthians 15:3-8 – This is a summation of the gospel:
- Christ died.
- He was buried.
- He was raised.
- He appeared to more than 500 people.
Matthew 28:11-15 – This is one of many theories propounded to try to disprove the resurrection of Jesus.
Matthew 28:16-20 – Jesus gave the great commission to the eleven disciples. Note Acts 8 where the disciples went everywhere spreading the gospel.

The Miracles of Jesus

Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

God does not expect us to believe blindly

Jesus feeds 5,000 with loaves and fishes.
Jesus heals the man let down through the roof.
Can you communicate your faith to others?

The importance of compassion

Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:34 – Jesus had compassion on the crowd.
Mark 1:40-41 – Jesus had compassion on the leper.
Matthew 20:32-34 – Jesus heals the blind men.
Luke 7:11-15
John 11
Matthew 23:37
If I’m going to be like Jesus, I must develop compassion, even when I am tired or frustrated.

Bring your faith

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25 – We must know that Jesus hears and cares.

Let it be done for you according to your faith

Matthew 8:5-13 – Jesus heals the centurion’s servant.
Matthew 9:27-31 – Jesus heals the blind men.
James 1:5-8 – Ask without doubting.
What can God not do through me because I don’t trust Him?
Mark 9:23-24 – “I belief! Help my unbelief!”

Don’t let others deter your faith

Luke 18:35-43
Mark 5:21-43

Hatred is powerfully toxic

Luke 22:47-54 – No one was turned from their hatred, even by seeing Jesus miraculously heal a man.
James 3:13-18 – Warning against bitterness and selfish ambition.
Matthew 5:43-48
Romans 12:14-21 – Overcome evil with good.

Faith, Part 1

Sun, 04 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

What does it mean to be a man of faith?
Faith is not an abstract concept – faith is an action.

What is faith?

What does faith mean to you?
- Belief
- Confidence
- Acceptance
- Trust
- Obedience
- Conviction
- Submission
- Certainty
- Action
- Loyalty
- Hope
- Perseverance
Hebrews 11:1-3
- Substance – essential nature
- Evidence – an outward sign; indication
- Understanding – to grasp the meaning of
  - What is spiritual understanding?
    - We are familiar with and have knowledge of the priorities of God.
    - We have deeply thought about what God wants, what He loves.
    - We acknowledge how God has been active in our own lives.
    - We have immersed ourselves in His scriptures so that we grasp the deeper and subtler truths in them.
  - Our spiritual understanding translates to practical things as well.
    - We are able to discern good from evil, even when they are not apparent.
    - We learn how to build others up, to put others first, and to treat them as we would have them treat us.
    - This is faith maturing and as time goes by, as we mature, our faith grows deeper.
    - We can develop and strengthen our Faith.

Matthew 26

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 26

There are three groups of people that stand out in this chapter:
- Jewish leaders – showed great hatred
- Apostles – notice how Jesus dealt with them despite their problems
- Women – These are the ones who Jesus elevated for their actions.
Matthew 26:2 – See Matthew 16:21-23.
Matthew 26:3-5 – The Jews actively conspired to kill Jesus. Compare Matthew 27:18; Acts 2:36.
Matthew 26:7-13 – This was a wildly expensive ointment (see parallel passage John 12:3-8) – possibly equivalent to a year’s wages.

How to Worship as a Youth

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 9:33-37
Mark 10:13-16
Psalms 78:1-4

Worship

… should always come from the heart.

Psalms 95:1-11 – We should worship joyfully because of who God is and what He has done.
Matthew 15:8

… involves participation.

Encourage your children to pay attention and participate in whatever way they can in the worship service.

… is not time to play.

John 4:23-24
Sometimes with little ones, you’re just trying to survive, but don’t just give up and don’t let bad habits form.

Praying

Kids are often great at praying!
Matthew 6:5-13
Acts 12:12
I Peter 3:12

Preaching

Deuteronomy 31:10-13 – The Israelites were to listen to God’s word, including the kids.
Joshua 8:33-35 – The entire law was read to everyone, including the children.
Ezekiel 33:31

Singing

Colossians 3:16
This is something kids can do!

Giving

I Corinthians 16:1

Lord’s Supper

I Corinthians 11:23-26
Matthew 26:29
This is a memorial that also helps us teach our children.

Conclusion

Make sure the main focus is on God, not people.

I'm Saved! Now What?

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I’m saved! Now what?

Exodus 3:12; 4:22-23 – God wanted Israel to serve Him.
Ephesians 2:10 – We are created for good works.
Titus 2:14
I Peter 2:9
Romans 11:22-24

Ephesians 4: “lay aside the old self … put on the new self”

Ephesians 4:22-32 – instructions for the new self
I Peter 1:15-16

Romans 6: “walk in newness of life … our old self was crucified with Him”

Romans 6:4-7, 11-13 – We should be instruments of righteousness.

Colossians 3: “laid aside the old self … put on the new self”

Colossians 3:1-11 – God is showing us how to think about this. We are a new person!
Galatians 2:20 – Our old self should be dead.
Galatians 3:26-28 – Paul went from being a Hebrew of the Hebrews to saying there is neither Jew nor Greek. This is the new Paul.

Change your identity.

Ephesians 5:8-10; 4:23
Romans 6:2, 11 – Think of yourself as dead to sin.
Colossians 3:2

Beware of who/ what is influencing you.

Ephesians 4:17
Proverbs 13:20
II Chronicles 24:1-2, 17-18 – Jehoiada was a good influence on Joash while he was alive.

Whetting Your Appetite for Proverbs

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 1:1-7 – Proverbs is to help us receive and understand wisdom from God. Part of that is humility.

There are various types of proverbs.

Contrast

Proverbs 13:1, 20, 3

Comparison

Proverbs 26:1, 11

Straight-forward advice

Proverbs 18:13 – Compare John 7:51.

Extended

Proverbs 24:30-34

Why aren’t these wise sayings ALWAYS true?

These are general truths with exceptions.

Ecclesiastes 9:11
Proverbs 10:4 – Compare James 5:4.
Proverbs 19:9

Some passages may pertain to promises unique to Old Covenant Israel.

Deuteronomy 28:1-4, 15
Proverbs 30:1; 31:1 – Some proverbs were written by other men (not Solomon).
Proverbs 12:21 – See II Timothy 3:12; 4:8

Different circumstances call for different applications of wisdom.

Proverbs 26:4-5 – There are times when you may or may not want to answer a fool.
Proverbs 18:22; 21:9 – Is marriage good or not? Generally it is a great blessing, but there are cases where it is a bad relationship.

Dave’s faves

Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath”
Proverbs 31:30 – “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain”
Proverbs 16:32 – “He who is slow to anger is better than the might”
Proverbs 18:17 – “The first to plead his case seems right …”

Matthew 25

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

[Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to make a recording of this lesson. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Matthew 25

Matthew 25:1-13 – Parable of the ten virgins
- Be ready because you do not know when the bridegroom (possibly the destruction of Jerusalem based on the context from Matthew 24) will come.
- Being ready means doing the master’s will, so that you will be in the right position when the time comes.
Matthew 25:14-30 – Parable of the talents
- Matthew 25:15 – The master was wise and gave to each according to what he knew their abilities were. Even the man with the least ability was given something. See James 4:14-17. They did not know when the master would return.
- Matthew 25:16-17 – Two men immediately started using the money to make a profit.
- Matthew 25:25-26 – The man who did nothing was called worthless and lazy. The man said he was afraid and did not act.
Matthew 25:31-46 – Judgment
- See II Corinthians 5:10. They were going to be judged based on their deeds. Don’t overlook opportunities to help people.

Daily Disciples

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Daily disciples

Acts 16:5
Acts 17:11
I Corinthians 15:31
II Corinthians 11:28
James 2:15-16
Ephesians 2:10; 4:1; 5:1, 15 – “Walk”
Ephesians 6:24

Jesus is always there for us.

Colossians 1:16-17 – Jesus is holding everything together.
Hebrews 1:3
Philippians 2:5-8
Hebrews 9:22
Romans 5:6
Romans 6:3-6
Hebrews 7:23-25
Jesus cares care of both our spiritual and physical parts.

Are we always there for Him?

He wants EVERYTHING (Matthew 5:46-48)
He wants priority in our relationships (Matthew 10:34-37)
He wants our speech (Matthew 12:33-37)
He wants our actions (Matthew 12:46-50)
He wants our hearts (Matthew 15:16-20)
He wants our very lives (Matthew 16:24-27)

Be Baptized, continued

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Be baptized, continued

Galatians 3:27
Colossians 2:9-12 – The parallels between circumcision and baptism. Be careful not to stretch these parallels too far!
I Peter 3:21
What is the proper method for baptism?
- Strong: “to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet).”
- Zodhiates: “Immerse, submerge for a religious purpose, to overwhelm, saturate”
- Mounce: “The verb baptize literally means ‘to put or go under water.’”
- Vine describes the word’s use outside of the Bible: It “was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another.”
- John 3:23
- Mark 1:9-10
- Acts 8:38
Since we don’t read about pouring or sprinkling in the New Testament, how did they get started?
- 251 – First recorded case of pouring was on Novation. He was too sick to be immersed, so they put pillows around him on a couch and drenched him in water. This was called “clinic baptism.” It was decided that if the sick person got healthier they should be immersed.
- 257 – Baptism by sprinkling for adults was first used as an exception for those on sick beds, but it caused great dispute.
- 753 – Sprinkling for those on sick beds officially accepted.
- 1311 – Baptism by sprinkling accepted as the universal standard instead of immersion for all, not just the sick. (Council of Ravenna)
- Source: https://www.bible.ca/cath-new-doctrines.htm
Is the water special or holy?
- No. The act of baptism saves us, not because of any power found in the water itself, but because God said to be baptized. It is an act of obedience.
Isn’t baptism an outward sign of an inward grace (an outward show of the fact that one’s sins have already been forgiven)?
- No.
  - That is nowhere taught, exemplified, or implied in the Bible.
  - It contradicts the passages about baptism.
  - It does not fit the Greek.
Why did Paul say, “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (I Corinthians 1:17)?
- Keep this in its context.
- Harmonize this with other clear passages.
- Recognize their “not … but” method of emphasis.
  - I John 3:18
  - John 6:27
  - I Peter 3:3-4

Calvinism, Part 3

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Perseverance of the saints

Also known as “once saved, always saved” or “impossibility of apostasy.”

“The elect are not only redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Spirit, but also kept in faith by the almighty power of God. All those who are spiritually united to Christ through regeneration are eternally secure in Him. Nothing can separate them from the eternal and unchangeable love of God. They have been predestined to eternal glory and are therefore assured of heaven.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 64

“Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace, for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.” – Steele, Thomas, & Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 64-65

As the Westminster Confession of Faith states, saved people “can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” – as cited in Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 65

Romans 8:29-30
- foreknew ➡ predestined ➡ called ➡ justified ➡ glorified

“We have seen before the ironclad chain of divine work in Romans 8:30 … What is evident from this verse is that those who are effectually called into the hope of salvation will indeed persevere to the end and be glorified. There are no dropouts in this sequence. These are promises of God rooted in unconditional election in the first place and in the sovereign, converting, preserving grace that we have seen before. The links in this chain are unbreakable, because God’s saving word is infallible and his new covenant commitments are irrevocable.” – John Piper, Five Points, p. 65-66

- Calvinists misinterpret these verses. Who is predestined here? It’s not individual people but a category of people – those who have decided to obey God.

According to Calvinism	According to the Bible
“According to Romans 8:29-30, God predetermined that certain individuals would be conformed to the likeness of His Son, be called, justified, and glorified.” - gotquestions.org	“God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35) “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16)

Romans 11:16-24 – Jews were removed from the metaphorical tree because of unbelief. Gentiles can be grafted in if they are faithful, but can also be removed just like the Jews if they fall away.
Galatians 3:26-27
Colossians 1:2, 13, 21-22 – Paul is writing to Christians.
- Colossians 2:5 – They were stable in their faith.
- Colossians 1:23 – Notice the word “if”!
I Timothy 1:19-20; 4:1
Hebrews 3-4
- Hebrews 3:1 – This is written to Christians
- Hebrews 3:5-6 – “if indeed we hold fast …”
- Hebrews 3:7-11
- Hebrews 3:12-14 – Don’t fall away!
- Hebrews 3:15-19 – They were guilty of unbelief. He is drawing a parallel between heaven and Canaan.
- Hebrews 4:1-11

Conclusion

Don’t let this false doctrine make you thing you can disobey God and still go to heaven.

Matthew 24

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 24

What is “the end” in Matthew 24:14?
- Signs of the end (Matthew 24:4-14)
  - Wars and rumors of wars
  - Nation rise up against nation
  - Famines and earthquakes
  - Delivered to tribulation, death, hated by all nations
  - False prophets arise and mislead
  - Lawlessness increased
  - Sun and moon darkened
  - Stars will fall from the sky
  - Heavenly bodies will be shaken
  - Then … “the end will come” (Matthew 24:29)
How to interpret the language of Matthew 24
- Context
- Pronouns
- Figurative or literal language
- Where and when
Preceding context – Matthew 21
- Matthew 21:23 – Jesus is speaking to Jews in the temple.
Preceding context – Matthew 23
- Matthew 23:34-36 – Jesus is still speaking to Jews. Bad things would happen to them because they had done bad things. These things would happen in their generations (Matthew 23:35).
Immediate context – Matthew 24
- Matthew 24:32-35 – Jesus is still speaking to Jews. Things would happen in the time of that generation (Matthew 24:34).
Outline of the chapter
- Matthew 24:1-4 – Disciples’ questions
- Matthew 24:4-44 – Jesus’ answer
- Matthew 24:45-25:30 – Three parables
  - Matthew 24:45-41 – Evil servant
  - Matthew 25:1-13 – Ten virgins
  - Matthew 25:14-30 – Talents
Matthew 24:2 – “These things” are the temple buildings in verse 1.
Matthew 24:3 – The KJV here has “end of the world” but the NASB and a number of other translations have “end of the age.” When the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, the Jewish “age” or “system” as depicted in the Old Testament ceased to exist.
Matthew 24:4-14 – Events leading up to “the end.”
Matthew 24:15-16 – See Daniel 9:24-27.
Matthew 24:29-33 – Compare similar language in other places:
- Isaiah 13:9-10 – Isaiah 13:1 shows that this was talking about Babylon.
- Isaiah 34:4-6
- Amos 8:9-10, 13-14
- Ezekiel 32:6-8, 1-2

Culture of Benchley: Authentic

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Sincere love and worship of God

Deuteronomy 6:5
Malachi 1:6
Genesis 8:20-21 – Noah
Genesis 12:7-8 – Abraham
Psalms 145:1-5, 21 – David
Daniel 6:10 – Daniel
II Chronicles 30:21-27 – This is the kind of culture we want at Benchley – rejoicing in worship!
Romans 12:12
James 5:13

Genuine Bible study

Psalms 119:97-104
John 14:15, 21-24; 15:14; 14:26 – You cannot separate God and His word.
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 8:38
I John 5:3
Mark 7:8-9, 6-7 – They say good things, but their heart is far away.
What does that mean at Benchley?
- We are studying to really see what the Bible says. Acts 10:1, 24
- We should never substitute the repetition of doctrine for genuine Bible study. Go back to the source!

Absolute humility

Ephesians 4:1-6
Mark 2:15-17
John 9:13-16, 24-25 – The Pharisees thought they understood the Sabbath day.
Prideful people think they know everything.
Acts 17:11

Be Baptized

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Be baptized

Greek baptize = dip, immerse
Many baptized in Acts:
- 3,000 in Acts 2:41
- Acts 8:12 – numerous men and women
- The Ethiopian man in Acts 8:38
- Lydia and her household in Acts 16:15
- The Philippian jailer in Acts 16:33
- And more!
Mark 16:15-16 – Belief is a prerequisite for baptism.
John 3:35 – See I Peter 1:22-25
Acts 2:36-38 – People must repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Compare the language in Matthew 26:28. Arguments have been made about the word “for” but the underlying Greek word eis always points forward.
Acts 11:13-14; 10:47-48
Acts 22:16 – Compare Acts 9:3-4, 8-9. Saul believed at this point but still needed to have his sins forgiven.
Romans 6:1-4

Jesus (Physical)	Me (Spiritual)
Death	Dead to sin
Burial	Buried in baptism
Resurrection	Newness of life

I Corinthians 12:12-13

Calvinism, Part 2

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Limited atonement (or particular redemption)

The idea that when Jesus died, He died only to save those who God had already decided would be saved.

“God the Father decreed the salvation of an elect people, Christ died with the intention of redeeming those people through their union with Him and accomplished that task, and without fail the Holy Spirit brings that accomplished work to fruition in the life of the elect at the time and in the manner determined by God.” – James White, Debating Calvinism, p. 170

“Christ’s redeeming work was definite in design and accomplishment – that it was intended to render complete satisfaction for certain specified sinners, and that it actually secured salvation for these individuals and for no one else … Redemption, therefore, was designed to bring to pass God’s purpose for election.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 39-40

“Christ’s saving work was limited in that it was designed to save some and not others, but it was not limited in value, for it was of infinite worth and would have secured salvation for everyone if this had been God’s intention.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 40

Proof texts used by Calvinists
- John 17

“So clear was the particularity of His work of redemption that in His High Priestly prayer the Lord says, ‘I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours’ (John 17:9).” – James White, Debating Calvinism, p. 177

“Jesus, in His High Priestly Prayer, prays not for the world, but for those given to Him by the Father. In fulfillment of the Father’s charge, Jesus had accomplished the work the Father had sent Him to do—to make God known to His people and to give them eternal life.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 47

- - Jesus was specifically praying for His apostles here.

“Isaiah prophesied, ‘He was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people’ (Isaiah 53:8). The angel told Joseph, ‘You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21). Jesus explained, ‘The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28). ‘I am the good shepherd,’ he preached. ‘The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’ (John 10:11, emphasis added in all cited verses).” – Phillips, What’s So Great About the Doctrines of Grace?, p. 54

Where in the Bible do we read that the “elect” is a closed group that you cannot get into?

Counter-texts

John 3:14-16 – Whoever believes will be saved. The condition was pre-selected – not the people.
Acts 10:43 – “everyone who believes”
Hebrews 5:9 – “all those who obey Him”
John 1:29
I Timothy 2:6
Titus 2:11
Hebrews 2:9
I John 2:1-2
Matthew 7:21
Mark 16:16
John 3:16
Acts 10:43
Hebrews 5:9
II Peter 3:9

Irresistible grace

“Just as Christ had the power and authority to raise Lazarus to life without obtaining his ‘permission’ to do so, He is able to raise His elect to spiritual life with just as certain a result.” – James White, Debating Calvinism, p. 197

“Simply stated, this doctrine asserts that the Holy Spirit never fails to bring to salvation those sinners whom He personally calls to Christ. He inevitably applies salvation to every sinner whom He intends to save, and it is His intention to save all the elect.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 52

“Therefore, just as unconditional election describes the grace of the Father and limited atonement describes the grace of the Son, irresistible grace presents the grace of the Holy Spirit.” – Phillips, What’s so Great About the Doctrines of Grace?, p. 70

Counter-texts

Acts 7:51 – “resisting the Holy Spirit”?

“The doctrine of irresistible grace does not mean that every influence of the Holy Spirit cannot be resisted. It means that the Holy Spirit, whenever he chooses, can overcome all resistance and make his influence irresistible.” – John Piper, Five Points, p. 22

Matthew 11:28 – “all who are weary …”?
John 7:37
Why preach to all? (Matthew 11:28; John 7:37)
- Calvinists claim there are two calls:
  - There’s an outward, “general call of the gospel” that goes to everyone and “often … falls on unreceptive ears.” – John Piper, Five Points, p. 22
  - But there’s a second, inward call: “the Holy Spirit, in order to bring God’s elect to salvation, extends to them a special inward call in addition to the outward call contained in the gospel message … The inward change wrought in the elect sinner enables him to understand and believe spiritual truth … the renewed sinner freely and willingly turns to Christ as Lord and Savior … the special inward call of the Spirit never fails to result in the conversion of those to whom it is made … The grace which the Holy Spirit extends to the elect cannot be thwarted or refused; it never fails to bring them to true faith in Christ.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 53-54
- Two calls in I Corinthians 1:23-24? No. There is just the call of the gospel. Romans 1:16
Acts 13:48 – “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed”
- When did they start to believe?
- Is their appointment why they believed?
- How did they believe?
- See Romans 10:17. This is how you develop faith.
- John 3:15-16 – Belief led to eternal life.
Acts 16:14 – Was Lydia’s heart opened supernaturally?
- Lydia heard Paul’s inspired words, through which the Lord opened her heart, and she was baptized. In other words, could it be that the Lord opened her heart through the inspired words of Paul? (Compare Acts 2:37; I Thessalonians 2:13.)
- See I Timothy 2:4. The very fact that God wants ALL to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, but only SOME do, proves that God is not irresistibly causing it.
- See also II Peter 3:9.

Matthew 23

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 23

Compare Matthew 5:20; 6:1-5; 7:3-5, 12, 15. Jesus makes similar points here.
Matthew 23:5-12 – Warnings against pride.
Matthew 23:13 – See Isaiah 5:8, 13, 18, 20, 21, 22. Jesus was speaking like a prophet here, which would have surely caught their ear. It is easy to discourage others with our behavior, especially new Christians or non-Christians.
Matthew 23:16-22 – All of these examples of oaths go back to God’s authority. Misusing God’s name in this way is essentially taking the Lord’s name in vain.
Matthew 23:23-24 – Don’t focus so much on the details that you lose sight of the bigger picture.

Calvinism, Part 1

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 2:15

John Calvin (1509-1564)

Jacobus Arminius and his followers argued against Calvin’s teaching. The five points of Calvinism were a distillation of the arguments that Calvin and his followers made against the Arminians.

Total depravity (or total inability)

“Adam’s offspring are born with sinful natures, they do not have the ability to choose spiritual good over evil.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 18-19

“Our sinful corruption is so deep and so strong as to make us slaves of sin and morally unable to overcome our own rebellion and blindness. This inability to save ourselves from ourselves is total. We are utterly dependent on God’s grace to overcome our rebellion, give us eyes to see, and effectively draw us to the Savior.” – John Piper, Five Points, p.11

“Ephesians 2:1 says that we Christians were all once ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ The point of deadness is that we were incapable of any spiritual life with God.” – John Piper, Five Points, p. 19

Ephesians 2:1-5 – This verse is just saying that people were dead in their sins, not that they couldn’t do anything about it or that their guilt came from Adam.
Acts 8:4-17

Calvinists	Bible
“the once dead sinner is drawn to Christ by the inward, supernatural call of the Spirit” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 53	“they believed Philip preaching the good news” (Acts 8:12) and later “they were receiving the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17)

Unconditional election

“Election refers to God’s choosing whom to save. It is unconditional in that there is no condition man must meet before God chooses to save him. Man is dead in trespasses and sins. So there is no condition he can meet before God chooses to save him from his deadness.” – John Piper, Five Points, p. 50

“But faith is not a condition for election. Just the reverse. Election is a condition for faith.” – John Piper, Five points, p. 50

Concerning Romans 9:10-13: “God’s choice was not based upon any foreseen merit residing in those whom He chose, now was it based on any foreseen good works performed by them … Election was based on the sovereign, distinguishing mercy of almighty God. It was not man’s will, but God’s will, that determined which sinners would be shown mercy and saved.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, The Five Points of Calvinism, p. 32, 35

Romans 9:10-13 – This passage is not talking about salvation at all – it is talking about God choosing a particular branch of the family for Christ to come from.
In any investigation, you have to stand firm on what is known.
Any time we’re studying the Bible, we need to let the plain passages help us figure out the difficult passages.
I Peter 1:17-19 – God is an impartial judge, judging according to our works.

Calvinists	Bible
“It is unconditional in that there is no condition man must meet before God chooses to save him.” – John Piper, Five Points, p. 50	“impartially judges according to each one’s work” (I Peter 1:17)

Acts 10:34-35
I Timothy 2:3-4 – God desires al men to be saved.
II Peter 3:9 – God wants all to come to repentance.

Repent

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Repent

It’s more than just being sorry.

II Corinthians 7:8-11
Just because someone upsets you doesn’t mean they are in the wrong.
Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas felt remorse, but he did not repent in the true sense. Hanging himself was the worst response he could have had.
Acts 9:1-20

It’s a change of mind that leads to a change of life.

Acts 26:19-20
Hebrews 6:1 – Repentance from “dead works”
Matthew 12:41
Jonah 3:4-10 – The people of Ninevah sincerely repented.
We can’t just say, “That’s the way I am.” We must all humble ourselves and repent!

It’s not just a one-time thing.

Acts 17:30-31
Acts 8:13-24 – Do people who are already Christians still need to repent? Yes! Simon was told to repent of his sin.
Romans 1:7; 6:3
Romans 2:1-6 – Continue to repent! Don’t judge others for failing to repent and fail to do so yourself.
Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19 – Christians in various churches told to repent
Our humility should be growing and maturing over time.

Matthew 22

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 22

Matthew 22:1-14

In this parable, the slaves who did the inviting were the apostles and those who were invited first were the Jews. The wedding feast represented reconciliation with God (salvation). Others who were invited later were the Gentiles.
This parable may also be prophesying of the persecution of the apostles and the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 22:6-7).
Matthew 22:11-13 – We must be properly prepared to enter God’s kingdom. This shows God’s great anger when we sin.

Matthew 22:15-22 – Jesus is questioned about paying the poll tax

Matthew 22:16 – Disciples are learners who are committed to a teacher. Jesus was surely not impressed with their flowery speech here.

Matthew 22:23-33 – The Sadducees question Jesus about marriage and the afterlife

Jesus refused to directly answer hypothetical questions. Be careful and avoid answering them if people ask them of you.
Matthew 22:32 – Jesus made a point from the tense of the verb!
We will continue to live when we die on earth, but we will not still be married to our spouse. That is an earthly relationship.

School's Almost Over - Top 4 Verses to Remember

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 22:37

I Thessalonians 5:15 – Be nice.

Do not repay evil for evil.
Matthew 5:38-42
It’s okay to get help!
Be nice even to the unpopular kids.
Matthew 5:43
Seek good for others. Help their souls.

James 4:4 – Be different.

Don’t be a friend of the world. Be different from the world.
James 4:1-3
Romans 12:2 – Our job is to be transformed.
I Peter 2:21 – We are trying to walk in Jesus’ steps.
Philippians 3:17

Colossians 3:23 – Have a good attitude.

Colossians 3:22-24
Even slaves should work with good attitudes.
We must decide to have a good attitude.
Proverbs 17:22

John 6:27 – Feed your soul.

Spiritual food is even more important than physical food.
John 6:35, 45 – Spiritual teaching is spiritual food.

Believe and Confess

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and Christ, the son of God

Mark 16:15-16

One must sincerely believe (not just know the facts).

Acts 8
Acts 17:11-12 – They were examining the scriptures daily.
Romans 10:9-10 – “Believe in your heart”
Acts 2:14-16, 21-38 – Peter convinced them and they developed sincere belief.

One must believe in Jesus.

Mark 1:1; 16:15
John 20:30-31 – He is “the Christ, the Son of God.”
Acts 9:22
Acts 17:1-4 – Paul reasoned with them, explaining and giving evidence.
Acts 18:28 – “Jesus was the Christ”

One must not only believe the truth about Jesus, but be willing to confess it.

Romans 10:8-10
Other types of confessions:
- Romans 14:10-12
- James 5:16
- I John 1:9 – confession of sins
Matthew 26:63
Acts 2:36
I John 4:15
John 12:42-43 – These people refused to confess Jesus out of fear.
This is not a one-time thing. It is a way of life.
Matthew 10:6, 27-33
Mark 8:38

Repent

Acts 2:37-38

It’s more than just being sorry

II Corinthians 7:8-10

How Would You Feel Inside the Ark?

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 6:14
Genesis 7:12
Genesis 7:11; 8:13-18 – They were on the ark a year and ten days.

Scared!

Genesis 7:11, 18-24 – God’s power was on full display.

Marine fossils are also found high in the Himalayas, the world’s tallest mountain range, reaching up to 29,029 feet (8,848 m) above sea level.3 For example, fossil ammonites (coiled marine cephalopods) are found in limestone beds in the Himalayas of Nepal. All geologists agree that ocean waters must have buried these marine fossils in these limestone beds. So how did these marine limestone beds get high up in the Himalayas? – answersingenesis.org

God is great and I am small.
Amos 4:13
Revelation 20:11-15
There were people in Noah’s day who flaunted their sin before God until they died. There are people today who are doing the same until judgment comes.

Sad

Genesis 5:28-32 – Noah’s father died five years before the flood, but it’s possible Noah had siblings that died in the flood.
Genesis 6:5-8 – It is a tragedy that so many died in the flood, but what was worse was that they had turned their backs on God.
I Peter 3:20
Genesis 6:3, 6
We would probably grieve for those who were not on the ark.

Validated

Hebrews 11:7 – By building the ark and obeying God, Noah condemned the world.
Noah had to live in the sinful world for 600 years!
II Peter 2:5-9 – Noah was a preacher of righteousness.
II Peter 3:3-9
Matthew 24:38-39 – They were all just living life until the flood came.

Grateful

Genesis 6:13-14, 17; 7:1
Genesis 6:9 – Unlike the rest of the world, Noah was trying to walk with God.
Genesis 8:18
II Timothy 3:12; 4:14, 18

Matthew 21:1-22

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 21

Matthew 21:5 – This is quoted from Zechariah 9:9. See Psalms 24:7-10. The picture is of the Lord coming into His city as a king.
- Isaiah 61:1-2 – Jesus read this scripture in Luke 4:18-19 and applied it to Himself.
- Isaiah 62:4, 1, 10 – Zion was downtrodden but would rejoice.
Matthew 21:9 – See Psalms 118:19-24. Compare Luke 19:37-38. The occasion was the Passover festival.
Matthew 21:15-16 – See Luke 19:39. The quote is from Psalms 8:2. Compare Matthew 18:3; 19:13-14 regarding children.
Matthew 21:12-13 – Jesus drives out the people who had turned the temple into a market. The traders were using the arrangement for sacrifices God had set up under the Law of Moses to take advantage of others.
Matthew 21:19-22 – This was the season for figs produced from old growth. Jesus is making the comparison to the Jews who should have believed in Him but did not. The “old growth” was not bearing fruit as it should.

Called to Service

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Read God’s word every day!
If you rush past the ruler to get to the rules, you may not assess them correctly. The Bible is a Jesus book!

Nehemiah

Overview
- Laments the sins of the people – Nehemiah 1:3-7
- Travels far to go and help them – Nehemiah 2:4-11
- Teaches repentance and renewal – Nehemiah 2:13-18
- Motivates them to work together – Nehemiah 3
- Stands against outside opposition – Nehemiah 4:8-16
- Calls for unity, peace, and love – Nehemiah 5:1-13
- Faces threat of death by enemies – Nehemiah 6:1-10
- Finishes the work he sets out to do – Nehemiah 6:15-16
- Becomes a leader for years to come – Nehemiah 5:14
- Calls for continual faithfulness – Nehemiah 10:28-39
Would you have listened to Nehemiah?
Nehemiah was a shadow of a great leader: Jesus

Jesus

Overview
- Laments the sins of the people
- Travels far to go and help them – Philippians 2
- Teaches repentance and renewal
- Motivates them to work together
- Stands against outside opposition
- Calls for unity, peace, and love
- Faces threat of death by enemies
- Finishes the work he sets out to do – Hebrews 12
- Becomes a leader for years to come
- Calls for continual faithfulness
Is His passion enough for you? Or do you have to wait until it is your own idea?
Will you allow Jesus to call you to repent? To demand change?
Can He pull you into communal service, to church involvement?
Is He worth overcoming external and internal pressures to quit?
Is past involvement enough? Or can He call you in for more?

A call to service

Elders – I Timothy 3:10, 1
Deacons
Teachers
Evangelists
Hosts
Givers
Workers
Encouragers
Romans 12:1-8 – Don’t wait to feel the call. Hear the call!
Ephesians 4:11-16
When you get lazy and lethargic, you get mean and blame others. This doesn’t happen if you use your hands for good.

Conclusion

Matthew 16:24
Are you a 90 or a 52?

Living for Jesus

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 2

Colossians 3

Colossians 3:1-4
- Think and live for Christ and Heaven’s glory.
- Keep buried the life that was exposed to Satan.
- Anticipate His return and the glory that is to come.
If Jesus is real to you, the main way people will see that is in your relationships with other people.

Relationships

Matthew 5:13-48

Be a good influence (Matthew 5:13-16)
- You cannot out-worship a bad attitude.
Do not mistreat believers (Matthew 5:21-26)
Do not lust for another (Matthew 5:27-30)
- Loving others properly can help with lust.
Do not divorce your spouse (Matthew 5:31-32)
Be a person of integrity (Matthew 5:33-37)
Do not return evil for evil (Matthew 5:38-42)
Love even your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)

Ephesians 4:1-3

Colossians 3:5-4:6

Avoid sexual immorality (Colossians 3:3-7)
- A sin against God and others
Treat Christians properly (Colossians 3:8-16)
- Not with anger and meanness
- But with compassion and love
- Encouraging with thankfulness
  - Ephesians 4:29
Honor your family (Colossians 3:18-21)
- Loving them and the Lord
Respect authority roles (Colossians 3:22-4:1)
- Loving them and the Lord
Influence people everywhere (Colossians 4:2-6)
- With wisdom and grace

Matthew 7:13-14, 12

The context here is the golden rule!
Treat others well!

In Christ Alone

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Colossians 2

Colossians 2:1-3
Colossians 2:10-15 – Notice the repeating phrases “in Him,” “with Him,” and “through Him.”
Colossians 2:4 – Watch out for slight distortions in the scriptures. It’s possible to be wrong by being either too loose or too tight with the scripture.

Philosophical reasoning (Colossians 2:8)

Man’s logic
I Corinthians 1:18-21, 23-25 – God will thwart the “wisdom” of the world.
I Corinthians 6:18
The result of philosophy is that we end up doing what we think is right.

Mystical spiritualism (Colossians 2:18-19)

Galatians 1:6-9 – If it was not taught by Jesus, it is not the truth.

Sectarian legalism (Colossians 2:16-17)

Or, “we decide”
If we become a thing and try to decide who’s in or out, we are going beyond Jesus.
Matthew 15:1-6

Extreme conservatism (Colossians 2:20-23)

Conservatism for the sake of conservatism is not the gospel.
Just saying “no” to everything doesn’t make you more holy.

Motivated by Hope

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Why are you here right now?
Ephesians 1:3-8; 4:1 – You can not walk any stronger than your understanding of how worthy your walk is.
I Corinthians 1:2-9 – The church in Corinth had a lot of problems, but Paul started by reminding them about Jesus.
God provides our fuel!

Colossians 1

Colossians 1:1-8 – “because of the HOPE”

“faith in Christ” – Colossians 1:4
“love for saints” – Colossians 1:4
“bearing fruit” – Colossians 1:6
I Peter 1:3-7 – We should be rejoicing in our faith!
Romans 5:1-5
Hebrews 6:19-20 – Hope anchors our soul.

Colossians 1:9-12 – “filled with the KNOWLEDGE”

“walk … worthy” – Colossians 1:10
“please God in all” – Colossians 1:11
“steadfast and patient” – Colossians 1:11
Colossians 1:26-27

Colossians 1:13-22

Jesus is …
- Rescuer – Colossians 1:13
- Redeemer – Colossians 1:14
- Eternal God – Colossians 1:15
- Creator – Colossians 1:15
- Sustainer – Colossians 1:17
- Head of the body – Colossians 1:18
- Risen from the dead – Colossians 1:18
- Peacemaker – Colossians 1:20
- Reconciler – Colossians 1:22

The Road to Intercessor

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The story of Job

Holy and blameless
- Job 1:1-5
Blessed and secure
Targeted by Satan
- Job 1:8-12
Suffered great loss
- Job 1:13-19
- Job 2:4
- Job 3:1-3
Cried out to God
- Job 1:20-21
- Job 13:15 – Compare Isaiah 53
- Job 19:25-26
Restored after trials
- Job 42:10-17
Intercessor for everyone
- Job 42:7-9 – Job prayed for his friends

This is also the story of Jesus

Holy and blameless
- Philippians 2:5-7
- Revelation 12:1-6
Intercessor for everyone
- Hebrews 2:17
- What does it mean to you that Jesus went through all this for you?
- Hebrews 7:23-27
- Romans 8:31-34

Who are you in the book of Job?

We are Job’s friends, who Job had to pray for when it was all over.

The Main Character

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The theme of this series is to learn about Jesus first, then learn about yourself.
Read your Bible every day! This practice will change you. It will change your perspective and erase your biases.
Luke 24:44-47
Don’t walk past the Ruler to get to the rules!
When we are studying the Bible, question one should be, “What can I learn about Jesus?”
How far back can you go in the Bible and find Jesus?
- Genesis 1:26 – “Let us make man …”
- Genesis 1:1-5 – “God” in verse one is referencing Jesus. See John 1:1-9. Jesus is order in the chaos. He is light.
How far forward can you go in the Bible and find Jesus?
- Revelation 21:1-4

David

I Samuel 16:1

Who is this story really about?

Preselected by God to be king
Previously given miraculous powers
Disregarded by the leaders
- I Samuel 17:28
Facing a foe no one could defeat
- I Samuel 17:23-24
With the whole nation on the line
- I Samuel 17:8-9
Fights unlike the enemy and wins
Leads the army of God to victory
- I Samuel 17:50-52
Is exalted to king over the people

Jesus is my David

Who are you in this narrative?
- I Samuel 17:23-24, 51-54 – The people had confidence because of this victory!
- Ephesians 6:10-20 – All of these things are Jesus.

Matthew 20:1-28

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 20

Matthew 20:1-16 – Laborers in the vineyard

Matthew 20:1 – See Matthew 12:24-26. Satan also has a kingdom. God (Jesus) is the ruler of the kingdom of God. Compare also Luke 17:20-21. When you see “kingdom” in the Bible, think “ruler.”
See Romans 9:14-16. God told the Jews it was His decision to whom He would be merciful. Both Jews and Gentiles would be acceptable to God in the end. God had a covenant with the Jews, who were then upset that Gentiles were also being blessed.

Matthew 20:17-19 – Jesus foretells His death again

Jesus clearly states that the Jews will condemn Him to death.

Matthew 20:20-28

The mother of James and John clearly did not understand the type of kingdom Jesus was setting up.

Culture of the World: Materialism

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 23:4-5
All these physical possessions are temporary.
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
Materialism: “focusing on immediate, physical treasures and neglecting eternal, spiritual treasures”

What makes me feel secure?

Psalms 52:6-9 – The unrighteous would not make God his strength.
Does your security come from your relationship with God?
Proverbs 11:28
Judges 7:2 – God reduced the size of Gideon’s army to provoke faith in God.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Nothing we can do compares to anything God can do.
I Timothy 6:17-19
We must retrain our brains. The most important thing is our fellowship with God.

Am I jealous?

II Corinthians 12:20-21
I Corinthians 3:3-4
Acts 5:12-18
Acts 13:42-45 – The Jews were jealous of the crowds the apostles were drawing.
James 3:13-18 – We want this wisdom that comes from above.
Proverbs 27:4

Where does my time go?

Luke 8:14 – Materialism robs us of spiritual treasure by redirecting our time and resources.
Luke 12:13-21 – Wealth is not necessarily wrong, but don’t neglect God.
How many minutes do you spend focusing on spiritual things?

Learn the Truth About Salvation

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Learning the truth about salvation

Don’t follow man-made, invented doctrine.

Mark 7:1-3 – Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for teaching as doctrine the traditions of men.
How do we avoid this problem? Go back to book, chapter, and verse.
Galatians 1:6-9
Much of Bible study is our attitude – having a humility to carefully consider the scriptures.

Don’t go back and pick things out of the Old Covenant.

Matthew 5:17 – Jesus fulfilled the law and prophets.
Hebrews 8:6-13; 10:9 – Jesus brought the Old Covenant to its rightful conclusion. Everyone is now accountable to God under the New Covenant.
Romans 10:1-4
Romans 15:4

Don’t just believe what your family believes.

Matthew 10:32-39

Don’t just go along with the “experts.”

Who are the experts?
Matthew 16:6, 12 – Jesus warned about the experts of the day.
Matthew 23:1-15

Don’t just do whatever is acceptable to modern society.

Romans 2:16
John 12:48

Don’t expect the Holy Spirit to miraculously move us or inform us of truths not revealed in the Bible.

John 16:13 – Jesus was speaking only to the apostles here.
I Thessalonians 2:13

Book, Chapter, and Verse

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Thomas Campbell: “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” (1800s Restoration Movement)
Do you have a “book, chapter, verse” faith?

“Book, chapter, and verse”

Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3
The original documents were not divided into chapters and verses. Chapters weren’t added until about 1227 A.D., with verses added in 1555 A.D.
Chapters and verses aided cross-reference and public reading, which helped knowledge of the Bible to expand during the Reformation.
II Timothy 3:14-17
Luke 4:17-19
Luke 20:27-39 – Jesus used the scriptures to correct their misunderstanding.
Acts 4:5-11
Acts 15 – The dispute about circumcision went back to Amos.
Acts 17:10-12 – Those in Berea searched the scriptures to confirm Paul’s teaching.
Although the phrase “book, chapter, and verse” is not in the Bible, the concept is present throughout the scriptures.

Where is the authority of your faith?

Colossians 3:17
II John 1:9-11 – Don’t go beyond the scriptures. We must have proof for what we practice from the Bible.
I Corinthians 4:6
I Peter 4:11 – Speak as the oracles of God – minimize yourself and magnify God.
I Corinthians 2:4-5; 1:18

Establish the pattern of sound words

II Timothy 1:13-14
Hebrews 8:5-6
Everything we do must follow the pattern set forth in the Bible.

Growing in the knowledge of the truth

II Peter 3:18
I Peter 2:2
Romans 10:17
If you can find book, chapter, and verse for what you are doing, you know you are on solid ground.
John 8:31-32
John 20:30-31
Matthew 15:7-9

Matthew 19:1-30

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 19

Matthew 19:1-12 – Marriage and divorce

Jesus went all the way back to Genesis, to the law before the Law of Moses.
See Proverbs 17:9. Here is one thing that can separate intimate friends – gossip about a spouse.
See Acts 2:47. God also adds people to the church. Just like we should not drive a wedge between married people, we should not drive a wedge between a man and God.
Matthew 19:10 – We must be careful not to try to make rules we think are better than God’s rules.

Matthew 19:13-15 – Jesus and little children

See Mark 10:16. Jesus blessed the children.

Matthew 19:16-26 – The rich young ruler

God will require that we do some things we don’t want to do. Jesus told the man a hard thing because Jesus loved him and that’s what the man needed to hear. The man grieved because he knew how much he did not want to do what Jesus told him.
Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10) had a similar story to the rich young ruler, yet with a very different outcome.
What would it look like for me to do what Jesus asked of the rich young ruler?

Matthew 19:27-30

The disciples certainly had their faults, but in a short time, they had come a long way.

Presumption

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Isaiah 13:11
Deuteronomy 12:8, 1, 4

What is presumption?

Proverbs 21:24 – “Pride” can be translated as “presumptuous.”
Exodus 21:12-14 – To purposely cause a death is different in God’s eyes.
Numbers 15:22-31 – God’s laws about accidental versus willful sin.
Deuteronomy 1:43-46 – The Israelites acted presumptuously.
I Timothy 1:12-14
Pridefully and deliberately choosing to sin.

Honesty: I need to recognize it in my own life.

I Corinthians 10:1-13
We are supposed to learn from the examples in the Bible. The Israelites knew it was wrong to worship idols. Why did they do it? It appealed to their lusts.
Psalms 19:12-13
Acts 7:51-58 – Steven was trying to get them to be honest with themselves.

Humility: I need to get over myself and honor God’s word.

Proverbs 11:2
Deuteronomy 17:9-13
Nehemiah 9:9-10, 16, 29
James 1:21
Hebrews 10:26-31
Will I humble myself enough to obey God or will I just do what I want to do?

John 3:16

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

John 3:16

John 3:16 – What does “believes” mean? Does that exclude other obligations, like repentance and baptism? Could this be a synecdoche?
John 3:14-15 is a synecdoche.
John 12:32-33

What’s the evidence of synecdoche?

Context

Numbers 21:4-9 – The bronze serpent
People had to respond to be saved by the serpent.
John 3:14-21

Harmony

Mark 16:15-16
Acts 3:19
Romans 10:9-10
James 2:14, 26, 19

Pattern

Acts 2:44, 41 – They had done much more than just believe.
Acts 16:29-34 – Belief included baptism here.
Acts 18:8
I Corinthians 1:14

Conclusion

My suggestion is that John 3:16 is another instance of this sort of language (synecdoche), where “believes” is simply a shortened way of referring to everything that comes from that belief and is involved in salvation.

Learning the truth about Jesus

Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus sent the disciples everywhere to teach.
Teaching in the book of Acts
- Acts 2:14, 42
- Acts 4:1, 17, 33
- Acts 5:20, 25, 42
- Acts 6:7-10
- Acts 7:51-53
- Acts 8:3
- This was a spiritual revolution founded on information.
Romans 1:16; 10:17 – The power of salvation was in the word of God.
Acts 17:2, 11
Don’t just go with your conscience.
- Acts 23:1; 26:9-11

Don't Overlook These Three Spiritual Boosts

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 8:28-32 – God pulled out all the stops to bless us!

The help of fellow Christians

James 5:15-16
Romans 15:14 – Christians help admonish each other.
Galatians 6:1
I Thessalonians 5:11
I John 4:11
We must be good at both giving help and receiving it.

The Bible as a guide for our lives

Romans 15:4
II Timothy 3:14-15; 1:5; 3:16-17 – Timothy was evidently listening and understanding what his mother and grandmother were reading to him.
The Bible is not just opinions – it is authoritative.

The troubles that mature us

Hebrews 10:32-34
Romans 5:3-4
Matthew 5:10-12
I Peter 1:7 – How do you find out if a Christian is really a Christian? Test him by fire.
Revelation 2:8-10 – Be faithful even if it requires your life!
God has not promised to take away our troubles, but H will give us what we need to get through them.

Matthew 18:1-17

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 18

Matthew 18:1-5
- See Mark 10:32-45.
- I Peter 5:2-5 – Elders are to lead with humility and service.
- James 4:1-3
- Matthew 18:5 – Compare Mark 9:37.
Matthew 18:6-10 – It is critical to Jesus that children be protected. Harming them or their faith must be avoided at all costs.
Matthew 18:11-14 – Rejoicing over the lost sheep. Sheep can be infuriating to tend and they are easily led astray. We can be very much like them, yet God shows His love for us.
Matthew 18:15-17 – Jesus shows the simple but difficult process of trying to save a brother in sin.

Nicodemus

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Truth over tradition – “Now there was a man of the Pharisees …”

John 3:1
The Pharisees were a conservative reaction to the encroaching Greek culture. The group likely started about 150 B.C. They were thought of as protectors of Judaism and had significant popular support.
Acts 5:34-40
Matthew 12:1-14 – The Pharisees clung to their perspective on the Law of Moses, not the Law of Moses itself. They had put guardrails around the law and were defending the guardrails instead of the Law itself.
Matthew 15:1-9 – We must be careful about “teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.” God to the Bible and teach only that!

We don’t just need small changes

“You must be born again.”

John 3:2-5
Romans 6:3-4
I Peter 1:22-25
John 3:19
Matthew 23:33

Dare to seek the truth

“this man came to Jesus by night”

John 3:2 – This simple admission was much more than most Jews would admit.
John 3:14-15
John 9:22; 12:42
John 7:40-44, 32, 45-52 – Nicodemus tries to gently stand up for Jesus.
John 19:38-42 – Nicodemus comes to help bury Jesus’ body.
Acts 17:11 – The Bible commends those who think for themselves.

I Peter and the Example of Jericho

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I Peter: A letter about “the true grace of God”

I Peter 5:12
No contradiction:
- I Peter 1:17 – judged according to works
- I Peter 1:18-19 – redeemed with the blood of Christ
Acts 2:37-38

The example of Jericho: Joshua 6

Joshua 6:1-5 – God gave them the city.
Joshua 6:20 – The people took the city.
No contradiction:
- Joshua 6:2 – “I have given Jericho into your hand”
- Joshua 6:20 – “they took the city”
Deuteronomy 9:6

	Jericho	Salvation
God gives it	Joshua 6:2: “I have given Jericho into your hand.”	Ephesians 2:8: “it is the gift of God”
You didn’t earn it	Deuteronomy 9:6: “it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land”	Ephesians 2:8-9: “not of yourselves … not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”
And yet there are conditions	Joshua 6:3: “You shall march around the city …”	Matthew 7:21: “he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter”

Hebrews 11:30 – “By faith …”
Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith …”

The example of Naaman: II Kings 5

II Kings 5:1-4, 10-14
God can choose His own methods to achieve what He wants to achieve. God sets the rules!

Matthew 17:1-20

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 17

Matthew 17:1 – Luke gives the time here as eight days (Luke 8:28), which skeptics count as a contradiction. However, the two authors just count days differently (exclusively vs. inclusively). To Jews, a partial day was counted as a whole day. Note here that Jesus had to exert some effort and go quite a way to get away from the crowds.
Matthew 17:2-9 – Jesus is transfigured. See also II Peter 1:16-18; Luke 9:28-36. Other accounts tell us that Peter, James, and John fell asleep while Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus. Peter seemed to think of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah as equals. For a Jew, this was a great compliment, but it was still a complete misunderstanding of the power and authority of Jesus. God quickly corrects Peter’s misunderstanding, indicating that Jesus occupies a much higher place. Afterwards, Jesus comforted Peter. In verse 9, Jesus again references his own resurrection.
Matthew 17:10-13 – This is a reference to Malachi 4:5-6. Elijah had already come in the sense of John the Baptist. See Luke 1:17.
Matthew 17:14-20 – Jesus showed compassion on the boy. In verse 17, Jesus was possibly rebuking the meager faith of the disciples. He seemed exasperated about their lack of spiritual progress and lamenting that he didn’t have long with them.

Learning How to be Patient from James 5

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

You can’t rush the rain

Spiritual maturity
Developing into a Bible student / teacher
Becoming a shepherd
Loving your family

Patience develops in the heart

We have plenty of good examples

I Peter and Grace

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Preaching

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Study the word

Read, context, harmony, translations

Preach the word

Apply the word

Further tips on preaching

How do I choose a topic?
Keep in concise.
Control your nerves by doing all your preparing ahead of time.
Truth first, delivery second.
Use illustrations, stats, anecdotes, etc. wisely.
Application
Practice
Try to avoid a “Concordance Lesson.”
Make your notes easy to read at a glance.
Be nervous but natural.

Matthew 16:1-28

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 16

Matthew 16:1-4

See Isaiah 48:1; 50:10
They said they wanted a sign from Jesus, but they refused to acknowledge what He had already shown them. This was hypocrisy.
Compare Matthew 12:38-41.

Matthew 16:5-12

The disciples were focused on physical things and missed Jesus’ point completely. Jesus was warning about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Compare Galatians 5:7-9.

Matthew 16:13-20

Jesus did not set in place any order of succession for the apostles, nor for a pope.
See Matthew 18:1-4; 14:22, 33.
John 6:66-69; 11:27 – People were recognizing that Jesus was the Christ.
Matthew 21:42-44; Romans 9:33
Matthew 7:24
I Corinthians 3:11
Ephesians 2:20
Jesus is the chief cornerstone. The apostles were part of the foundation. Jesus was not building His church on Peter. Jesus Himself was the cornerstone.

Matthew 16:21-28

If Jesus had bowed to Satan at any point, His entire mission on earth would be lost. Jesus was going to complete His mission, no matter the physical consequences.

Culture of My Family: God-centered

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 22:37

Talk about God all the time.

Deuteronomy 6:5-6
Spiritual discussions should be something that happen all the time. A spiritual view should be our default perspective on the news of the day.
Hebrews 13:15
Deuteronomy 6:10-13 – God warned Israel not to be distracted with blessings.
Philippians 2:21
Ephesians 5:23; 6:4 – Men, lead your family spiritually!

Think of ourselves as slaves.

Luke 17:7
Romans 6:16, 22
The self-esteem movement has caused narcissism. We shouldn’t build ourselves or others up artificially.

Teach kids to respect authority.

II Corinthians 5:10
Hebrews 12:7-12
Matthew 25:41, 46
We can give our kids a tremendous boost by teaching them discipline and respect for authority because one day they will stand before God.
Romans 1:29

Romans and Salvation

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 1:16

Overview of salvation: Romans

Condemnation (Romans 1-3) – All of us are guilty of sin and justly condemned by God.
Christ (Romans 4-5) – Thankfully, we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ.
Choice (Romans 6-8) – We must choose to die to sin, a system of perfect law-keeping, and the flesh.
Children (Romans 9-11) – ALL people can be children of God, whether Jews or Gentiles.
Conduct (Romans 12-16) – Given God’s love, His people ought to conduct themselves accordingly.

Condemnation (Romans 1-3)

Romans 1:18
Romans 3:23
Romans 1:7
Romans 8:1
Romans 1:20-32 – Something bigger than me exists! Giving approval to sin is just as bad as sinning.
Romans 2:1-3 – If you know to do better, but do not do better, you are guilty.
A sin is a sin, no matter who you are!

Christ (Romans 4-5)

Romans 5:1
By ourselves, there is nothing we can do to fix sin. God’s grace saves us if we meet His conditions.
Romans 5:9
Romans 3:24 – Salvation is a gift.
This should bring humility on our part.
Romans 5:1-2, 12 – All men are guilty because all sinned.
Romans 4:3 – Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. Even he did not earn salvation.
- James 2:21-24
- Hebrews 11:8
- Romans 5:9

Choice (Romans 6-8)

Romans 6:1-2
Romans 6:12-13, 4-5 – We should be a new person!
Romans 6:11 – We must be dead to sin.
Romans 6:17

"It is better to go to a house of mourning ..."

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 3:19
Psalms 90:1-4, 10, 12
Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 – The reason it is better to go to a house of mourning is because it reminds us of our own death.

Death humbles us.

Psalms 39:4-7 – David was a famous king, but he also died.
Acts 2:29
Ecclesiastes 9:4
No amount of wealth and power can save us from death.
Job 7:6; 9:25-26
Psalms 49:1, 10-12
Ecclesiastes 8:8
James 4:13-17

Death prompts us to take action NOW.

Job 16:22
Hebrews 9:27 – We die once and then the judgment.
II Samuel 18:33
Ecclesiastes 9:10-11 – Work and do well NOW.
Is there something I need to stop procrastinating about?
I Corinthians 15:53

Death focuses us.

Luke 12:16-21 (II Thessalonians 3:10) – It is okay (and required) that you make a living, but don’t lose focus on God.
I Timothy 6:7

Death causes us to turn to God’s promises for comfort.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18
I Peter 1:24-25

Matthew 15:1-31

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 15

Matthew 15:1-9 – Pharisees and tradition

In areas where God has given us liberty, we must be careful how we express our opinions and not force them on others. Don’t teach as doctrine the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9). See Matthew 6:25, 27, 31.

Matthew 15:10-20 – What goes in the mouth vs. what comes out of the heart

Matthew 15:11 – This is a not-but passage. It is possible to defile yourself by consuming certain things like alcohol or drugs, but that is not the most important thing. The more important thing is our motivation – where our heart is.

Matthew 15:21-28 – The Canaanite woman

This woman sought Jesus out and showed great faith in Jesus. She ignored cultural norms to address Jesus. She even argued with Jesus, but did so in a humble manner.

Matthew 15:29-31 – Jesus heals the crowds

The Altar of Witness

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Joshua 22:16, 21-24, 27, 29-30

Take God’s word seriously

Deuteronomy 12:5-6, 13-14
God had strict laws concerning His place of worship.
How seriously do we take God’s word today?
The Bible must be taken in its entirety.
God still expects us to worship Him as He has commanded today.

Address error immediately

Joshua 22:12-14
In issues with our brothers and sisters
- Matthew 18:15-17 – Go talk to the person you have a problem with!
Within the church
- Ezekiel 22:29-31 – Address the problem out of love.

Handle confrontation correctly

Joshua 22:22-29
Don’t get defensive
- James 1:19
Don’t be prideful
- Proverbs 9:8-9
Thank the one who comes to you

Encouragement

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

What is encouragement?

To inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.

What is exhortation?

Language intended to incite and encourage.

Barnabas

Acts 4:36-37 – Barnabas was called a “son of encouragement”
Tabitha / Dorcas – Acts 9:36
God told Moses in Deuteronomy 3:28 to command Joshua and encourage him.
I Thessalonians 3:2
Romans 12:6-8

Barnabas’ character traits – can we use these to develop similar traits in ourselves?

Barnabas encouraged not only through his words but through his actions – Acts 4:37

He doesn’t just applaud what others are doing. He made the sacrifice himself.
Showing a true commitment to the Lord is an encouragement to others.

We have to truly care about people the way Barnabas did.

People see the encouragement of God’s love through us.
“See” the people around you. Listen to them. Look for opportunities to help and encourage.
What does that look like for us?
It is difficult sometimes because they are uncomfortable asking or don’t want to be “pushy” or offend someone by trying to help.
Remember that even the small things we do can be an encouragement. Remember Dorcas (Acts 9:39).

Barnabas was a man of integrity. He was trusted enough that the disciples listened to him and allowed Saul to join them (Acts 9:27-28).

He had been leading a life that was an example to others.

Barnabas encouraged others by giving the right people opportunities, even though it may have meant the glory wasn’t his. He put others first. He was a man of humility.

Acts 11:19-26

Barnabas encouraged others by always believing in people (Acts 9:27).

Barnabas believed in Paul and that Jesus can change even the worst of us!
Acts 9:28-29
John Mark (Acts 15:36-40)
- Must have made an impact – II Timothy 4:11

Encouragement means taking risks when standing by others.

Believing in people sometimes means getting out of our comfort zone.
Encouragement may mean reminding people we believe in them and that God has a plan for them.

What does Barnabas teach us about encouragement?

True commitment – lead by example
Care about people – inside and outside the congregation
Humility – put other people first
Integrity – be someone who can be trusted
Believe in people – look for the good in people
Take risks – get out of your comfort zone with people

What does encouragement look like in 2025?

Lead by example, don’t just exhort. It is encouraging to see people overcoming problems. It helps us be encouraged that Christ’s power is there for me as well and I can also overcome through Christ.

"But God ..."

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Corinthians 1:8-10

“But God” has authority over the wicked

As seen in Jacob’s life
- Genesis 31:5-9
As seen in Joseph’s life
- Genesis 50:20; 39:20-21 – God took “bad” things and brought good from them.
- Acts 7:9-10
As seen in David’s life
- Psalms 31:1-5
- I Samuel 23:14
As seen in Christ’s life
- Acts 13:28-30 – God raised Jesus from the dead, giving us hope of heaven.
- God is ultimately in control, no matter what we try to do.

“But God” has authority over temptations

Temptation and sin – James 1:12-16; Matthew 26:41
- It’s hard to fall into temptation if you are looking to God.
God’s aid in our temptation – I Corinthians 10:13
- God is faithful.
- God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability.
- God will provide a way of escape.

“But God” has authority over all nations

Against the Assyrian army
- Isaiah 17:12-14
Government under the authority of God
- Romans 13:1-6

“But God” has authority over death

Psalms 49:13-15; I Corinthians 15:19
Authority to suspend death – Philippians 2:27
Authority to raise the dead – I Corinthians 15:51-57

God’s Love and Power (song)

Matthew 14:1-21

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 14

Matthew 14:1-12 – Herod Antipas and John

Matthew 14:1-5 – Herod feared John the Baptist. He had beheaded John and was afraid that he had come back from the dead. John was killed for telling the truth about Herod’s adultery.
- Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1, 3, 7, 12-13, 15-16, 19; Luke 1:5)
  - Named “Procurator of Judea” after murder of Julius Caesar
  - Mark Antony gave him title “king of the Jews”
  - Rise to power was due to his connection with Mark Antony and Cleopatra
  - Killed two of his ten wives, three of his sins, a brother-in-law, and grandfather of one of his wives
  - Augustus said, “I’d rather be Herod’s hog than his son.”
  - The family of Herod
    - Philip – married Herodias, his niece
    - Philip the Tetrarch – married Salome, his niece
    - Herodias – married two uncles
    - Aristobulus – married Salome
    - Drucilla – left husband to marry Festus, Roman governor
    - Antipas – killed John, married Herodias
    - Salome – married to her uncle and cousin
    - Bernice – married uncle Calchis, lived with her brother
    - Agrippa II – lived with his sister
Matthew 14:13-21 – Feeding five thousand
- Matthew 14:13 – The crowd was determined to follow Jesus as best they could.
- Matthew 14:15 – The disciples had their priorities wrong. The need for spiritual food was much greater than that of physical food.
- Matthew 14:17 – The disciples still did not have confidence in Jesus’ abilities.
- Matthew 14:21 – There were 5,000 men. Adding women and children, this is like 10-15,000 people or more.

God's Most Glorious Work

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I Thessalonians 4:13
Acts 14:15
Genesis 1 – God created all and it was good. Man was God’s most glorious work.
II Corinthians 5:17 – God has a new creation – the saved relationship.
II Samuel 7:12-13
Acts 9:15
Ephesians 3:4-13 – Paul was to preach to all.
Ephesians 6:12 – Heavenly places means “high places” here – rulers and authorities.
Ezekiel 20:24
I Corinthians 1:2 – God has no recorded His name in the church.
Ephesians 4:25; 5:16, 22; Acts 4 – God tells us how we should live our lives.
Romans 2:2, 21 – Paul warned them against hypocritical rebuke.
Men have tried and failed to improve on the local church arrangement that God set in order. The church is not God’s most glorious work.

Stones

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Stones in the Bible

Genesis 28:18-29 – Stone as a pillow
Genesis 29:10
Genesis 31:45-49
Genesis 35:10, 14-15
Exodus 7:19
Exodus 8:26 – Stoning as punishment
Exodus 17:4
Exodus 17:6 – Moses told to strike the rock to bring water
Numbers 20:10-13
Numbers 20:6-9
Exodus 17:11-13 – Moses sits on a stone with his hands supported during the battle
Exodus 20:25 – Altar made of stone, but no tools allowed
Exodus 21:18
Exodus 24:12
Exodus 28:9-12 – Stones on the shoulders of the priests with names of the tribes engraved
Exodus 31:18
Exodus 32:19
Deuteronomy 5:22
Deuteronomy 9:9-11
Exodus 34:1
Exodus 34:28
Deuteronomy 10:1-4
Joshua 4:5 – Stones set up in memorial of the crossing of the Jordan river
Joshua 3:16-17u
Joshua 24:24-27, 29 – The stone as a witness
Judges 20:15-16
I Samuel 7:7, 12-13 – A stone set up and named Ebenezer
I Kings 5:14-16 – 80,000 stonecutters used to build the temple
I Kings 6:7
I Kings 7:9
I Chronicles 22:14-15
II Chronicles 2:1
I Smauel 17:26, 45, 49 – David was armed with only stones.
Punishment by stoning
- Leviticus 20:2; 24:14, 16
- Numbers 14:10
- Numbers 15:35 – Stoning ordered for breaking the Sabbath
- Leviticus 26:1 – For making idols
- Deuteronomy 13:10
- Deuteronomy 17:5
- Numbers 35:23
- Deuteronomy 21:18-21 – For being a rebellious child
- Deuteronomy 22:21, 24 – For sexual immorality
- Luke 20:3-6
- John 8:4-5, 7 – Jesus prevents a woman from being stoned
- John 8:11
- John 10:30-33
- Acts 14:4-6
- Acts 7:54-60 – The stoning of Steven
- II Corinthians 11:22-27 – The stoning of Paul
Psalms 118:22 – The cornerstone
Isaiah 28:16
Matthew 21:42-43 – Jesus is the cornerstone
Acts 4:8-12
Ephesians 2:19-22
I Peter 2:4-9 – Jesus is the cornerstone. We are living stones.

Matthew 13:1-58

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 13

Matthew 13:10-17 – See Matthew 3:12. Through Jesus’ words, he is separating the wheat from the chaff.
Matthew 13:34-35 – Compare Matthew 13:11. This is a quote from Psalms 78:2-7.
Matthew 13:9 – The one who has ears better listen!
Matthew 13:3-9 – Parable of the sower
- Just because you don’t identify with one of the three bad types of soil doesn’t mean you are fertile soil.
Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43 – Parable of the tares
- There may be good reason for God to allow evil to persist in the world. Removing all evil would cause more suffering than allowing it to remain for a while.
Matthew 13:47-50 – Parable of the dragnet
- What happens to the good fish? Be careful not to take the parable further than Jesus intended.
- Avoid becoming a bad fish!
Matthew 13:31-32 – Parable of the mustard seed
- The kingdom was not going to have a big start, but it would grow larger than all other kingdoms.
Matthew 13:33 – Parable of the leaven
- The kingdom is going to start in one place and permeate the world.
Matthew 13:44 – Parable of the treasure in the field
Matthew 13:45-46 – Parable of the pearl of great price
- The kingdom of heaven is worth everything!

Culture of Benchley: Optimism

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 6:1-18

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Where Am I Heading?

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 12:1-45

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 12

Matthew 12:1-7 – Sabbath questions

Compare Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5.
Sabbath still binding?
- Colossians 2:16-17 – Sabbath is not still binding today.
- Romans 7:7-12
Be careful about saying Jesus encouraged disciples to sin.
Be careful about being wedded to traditions. Matthew 15:2-6
Matthew 12:3, 5 - “Have you not read?” is an important passage lost on many. Jesus was appealing to scripture rather than Pharisaical tradition.
Matthew 12:5 – The priests were violating the tradition of the Pharisees, but not the law. Jesus said they were innocent.
Matthew 12:6-7 – See Hosea 6:5-6.

Matthew 12:8-21 – Lord of the Sabbath

Matthew 12:22-29 – Two kingdoms

If Jesus cast out demons by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24), that raised the question of how the disciples of the Pharisees cast them out (Matthew 12:26).
Matthew 12:25 – “Kingdom” here means “rule.” It is not always interchangeable with “church.”

Matthew 12:30-32 – Unpardonable sin

Can this be committed today?

“Blaspheming the Spirit occurs when the apostles’ Spirit-inspired words are rejected. If the gospel of grace revealed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles is refused, there is no other means of salvation. When men repudiate the apostolic word, they blaspheme the Spirit and put themselves beyond the reach of forgiveness (Acts 7:51; 13:45-46). Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, then, is not a particular word, set of words, or acts – it is a hardened heart that closes the mind and shuts out God. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit isn’t God refusing to forgive, but man refusing to be forgiven.” – Ken Chumbley, Commentary on Matthew, p. 224

Matthew 12:33-37 – Words reveal character

Not a warning about our everyday language.
Strong language (vipers / snakes) used in pointing out error regarding language against Christ.
The words spoken about Jesus reveal one’s character.
The critical words of Pharisees (you cast out demons because you have one) revealed an evil heart. Same true today?

Matthew 12:38-45 – Historical evidence

Best evidence for historical reality of Jonah and the fish:
- Jesus believed it had occurred.
Best evidence for historical reality of the resurrection and appearances of Jesus:
- Jesus believed it would occur.
Liar? Lunatic? Lord?

Benefits of Giving

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 19:17
There are many ways that we might give.

Giving helps others.

Deuteronomy 24:19-22 – The Israelites were to leave some of the harvest for the poor and needy.
Luke 10:29, 36-37 – Giving is part of a greater effort to love our neighbor.
II Corinthians 8:12-15, 10

Giving helps me.

Ephesians 4:28
Are you a spender or a saver? Spenders usually give more easily. Less so for savers.
I Timothy 6:18
It does us good to give!
II Corinthians 9:7 – Even secular science shows that we don’t receive the good effects if we give grudgingly.
Ephesians 2:10
God did not create us to sit around and be selfish!
People in Alcoholics Anonymous double their chances of success when they help others.

Giving makes us more like God.

John 3:16
I John 3:16-18
Luke 6:35
II Corinthians 8:9 – Jesus gave up heaven to come and save us.
If Christ did that for us, what can we give up for our brethren?

Giving to local churches is a glorious work.

I Corinthians 16:1-4
Philippians 4:18

Galatians 5:1-26

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 5

Galatians 5:1-6 – “you are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”

Galatians 5:1 – The yoke of slavery here is the Law of Moses.
Galatians 5:4 – It is possible to fall from grace. Calvinists believe that it is not possible to fall from grace. See Galatians 3:26.
The Calvinist possession is stated as:

“Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace, for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, pp. 64-65

“As the Westminster Confession of Faith states, saved people “can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” – as cited in Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, p. 65

Galatians 5:7-12 – Beware of this erroneous influence!

Things had been good, but now they had been turned by a bad influence.
Galatians 5:9 – Compare I Corinthians 5:6-7.
Galatians 5:11 – Paul had taken a firm stand against circumcision, shown by how he had been persecuted by the Jews.
Galatians 5:12 – Compare the use of the word “mutilating” or “emasculating” in John 18:10.

Galatians 5:13-18 – “walk by the spirit”

Galatians 5:13 – See Romans 6:1-2. We should not attempt to abuse the grace and forgiveness of God. See Jude 1:4.
Galatians 5:14 – See Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37.
Galatians 5:15 – Don’t fight and bicker with each other.
Galatians 5:16 – What does “spirit” mean here? The capitalization is a decision by the translators. It could be the Holy Spirit or the spiritual nature of man. We are deciding to either follow God or go our own way.

Galatians 5:19-26 – Deeds of the flesh vs. fruit of the spirit

Galatians 5:23 – This could be an understatement for effect.

What the Angels Said

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Colossians 2:18
Acts 23:8
Angels are different than humans.
- Mark 12:25
- Luke 16:22

Jesus was God on Earth (Luke 1:26-38)

Philippians 2:7-8

Jesus accepted worship (without sinning)

Matthew 14:33
Acts 10:25-26 – Peter refused to accept worship.
Acts 12:21-23 – Herod accepted worship and was struck dead.

Jesus forgave sins while He was on earth.

Mark 2:5-12 – Jesus could heal physical problems and forgive sins.

Jesus worked miracles by His own power.

Acts 2:22-24
Hebrews 1:1-2 – Jesus had full power at the time of creation. This phrasing just shows how Jesus and God the Father worked together.
John 1:1
Luke 10:1, 17
John 2:11 – Jesus showed His own glory.
Acts 3:6, 16
John 20:30-31

Jesus is the Savior (Luke 2:8-14)

Mark 16:15-16
John 3:5
Acts 5:18; 8:26, 35; 10:22, 48
Angels said Jesus was the Savior and helped that message to spread.

Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1-8)

Matthew 28:11-5 – The soldiers participated in a cover-up.

Justin Martyr (c. 165 AD):

“A godless and lawless heresy had sprung from one Jesus, a Galilean deceiver, whom we crucified, but his disciples stole him by night from the tomb where he was laid when unfastened from the cross, and now deceive men by asserting that he has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven.”

Tertullian (c. 160-225 AD):

“The grave was found empty of all but the clothes of the buried one. But, nevertheless, the leaders of the Jews, whom it nearly concerned both to spread abroad a lie, and keep back a people tributary and submissive to them from the faith, gave it out that the body of Christ had been stolen by his followers.”

The historian Josephus (c. 37-100 AD):

“And when Pilate had condemned him to the cross, upon his impeachment by the principal man among us, those who had loved him from the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive on the third day, the divine prophets having spoken these and thousands of other wonderful things about him.”

I Corinthians 15:3-8
Acts 25:19

Jesus will come again (Acts 1:9-11)

Matthew 16:27
II Thessalonians 1:7-8

Matthew 11:1-30

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 11

Matthew 11:1-5
- John clearly already knew who Jesus was, having baptized him. But why did he send his disciples to ask this?
  - Possibly, John’s faith was shaken, having been put in prison.
  - He could have sent the disciples for their own benefit to reinforce their faith.
- See Isaiah 35:5-10. Note the context. This is referencing the coming of the kingdom of God. Jesus gave them an answer that required them to think.
Matthew 11:6 – People in Jesus’ hometown took offense at Him.
- John 6:54-56
- John 16:1 – Jesus’ disciples would be persecuted.
- Jesus was offensive to those for whom He did not:
  - Meet their expectations
  - Bring peace on earth
Matthew 11:7-11 – John the Baptist also offended them. See Malachi 3:1-5.
Matthew 11:12 – Compare Mark 10:35. Some people thought Jesus’ kingdom was one that would rule by force. This could also be saying that to be in the kingdom took effort (Luke 16:16). This could also mean that the kingdom of heaven was advancing and those who wanted to be in it were seizing it.
- “take it by force” – See Matthew 12:29; John 6:15
Matthew 11:13-14 – See Colossians 4:6; Jude 1:22-23. If the listener does not accept the message, it is possible they would have refused it no matter how it was presented.
Matthew 11:20-24 – Those who had seen more would have more required of them (Luke 12:47-48). God has blessed us greatly and He expects a lot out of us.
Matthew 11:25-26 – The gospel is for the ordinary man.
Matthew 11:28-30 – See Jeremiah 6:16.

God's Communication

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

God’s communication through history

At first, He just talked directly to people.

Genesis 1:28; 2:16; 4:6; 6:13; 9:1; 12:1

Sometimes, God would use vision or a dream.

Genesis 15:1; 20:3, 6; 41:25, 28
I Samuel 3:1

Sometimes, God would manifest Himself in some form and appear to people.

Genesis 18:1-2, 22-33 – Abraham was even able to have a conversation with God.
Job 13:22 – Job wished for this kind of dialog!
Exodus 3:2-4 – Moses and the burning bush.
Exodus 19:18-19; 31:18
Exodus 33:11 – God spoke to Moses face-to-face.

God brought punishments or blessings on some people.

Amos 4:6-8 – You should have noticed the punishments! This doesn’t mean any bad things is a sign from God.

Creation itself teaches us about God.

Psalm 19:1-2

Many times, God used prophets.

II Kings 20:1-7
Nehemiah 9:30
II Peter 1:21

God’s FINAL communication

Hebrews 1:1-2
Mark 1:22; 9:2-7; 16:15 – Jesus’ teaching was different. His messengers carried the message to the world.

Practical takeaways

We need to get good at reading and understanding the Bible. John 12:48-50
Defend the Scripture!
- Hebrews 2:1-4 -This is God’s law from now on for everyone!
- Deuteronomy 13:1-5
On a very personal level, don’t rebel against the Bible when it hits you where it hurts.
- Acts 2:37

Galatians 4:12-31

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 4, continued

Galatians 4:12-20 – “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

Galatians 4:13 – Whatever this illness was, it gave Paul the occasion to preach to them the first time. See Philippians 1:12. We need to adjust to God’s plan. Remember the lesson of Jonah.

Galatians 4:21-31 – Allegory of Abraham’s two sons

Galatians 4:21 – See Genesis 12:1-3; 13:16; 15:1-6; 16:1-11, 15-16. After ten years, Sarai decided to use Hagar, which was not God’s plan. See Genesis 17:1-5, 15-21; 18:10-15; 21:1-5, 9-15. Abraham had been waiting 25 years for Isaac. Ishmael was already 14 years old!
Galatians 4:23 – Isaac was not a natural birth – both Abraham and Sarah were well past child-bearing age. God did the same thing with Gideon in Judges 7:2. He made it clear that it happened purely because God promised it.

Hagar (bondwoman)	Sarah (free woman)
Ishmael	Isaac
Born according to the flesh	Born through the promise
Old Covenant	New Covenant
Present Jerusalem	Jerusalem above
Slavery	Freedom

Galatians 4:25 – See Hebrews 12:18.
Galatians 4:27 – The quote is from Isaiah 54:1.
Galatians 4:28 – We are only children of God because of God fulfilling His promise. We can’t do it on our own!
Galatians 4:29 – See Genesis 21:9.

Brethren Abroad

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

There are Christians all over the world worshiping God today!

The Philippines

The population is 106 million people, but the country is only 120,000 square miles. A third the population of the US, but only a thirtieth of the land. Population density is much higher.
Our work
- There 2 weeks
- 16 congregations
- About 22 sermons – all translated except 1
- 9 Q & A sessions
- One radio program
- One debate / discussion – 7th Day Adventist
- Countless Bible studies with preachers
- Lindsay
  - 5 ladies’ classes
  - 5 children’s classes

Things you will learn if you go on these trips:

Realize your Bible knowledge is lacking.
You must get out of your comfort zone.
The perspective you will gain.

Mexico

Nicaragua

Peru

Chile

Challenges in Central / South America

The mentality that men are too good or too macho for spirituality.
The definition of marriage.

Involvement

Already involved
If you would like to go sometime
Balikbayan boxes
Individual financial help
Ongoing Bible studies via Zoom

Luke 5

Luke 5:8 – Peter realized his condition!

Matthew 10:1-8

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

[Unfortunately, the microphone died for a couple of minutes in the middle of this lessons, I have removed the dead time from the recording. -MRW]

Matthew 10

Matthew 10:1-4 – The twelve apostles

Jesus gave them authority to work miracles. This did not make them immune to sin. It did not keep Peter from denying Christ. It did not keep Judas from betraying Christ.
In describing these men, Matthew calls himself out as a tax collector.

Matthew 10:5-6 – Apostles sent to the Jews

Why did Jesus direct them to only go to the Jews?
- Matthew 15:24-28 – Jesus healed the lady’s daughter even though she was a Gentile.
- Acts 1:8
- Romans 1:16 – To the Jews first and also to the Greek. The gospel is for everyone!
- Romans 2:9-10 – There would also be tribulation to all who dismissed the gospel.
- Ephesians 2:11-12 – The Gentiles were formerly outside the camp.
- Romans 15:8-12 – These are Old Testament passages. Gentiles were in the plan from the beginning.
- Romans 11:28 – God loved Abraham and because of that, the gospel came to the Jews first.
- Romans 4:16-17 – Abraham is considered by God to be the father of all who follow in his footsteps of faith.
- Romans 11:11-12 – The gospel went to the Jews first and they were the first to reject it. Then it went to the Gentiles and it made the Jews jealous.
- Luke 4:42-43 – Jesus only had so much time and He chose the most appropriate places to go.
- Acts 13:46 – Paul said it was necessary that the Jews received the gospel first.

Matthew 10:7-8 – The message of the apostles

The “kingdom of heaven” implies a ruler. Those in the kingdom subject themselves to the ruler.
Matthew 7:21 – Those who do the will of God can enter the kingdom.
Mark 12:32-34
Daniel 7:27
The king of heaven is coming, so you must repent and get in line!
John 18:36 – Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world.
Mark 9:1 – The kingdom of heaven was coming in their lifetime.
Mark 1:15
Mark 15:43 – Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for the kingdom of God.
Daniel 2:44

We Need to be Here!

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 14:26

God deserves worship!

I Chronicles 28:9
Proverbs 3:19
Psalms 139:14 – My existence depends on God and David recognized that.
Psalms 95:1-6
Revelation 4:11
Luke 19:36-40 – Spontaneous worship broke out because Jesus deserved it.

Our kids need to be here!

Mark 9:33-37; 10:13-16 – Jesus loves children! He did not treat them as pests, but as precious souls.

Do some practice outside of church.

Exodus 12:23-27 – God set up a memorial that He knew future children would ask about.

Teach them to participate as much as possible.

II Timothy 3:14-15
Don’t underestimate kids!

Our brethren and visitors need us here!

Hebrews 10:23-25 – We have an obligation to motivate each other.
Acts 11:23-26; 15:36-41; 18:23, 27
When we get together, we strengthen each other.
I Corinthians 14:26
Romans 1:9
Don’t think about what you can get out of worship. Think about what you can do for others.

Galatians 3:15-4:11

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 3, continued:

Galatians 3:15-29 – “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed”

Galatians 3:19 – Moses was the mediator between God and Israel at Sinai.
Galatians 3:20 – The promise is superior to the Law of Moses in that no mediator is involved. God has promised and will do what He said.
Galatians 3:22 – See Romans 3:23. All have sinned!
Galatians 3:25 – We do still have laws to obey under Christ, but it is a completely different sort of system.
Galatians 3:27 – We cannot be in Christ without being baptized. We are baptized into that relationship.
Galatians 3:28 – We can all have this blessing of salvation!

Galatians 4

Galatians 4:1-11 – Sons, not slaves

Galatians 4:4 – God decided precisely when the best time was to bring Jesus into the world. Verses 3 and 4 parallel verses 1 and 2.
Galatians 4:6 – See Romans 8:15-16. What does “spirit” mean here? See Mark 14:36 for the other use of “Abba! Father!”
Galatians 4:10 – This may be a reference to elements of the Law of Moses. See Colossians 2:16-17.
Galatians 4:11 - Now that they had something better, why would they want to go back?

Matthew 9:1-4; Miracles in the Bible

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Bible miracles

Without Bible miracles …
- The Bible is just another book
- The God of the Bible is only a god
- Jesus is merely a man
- Christianity is just another religious system
Psalms 77:14 – “You are the God who performs miracles”
Exodus 34:10 – “Then God said … Before all your people I will perform miracles … it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you”
Miracles in Luke’s gospel
- Luke 1:26-38 – Christ’s virgin conception and birth
- Luke 4:28-30 – Passed through crowd unseen
- Luke 4:33-37 – Man with demon
- Luke 4:38-39 – Peter’s mother-in-law
- Luke 5:4-7 – Draught of fish
- Luke 5:12-14 – Leprous man
- Luke 5:17-26 – Man with palsy
- Luke 6:6-11 – Man with withered hand
- Luke 7:1-10 – Healing centurion’s servant
- Luke 7:11-18 – Raising widow’s son
- Luke 8:22-25 – Calmed a storm
- Luke 8:26-36 – Demons entering swine
- Luke 8:40-56 – Jairus’ daughter
- Luke 8:43-48 – Woman with issue of blood
- Luke 9:37-43 – Child with demon
- Luke 9:11-17 – Feeding 5,000
- Luke 11:14-15 – Man with demon
- Luke 13:10-17 – Healing woman with infirmity
- Luke 14:1-6 – Healing man with dropsy
- Luke 17:11-19 – Healing 10 lepers
- Luke 18:35-43 – Blind Bartimaeus
- Luke 22:50-51 – Malchus, high priest’s servant
- Luke 24:1-12 – Resurrection of Christ
Miracles in Acts
- Acts 1:9 – Ascension to heaven
- Acts 2:1-4 – Speaking in tongues
- Acts 2:43 – Many done by apostles
- Acts 3:7-11 – Lame man at temple
- Acts 4:31 – Earthquake
- Acts 5:5-10 – Ananias and Sapphira
- Acts 5:12 – Signs and wonders
- Acts 5:12-16 – Healing
- Acts 5:19 – Prison doors opened
- Acts 6:8 – Those done by Stephen
- Acts 8:6, 7, 13 – By Philip in Samaria
- Acts 9:3-9 – Appearance to Saul
- Acts 9:17-19 – Saul’s blindness healed
- Acts 9:32-35 – Aeneas
- Acts 9:39-42 – Dorcas
- Acts 10 – Visions seen by Cornelius, Peter
- Acts 12:10 – Prison gate opened
- Acts 13:11-12 – Elymus
- Acts 14:3-4 – In Iconium
- Acts 14:8-18 – Lystra
- Acts 16:18 – Woman with evil spirit
- Acts 16:26 – Earthquake, prisoners released
- Acts 19:11-12 – In Ephesus
- Acts 20:8-12 – In Troas
- Acts 28:3-9 – In Melita
Reliability of Luke in Acts
- Specific names
  - 95 different people, 62 of which aren’t mentioned by any other New Testament writer and 27 are nonbelievers, mostly civil or military officials.
- Specific titles
  - Titles of notable persons didn’t remain constant over time.
  - Luke always uses the correct title at the correct point in history.
- Specific places
  - In Acts, he accurately mentions 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 Mediterranean islands.
- Specific events
  - Acts 11:27-30; 18:2 – Drought throughout all the world, expulsion of Jews from Rome.
- Luke never made a mistake!
Sir William Mitchell Ramsey (1851-1939)
- Raised an atheist
- Trained as an archaeologist, set out to prove Bible, especially Acts, was fraudulent by traveling areas covered by Paul’s preaching tours looking for mistakes Luke made.
- At conclusion of his travels, he wrote The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament.
- Ramsey’s conclusion:
  - “Luke is an historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy … this author should be placed along with the very greatest historians.”
John Warwick Montgomery
- History and Christianity
- “The only way we can known whether an event can occur is to see whether is has occurred. The problem of ‘miracles’ then must be solved in the realm of historical investigation, not in the realm of philosophical speculation.”
6 alleged trips to the moon
- 6 manned landings July 20, 1969 – December 14, 1972
- 12 men walked on the moon
- Did these alleged events actually occur?
- What historical evidence (written, audio, video material) is there?
I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek
- “Now why would Luke be so accurate with trivial details like wind directions, water depths, peculiar town names, but not be accurate when it comes to important events like miracles? In light of the fact that Luke has proven accurate with so many trivial details, it is nothing but pure anti-supernatural bias to say he’s not telling the truth about the miracles he records.”

Matthew 9

Matthew 9:1-8 – Healing a paralyzed man

Matthew 9:2 – Jesus’ first priority was to forgive sins – not physical healing!
Matthew 9:4 – They completely overlooked the fact that Jesus could read their minds!

Two Questions From Psalms

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Do I delight in God’s word?

Psalms 1:1-6 – Notice the contrast between verses one and two.
What if we have a problem in our marriage?
- Luke 17:4
- I Corinthians 6:7-8
We can either listen to the world or listen to God.
I Samuel 16:1, 12; 21:10; Psalms 56:1-4, 10-13 – David was surrounded by the Philistines, but he trusted God and found peace in God’s word.
Is God’s word my happy place?
Psalms 19:7-10

Do I mourn for sin?

Psalms 14:1; Romans 3:9-10 (quotes Psalms 14)
Romans 1:18
Amos 6:1-6 – They did not grieve over the sin of the nation.
Ezekiel 9:4 – Those who grieved over sin were saved.
Ezra 10:6 – Ezra mourned the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
I Corinthians 5:1 – They were arrogant about sin!
II Corinthians 12:21 – We should look back on our sin with fondness.
Psalms 119:136 – Have you ever cried because of sin?
Psalms 32:1-5 – It feels good to be forgiven of our sin!
Psalms 51:12
Acts 2:46-47, 41 – They were rejoicing after baptism!
Acts 8:34-38 – The Ethiopian rejoiced!
Acts 16:34, 33 – The Philippian jailer rejoiced!
We need to care about sin!

Galatians 3:1-19

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 3

Galatians 3:1-5 – “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”

Galatians 3:2 – The word “rejoice” here could refer to several different things:
- Holy Spirit
- The gospel (by metonymy)
- Salvation that comes from the gospel
Galatians 3:5 – They had been given forgiveness – were they now going to try and be saved by their own effort under the Law of Moses?

Galatians 3:6-14 – “it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham”

Galatians 3:6 – Three times this is said about Abraham:
- Genesis 15:6
- Romans 4:18-22
- Genesis 22 – Referenced in James 2:21-24.
Galatians 3:7 – Confess and faithfully submit to God. This is how to be a true son of Abraham.
Galatians 3:8 – See Genesis 12:1-7. These are the three promises to Abraham.
Galatians 3:9 – When I have faith like Abraham, I will also be blessed.
Galatians 3:10 – See Deuteronomy 27:1, 26. The Law was never intended as a way of justification.
Galatians 3:12 – See Leviticus 18:4-5. If you try to live by the Law, you must perform it flawlessly. No one except Jesus ever has!
Galatians 3:13 – No one performed the Law of Moses perfectly and thus, all were cursed (Galatians 3:10). This is quoting Deuteronomy 21:23. Jesus was innocent of our sins but was the blameless sacrifice for us. Jesus died physically so that we could live spiritually.

Galatians 3:15-19 – “Now the promises were given to Abraham and to his seed”

Galatians 3:17 – The Law of Moses did not invalidate the promises to Abraham that predated it.
Galatians 3:18 – Salvation is through God’s promise to Abraham, which was before the Law of Moses.
Galatians 3:16 – See Genesis 22:18. God was talking about one seed in particular – Christ.

The Complete Word

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 1:1-8

These are inspired, authoritative books.

I Corinthians 2:13
Acts 8:18 – The apostles could bestow spiritual gifts on others.
Galatians 1:1
The New Testament was written by:

Four apostles	Four prophets
Matthew	Mark
John	Luke
Paul	James
Peter	Jude

II Peter 1:13-21 – Peter wanted them to remember these things after he was gone.
This is the word of God they were passing on!
II Peter 3:1-3, 15-16 – Peter was referencing Paul’s writings as authoritative.
We must also respect these words as authoritative.
Colossians 4:16

They are full of practical instructions.

John 20:30-31
Romans 1:5 – These books were written so that people would obey.
Romans 12:9-14 – These are practical instructions.
James 1:22-27 – Be “doers of the word.”
We need to be reading the Bible for the right reasons.
Luke 7:24-26; 3:10-14 – John’s instructions were simple and practical.
Let us not alienate the average person trying to understand the Bible by overcomplicating the language we use to talk about it.

Christians 2,000 years ago were struggling with the same problems we face today.

I John 2:15-17
III John 1:9 - Diotrephes was lifted up with pride and wanted to rule.
Jude 1:3-4 – People were trying to turn God’s grace into a license to sin.
Every generation faces the same sins. They may be dressed up a little differently, but the underlying temptations and sins are the same.
This is timeless wisdom!
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10; 12:13-14

Matthew 8:1-34

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Review of the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 8

Matthew 8:1-4 – Jesus heals a leper

Matthew 8:2 – This shows Jesus’ sympathy. He was willing to help.
Matthew 8:3 – See Acts 4:16. Jesus’ miracles were undeniable.
Parallel passages: Mark 1:40-44; Luke 5:12-16.

Matthew 8:5-13 – Jesus and the centurion

Matthew 8:10, 13 – The centurion showed great faith and acted on it.
Matthew 8:8 – See Proverbs 29:23. We need to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus.
Matthew 8:13 – See John 20:30-31 regarding the purpose of these miracles.

Matthew 8:14-15 – Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law

Matthew 8:14 – This conflicts with the Catholic idea of Peter acting as the first pope since popes are to be celibate. Clearly Peter was married since he had a mother-in-law.

Matthew 8:16-18 – Jesus heals those who were demon-possessed

Matthew 8:19-22 – Jesus warns about troubles brought about by following Him

If the teacher has earthly difficultie4s, following Him may lead to your own difficulties.
Matthew 8:22 – We must be careful to not let the cares of the world crowd out spiritual things. These sayings may have been hard on purpose to test those in the audience that would eventually become apostles.

Matthew 8:23-27 – Jesus calms the storm

The disciples should have known they would survive since they were with Jesus

Lord, I Need You

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Stubbornness

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Consequences of Sin

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 7:1-29

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 7

Matthew 7:1-6 – Judging

If judging here is the same as being critical, explain:
- John 7:24 – “judge righteous judgment”
- “hypocrite, dogs, swine”
  - Some people don’t appreciate truth. We must make a judgment in this regard.
- Your criticism of my criticism
  - “You shouldn’t judge.” “Are you judging me?”
- John 10:26 – “you are not of my sheep”
  - Side note: This verse would have taken place during what we now call Hannukah.

Matthew 7:7-12 – Prayer

Matthew 7:7-8 – “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” are all action words.
If we are guaranteed a “yes” answer to all prayer, explain:
- “Ask in my name” – John 14:13-14; 16:23
- I Corinthians 12:7-8

Matthew 7:13-14 – Narrow way the only way

If there are many acceptable ways to choose from, explain:
- John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth and the life.”

Matthew 7:15-23 – False teachers

Prophets sometimes were foretellers and sometimes “forthtellers” who simply brought the message of God.
If we should never call men/women false teachers, explain:
- I John 4:1-6

Matthew 7:24-27 – Hearing vs. doing

If “doing” on our part is excluded as a “work,” explain:
- Verbs in the text
- James 2:14-26
- Hebrews 11

Matthew 7:28-29 – Conclusion

If acceptable teaching is entertaining, theater, joke / story-telling, explain:
- Galatians 1:10 – “For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people?”

Choose What to Focus On

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 29:18-20

Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:1-6
Hebrews 11:7 – Noah’s faith in God caused him to build the ark.
Hebrews 11:8-10 – Abraham had faith enough to move. See Genesis 12:1. It didn’t matter where God was leading him on earth. He was looking forward to heaven.
Hebrews 11:13-16
Choosing what to focus on is a life-changing strategy.

Paul in prison.

Philippians 4:10-13 – Paul had learned to be content.
Philippians 4:8 – Dwell on the good things!
“Sometimes it just depends on us.”

Philippians 1:3-5, 12-14 – Paul was constantly thinking about spiritual things.
The example of Joni Tada.

You see what you’re looking for.

James 1:2 – This is a deliberate decision.
Hebrews 12:2-3 – Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.
If I’m looking for something positive, I’ll find it.

Galatians 2:1-21

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 2

Galatians 2:1-5 – Titus and circumcision

Galatians 2:1 – It’s not entirely clear exactly where this fourteen-year interval fits chronologically. This visit in Jerusalem may be the same one mentioned in Acts 15.
Galatians 2:2 – God told him to go. Compare Acts 15:3.
Galatians 2:3-5 – Paul took a stand on principle to sow that circumcision was not necessary. (See Genesis 17 for the start of circumcision. In Leviticus 12:3, it was incorporated into the Law of Moses.) Compare Galatians 5:1-3. It is not a sin to be circumcised (notice Acts 16:1 – Timothy was circumcised to allow him to fit in with the Jews he would be preaching to), but it cannot be done as an act of worship.

Galatians 2:6-10 – The right hand of fellowship

Galatians 2:9 – If this matches up with Acts 15, this must be referring to James the brother of Jesus because James the apostle had already been beheaded in Acts 12.
Galatians 2:10 – Paul had already delivered aid to needy saints and would do so again. Paul also taught all people, regardless of wealth. He did not shy away from teaching the poor, the wealthy, or the powerful.

Galatians 2:11-14 – Opposing Peter

Galatians 2:11 – Paul opposing an apostle to his face was a big deal! See Acts 10:28.
Galatians 2:12-13 – This was a tremendous amount of peer pressure. It was so difficult for these Jews to break away from the old ways.
Galatians 2:14 – Paul’s quoted words to Peter begin here. Various translations end the quote at different places (verse 14, 16, or 21).
Galatians 2:16 – No one would be justified by the Law of Moses. What we need is a system of forgiveness, which is the Law of Christ (Romans 3:23-25; 4:4-8).
Galatians 2:17-18 – See Galatians 5:4. If you try to go back to the Law of Moses, you make yourself a sinner again.
Galatians 2:20 – See Galatians 6:6.
Galatians 2:21 – If it were possible to obey the law correctly, Jesus would not have needed to die.

You Reap What You Sow

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 1:11-12
Hosea 8:7 – “They show the wind and reap the whirlwind.”
- Hosea 8:1 – They had sinned against God.
- Hosea 8:12
- Hosea 10:12 – God pleaded with them to be righteous.

Give it time.

Matthew 7:16
Job 4:8-9 – Eliphaz understood sowing and reaping only halfway. Sometimes it is not an immediate effect. If we sow righteousness, we may not reap the rewards until after this life is over.
James 5:7-8

Invest in your relationships.

Romans 2:5-11 – We may be able to hide evil in this world, but we will eventually reap what we’ve sown.
Ephesians 5:33 – Roles in marriage defined. We cannot sow selfishness and bitterness in our marriage and not reap a bitter marriage.
Colossians 3:19
Ephesians 6:1 – Disrespect damages any relationship.
Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 29:15 – We cannot sow child-centeredness and reap God-centeredness.

Sow good things!

Galatians 6:7-10 – Christians should help each other.
II Corinthians 9:6-11 – Giving cheerfully will be rewarded.

Matthew 6:1-34

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 6

Matthew 6:1-18 – “so that they may be honored by men”

When you give …	When you pray …	Whenever you fast …
so that they may be honored by men	so that they may be honored by men	so that they may be honored by men
they have their reward in full	they have their reward in full	they have their reward in full
giving will be in secret	close your door and pray	your fasting will not be noticed by men
your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you	your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you	your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you

Compare Matthew 5:13-16. The motive is important here – glorifying God versus being noticed by men.
Don’t show off, but serve God sincerely and discretely, maintaining focus on God and His reward.
Matthew 6:16-18 – See Leviticus 16:29; Acts 13:2-3. Fasting is mentioned under the New Covenant, but not commanded. In those days, they spent a large portion of time preparing food. Taking that time instead to pray or worship would be a considerable change in time usage for them.

Matthew 6:19-24 – “You cannot serve God and wealth”

Matthew 6:19-20 – This is a not-but statement. It is not a sin to have a bank account. But it is more important to concentrate on spiritual things. See Matthew 5:11-12. Don’t worry too much about this life. See also Hebrews 10:34.

Matthew 6:25-34 – “Do not worry.”

Jesus is not negating the many other passages about work ethic, but God doesn’t want us to be overly concerned about this life. See Luke 12:16-21.

"Everybody's Doing It!"

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Exodus 23:2

“Marriages end and kids misbehave.”

Esther 1:10-12, 19-21 – The king’s wife made him mad, so he got rid of her.
Temporary marriage license
- Professor and author Stephanie Coontz put it this way: “In modern society, people are reluctant to enter marriages unless they know they can get out … That’s probably solved already by the availability of no-fault divorce.”

“The culture so quickly says, oh it’s over, it’s not going to work. We live in a consumer society. If something doesn’t work, you chunk it away and get a new one. And that has been translated into relationships … It’s a very pervasive myth today, that a marriage only works if you’re compatible. And couples come up against difficulties, disagreements, conflict, and they think, ‘We’re not compatible’ and so they separate. But actually, with a few very simple tools, they can work through these disagreements.”

Matthew 19:3-9
Ephesians 5:22-6:4
God’s standard has not changed!

“It doesn’t hurt to look.”

Matthew 5:27-28
Job 31:1
What is so dangerous about pornography is that so many people don’t think it’s wrong.
Galatians 5:16-26
I Thessalonians 4:1-8

“Just do what’s best for you.”

Genesis 3:6 – The first sin was all about what Eve thought was good for her.
II Peter 2:3
The first thing society does to make sin acceptable is change how things are worded.
- “Strong woman finds unlikely advisor, learns to stand up for herself.”
The New Moral Code (Source: Bama OmniPoll, August 2015, Good Faith, p.58)

“Do you agree with the following statements?”	Percentage of U.S. adults
The best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself.	91%
People should not criticize someone else’s life choices.	89%
To be fulfilled in life, you should pursue the things you desire most.	86%
The highest goal of life is to enjoy it as much as possible.	84%
People can believe whatever they want, as long as those beliefs don’t affect society.	79%
Any kind of sexual expression between two consenting adults is acceptable.	69%

Titus 2:11-15
Luke 9:23

Conclusion

We must live by the Word of God, not the immoral ideas people have … even if everybody’s doing it.

Galatians 1:1-24

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 1

Galatians 1:1-5 – Jesus and the Father sent me.

Paul immediately points out that Jesus and God the Father had sent him.
He was writing to the churches in Galatia. There is some debate about which region of Galatia this is (northern or southern), but it seems likely to be the southern region. This area includes a number of places that Paul visited on his missionary journeys.

Galatians 1:6-10 – Don’t desert God for a different gospel!

Galatians 1:6 – They were deserting God by deserting the gospel. See Galatians 5:6-8, 2. You can’t add circumcision to the gospel. That perverts the gospel!
Galatians 1:8 – Paul says “we,” including himself in the warning. This directly contradicts the teaching the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which teaches that the angel Moroni gave Joseph Smith a new revelation.
Galatians 1:10 – The word “still” here implies that Paul was previously trying to please man.

Galatians 1:11-24 – Paul’s conversion, independence, and early travels.

Galatians 1:12 – Paul wasn’t trained by the other apostles. He received direct revelation. See Acts 9:1-2, 13-14. Paul used to operate under authority from Jewish leaders. See Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:3-6, 15-20.
Galatians 1:13-14 – Paul fully admits that he was wrong. His honesty is admirable.
Galatians 1:17 – We have little information about Paul’s time in Arabia. Much has been made of it in commentaries, but we simply don’t know.
Galatians 1:18-19 – Paul had no contact with the apostles until years after his conversion. James the brother of Jesus was not one of the twelve apostles and actually didn’t believe Jesus was the Christ early on. This passage could simply be saying that Paul didn’t see the apostles or James.

What to Say in a Spiritual Conversation

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 1:15
II Timothy 2:2

“All of us have become guilty of sin.”

Acts 2:22-25, 36-37
Acts 3:14-15
Acts 4:11
Acts 7:51-53
Acts 26:18
Isaiah 59:2
II Thessalonians 1:8-9
Whoever we are talking to will find out at some point that they are guilty of sin. We are just trying to make sure they find out early enough to do something about it.
Most people would admin they are not perfect.
We must have a good attitude when we speak to others. Speak to them in love!
It may help to use the word “us.”
- Acts 22:4-5, 20; 26:9-11
- I Timothy 1:15 – Paul called himself the “foremost sinner.”
- Ephesians 2:1-3

“Jesus died so we can be forgiven!”

Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:13-14
Jesus alone is the savior. Not a church or a pastor. The church doesn’t save – the church is composed of the saved.

We sinned!	But Christ saves!
Acts 2:22-23, 36-37	Acts 2:38-40
Acts 3:14-15	Acts 3:19-20
Acts 4:11	Acts 4:12
Acts 7:51-53	(killed)
Acts 26:18	Acts 26:19-23

Acts 8:3 – The gospel spread!
I Corinthians 15:1-4 – This is the basis for our faith.

“We have to follow God’s instructions to receive this gift!”

II Thessalonians 1:8
Both of these are true!
- Ephesians 2:8; Matthew 7:21
- Romans 4:5; James 2:24
- Titus 3:5; II Corinthians 5:10
Paul to the Romans
- Romans 1:16 – Gospel!
- Romans 3:24 – Grace!
- Romans 5:1 – Faith!
- Romans 5:9 – Blood!
- Romand 6:3-4 – Baptism!
- Romans 10:9-10 – Believe and confess!
Useful analogies to salvation:
- What makes a car move? The gas pedal? The engine? All are involved.
- Think about a college scholarship. The money is a gift, but conditions must be met.

Matthew 5:1-12

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 5

Matthew 5:3 – This is talking about people in abject poverty that are looking for something. Those that are spiritually poor are looking for God. They are the ones who will allow Jesus to rule in their hearts.
Matthew 5:4 – Those who are looking for something in their lives are miserable until they find God.
Matthew 5:5 – The definition of meekness is strength under control. Those who are meek allow Jesus to lead. They will inherit the earth in a figurative sense. They were looking for the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:6 – If we really hunger and thirst for righteousness, we can be satisfied.
Matthew 5:7 – Those who are merciful will receive mercy in the end.
Matthew 5:8 – “Pure in heart” can mean pure of motive. People who serve God with a pure heart serve God for His approval, not man’s.
Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are those who teach others how to have peace with God. The phrase “called sons of God” is a figure of speech. It refers to what they are in a higher sense.
Matthew 5:10-12 – Christians will be persecuted.
Compare David in Psalm 51 to these attributes.

Four Things You'll Notice When You Read Your Bible in 2025

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hosea 4:6 – The people were destroyed for lack of knowledge.
II Chronicles 36:11-16 – Under Zedekiah, the people rejected God and His prophets.

“I remind you that God wrote a Book; and He only wrote one. I wonder what we’ll say to Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ if He asks us, “Did you read My Book? I mean one time in your entire life did you read My whole Book?” – Woodrow Kroll, August 2009

II Timothy 3:15-17

There will be a lot of “Oh, wow I get it” moments.

II Chronicles 34:14-21, 31, 27 – The Israelites rediscover the book of the law and realize they hadn’t been obeying it. Josiah decides to make things right with God.

You’ll feel better about the way you’re spending your time.

Matthew 6:19-21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Time is the number one issue people cite when asked why they don’t read the Bible more.
It takes about 75 hours to read the entire Bible. That is about 17 minutes a day for five days a week.
Ezra 7:10

You’ll start thinking and talking about spiritual things more.

Psalms 1:1-6
We start feeling guilt about sins we suddenly become aware of.
We start praying more.
Spiritual disciplines and risk behaviors among U.S. adults:
- Researchers called it the “Power of 4” (reading the Bible at least 4 days a week)
  - Getting drunk = 57% lower odds
  - Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds
  - Pornography = 61% lower odds
  - Gambling = 74% lower odds
  - Sharing faith with others = 228% higher odds
  - Discipling others = 231% higher odds
  - Memorizing scripture = 407% higher odds
Hebrews 4:12

You’ll feel better about life.

Philippians 4:8-9 – It’s hard to complain about my life after seeing the conditions Paul was in when he wrote this.
“Bible-engaged Americans are more likely than any other group in America to have a hopeful perspective.”

Philippians 3:12-4:23

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Philippians 3, continued:

Philippians 3:12-21 – Press on toward Heaven!

Philippians 3:14 – Heaven is the prize to which God is calling us.
Philippians 3:15-16 – No Christian should ever become complacent. We must continue pressing on.
Philippians 3:17 – The word “observe” here just means to keep your eye on someone in a positive way.
Philippians 3:19 – Those who are concentrating only on earthly things will meet destruction.
Philippians 3:20 – If we get to a point where we are not eager to go to Heaven, something is wrong!
Philippians 3:21 – Jesus will transform our bodies when it is time to go to Heaven.

Philippians 4

Philippians 4:1-9 – Peace and joy

Philippians 4:3
- The phrase “true companion” is taken by some as evidence that Paul was married, but we have no evidence of that from other scriptures. Paul only refers to himself as unmarried in other places.
- The “book of life” may or may not be some sort of actual book, but it is referenced by Moses (Exodus 32:32) and a number of other passages in the Bible.
Philippians 4:4 – Paul was writing from prison to tell others to rejoice!
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious” doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen. Troubles will still come, but Christians have a peace that comes from God.

Philippians 4:10-23 – Paul’s contentment and their fellowship

Philippians 4:11 – Paul learned to be content.
Philippians 4:18 – Epaphroditus apparently carried the money to Paul. Paul was grateful for the money, but more than that, he was grateful that the Philippians were in a spiritual state such that they wanted to send him support.
Philippians 4:22 – This seems to indicate that Paul was in prison in Rome. See Philippians 1:12.

Matthew 4:1-25

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[Note: These notes have been ordered according to the verses in the text, which does not precisely match the order in which the lesson was presented. - MRW]

Matthew 4

Matthew 4:1-11 – Temptation of Jesus

Some compare Jesus going into the wilderness to Israel’s wandering the wilderness. Unlike Israel, Jesus prevailed in the wilderness.
Matthew 4:10 – Note that this is in direct conflict with any idea of worshipping Mary.
Matthew 4:8-11 – In a sense, Jesus was tempted to worship Satan.
- I Corinthians 10:13 – God always provides a way of escape from temptation.
- Psalms 119:11
- James 1:14-15
- I John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world.
- Galatians 6:7-8 – A man reaps what he sows.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.“

Matthew 4:12-17 – Jesus begins His Galilean ministry

Matthew 4:12-13 – See John 4:43. Being from Nazareth was a mark against someone at the time. To be called a Nazarene was derogatory. It was a small and insignificant town. This was another one of many reasons that people were prejudiced against Jesus.
Matthew 4:15-16 – See Isaiah 42:7; Psalms 107:10-15; Luke 2:32.

Matthew 4:18-21 – Four fishermen and four disciples

Matthew 4:19 – See Luke 18:28-30. They left all that they had to follow Jesus.

Matthew 4:23-25 – Jesus heals a multitude

See Acts 10:36-39. Peter would later use much of what is in this chapter in his preaching.

Compartments and Spirituality

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

How do you think about what your life consists of?
Colossians 1:10-12, 21-23
Colossians 2:5-7
- Colossians 2:6 – “walk” = “lead your life”
Colossians 3:1-4, 5-11, 12-17

Following Christ is not a part of life. It is a way of life.

Colossians 3:18-4:6 – How various groups of people should behave to follow Christ.
Colossians 3:17

Appreciation for my salvation is shown in the way I live.

Colossians 1:9-12 – Following Christ should transform our lives.
Colossians 3:1-10
Ephesians 4:1 – Walk worthy of your calling.
Romans 6:1
II Peter 1:8-11

I can do everyday things in a spiritual way, or a godless way.

Colossians 3:23-25

Always look for doors for the gospel and use them.

How not to measure spirituality.

Colossians 2:10-14 – We can’t think we can earn salvation.
Colossians 2:16-20
Simply knowing the Bible is not enough.

Instead, look for ways to advance the cause of Christ.

Colossians 4:2-4
Philippians 1:12-18

Pride

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I have made the comment in class here before that the longer I live on this earth, the more I think that the purpose of life here is to beat the pride out of man.

We know that God detests pride. The pride of life is one of the three great temptations listed in the Bible. (1 John 2:16).

Let’s dig into this a little this morning and remind ourselves what God thinks about pride, think about all the ways that pride shows up in our lives, and then look at how we can get it out of our lives. I welcome your comments and questions!

What God thinks about pride

From Solomon

Solomon warned about the dangers of pride. Proverbs 16:18-19

It is better to be humble, even if that means you most associate with the lowly people of the world.

Regarding Moses

Moses was very meek, but God clearly respected him for this, going so far as to speak to him plainly. Numbers 12:3-8

Moses’ meekness as a leader was a tremendous blessing to him and not a weakness as many in the world today would say.

Jesus’ example

Jesus Himself was humble and lowly in heart, despite His great power and deity. Matthew 11:28-30

Paul’s warning to Timothy

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul warns Timothy of various types of people he should be wary of. II Timothy 3:2-5

Those who are proud are listed among the people that should be avoided. Several of the categories that Paul lists here (lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, and arrogant) are all symptoms of the underlying disease – pride.

Jesus’ parable

Jesus tells a parable of the two men praying, showing God’s perspective on the two men and their prayers. Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee was not humble. Jesus’ judgment on the matter is that whoever exalts himself will be humbled (either now or at judgment). Whoever humbles himself will be exalted. How much better to be humble now and be exalted at judgment!

Act out of humility

God tells us to be humble and count others as more significant. People are more willing to follow a humble leader and will be humble themselves when doing so. Jesus is the ultimate example of this. Jesus is deity, yet He humbled Himself coming in the likeness of a man and humbled Himself to God’s will, dying a terrible death on the cross for our sins. Philippians 2:3-11

Be subject to authority and each other

God instructs us to be subject to our elders and to each other. Ultimately, we must humble ourselves before Him. I Peter 5:5-7

How does pride manifest itself in our lives?

Pride can be a very deceptive thing. Even when we think we have rid ourselves of it in one area of our lives, it can pop up somewhere else. Let’s take a few minutes thinking about how pride might show up in our lives. When you really start thinking about it, you might be prideful in more ways than you realize!

Here are a few ways:

By doing what we want to do and not considering God or others.
- This is the definition of pride and selfishness – thinking that the rest of the world revolves around us.
By bragging about our own accomplishments.
- What have we done that God has not given us the ability to do?
By refusing to do work that “is beneath us”
- Jesus washing the feet of his disciples should rid us of this notion!
By looking down on others for whatever reason.
- We may think it’s a good reason, but that’s still not a good reason!
By not serving others.
- Serving others is loving others!
By not being generous with our time, money, and resources.
- Why did God give us these things in the first place? Was it not so that we could obey His commands to love our neighbor?
By allowing sin to creep in, thinking that we know how to handle it. Or, worse, being proud of it!
- I Corinthians 5:2 – The Corinthians should have dealt with the sin in their midst instead of being proud of tolerating it.

Sneaky ways that pride shows up:

Aside from the more directly prideful things we talked about, there are a number of “sneaky” ways that pride can show up in our lives. We may not recognize them as pride, so we don’t take the necessary steps to address the problem.

Anxiety
- This is one that I have had trouble with in the past – being anxious about a job or money or schedules or any number of things.
- We will cover this more below, but we must cast our cares on God. To be anxious is to look inward for the answer when we should be looking to God.
- Psalms 37:25
- Being anxious can cause us to turn inward and not love God and our neighbor as we should.
- If you are anxious about something, do what you can to remedy the issue, and give the rest to God. If you need help, reach out to your brethren. This room is filled with people who would love to help, many of which have probably been there themselves!
Depression or nostalgia
- This can be very tricky. This way of thinking is very centered around me. It is not centered around God or others.
- By looking too much at things of the past, we overlook ways to serve God and others now.
- It is certainly good to remember the good times that God has given us. It is not good to only look to the past.
- Depression is the inverse of anxiety. Anxiety is being too concerned about the future. Depression is being too concerned with the past, thinking about what bad things have happened before.
Overeating / poor diet
- What I want to eat is more important than what is good for my body and my health.
- God gave us our bodies and they are incredible blessings. It is important that we treat them well and try to keep them functioning properly so that we can serve God.
- Side note: Your palate and your appetite are a little like your conscience. They are a guide but can be trained wrong. Your body adapts over time to what you eat. I used to avoid vegetables also, but after learning this, managed to gradually change my diet.
Greed
- Greed tells us that MY money and things are the most important.
- Again, this is a view that looks inward, rather than upward to God.
- Hebrews 13:5-6
Being late
- Considering your own time more important than the time of others who may be waiting for you.
- It’s not a big deal if it happens occasionally. If it’s a chronic problem, it could be a sign of pride in how you manage your time.
- Why is it that you are always late? What are you doing with your time? Is it as important as you think it is?
Driving recklessly
- I want to drive how I want to drive!
- Putting others in danger is not showing love for our neighbor.
- If someone saw how you were driving, then saw you pull into the church parking lot, would they be surprised?

How to get pride out of our lives

This is a life-long pursuit! It’s not like we can just conquer pride once and live happily ever after. If only that were true!

Love God first. Love your neighbor. The rest will fall into place.

Matthew 22:34-40

God has made this so simple for us. Just love God and love our neighbor. Let the rest fall out of that. Easy, right?!

Trust God to provide.

Part of the way pride can sneak into our lives is the idea that I need to watch out for myself and get what is mine. If I don’t, I will lose out or be destitute. Certainly, we must work to provide for ourselves and our family, but this can go too far in the sense that we don’t trust God to provide. This leads to anxiety.

Matthew 6:25-34

Someone I heard once gave the analogy that life on earth is like a boardgame. When we die, the pieces all go back in the box. Why are we so worried about the pieces?

Ironically, our anxiety and pride about what we do have might be preventing God from blessing us even more!

Remember to look to God for direction – not ourselves.

Jeremiah 10:23

We must look upward for our direction in life, not to ourselves. God’s direction is perfect and unwavering. Ours may waver constantly and rarely be correct!

Look for ways to serve others.

Galatians 6:2-10

If we are looking to serve others, we are putting our heart in the right place. We both encourage others and help inoculate ourselves against pride.

Remember our common struggle

Romans 3:21-23

Remember that we are all in the same boat - we have all sinned and are all trying to have a good relationship with God. Once we truly understand this, it should be difficult to be lifted up with pride.

Try to see things from God’s perspective

Remember that we are only seeing things from our own perspective. Try to think about what God’s perspective is on a situation.

It is easy to point out other people’s problems. But we must get the logs out of our own eyes first. Maybe then we’ll see that we were the ones with the problems in the first place. We may even need the help of the person we had been looking down on.

Conclusion

Let us take a fresh perspective on pride, find where it lurks in our lives, and root it out so that we might be acceptable to God.

Confidence In Our Salvation

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

What are the signs we may be struggling?

Are we withdrawn from God?
Are we allowing the world to influence us?
Do we have confidence in our salvation?
Do we feel guilty and ashamed?
Are we fearful, afraid of God’s punishment?
Are we withdrawn from God, too ashamed or afraid to talk to Him in prayer?
Do we just feel totally unworthy, and we feel like God isn’t there for us?

Deuteronomy 28

Deuteronomy 28:1, 14, 15 – If the Israelites did not obey, God would curse them.
Deuteronomy 28:16-68 – List of curses God would bring upon them.

Deuteronomy 30

Deuteronomy 30:1-3 – If they would obey, God would again bless them.
Deuteronomy 30:10, 11-14 – God’s ways are mysterious sometimes … but what God desires and our responsibilities are not a mystery. God wants us to love, honor, and obey Him. If we do, we are blessed. If we don’t, we are cursed. It is as simple as that. It is easy to understand.
I Corinthians 10:13

Paul’s perspective of God

I Timothy 1:15-16

Parable of the prodigal son

The younger brother (Luke 15:11-19)

The younger son feels guilty and ashamed.
He was withdrawn from his father, either too ashamed or just afraid to talk to him.
The prodigal son felt totally unworthy.
He has repented and returned but he doesn’t know if his father will be there for him.

The response of the older brother (Luke 15:25-30)

Galatians 5:14-15
Philippians 2:3-5

The response of the father (Luke 15:20-24)

Overjoyed, celebrates
Loving and forgiving
Luke 15:32 – “your brother was dead and is not alive again, was lost and is now found”

Are we withdrawn from God?

Humble ourselves and repent.

I Peter 5:6-7
Acts 3:19
Matthew 6:33

Talk to Him, approach Him in prayer!

I Thessalonians 5:16-17
Romans 12:12
Ephesians 6:18

Are we allowing the world to influence us?

Choose God’s word to direct our lives.

I John 2:15
Matthew 7:18
James 4:7-8, 10

Read and study God’s word.

II Timothy 3:16
John 14:15

Do we have confidence in our salvation?

We have a promise.

Colossians 1:13-14
I Peter 1:3-5

Conclusion

We can have confidence in our salvation!

Matthew 3:1-17

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 3

Matthew 3:1 – John was not a Baptist. John was a baptizer.
- See Luke 1:36. Elizabeth was a blood relative, but not technically a cousin.
Matthew 3:2
- Repentance does not primarily mean, “change the way you are living” but “change the way you are thinking.” See Matthew 3:8 – “bear fruit consistent with repentance.”
- “kingdom of heaven”: See definitions in Colossians 1:13; Revelation 17:18; Luke 1:32-33; Matthew 12:26-28; Luke 17:20-21. The kingdom of heaven is the domain of God – the people over whose hearts He reigns. Church and kingdom both refer to the same group of people, but the words are not synonymous.
- “at hand” – See Mark 9:1. The kingdom would come within some of their lifetimes.
Matthew 3:3 – See Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6. There are about 100 quotes and allusions from the Old Testament in Matthew.
Matthew 3:4 – John had unusual looks and diet.
Matthew 3:6 – See Matthew 3:13. John baptized where there was much water, making it convenient to immerse people.
Matthew 3:7-9 – John’s audience: the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 3:10-12 – “Clearing the threshing floor” may be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. See Acts 1:4-5.
Matthew 3:16 – We don’t currently know precisely where Jesus was baptized. Jesus was baptized as an example of obedience to God. He had no sin to be forgiven of. Note that there are not three Gods. There are three who are God.

Has God Authorized Instruments as Worship? Part 2

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Greek word psallo includes instruments.

Look in Greek dictionaries

Vine’s: “in the NT, ‘to sing a hymn, sing praise’”
Thayer’s Lexicon: “in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song.”
Vincent’s Word Studies in the NT: “The verb, however, is used in the New Testament of singing praise generally.”
The word changed over time to mean singing in the time of the New Testament.
Words change meaning over time!

Look in reliable English translations

	Romans 15:9	I Corinthians 14:15	Ephesians 5:19	James 5:13
NASB95	I will sing	I will sing	Making melody	He is to sing praises
ASB	Sing	I will sing	Making melody	Let him sing praise
ESV	Sing	I will sing praise	Making melody	Let him sing praise
KJV	Sing	I will sing	Making melody	Let him sing psalms
NKJV	Sing	I will sing	Making melody	Let him sing psalms
NIV	I will sing the praises	I will sing	Make music	Let them sing songs of praise
CSB	I will sing praise	I will sing praise	Making music	He should sing praises
NLT	I will sing praises	I will sing	Making music	You should sing praises

The elders decided to have instruments. So if it’s wrong, they bear the guilt.

Titus 1:9; I Timothy 5:19-20 – Elders can make mistakes and should be rebuked when they do.

Harps are used in Heaven.

Revelation 5:8; 14:2; 15:2; 18:21-22
The first challenge is to even prove these are literal harps.
Second, why stop with the harps?
Events in Heaven aren’t instructions for Christians on earth.
- Matthew 22:30

We should use our God-given talents to worship Him.

Is there any limit to this?
God wants us to follow His instructions in worship.
- John 4:24; Matthew 15:9
- Genesis 4:2-5; Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17 – Abel followed God’s instructions. Cain did not.
- Leviticus 10:1-2

Instruments were used for Old Covenant worship.

That’s right!
- Numbers 10:10; II Chronicles 29:25-28
- These were commanded by God at that time.
But we follow the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant.
- Hebrews 8:7-8, 13
- Acts 15
- Galatians 5:1-3

Conclusion

No one can argue that we should use instruments because they are clearly authorized as acceptable worship in the New Covenant.

Philippians 2:9-3:11

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Philippians 2, continued:

Philippians 2:9-18 – Jesus Christ is Lord; be children of God

Philippians 2:10 – See Isaiah 45:23.
Philippians 2:13 – See I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 4:12

Philippians 2:19-24 – Timothy

Philippians 2:19 – Paul loved the brethren. He loved hearing good news about them.

Philippians 2:25-30 – Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:25 – “my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier”: this is quite a commendation! See Philippians 4:14-18. Evidently they had sent Epaphroditus to bring money to Paul.

Philippians 3

Philippians 3:1-11 – What Paul gave up to gain Christ

Philippians 3:2 – “Mutilation” here is a different word for circumcision.
Philippians 3:3 – See Romans 2:28-29. Physical vs. spiritual Jews:

Romans 2:23-29	“He is not a Jew who is one outwardly”	“he is a Jew who is one inwardly”
Romans 2:23-29	“circumcision … outward in the flesh”	“circumcision … of the heart”
Romans 2:23-29	“those who mutilate the flesh”	“we are the circumcision … who put no confidence in the flesh”

Philippians 3:5 – Paul had Jewish lineage of the tribe of Benjamin.
Philippians 3:8 – Whatever we have to give up to follow Christ is worth it!

Has God Authorized Instruments as Worship? Part 1

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Scriptures that refer to worship with music in the New Testament:
- Acts 16:25
- Romans 15:9
- I Corinthians 14:15
- Ephesians 5:19
- Colossians 3:16
- Hebrews 2:12
- Hebrews 13:15
- James 5:13

Why don’t we add instruments to that?

The simple answer is: because God does not authorize us to do so.

God didn’t say NOT to.

God didn’t say NOT to … carry the ark on an ox cart.

Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15; 7:6-9 – God’s specifications for the ark.
I Chronicles 13:7-12; 15:2, 2, 12-15
God’s instructions:
- Poles
- Kohathites
- Shoulders

God didn’t say NOT to … appoint a priest from Judah.

Numbers 13:10; Hebrews 7:11-14; 8:4

God didn’t say NOT to … offer strange fire.

Leviticus 10:1-2

God didn’t say NOT to … preach circumcision.

Acts 15:5-6, 24

If God only authorized:	Then that leaves everything else unauthorized:
The Kohathites using poles to carry the ark on their shoulders	Ox cart, etc.
Priests to comes from the tribe of Levi	Priests from Judah, etc.
A certain fire	Some other fire, etc.
Preaching the gospel of Christ	Preaching circumcision, etc.
Singing as musical worship	Instruments, etc.

Instruments are just aids, like pitch pipes or song books.

Mark 16:15 – “Go”: how?
II Timothy 2:2 – “Teach”
I Corinthians 16:1-2 – “collection … put aside and save”
Psalms 150:1-6 – Instruments were regarded as worship under the Old Covenant.

Matthew 1:18-2:18

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The story of Jesus

Luke 2:1-7
Matthew 2:5-6
Matthew 1:18-25 – the birth of Jesus
Luke 2:8-20 – Shepherds are visited by an angel and go to visit Jesus.
- Isaiah 9:6 – Jesus would bring peace
- Philippians 4:7
- John 14:27
- Colossians 1:20 – Jesus made peace between man and God.
- Romans 5:21
- Luke 2:17 – The word of Jesus birth spread quickly.
Many now teach that men are born in sin.
- If that were true, Jesus was born in sin. But Jesus knew no sin, thus the premise is false.
- Some hold to the doctrine of the immaculate conception, which teaches that Jesu was born without sin because Mary had no sin. This, in the eyes of those who believe it, makes it possible to pray to Mary since she has no sin.
Luke 2:21-24 – See Leviticus 12:6-8. If Mary had to make a sin offering for herself, that indicates she had sin.
Matthew 2:1-8 – The magi evidently came a while after Jesus was born. Despite songs like “We Three Kings,” there is no evidence that the wise men were kings.
Matthew 2:9-12 – The magi fell down and worshipped Jesus – not Mary.
Matthew 2:13-18 – Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt with Jesus. Herod discovers that he has been tricked and kills all the children two years old and under. All of this is according to prophecy.
Luke 2:41-54 – Twelve years later, Jesus and his family return to Nazareth.

How Would You Describe a Successful Life?

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

“Fulfilling relationships”

Luke 20:19-26
Matthew 10:34-37 – Family relationships are not the top priority.
I Peter 2:21

“Major accomplishments”

Daniel 4:27-31 – Nebuchadnezzar had many major accomplishments yet God took them from him because of his pride.

“Enjoyable experiences”

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – Solomon tried everything and didn’t find fulfillment.

King Solomon	John the Baptist
“Solomon in all his glory” – Matthew 6:29	“his food was locusts and wild honey” – Matthew 3:4
Solomon: “I considered all my activities … and behold all was vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)	Jesus: “there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!” (Matthew 11:11)

So, what’s the answer?

Matthew 22:36-40
Philippians 3:8, 14
Luke 6:40
To lead a Biblically successful life, I need to set aside certain things.

Questions

What am I doing with my life?
Is this the way my life should be going?
In 100 years (when my soul is somewhere), will I regret not adjusting the course of my life?
Matthew 25:34

Philippians 1:7-2:8

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Philippians 1, continued

Philippians 1:1-11 – “I have you in my heart”

Philippians 1:10 – The “day of Christ” is probably referring to the judgment. See Philippians 1:6; 2:16.

Philippians 1:12-20 – “Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice”

Philippians 1:12-13 – Paul’s imprisonment gave him the opportunity to speak to the guards. It also emboldened other people to keep preaching the gospel. Paul’s positive attitude set the tone for others.
Philippians 1:19 – The “Spirit of Jesus Christ” is probably the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 1:21-30 – “to live is Christ and to die is gain”

Paul is not dreaming about the luxuries of life.
Two different philosophies:

Bryan Johnson	The apostle Paul
“Don’t die”	“to die is gain”
dontdie.bryanjohnson.com	Philippians 1:21

Philippians 1:24 – If I continue to live …
- Will sinners stand a better chance of knowing Jesus?
- Will brethren be better off?
- Will my spouse benefit from my companionship?
- Will my kids be strengthened in the faith?
Philippians 1:27 – See Ephesians 4:1
Philippians 1:29-30 – See II Timothy 3:12.

Philippians 2

Philippians 2:1-8 – Be united, and be humble like Christ.

Philippians 2:7 – This passage has been used for centuries to argue that Jesus did not use attributes of deity.
- But that cannot mean He emptied Himself of the attributes of Deity.
  - Jesus was justified in accepting worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38)
  - Jesus forgave sins (Mark 2:3-12; Luke 7:48)
  - Jesus performed miracles by His own power (Luke 2:11; John 5:21)
- Just as Jesus humbled Himself, if we are to be His disciples, we should humble ourselves.

Pentecost

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 4:3

Pentecost was the first time the FULL gospel was preached.

Luke 24:36-53 – Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they would receive power from on high.
Deuteronomy 16:16 – The Jews were to assemble to observe the feast.
Acts 2:9-11 – People from all nations were gathered to hear the gospel.
Acts 2:1-13, 23
Acts 2:38-41
Jesus had already preached much of the good news, but on this day the full picture was finally put together.

We can all be part of this.

Acts 2:39 – “all who are far off” may be referring to Gentiles
Ephesians 2:11-13

It was not popular them; it is not popular now.

Acts 2:41; 4:4 – This was a good number of people, but still just a fraction of the total number gathered.
Acts 13:45; 14:2; 17:13; 18:6; 19:9

This is it. There’s nothing else coming. No updates needed.

Galatians 1:6-9

Matthew 1:1-17

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 1

Matthew 1:1-17 – Genealogies

Importance, use of genealogies
- Ezra 2:59-63 – There were serious consequences if you could not be found in the genealogies.
- Nehemiah 7:63-65
Matthew’s genealogy
- Began his gospel with
- Began with Jesus the Messiah, the son of David (II Samuel 7) the son of Abraham (Genesis 12)
- Matthew arranged his genealogy into three clearly defined groups of 14 each (Matthew 1:17)
  - Why?
    - Abraham to David – Patriarchs
      - Rise of nation (14 including David)
    - David to Jeconiah – Kings
      - Downfall of nation (14 beginning with Solomon and counting Jeconiah)
    - Jeconiah to Christ – Citizens
Luke’s genealogy
- Not until chapter 3
- Began with, “the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi”
- Not arranged in any particular order
The Messiah
- Messiah means “anointed”
  - Greek form “Messias”: used only twice – John 1:41; 4:25
  - Hebrew form: used only twice – Daniel 9:25, 26
- Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Christ) in Mark 14:61-64
- What evidence was there that these Messianic claims were valid?
  - The character of Matthew and Jesus
    - “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” - Matthew 1:1
  - Where did Matthew (and other Jews) get this genealogy?
    - Eusebius (“father of church history”) says the writing of Matthew occurred about twelve years after the death of Christ. Some scholars believe that this would place the writing of Matthew as early as AD 40-45 and as late as AD 55. (See When Were the Gospels Written)
- Matthew gives Christ’s legal succession through Joseph.
- Luke traces his biological succession through Mary.
- Either way, you want to examine His genealogy. It ties Jesus legally and biologically to the Old Testament Messianic promises.
- If Matthew’s and Luke’s genealogy are faulty, Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah are bogus.

Note on abortion

According to Dr. Luke, the Bible makes no distinction between …

Pre-natal life	Post-natal life
John: she conceived a son (Luke 1:36)	Jesus: She gave birth to her firstborn son (Luke 2:7)
John: the babe leaped in my womb (Luke 1:44)	Jesus: The babe lying in the manger (Luke 2:16)

Objective Truth

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 23:23
Objective – truth that exists independently of individual perspectives, emotions, or biases.
Subjective – based on my individual experience, and not to be universally applied.
John 8:44

Truth is inescapable

Acts 17:16-21, 30-33 – Did their rejection mean that what Paul said wasn’t true? No!
Some things are universally true.
Some people believe people can choose to be cats.
If you try to say there is no objective truth, you are making a statement about objective truth and are inconsistent with yourself.

Humans often have a flawed perception of truth, but that doesn’t mean truth doesn’t exist.

I may be opposed to the truth.

II Timothy 3:7-9, 1-6

I may be mistaken.

Hebrews 5:11-14
Dan Barker tried to argue that since all Christians don’t agree, God may not exist. But all atheists don’t agree either!

I may be sincerely mistaken.

Acts 26:9

I may be deceived.

II John 1:7
Matthew 7:15-18
I John 4:1
If I am deceived, I need to become more discerning.

Truth exists, even in the moral and spiritual realm.

John 14:6 – Is this objective or subjective?
John 17:17 – Is God’s word only true sometimes? No!
John 8:31-32
John 12:48 – God’s word will judge us.
Romans 1:28-31, 18, 25
Romans 2:5-8 – “the truth”

Philippians 1:1-6

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

People often name Philippians as their favorite book of the Bible, mainly because it speaks so much about joy.
Paul visited Philippi during his second missionary journey.
Acts 16:6-15 – Paul arrives in Philippi after receiving the “Macedonian call” and immediately has success teaching the gospel, teaching Lydia and others.
Acts 16:16-18 – Paul encounters a girl with an unclean spirit, which Paul casts out of the girl.
Acts 16:19-24 – Paul and Silas are thrown in prison on false charges by the men who were using the girl for fortune-telling.
Acts 16:25-30 – Paul and Silas were praying and singing when God released their bonds. The Philippian jailer asked what to do to be saved. He evidently knew enough to ask the question.
Acts 16:31-34 – The Philippian jailer is baptized, along with his entire family.
Acts 16:35-40 – Paul and Silas were released and escorted out of the city. Paul evidently wanted to make the point that they had done nothing wrong with regard to the gospel. He may have also been trying to make life easier for the disciples he was leaving behind.

Paul’s contact with the Philippians

Second journey (Acts 16) – 50-53 AD
Third journey (Acts 20:6) – 54-57 AD
Letter from prison (Rome, Acts 28) – 61-63 AD

Philippians 1

Philippians 1:1 – “Saints” just meant “holy ones” and was a common term for Christians. It did not have the special connotations that some apply to the term today.
- New Testament terms for local church leaders
  - Presbuteros: translated as elder or presbyter
  - Episkopos: translated as overseer or bishop
  - Poimen: translated as pastor or shepherd
  - How do we know these words all refer to the same men? The words are used interchangeably in Acts 20:17, 28; I Peter 5:1-2.

Wise Men

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What does scripture say?

What is a wise man?
- Context is everything
- In New Testament, Greek “Magos”
- Can mean magician, astronomer, scientist, doctor, etc.
- True meaning usually derived from text
- Acts 13:6 – Bar-Jesus (Elymas)
Hebrew “Chakam”
- Wise men – 124 times
- Cunning – 10 times
- Unwise – 2 times
- Wiser – 2 times
- Subtle (shrewd) – 1 time
- Not the same as sorcerer (Kashaph) or magician (chartom)

Wise men in Old Testament

Pharaohs had wise men AND sorcerers
- Genesis 41:8
- Exodus 7:11
Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men – Daniel 2:2
- Magicians – occult knowledge
- Sorcerers
- Conjurers – astrologers
- Chaldeans – smartest people in the land (compare Bohemian)
There were men who were wise
- Their virtues were extolled
- Deuteronomy 1:13-15
- Proverbs 13:20; 29:8

Wisdom in the New Testament

Compared to foolish – Matthew 7:24-27
Their wisdom compared to God’s majesty – Romans 1:20-23
Wisdom desirable for a Christian – Romans 16:19; Ephesians 5:15
But not in one’s own eyes – Romans 11:25
Not in the wisdom of this world – I Corinthians 1:20

What about the magi?

Translations divided between “magi” and “wise men”
- Transliteration versus translation
- Selection of “wise men” over other possibilities
- Dodging the issue by transliteration
  - Similar to “baptism”
What happened
- Matthew 2:1-12
  - Matthew 2:6 – This is a quote from Micah 5:2.
- Took place “… after Jesus was born in Bethlehem …”
  - Not the night of His birth
  - Wise men from “the East”
    - Likely Persia (Iran)
    - One-way trip of 800-900 miles
    - Daniel 9:24-27
      - Written in Persia
      - Timeline given
    - Balaam’s prophecy? Numbers 24:17
  - Were they Jews?
    - Many had remained after the captivity
    - At the time, outnumbered Jews in Judea
    - “His star” was their signal of the event
- Went to Jerusalem
  - Began inquiring whereabouts of Jesus
  - Stated intent to worship Him
  - Herod’s trouble
  - Scribes and priests understood prophecy of Micah
  - Herod got the timing of Jesus’ birth from appearance of star
  - Herod’s lie – intent to worship
  - Wise men go, find, give, worship
    - Star indicated where Jesus was
    - They rejoiced
    - Three gifts or gifts of three things?
      - Gold
        
        Valuable, could fund journey to Egypt
        
        Representative of royalty, divinity
      - Frankincense
        
        Sap from the Boswellia tree – Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, South Africa, India
        
        Also valuable in trade
        
        Used in offerings (see Leviticus 2:1-2 – grain offerings)
        
        Exodus 30:34 – Kept in the testimony of the tabernacle
        
        Symbolic of Jesus as high priest?
      - Myrrh
        
        Sap of Commiphora tree
        
        Purification ritual – Esther 2:12
        
        Anointing tabernacle, high priests, kings
        
        Bitter taste – Mark 15:23
        
        Embalming – John 19:39-40
    - Aided in Jesus’ escape
  - How did they know not to go back to Herod?
  - Herod’s subsequence action – Matthew 2:16-18

What can we say about the wise men?

Read, understood, believed God’s word
Sought Jesus – despite great effort involved
Saw Him as God – to be humbly worshipped
Saw Him as valuable – opened their treasures to Him
In conflict of commands – Herod and God
Chose to obey God

How Do You Help People?

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 1:1-3

Love them.

I Corinthians 1:4 – These people were troublesome for Paul, but he was thankful for them.
I Corinthians 4:14-15
I Corinthians 10:14 – He loved them!
I Corinthians 15:58
I Corinthians 16:23-24
The simple fact that he was writing to them shows his love for the Corinthians.
There is nothing in the Bible that says you must have a relationship with someone before you can helm them spiritually. Paul spoke to complete strangers constantly.

Tell them what’s right and wrong.

Paul was clear with the Corinthians:
- I Corinthians 1:10-11 – divisions among them
- I Corinthians 3:1 – men of flesh … infants in Christ
- I Corinthians 4:7 – arrogant, as though I were not coming to you
- I Corinthians 5:1 – immorality among you
- I Corinthians 6:8 – you yourselves wrong and defraud
- I Corinthians 9:11 – is it too much if we reap material things from you
- I Corinthians 11:20 – when you meet … it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper
- I Corinthians 15:12 – you say there is no resurrection of the dead
I Corinthians 7:1-2, 10 – Paul got pretty personal!
Imagine a doctor that won’t tell the patient what the problem is.

Minimize yourself and magnify God.

I Corinthians 1:12-15 – Paul tried to minimize himself.
I Corinthians 3:5
I Corinthians 4:1-4 – Paul describes himself as a servant. We must all stand before God.
I Corinthians 9:12, 15, 19-23

Be a good example.

I Corinthians 4:16-17
- We should not be seeking glory.
- We already are examples.
I Corinthians 11:1
I Corinthians 8:13 – Paul would forego a liberty to prevent a brother from stumbling.
I Corinthians 9:26-27
We may not realize how much people are watching us.

Deuteronomy 32:1-34:12

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 32

Deuteronomy 32:1-47 – The song of Moses.
- See Deuteronomy 31:1-19 – This song was a warning of future events.
- Note that the decision always belonged to the people. God was laying out the paths before them, but it was theirs to choose.
- God is just. When we sin, it is our decision.
  - Romans 7:7-12
  - If there is not law, there is no sin. But we cannot blame God and His laws for our own sin. God’s laws are for our good. The problem is sin!
- Deuteronomy 32:15 – “Jeshurun” is a poetic, ironic reference to Israel, meaning “upright one.”
- Deuteronomy 32:21 – See Romans 10:19.
- Deuteronomy 32:44-47 – Obey God or face the consequences!
Deuteronomy 32:48-52 – Moses will die on Mt. Nebo.

Deuteronomy 33

Deuteronomy 33:1-5 – Moses begins to bless the people.
Deuteronomy 33:6-25 – Blessings for each tribe
- Deuteronomy 33:6 – Reuben
- Deuteronomy 33:7 – Judah
- Deuteronomy 33:8-11 – Levi
  - It is not clear exactly what the Urim and Thummim were. Apparently, they were some sort of small token. See Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8. They were somehow used to determine the will of God.
- Deuteronomy 33:12 – Benjamin
- Deuteronomy 33:13-17 – Joseph
- Deuteronomy 33:18-19 – Zebulun and Issachar
- Deuteronomy 33:20-21 – Gad
- Deuteronomy 33:22 – Dan
- Deuteronomy 33:23 – Naphtali
- Deuteronomy 33:24-25 – Asher
- Note: Where is Simeon?
Deuteronomy 33:26-29 – Conclusion of blessings

Deuteronomy 34

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 – The death of Moses
- Deuteronomy 34:1-8 – God shows Moses the land of Canaan then Moses dies and God buries him.
- Deuteronomy 34:9-12 – Joshua takes over as leader of Israel.

Keep Loving One Another Earnestly

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 1:3, 6
I Peter 4:8

You are all one in Christ Jesus

I Peter 3:8
I Peter 2:12, 13
I Peter 3:1, 9, 14
I Peter 4:4; 3:8; 4:8 – If we have Christ in common, we can get along!
II Peter 1:1
Christ is what we have in common.
Acts 11:19-20, 21, 26, 29
Galatians 3:28-29
Matthew 13:53-58 – Jesus was not popular with the people He grew up with in His hometown – His own demographic, physically speaking.
Acts 2:9-11, 46-47 – Despite being from all different countries and cultures, those people were unified spiritually.

Serving one another

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – We all benefit from fellowship.
Galatians 6:1 – Help your brother!
James 5:19-20
Ephesians 4:1-3
Philippians 1:27; 2:2-4; 3:17; 4:2-3
I Peter 4:8-11
Hebrews 10:24 – “Take careful note of each other’s spiritual welfare.”

Jethro, Part 2 and Prayer

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Jethro, continued:

Other possible encounters

Numbers 10:29 – Hobab
- Same as Jethro?
- Judges 4:11 – same Hobab? Same lineage?
We know some of his family went with Israel
- Settled in the promised land
- Used by God to liberate Israel from oppression
- Judges 4 – Jael versus Sisera

Jethro’s legacy

We can learn from his character
- Hospitable
- Polite and gracious
- Constructive criticism
- Willing to trust
- Willing to release Moses
- Wise use of resources
  - Daughters as shepherds
  - Wise counsel on delegation
  - Selectivity of those right for the task
  - Making God the final authority

Prayer

Difficult to put into one lesson – why?
How much is it mentioned?
- 334 times
- Believe (all its forms) – 328 times
- Obey (all its forms) – 222 times
- Repentance – 74 times
Who prayed?

Prayer is a requirement

Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6) – pray:
- To praise God (Matthew 6:9)
- For God’s will to be done (Matthew 6:10)
- For physical provision (Matthew 6:11)
- For forgiveness – both giving and receiving (Matthew 6:12)
- For deliverance from evil (Matthew 6:13)
Also pray:
- For our leaders – spiritual and political (Hebrews 13:17; I Timothy 2:1, 2)
- To live a peaceful life (I Timothy 2:2)
- For gospel preachers (II Thessalonians 3:1, 2)
- To open opportunities for the gospel (Colossians 4:3)
- For other Christians and for the church (John 17:17-21)
- For the sick (James 5:14-15)
- For sinning brethren (I John 5:16)
- In thanksgiving (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Some remarkable prayers in scripture

Luke 18:13 – short but effective
Numbers 6:24-26 – scripted by God
II Kings 20:3 – Asks God to remember his thoughts and deeds
I Kings 8:23-53 – long, but thoughtful and to the point
Jonah 2:1-10 – prayer with immediate results
Daniel 9:4-19 – begging forgiveness for his nation
I King 18:36-37 – calls God to open people’s eyes
I Kings 3:5-10 – asks God’s help to lead

Who prayed?

Men everywhere – I Timothy 2:8
Women gathered by a river – Acts 16:13
Epaphras – Colossians 4:2
Jabez – I Chronicles 4:9-10
The tax collector – Luke 18:10-14
Hannah – I Samuel 1:10-11; 2:1-10
Jesus – 25 accounts in the gospels

Subject of this series

The little-known or lesser known
Does prayer fit this description for you?

Death of Jesus

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 26-28

Matthew 26:1-5 – A plot is underway to kill Jesus.
Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus eats the Passover and institutes the Lord’s Supper with his apostles.
Matthew 26:59-68 – They bring up false changes on Jesus and treat Him roughly.
Matthew 27:1-2 – Jesus delivered to Pilate. They Jews sought capital punishment.
Matthew 27:11-14, 18 – Jesus did not speak to defend Himself.
Matthew 27:22-26 – Pilate tries to make himself innocent of Jesus’ death.
Matthew 27:45-46 – Was Jesus really forsaken on the cross?
- See Luke 23:46 – This would indicate that Jesus was still in fellowship with God the Father.
- John 8:29; 16:32 – Jesus is always in fellowship with God the Father.
- Hebrews 7:26
- Hebrews 9:14 – Jesus was perfect and without blemish.
- I Peter 1:18-19
- I Peter 2:24 – Jesus was an offering for our sins.
- Psalms 22:1 – Jesus is quoting this and expressing the same sentiment as David. He was in great distress, but still trusted in God.
Matthew 27:50-54 – A number of miracles occur at Jesus’ death: darkness for three hours, an earthquake, dead were raised, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. See Hebrews 9:6-14, 24-28. Jesus’ sacrifice was so powerful it only needed to be offered once for all time (Hebrews 10:10-14). Now all of us have access to the most holy place (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Matthew 27:62-66 – Jesus’ tomb is secured.
Matthew 28:1-7 – Jesus was raised!

What Jesus’ death means to me.

I am loved!

Revelation 1:5

I can leave my past behind.

Romans 6:6

My future is different.

Galatians 2:20

Deuteronomy 29:1-31:30

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 29

Deuteronomy 29:1 – Renewing the covenant
Deuteronomy 29:2-9 – Reviewing the past 40 years
- Deuteronomy 29:4 – See Deuteronomy 30:19. The people were able to make moral decisions. God was trying hard to get them to make the right decision.
- Deuteronomy 29:5-6 – God provided manna from Exodus 16 – Joshua 5:12.
Deuteronomy 29:10-18 – “enter into the covenant”
Deuteronomy 29:19-29 – The aftermath of Israel’s fall.
- Deuteronomy 29:23 – See Genesis 19:24. Sodom and Gomorrah were an example for centuries to come, but God destroyed other cities as well (Hebrews 11:8).
- Deuteronomy 29:29 – The secret things belong to God.

Deuteronomy 30

Captivity (Jews taken to Assyria and Babylon)
Restoration (Jews allowed to return and rebuild)
Deuteronomy 30:1, 2, 6, 10, 14 – God always wanted people who sincerely obeyed.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 – They had the law. It was not far from them.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – God lays out their choice. “… so choose life …”

The good path	The evil path
Life and prosperity	Death and adversity
Love the Lord your God	Worship other gods
Live and multiply	Perish
Bless you in the land	Prolong your days in the land
Life	Death
Blessing	Curse

Deuteronomy 31

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 – Joshua will succeed Moses.
- Life of Moses
  - 1st 40 years
    - Raised as an Egyptian
    - Exodus 2:11; Acts 7:23
  - 2nd 40 years
    - Shepherd in Midian
    - Exodus 2:15; 7:7; Acts 7:29-30
  - 3rd 40 years
    - Leader of Israel
    - Deuteronomy 34:7
Deuteronomy 31:9-13 – Read the law every seven years.
Deuteronomy 31:14-30 – Moses will die, Joshua will lead. Israel will sin.

A Couple of Practical Parenting Tips

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ephesians 6:1-4

Stay focused on the bigger picture.

Hebrews 11:8-10
God’s people have always been those who can look past present troubles and see the end goal.

Be proactive instead of reactive.

Joshua 1:6-9
John 16:1-4 – Jesus told his apostles what to expect once He left.
The whole Bible is preparing us for the future.

Address the root issues, not just the symptoms of the moment.

Hebrews 10:25; 3:12
Luke 12:13-15 – Jesus saw that the root issue was greed.
I Peter 2:11-12

Keep feelings in their proper place.

Proverbs 28:26 – It is possible for us to lead ourselves astray.
Psalms 119:105 – God’s word is the source of truth.

Make them do good things, even when they don’t feel like it.

Genesis 22:1-12 – Abraham surely didn’t feel like sacrificing Isaac.
Luke 17:4
Luke 18:9, 14 – Some today might say the Pharisee was living his truth, but Jesus said he was wrong.

Teach the value of truth over feelings.

Genesis 37:3-35 – Jacob was deceived – his feelings were false.
Proverbs 3:5,1, 6-7 – We must mold our heart to fit God’s commands.
Psalms 19:14
James 1:2
You can change your feelings to fit God’s truth.

Jethro

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Who was Jethro?

After Sarah died
- Abraham takes Keturah as wife
- Keturah bears him sons
- One son was Midian
Midianites settled “to the east” (Genesis 25:6)
Joseph’s brothers sold him to Midianites (Genesis 47)
Joined Moabites in hiring Balaam (Numbers 22)
Fell into idolatry with Moabites (Numbers 25)

Names attributed to Jethro

Jethro – Exodus 3:1; 4:18; 18:1-12
Reuel – Exodus 2:18; Numbers 10:29
Hobab – Numbers 10:29; Judges 4:11
Putiel – Exodus 6:25
Heber – Judges 4, 5 (Jael’s husband)

Jethro the priest

Exodus 2:16 – “… the priest of Midian …”
- No mention of idols
- No mention of what kind of priest
- On the other hand, Melchizedek is identified with God (Genesis 14:18)
What kind of priest?
- Tradition
  - Idolatrous priest, won over to God through the miracles done for Israel in the Exodus (Talmud)
  - Priest of God (secular historians)
    - First to teach Moses of God
    - The originator of monotheism among Israelites via Moses
  - Depends on who traditions you choose
  - Brings us to the problems with following traditions
- Scriptural indications
  - Simple and straightforward
  - Called a priest of Midian with no mention of idolatry
    - Midianites were into idolatry – Numbers 25
    - So were Israelites – Exodus 32
  - His words praise only God – Exodus 18

Jethro (and his aliases) in scripture

First found in Exodus 2:15-22
- Moses about age 40
- Flees Egypt, winds up at Midianite wel
- The Jethro family encounter
In Exodus 3, first called Jethro
- Identified a father-in-law to Moses, priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1)
- Again in next chapter, as Moses asks his leave (Exodus 4:18)
Not seen again until chapter 18
- Sends word that he is visiting

Jethro’s visit to the encampment (Exodus 18:1-12)

Greeted outside the camp
Taken into the camp
- Hears recount of the Exodus from Egypt
- Rejoices over God’s lovingkindness over Israel
- Blesses God
- Makes sacrifices to God
- Dines with Aaron and elders of Israel

Jethro organizes Moses (Exodus 18:13-27)

Jethro observes a day in the life of Moses
- Sunup to sundown
- Counsels Moses
  - Too much for one man
  - Set priorities
  - Delegated actions
  - Gives qualifications
  - Stipulates God’s approval
- Moses follows through
Jethro takes his leave

Other possible encounters

Numbers 10:29 – Hobab
- Same as Jethro?
- Judges 4:11 – same Hobab? Same lineage?

Fix the Inside

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 22:37
Proverbs 23:7
Matthew 12:34
Romans 12:2
I Corinthians 2:14-3:4 – They were not spiritually minded and that was the root of their issues.
Galatians 5:16
Matthew 16:23 – Peter had a mind problem.
Acts 8:21
When things are going wrong, we need to look on the inside.

Let God’s word does its work.

Acts 28:24
We must have an attitude that will let God’s word filter into our hearts.
Acts 2:37
Hebrews 3:7-8, 10, 12, 15; 4:6-7, 11

Trust in the God of Heaven.

God is in control, even though bad things happen on earth.
Hebrews 12:3
Hebrews 13:5-6
Do we trust in our health, finances, or something else?
Philippians 4:6-7

Store of treasures in Heaven.

Matthew 6:19
Building up treasure in Heaven puts my heart in the right place.
Philippians 3:18-20
Colossians 3:5, 1-4
Example: Bark beetle killing pine trees from the inside.

Deuteronomy 25:1-28:68

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 25

Deuteronomy 25:1-19 – Miscellaneous laws
- Deuteronomy 25:4 – See I Corinthians 9:9; I Timothy 5:17-18. This law has a broader application.
- Deuteronomy 25:3 – The Pharisees were “making fences inside God’s fences” and being stricter than this law required. This was also wrong.

Deuteronomy 26

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 – Praising God with the first produce from the land.
Deuteronomy 26:12-15 – Tithe and prayer.
Deuteronomy 26:16-19 – Obey God and be His people.
- Moses is completing his second speech to the people.

Deuteronomy 27

Deuteronomy 27:1-8 – Write the Law and build an altar on Mount Ebal.
- Deuteronomy 27:4 – See Joshua 8:30-35. What might be an altar was found near Mt. Ebal, along with a small, folded lead tablet containing a curse written in Paleo-Hebrew (see Deuteronomy 27:14-26). Sound tests were done at the location prescribed by God in the 1800s and it was found that if the Israelites were arranged on the hills as God specified, they would be able to easily hear Joshua reading the law.
Deuteronomy 27:9-10 – “This day you have become a people for the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 27:11-26 – Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal

Deuteronomy 28

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.”
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 – “All these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”
- Deuteronomy 28:47-48 – They would be cursed if they did not serve with joy.

Overview of Local Church Work

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II John 1:9
We want to simply look at the Bible and do what it says.

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel.

Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
Acts 14:26-28 – “commended … they began to report”
Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
I Corinthians 14 – “for edification”
II Corinthians 11:7-9 – “I robbed other churches”
Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 – “participation in the gospel”
I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – “sounded forth from you”
In the New Testament, churches sent money directly to the preacher. There was no “sponsoring church” arrangement.
In the early days of the church, the pattern from the New Testament was followed. Over time, a hierarchy developed in some local churches, which eventually led to the Catholic organization, with one Pope over all Catholic churches.

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.

Acts 2:44-45
Acts 4:32-35
Acts 6:1-3
Acts 11:27-30
Romans 15:25-27
I Corinthians 16:1-3
II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
II Corinthians 9:1
I Timothy 5:16, 5 – “widows indeed”

Churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.	Individuals are authorized to provide for anyone.
Acts 2:44-45	Matthew 5:42
Acts 4:32-35	Matthew 25:35-40
Acts 6:1-3	Luke 10:30-37
Acts 11:27-30	Luke 19:8
Romans 15:25-27	I Timothy 5:8
I Corinthians 16:1-3	I Timothy 6:18
II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14	Ephesians 4:28
II Corinthians 9:1	James 1:27
I Timothy 5	I Peter 4:4
	I John 3:16-18

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification.

The local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together.
I Corinthians 14:3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 17, 26, 31
Lord’s Supper – I Corinthians 11:26
Studying / preaching – I Corinthians 14:26
Giving – I Corinthians 16:1-2
Praying – Acts 12:5
Singing – I Corinthians 14:26
Assembling – Hebrews 10:24-25

Dan and Bethel

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Significance

Descriptive?
- “From Dan to Beersheba”
  - Meaning the entire length of Israel
  - Judges 20:1; I Samuel 3:20; II Samuel 24:2, 15
- Reference from united kingdom
Relevance to northern kingdom?
- Dan on northern frontier
- Bethel on southern frontier
- Same idea
Opposites of Dan and Bethel
- Topographically opposite
- Geographically opposite
- Spiritually opposite

Bethel

First excavated in 1927
Continuous digs to 1960
One find posited to be Abram’s altar
Canaanite tombs, houses, olive presses
Canaanite temple
Fortified around 1750 BC – Luz
City gates were found in pieces
Destroyed early 12th century BC
New settlement built after destruction
Skip to later – captured by Vespasian in 69 AD
Crusades
- Crusaders took it in 12th century AD and built churches there
The name means, “House of God”
Today it is the village of Beitin
First seen in scripture in Genesis 12
Lies in the very rocky terrain of Israel’s central ridge
- Jacob’s vision – Genesis 28:10-22
  - He used a stone as a pillow for his sleep.
  - After the vision, he consecrated the stone – poured oil on its top
  - Named it “God’s House” or Bethel
- “Mansion over the hilltop”
Jacob flees to Bethel – Genesis 34-35
Canaanites had a king there
- Defeated by Joshua and sons of Israel
- Ceded to Benjamin
Border town
- Between Ephraim and Benjamin
- Between Israel and Judah after split
During conquest, Benjamites failure
- Didn’t drive out Jebusites
- House of Joseph went up against Bethel
- The Lord was with them – Judges 1:21-22
Later (Judges 20-21)
- Bethel center of ops – Israel versus Benjamin
- Place of council in aftermath
Deborah judged Israel (Judges 4:5)
- From under a palm tree
- Between Ramah and Bethel
Samuel – circuit judge (I Samuel 7:15-17)
- Four-town circuit
- Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, Ramah
Saul’s encounter after being anointed by Samuel

Dan

Near headwaters of Jordan
Occupied more than 6,000 years ago
- Abandoned about that time
- Rebuilt 1,000 years later
Free-standing mud brick arches
- Oldest ever found
- Called Abraham’s gate
Conquered by Tuthmosis III in 15th century BC
Tel Dan Stele – 9th century BC
- Stele heralded initial conquest
  - Assyrian Tiglath-Pileser III
  - Included “David King of Israel”
  - Other Historical info confirming scripture
- Digs confirm idolatrous practices
Little mention prior to Jeroboam’s rule
- Abram defeated forces of Sodom and Gomorrah there
- Descriptive “north-to-south” statements
- Center of northern migration of tribe of Dan
Danites impatience – spies go north (Judges 18)
- Find Laish
- Take small force
- Seize Levite and the idols of Micha
- Capture Laish, named it Dan

Jeroboam

Jeroboam’s concern
- Life, power – I Kings 12:26-33
- Made two golden calves
- Places them in Bethel and Dan
- Designated a feast
- Posted priests
- Made sacrifice
- Prophecy of Josiah’s reforms – I Kings 13

The abominable calves

Major subject of idolatrous worship
Multiple regional cultures used calves, bulls
- Egypt – where Israel spent 400 years
- Crete – where Philistines frequented
- Persia – to the east
- Anatolea – to the north
- India – farther east

Some lessons

Don’t hang our hat on a town’s reputation
Don’t compromise faith for life or power
Don’t have a “when in Rome” attitude

Onesiphorus

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 1:16-18 – Onesiphorus is only mentioned in three verses.
III John 1:12 – Demetrius only gets a commendation in one verse, but it’s a good one!

“He often refreshed me.”

Contrast II Timothy 1:15 – These men turned away from Paul in Asia.
Am I refreshing or am I something else?
I Corinthians 16:17-18
Philemon 1:4-7, 20-21
Proverbs 6:19
II Corinthians 12:20
Let us be refreshing and give people comfort and hope.

“Was not ashamed of my chains”

II Timothy 4:6 – Paul had no expectation of release.
Nero blamed the great fire in Rome (AD 64) on Christians and took that opportunity to persecute Christians. History tells us that Paul was executed in the days of Nero. It was certainly not safe to associate with Christians in those days, especially high profile ones like Paul.
Romans 1:15-16
Onesiphorus was not ashamed!
Am I ashamed of Christ, His Word, or His people?
Luke 9:26
Psalms 119:46
I Peter 4:12-19

“He eagerly searched for me and found me … and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.”

Do I only help people when it’s convenient?
Romans 12:10-13

Deuteronomy 23:1-24:22

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 23

Deuteronomy 23:1-8 – Those excluded from the assembly of the Lord
- It is not entirely clear what is meant by “assembly” here. Possibly, they were to be excluded from the nation of Israel.
Deuteronomy 23:9-25 – More miscellaneous laws
- Deuteronomy 23:15 – Slaves could find refuge in Israel.
- Deuteronomy 23:19 – Interest on lended money cannot be charged to fellow Israelites.
- Deuteronomy 23:24-25 – Travelers were allowed to take from the land on their way through, but not harvest.

Deuteronomy 24

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – Divorce and remarriage
- God set up laws even around things that were not supposed to happen in the first place. Compare Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Perhaps this was a contingency plan to limit the damage once the wrong path had been chosen. See Matthew 19:3-9. Matthew 13:8 would lend support to the idea that this was a contingency plan. See also Matthew 5:31-32.
Deuteronomy 24:5-22 – Miscellaneous laws
- Deuteronomy 24:7 – Human trafficking was a capital offense!
- Deuteronomy 24:16 – Everyone shall answer for his own deeds.

Onesimus and Caleb

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Last week

Onesimus
- Runaway slave
- Converted by Paul
- Sent back
Slavery in 1st Century Rome
- How one came into slavery
- Where slaves were employed
- Laws protecting slave owners, not slaves
- Treatment of slaves

Treatment of slaves under Rome

Fair treatment was economically sound
- Hard work often came with an allowance (peculium)
- Some allowed to marry
- Some made wills
- Some held property
- Some became close to household members

Celebrity slaves – gladiators

Usually POWs or convicted criminals
Physically fit
Sent to special school
- Trained by ex-gladiator trainers
- Learned combat plus protocol
Did not always die in the fight
- Fighting a good fight was prerequisite for living
Some became well-known celebrities
Could be granted freedom

Paths to freedom

Process called manumissions – several types
- Most common – magistrate ceremony
- Master’s will
- Declared free by master – apply for citizenship
- Slave women
  - Marrying their masters
  - Allowed children to be born free
- Least common – buying one’s own freedom
Some who gained freedom also did very well.
- Eurysaces: a freed slave who opened a baking operation that made him rich.
Although being a slave in Rome made life difficult, it was not always a hopeless situation.

Slavery and the Bible

Old Testament
- Curse upon Canaan (Genesis 9:25-27)
  - Was the “curse of Canaan” upheld in perpetuity by God?
  - Who were/are the descendants of Canaan and how many generations bore the curse, if it was to be borne?
  - Does God condemn people because of the sins of their ancestors? Ezekiel 18
- Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers
  - Did God approve or was this part of God’s plan?
  - Did God condone the act?
- Slaves held by Israelites
- Law of Moses – Exodus 21-23
  - Treatment of slaves
    - Protects the slaves
    - Not the owners
    - Slaves to be freed after seven years
  - Taking of slaves
    - Allowed
    - Not allowed
- God stated His distaste for his people being slaves – they were His.
  - Hosea 2:23; I Peter 2:10; I Corinthians 7:21

Did God approve of slavery?

Did not approve of divorce – stated so
- Malachi 2:16
- Mark 10:2-12 (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9) – “From the beginning”
Where it starts
- Exodus 21:16 – To forcibly take a slave = death
- Appears forced slavery not allowed
- Not restriction as to nationality or religion
Fact of slavery
- We know that God did not condone forcibly taking one into slavery at the time the law was given.
- He did not want an Israelite to be a slave beyond Jubilee every. Why? Leviticus 25:55
- God approved of slavery as punishment – Exodus 22:2-4

Caleb

The familiar account
- From Numbers 13 and 14
  - Spies chosen – one from each tribe (Numbers 13:2)
  - Caleb chosen from Judah (Numbers 13:4)
  - Contention upon their return (Numbers 13:25-33)
  - Caleb quiets their murmuring (Numbers 13:30)
  - Israel’s rebellion (Numbers 14:1-10)
  - Caleb and Joshua tear their clothes (Numbers 14:6-9)
  - Threat of stoning
  - Glory of the Lord fills the tent of meeting (Numbers 14:10)
  - God condemns Israel (Numbers 14:11-12)
  - Moses contends for Israel (Numbers 14:13-19)
  - God relents, passes judgment (Numbers 14:15-38)
What follows
- God’s promises
  - Joshua and Caleb survive (Numbers 32:10-12)
  - Caleb now arbiter of Judah’s inheritance (Numbers 34:16-19)
  - More on why this has come to pass (Deuteronomy 1:34-39)
    - Promise of land to Caleb
    - Note who will possess the land
    - Instructions concerning Joshua – encourage him
Taking the land
- Conquests of southern and northern Canaan
- Conquests east of Jordan
- Dividing the land (Joshua 14:5)
- Caleb’s request of Joshua fulfilled (Joshua 14:6-15)
- He’s got it, now he has to take it
Taking possession
- Starts in Joshua 15
  - Caleb takes Kiriath-arba
  - Drives out sons of Anak (remember Numbers 13:33?)
  - Offered his daughter to one who took Kiriath-sepher
  - Othniel wins the prize
Passing it on
- Caleb gives Othniel his daughter
  - She convinces Othniel to ask for land from Caleb
  - He agrees, she makes the request
  - Obtains Negev and its upper and lower springs
  - Stays in the family
  - Othniel becomes the first judge over Israel
Takeaways
- Caleb had faith in God and His promises
  - Expressed that faith
  - Stood for God when dangerous to do so
  - Continued in his faith
    - Patience for 40 years to enter promised land
    - Patience for 45 years to receive his inheritance
- God rewarded Caleb’s faithfulness
  - Fulfilled His promise to Caleb
  - Added to that promise – became father-in-law to the first judge of Israel

Jesus vs. the Pharisees

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 16:14-17
Matthew 23:23
Mark 7:9, 13

Brief overview of Jesus’ history with the Pharisees

Luke 7:30
Luke 11:37, 45
Luke 12:1
Luke 14:1-6 – Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath
Luke 15:1-32 – The joy of sinners who repent.

The Pharisees were lovers of money

Luke 16:14

The Pharisees heard all these things

Luke 11:54 – They heard, but not with righteous intent.
James 1:21
Luke 23:35

The Pharisees were exalting themselves – Luke 16:15

God is the one who justifies. The Pharisees wanted to justify themselves in other people’s eyes.
Luke 10:29
Matthew 23:35
Proverbs 21:2
Luke 7:36

Conclusion

Do not be complacent. Do not be proud or disdainful of others.
We must have a right attitude toward money and possessions.
Cultivate a humble godly attitude towards ourselves and encourage that in others.

The Life of Daniel

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey

Daniel 9:23; 10:11, 19 – Daniel was “highly esteemed.”
Time period covered
- Daniel 1:1 – 605 BC
- Daniel 1:21 – 536 BC
- The book covers about 70 years.
- The word “year” occurs nine times in twelve chapters. An accident?
  - Historical accuracy of Daniel
  - Insight into the consistent character of Daniel

Why is Daniel so highly esteemed by God?

The 80+ year life of Daniel tells us.

The chronological order of the book of Daniel

Daniel 1-4 – Captivity and first interpretations of dreams and visions (605-602 BC)
50 years of silence
Daniel 7 – Vision of the four beasts (553 BC)
Daniel 8 – Vision of the ram and male goat (551 BC)
Daniel 5 – Belshazzar’s feast – conquest of Babylon (539 BC)
Daniel 9 – Vision of the seventy weeks (539/538 BC)
Daniel 6 – Daniel in the lion’s den (539/538 BC)
Daniel 10-12 – Daniel’s prayer and visions (536 BC)

The life of Daniel

Daniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim (605 BC) – 18 years old

Daniel 1:1, 21
Had convictions and refused to compromise them – Daniel 1:3-13
Courteous and respectful – Daniel 1:8, 12
Good reputation with all – Daniel 1:20

Daniel 2:1 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old

Daniel 2:1
Interprets dreams: five kingdoms
- Babylon
- Medes-Persians
- Greeks
- Romans
- God’s
Sought wisdom from God – Daniel 2:19-23
Gave God glory, was humble – Daniel 2:19-23
Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 2:47-48

605 BC	549 BC	547 BC	536 BC
Daniel 2:36-37	Daniel 7:4			Babylon (626-539 BC)
Daniel 2:39	Daniel 7:5	Daniel 8:3, 4, 20	Daniel 11:1-2	Media-Persia (539-330 BC)
Daniel 2:39	Daniel 7:6			Greece (330-63 BC)
				Alexander the Great
			Daniel 11:5	Egypt (323 BC)
			Daniel 11:6	Syria (204 BC)
		Daniel 8:23-25	Daniel 11:21-35	Antiochus Epiphanes (175 BC)
			Daniel 11:32-35	Maccabees (168 BC)
Daniel 2:40	Daniel 7:7-8, 23-27		Daniel 11:36-45	Rome (27 BC)

Daniel’s first prophecy of Media-Persia: 605 BC
- Media-Persia ascended to prominence: 539 BC
- 605-539 = 66 years prior to fulfillment
Daniel’s first prophecy of Greece: 605 BC
- Greece ascended to prominence: 330 BC
- 605-330 = 275 years prior to fulfillment
Daniel’s prophecy of Alexander the Great: 547 BC
- Alexander the Great rose to power: 330 BC
- 547-330 = 217 years prior to fulfillment
Daniel’s first prophecy of Rome: 605 BC
- Rome ascended to prominence: 27 BC
- 605-27 = 578 years prior to fulfillment

Daniel 3-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar (602 BC) – 21 years old

Friends refuse to bow down to image – Daniel 3
Order to interpret king’s (Nebuchadnezzar’s) dream – Daniel 4:1-18
Spoke boldly to king: warning, advice – Daniel 4:19-27
Nebuchadnezzar turned to animal – Daniel 4:28-33
Caused king to glorify God – Daniel 4:34-36

50 years of silence

Daniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar (549 BC) – 74 years old

Daniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar (547 BC) – 76 years old

Daniel 7:1; 8:1
Vision of four kingdoms
- “I desired to know” – Daniel 7:19
Continued curiosity
- “I kept looking” – Daniel 7:9
Visions of oncoming kingdoms
- “I sought to understand” – Daniel 8:15

Daniel 5 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old

Daniel 9:1-2
Observing in “the books”
Speaks plainly to Belshazzar – Daniel 5:22-23
Foretells end of Babylonian kingdom; sees its fall – Daniel 5:13-31

Daniel 9 and 6 – first year of Darius (539 BC) – 84 years old

Continues his study of scriptures – Daniel 9:1
Prays for sins of his people – Daniel 9:2-19
Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 9:23
Refused to pray to king, prayed without ceasing to God – Daniel 6:1-15
Lived life above reproach – Daniel 6:4
Put God’s will above man’s – Daniel 6:13
Thrown into lion’s den – Daniel 6:16-28
Trusted God – Daniel 6:23
Caused Darius to glorify God – Daniel 6:24-28

Daniel 10-12 – third year of Cyrus (536 BC) – 87 years old

Daniel 10:1; 11:1
Held in high esteem by God – Daniel 10:11, 19
Set his heart to understand, humbled himself – Daniel 10:12

Daniel 1:1 – third year of Jehoiakim	605 BC	18 years old
Daniel 2-4 – second year of Nebuchadnezzar	602 BC	21 years old
	50 years of silence
Daniel 7:1 – first year of Belshazzar	552 BC	71 years old
Daniel 8:1 – third year of Belshazzar	550 BC	73 years old
Daniel 5:31; 9:1-2; 6 – first year of Darius	539 BC	84 years old
Daniel 10-12 – third year of Darius	536 BC	87 years old

All of these age groups are represented in the Benchley congregation. Compare our character to Daniel’s at the comparable stage of life.

Thank God for the book of Daniel! Let the liberals and skeptics be ashamed and hang their heads in disgrace for their attacks upon it. - Homer Hailey

The Boy with the Unclean Spirit

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 9:14-29 – Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit.

“How long has this been happening to him?”

Jesus is asking a question He already knows the answer to.
Luke 6:6-8
John 4:16-18
For the benefit of the crowd.
- John 20:30-31
- Luke 9:43
To show his compassion.
- John 11:32-39 – Jesus showed compassion for Lazarus.

“If you can do anything”

This situation caused the father to evaluate his own faith.
- Mark 6:1-6
- Matthew 8:5-10
- Would Jesus marvel at your faith?
How strong is YOUR faith?

“Why could we not cast it out?”

Mark 9:28-29
Matthew 17:19-20
Lack of faith is a common problem … how do we fix it?
- Luke 17:5
- Prayer
- Through God’s word
  - Romans 10:17
Things we may lose faith in
- Faith in God hearing / answering our prayers
  - I John 5:14-15; Matthew 7:7-11
- Faith in the existence of God
  - Romans 1:18-20; Psalm 19:1-4
- Faith in God providing for us.
  - Matthew 6:25-34
- Faith in the forgiveness of sins.
  - Psalms 103:8-13

Onesimus

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[Sorry, due to technical difficulties, the audio recording for this lesson is not available. -MRW]

Highlights from previous lesson about Abigail and David

David sends men ahead to ask Nabal for some help.
They’re snubbed, David and lineage insulted.
David determined to avenge the insult via mass capital punishment.
Abigail finds out and intercedes, David relents
Abigail tells Nabal the next day and he goes catatonic – dies 10 days later
David takes Abigail as his wife

Discussion

Don’t procrastinate
Be honest and don’t hide things from husband, wife, family member, etc.
Don’t seek vengeance, leave it to God – Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30
Could David’s throne have been destroyed by his transgression just as Saul’s throne had been?
- Saul’s reaction to sin
- David’s reaction to sin
It is good and right for a woman to be decisive
Courage is facing real fear rather than running from it
You can respond to a fool without dishonesty or manipulation
Speaking diplomatically can work better than being brash
- You can do so respectfully rather than patronizingly
Abigail did not rely on her beauty to bail herself out
- Got on her knees and put her face in the dirt
Her gentle, humble, respectful honesty dissuaded a young, brash warrior from an ill-conceived fight
When action was the right thing to do, she disregarded the danger
- Could have just run off
- Could have thrown Nabal under the bus
Her mainstay appeal was God’s righteousness
You can do right no matter your marital or familial situation
A woman can function properly and righteously in any situation
Her beauty is mentioned, but it does not play into any real part of the situation

Onesimus

Philemon 1:1-25
What we know:
- Has Roman (Latin) name – maybe given that name as a slave
- Philemon’s slave – who’s run away
- Maybe took something from Philemon or owes him (Philemon 1:18-19)
- Was converted in Rome by Paul
- Was Paul’s valued helper
As for Paul:
- Makes no excuses for Onesimus – realizes he did wrong
- All things must be made right
- What to do is up to Philemon
- Onesimus is now much more than a slave
  - Had become useless to Philemon
  - His usefulness is by proxy now
- Paul defers from his authority to Philemon’s heart

What are the implications of Paul’s letter?

Converted slave – new kind of servitude
- Service to Christ is better when unhindered
  - I Corinthians 7:21
- At the same time, not impossible or wrong
- Slavery was very much a fact of life in Rome during the first century

How did one become a slave under Roman law?

Being captured during warfare and sold
Being captured by pirates and sold
Selling oneself into servitude to pay a debt
Being born into slavery

Once a slave, what was the job?

Found in every endeavor – household, government, business
Domestic help was the most common
- Educated slaves taught children
- Some were cooks – specialty
- Even hairdressers
Some took civic positions (just as Jews in Babylon)
- Librarians
- Government Administrators

At the other end of the scale

Some did hard manual labor
- Jobs around large estates (senatorial class)
- Ag work
- Mine workers – high “turnover”
- Construction workers – like Israelites in Egypt
The most unfortunate were pressed into work as prostitutes
- Both male and female

Roman law enforce slavery – favored the owner over the slave

Masters – life and death
Runaway – harsh punishments
Assault or kill master
- Often, death
- Also, deaths of associated slaves

How were they treated?

Made economic sense – treat fairly
Many gained allowances (peculium)
Marrying
Even made wills
Property holders
Some became close to master’s family members
Cicero and Tiro – personal secretary
- Cicero’s brother: “I am truly thankful for what you have done with regard to Tiro, in judging his former status to be below what he deserved and preferring us to have him as a friend rather than a slave.”

It's Time to Repent

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 24:45-47
Luke 15:7-10
Acts 20:21
Matthew 12:41
Jonah 3 – These people repented!

Repentance is not a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

I John 1:8 – We are not perfect people.
Acts 8:13, 22 – Simon was already baptized, but needed to repent again.
Romans 1:7; 6:3; 2:1-6 – Baptized people can develop an arrogant heart that won’t repent.
II Corinthians 1:1; 7:8-9 – Paul was trying to motivate these Christians to repent.
Repentance is a practice we repeat for the rest of our lives.
Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19
We can’t leave sin in our lives. We must root out all sin. Don’t be deluded into thinking a little sin is still okay.

I need to get rid of my excuses.

John 8:11
Luke 22:32
Don’t be satisfied with what is wrong in your life.
- Acts 17:30-31
I Corinthians 6:9-11
We need to be like the ones we read about in the Bible that were courageous enough to repent and do better.

It’s time to grow.

Luke 19:8
Luke 3:8-14 – Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.
We need to be specific with God about what my sin is and what I need to do differently.
Act today!

Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 21

Deuteronomy 21:1-9 – Unsolved murders
- The people of the nearest town were to sacrifice an animal and swear that they had nothing to do with the murder.
- There was a communal sense of responsibility. If they did not handle the situation properly, they would be guilty before God.
Deuteronomy 21:10-14 – Marrying a captured woman.
- God did not allow sexual assault ever, even in war. If a man wanted to marry a captured woman, he could do so after a waiting period, but it was a full marriage. He could not assault her or sell her.
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 – Protecting the firstborn in polygamy.
- Why did God allow polygamy when He did not approve it? It’s not clear.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 – Stoning a rebellious son.
- Rebellious sons were to be brought before the elders and stoned!
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 – Bury the executed.
- See Galatians 3:13, which references this in relation to Jesus on the cross.

Deuteronomy 22

Deuteronomy 22:1-12 – Miscellaneous laws
- Lost and found laws – love your neighbor!
- Deuteronomy 22:5 – Cross-dressing prohibited.
Deuteronomy 22:13-21 – Laws against false accusations and fornication.
- God had protections in place for women against false accusations.
Deuteronomy 22:22-30 – Situations involving extra-marital relations.

"He will guide you into all the truth"

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 13:1
“His own” – compare Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14
Jesus is referring to the apostles in this context.
- John 13:2, 6, 23
- John 21:20-24
- John 14:5, 8, 22
- John 15:16, 27
- John 17:6, 12, 18

Jesus is preparing the apostles for their work (John 13-17)

John 13:20 – They would be representatives for Jesus.
John 14:16-18 – The apostles would not be left alone.
John 15:3-5 – They needed to abide in Jesus.
John 15:16
John 15:26-27 – The Holy Spirit would come and be a helper and advocate for them.
John 16:4-15 – The apostles had a big task, but they would have help.
I Corinthians 2:11-13

Listen to their words!

Acts 1:1-9
Acts 2:1-4, 36-41 – The first people were baptized.
I Thessalonians 2:13

Don’t try to apply Jesus’ promises about the Holy Spirit to us today.

If you strongly believe that the Holy Spirit will guide you or speak to you, it is possible you will misinterpret events and attribute them to the Holy Spirit.

The Bible doesn’t tell us to expect direct guidance like that.

Ephesians 3:4
Acts 2:38 – The gift of the Holy Spirit was salvation.
Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16 – Is this work of the Holy Spirit different from the word?

Beware of other influences.

II Thessalonians 2:11
Could you be deceiving yourself? Could it be Satan’s deception?

The Holy Spirit is not going to contradict Himself in Scripture.

Why God Gave Man the Bible

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Source material

Why God Gave Man the Bible by Gene Taylor

God has a purpose for everything that He does.

Isaiah 55:8-11

To tell man he is lost.

Luke 9:25
If someone has sin and they don’t know it, they can’t fix it.
I John 3:4; 5:17
Romans 14:23
James 4:17
Micah 6:8
We must spend time in God’s word to know what sin is.
Genesis 1:27
Genesis 3:23-24
God gives us the information we need. He is just.

To assure man that God desires for all to be saved.

I Timothy 2:3-4
II Peter 3:9 – God doesn’t want anyone to perish! God is patient.
John 17:17
Romans 1:16
II Timothy 3:16-17
II Peter 1:3
John 3:16-17
Romans 5:8
Matthew 16:18-19
Acts 2:47

Jesus

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Jesus was always the plan.

Genesis 3:15
What Jesus did was a deathblow to Satan’s plans.
Hebrews 2:14
I John 3:8
This was in God’s mind even before Creation.
- I Corinthians 2:6-9
- Ephesians 1:4
- II Timothy 1:9-10
I Peter 1:18-21

Jesus came to save us.

Mark 1:14-17, 21-28 – Jesus was teaching people to turn to God.
Mark 2:15-17 – Are you spiritually sick? Come to the great physician.
All of this was just so that we that are not good enough can come and be saved.
Luke 19:10
Jesus doesn’t care if other people have bad attitudes about you. He came to save us.
Titus 3:5
Matthew 11:28-30

He demands absolute submission.

Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 19:16-26 – Nothing can be left undone with Jesus.
If Jesus went right to our sore spot, what would He say?
The grace of God allows us to overcome all our weaknesses.

Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 18

Deuteronomy 18:1-8 – Levite portion
- The Levites would be supported by a portion of the offerings. This worked great as long as the people did what they were commanded.
Deuteronomy 18:9-19 – Who should Israel listen to?
- They were to stay far away from witchcraft and sorcery.
- Israel was to listen to the prophets to come.
- See John 1:21. This is a reference to the Prophet in Deuteronomy 18:15.
- John 7:40-43
- Acts 3:19-26 – All the prophets looked forward to the coming of Jesus.
- Moses’ words have now come true in Jesus.
- Acts 7:35-53 – Stephen compares the Jews rejection of Moses to their rejection of Jesus.
- Hebrews 1:1; 2:1-4
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 – The test of a prophet.

Deuteronomy 19

Deuteronomy 19:1-13 – Cities of refuge
- God clearly considers motive. There is a difference between murder and manslaughter.
- Numbers 9:10-13.
- Note that these are matters of the heart. The Law of Moses was not merely a physical law. The heart mattered.
Deuteronomy 19:14-21 – Miscellaneous laws relating to honesty.
- Quotes from America’s founding fathers:
  - “Public virtue cannot exist in a Nation without private Virtue.” – John Adams
  - “Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government” and “Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people.” – George Washington
  - “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.” – Benjamin Franklin
  - “To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical [imaginary] idea.” – James Madison
  - “No government can continue good but under the control of the people; and … their minds are to be informed by education what is right and what wrong; to be encouraged in habits of virtue and to be deterred from those of vice …” – Thomas Jefferson
  - “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend of the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue.” – Samuel Adams
  - “A vitiated [impure] state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom.” – Patrick Henry

Deuteronomy 20

“When you go out to battle …”
Deuteronomy 20:5-9 – Reasons for men to be excused from battle.
Deuteronomy 20:18 – They were going to battle to prevent the spread of idolatry.

Five Things to Remember When I Feel Discouraged

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Job 1:12; 2:6-10
Job 17:1 – Job was broken by what he’d gone through.
How do we keep from getting overwhelmed when things pile up in our lives?
Job 7:20
Job 14:1 – Job had lost perspective.

This is temporary. God is going to fix all this.

God does not owe us an explanation for anything. He has told us what we need to know.
James 4:5
James 5:10
Hebrews 11:10

God is in control, even when I don’t understand everything.

Job was ignorant of what was going on behind the scenes.
Job 13:3, 15, 20 – Job wanted to argue his case before God.
Job 23:3
Job 1:20-22
Job 42:3
It is okay if I don’t understand everything.

I should blame Satan, not myself or God.

Job 1:1
Luke 13:1-3 – Sometimes bad things just happen.
Be careful about assigning things to God.
Job 1:22 – Job never blamed God.

Nothing on earth is worse than Hell, or better than Heaven.

Matthew 25:34, 41

I need to spend time with mature Christians.

Job 22:23; 8:6; 11:14 – Job’s friends had terrible advice.
We need to spend time with people who will give good advice.
Acts 2:46; 12:12 – Early Christians came together.
Seek out mature Christians who can help.

Gender / Sex

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

“If I Were the Devil” by Paul Harvey, 1965

Questions

What is the difference between gender and sex as it refers to the attributes or characteristics of a person?
1. Jennifer Sey and XX-XY Athletics
How does Genesis 2 and Matthew 19 differentiate between gender and sex?
1. Genesis 2:7, 22-24; Matthew 19:4-6
2. It does not differentiate. There is no difference between sex and gender.
What are some of the differences between man and woman from Genesis 4, 3, 21 and I Samuel 1?
1. Genesis 4:1-2, 17, 25; 3:16, 20; 21:7
2. I Samuel 1:23
3. Only women can bear children. It takes a man to start the process.
From the previous verses do gender and sex correspond?
1. They are the same!
How can these verses be used in the discussion of gender and sex? (Psalms 139:14-15; Genesis 1:26-28, 31; Isaiah 44:2, 24)
What can the previous verses strengthen?
How was the “gender” determined from Genesis 17:12-14 and Leviticus 12:2, 3, 5?
1. By specific physical characteristics.
Is it difficult to understand God’s position on the differences between male and female from I Corinthians 11:14-15 and Deuteronomy 22:5?
From I Corinthians 6:19-20 what is a major issue that’s missing in the discussion of gender and sex?
1. We are not our own. We belong to God!
What is the difference between the terms gender and sex as it refers to the attributes or characteristics of a person?

1.  There is no difference.

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, Part 2

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Questions about marriage, divorce, and remarriage

What should happen in an unlawful marriage?

Luke 16:18
I Corinthians 6:9
They must divorce and repent of their adultery.
“But marriage itself is holy. No one should be told to divorce.”
- Ezra 9-10 – Unlawful marriages were broken up.
- Mark 6:17-18

Are divorced people still “married in God’s eyes”?

I know of no passage that uses or implies that wording or concept. Sometimes we might say that because we’re trying to communicate the fact that God doesn’t approve.
Luke 16:18
Romans 7:2-3 – This is clearer language: “bound by law,” “joined.”
Mark 10:11-12
Matthew 19:9

What about marriages and divorces before one was ever a Christian?

God’s laws are for everyone, Christians and non-Christians.
I Corinthians 6:9-11 – Adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- “such were some of you” – some of the Corinthians had evidently gotten out of adulterous situations
If God’s laws do not apply to non-Christians, why are people told to repent before they are baptized (Acts 2:38)?
And why would you even get baptized and become a Christian, if prior to that you have no sin and therefore no need of salvation?

Does forgiveness change the situation?

Acts 2:38; 8:22; 26:20
If I steal a car …
- Then I pray for forgiveness …
- Can I keep the car?
- No – it is still a sin for me to have it.
If I take an unlawful wife …
- Then I pray for forgiveness …
- Can I keep the wife?
- No – it is still a sin for me to have her.

Does I Corinthians 7:15 give another exception to God’s marriage law?

“bondage”: “enslaved” (ESV, LSB) or “servitude” (YLT)
There is no permission for remarriage here.

Does I Corinthians 7:27-28 give another exception?

I Corinthians 7:25-28 – Paul was saying that because of the current situation, it was not a good time to get married.
What does “released” mean? It can’t mean, “divorced for any reason” because that would contradict I Corinthians 7:10-11 and many other verses.
“Released” may be better translated “free.”

Can the innocent party divorce years after the divorce?

A man divorces his wife (not for fornication).
Years later, he remarriages.
Can the first wife now divorce him for fornication and remarry with God’s approval (Matthew 19:9)?
No. You can’t divorce someone you’re not married to.

Conclusion

Nothing is GREATER than fellowship with God; nothing lasts LONGER than Heaven.

Deuteronomy 15:1-17:20

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 15

Deuteronomy 15:1-11 – Remission of debts every seven years.
- God instituted various ways to help the poor and keep them from getting trapped in a destitute state.
- God demanded generosity toward the poor.
Deuteronomy 15:12-18 – When a fellow Hebrew hits rock bottom
- How to handle slaves (for debt or other reasons)
Deuteronomy 15:19-23 – Firstborn males belong to God.

Deuteronomy 16

Deuteronomy 16:1-8 – Feast of Passover and unleavened bread.
- Exodus 11:1, 4-7 – The tenth plague – death of the firstborn.
- Exodus 12:5-7, 12-13 – The Passover feast instituted.
- There are some parallels with Jesus’ death:

Passover Feast/Lamb	Jesus
Observed night of Exodus – Exodus 12:11-12	Observed night of arrest – Luke 22:7, 54
Israel’s Passover – Exodus 12:47	Our Passover – I Corinthians 5:7
Unblemished – Exodus 12:5	Unblemished – I Peter 1:19
No bones broken – Exodus 12:46	No bones broken – John 19:36
Saved by its blood – Exodus 12:13	Saved by His blood – Romans 5:9
Must apply the blood – Exodus 12:22	Must apply His blood – Romans 6:3-4

Deuteronomy 16:9-12 – Feast of Weeks (Harvest, Firstfruits, “Pentecost”)
- Seven weeks after the start of the harvest. It was seven weeks plus one day, so fifty days. Pentecost comes from a word meaning “fifty.”
Deuteronomy 16:13-15 – Feast of Booths / Tabernacles (Ingathering)
- See Leviticus 23:33-36.

Deuteronomy 17

Deuteronomy 17:1 – Blemished sacrifices
Deuteronomy 17:2-7 – Anyone serves other Gods, stone them.
- If you see someone serving an idol, take care of it!
Deuteronomy 17:8-13 – Difficult legal disputes.
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 – Rules for future kings
- God didn’t want them to have a king, but knew it would happen and provided laws for it anyway.
- The king himself was supposed to write a copy of the law.

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, Part 1

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 6:17-19
This can be a very emotional topic!
John 12:48
I Corinthians 6:9-10 – Fornication and adultery can keep us out of heaven!
If you work hard enough, you will find someone who agrees with you on any topic. But we must follow God’s word.

Seven scriptures about marriage

Genesis 2:18-22, 24

The Bible doesn’t always use the word “married” to refer to marriage. If often uses a descriptive phrase.
- Deuteronomy 24:2; 7:3
- Ezekiel 16:8
- I Corinthians 7:2
- Romans 7:3
In Hebrew and Greek, there are no separate words for “husband” or “wife.” Context must indicate whether it is “man” or “husband.”
- Old Testament Hebrew:
  - is man or husband
  - issa woman or wife
- New Testament Greek
  - aner man or husband
  - gyne woman or wife
- issa – Genesis 2:22-3:2
- aner – John 4:16-18
Words can refer figuratively to the past or future.
- Figure of speech: prolepsis
  - Luke 2:11 – Jesus was not yet the Savior.
  - Deuteronomy 22:23-24
- Figure of speech: adjournment
  - Exodus 7:10, 12 – Aaron’s staff was now a serpent.
  - John 9:17
  - II Samuel 11:26 – Uriah was not still technically her husband.
  - II Samuel 12:10
  - Mark 6:17-19 – Herodias was not still technically the wife of Philip.

Romans 7:1-4

Paul’s main point is how a change of law works. He uses marriage as an illustration of this.
In Romans 7:2-3, the law under consideration is God’s law. The marriage and the bond are two different things. The woman is bound to one man and married to another, making her an adulteress.

I Corinthians 7:39

“Only in the Lord” – in harmony with God’s marriage laws.
“bound” – not free to marry another

Mark 10:11-12

Marriage law is the same for men and women.

Luke 16:18

Divorcing a spouse and marrying another causes one to commit adultery.

Matthew 19:9

If the divorce is due to sexual immorality, the innocent party is free to remarry. The guilty party is not free to remarry.

Matthew 5:32

Divorcing a spouse except for sexual immorality “causes her” to commit adultery by putting the spouse in a difficult situation.

Conclusion

Sin and Satan are the problems here, not God or His laws.

Ecclesiastes

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Overview

Without God, all is vanity.
The book compares values with ultimate value.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

There is a time for everything. Discerning the proper time for things is part of wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – God has put eternity into our hearts.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

See Isaiah 55:8. We only see a small part of the whole picture.
We must be careful how we speak, especially to God.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Wealth is not fulfilling. The more you have, the more you want.

Ecclesiastes 7:5-6

Listen to the wise. You will never grow listening to people who only tell you what you want to hear. We should seek people who will be honest with us and humble ourselves.

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

Be careful what you say and don’t respond too quickly because you have probably said the same or worse yourself.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Be careful what you say about others. Guard your thoughts to help control your speech.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Work hard. Work because of how God has blessed you.

Ecclesiastes 10:18

Don’t be lazy!

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Fear God and keep His commandments.

Paul's Conversion

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philippians 3:7

Paul had changed masters.

Galatians 1:1
Acts 9:1-2, 13 – Paul is using the authority of men.
Acts 9:3-5, 15 – Paul was now going to do Jesus’ bidding.
This change of authority changed everything for Paul!
Galatians 1:6-10 – Paul recognized an authority higher than himself.
Galatians 2:1-5 – Paul was openly preaching to Gentiles now and defending Titus from being circumcised.
Galatians 2:20 – Have I changed masters?
Galatians 5:16-24 – It is our choice which of these things we do.

Paul didn’t let his past stop him from teaching the truth now.

Galatians 1:11-13, 22-24 – Because of his change, people were now glorifying God.
I Thessalonians 4:3-5
Are we afraid to speak out against things we used to do?
I Timothy 4:15-16 – Paul was a great teacher because of his past and how drastic his change was.
If only perfect people could teach or advise, who would be qualified?

Deuteronomy 12:1-14:29

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 12

Deuteronomy 12:1-4 – Don’t worship like that.
- They were effectively cheating on God with false idols.
Deuteronomy 12:5-32 – The place which the Lord your God will choose.
- The tabernacle was the place God chose for certain types of worship. (Exodus 40:17)
- The tabernacle traveled with them in their wandering, even after they crossed into Canaan.
- See II Chronicles 7:11. The temple built by Solomon replaced the tabernacle.
- They were to worship in the place that God chose. It was important to God that they worshiped in the right way. It is still important to God that we worship in the right way today.
- Deuteronomy 12:17-19 – Do not forsake the Levites.
  - Numbers 18:20-21; 35:7
  - Nehemiah 13:10 – The system broke down.
- Deuteronomy 12:29-31 – Do not worship in all the evil ways the Canaanites did (child sacrifice, etc.).

Deuteronomy 13

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 – A prophet or a dreamer of dreams.
- If someone is trying to get you to worship an idol, they are to be put to death.
Deuteronomy 13:6-11 – Your close family and friends.
- Compare Matthew 10:34-39 – Don’t let anyone come between you and God.
Deuteronomy 13:12-18 – Worthless men who seduce a whole city.

Deuteronomy 14

Reminders of God’s rules for clean and unclean food.

Excuses

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Excuses in the Bible

Luke 14:15-24
- Even when God offers blessings, we can come up with reasons not to accept them.
Genesis 3:8-13
- Excuses have been around since the beginning.
II Kings 5:10-14
- Naaman made an excuse to not follow Elisha’s instructions.

Excuses today

I cannot understand the Bible.
Some day but not right now.
- Luke 9:57-62
- Luke 12:16-21
Too much to give up.
- Matthew 16:26
I’m good enough now.
- Romans 3:23
- Acts 4:12

Conclusion

Romans 1:21
Excuses do us more harm than good.
Philippians 2:12

Two Ways to Fall Away in College

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 1:18-20

Keep brethren and sisters at arm’s length but get really close with others.

Acts 2:42-47 – They wanted to be together!
Acts 4:23 – They met with other Christians to talk about being persecuted.
Acts 4:32
Romans 1:12
Romans 15:22
Philippians 1:3
I Thessalonians 3:6
Hebrews 10:24-25
Philippians 1:27
Deuteronomy 13:6-10 – God warned the Israelites of bad influence.
Proverbs 12:26; 13:20; 14:7; 24:1-2

Make schoolwork your primary focus.

I Kings 4:1-26, 32-34
I Kings 7:1
I Kings 10:4-5
I Kings 11:4 – Solomon’s spiritual situation was a disaster.
Romans 6:19
Be careful not to measure your success by secular standards.
Matthew 22:37

Deuteronomy 9:1-11:32

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 9

Deuteronomy 9:1-6 – Not due to Israel’s righteousness
- Deuteronomy 9:4-5 – They were allowed to take the land because of the evil of the nations that were in the land. God was delivering justice and keeping His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- Titus 3:4
Deuteronomy 9:7-29 – Remembering Israel’s failures
- Deuteronomy 9:16-21 – Moses broke the tablets because he was so angry with their sins.
- Exodus 32:9-10, 30
- Deuteronomy 9:22 – See Numbers 11, 13-14.

Deuteronomy 10

Deuteronomy 10:1-11 – Two more tablets.
- First two tablets
  - God provided tablets – Exodus 24:12
  - God wrote on tablets – Exodus 31:18
- Second two tablets
  - Moses cut tablets – Exodus 34:1
  - God wrote on tablets – Exodus 34:1, 28; Deuteronomy 10:4
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 – God’s love for Israel
- Deuteronomy 10:12-13 – Compare Micah 6:8; John 14:15; I John 5:3.

Deuteronomy 11

Deuteronomy 11:1-9 – This generation needs to obey.
- See Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; 11:1; 13:3; 30:6 – Love God!
Deuteronomy 11:10-17 – God will bless the land with rain.
- Deuteronomy 11:10-12 – They had to irrigate their crops in Egypt, but in Canaan they would receive rain.
- Deuteronomy 11:23-25 – They would defeat stronger nations because God was with them.
- Deuteronomy 11:26-29 – See Joshua 8:33-35.

John 6

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Review of the text

John 6:9-11
John 6:22-27
Figures of speech in John
- Physical vs. spiritual
  - John 3:3-7
  - John 4:13-14
  - John 4:31-34
  - John 7:37-38
  - John 8:31-36
  - John 8:38-39, 44
  - John 6:31-35 – Physical bread vs. spiritual bread.
John 6:44-46 – In v45, it is those who have heard and learned from God that came to Jesus. It was not a miraculous intervention.
John 6:51-58 – Jesus is the living bread from heaven.
- The phrases about eating His flesh and drinking His blood are about consuming the teaching that Jesus brought to the world.
  - I Corinthians 1:22

Observations

Check your motive.

John 6:26, 25, 59-63, 66-68

This is not teaching transubstantiation.

Matthew 26:26-28
This teaching is not in the text. Jesus was still there when He said to eat His flesh.
Drinking blood was not permitted under the Law of Moses.
This is a figure of speech!

You can learn a lot from reading.

Abigail and King David

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What about David?

Still young – mid 20s
Saul still king
- David already anointed
- Goliath killed
- David on the run from Saul
- Saul had 85 priests killed
- David spared Saul’s life at Engedi
- Samuel dies
I Samuel 25
David just back from sparing Saul
Still hiding out
Considerate of Nabal and his men
Sends emissaries to Nabal
- We’ve been good to your shepherds
- Let us eat from your leftovers

David itching for a fight

What kind of people did David hang out with?
- David himself a fighter
  - Lion
  - Bear
  - Goliath
- Jonathan
- David’s mighty men
  - II Samuel 23

Abigail acts

This is the first she’s heard
- Nabal had insulted the greatest warfighter in Israel
- Didn’t bother to tell his wife
- Now she’s hearing it for the first time
Time to act
- No delay
- No holding back
David and Abigail meet on the trail
- David still fuming
- Totally set for a fight
- Vows death and destruction
- Abigail shows humility and contriteness
- Begs David’s audience

Abigail’s plea to David

Plays down Nabal’s importance
- He is as his name – foolish folly
- No need to heed
Takes blame again
Calls David’s intent sinful – without calling it sinful
Calls all of David’s enemies worthless
Shows that she listens well
Blesses David
Appeals to what David knows well

David relents

Abigail acknowledges David’s kingship
- Reminds David of the sinful nature of his quest
- Asks David to remember her when God blesses him
David thanks God for sending Abigail to him
- Admits his quest was wrong in God’s eyes
- Notes the harm he had been determined to do

Aftermath

David takes the gifts, sends Abigail home
Finds Nabal
- Feasting, acting the happy drunk
- Abigail keeps her silence
- Waits until morning
Hangover comes
- Abigail tells all
- Nabal catatonic
- Dies ten days later

Epilogue

David learns from Abigail
- Acts quickly at the news of Nabal
- Acknowledges being blessed by Abigail’s intervention
- Proclaims that Nabal’s death was at God’s hand
- Proposes remotely to Abigail
Abigail’s response
- Not arrogant at her new position
- Totally humble
- Quick to go
- Begins a life of adventure with David

Introduction to Jesus: 10 Quick Facts

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[Note: In this lesson, David talks about Jesus in the past tense, referring to His human existence on earth. In the spiritual sense, Jesus still exists and has always existed. -MRW]

Introduction

Matthew 16:13-14

He was a real person who lived 2,000 years ago.

Luke 1:1-5; 2:7; 3:23
Tacitus wrote about Christians in the first century.

He was the Son of God who lived in a human body.

John 1:1-5
Jesus was not simply a wise teacher. He is God’s son.

He introduced a new covenant into the world.

God had a covenant with Israel, which had been in place for about 1500 years when Jesus arrived.
John 1:17
The Old Covenant was meant to be temporary. The New Covenant is better in every way and open to everyone.
Hebrews 8:1-13

He came to be our Savior.

I John 4:9-14

He performed miracles to prove His claims.

Luke 5:18-26
His followers were persecuted and killed.

He was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins.

Mark 15:24-39
Ephesians 1:7

He rose from the dead.

Mark 16:1-8
I Corinthians 15:17

He ascended to heaven.

Acts 1:1-11

His apostles spread their eyewitness testimony.

Acts 1:8, 21
I John 1:1-14

He will judge the world in the end.

Matthew 25:31-46

Deuteronomy 6:1-8:20

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 6

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 – Love God and teach your kids.
- There is only one God! Love and worship Him only.
- Deuteronomy 6:4-5 – This section is called the “shema” and is recited day and night by orthodox Jews still today.
- Matthew 22:35-38
- Some say that the Old Covenant was external and the New Covenant is internal, but God has always cared about the heart.
  - Genesis 6:5
- Kids can smell hypocrisy from a mile away, so you must serve God yourself if you want to teach your kids to do so.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – Spiritual discussions should happen all the time.
- Deuteronomy 6:8-9 – Compare Proverbs 3:3. This was figurative language.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 – When you get blessed, don’t forget God.
Deuteronomy 6:13-19 – Fear God and obey.
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 – “When your son also asks you …”

Deuteronomy 7

Deuteronomy 7:1-5 – Don’t merge with idolatrous nations.
- God had likely sent prophet after prophet to these sinful nations.
Deuteronomy 7:6-11 – God chose you and blessed you, so obey Him!
- I Peter 2:9-12 – Christians are now God’s chosen people.
Deuteronomy 7:12-26 – God will bless you, just don’t be ensnared by sin!

Deuteronomy 8

Deuteronomy 8:1-5 – God tested Israel.
- Deuteronomy 8:3 – Quoted in Matthew 4 when Jesus is tempted.
Deuteronomy 8:6-20 – Don’t forget God.

Conquered: Lessons from the Fall of Israel

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Kings 17:5
Genesis 12:7 – Promises to Abraham
II Kings 17 – God’s assessment of what went wrong with Israel.

Quit trying to be like the world.

II Kings 17:7-13 – Israel started living like the people of the land who God had punished for living that way!
II Kings 17:19 – Israel was then a bad influence on Judah.
Acts 2:38-40 – “Be saved from this perverse generation.”
Philippians 2:14-15
Judges 2:12
Israel started to blend in with the sinful world.
Romans 12:2 – We must become what God wants us to be.
James 4:4
I John 2:15

Get back to God’s word.

II Kings 17:12-13; Exodus 20:4 – God’s instructions on this were clear.
Jeremiah 7:1-10
We have a good amount of control over what influences us. It is our choice how much we read our Bible!
Luke 8:19-21
Proverbs 30:5
Psalms 119:101-104

God will definitely punish.

II Kings 17:18-23
Deuteronomy 4:25-27
Joshua 23:14-16 – God promised they would be punished.
II Peter 3:7-9, 17-18 – God doesn’t want anyone to be punished but He is just.

Timothy

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What do we know about him?

No biographical sketch in scripture.
Mentioned 24 times in scripture in most translations
- Acts – 6
- Romans – 1
- I Corinthians – 2
- II Corinthians – 2
- Philippians – 2
- Colossians – 1
- I Thessalonians – 3
- II Thessalonians – 1
- I Timothy – 3
- II Timothy – 1
- Philemon – 1
- Hebrews – 1
Sometimes referred to as Timotheus (Roman version of his name)
- Translations often render this as simply Timothy.

Who was Timothy?

Lystra – Acts 14
- Paul there in about AD 48
  - Healed a lame man
  - Stoned and left for dead
- Returned in about AD 50
  - Encountered Timothy
  - Acts 16:1-2

Timothy – well spoken of

How did he get to be like that?
- Had a faithful mother – II Timothy 1:5
- The faithfulness of his grandmother and mother were instrumental in forming Timothy’s faith.
- The foundation of his faith was the word of God. II Timothy 3:14-15
Still young, probably young in the faith
Had confessed Christ before many witnesses
- I Timothy 6:12

Timothy’s enlistment

Acts 16:3-5
Paul adds Timothy to his team
- First puts controversy behind them
- Went about disseminating the Jerusalem decrees
- Success!

Timothy grows

Paul’s trust for Timothy increases
- Sent with another (Acts 19:22) to Macedonia from Ephesus
- Sent to troubled congregation (I Corinthians 4:17)
- Left behind to teach at Ephesus
  - Paul greatly attached to Ephesus (Acts 20)
  - I Timothy 1:3-4
- Paul warns Timothy to oppose the arguments of the Gnostics
  - I Timothy 6:20
  - Paul had predicted such in Acts 20:28-30
Trusted emissary – I Thessalonians 3:2, 6
- Paul sends Timothy to Thessalonica
  - Check on them
  - Strengthen and encourage them
- He returns a good report
Following sound doctrine – I Timothy 4:6
Sincere faith – II Timothy 1:5
Constant encouragement by Paul to continue progress
- Letters of 1st and 2nd Timothy
- Required complete involvement
- I Timothy 4:15-16

Timothy’s journeys and sojourns

Passed through “the cities” issuing the decree
Phrygia and Galatia – forbidden to preach in Asia
Down to Troas – Macedonian call
Across to Philippi – conversion of Lydia, Paul, and Silas in prison
On to Thessalonica and more trouble, then to Berea
Trouble in Berea

What You Need to Learn at School This Year

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Learn how to think.

Learn how to work, even when it’s hard and unfair.

Learn how to manage your time.

Learn how to encourage the kids in younger grades.

Learn how to avoid pride.

Deuteronomy 4:1-5:33

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Deuteronomy 4

Deuteronomy 4:1-14 – You need to obey!
Deuteronomy 4:15-31 – Idolatry
Deuteronomy 4:32-40 – God (end of first speech)
Deuteronomy 4:41-43 – Interlude (eastern cities of refuge)
Deuteronomy 4:44-49 – Introduction to Moses’ second speech.

Deuteronomy 5

Deuteronomy 5:1-5 – God made this covenant with us.
Deuteronomy 5:6-21 – Repeating the 10 commandments
Deuteronomy 5:22-33 – The people were afraid.

How to Make Benchley Fail

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Revelation 2:1-7

Casually stray to a different authority

Give up hope and optimism

Naaman

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

We’ll be studying some things in the Bible that are not discussed as often.
We’ll look primarily at the Bible, also pulling in other sources for additional information as necessary.

Naaman

Text: II Kings 5:1-19

What do we know about Naaman?

His position? Head gui of Syrian army under the King of Aram (Syria)
- Not a captain?
- Translation could mean captain, general, ruler, prince, etc.
- Context indicates a top military officer.
King considered him to be a great man
Highly respected
God chose to give Aram victory through Naaman (I Kings 22:29-40)
Valiant warrior
Leper
Laws of leprosy (Leviticus 13-14)
- Lepers were unclean
- Prophet’s purity?

What can we guess about Naaman?

Inspiring leader
He and his wife communicated with each other
Very good relationship with his king (Hadadezer – generous gifts to take and a letter)
- Talent of silver: A weight of 75 pounds. Ten talents is work about $654,480 today.
- Shekel of gold: A weight of about 0.4 ounces. Six thousand shekels would be worth about $5,759,520 today.
Believed that Israelite prophets were subject to their king in what they did as prophets.
- John 11:48
His actions scared the king (Jehoram) into thinking he was trying to start a war.
Given to ceremony (arrived with chariots and horses, expected ceremony from Elisha)
Short temper (furious over Elisha’s failure to reciprocate ceremony and command to wash in the Jordan River)
Willing to listen (took correction from his servants)
Had loving concern from those who served him (servant girl, other servants)
Willing to humble himself (obeyed and dipped in the Jordan seven times)

Some things we can learn

God’s favor doesn’t imply faultlessness on our part.
Was faith a requirement for Naaman’s healing?
Kindness to your servants can pay off, even if you don’t deserve it.
- Servants took a risk correcting the boss
- Servant girl may just have remembered Proverbs 24:17; 25:21-22
  - Same principle at work between God and Elisha
  - II Kings 6:21-23 – God’s reward to her?
- Servant girl was likely a faithful Israelite at a time of great unfaithfulness
  - Jehoram was king at the time.
  - He was an evil king who led Israel to sin.
  - Put away pillar of Baal (where his brother was murdered by his parents)
  - Continued all the rest of his parents’ sins

My Effect on Others

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 22:24-25

Like it or not, the way I behave is affecting people.

I may be having a bad influence.

Matthew 18:4-6
Romans 14:13
I Corinthians 5:6-8 – One sinner can have a tremendous effect on the entire congregation.
Even if I think I am hiding my sin, my influence on others is not as good as it should be.
I Corinthians 8:9
II Timothy 2:14 – Wrangling with words could ruin others.

But there is enormous potential for good influence!

Matthew 5:13-16
Philippians 4:8-9 – Can I tell other people to copy what they’ve seen me do?

Three areas to think about …

Joy

Acts 13:47-49
Often, we can do our best teaching when we are at the lowest point in our lives.

Humility

I Peter 5:5
Proverbs 11:2
Acts 26:1, 9, 15, 19 – Paul humbly admitted his previous mistakes.
I Peter 2:12, 15

Healthy relationships

I Timothy 3:4-5 – How did the man manage his family relationships?
Ephesians 6:1
Proverbs 17:17; 18:24

“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Deuteronomy 1:1-3:29

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The book of Deuteronomy contains speeches that Moses gave to the people of Israel before they crossed over to the promised land.
The three promises to Abram (Genesis 12)
- “I will make you a great nation” – Fulfilled in Exodus 1:7
- “To your descendants I will give this land” – Fulfilled in Joshua 21:43
- “In you all the nations of the earth will be blessed” – Acts 3:26

Deuteronomy 1

Deuteronomy 1:1-5 – Opening
- It was only an eleven day journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea yet it took them forty years because of their disobedience.
Deuteronomy 1:6-8 – Moses begins his first speech
Deuteronomy 1:9-18 – Moses appointed leaders
- Deuteronomy 1:10 – Moses needed help because of the enormous size of the group.
Deuteronomy 1:19-46 – Spies and rebellion
- Moses retells the history of spying out the land and the rebellion.
- Deuteronomy 1:32 – They did not trust God.

Deuteronomy 2

Deuteronomy 2:1-23 – Wandering in the wilderness
- Israel tried to pass through Edom, but Edom refused.
- Deuteronomy 2:7 – God provided for them – they didn’t lack anything.
- Deuteronomy 2:14 – It took them thirty-eight years to cross the Zered River. All the previous generation had died off.
Deuteronomy 2:24-37 – Victory over Sihon, king of Heshbon
- See Numbers 21.

Deuteronomy 3

Deuteronomy 3:1-11 – Victory over Og, King of Bashan
Deuteronomy 3:12-20 – Two and a half tribes
- See Numbers 32.
Deuteronomy 3:21-29 – Moses pleads with God.
- Deuteronomy 3:22 – God is the one fighting for you! Compare Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:30. They still had to go and fight, even through God was giving them the victory. Similarly, just because salvation is a gift of God doesn’t mean we don’t have to do anything to receive it.
Deuteronomy 3:23-27 – Moses pleaded with God to go into the land but God said no, and God was just in His decision.

Righteous Living: A Total Life Change

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 2:20
What is the difference between saying, “I go to church” and “Christ lives in me”?
Obeying God involves a complete change of life.
Matthew 22:37
Romans 6:4, 6
I John 1:6-8
Acts 2:42 – Obeying Christ involves changing habits and routines.
I Corinthians 15:33
James 4:4

Physical

II Corinthians 11:23-28 – What was Paul’s attitude toward his physical body?
I Timothy 2:9; 4:6
Our attitude toward our body should change completely.

Mental

Colossians 3:1
Luke 23:33 – Jesus had a different mindset! We are trying to be like this.

Emotional

Philippians 3:20
I Thessalonians 2:19 – Paul rejoiced because of other Christians
III John 1:4
Our joy is pinned on God.

Social

I Kings 22:8-9, 13-14 – The prophets did not have many friends! If we are speaking truth, we may not have many friends either.
I Peter 4:11
I must be willing to give up my social life if that’s what it takes to serve God.

Financial / vocation

Philippians 3:4-11
Can we serve God in our line of work?

Death / eternity

Philippians 1:21 – To die is gain!

Benchley Bible Classes

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Jeremiah 35:5-10, 16 – God is having Jeremiah set up a lesson. The Rechabites carried out the legacy of their father. They still followed his commands some 300 years later. How can we leave a legacy like this?

Overview

Objective-based program
- What should the children have learned by the time they leave the program?
Two-tiered curriculum structure
- Up to fifth grade: study through the Bible every three years.
- Sixth grade and up: focus on New Testament and Old Testament wisdom, with topical studies
Classes do not change age/grade range

Class overview

Class 1 (0-2 years)
- Become comfortable being in Bible class
- Hear Bible words, stories, and songs
Class 2 (2-3 years)
- Learn basic Bible class conduct
- Learn Bible words, short stories, big ideas
Class 3 (grades -1 to K)
- Refine Bible class conduct
- Learn Bible storie3s and basic lessons
Class 4 (grades 1-2)
- Learn Bible story details and basic application
Class 5 (grades 3-4)
- Longer term recall
Class 6 (grade 5-6)
- Begin self-guiding to answers
Class 7 (grades 7-8)
- Become independent Bible students
- Build independent faith
Class 8 (high school and up)
- Prepare for independent lives
- Prepare for adult responsibilities

Curriculum update notes

Grades 7-8
- Two-year cycle
- Sundays: New Testament narrative
  - Five quarters in the gospels
  - Two quarters in Acts
  - One quarter TBD
- Wednesdays: Bible study skills, daily living
High school
- Four-year cycle
- Sundays
  - Old Testament poetry and wisdom literature
  - Chapter a week: Acts – Revelation
- Wednesdays: Four general topic areas, rotating quarters
  - Q1: The church
  - Q2: Daily living
  - Q3: Evidence
  - Q4: Split classes
Classes through sixth grade
- Bible a wide, firm foundation of knowledge of the scriptures

What can I do as a teacher?

Younger grades
- II Timothy 3:15 – Don’t shy away from memorization and recitation.
Middle grades
- Luke 10:25-28 – Engage the students in the learning process.
Older grades
- Luke 9:2 – Engage students in the teaching process.
Make the most of class time.
- Ephesians 5:16 – Be deliberate
- I Corinthians 14:26 – Do all things for edification
Adjust the curriculum as you feel appropriate for the age/group
Don’t teach the book. Teach THE BOOK.
Use workbooks as a topical guide.

What can I do as a parent?

Take responsibility for your child’s spiritual development
- Deuteronomy 6:7; 11:19
- Have your children prepared for class.
- Mark 2:27
- Study and discuss other scriptures and topics instead of the lesson, if that is the need of the moment.
Give feedback to teachers, class deacon, elders
Be patient, think long term
- Student, teachers, and topics change

Reminders and notes

Teach!
Only man teachers for boys once boys hit 13 years old.
Teachers may open the high school class to other students at their discretion.
Two-quarter special opportunity
- Last two quarters of 2024/2025, topic is teacher’s choice.

What is a teacher’s goal?

Interest – Acts 13:15-18, 38-44
Comprehension – Matthew 13:13, 16
Application – Matthew 7:24
Retention – Numbers 15:40
Encourage – Philippians 1:6-10
Matthew 10:25

2 Corinthians 12:19-13:14

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 12, continued:

II Corinthians 12:19 – Compare II Corinthians 5:12.
II Corinthians 12:20-21 – See Revelation 21:8 and I Corinthians 1. Paul is here saying that he’s afraid these things may be happening.

II Corinthians 13

II Corinthians 13:1-2 – See II Corinthians 12:14. Paul did end up making this third trip and stayed in Achaia about three months. This is a quote referenced from Deuteronomy 19:15; Numbers 35:30.
II Corinthians 13:3-4 – See Matthew 12:38-39. This is similar to the request for proof that Jesus was continually getting.
II Corinthians 13:5-6 – The idea here is that of testing a metal to see if it is genuine. We fail this test when we forget whose spirit we are part of. Paul wanted them to test themselves against the objective standard of God’s word.
II Corinthians 13:9-10 – Paul was hopeful for their restoration. He waited until the end to mention authority as that was not his primary tact, but he did have authority from God for his teaching.
II Corinthians 13:11 – This is translated a number of different ways. “Farewell” vs. “rejoice.” “Be complete” vs. be “restored.”
II Corinthians 13:12-14 – Paul’s end for the letter echoes his words in II Corinthians 1:2.

Thelema

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 6:9-13 – The Lord’s Prayer
thelema – translated “will” as in, “will of God”

Exceptions!

Matthew 21:31
John 1:12
I Corinthians 7:37; 16:12
Ephesians 2:3
II Timothy 2:26
I Peter 4:3

Jesus was perfect, sinless …

Hebrews 7:26
II Corinthians 5:21
I John 3:5
Hebrews 4:15

The will of Jesus

There is a distinction between the will of God and the will of Jesus, but Jesus never sinned.
Matthew 26:26-56
John 5:30; 6:38

By the will of God

John 1:1-14
Romans 1:8-10; 15:30-33
I Corinthians 1:1
II Corinthians 1:1; 8:5
Ephesians 1:1
Colossians 1:1
II Timothy 1:1

According to the will of God

Matthew 18:10-14; 26:39, 42
John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40
Galatians 1:3-5
Ephesians 1:3-12
I Peter 3:14-17
Revelation 4:11

Being in the will of God

Matthew 7:21; 12:46-50
John 7:15-24; 9:30-34
Romans 2:12-24
Ephesians 5:15-21; 6:5-6
Galatians 1:7-14; 4:12
I Peter 2:13-15
Hebrews 13:20-21
I Peter 4:12-19
I John 2:15-17
We can be confident of the will of God even though we don’t fully understand it. God’s thoughts are much higher than our thoughts.

There is someone else

Ephesians 6:13-17
James 1:13-14
I Peter 5:6-10
The devil still has abilities in modern times, although not to the degree that he did in the New Testament times.

Conclusion

I Thessalonians 4:3-8; 5:12-23
Hebrews 10:1-39
Luke 12:35-48
Romans 12:1-2
God’s will in heaven needs to be done here on earth.

1 John

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Why written

I John 1:4; 2:1, 7-8, 12-14, 26; 5:13 – John tells us why he was writing. He was writing to combat Gnosticism.

Subject matter

Jesus – The first 14 verses tell you everything you need to known about Jesus and sin.
Sin
False teaching / teachers
What we know.
How we know it.
Love
Action
Conditions: if

Jesus

From the beginning – I John 1:1; 2:13
Manifested, historical figure – I John 1:2; 4:2
Destroyed works of devil – I John 3:8
With the Father – I John 1:2
Blood cleanses from sin – I John 1:7; 3:6, 16
Propitiation for sin – I John 2:2; 4:10
Is righteous – I John 3:7
Have spiritual life through – I John 4:9; 5:11
Savior of the world – I John 4:14
The Son of God – I John 4:15; 5:5
Begotten of God – I John 5:1
Came by water and blood – I John 5:6
Gives us understanding – I John 5:20
Is the true God and eternal life – I John 5:20

False teachers and teachingThe basics

I John 4:1, 2, 6 – Don’t be naïve and gullible. Study for yourself!
Strong language
- Liars – I John 1:6; 2:4, 22; 4:20
- Children of the devil – I John 3:10
- Antichrist – I John 2:18-19, 22; 4:3 – There are many antichrists. Those that deny Christ are antichrists.

Sin

All are sinners – I John 1:8, 10
What it is – I John 3:4; 5:17
Two walks – I John 1:6-7
How to avoid – I John 3:6, 9; 5:18
Provisions for – I John 3:5; 1:7; 2:2; 4:10
Consequences of – I John 3:6, 8, 10
When we sin – I John 1:9; 2:1

"Mom and Dad, show me how."

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I John 3:16
How do we as parents teach our kids spiritual lessons?
Philippians 2:5
I Peter 2:21

Examples are powerful – just look at Jesus.

Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 29; 11:1
Philippians 4:9
Titus 2:7
I Timothy 4:12
I Peter 5:3

It’s our job to show them WHAT is possible.

I Thessalonians 1:6
I Timothy 1:15-16
II Timothy 3:15
James 5:10
Roger Bannister ran a four-minute mile, showing that it could be done. Now, more than a thousand people have done it!

It’s our job to show them HOW to do it.

John 13:5, 14 – Jesus showed them directly how to do what He was commanding. The apostles probably remembered this for the rest of their lives!
John 13:34
Acts 20:17-21, 31-34 – Paul showed them how to behave.
Acts 17:24-27, 30-31 – It’s possible to honor God as Creator in this world!

2 Corinthians 11:30-12:18

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 11, continued

II Corinthians 11:30-33 – Damascus was Paul’s original destination when he was blinded on the road, leading to his conversion. From the time of his conversion, there were threats on his life. See Galatians 1:17. Paul uses this as an illustration of the threats he was under.

II Corinthians 12

II Corinthians 12:1-2 – See Galatians 1:12; 2:1. Paul received the gospel via direct revelation. In their way of speaking, the first heaven was the sky, the second heaven was the domain of the sun, moon, and stars, and the third heaven was paradise, the abode of God.
II Corinthians 12:3-4 – Paul’s vision happened about 42 A.D. This would be about ten years after his conversion.
II Corinthians 12:5-6 – Paul did not tell more to prevent accusations of boasting from his opponents.
II Corinthians 12:7-8 – Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to torment him. It was a painful experience to prevent pride.
II Corinthians 12:9-10 – God’s power is perfected in man’s weakness. We must not view our troubles as impediments but as ways that God is helping perfect us.
II Corinthians 12:11-13 – Paul is reminding them that they were taught by someone with authority.
II Corinthians 12:14-15 – Paul was again going to refuse to accept support from them. See I Corinthians 4:15; II Corinthians 6:13. Paul saw himself as their parent. He was coming to give, not to take.
II Corinthians 12:16-18 – Paul is using sarcasm and irony here to refute the claim that he sent in to take advantage of them.

Prophets

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hebrews 1:1
Prophets were God’s spokesmen. They did more than just tell the future.
Ezekiel 4
There are sixteen or seventeen books of prophecy in the Old Testament, depending on precisely which ones you count. There were many more prophets who did not have their own books.

Time of prophecy	Literary prophets
Divided Kingdom	Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Nahum, Habakkuk
Exile	Ezekiel, Daniel
Return and rebuilding	Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
(Difficult to date)	Joel, Amos, Obadiah

II Peter 1:20

God loves us!

Ezekiel 18:23, 27-32
Jeremiah 26:1-3
II Peter 3:9
Jonah 4:1-11 – Jonah had compassion on the plant, but not on the people of the city. God expects us to love souls like He does.

We need His love when times are hard.

I Kings 18:3-4 – When times were hard, God had hundreds of prophets.
Jeremiah 6:10
II Chronicles 24:19
Hosea 4:6
When we are in difficult times, we must seek God the most!

With God, there is always something to look forward to.

Malachi 4:1-6
Jeremiah 31:31
We’re looking forward to our salvation with God in heaven.

Righteous Living: Courage

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Courage: Acting despite our fear.
Mark 15:43
Deuteronomy 31:1-7, 23
Joshua 1:5-9 – God would be with Joshua.
I Chronicles 28:20

To stand for the truth despite consequences.

John 9:22, 30-34 – The blind man had courage!
John 12:42-43 – The rulers were afraid to confess Jesus. They lacked courage to face the potential consequences.
John 18:17, 25-27 – Peter lacked courage to confess Christ. Peter had legitimate reasons to be afraid.

To be alone.

I Kings 18:22; 19:10 – Elijah
Daniel 3:16-18 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood alone before Nebuchadnezzar.

To confront our own sins.

Psalms 32:1-5 – David was willing to confront his own sins.
Psalms 51:12

To clearly expose error even among brethren.

Numbers 13:31; 14:1-10 – The ten spies discourage the people. Caleb and Joshua stand up against them.
II Timothy 4:14-18 – Paul showed great courage.
Galatians 2:11-12 – Paul had the courage to call out Peter for his sin.

Being Content With God's Timing

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 5:7
Romans 12:12
I John 5:14-15

Waiting allows us to build our trust in Him.

Genesis 12:2, 4; 21:5 – Abraham and Sarah waited a long time for Isaac.
I Samuel 16:12; II Samuel 5:4 – David waited a long time before becoming king.
Sometimes God expects us just to wait.

Suffering produces endurances.

James 1:2
Job 42:6; 40:1-2; 42:7-8 – Job handled himself very well. God repeatedly calls him, “my servant Job” – a great compliment!
James 5:10-11

Sometimes God simply says “No,” and we should remember that He knows all, and we don’t.

II Kings 6:15-17
II Corinthians 12:7-10 – God said no to keep Paul from exalting himself.
Ephesians 1:16-19; 6:18-20
Note: Praying does not relieve us of responsibility. We must pray, then get up and get to work.

2 Corinthians 11:4-29

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 11

II Corinthians 11:3-4 – Compare Galatians 1:8-9.
II Corinthians 11:5-6 – Who are these “super-apostles” (ESV)? Compare Acts 15:24. It’s possible he is defending against the caricature of the original twelve apostles that false teachers were using.
II Corinthians 11:7-8 – Some false teachers were apparently boasting that because they were taking money for preaching, they were more authoritative that Paul. Paul did not take money for his work from the Corinthians to try to prevent controversy, but it ended up being turned into ammunition for the false teachers.
II Corinthians 11:11-12 – Paul continued to not accept support so that people could not hold that against him.
II Corinthians 11:13-15 – Paul identifies his opponents as false apostles. Compare Matthew 7:15.
II Corinthians 11:16-18 – Paul regarded himself as a fool for even having to talk about this, but felt that it was necessary to counter the false teachers.
II Corinthians 11:19-21 – Paul speaks with irony here. He was too weak to mistreat them!
II Corinthians 11:22-23 – Paul is making the case that he is genuinely Jewish.
II Corinthians 11:24-27 – Paul suffered tremendously to spread the gospel. See Acts 9:15-16.

Seven Quick Facts About the Bible

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 4:13-16

English Bibles are translations.

Word-for-word versus thought-for-thought translations.
Examples:
- John 3:16
- Matthew 19:9
- II Thessalonians 3:12

Bibles are published and packaged in lots of different ways.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20
Reference Bibles – include cross-references and footnotes
Study Bibles – include commentary
Devotional Bibles – include short articles, usually targeted at a specific group.
Children’s Bibles

Jesus didn’t write any of the books.

John 4:1-2
John 14:25
John 16:13-15
I Thessalonians 2:13
Words from Jesus’ inspired messengers carry His authority.
II Peter 1:19-21

It was divided into chapters and verses a few centuries ago.

Romans 14:12-13, 22-15:2, 7 – The same thought continues across chapters.
The chapter and verse divisions are not inspired.

The Bible has been preserved very accurately.

Isaiah 1:1
We have tremendous evidence that the Bible has been accurately preserved.
1947 – Dead Sea Scrolls discovered. Previously, the oldest Old Testament manuscript we had was the Masoretic Text, dating to about 980 A.D. The Dead Sea Scrolls date from the 100s B.C. Comparison between them showed only a five percent difference, all of which was either spelling changes or obvious slips of the pen. The other 95% was identical between the two.

Since it’s God’s Word, it contains the best wisdom and teaching on earth.

Psalms 119:97-100
II Timothy 3:16-17

It’s not just good advice; it’s what we’ll be judged by.

Hebrews 1:1

Righteous Living: Initiative

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 25:44-46

If we’re not interested, we’ll never take action.

Romans 5:8 – God took the initiative to provide a means for our salvation because He loves us.
Acts 17:15-17 – Paul took the initiative because he cared for them.
Ezra 9:1-4 – Ezra took the initiative because he cared.
If I’m not taking the initiative, it might be because I don’t care enough.
I Samuel 17:3, 10, 16, 26 – David took initiative in fighting Goliath.
“Indifference … is the epitome of evil.”

Rally others to the cause when possible.

Nehemiah 1:1-4; 2:5, 15-18; 4:4-6, 14-17; 6:15 – Nehemiah rallied the people to rebuild the wall.

But even if we’re alone, take action!

Luke 10:27-36 – Go and be a good neighbor!
James 4:17

Radically Dealing With Sin

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 6:1
We must die to sin, not continue to live with it.

We struggle to put sin away and keep it away.

Example: King Asa
II Chronicles 14:2-4, 11-12; 15:1-2, 8-18
Asa did good but left the high places.
II Chronicles 16:2, 7-9 – Asa should have repented right here.
II Chronicles 16:10 – Instead, Asa imprisons the prophet.
II Chronicles 16:12 – Even in ill health, Asa did not turn to seek God.

This calls for radical repentance.

Matthew 5:27
We might need to make some drastic rules for ourselves to stay away from sin.
I Corinthians 6:18; 10:14 – Flee from sin!
I Timothy 6:11
II Timothy 2:22
We can’t play with sin and let it hang around.
James 4:7
Colossians 3:5

Fill the void!

Colossians 3:10, 12-17
Remove the sin and add goodness.
Psalms 119:9-16 – This passage is all about adding good things to your life.

2 Corinthians 10:1-11:4

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 10

This chapter begins the third major section of II Corinthians. The tone here is more assertive and sharper.
II Corinthians 10:1-2 – Paul is trying to draw a distinction between the behaviors they were tolerating from false teachers and what they were accusing him of.
II Corinthians 10:7-8 – Compare II Corinthians 5:12. They were looking at outward appearances. Paul is trying to point out that they are both on the same team – they should both recognize each other as being in Christ.
II Corinthians 10:9-11 – This was a subtle accusation of hypocrisy – that Paul wrote differently than he spoke. Paul is saying he was willing to back up what he was writing. Paul may well have been unimpressive in appearance because of the persecution he had endured.
II Corinthians 10:12-13 – It was appropriate for him to boast about his work because of his history with them. See Romans 15:23-24.
II Corinthians 10:14-16 – Paul was hoping to get them to the point that he could move on, as he had been able to do in other places.
II Corinthians 10:17-18 – God’s commendation is the only one that really matters.

II Corinthians 11

II Corinthians 11:1-2 – These false apostles that they were tolerating were endangering their purity before Christ.
II Corinthians 11:3-4 – Paul’s tone was sharp because he was afraid they were being led away from Christ.

Righteous Living: Positivity

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Can we list a few things that allow a person to be positive and optimistic?
- Take care of someone who is worse off than you.
- Be grateful.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Positivity comes from Christ

I Thessalonians 4:18; II Thessalonians 1:9
Philippians 1:12-20

Learn from the past, but don’t let it ruin the present

I Corinthians 10:6-11
I Timothy 1:15
Ezra 3:10-13 – The people wept thinking about the glory of the previous temple.
Haggai 2:3-5
Ezra 6:16
Philippians 1:21-26

Focus on what’s good

Philippians 4:8
Acts 9:1; I Corinthians 1:4; 11:2; 16:24

Kings

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

United kingdom

Even godly people can lose their way.

Saul

I Samuel 10:2 – Saul started humbly enough.
I Samuel 13:8, 11-14 – Saul didn’t fully obey.
I Samuel 15:9, 28

David

II Samuel 11:2-3; 12:9
Let us never thing it can’t happen to us!

Solomon

I Kings 3:3, 9-10 – Solomon started humbly and wisely.
I Kings 11:3-4 – Solomon took a wrong turn.
No one is immune to temptation.

Divided kingdom

Your faith is your own choice.

I Kings 2:26-33 – Jeroboam invented idols an led Israel astray.
All of the following kings in Israel follow his idolatry.
But people don’t necessarily continue the faith of their parents. Examples:
- II Kings 16:3 – Ahaz did evil.
- II Kings 18:1-6 – Hezekiah turned from his father’s ways and did good.
- II Kings 21:1-3 – Manasseh did evil nearly his whole life.
- II Kings 21:19-21 – Amon did evil.
- II Kings 22:1-2; 23:25 – Josiah did right in God’s eyes.
- II Kings 23:32 – Jehoahaz did evil.
- II Kings 23:35 – Jehoiakim did evil.

2 Corinthians 8:22-9:15

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 9

II Corinthians 9:1 – With whatever I have in my life, how can I have a generous attitude?
II Corinthians 9:2 – See Romans 15:25-27.
II Corinthians 9:4 – The men in Acts 20:4 may have accompanied Paul. Part of the idea here was not giving the Macedonians a bad feeling by getting the gift together at the last minute.
II Corinthians 9:6-7 – See Matthew 19:29. Generosity will be rewarded. Consider Proverbs 11:24; 19:17; 22:8-9.
II Corinthians 9:8-9 – See Psalms 112:1-9.
II Corinthians 9:10-11 – We are responsible for reflecting God to other people. Paul is trying to expand their idea of what it means to be generous.
II Corinthians 9:12-15 – “Contribution” here is translated from a word that is also translated “fellowship.” This gift had a broader impact than just the money itself. More people than just those receiving the funds would benefit.

Deacons

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 3:8-13

The word “deacon” (diakonos)

Often translated “servant” or “minister.”
Romans 16:1-2 – Same Greek word used here for Phoebe. She doesn’t seem to be a deacon in the special sense of I Timothy 3.
Romans 15:8; 13:4
All Christians are servants, but I Timothy 3 is talking about something above and beyond that.

I Timothy 3:8-13

“first be tested”
- These qualifications are the test.
“beyond reproach”
- A deacon should be blameless.
- I John 1:8 – We all sin.
- We can only be blameless through the grace of God.
- Colossians 1:21
“dignity”
- Is a man serious and respectful enough for this work?
“not double-tongued”
- Speaks the truth.
“not addicted to much wine”
- This does not imply permission for a little win.
- I Timothy 5:23
- When the extreme measure is condemned, it does not all the half measure.
“[not] fond of sordid gain”
“holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience”
- Mystery just means it wasn’t yet fully revealed.
- Colossians 1:25-26
- A deacon should be a man who is holding to God’s truth.
“Women”
- Same word in Greek means both woman and wife. Context must indicate which.
- This seems to be speaking about wives of deacons.
“Women must likewise be dignified”
“not malicious gossips”
“temperate”
- Sober and self-controlled.
“faithful in all things”
“husbands of only one wife”
- Bachelors and polygamists are forbidden from serving as deacons.
- This does not seem to be forbidding those who have been remarried, as long as it was lawful in God’s eyes.
“good managers of their children and their own households”
“a high standing”
- This is a service worthy of respect.
- What work should deacons do?
- Acts 6:1-4 – Are these men the first deacons? There are parallels, but the qualifications are not exactly the same.

Prayer

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Bible stresses the importance of prayer.

Luke 18:1 – “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication.”
Colossians 4:2 – “Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”

These passages show that Christians are a praying people. Jesus’ life is a good commentary on the meanings of these passages. Thus, let us study prayer in the light of Jesus’ life.

Jesus prayed at the beginning of His ministry – at baptism.

Luke 3:21:

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying…”

Man begins his life in Christ at baptism. There is better way to begin one’s life in Christ than in prayer. Thus, for many years my practice has been to lead one in prayer. Can you think of a better way?

Jesus prayed at the beginning of His day.

Mark 1:35:

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

We should also begin our day in prayer. We just cannot afford to start our day without Jesus. We have an adversary (1 Peter 5:8). Our only protection is in going to Him who is more powerful. James 4:7-8 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

Jesus prayed at mealtime.

Matthew 15:36:

“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.”

God created food to be received with thanksgiving. Jesus was not ashamed to thank God for the food though thousands were present. Our prayer at mealtime should not be just a custom; we should be really thankful knowing from whence the food comes. 1 Timothy 4:3 – “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

Jesus prayed at the close of His day.

Matthew 14:23:

“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”

This had been a busy day for Jesus. He had been told of John’s death. He had fed five thousand. The people had tried to make Him king. After such a busy day, He made time to pray. We live in a rat-race society. Sometimes we get too busy to stop and pray. Like Jesus, we must make opportunity to pray at close of our day. That is an opportune time for family prayer. There is no better way to close the day than for the family to gather around for Bible reading and prayer.

Jesus prayed at decision time.

Luke 6:12:

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.”

We must strive to make wise decisions (Ephesians 5:15). If we really believe God knows and cares, we will consider Him in time of decisions.

Jesus prayed at Gethsemane

Mark 14:32:

“And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed.”

Years ago, Homer Hailey wrote: “No Christian can successfully fight and win his battle against the temptations of the world and the weakness of his own flesh without his Gethsemane; and that place where he fights and wins his battle is on his knees.” Like Jesus told his disciples at Gethsemane, we must watch and pray.

Jesus closed His ministry on earth in prayer.

Luke 23:34:

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

He prayed for His enemies. He prayed as He committed Himself unto the Father. We should do likewise.

When my dad was breathing his last breath and in a semiconscious state, he was trying to pray to the Father. He was a man of prayer and as he lived so he died. I had an uncle that took God’s name in vain in almost every sentence. His son told me that when dying he was cussing up a storm. As he lived so he died. We need to learn a lesson from these two men. As we live so will we die.

So, let us pray at the beginning of our day, at mealtime, at close of day, at time of decision, at time of trial. We may know the moment of our last breath, but if we thus pray like Jesus, it will not be very long between your last prayer and your last breath.

Jesse Jenkins

Righteous Living: Contentment

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Parable of the Sower

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

2 Corinthians 8:1-21

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Do You Identify as a Loving Spouse?

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Lord's Supper: Its Meaning

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Please read Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29; and 1 Corinthians 10:16. Every point made in this article will be from one of these passages.

The Lord’s Supper is a communion. (1 Corinthians 10:16) The bread is a communion with the body of Christ and the cup is a communion with the blood of Christ. It is our fellowship with Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is a proclamation. It proclaims His life (Matthew 16:26), His death (1 Corinthians 11:26), His mission (Luke 19:10), and His coming (1 Corinthians 11:26). It proclaims that His kingdom is established (Matthew 26:29). It proclaims that He has not come the second time (1 Corinthians 11:26). It proclaims that we are under the new covenant (Matthew 26:28). It also proclaims our faith and love for Him.

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial. Memory is a great factor. Manmade memorials fade away, but Christ has given us a memorial that will not fade away. Man’s greatest danger is to forget God. “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.” (Jeremiah 2:32). The Lord’s Supper is not an emblem or a representative. It is a memorial – “This do in remembrance of me.”

The Lord’s Supper is an anticipation. (1Corinthians 11:26) “Till I come.” Thus, the Supper is a monument to His coming. Therefore, when we partake the Supper, we must be thinking about His death and His promise to come to receive the faithful to Himself. Else, we eat and drink damnation to ourselves. (1 Corinthians 11:27, 29).

In view of all this, we see that we must partake discerningly (1 Corinthians 11:27-29), reverently, and regularly (Acts 20:7).

We often hear one that serves at the table pray for Jesus to bless the bread. He has already done that (Matthew 26:26). Rather, we should be praying that He bless us as we partake.

The prayer of thanks at the table should be just that. We often hear one pray for some good things, but never thank the Lord for the bread or cup. I have made this point in a number of sermons at Benchley. Brethren, when at the table, please remember to thank the Lord for the bread in memorial of this body and the cup in memorial of His blood. And please center your prayer on this. When one prays for other things at the table, he centers his and others’ thoughts on other things. This is a serious matter. When we let our thoughts be on other things, we eat and drink damnation to ourselves. Surely, we do not want our prayer at the table to do that.

Brethren, please sincerely answer these questions.

What about the one who plans a trip on Sunday and misses the Supper?

What about the one who goes hunting and takes along some bread and grape juice and stops long enough to “partake”?

What about ones who go on a trip to the holy land and take along some elements and take ship-side communion?

In short, what about one who deliberately misses the local church Supper and makes some kind – any kind – of arrangements to take some bread and grape juice and call it the Lord’s Supper? Then answer this question: When one does any of these, is he/she putting the Lord first?

Mike Fleming, who used to be an elder here, has planned many trips to the holy land. But he has always planned the trip so that the ones on the trip could be with a local church on Sunday and take the Supper with a local church. When one goes on a holy land trip and does not so plan the trip, he is not putting the Lord first.

Over forty-five years ago, I saw the following from Jerry Ray. I borrow it from him to close this study.

The Lord’s Supper looks:

Inward – examine self
Outward – shows faith to Jesus and others.
Backward – to Jesus’ death
Upward – to our King and Savior
Forward – to His coming

Jesse Jenkins

Righteous Living: Self-Control

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[Note: We had some technical difficulties with the microphone during this class, so I have edited this audio to remove the dead spots in the recording. -MRW]

Introduction

Acts 24:25

It leads us toward wonderful outcomes.

Titus 2:11-14 – We must deny ourselves.
Luke 9:23
Jesus had perfect self-control. He is the ultimate example.
I Corinthians 9:23-27 – Paul also showed tremendous self-control. His self-control gave him the opportunity to do much greater things.
II Peter 2:14, 18-19 – The false teachers were denying the need for self-control.
Self-control is more likely than talent to lead to success. Even secular research shows the benefits of self-control.
You never outgrow your need for self-control.

We can exercise and develop it like a muscle.

Peter developed enough self-control to be qualified as an elder.
Galatians 5:22-25 – Self-control is a choice.
II Peter 1:5-8 – These qualities must increase in our lives.
Secular research shows that building self-control in one area of your life helps build self-control in other areas also.
We can help our children exercise self-control by giving them opportunities to do so.

Scriptures to Remember During Pride Month

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ephesians 4:14-15

“Contrary to sound teaching” (I Timothy 1:10)

I Timothy 1:8-10 – Homosexuality is contrary to God’s law.
Sinful people especially need God’s law to guide them.
Mark 2:17
Homosexuality was a common sin in Paul’s day.
We have all committed sin. We all need God’s grace.
I Timothy 1:12-14
We should not look down our noses at other people because we are all guilty of sin.
Luke 18:9-14
Just because we all sin doesn’t mean that any sin is okay.
The reason Christians come out so strongly against this sin is because the world puts such a spotlight on it.
Matthew 16:24; Colossians 3:5; I Peter 4:3; I Corinthians 7:11; I Timothy 1:10

“Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:31)

I Corinthians 1:25-31 – No one may boast before God.
Sometimes the attitude about the sin is just as bad as the sin itself.
I Corinthians 5:1-6
Romans 1:26-27, 32 – Homosexuality is clearly wrong. Giving approval of homosexuality is also wrong! Compare Acts 8:1.
Romans 6:23 – Sin causes spiritual death.
II Timothy 3:1-5
I John 2:16

“Such were some of you; but you were washed” (I Corinthians 6:11)

I Corinthians 6:9-11 – The church in Corinth was made up of people who had put away all these sins.
Whatever sin you are drawn to, God loves you!

2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 7

II Corinthians 7:2 – Possibly, Paul had been charged with taking advantage of them in taking up a collection. See also II Corinthians 11:20; 1:3-4
II Corinthians 7:5 – This could be describing the anxiety Paul had for the state of the Christians in Achaia and how they responded to his last letter.
II Corinthians 7:8 – Paul’s rebuke caused them sorrow, but he did not regret it once he saw the way they handled it. He did not like rebuking them at the time, though.
II Corinthians 7:9-10 – Godly grief causes repentance, which leads to a life with a clean conscience.
II Corinthians 7:12 – This is an extended not-but passage. Paul did write I Corinthians for the sake of both the offender and offended, but that was not his primary purpose.
II Corinthians 7:14 – Paul had boasted to Titus about the Corinthians and was validated in that boasting.

When All the Nations are Gathered Before Him

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 25:31-46

“He will separate them”

Matthew 25:31-33
We need to live like we know the judgment is coming!
Hebrews 9:27
Matthew 12:26 – This will be an exacting judgment!
Acts 10:40-43
Am I ready to meet the judge?

“you did it to Me”

Matthew 25:37-40
This is not a comprehensive list of how to serve God. But these are things Jesus cares about!
These are all relatively easy things to do. We can’t be so afraid that we can’t do something big that we end up doing nothing at all.

“you did not do it to Me”

Matthew 25:42-45 – These are sins of omission.
Matthew 25:18, 26-30 – The one talent man did wrong by doing nothing.
I Timothy 5:16
Do I assist a needy widow when I should?
Let us not be guilty of failing to act.

“the eternal fire”

Matthew 25:33, 41, 46 – This is Jesus saying what’s going to happen.
Jesus did not shy away from talking about hell:
- Matthew 5:22, 29, 30
- Matthew 10:28
- Matthew 12:37, 41, 42
- Matthew 13:41-42, 49-50
- Matthew 18:8, 9
- Matthew 23:15, 33

The Truth

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

2 John 1:1-4:

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

From this passage want to notice five things.

There is a state into which all people enter who obey truth.

The elect lady and her children were in truth. John knew they were in truth by revelation. We can know who are in truth by their fruits (Matthew 7:20).

There is a correlated body of teaching known as truth which is understandable by man.

John and others knew truth. Truth has identity; is definite. Jesus also taught this (John 8:32). Truth was once a mystery, but now it has been made known and can be understood (Ephesians 3:3-4). Anything that differs in any way with this correlated body of truth is a lie (1 John 2:4; Romans 3:4).

Truth furnishes man’s motivation.

John did things for truth’s sake (2 John 1:2). Many who are members of a local church that says it is of Christ have not learned this. They use many things other than truth for motivation. They use such things as kitchens, youth camps, ball teams, etc. for motivation. They have not learned that a thing cannot be done for truth’s sake if truth has not authorized it. Let us use some examples of doing things for truth’s sake. Abraham offered his son for truth’s sake (Genesis 22). Noah built an ark for truth’s sake. Abel offered a blood offering for truth’s sake (Genesis 4). Israelites, for truth’s sake, had to offer their offerings at the place where God had put His name (Exodus 20:24). We must do many things for truth’s sake. One who believes is baptized in the Name of Jesus for truth’s sake. We must, for truth’s sake, exalt Christ’s local church over manmade institutions that are made for religious work and worship. In short, we must contend for the truth (Jude 1:3).

Truth is the governing principle of the Christian’s life.

The people of our text walked in truth. Truth dwells in the Christian (2 John 1:2). Truth is to be believed. It is to be loved. It is to be obeyed.

Note: The silence of the scripture must be respected also.

Truth is indestructible.

Truth will be with us forever (2 John 1:2). Truth endureth forever (1 Peter 2:25).

Also, truth will judge in the last day. John 12:48:

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

From 2 John 1:3, we learn that it will be grace and peace for those who have walked in truth.

Let us be sure we believe, love and obey the truth now, and make it the guide of our lives. If so, it will be our salvation.

Jesse Jenkins

Righteous Living: Integrity

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 10:9; 11:3, 5; 20:7
The English word “integrity” does not appear in some English translations, but the concept is present in the Bible.
- Strong’s number: H8537 – blamelessness, integrity

Integrity involves righteousness in all areas of life.

Psalms 15
Psalms 101
I Kings 9:4-5 – David was help up as an example of integrity, despite his sin. Integrity doesn’t mean completely sinless. This should give us hope!
Job lists areas in his life where he has had integrity:
- Job 31:1, 9-12 – Moral purity
- Job 31:5-8 – Not guilty of falsehood
- Job 31:13-15 – Just in dealing with others
- Job 31:16-23 – Care for the poor and needy
- Job 31:24-28 – Not guilty of materialism
- Job 31:29-30 – Has not cursed his enemy
- Job 31:31-32 – Hospitality
- Job 31:33-34 – Has not tried to hide sins like Adam

People of integrity live by God’s code of honor (even when others don’t like it)

I Peter 2:13; 3:5, 17
Psalms 26

You enjoy a clean conscience!

Psalms 32:3
Living with integrity helps us protect our conscience.
Psalms 24:3-5
Acts 24:16
Romans 13:5
Hebrews 13:18
I Peter 3:16

Integrity makes you an incredible employee!

Colossians 3:22-24
Ephesians 6:5-8
Proverbs 16:11
Proverbs 19:1
Proverbs 28:6
Luke 3:13-14

Second-rate Service

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 12:10-13

Service to God

Time

Acts 24:25-27

Money

Matthew 15:4-6

Effort

Haggai 1:2-5

Prayer

Daniel 6:10
I Thessalonians 5:17

Meditation

Joshua 1:8
I Timothy 4:15
Do we ever just sit an think about spiritual things?

Worship

Malachi 1:8, 13

Warning!

If things are tight, is it spiritual things that we cut first? If so, we are making Satan’s work easy!

Strategies to help:

Love God more!

II Corinthians 8:1-5
Spend time thinking about what God has done for us (Psalms 77:11-15).
Read the Bible (Psalms 119:159-164).

Sacrifice self more!

Matthew 16:24-25; Acts 4:34-37
Jesus must be our first priority!

Make spiritual things important and urgent in our lives.

Luke 12:17-23, 29-31
The four quadrants of the important/urgent matrix.
Luke 9:57-62 – Move earthly things back to the important but not urgent category.
Luke 8:14; 10:40-42 – Limit not important, but urgent things as much as possible.
Make sure spiritual things don’t end up in the not important and not urgent category!

2 Corinthians 6:1-7:1

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 6

II Corinthians 6:1-2 – Compare I Corinthians 3:9. The quote is from Isaiah 49:8.
II Corinthians 6:3-6 – Paul was very cautious of his behavior so that his critics could not speak against him. See II Corinthians 11:23-28. Paul spelled out all that he had to go through to bring the gospel to them.
II Corinthians 6:7-10 – See I Thessalonians 5:8. Paul spoke often of spiritual warfare.
II Corinthians 6:11-13 – See Philippians 4:15. He had been open to them. He wanted them to be open in return. See I John 3:16-17. We must be willing to open our hearts to others and to serve them.
II Corinthians 6:14-15 – This is a prohibition against fellowship with unbelievers. See Romans 1:29-32.
II Corinthians 6:16-18 – Paul is showing how our relationship with God should work.

II Corinthians 7

II Corinthians 7:1 – We should work to perfect our relationship with God. Is every part of my life glorifying God?

Sermon on the Mount: Overview

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 4:23-25
This sermon was a great departure from what most people thought true religion was at the time.
This sermon was not a call to arms for physical warfare.

It is easy to misunderstand and misapply (if we ignore context and harmony)

Matthew 5:14-16 – Jesus spoke in a way that everyone could understand.
Matthew 5:29
Jesus was practical and to the point.
Matthew 5:44
Matthew 6:7, 24
Jesus was the perfect teacher, but it is still possible to take his words out of context and misuse them.
Matthew 6:19; 7:1 – Is it wrong to have a bank account or judge others?
If we fail to understand, the mistake is ours!
Matthew 7:15, 7
Matthew 6:33

There is a balance of dos and don’ts.

Matthew 5:3, 11-12
Matthew 5:13 – Be salty, don’t be tasteless.
Matthew 5:20
Matthew 6:2
Matthew 7:13-14
We want to have this same balance that Jesus had.

Jesus taught with obvious authority.

Matthew 7:28-29
John 7:45
Matthew 5:17
There was nothing physically unique about Jesus. It was the context of His teaching.
Matthew 5:21
Matthew 5:43-44
Matthew 7:21-23 – Jesus is saying He will be there and be in charge at the judgment.
Read with reverence!

Righteous Living: Humility

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 3:2
Proverbs 16:18
Matthew 11:29

Humility with God

Jeremiah 10:23
Luke 18:9-14
Romans 12:3-8 – Don’t underestimate yourself. Whatever God has given you the ability to do in service to Him, do it the best you can! Be competent and confident in what you can do!

Humility in leadership

Numbers 12:3-8
Numbers 16:3
Moses was a leader but maintained his humility.
Matthew 20:20-28
Philippians 2:3-8
People are more willing to follow when the leader is humble. The followers of a humble leader will also be more humble themselves.

Humility in parenting

I Corinthians 9:17
My job is to humble myself enough to pass on God’s instruction to my children.
Proverbs 29:15
I Kings 1:6 – Daved never disciplined Adonijah.

Humility with peers

I Peter 5:5-7 – We must be humble to each other!
Hebrews 10:24-25
James 2:8-9
Pride poisons relationships!

Dealing With Sin Like Ezra

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ezra 9:1-4
Proverbs 8:13
Romans 12:9

Don’t think that sin is okay if the leaders are doing it.

Ezra 9:2; 10:5-11 – They all got together to talk about the sin – in the rain!
Sinful leaders were a big part of Israel’s problem.
Nehemiah 13:26 – Even Solomon committing sin didn’t make it right.
I Timothy 5:17-21 – Elders are not above God’s law.

Acknowledge our guilt and God’s justice.

Ezra 9:5-15
Luke 23:41
God has always been moved by earnest prayer.
We need to develop the ability to be honest with ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us.

Summon courage and take initiative.

Ezra 10:1-5
What do I do when I see something that needs to be changed in my life?
Ezra 7:10
Deuteronomy 7:3
Ezra 10:14
How can I know something in my life is sin? By studying God’s law.

2 Corinthians 5:1-21

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 5

II Corinthians 5:1-3 – “Tent” here refers to the earthly human body. See II Peter 1:13-14. We have an eternal component that is temporarily housed in an earthly body. See Mark 14:58; John 1:14; I Corinthians 15:50-55. Paul had talked about this idea with them at length.
II Corinthians 5:4-5 – While in our physical bodies, we yearn to be back with God. We are being prepared to go back to live with God. Truly understanding that should change how we view this life.
II Corinthians 5:6-7 – While on earth, we are separated from God in such a way that we must choose to seek God.
II Corinthians 5:8-10 – See Luke 23:43; I Thessalonians 4:1. Jesus is in heaven, where we all desire to be. Verse 10 refutes the “once saved, always saved” doctrine.
II Corinthians 5:11-12 – Operating based on outward appearance is the wrong perspective.
II Corinthians 5:13-15 – Verse 14 is saying that Jesus died, so we must put away our old lives.
II Corinthians 5:16-17 – We should not judge people based on outward appearance. We should use a spiritual standard. See Colossians 3:9-11; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:23-24.
II Corinthians 5:18-19 – When we are forgiven, we are reconciled to God. See Colossians 1:19-23; Romans 5:11.
II Corinthians 5:20-21 – Paul is using a figure here. Jesus became the sacrifice for sin. See I Corinthians 5:7; I Peter 1:18; 2:22; 3:21.

Objectives of the Devil

Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The devil is the enemy of all. However, while one is in sin, whether he is morally good or bad, the devil does not have to use much effort on him, for he is already his servant. But when one becomes a Christian, the devil is a roaring lion, walking about seeking to devour him (1 Peter 5:8).

I believe the devil has three objectives relative to accountable people. One objective is regarding the sinner and two are in regard to those who have left Satan.

His first objective is to keep people out of the church. He knows that the Lord, without fail, adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47). Man may tell you the church is not important, but the devil knows it is. He knows that Christ’s blood purchased the church (Acts 20:28). He knows that which is purchased (the church) is as important as the price paid (the blood). Just as the only way to get benefit from $80 one pays for a pair of shoes is to utilize the shoes, the devil knows the only way for one to benefit from the blood (the price paid) is to utilize the purchased item (the church). To throw the shoes away is tantamount to throwing away the $80 and to disregard the church is to equally disregard the blood. One may as well ask “by what blood are you saved?” as to ask, “of what church are you a member?” The one saving blood purchased the one saved relationship.

The devil has many ways (devices, see 2 Corinthians 2:11) to keep people out of the church. He has great success at keeping people out of the church by convincing them the church is non-essential. He persuades people to think any church is as good an as any other and even that no church is necessary if one is filled with “love.”

He keeps many out of the church by ridicule and misrepresentation. He, through his servants, ridicules truth and misrepresents those who teach and practice it. The chief of the Jews could not answer Jesus yet, would not obey Him; so, they said He cast devils by the prince of devils (Mark 3:22). The devil is still having success with this device.

Church trouble is one of his favorite devices for keeping people out of the church. If Satan can get members of a local church to biting and devouring one another, he has effectively accomplished his purpose. People of the world are not converted by brethren devouring one another. Such things are repulsive to them.

Jesus said He would build His church and that the devil could not stop Him (Matt.16:18). The devil had Him killed, but He arose and built His church anyway. Since the devil could not prevent it, he did the next best thing for his purpose; he built his many churches (see Revelation 2:9) and convinced men that his were as good as the one Jesus built. This device is the doom of many today.

If the devil fails to keep one out of the church, he then does all he can to get that one back into his domain. This is his second device. To this one he is now the roaring lion seeking to devour. Peter tells of some who fell to this objective (2 Peter 2:20-21).

The devil tries to weaken one’s faith through worldly enterprise. Many are the ones who have let a business or job cause them to go back to Satan’s service.

He has also used church trouble very effectively here. Many weak members have let the ungodliness of some they had thought to be strong to cause them to cease serving God.

He has also had great success in getting people back into his service by means of evil companions (1 Corinthians 15:33). Peers are one of the strongest influences on people - especially young people.

Brethren, let us be aware of his devices and resist him and submit ourselves to God, and he will flee (James 4:7).

If the devil fails to get one to denounce Christ, he pursues his third objective – he tries to render one useless to the Lord. Ask yourself: “What am I worth in His service?” Do I just occupy a pew? Am I really serving the Lord?

The devil renders one worthless by keeping him ignorant. He will not study at home. He will miss Bible class for any trivial excuse. And he is interested in only part of the sermon – the end. He may sing “O how I love Jesus” and “I will work and pray” but the devil has him in his service. And there he will remain until he begins to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

He renders many useless to the Master’s cause by keeping them interested in pleasure. Far more members of local churches are serving the goddess of pleasure than we may realize. Some are always up late Saturday night, sleep late Sunday morning, and arrive late at the assembly – if at all. Some go to the lake for the weekend, stay until midafternoon Sunday, then pacify their conscience by “taking the supper” Sunday evening. But the truth is that Satan has accomplished his objective of rendering them useless to the Lord.

Satan renders many useless by keeping them stingy. They spend so much of their money on pleasure and things that they cannot give bountifully of what they have prospered to the Lord.

He renders some useless by making them chronic grouches. They are always there, but they keep friction going too, and the devil dances with glee.

He renders some useless by making them adept at excuses. What they need to realize is that as they excuse themselves from the Lord’s work, they are excusing themselves into hell.

The devil renders some useless by hypocrisy. On Sunday morning they sing “I love thy kingdom Lord” and “I will work and pray and labor every day in the vineyard of the Lord” and then will not even come back for the Wednesday night service, or they may attend every service, but on the job talk and act like the world.

Let us not, Gentle reader, be a victim of any of his devices. There is no need to be. God has provided a way of escape (2 Corinthians 10:13) And man can use that way of escape. He can pray for strength to resist the devil and do God’s will. If we do these things when we are tempted, it will not be that we can, but that we will escape the devil’s devices. Brethren, let us not be ignorant of his devices – not only in knowledge, but also in practice.

Jesse Jenkins

Righteous Living: Kindness

Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalm 136
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 4:31-32
Colossians 3:12

We are sons of the Most High, not mirrors.

Luke 6:27-35 – We should not reflect bad behavior we see in others. We must do always strive to do what is right, regardless of the behavior of those around us.
II Timothy 2:24-25

Kindness helps me positively influence others.

Acts 9:36-42 – Tabitha was widely loved because of her kindness.
Kindness helps us be a positive influence to others.
II Corinthians 6:3-5
Proverbs 31:26

God balances His kindness with severity.

Romans 2:4
Romans 11:22
Galatians 2:11
Galatians 3:1; 4:11; 5:12
There is patience, but there is an end to God’s patience.

To Die or Not to Die

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 3:20-24
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; 2:14-16; 3:1-2, 19-22; 4:2-3; 5:15-16; 6:6; 7:1; 8:8; 9:2-6
It is miserable to consider only the earthly perspective.

Bryan Johnson

“professional rejuvenation athlete”
https://dontdie.bryanjohnson.com/
Bryan Johnson thinks death is optional and is setting out to prove it.
Follows an extremely controlled diet, exercise, and sleep routine.
Started out as a Mormon, but now does not have faith.

We can’t escape death.

Psalms 39:4-6
Psalms 89:47-48
Psalms 90:10

But we will live forever.

Luke 20:34-38
Revelation 1:17-18
I Corinthians 15:21-26, 54-57

So, the wise thing to do is to prepare for eternity.

John 4:14
I Timothy 4:8
Philippians 1:21-24 – To die is gain!
- Contrast this with Bryan Johnson’s motto of “don’t die.”

2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 4

II Corinthians 4:1-2 – Thoughts continued from II Corinthians 3:17-18. Paul refused to use underhanded ways or tamper with the gospel. He just spoke the truth.
II Corinthians 4:3-4 – See II Corinthians 3:16. Turning to the Lord removes this veil.
II Corinthians 4:5-6 – God’s message was light meant to direct their paths. In verse 6, Paul is referencing creation. Compare II Corinthians 5:17.
II Corinthians 4:7-10 – This “treasure” is the message of the gospel. The “jars of clay” are people. See I Corinthians 2:1-5; 4:9; 15:30.
II Corinthians 4:11-12 – Paul was facing physical death, but spiritual life was happening in the Corinthians.
II Corinthians 4:13-15 – See Psalms 116:10; Matthew 13:31-32. Knowing that we will be raised and need to stand before Jesus should be a sobering thought.
II Corinthians 4:16-18 – What Paul experienced was certainly not a light affliction, but in comparison, it shows how great heaven will be!

Judges

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Nehemiah 9:24-31 – Cycles of obedience and disobedience.
Judges 2:10, 16

Adversity is good for us.

Judges 2:20-3:9 – God left enemies in place to test Israel and teach them war.
II Corinthians 12:7 – God left adversity for Paul.
II Timothy 3:11
II Timothy 4:14-18
Can we face this adversity and still be faithful?
James 1:2

Don’t surrender to Satan’s culture.

Judges 17:7-18:31
Judges 19:1-21:24 – War with the tribe of Benjamin.
Joshua 24:14-15
Romans 12:1
Hebrews 11:32-34 – God saw faith in these men who put up a fight.
Ephesians 4:11-12

Thankfully, God is full of grace.

Judges 3:7-12 – The cycle continued!
God took pity on them and saved again and again.
I John 4:14
I John 1:9

Righteous Living: Forgiveness

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Forgiveness

Psalms 130:3-4 – The idea of forgiveness is letting go.
I Corinthians 7:11 – The same word is used here and translated “divorced.”

Aren’t we glad that God forgives us?!

I John 1:9
Acts 5:30; 13:28

I have to learn how to quit holding grudges.

Matthew 6:12-15
Colossians 3:12-13
Ephesians 4:31-32 – We must forgive others in order for God to forgive us.
Matthew 18:21-35

Does the Bible require me to forget?

Hebrews 10:3
II Samuel 12:13-14 – Just because we are forgiven does not mean there are no earthly consequences.
Deuteronomy 8:1-6

Stalled on the Highway to Heaven

Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hebrews 1:1-4
Hebrews 2:1-4 – Don’t drift away!
Hebrews 3:6, 12; 4:1, 11
Hebrews 5:11-14
Hebrews 6:1-3
- Hebrews 6:2 – Compare Hebrews 9:10 regarding “washings.”
Hebrews 9:11-12

Christians can fall away (Hebrews 6:6)

Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26 – If you reject Jesus, there’s no other sacrifice for you!
Hebrews 6:7-8 – God gives the gospel. We either accept or reject it.

Active Christians can fall away (Hebrews 6:10)

Hebrews 6:9-10
Hebrews 10:32
Let us not take our brothers and sisters in Christ for granted.

Therefore, develop diligence, faith, and patience (Hebrews 6:11-12)

2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 3

II Corinthians 3:1-3
- We are not to boast, but when the situation demands, we can defend our work in Christ.
- “tablets of stone” – Paul is setting up a comparison between the Old and New Covenant. Note that this is a “not-but” construction.
- Ezekiel 11:19-20; 36:26-27; Jeremiah 31:31-33 – There was a new covenant coming, the glory of which far outshone the Old Covenant.
II Corinthians 3:4-6
- See Romans 4:15. The Old Covenant brought wrath.
- See Hebrews 9:15.
II Corinthians 3:7-8
- See Exodus 20:18. The Old Covenant came with glory. Exodus 24:15-18; Hebrews 12:21. Moses’ face glowed after interacting with God.
- In II Corinthians 3:7, the fading (or ineffective) glory might be due to the veil Moses put over his face (or maybe that the Old Covenant was being done away with).
II Corinthians 3:12-13
- The Israelites didn’t want to see Moses’ face shining, so he wore a veil. Perhaps they could not tolerate the righteousness of God shining light on their own sin.
II Corinthians 3:14-16
- The heart of the Israelites was darkened. They effectively had veiled their own faces before God.
II Corinthians 3:17-18
- When we are in a right relationship with God, we are spiritually free.

Takeaway

Participants in the New Covenant must continually be transformed instead of being conformed to this world (Romans 12:2).

One Faith: An Appeal for Unity

Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ephesians 4:1-6 – There is one faith.

Let’s content ourselves with what the New Testament reveals about the church.

Ephesians 5:22-30 – Jesus is the savior of the church (body). Notice that the church does not save – the church is the saved.
Hebrews 12:23
Philippians 4:15; 1:1
Let’s just do what the New Testament says the church should do and leave it at that!

Let’s not content ourselves with doctrinal divisions.

Matthew 7:21
John 17:17-23
Ephesians 4:5
Jude 1:3
Ephesians 4:11
Acts 18:5-11
This is Jesus’ church – He gets to make the rules!

Let’s just be Christians, not types of Christians.

Acts 11:19-26 – They were brought “to the Lord.”
You can’t read in the Bible about a Baptist Christian or a Lutheran Christian. You only read about Christians.
I Corinthians 1:10-13

Marks of a Great Man

Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The measure of a great man is not his bank account nor a string of degrees. A man is not
great because of what he has or who he is, but because of what he is and what he does.
Millionaires come and go and are forgotten. Kings and queens become names in dusty history
books. PhDs live and die having made little, if any, mark in the world and are soon forgotten.
Yet Paul lives in the heart of every reader of the N.T. Why was he great?

He could change when he learned he was wrong:

He was a Pharisee. Looking back on his life, he said: “I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee and profited in the Jews religion.” (Acts 23:6) He was the greatest enemy of Christ. Acts 7:57-58:

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.”

Acts 8:1-3:

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. … As for Saul, he made havoc on the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.”

Yet Paul became the greatest advocate for Christ and the most persecuted for his change. Let us consider some reasons why Paul was great.

Paul could feel sorrow for sin:

He always felt remorse at the thought of his early life. 1 Timothy 1:12-13:

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

Acts 22:20:

“And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.”

He was not like so many today. He was not sorry because he got caught or marred his reputation. He had a godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” Godly sorrow is being sorry that one has sinned against God. This was Paul’s sorrow. All need the attitude of Joseph. Genesis 3:9: “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God”?

Paul was humble, yet he had self-respect:

He was always humble before God (Philippians 3:9):

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

1 Corinthians 9:27:

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

He always bowed his will to the will of his God. Yet, he had self-respect and demanded respect from others. (Acts 16:37) His self-respect came from knowing he was right with God.

Paul was able to compare values and choose the best:

He gave up all things - birth, position, etc. Philippians 3:7:

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

This he did that he might suffer with Christ (Philippians 3:10):

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

His heart was set on glorifying God and saving his own soul. If we have the disposition of Paul, we will always compare values and chose to do that which would glorify God and save our own souls.

He never looked back:
Some members are more like Demas than Paul (2 Timothy 4:10). They are more concerned with what they left behind than what is ahead. They have too much conscience to quit the Lord altogether, and not enough love for the Lord to really put Him first. Paul did not long for things behind; he reached forth to things ahead. Philippians 3:13-14:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul had a purpose in life:

He was not just fighting the air (shadow boxing). 1 Corinthians 9:26:

“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”

He knew where he was going and why. Some today do not have a sense of direction; they just drift with the tide. We must have wisdom and keep our eye on the Lord and the faith He authored. Hebrews 12:2:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Paul had faith in the outcome:

He knew whom he trusted (2 Timothy 1:12):

“I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.”

Today, some have said: “I just do not believe I can make it anyway,” which is an admission that they are only halfheartedly serving. We, like Paul, must fully believe the crown is ours. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

All the money in the world cannot buy, all the prestige in the world cannot give a man what Paul had when he walked out under blue Italian skies to keep his date with the Roman headsman. But if we faithfully serve the Lord, we can face death with the same serenity, the same peace, the same confidence with which it was faced by Paul.

These are marks of a great man. Let us try to develop them in our lives.

Jesse Jenkins

Righteous Living: Patience

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

What Kids Need to Hear from Moms and Dads

Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Titus 2:4

God is real.

II Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15 – Lois and Eunice gave Timothy a boost in the right direction.
Every person must decide on their own.
II Chronicles 24:1, 17-19 – Joash served God while Jehoida was there but then fell away.
More and more young people are atheist.
Romans 10:17 – You need to hear the word of God in order to have faith.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – Teach your children about God!
Joshua 4:6 – God set up opportunities for them to teach their children.
“a warm relationship with the parents, and in particular the father, is the single most important factor in faith transmission”
John 20:30-31
Help your children by talking about possible objections to faith. Let them inquire and ask questions so you can address them.

You are valuable.

Genesis 1:26-27 – We are valuable because we are created in God’s image.
Our value comes from God.
Psalms 8:4-5
Psalms 148:1-8
John 4:23-24
I Peter 3:3
Acts 13:22
Colossians 1:10
We need to give wisdom and guidance on using social media.

2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17

Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

II Corinthians 1, continued:

II Corinthians 1:23-24 – Paul had more accusations than just fickleness to defend himself against. See II Corinthians 10:2; 12:16; 13:3.

II Corinthians 2

II Corinthians 2:1-2 – Paul wanted his next visit to be an uplifting one. See II Corinthians 12:20. Compare II Corinthians 13:2. Different translations give different ideas on how many times Paul had been to Corinth.
II Corinthians 2:3-4 – The book of I Corinthians was not an easy thing for Paul to write. He was in anguish when writing it. See II Corinthians 7:8-9; 13:5.
II Corinthians 2:5-8 – This is likely the incestuous fornicator from I Corinthians 5. This is a model for restoring a repentant sinner. See Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:32.
II Corinthians 2:9-11 – See II Corinthians 11:3; 12:7; I Peter 5:8 – The real enemy here is Satan – not the sinner.
II Corinthians 2:12-13 – See II Corinthians 7:5. We are going to be ignorant about why things happen, but we know that God is in control.
II Corinthians 2:14-17 – Paul was not peddling the word of God (just preaching for money).

Takeaway

Forgiven people are forgiving people (Matthew 18:21-35). Forgiven people are forgetful people.
Our forgiveness to others must model the way we had been forgiven by God (Ephesians 4:32).
Forgiveness is active, not passive, and requires effort on our part.

Acting Like Christ When It's Hard

Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 6:40

Focus on joy with God instead of conflict with people.

Acts 5:40-42
Acts 8:1
Acts 13:51
Acts 14:7, 19-21
How does the devil look at us? Are we easy to knock down or distract from serving God?
Acts 18:2
Acts 16:22-25 – Paul was not congratulated for freeing the girl from her condition. He was thrown in jail! Instead of being downcast, though, Paul and Silas rejoiced.
Acts 9:31
Acts 15:3

Maintain honor instead of “fighting fire with fire.”

Christians are tempted to lash out.
Sometimes we assume the worst about a situation. Acts 21:27-29
Sometimes we blame the wrong person. See Acts 16:27-34. Paul could have turned on the jailer, but helped him instead.
If something goes wrong, we can’t give up and act like the world.
We are trying to be like Jesus – not the world.
I Corinthians 6:1-8

Love people’s souls.

Acts 26:24
Acts 7:59-60 – This is a good attitude!
Matthew 5:44
I Corinthians 8:7-14

Jesus - Our Only Hope

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Jesus, our hope – only hope

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” (Ephesians 2:12-16)

To be without Jesus is to be without hope. He is our all-sufficient savior.

He is our only sufficient sacrifice.

See text above. Also see Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:15, 22; 2 Corinthians 5:21.

He is our king.

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (Revelation 19:16)

It is His right to rule. He is the only guide to life.

He is our high priest.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)

He is our advocate, helper, comforter.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:1)

We need our advocate because we have problems, problems too big for us. Jesus stands besides us in our trials. He understands (Hebrews 4:15). He knows pain. A scourge lashed His back; He endured crucifixion. He can help. Jesus knows, even when we do not know “what to pray for as we ought,” when we cannot describe our problem, much less the solution, when our best expression is only “groanings which can be uttered” (Romans 8:26-27). He stands at our side. He “searches the hearts” and knows our agony. Then He makes “intercession for saints according to the will of God.” Men may not understand us; men may fail us. Not Jesus! Paul recalled in 2 Timothy 4:16, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” Jesus is our helper in time of need (1 Peter 5:7). We need an advocate because we have an adversary – a fierce adversary (1 Peter 5:8). The name “Satan” means “adversary.” The devil is our enemy. He is determined to destroy us, and on our own, he would succeed. The cry of the conquered man – “who shall deliver us from this body of death” (Romans 7:23-24) is answered. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:25) Oh yes, we have an advocate in our battle with Satan. What an advocate!

We need an advocate because we are guilty of sin. There is no chance of a not guilty plea, we have no defense. We must have an advocate at our side to plead our case. Jesus is such a helper. We are guilty. We deserve to be punished, but Jesus paid the price for us. Jesus came to our aid and went to the cross so that we need not go to hell. Isaiah 53:5 - “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” For us, He paid the price – the absolutely necessary price for redemption. Isaiah 53:12 - “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

We need an advocate because we are stained by sin, our guilt stands between us and God (Isaiah 59:1-2). How shall we be clean? What can wash away our sin? What sacrifice can atone for transgression? No animal sacrifice can atone. No man can atone for all are unqualified because all are sinners. We need help! But who can help us? Jesus, our advocate is the only answer. “…we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) As He once cleansed us, He continues to be the source of cleansing for our faltering (1 John 1:7). It is through Jesus that we can stand spotless before God in the final day with robes washed “white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

We need an advocate because we are faced with death; we are powerless in the face of death. One is called to our side, who broke the bars of death by His own resurrection, who banished the dread of death. “Oh death, where is your sting? Oh hades, where your victory? …thanks to Him who give us the victory through our Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:55,57)

Yes, we have an advocate; He is real. The question is, what will we do with our advocate? Honor Him and He will say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Fail to honor Him and He will ultimately say, “depart from me ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23) Which answer we get depends on how we treat our Advocate. Yes, Jesus is our hope. And there is none other.

Jesse Jenkins

Righteous Living: Introduction

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Colossians 1:9

Who?

All people! We are all still trying to learn and do better.
Ephesians 4:1-3, 13

What?

I Peter 1:14-16
We are truly to be holy – not like our old selves.
Ephesians 4:24-32

When?

When should we start working on these things? The matter is urgent!
Acts 22:16; 24:24-27
Luke 8:14 – There is never a time you won’t be busy. You can’t rely on an uncertain future.
Acts 16:30-34 – This man did not wait until he could serve God perfectly.

Where?

II Corinthians 7:1; 6:15-18
Every part of my life!

Why?

Ephesians 5:1-10
We are trying to make God happy.

How?

Romans 6:2-11 – We must consider ourselves dead to sin, never to return!
Psalms 97:10

I'm Thinking About Getting Married

Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introductions

Proverbs 4:25-27
Ephesians 5:15

Respect what the Bible says about husbands and wives.

Isaiah 55:8-9 – God knows best!
Malachi 2:14
I Corinthians 11:3; I Peter 3:1-6; Ephesians 5:22-30; Colossians 3:18 – Man is to be the head of the household. The woman is submissive to the leadership of the husband. This is God’s way and it is right! Husbands, if you are mistreating your wife, your prayers are being hindered!
Proverbs 21:19 – Try to avoid this kind of relationship!

There’s a time for everything, and some things are only designed for marriage.

Hebrews 13:4
Matthew 16:24
Matthew 5:27-30
Sin may give you passing pleasure, but sin is never good!

Look at their proven character more than their promises.

I Timothy 3:4
II Peter 1:5
Proverbs 31:30
Psalms 14:1; Proverbs 1:7 – Don’t marry a fool!
I Samuel 25:3, 10-11 – Abigail was married to a fool!

Have a little grace!

Genesis 3:6 – People make mistakes.
We all need grace and forgiveness.

2 Corinthians 1:3-22

Sun, 05 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Notes on the text

II Corinthians 1:3-5 – Paul had indeed suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. Suffering is not a sufficient reason not to encourage others.
II Corinthians 1:6-7 – “Comfort” is the idea of being lifted up or cheered. We must patiently endure what suffering comes our way.
II Corinthians 1:8-9 – Paul leaned to rely on God and not on himself. See I Corinthians 3:1-2. Paul is now able to reference Jesus’ resurrection in passing, showing that they had grown.
II Corinthians 1:10-11 – Paul encouraged them to pray on his behalf.
II Corinthians 1:15-17 – See I Corinthians 16:5-7. He wanted to visit them on the way back and forth to Macedonia, but apparently his plans had changed.
II Corinthians 1:18-20 – Paul addresses criticism that he was fickle with his plans. Timothy and Silvanus (likely the same person known as Silas in other passages) were with Paul on his second journey. “Amen” is transliterated from Hebrew and means, “I believe.” It is also translated “verily” or “assuredly” when it comes at the beginning of a sentence.
II Corinthians 1:21-22 – See Also Romans 8:16-17. Compare Ephesians 1:13 (“sealed”); 4:30.

Takeaway

What have you suffered or experienced that you are using to serve and comfort others.

God's Love for Fallen Man

Thu, 02 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

We are not speaking of God’s love for man as He made him, but His love for man after sin entered his heart to corrupt and destroy him. In six days, God made heaven and earth and saw that it was good (Genesis 1). Of all creation, man was His crowning glory (Psalms 8:4-8). Satan entered and sin blotched God’s perfect work. If an artist painted a masterpiece and another came along and blotched the painting, consider how that artist would feel. What could he do but destroy the ruined work and start over? But not so with God. He loved His work too much for that. He gave His plan whereby His work could be restored to its original beauty (Genesis 3:15). The restored work became His masterpiece. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) God made man perfect, but Satan blotched His work. Thus, we see the terrible state of man, both Jew (Romans 2:1) and Gentile (Romans 1:22-32). In restoring His work rather than destroying it and starting over, we see God’s love for fallen man.

The longsuffering of God shows his love for fallen man

His longsuffering is seen in His promise to Adam and Eve after their fall (Genesis 3:15). It is seen in His delivery of Lot from Sodom (Genesis 19). It is seen in His treatment of Jews. They would sin. He would punish them. They would repent and return to God. God would deliver them. Then the process would be repeated time after time. This is vividly seen in the book of Judges. This has been the history of God‘s people in all the past. His people have not been able to stand prosperity. Let this be a great warning to us. Man sins. Yet, when he turns to God, He forgives. In this is seen His great love for man.

God’s love for fallen man is seen in the provisions He has made for man’s salvation

All men sin. (Romans 3:23) Man cannot save himself. Without God’s longsuffering, he is eternally doomed to hell. God loved man enough that He sent Jesus to be a blood sacrifice that was sufficient to forgive sin. When we you view Jesus’ death on the cross, you will get a pretty good picture of God’s great love. H. Leo Boles said: “The death of Christ was born of the womb of the love of God.”

The relation to which He has called the saved shows His great Love. The saved are sons of God (Galatians 3:27). The saved are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The saved are united as one with other saved. (John 17:21)

The hope with which He has endowed up shows His great love

We have the hope of eternal life in His presence and the glory of His power. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) We have the hope of eternal separation from all evil. We have the hope of no suffering in hell. What great hope! And it is all provided by God’s great love for fallen man.

Now man can be part of the Master’s restored masterpiece. But man can only be benefited by the love of God as he accepts and appropriates that which God’s love has provided. Example: A father provides house, education and spiritual training for his son. But he can only be befitted as he accepts that which the father’s love has provided. He must live in the house, desire the education, and apply the spiritual training. Even so with great love. Man will not be benefited by God’s great love unless he loves God and accepts His provisions on His terms. God loves all mankind, but He has a special love for His own. Therefore, consider how much He loves His own sons. His sons will make mistakes; the Bible tells us so (1 John 1:8,10). But His sons never change directions, never change Masters. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, (decision) let him deny himself, (self-denial) and take up his cross daily, (duty) and follow me (direction).” (Luke 9:23). The four Ds for a successful spiritual life:

Decision
Deny self
Duty
Direction

The man who continually appreciates God’s love for fallen man will make mistakes, but he will never change directions.

God’s sons keep pressing on toward the mark of the prize of His calling (Philippians 3:13-14).

Brethren, let us be sure we accept God’s great love by living His process of salvation.

Jesse Jenkins

Apologetics, Part 12: How We Got the English Bible

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Welcome to the final class of our series on apologetics. Tonight, we will conclude with our history of how we got the English Bible. When we concluded last week, the political winds under King Henry VIII had turned and the king had assigned his head of state, Thomas Cromwell, to produce an officially sanctioned English Bible.

Miles Coverdale

Cromwell was a reform-minded man and had already discussed the idea of a new translation with Miles Coverdale, who had already helped Tyndale complete his translation of the Pentateuch. Coverdale was overjoyed with the idea.

Do you know anyone that has no patience to start a new project? Coverdale felt that way about this translation project and got started well before he had official license from the king.

Cromwell officially told him to start in 1535 and Coverdale already had the work done by October of that year.

Coverdale Bible

The sheets were printed at either Zurich or Antwerp, then shipped to England where they were bound up and republished with an amended title page and a dedication to the king.

This was the first complete Bible ever to be published in English. The Old Testament books were ordered according to the Vulgate rather than the Hebrew and the order of the New Testament was according to Luther’s German rather than Erasmus’ Greek edition.

Baruch was placed among the prophets next to Jeremiah “because he was his scribe.” 1 and 2 Samuel were called Kings 1 and 2. Nehemiah was called 2 Esdras. Hebrews and James were placed between 3 John and Jude. This put the text into clear parts:

Pentateuch
Historical books (Joshua to Esther)
Poetical books (Job to Song of Solomon)
Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi)
The Apocrypha
New Testament

The chapter headings were removed, and chapter summaries put in instead. Some of the ecclesiastical terms that Tyndale had removed (such as “penance”) were put back. Contentious marginal notes were taken out. Coverdale tried hard not to take shots at any particular sect.

Coverdale knew Latin well, but very little Hebrew and Greek, so much of his translation was based on the work of others, especially Tyndale and St. Jerome, Sanctus Pagninus (a learned Dominican who had published a new Latin translation in 1528), and German translations by Luther, and the Zurich Bible (from Ulrich Zwingli and Leo Juda).

Coverdale Bible, part 2

Examples of Coverdale’s turns of phrase: p. 145

“the pride of life” 1 John 2:16
“the world passeth away” I John 2:17
“enter thou into the joy of the lord” Matthew 25:21, 23
“and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” Matthew 6:12
Tyndale’s version: “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.”
“tender mercies”
“respect of persons”
“lovingkindness”
“valley of the shadow of death” - Psalm 23
“better is a mess of potage with love, than a fat ox with evil will” - Proverbs 15:17 (this one didn’t stick)

Odd renderings from Coverdale:

“the beer shall be bitter to them that drink it” - Isaiah 24:9
“Thou shalt not need to be afraid for any bugs by night.” - Psalm 91:5
- Everybody noticed this one and so this translation was called the “Bugs Bible” colloquially.

Sample of the Coverdale Bible

Faith is a sure confidence of thinges which are hoped for, and a certaynte of thinges which are not sene. By it ye Elders were well reported of. Thorow faith we vnderstonde, that the worlde and all the thinges which are sene, were made of naughte by the worde of God. By faith offered Abell vnto God a more plenteous sacrifice: by the which he optayned wytnesse, that he was righteous: God testifyenge of his giftes, by the which also he beynge deed, yet speaketh. By faith was Enoch take awaye, that he shulde not se death: and was not founde, because God had taken him awaye. For afore he was taken awaye, he had recorde that he pleased God. But without faith it is vnpossible to please God. For he that commeth vnto God, must beleue that God is, & yt he is a rewarder of them that seke him.

Hebrews 11:1-6, Coverdale Bible, 1535

Source: https://textusreceptusbibles.com/Coverdale

Reception by Henry

When the Bible was ready, Cromwell turned it over the Henry for review. Henry sent it to the bishops for review, but they didn’t like the idea of an English Bible and were very slow to give their review. They said the translation had many faults. Henry finally asked if there was any heresy in it and demanded an answer. The bishops reluctantly said no, so Henry put the Bible into limited circulation. Anne Boleyn laid a copy of it on a desk at court for everyone to read.

Afterward, the bishops held a convocation and complained that there were movements in the general public to abolish all church ceremonies that were not found in the Bible. Imagine!

The Matthew Bible

Another officially sanctioned Bible translation was underway by John Rogers, who Tyndale had given his prison translation of part of the Old Testament. Rogers put Tyndale’s NT and OT together, completed by adding Coverdale’s OT and Apocrypha. Rogers made a few changes and corrections (like renumbering the Psalms to match the Hebrew) and included 200 illustrations along with book introductions, chapter summaries, and marginal notes. Tyndale’s initials were inserted in ornamental letters at the end of the OT, but not his full name for political reasons. John Rogers published the work as Thomas Matthew, a pseudonym.

The Matthew Bible was printed and shown to King Henry, who approved it for publication by royal decree.

Within 12 months of Tyndale’s death, the translation that had been “denounced, proscribed, and repeatedly burned at St. Paul’s Cross, had now, under an assumed name, been formally approved by the king, and published under the shelter of a royal license and proclamation.”

The Great Bible

The Matthew Bible had all of Tyndale’s notes, which were seen as abrasive by the clergy, so Cromwell had Coverdale make a new version of the Matthew Bible without these marginal notes.

The new Bible was due to be printed in Paris because the printing technology used by Francois Regnault was much better than English printers. But the Inquisition soon intervened, and Inquisitors were breathing down Regnault’s neck. As a precaution, Coverdale took some of the finished sheets to the English ambassador for safekeeping. He had barely gotten this done when the rest of the sheets were seized. A bribe was used to get the sheets back, which were stashed in “four great dry vats” and sold as wastepaper to a haberdasher, who resold them to Cromwell’s agents, who got them out of France. Cromwell then bought up the standing type, printing press, and Regnault’s entire staff of compositors and shipped the entire operation to England.

1539: First edition of the Great Bible (lavish in size and adornment) was printed in London. Each page was 11 x 16.5 inches!

By royal decree, the Lord’s Prayer and Ten Commandments were to be taught on Sunday and on holy days and a sermon on the Gospel was to be preached at least once a quarter. (!!!) Preaching emphasis was to be on works of mercy rather than “pilgrimages, relics, or the saying over of beads.” Every church building England was to have at least one copy of the Bible that was in an accessible place for all to read. Bibles were soon chained to lecterns all over England. Six Bibles were in St. Paul’s church alone.

People were still advised to avoid contention over their discussion of Biblical passages, but they ignored this completely. People showed great joy in being able to read the word for themselves. Everyone that could buy a Bible did so. If they could not read, they had it read to them. Others learned to read on purpose. Even little boys flocked to hear the Bible read out loud.

The stock of Great Bible prints was soon bought up and more editions were published. Seven editions were printed between 1539-1541 and it would be the standard for nearly 30 years. Parts of it (the Prayer Book) are still used in the Church of England.

Cromwell and Cuthbert

Cromwell was responsible for establishing the Reformation in England in the king’s name. England was “flooded” with English Bibles.

In the meantime, Anne Boleyn failed to give King Henry a male heir, so she was sent to the block and Henry married Jane Seymour, Anne’s lady-in-waiting. Jane bore a son to Henry but died soon after from complications of the childbirth.

Cromwell urged King Henry to marry the Lutheran princess Anne of Cleves, but Henry detested her. Apparently Henry had requested portraits of both Anne and her sister Amelia before deciding which to marry. He thought Anne was more attractive and decided on her. But when she arrived, she looked nothing like her portrait.

This caused anti-Cromwell feelings to swell, and Henry had him arrested as a heretic and traitor, condemned without a trial, and beheaded on July 28, 1540.

Cromwell’s heraldic arms had originally appeared on the title page of the Great Bible, but they were removed after his death. Instead, words were added to say the Bible was overseen by Cuthbert, Bishop of Durham and Nicolas, Bishop of Rochester. This Cuthbert was Cuthbert Tunstall, formerly bishop of London who had refused hospitality to Tyndale and burned the book on which this translation was based. How the tides had turned! (p.157)

Henry’s successors

Henry was succeeded by his son Edward (the son of Jane Seymour), who was only nine years old at Henry’s death. Edward was raised Protestant, and his guardian (his uncle, Edward Seymour) was very reform minded. An English Bible was even carried in procession before Edward at his coronation. Great Bibles were legally required in every vestibule in every church building. Henry’s Act of Six Articles was repealed, so priests were now allowed to marry, and images were removed from church buildings. Many new English translations followed.

1552: Cranmer drafted the 42 Articles, which provided the Church of England with its first creed. This made it official that all services were to be done in the vernacular. No more veneration of saints. Some religious paintings in churches were whitewashed and stained-glass windows were smashed.

Unfortunately, Edward was in feeble health and died of tuberculosis at age 15. His elder sister Mary ascended to the throne.

Mary tried to reverse things, reinstating some Catholic bishops (including Tunstall) and imprisoning a number of reformers in the Tower. Printing of Bibles in English was again forbidden.

John Rogers, compiler of Matthew’s Bible was the first to die (and did so bravely).

Cranmer was also tried and burned at the stake.

The inquisition was a catastrophe for Mary because it showed the whole world that English Protestants were willing to die for their cause. The Catholics were also appalled at the methods their own group had been using.

Mary died on November 17, 1558, grief-stricken, sick, and exhausted by a string of false pregnancies. She was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth, the child of Anne Boleyn.

The Geneva Bible

During Queen Mary’s rule, a number of reformers had gathered in Geneva, Switzerland. They worked to produce a new translation called the Geneva Bible.

The translation was based on the Great Bible for the Old Testament and Tyndale’s New Testament.

It paid meticulous attention to the Greek and Hebrew originals and made use of the best of the most recent translations into Latin and French (p.175).

The Geneva Bible was the most scholarly, well-annotated, and accurate English Bible yet. Words added by the translators were printed in italics and for the first time in English, chapter and verse divisions were included. “There were also maps, woodcuts, elaborate tables, an appendix of metrical psalms, and a running commentary of explanatory notes.” The margins of the NT alone also had 2000 alternate readings and 725 literal renderings.

The Geneva Bible became the household Bible of English Protestants. It was the Bible that Shakespeare was raised on. It went through 140 revisions in the next 85 years.

Turns of phrase from the Geneva Bible:

“vanity of vanities”
“except a man be born again”
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”
“Solomon in all his glory”
“My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”
“a cloud of witnesses”
“a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”

The Geneva Bible completely overtook the Great Bible, but it was a problem for Church authorities. It had many marginal notes that angered Church authorities in both England and Rome. In the marginal notes, almost anything involving elaborate ritual was dismissed as superstition worthy of the pope and Rome itself was identified as a type of Sodom and Gomorrah where “falsehood and ungodliness” reigned. (p.176)

The Bishops’ Bible

Because of this, bishops worked together to produce another new translation based on the Great Bible. This became known as the Bishops’ Bible. Unfortunately, it was not particularly well done and never caught on with the general public despite being the official Bible for the Church of England for a number of years.

Archbishop Parker had not done a particularly good job assembling the work of the various translators into a unified whole. Some renderings that stuck:

Matthew 3:3 - “the voice of one crying in the wilderness”
Matthew 5:10 - “persecuted for righteousness’ sake”
Romans 12:21 - “overcome evil with good”

Others were just bad or wrong:

“Cast thy bread upon the waters” became “Lay thy bread upon wet faces”
“Speak not evil of one another” became “Backbite not one another”

King James I

In 1603, Queen Elizabeth died and selected James VI of Scotland to succeed her.

When King James took power, the religious situation in England was very unsettled. The Church of England was essentially Catholic in organization but was not tied directly to the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. This angered both the Catholics and the Protestants. There were also the Puritans, who wanted to “purify” the church of “popish” practices. They wanted to remove things like the use of the cross at baptism, the ring in marriage, bowing at the name of Jesus, liturgical vestments like the cap and surplice, and certain procedures in the ecclesiastical courts, which they viewed as despotic. In general, they wanted to move away from ceremony and toward preaching and prayer.

James was not interested in rocking the boat as far as the Church of England was concerned, but he did have the Puritans to deal with. He was presented with the Millenary Petition (so named because it was signed by almost a thousand Puritan ministers), which enumerated a number of grievances against the Church of England.

To address this, James set up a 3-day conference to discuss things.

Background of James I

James’ mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, was a Catholic, but he had been raised a Presbyterian Calvinist. (p.204)

James’ idea of kingship was the divine right of kings. He was repelled by the Puritan idea of self-government based on their congregational form of worship. He also knew the Puritans were a major force and he needed to hear them out.

James was a student of the Bible in almost all its languages. By the age of 8, he was able to translate any chapter of the Bible chosen at random into French, then from French to English.

Despite his great learning, James had a terrible childhood, living under four different regents and had been closely confined for his own safety in Stirling Castle. He had never known his father, Lord Darnley. This had an effect on him. He was left with a “tottering gait” (due to childhood rickets) and sometimes waddled like a duck in thick, stiff pants he wore due to fear of assassins. He also had a kind of speech impediment.

James believed in the power of the devil and sometimes blamed evil spirits for the troubles in his life. After his ship was nearly wrecked in the North Sea, he was convinced that some witches had thrown black cats into the sea to create the storm. He condemned witchcraft above murder as a crime.

By the time he was king of England, he had been King of Scotland for 37 years. Despite his odd thinking on some subjects, he was a shrewd and discerning ruler.

Conference with the Puritans

During the first day of the conference, King James came down hard on what he saw as corruption in the Church of England, criticizing it for “five solid hours.” On the second day of the conference, four Puritan ministers were brought in, and James heard their complaints.

On the third day, James and the high churchmen discussed the complaints from the Puritans. James allowed some small changes in the Book of Common Prayer, but otherwise refused their requests.

There was something big that came out of this conference, though. On the second day, John Reynolds (one of the four Puritans brought in) asked for a new translation of the Bible “because those that were allowed in the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI were corrupt and not answerable to the truth of the original.” James liked this idea immediately. (p.214)

It was a good time to consider a new translation because a new one had not been done since the Bishops’ Bible of 1568 and Greek and Hebrew studies had progressed significantly since then. Over 150 Hebrew grammars were now available, as well as the Hebrew scriptures themselves in a number of editions. Knowledge of Aramaic and Syriac was also growing. The Geneva Bible was still by far the favorite, despite the Church of England’s attempts to make the Bishops’ Bible the standard.

Before becoming King of England, James already had ideas about a new translation to address issues he saw in the Geneva Bible. Now that he was king of England, he saw this as something he had real power to do. It also flattered his vanity.

Translation work begins

The new translation project was set up quickly. All outstanding biblical scholars in the kingdom were sought out. By July 1604, James had approved a list of 54 translators arranged into 6 companies, two each at Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge. Both universities were instructed to enlist any other biblical scholars that were capable if needed.

The split across three locations was a wise political move: Oxford was traditionally associated with High Church and royalist sentiments, Cambridge was associated with dissidents, and Westminster represented the clerical and legal aspects of the project (all officials there were appointed by the crown). Oxford and Cambridge were still, strictly speaking, secular institutions.

Most translators were middle-aged men (about age 50), some were married, and all but one were ordained. All were academically distinguished and belonged to the established church. About 1/4 had Puritan leanings. All had tremendous knowledge of languages and biblical scholarship. They were deliberately anonymous as a group, and we know extremely little about exactly what each man contributed.

The OT was given to three panels, NT to one, and Apocrypha to one.

Westminster:
- Panel 1: Genesis - 2 Kings
- Panel 2: Romans - Jude
Oxford:
- Panel 1: Isaiah - Malachi
- Panel 2: Gospels, Acts, Revelation
Cambridge:
- Panel 1: 1 Chronicles - Song of Solomon
- Panel 2: Apocrypha

The translators’ directions were:

Should not be a new translation. Should be based on Bishops’ Bible, altered as little as truth would permit.
Time honored rendering of certain ecclesiastical terms kept (“church”, “charity”, etc.).
Marginal notes only to be used for the citation of parallel passages or alternate readings.
Chapters were to have new headings. Existing chapter and verse divisions to be kept.
The spelling of names should be standardized and given in their most familiar form.
Words not in the original but necessary to complete the sense to be rendered in distinctive type.

The translators pored over all known text, commentaries, and translations they could find.

All the translators were given unbound copies of the Bishops’ Bible to work from. They amended each verse as they saw fit. Once a book was complete, it was sent to all other groups for suggestion and review. In this way, every word passed through the hands of the whole group. When the work was done, each of the three translation heads sent an amended copy of the Bishops’ Bible to the General Committee for review. The General Committee (made up of members from each company) then worked to generate one complete copy from the three, which then went to press. The work took about 6 years to complete.

Translation comparisons

2 Samuel 1:27:

Tyndale: “How were the mighty overthrown.”
KJV: “How are the mighty fallen.” (This has now become proverbial in English.)

Psalms 23

Bishops’ Bible: “God is my shepherd, therefore I can lose nothing; he will cause me to repose myself in pastures full of grass, and he will lead me unto calm waters.”
KJV: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

The translators were very careful to both avoid Catholic latinate terms and the scrupulous languages the Puritans wanted to use.

Samples from John 1:1-10

In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darknesse, and the darknesse comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was Iohn. The same came for a witnesse, to beare witnesse of the light, that all men through him might beleeue. Hee was not that light, but was sent to beare witnesse of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world. Hee was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

King James Version, first edition

In the first edition of the KVJ, there was a typographical error every 10 pages of text. The first version became known as the “He” Bible because of an error in Ruth 3:15 which read, “and he went into the city,” instead of “she.”

The new edition was physically beautiful, though, and included many helps for the reader: almanac, a table of holy days, a guide to the order of Psalms and lessons to be read at morning and evening prayer, and a calendar guide to calculating the date of Easter “forever.” Some copies also contained a map of the Holy Land and a long 38-page genealogy with an illustrated family tree from Adam to Christ. The text itself was in Gothic type in double columns. Verses were numbered and notes and cross references were included in the margins. (p.253)

Impact of the King James Version

Much of the Bible’s success was due to James’ enthusiasm for it. But it took time to become popular. The Puritans initially did not like it. They thought the Geneva Bible was just fine and thought the KJV version “smacked too much of the king, the bishops, and the Church establishment.” Many people had come to depend on the notes in the Geneva Bible, saying that without them they could not understand the text. Several attempts were made to bring these notes forward to the KJV, but it never took.

Over time, the KJV became more and more accepted. It became the Vulgate of the English-speaking world.

Because the translators were told to revise an existing translation than create a new one, they kept some expressions that were already a bit archaic in 1611 like “verily” and “it came to pass.” They were kept because they had become familiar, and they seemed to endow the text with a certain “antique rightness.”

The KJV had a tremendous impact on English and American literature. It was called the KJV in America, but the Authorized Version in England. It was never technically “authorized” except that it was appointed to be read in churches and replaced the Bishops’ Bible. It was mostly “authorized” in the sense of general acclaim.

The King James Version went through a number of changes over the years, with large updates in 1796 to modernize the spelling and again in 2016.

The KJV was followed by a number of modern English translations of varying qualities.

Conclusion

God has seen fit to make Himself known through the Bible.

Through various twists and turns, He has worked to make the Bible available to us.

We now have this great resource freely available. Let us use it well!

When Death is Imminent

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 14:9 – This woman is still remembered for what she did.
Hebrews 11:4 – Abel still speaks.
This is a sermon originally preached by Glenn Burt, in honor of his passing.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Some important lessons to remember

“It is not good that one should live alone” – Genesis 2:18, 23-24

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Caring for critically ill or dying is lots of work and requires much patience

Psalms 78:36-43 – Think about how often God must be grieved with us.
Psalms 86:15 – We need to remember and be thankful that God is compassionate.
Romans 15:5
II Peter 3:9, 15
Matthew 7:12

This situation also reminds us that expressing and showing love that is not acknowledged hurts, even when it can’t be returned.

How often do we fail to express our love for God?
John 3:16
Romans 5:8
I John 3:16
I John 5:3; II John 1:6
Hosea 11:1-4

When the death of a loved one is near or occurs: close friend, family member, especially our spouse we are reminded how blessed we were to have had them.

Psalms 127:3
Proverbs 17:17; 27:6; 31:10-31
We should never forget how blessed we are to have God.
John 14:23

Bible 101: Putting It All Together

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s practice: I Thessalonians 5:14

Context

The verses around
Who is the speaker and the intended audience?
What is the main point of the surrounding verses?

Translations

Compare other translations of the same verse.

Word studies

Find other passages using the same words (use a concordance, Strong’s numbers, etc.)
“admonish” “warn”
“unruly” “out of line”

Harmony

Don’t interpret one passage so that it contradicts another passage for which the meaning is plain.
Titus 1:9
Galatians 6:1
I Kings 19:18

Figurative language

Attitude

If your attitude is wrong, you’ll miss the meaning of the passage completely!

Final discussion

What is Benchley gong to look like in 20 years if we don’t know how to study our Bibles (we just depend on the preacher or elders to study for us)? II Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 8:4; II Timothy 2:2
When people do not know how to study the Bible itself, who/what might they turn to when they need help and guidance? (Isaiah 8:19-20)
If God’s word is still powerful, why isn’t it making more of a difference in today’s world? (Hosea 4:1-6; Jeremiah 5:30-31)

The Israelite Nation

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The tabernacle / temple

Exodus 25; 40:33-38 – God’s glory filled the tabernacle.
I Kings 8:12-14 – Solomon set up the temple.
I Kings 9:3-9 – God’s warning if they stray.
I Corinthians 3:16-17 – We are now a temple of God.
II Corinthians 6:14-18
Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:11-12, 24 – We have a much greater blessing today in Jesus’ sacrifice.

Forty years of wandering

Numbers 13; 14:32-33, 39 – The people refused to receive God’s gift. They did not have faith.
Hebrews 3:1-6 – We are the house of God if we hold our confidence.
Hebrews 3:7-4:11 – This is a warning! Don’t do what they did! Don’t fall away! The people of God will receive a rest in heaven if we maintain our faith.

The promised land

Joshua 1:5-9 – Joshua was told to be strong and courageous. Repeatedly!
Joshua 1:11 – God was telling them how the story would end right from the beginning.
Joshua 21:43
I Peter 5:10-11 – This is how our story ends if we keep faith. Knowing this should change how we live today.

Apologetics, Part 11: How We Got the English Bible

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

We are continuing our apologetics study about how we got the English Bible. Last week we discussed John Wycliffe and the Bible translation he helped bring about. Tonight, we are going to jump ahead in history about 100 years and introduce a man named William Tyndale.

William Tyndale

William Tyndale was born in 1495 in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, close to the border of Wales.

Lollard sentiment was high where Tyndale lived. Wycliffe had a prebend near there at one point and Purvey had also preached near there. (Purvey was the man who revised Wycliffe’s translation into a more readable format.)

Tyndale was taught at a special grammar school and showed a great aptitude for languages even at an early age. He could read Latin with ease by about age ten. (p. 80)

Tyndale was greatly impressed by a passage he read in the Latin chronicles where a king caused part of the scriptures to be translated into English (possibly Great Deeds of the English Kings).

At age 12, he went to Oxford, where he was “singularly addicted to the study of the scriptures.” He earned his M. A. there in 1515.

Tyndale then went to Cambridge where Erasmus had been teaching, boosting the Greek studies there.

Tyndale also devoured the works of the new Continental Reformers: Luther, Melanchthon, and Zwingli.

By the time Tyndale left Cambridge in 1521, the Reformation had taken hold.

Between the time of Wycliffe and Martin Luther, the Renaissance had taken hold along with the printing press. Classical wisdom and learning were revived.

The Humanism intellectual movement got rolling, which emphasized the unity of truth and the dignity of man. Its human ideal was the “Renaissance Man,” accomplished in all things. It stood in great contrast to the “formalistic pieties” of before. (p. 81)

The printing press

Johann Gutenberg, a Mainz goldsmith, invented the printing press in 1450. Screw type presses had been used earlier for embossing patterns on paper and textiles. It wasn’t until techniques of die-stamping and casting molds got better that letters in relief could be produced, allowing for the printing press.

In medieval times, monasteries and other religious organizations had almost a complete monopoly on book production. Each abbey and monastery had its own scriptorium.

When the printing press was invented, there was already a huge demand for books. Many copyists were employed but they could barely keep up. Printing presses were soon in place in a number of cities (p. 83)

In Cologne, William Caxton, “the father of English printing” learned the craft, then set up his own press at Westminster in 1476. He went on to publish nearly a hundred English books, many of his own translation. He had a very natural style of speaking, which influenced English diction. He had no dictionaries-only his own judgment. This was tricky because English was so in flux that sometimes even neighboring shires couldn’t understand each other.

Caxton told the story of some Northumberland merchants who sailed to the mouth of the Thames and were looking for breakfast at an inn. They asked for some “eggys” but the landlady said she didn’t speak French. They said they didn’t either, but still wanted “eggys.” He was told that instead he wanted “eyren,” which meant eggs in the dialect of Kent. Caxton had to decide which word to use and decided on “eggys,” which is what we now use also. (p. 84)

Rejuvenation of Biblical studies

During the Renaissance, great strides were made in Biblical studies. In the Middle Ages, Greek and Hebrew were seldom studied in universities.

1453: Constantinople fell to the Turks. Greek exiles fleeing to Italy brought Greek manuscripts with them. Pope Nicholas I collected these and had them transcribed. At his death, he left a library of 5000+ works. The exiled scholars started teaching at universities in Europe and their knowledge spread.

1458: Greek reintroduced at University of Paris

1476: New Greek grammar published

1480: New Greek lexicon published

1492 and on: Greek studies re-established at Oxford.

John Colet returned from a tour of Italy in 1497 to deliver a series of lectures on the book of Romans. He made a clean break with medieval interpretations and taught straight from the text,

In order to hear Colet, Erasmus came to England in 1497. Colet inspired Erasmus to make a fresh Latin translation of the NT. This was part of Erasmus’ landmark edition of the NT that came out in 1516.

Hebrew learning had also restarted.

1488: Entire text of Old Testament in Hebrew printed
1503: First Hebrew grammar
1506: First Hebrew lexicon
1525: Fully annotated Hebrew OT published. This would be the basis for all future Hebrew-Bibles.

Trilingual universities started popping up (Latin, Hebrew, and Greek) in Germany, England, France, and Spain.

1517: Complutensian Polyglot Bible produced. OT had Vulgate text in the middle, with Hebrew on the left and Greek Septuagint on the right. NT had Greek and Latin Vulgate side by side.

1522: Martin Luther publishes German translation of NT

1523: Lefevre d’ Etaples publishes a French translation of NT

1534: Luther publishes complete German Bible

1535: Pierre-Robert Olivetan publishes a complete French Bible. (p. 86)

Bibles dominated book production in the 16th century and by the end of the century every European nation had a native translation. The form of the vernacular languages was to some degree fixed as the Bibles came out.

The Catholic Church intervenes

The Church initially welcomed the printing press since it was first used to print the Gutenberg Latin Bible. The archbishop called it “a divine art.” But then printing began to spread ideas of reform, and the Church was not a fan.

1491: Papal legate of Venice wrote law preventing printing works on religious subjects without approval of local diocese. (p. 87)

1515: Pope Leo X made the law universal across the Catholic West. Barely anyone cared and they printed what they wanted.

1517: Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the doors of the Wittenberg church. These were quickly translated into multiple languages and printed all over. This was a great surprise to Luther who had intended them only for the academic circle, writing them in Latin in part so that the general masses could not read them. (Great quote from Luther on p. 87.)

Erasmus was an early critic of both the church and biblical studies in universities. (great quote p. 88). He pointed out that the writers of the NT themselves wrote in Greek, making Jesus’ words understandable by the common people.

Tyndale spreads “heresy”

1521: Tyndale ordained to the priesthood. He decided to forego an advanced divinity degree and became chaplain and domestic tutor to the household of Sir John Walsh in Little Sodbury at the edge of the Cotswold Hills.

Tyndale used to preach in a common place called Saint Austin’s Green in front of the church and secretly tutored students in theology. (p. 89)

His reform ideas stirred up some of the local authorities and various men would come to debate. He would routinely win debates, usually by citing scripture. These men would then bear a grudge against him.

Intro to Erasmus’ translation: p. 89. Tyndale took this to heart.

Tyndale converted the Walsh family to his views and stopped having local clergy in their home.

“The clergy were an ignorant lot…” p.90. Many could not even recite the Ten Commandments or knew where they were found.

Tyndale was accused of heresy for his views (i.e., insistence on scriptural authority), called before the church leaders and rebuked.

Tyndale then decided what his life’s work would be: getting the scriptures to the lay people.

“I perceived that it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth, except the Scripture were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue, that they might see the process, order, and meaning of the text.” – William Tyndale (p.90)

Dangerous time for a new translation

Tyndale left the countryside for London to try to find a patron. Cuthbert Tunstall received him coldly and shot him down.

Note: Tunstall’s name will come up again later!

Luther’s rebellion had set everyone on edge in 1523 and no one wanted any part of a translation project that might bring more controversy. King Henry VIII hated Luther more than any person on earth. Luther was declared a heretic and Henry sought to eradicate his followers. They bought wrote tracts against each other. But many in the general population tended to side with Luther. seeing him as the underdog. Revolution broke out all over Europe, with many monks and nuns leaving their cloisters (p. 95).

King Henry promised the pope he would burn any “untrue translations.” He sent Cardinal Wolsey to hunt down heretical books that were coming in from overseas.

May 12, 1521: A long line of mules bearing chests of Lutheran writings proceeded to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Bishop Fisher preached a fiery sermon, then the books were burned. (p.96)

Tyndale finds help

Tyndale realized he would need to leave the country to do what he wanted to do. He became a preacher at St. Dunstan’s-in the-West and was given free lodging with Humphrey Monmouth. Tyndale spent his time translating the NT to English. He could speak seven languages fluently: Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, English, and French. (p. 98)

Monmouth belonged to a semisecret society of Merchant Adventurers known as the Christian Brethren. They traded in forbidden religious literature and subsidized printing of religious books in English. They ultimately subsidized Tyndale’s work. The group was so powerful that even the authorities wouldn’t touch them (the group was made up of rich cloth merchants). (p. 97)

May 1524: Tyndale leaves for Germany and meets Luther.

1525: Tyndale’s English NT was completed in 1525. The translation was direct from Greek.

Printing Tyndale’s translation

Tyndale went to Cologne to arrange for publication. Cologne was” something of a haven for reformers.” but Catholic zealots flourished there also. A man named Johann Dobneck (John Cochlaeus) tried to frustrate Tyndale’s plans.

Dobneck had a doctorate in theology and had been dean at St. Mary’s at Frankfurt-on-the-Main until reformers pushed him out. He called himself “the scourge of Luther” but was so belligerent that even some Catholics turned against him.

Dobneck was editing a publication when he overheard some workers at a printing press boasting that all of England would soon be Lutheran. He managed to get the details and found out that Tyndale was trying to get his work printed and secretly shipped to England.

Dobneck tipped off the city authorities and persuaded them to intercept the shipment. Before the raid, Tyndale was also tipped off and managed to grab some printed sheets and head to Worms by boat. There the printing was done in two formats, the larger of which had marginal notes, references, and a prologue. (Paid for by the Christian Brethren,)

1526: Both formats of the NT were concealed in cases of dry goods and sailed for England. Henry VIII and Wolsey were alerted by several people that the shipment was coming and placed a watch at all ports. Henry was terrified that once authority was questioned, he didn’t know where it would end.

In 1524-25, there had been a violent revolt by peasants who had been spurred on by radical evangelists. Roughly 50,000 people died.

The vehemence of Luther’s own writings inflamed the situation. Erasmus complained that he and Luther taught nearly the same thing, “only without sedition and violence.” (p. 100)

Heavy taxes and tithes from the Church had made people upset for a long time. Luther tried to prevent violence but failed.

Tyndale’s New Testament did make it to England and was immediately well received by the common people. Wycliffe manuscripts were still treasured, so Tyndale’s translation was like a feast for them.

Tyndale’s translation was exceptionally well done. He adopted many of the structures of Luther’s translation, including chapter divisions and order of the books. The translation was his, though. He looked at Erasmus’ Greek NT (1516 and 1522 editions), Erasmus’ Latin NT, the Vulgate, and Luther’s German NT. He pulled from the best of each, with the Greek as the primary source. (sample - p. 105)

The local authorities did not like it. It was made a serious crime to own, sell, or distribute the books. Merchant ships were boarded and searched. Another bonfire was held in front of St. Pauls’ cathedral at Tunstall’s decree. (decree of Tunstall - p. 106)

An underground book trade developed to distribute the books. Pirate editions were hurriedly printed in Antwerp. They were shipped back concealed in corn ships and bales of merchandise. (great story about Tunstall buying Bibles to burn - p. 107)

Tunstall had decided to try to buy up all the Bibles he could so he could destroy them. He approached a cloth merchant in Antwerp named Augustus Packington that he thought might know the source of the Bibles. Tunstall promised to pay him for every Bible he could find and Packington agreed to help. It so happened that Packington and Tyndale were friends. Packington went straight to Tyndale and told him the bishop of London wanted to buy all his Bibles. Tunstall got the Bibles, Packington got the thanks, and Tyndale got the money. Through Packington, Tyndale also convinced Tunstall to buy up all the standing type to prevent a reprint. Tunstall did. Tyndale used the money to prepare a new and improved version of the Bible – at the expense of the Catholic church. About a year later, Thomas More was interrogating a man about where they got money to print Bibles. The man told him the money came from the bishop of London.

Sample of the Tyndale Bible

When he sawe the people he went vp into a mountayne and when he was set his disciples came to hym and he opened hys mouthe and taught them sayinge: Blessed are the povre in sprete: for theirs is the kyngdome of heven. Blessed are they that morne: for they shalbe conforted. Blessed are the meke: for they shall inheret the erth. Blessed are they which honger and thurst for rightewesnes: for they shalbe filled. Blessed are ye mercifull: for they shall obteyne mercy. Blessed are the pure in herte: for they shall se God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shalbe called the chyldren of God. Blessed are they which suffre persecucio for rightwesnes sake: for theirs ys the kyngdome of heuen. Blessed are ye when men reuyle you and persecute you and shall falsly say all manner of yvell saynges agaynst you for my sake. Reioyce and be glad for greate is youre rewarde in heven. + For so persecuted they ye Prophetes which were before youre dayes.

Matthew 5:1-12, Tyndale Bible, 1534

Source: https://textusreceptusbibles.com/Tyndale

Tunstall goes after Tyndale

Tunstall became obsessed with calling Tyndale to account. He did not think he could use official means to stop Lutheran ideas, so he decided to get Sir Thomas More to debate Tyndale in public. More had “a horror of free speech as we know it, and objected to any interpretation … unless it proceeded under an episcopal license.” (p. 111) (great quote from Erasmus on this idea -p. 111) More published his Dialogue Concerning Heresies in 4 books (170,000 words) to dispute Tyndale. Tyndale quickly responded. More’s principal objection was with Tyndale’s rendering of certain theological terms:

priest → senior (later, elder)
Church → congregation
penance → repentance
confess → acknowledge
grace → favor
charity → love

According to More. Tyndale was trying to persuade people “that such articles of our faith as… be well proved by Holy Scripture, were in Holy Scripture nothing spoken of; but the preachers have, all this 1500 year, misreported the Gospel… to lead the people purposely out of the right way.” (Discussion on ekklesia and presbyter - p. 114) (penance vs. repentance -p. 115)

More argued that although these words did not have significance for special church functions in New Testament times, the writers of the New Testament had invested them with special meanings, thus a different translation that carried that meaning was more appropriate. Who should decide on the proper words to use? More argued it was the Holy Roman Catholic Church, because it cannot err. Thus, he gave tradition the overriding vote over scripture.

Tyndale starts on the Old Testament

Tyndale next began translating the Old Testament, saying that it was easier to translate from the original Hebrew to English than from Latin to English because the grammar between Hebrew and English is more similar. He started with the Pentateuch.

In 1529, Tyndale had the Pentateuch translation done and set sail from Antwerp to Hamburg to have it printed. His ship was caught in a storm and broken against the shore. He lost the manuscript and all his books. (p.118)

He eventually reached Hamburg by another ship and met Miles Coverdale, an English expatriate. Tyndale found lodging with a widow and together with Coverdale, worked night and day to produce a new manuscript. They did and in 1530 it was printed in Antwerp, then smuggled into England. The books of the Pentateuch were formatted in such a way that they could be sold and traded individually.

Sample of Genesis from Tyndale - p.119

Tyndale is responsible for bringing a number of Hebrew turns of phrase into English because he translated them directly.

Some pirate versions of Tyndale’s translation came out that had errors or changes purposely added to them. A miscreant named George Joye was particularly bad about doing this and Tyndale publicly called him out on it, saying that if he was going to do it, to put his own name to it and not use Tyndale’s.

King Henry and Thomas More

In the process of King Henry VIII trying to get his divorce legalized, Wolsey was sacked and More took his place. More now used the government to officially eradicate heresy as he saw it. A number of heretical books (118) were forbidden, with Tyndale’s NT at the top of the list.

More initially got Henry to agree that it was good for the common people to not have the Bible in English, but Henry gradually changed his mind on this, thanks to Anne Boleyn reading Tyndale’s The Obedience of a Christian Man and recommending it to Henry. Henry read it and thought it was “a book for me, and for all kings.” He thought Tyndale and Wycliffe strengthened his case about his divorce.

Henry gradually began reducing the power of the Church in England in each successive parliament.

1532: Anne Boleyn found with child. In January 1533, she and Henry were secretly married in Westminster Abbey.

The Church of England

May 1533: After being elevated to Canterbury see, Thomas Cranmer nullified Henry’s marriage to Catherine and declared Anne to be his lawfully wedded wife. On June 1, Anne was crowned Queen of England. Cranmer and Henry were both excommunicated for this and Henry then severed the church from Rome. In 1534, parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, making the king the “supreme head” of the English Church. After this, the Church of England became effectively a spiritual department under the rule of the king. (p.131)

May 21, 1535: Tyndale captured by Henry Phillips in Antwerp and taken to Vilvorde Castle, north of Brussels. Many tried to free him but were unable to. He stayed in a dungeon there until October 1536.

Tyndale asked for and at some point was granted his study materials. He completed the translation of Joshua to 2 Chronicles before he was arraigned.

Under the Decree of Augsburg (1530), belief in justification by faith was punishable by death. In the preface to his NT, Tyndale wrote, “The NT is an everlasting covenant made unto the children of God through faith in Christ, upon the deservings of Christ. Where eternal life is promised to all that believe and death to all that are unbelieving.” Tyndale argued for salvation by faith alone in several of his works.

Tyndale had an incomplete understanding of salvation.

James 2:24 (NASB95)

24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

August 1536: Tyndale found guilty of heresy, degraded from his priestly office and handed over for punishment.

October 6, 1536: Tyndale was tied to a stake, strangled by a hangman, then burned at the stake. Before he lost consciousness, he called out, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”

This prayer would eventually be answered!

Henry Phillips, who had conspired to capture Tyndale, bounced around Europe trying to pass himself off as a true zealot for the church, but was shunned by the church and failed to find work. His letters home pleading for help were all intercepted.

His end is oddly similar to that of Judas Iscariot, minus the suicide.

Thomas More also ended up martyred. He had resigned his professional duties, but refused to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn, which upset King Henry. More escaped various attempts to tarnish him with bribery and other crimes, so Henry demanded he take an oath saying his marriage to Anne was “true and perfect.” More refused and was imprisoned in the Tower, then condemned for treason and beheaded on July 7, 1535. In 1935, he was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. (p.136)

The state under King Henry

King Henry now owed a lot to Bible authority on account of his divorce and marriage to Anne Boleyn, mostly from the point of view that the Bible countermanded the pope’s authority. He had argued for his divorce based on a biblical injunction in Leviticus, which his lawyers told him outweighed the opinion of the pope. (He was married to Catherine of Aragon, who was previously married to his brother, Arthur Tudor.)

Leviticus 18:16 (NASB95)

16 ‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.

Anne Boleyn helped greatly in making the English Bible a more acceptable proposition and she encouraged Henry in this regard.

Thomas Cranmer: head of the church under Henry. Cranmer was already reform-minded and was introduced to two of the king’s advisers in 1529 and they asked him about the king’s divorce. Cranmer suggested they appeal to experts in canon law to see if his marriage to Catherine had been legitimate in the first place. This immediately made him a friend of Henry and he entered royal service. Cranmer wrote a treatise on behalf of the king’s position that quoted scripture, church fathers, and church councils. This work influenced scholarly opinion on the matter.

Cranmer quietly married a niece of a prominent Lutheran, but then was called by Henry to the Canterbury see. This presented a problem because the church officially supported clerical celibacy, but he did not and was already married. He tried to conceal his marriage as best he could. Legend has it that he carried his wife from place to place with him in a steamer trunk pierced with holes. (p. 140)

Thomas Cromwell: head of the state under Henry. Cromwell was reform-minded and a protege of Wolsey. When Wolsey was sacked, he seemed to be in a bad position, but repaired this quickly by setting out a plan to help Henry’s finances by reducing the monasteries and making Henry “Supreme Head of the English Church.”

Cromwell was an expert facilitator in making deals. He “reportedly induced Pope Julias II, who had a craving for “strange delicacies and dainty dishes” to rubber-stamp some pardons for a client in return for the recipe for a type of English jam.” (p.141).

Cromwell also played on Henry’s fears for his own safety and set up a vast network of spies.

Henry had previously said that he would be glad to have an English Bible available in “a more stable time.” That time had finally come. Cranmer approached the king on the subject, having on his side Cromwell and Anne Boleyn, among others. In December 1534, the English bishops officially asked for the king to authorize a new English translation.

Cromwell made this his own personal matter. He wanted an English bible placed by authority in every church in England, to be read as part of every service, and that all would have free access to read it if they wanted. Cromwell memorized the entire Latin NT of Erasmus on a trip between England and Rome, both to improve his Latin and to make himself knowledgeable on the subject. (p.143)

Christ's Church

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Christ built one church.

“There is one body.” (Ephesians 4:4)
The body is the church. (Ephesians 1:22-23) “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is His body.”
Therefore, there is one church.

Some claim that the church was started by John the Baptist. But this cannot be. If started before Christ’s death, it would be a church without a head (Ephesians 1:22). It would be a church that was not blood purchased (Acts 20:28). It would be a church in which Christ could not be preached (Matthew 16:20; Luke 24:49). It would be a church without a foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).

The time, place and who of religious bodies will lead one to the right church.

Time	Place	Who	What
1530	Germany	Luther	Lutheran
1534	England	Henry VIII	Episcopal
1535	Switzerland	Calvin	Presbyterian
1607	England	Smythe	Baptist
1739	England	Wesley	Methodist
1830	New York	Smith	Mormon
1914	Arkansas	Group	Assembly of God
30-33	Jerusalem	Jesus	Christ’s church

Which of the above fits Bible facts?

Time:
- Last days (Isaiah 2:2-3)
- Days of Roman rule (Daniel 2:44)
- AD 30-33 (Acts 2:17-47)
Place: Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3; Acts 2:5)
Who: Jesus (Matthew 16:13-19; Acts 20:38; 1 Corinthians 3:11)
What: Christ’s church (Acts 2:28;1 Timothy 3:15).

Was the Benchley church started on Pentecost in Jerusalem? No, but the teaching and practice of this church were. The local Mormon church was not started in 1830 in New York, but its teaching and practice were. In order to be a Mormon church, a local church must conform to the teachings of the Mormon Church. Just so, to be a church of Christ a local church must conform to the teaching that started on Pentecost, in Jerusalem, by Christ.

Jesus saves the church (Ephesians 5:23). It took centuries in the Old Testament times to unfold it. It took the Son of God to build it. It took the apostles to lay the foundation. It takes obedience to their teaching to build on the foundation, i.e. on Christ.

Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:16-18). He purchased His church with His blood (Acts 20:28). He saves the church (Ephesians 5:23). Why would anyone want to be a member of a church that was started at the wrong time, the wrong place and by the wrong man?

Jesse Jenkins

Three Generations

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Bible examples of generational decline

Abraham, Isaac, Esau
- Genesis 12:7; 13:4, 18; 22:9 – Abraham’s faith
- Genesis 26:25; 25:28 – Though still faithful, Isaac was more focused on worldly things than his father.
- Genesis 25:29-34 – Esau had no regard for his birthright.
David, Solomon, Rehoboam
- Acts 13:22
- I Kings 1:5-6; 11:1-6 – David didn’t rebuke his sons in the way he should have.
- I Kings 14:22-24
Israel
- Judges 2:7-12

How does this happen?

Time is viewed differently
- Isaiah 6:8; John 8:33, 39-40
Authority is viewed differently
- Genesis 12:4 – “So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him.”
- Matthew 15:8-9; II Timothy 3:5-7; Romans 10:1-3
A different focus in life
- Hebrews 11:8-10; Deuteronomy 6:10-12; 32:15

How do we stop the decline?

For the third generation …
- Study and teach – Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:7
  - In everything you do, be teaching!
For the second generation …
- Try to remember your place – Revelation 3:14-19
For the first generation …
- Hold onto your faith – I Peter 5:5-9

Conclusion

Luke 16:27-31

2 Corinthians 1:1-2

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

[Note: Due to technical difficulties, the recording of the beginning of this class was lost. My apologies! - MRW]

Introduction to 2 Corinthians

Notable verses
- II Corinthians 4:16
- II Corinthians 5:7
- II Corinthians 5:10
- II Corinthians 5:17
- II Corinthians 6:2
- II Corinthians 7:10
- II Corinthians 9:7
- II Corinthians 10:4
- II Corinthians 12:9
- II Corinthians 13:5
Corinth, a city of Achaia
- Ancient Greek city destroyed by Rome in 146 B.C., then refounded as a Roman colony in 44 B.C. by Julius Caesar.
- Important crossroads between the Greek mainland and Peloponnesian peninsula
- Home to many “gods” and “lords” (I Corinthians 8:5)
- Jewish presence (Acts 18:4)
- Other cities of Achaia: Athens and Cenchrea (Acts 17; 18:18)
- Acts 18:2-3
Background
- Paul spent 1.5 years in Corinth in the late 40s/early 50s (second journey).
- I Corinthians written about A.D. 55 from Ephesus (third journey)
  - Paul anticipated another visit to Corinth (I Corinthians 16:2-3, 6)
  - Painful visit (II Corinthians 2:1)?
- II Corinthians written about a year later from Macedonia (third journey)
  - II Corinthians 13:1
  - Three-month stay in Greece after writing II Corinthians (Acts 20:2-3)
  - Wrote Romans during that visit.
- Brief review of I Corinthians
Three main sections of II Corinthians
- II Corinthians 1-7 – Apologetic (explanation and defense)
- II Corinthians 8-9 – Hortatory (exhortation)
- II Corinthians 10-13 – Polemical
II Corinthians overview
- Very personal letter from Paul to Christians in Achaia.
- Paul used a variety of methods to convince and exhort them.
Paul’s work as an apostle
- John 15:26-27; 16:8-11
- Acts 9:15-16
  - “Instrument” from the Greek, skeuos, meaning vessel (II Corinthians 4:7)
- Acts 20:22-24
- I Corinthians 15:8-10
- II Corinthians 4:1; 5:18; 6:3
- I Timothy 1:12-13, 16
Class goals
- Greater understanding of the text with a goal toward personal application and improvement.
- Local authority and individual Christian’s relationship with apostolic authority.
Class expectations

II Corinthians 1:1-2

Paul immediately calls himself an apostle.
- II Corinthians 8:23 – Titus is called an apostle in Greek, but usually translated “messenger.”
- Paul was more than just a messenger. He was an apostle in the matter of the original twelve.
II Corinthians 1:2 - Compare II Corinthians 13:4
- “Lord Jesus Christ” – this phrase is used a number of times
  - “Lord” – refers to His Deity
  - “Jesus” – refers to His time as a man
  - “Christ” – refers to His role as Messiah

Isaiah 55

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

How do we find joy and peace? This is what Isaiah 55 is about.

Prophecies of Isaiah

God calls out Judah’s rebellion and sinfulness.
- God has rejected Judah for this.
God invites them to repent and offers forgiveness and reconciliation.
God acts to try to make them recognize their sin and convict them to repent.
God pleads with them.
God offers hope for those who repent:
- God’s anger will not last forever.
- God will restore them.

God’s offer

Fulfillment and purpose (Isaiah 55:1-3)
- How much of yourself do you put into things that ultimately leave you unfulfilled?
Joy and peace (Isaiah 55:12)
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Revelation 22:17

What do you have to do?

Seek God (Isaiah 55:6-9)
- Acts 17:24-28
- Luke 15:11-32
- James 4:1-10
Listen to God (Isaiah 55:1-3)
Trade in (Isaiah 55:6-9)
- Matthew 16:24-27
- This may be the hardest part of the bargain. It means giving up control.

God’s sales pitch

God is compassionate, will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-9)
- Ephesians 1:3-8; 2:1-10
God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely superior (Isaiah 55:6-9)
This is the source of joy and peace (Isaiah 55:11-12)
- Compare II Samuel 22.

Apologetics, Part 10: How We Got the English Bible

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Tonight, we’ll be continuing our apologetics class. In this section we’re talking about how we got the English Bible.

Last week we discussed the Old and New Testaments, when and how the original books were written, and then talked a bit about the state of Christianity in Britain. We briefly introduced a man named John Wycliffe who would end up playing a pivotal role in creating the English Bible translations we are all using now.

John Wycliffe

Now we must introduce a man named John Wycliffe.

He was born of a squire in Yorkshire about 1328.

Was admitted to Merton College, Oxford in September 1345. College life was very spartan, with meals just bread, beer, soup thickened with oatmeal, and one serving of meat a day (p. 25). The library was under St. Mary’s church in a large chest. Books were scarce and expensive.

Oxford started attracting a lot of people who would later become big names, including Roger Bacon and William of Ockham.

Wycliffe stayed at Oxford as a student and teacher for 35 years, acquiring degrees in 3 different colleges (Merton, Balliol, and Queens).

He survived the Black Death in 1349.

Oxford at the time was full of friars, many of whom would attempt to take advantage of the younger students. some as young as 12. Wycliffe led the fight to exclude friars from honors and degrees and tried to protect undergraduates.

Friar: member of a religious order that has taken a vow of poverty.

Wycliffe was ordained to the priesthood, then given a prebend (collegiate living) in 1362. These two appointments provided income he used to continue his studies.

He then became warden of Canterbury Hall in 1365, gained a bachelor of divinity degree in 1369, and a doctor of divinity in 1372.

Wycliffe’s course of study:

Seven liberal arts:

The Trivium: Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic
The Quadrivium: Music, Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy
The 3 Philosophies: Natural, Moral, and Metaphysical
Latin literature
Aristotelian philosophy
Eight years of theology:
- 4 years on the Vulgate Bible
  - 2 years on the Sentences of Peter Lombard (a medieval textbook on scripture)
  - 2 years lecturing on Old and New Testaments, one chapter at a time.
Numerous public disputations and debates

He wrote many works in both English and Latin.

Trevelyan: “He had an eager hatred of what was wicked and could never be kept from denouncing what he regarded as such. Similarly, in matters of belief he invariably exposed what he thought was false.

You can imagine how well this worked with the very authoritarian Catholic church running things at the time!

Though a dogmatic man, his views on various doctrines did change over time. (p. 28)

Archbishop Thomas Arundel, who would later be an adversary, admitted that Wycliffe was not only a great scholar, but also widely held to be “a perfect liver” - irreproachable in the conduct of his life. (p. 30)

Wycliffe wanted to evangelize the common folk: “The preaching of the Word is an act more solemn than the making of the sacrament.”

Wycliffe was also a bold reformer and started getting in trouble with the church about the time he got his doctorate.

Because of the views he espoused, he is responsible for restarting a spirit of religious inquiry and spiritual freedom.

In 1371, he supported a parliamentary initiative to exclude clergy from secular offices because they monopolized so many of them.

In 1374, he was sent to negotiate with papal representatives about differences between England and Rome. The Catholic church was corrupt in a number of (p. 33) ways at that time. There were many priests and bishops trying to do the right thing, but ultimately everything could be attained for money.

Despite having many differences of opinion with the authorities, he was used in some capacities.

Corruption in the Catholic church

Pope John assumed office in 1316. He developed the system of selling indulgences. This was based on the doctrine of the superabundant merits of the saints (they were better than they needed to be for their own salvation). Their excess “credits” could be stored in a celestial deposit box called the “Thesaurus meritorum sanctum” (Compendium of the Merits of the Saints). From here, the Pope could draw and make transfers to anyone whose account was deficient. The treasury could never be exhausted because it included the inexhaustible merits of Christ. The pope could sell as many indulgences as he liked. He now controlled the “central bank of salvation.”

There is no scriptural authority for any of this!
None of us are as good as we need to be for salvation. We cannot earn salvation by good works.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB95)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Pope John XX greatly increased the church’s treasury and set up a whole system of fees.

Wycliffe’s “heretical” beliefs

Wycliffe was watching all this unfold and couldn’t find the church hierarchy in scripture. He thought:

“there should be only priests and deacons”
the legislative rights of the clergy, including excommunication and absolution of sins belonged to Christ only.
The priests’ office was only to preach the word.
The ministry of the gospel should only be supported by donations. (He noted that the church is so worried about tithes, but Jesus said nothing about them.) (p. 37)

As we mentioned in our previous class, all Christians are priests and Christ is our high priest. See Revelation 1:4-6; Hebrews 7:23-28.
Wycliffe was a bit confused on how the church was to be arranged. This was somewhat understandable because many, many people had been confused on the topic for the last thousand years.
But he did see that something was wrong and did not match the Bible, so he was on the right track there.
As we discussed last time, there is no clergy/laity distinction in the Bible. Since there is no clergy, there are no legislative rights of the clergy. God alone can forgive sins.
We do read something vaguely similar to excommunication in the New Testament in that members of a local church can be disciplined and withdrawn from if they continue to walk in sin. This was only to be practiced at the local church level, though.

1 Corinthians 5:1–13 (NASB95)

1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. 3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

As far as tithing, that was commanded under the Law of Moses, but it is not a commandment for Christians. Instead, Christians are to give of their means on the first day of the week. We see an example of this in I Corinthians 16:

1 Corinthians 16:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

Wycliffe’s views were widely held in England, even inside the government.

The Parliament had tried to claw back money and control from the church a number of times, but to little effect. (The Hundred Years’ War in 1338 had something to do with this. The papal court was in Avignon, France at the time and helped fund the war. Any papal fees or taxes the English paid were essentially funding the war against themselves.)

This is all the more reason why God makes no provision in the New Testament for government and local churches to be intertwined.
Local churches are to be independent of each other and the government.

Wycliffe prosecuted

Wycliffe had written a number of works attacking the corruption of the church and attracted large crowds. In 1377, he was called to appear before a convocation of Bishops at St. Paul’s Cathedral on charges of heresy.

At the “trial” an argument broke out about whether Wycliffe should have to sit or stand. A melee ensued and the assembly scattered. The next day, an armed mob plundered the palace and set it on fire. (p. 41)

The acts of the mob were clearly not good, but it shows the amount of pressure that was building up against the Catholic Church at the time. It also shows why the authorities were so scared of Wycliffe’s preaching and teaching.

May 22, 1377: Pope issues five bulls against Wycliffe for “impugning received doctrine.” The Pope ordered Wycliffe to be investigated and that Oxford not allow his theories to be taught. These were enumerated in a number of propositions. The main sticking points for the pope:

Prop 8, 9: Pope cannot excommunicate anyone - a person can only do that to himself
Prop 17: Kings can take money away from bishops if they do not behave in a manner befitting the office.
Prop. 19: The clergy, including the pope could be arraigned and tried for misdeeds.

England kept trying to figure out how not to send money to France and Oxford refused to condemn Wycliffe. Doing so would mean France had control of them. Instead, they put him under house arrest while theologians debated the charges.

Again, we see how tangled the world becomes when people go beyond what God has commanded. The Catholic Church was involved in the governments of many countries, which made politics extremely thorny and dragged politics into religion and vice versa.

March 1378: Wycliffe again summoned before the bishops. The Queen Mother sent a message just as the trial began that warned not to take any harsh measures against Wycliffe. The clerics were terrified and demoralized and let Wycliffe off with a reprimand.

This trial was important because it prevented the pope’s inquisitorial powers from ever taking root in England. (p. 43)

Two popes!

Pope Urban I tried to move the papal court back to Rome in 1367 at the urging of Emperor Charles IV of Bohemia in 1367, but the city’s churches and cathedrals were in ruins. The former papal residence, the Lateran, was in disrepair, so he stayed at the Vatican instead. He eventually fled back to Avignon.

Pope Gregory XI tried again to move the papacy back to Rome. There he issued five bulls against Wycliffe. When he died the Italians pressed hard to have an Italian pope elected. This was done, but Pope Urban VI started openly rebuking the cardinals for their immorality. This upset them greatly, but rather than change. they went off and wrote an encyclical against the Pope, declaring his election invalid. The pope elected new cardinals to replace ones that had left, but the original cardinals responded by electing their own pope, Robert of Cumbray (the cardinal who had originally told Urban to stop rebuking the cardinals). Now there were two popes and countries lined up to support them based on their political leanings.

The devout Christians were appalled at the two-pope situation. Wycliffe gave voice to the disagreements many had with the church. He didn’t think the papacy was scriptural, nor was:

papal infallibility
sale of indulgences
politics of excommunication
veneration of saints
worship of images and adoration of relics
Masses for the dead (p. 46)

Between 1378-1380. Wycliffe wrote a number of tracts, arguing that the Church had been corrupted by worldly possessions and should return to its apostolic ideals. He argued that the “true church” was the whole body of the elect, not just the clergy. He thought that only a life of piety, morality, and good works could possibly provide assurance of one’s salvation. The source of truth was in God’s word only. (p. 48)

Church doctrine recognized tradition and Scripture equally. but tradition had priority. Wycliffe said no - scripture only. He added that every man had the right to examine the Bible for himself. He thought the church could only be reformed by going back to the scriptures, and that required reading the scriptures.

The sad state of Bible knowledge

In those days, Bible reading was rare, even among the clergy. It was thought sufficient if the priest knew:

The 10 Commandments
The Paternoster (Our Father)
The Creed and Ave (Hail Mary)

Ordinary Christians knew even less. (p. 49)

The cult of the saints was a big deal and public worship was more about ceremonial worship. Most material from the pulpit was from civil and natural history, mythology, and fable. Wycliffe rebuked them for using unscriptural stories and anecdotes in their sermons rather than scripture.

The Wycliffe Bible

In 1380, Wycliffe started a project to translate the entire Bible to English. It was a translation from Jerome’s Vulgate. Nicholas Hereford did the first part from Genesis to Baruch 3:20 (note that the apocryphal books were included in this translation) under Wycliffe’s direction, then had to stop and let others take over. The first version was basically word for word and was somewhat difficult to read. There was not really a standard English at the time (and the language as a whole was in the midst of a great shift), so this was a difficult translation. This translation was then revised by John Purvey, Wycliffe’s personal secretary and a priest. He cleaned up the word ordering and made a more idiomatic translation. (p. 53)

Sample from the Wycliffe Bible

Modern spelling:

Christ stood by the river of Gennesaret … and fishers came down to wash therein their nets; and Christ went up into a boat that was Simon’s, and prayed him to move it a little from the land, and he sat and taught the people out of the boat. And when Christ ceased to speak, he said to Simon, Lead the boat into the high sea, and let out your nets to taking of fish. And Simon answering said to him, Commander, all the night travailing took we naught; but in thy word shall I loose the net. And when they had done this, they took a plenteous multitude of fish, and their net was broken. But they beckoned to their fellows that were in the other boat, to come and help them; and they came and filled both boats of fish, so that both were well nigh sunk. And when Peter had seen this wonder, he fell down to Jesus’ knee, and said, Lord, go from me for I am a sinful man. – Luke 5:1-8, Wycliffe Bible, modern spelling

Sample from the Wycliffe Bible, part 2

Original spelling:

God reiside this Jhesu, to whom we alle ben witnessis. Therfor he was enhaunsid bi the riythoond of God, and thorouy the biheest of the Hooli Goost that he took of the fadir, he schedde out this spirit, that ye seen and heren. For Dauid stiede not in to heuene; but he seith, The Lord seide to my Lord, Sitte thou on my riyt half, til Y putte thin enemyes a stool of thi feet. Therfor moost certeynli wite al the hous of Israel, that God made hym bothe Lord and Crist, this Jhesu, whom ye crucefieden. Whanne thei herden these thingis, thei weren compunct in herte; and thei seiden to Petre and othere apostlis, Britheren, what schulen we do? And Petre seide to hem, Do ye penaunce, and eche of you be baptisid in the name of Jhesu Crist, in to remissioun of youre synnes; and ye schulen take the yifte of the Hooli Goost. For the biheest is to you, and to youre sones, and to alle that ben fer, which euer oure Lord God hath clepid. Also with othere wordis ful many he witnesside to hem, and monestide hem, and seide, Be ye sauyd fro this schrewid generacioun. Thanne thei that resseyueden his word weren baptisid, and in that dai soulis weren encreesid, aboute thre thousinde; and weren lastynge stabli in the teching of the apostlis, and in comynyng of the breking of breed, in preieris. – Acts 2:32-42, Wycliffe Bible, original spelling

As you can see from the second sample, the older English spelling makes this a challenge to read. The English language has changed tremendously over the years. If you think English is difficult to learn and study now, imagine what is was like then!

Response to the Wycliffe Bible

Wycliffe’s translation was called heretical and unauthorized by the church, but never denounced as erroneous. (p. 56)

Wycliffe began training preachers to go out and preach. By 1377 this was already happening, with the men teaching against abuses and preaching a simpler, apostolic way. They wore a simple wool robe with a staff, taking the 70 that Jesus sent out as their inspiration. They came to be known as Lollards, from “lolia,” meaning “tare” or “weed.” (p. 59) The Catholic Church, of course, abhorred their views.

In 1381, the great Peasants Revolt took place in England. The blame for this was partially put at Wycliffe’s feet because the Lollards were reminding everyone of the government oppression they were undergoing (serfdom, heavy taxes, etc.).

The rebels invaded London and beheaded numerous victims. The king appeared to give in to their demands to stop the violence, but then tried and executed hundreds as traitors once he had control again. (p. 62)

After the rebellion, church and state closed ranks. They put together an official condemnation of Wycliffe and some of his associates, preventing any of his “heretical” teachings from being preached. The itinerant preachers were also arrested and prosecuted. It was prohibited under threat of prosecution to even meet to discuss Wycliffe’s theses.

Wycliffe’s death and aftermath

May 10, 1381: Wycliffe publishes Confessio, a Latin defense of his views. The next year, he was partially paralyzed by a stroke. He died two years later, in 1384. (p. 64)

Some of Wycliffe’s associates were hunted down and forced to recant, including Hereford, who had done the first part of the Bible translation. Others continued preaching on foot or on horseback, running from the authorities.

Thomas Arundel (Archbishop of Canterbury) passed the Constitutions of Oxford in 1408, which were designed to suppress freedom of thought in schools. Anyone caught with a Wycliffe Bible could be tried for heresy. All disputations about crosses, saints, imagery, pilgrimages, etc. were forbidden. The 7th of the 13 constitutions forbade anyone from translating scriptures into English or reading Wycliffe’s Bible. (p. 68)

Note that the Catholic Church is now actively working against the spread of God’s word. This is quite a leap from the original problem of having one bishop over multiple churches, but that’s where it can end up. That’s why it is so important to not stray from God’s word and always go back to the Bible!

Arundel also went after Oxford itself, which destroyed intellectual life there. The student population declined to a fifth of what it was. “Oxford Latin” became “proverbial for a scholarship in which even the knowledge of grammar had been lost.” Oxford turned on Wycliffe and spent its time defaming him. People who kept any of his writings removed his name from them out of fear.

Arundel demanded that Wycliffe’s works be burnt. Remember that this is before the printing press, so these writings were all done by hand. In 1412, he sent a letter to the Pope listing 267 heresies Wycliffe had written. (great quote on p. 69)

That wretched fellow, son of the Serpent, herald and child of Antichrist, John Wycliffe, filled up the measure of his malice by devising the expedient of a new translation of Scripture into the mother tongue.

A number of Lollard preachers and supporters were persecuted and executed, sometimes in grotesque ways. Denying the doctrine of transubstantiation was sufficient to bring on execution. (p. 70)

The doctrine of transubstantiation had become a big deal to the Catholic Church. Over time, they had come to the view that when taking the Lord’s Supper, the unleavened bread and grape juice literally became the body and blood of Jesus, although physically it still appeared to be food and drink.
This doctrine came to be dominant in the 12th century and by the time of Wycliffe was thoroughly established within the Catholic Church. They were not willing to hear any debate on the topic whatsoever.
This is a misunderstanding of the accounts in the gospels:

Matthew 26:26–29 (NASB95)

26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus is clearly using a metaphor here. We take of the bread and juice as a reminder of Jesus’ body that He sacrificed for all of us.

After the execution of Sir John Oldcastle (p. 70), the movement lost support among the upper classes and it went underground.

God’s word spreads

Arundel died in 1414, but in persecuting Wycliffe followers, he had essentially split the Catholic Church.

A church counsel later condemned Wycliffe as a heretic and ordered his bones to be removed from consecrated ground. This was done in 1428, when his bones were dug up and burned, then his ashes were thrown into a stream. (“wide as the waters”)

The Avon to the Severn runs, The Severn to the sea. And Wycliffe’s dust shall spread abroad, Wide as the waters be. – poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes

Wycliffe’s translation continued to be spread. (p. 73) People paid whatever they could to get even a piece of it. Thousands went to secret readings of the scriptures while still publicly worshiping with their local church.

Manuscript Bibles were expensive, so many Lollards committed big sections to memory. (Alice Collins p. 74)

A woman named Alice Collins of Burford was particularly good at this. When people met to discuss the Bible, she was often sent for to recite the Ten Commandments or the epistles of Peter and James.

Alice’s daughter Joan was good at this too and could recite: the seven deadly sins, the seven works of mercy, the five wits bodily and ghostly, the eight blessings, and five chapters of the book of James.

Wycliffe’s views flourished in Bohemia, thanks to Jerome of Prague, a reformer who attended Oxford. The most important Czeck Wycliffite was Jan Hus, who translated a number of Wycliffe’s writings into Czech. Hus was burned at the stake in 1415. Martin Luther would later discover Hus’ writings over 100 years later and was amazed at his agreement with them. “We are all Hussites.” (p.74)

Authority is Specified to a Certain Degree

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 28:18
Exodus 25

Example #1: Transporting the ark

Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15; 7:6-9 – God’s rules for carrying the ark.
I Chronicles 3:7-14; 15:2, 12-15 – Uzzah struck dead for touching the ark.

Example #2: Strange fire

Leviticus 10:1-2 – Nadab and Abihu struck dead for sacrificing using the wrong fire.

Example #3: Priesthood

Hebrews 7:11-16; 8:4 – There was no authority under the Law of Moses for a priest from Judah. God’s silence did not permit this.
II John 1:9 – We want to stay within Jesus’ teaching.

“Please go buy me a dog.”

Buying any other type of pet is not authorized.

“Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14)

Using any other type of wood was not authorized. Any particular type of gopher wood was okay.

Passover: “an unblemished male a year old … sheep or … goats” (Exodus 12:5)

God was very particular with exactly what animal this should be.

Korah rebels against God’s authority ( Numbers 16:1-3, 8-10)

“You shall anoint Aaron and his sons … as priests to me.” (Exodus 30:30)

Singing

Colossians 3:16 – We have clear authority to worship by singing.
We have no authority under the New Covenant to worship with musical instruments.

“as I directed the churched of Galatia, so do you also” (I Corinthians 16:1)

Work of local churches
- Provide for needy Christians – Acts 2:44-45
- Worship and edification – I Corinthians 14:26
- Preaching the gospel – Philippians 4:15-16

Where is the authority for song books?

Singing is authorized. Song books are generally authorized under singing.
Even when my choice is not explicitly stated, I’m okay as I’m still within the authority.

Where is the authority for a church building?

I Corinthians 14:23, 26
Acts 20:7
Hebrews 10:25
We are generally authorized to assemble.

Bible 101: Getting Organized

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s face it: we forget stuff

Romans 15:14
II Timothy 2:14
II Peter 1:12; 3:1-2

Bible notes

Marginal notes work great and have for centuries.
Notes in digital Bibles provide significantly more options.
- Entire sermons or even photos can be added to digital marginal notes.

Filing system

Set up some sort of system for yourself. It doesn’t need to be anything complex.

Putting it all together

Let’s practice: I Thessalonians 5:14
- Context
  - Paul was writing to Christians. He commended them for being strong Christians.
  - I Thessalonians 5:12-28
  - I Thessalonians 5:12 seems to be talking about elders. Is v14 talking to elders? Not, it mentioned elders, but it was talking to Christians in general.
- Translations

"Will He Find Faith?"

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

During the destruction of Jerusalem, a civil war broke out among the Jews based on how they wanted to deal with the Romans. Eventually the Jews stopped fighting each other and fought the Romans. By the time Jerusalem fell, 1.1 million people died. Enraged by the rebellion of the Jews, the Romans killed indiscriminately.
Luke 17:20-18:8

Do not let the circumstances of this life determine your view of God.

Later generations tend to turn away from God because parents don’t always teach their children well.
Amos 4:6-11 – God had brought numerous calamities on them, yet they did not return to Him.
Regardless of what happens, God still rules!

Pray and persist!

Luke 18:1
I Corinthians 16:13
We are the mighty men fighting for our King!
Don’t be afraid to speak your faith!
I Peter 3:8-15
Can you tell people why you believe in Jesus? Even when you are suffering?
We need to pray for wisdom and opportunities.
We need to pray that God’s will be done.
We need to persist!
Luke 18:7-8 – God will make everything right.

"Resist the devil"

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 4:1-11
This was not the only time Jesus was tempted.
Why is this episode saved for us? Jesus was lead by the Spirit to go to the wilderness. This was an important event in His life.
It’s possible these temptations were more severe than we appreciate.
It’s important to plan how you’re going to deal with temptation before it occurs.

Five ideas to prepare

You have to realize Satan’s temptations are serious.

Culture tries to tell us sin is no big deal.
In this episode, if Jesus gives in then Satan wins and therefore there’s no hope for the rest of us, despite the fact that these actions seem like no big deal.

You have to view the temptation spiritually.

I John 2:15-16
If you thought at the beginning of the temptation “depending on how I handle this I will either live or die.”
God had just said and affirmed to Jesus that He was God’s Son and He was living the life God wanted Him to live. Satan starts each temptation with, “If you are the Son of God,” casting doubt on His identity and tempting Jesus as if to say, “if you are who you say you are, prove it!”
When we are trying to decide to give in or not we have to understand what it will do to our relationship with God.

Ask for help.

In this episode, Jesus is in the wilderness to pray and meditate on God’s will as He’s about to begin His ministry. He does this often because He has a relationship with His Father and loves communication with Him.
God listens to you! He wants you to come to Him, He wants to help you!

Learn discipline.

Jesus had just finished fasting which is an exercise in discipline.
We need to add self-control and discipline to ourselves. Fasting is one way to physically practice this. Learning this helps in other aspects. We learn to control ourselves so that when we make a decision, it’s our mind that wins and not the body.

Focus your time on doing good to help and show love to others.

Jesus started doing this just after this episode. All His miracles to prove His word were to help people.
When you’re busy doing for others, there’s less time for your selfishness.

Conclusion

Think on these things and next time temptation comes your way, you’ll be prepared. Do them and the Devil will flee.

"A Living Hope"

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

If you are a Christian, why did you first decide to be baptized?
For many, this starts with a fear of hell but then turns to the reward of heaven with maturity.
Peter gives the incentive for obedience as hope. I Peter 1:3-21

Hope should produce gratitude in us.

I Peter 1:3
- Compare Ephesians 1:3.
- God should be blessed! Do we do this?
- God has acted according to His great mercy.
- God has caused us to be born again. We are His children because of what He did (see John 1:9-13). God chose me to be His son.
I Peter 1:4
- We have an inheritance because of a family relationship we have with God. Our inheritance will never age or tarnish.
I Peter 1:5
- See I Peter 3:12. God listens to us! God keeps us. The only thing that will separate us from God is us.

Hope should make us the most contented people in the world.

I Peter 1:6
- We should be rejoicing!
- We need to be thinking about where we are going every day.
- Difficulties in life make us selfish because we focus only on the problem.
- Rejoicing in the Lord is remembering that no matter how bad it gets, I’m going to heaven to be with God.
I Peter 1:7
- Difficulty should remind us of the folly of this world and of the glory of heaven to come.
- “Hasten the day” should be our motto!

Hope should prompt holiness in us.

I Peter 1:13
- We can’t be unintentional Christians. Everyday we must remind ourselves of these things. We must avoid things that intoxicate us, whatever that may be (money, job, sports, etc.).
- Our hope should rest fully on going to be with God.
I Peter 1:14 – Be holy!

"Unless God is With Him"

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Most people in the United States do not believe the Bible is the word of God.
Many people try to get around the miraculous aspects of scripture. Our faith needs the miracles!

Jesus has power to forgive sins

Matthew 9:1-7
Matthew 4:23-24 – Compare Matthew 9:35.
Romans 1:16
Hebrews 10:14-17
How do you know you are forgiven?
- Emotions are not sufficient evidence of spiritual realities.
- Faith! Hebrews 11:1
By healing the paralytic, Jesus proves that He has power to forgive sins.

Jesus has the power to give eternal life

Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25
Jesus did this several other times in the gospel.
Jesus did this so that we would not be afraid of death.

Jesus has the power to reward faith

Matthew 9:20-22
Jesus healed her because of her faith. The power was His, but He used it because of her faith.
We must be confident in Jesus and His power.

Jesus illuminates us

Matthew 9:27-31
John 9:1-11
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and the reason we know that is because He gave sight to the blind.

"Sacrificial Instruction"

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Chris’ Comment: You always have to give up something you want to get something you want more.

When someone sinned, something had to die.

Isaiah 59 – Sin separates us from God, and thus from life.
Leviticus 1:4
Leviticus 4 – God says He will forgive their sin if they sacrifice an animal. The sinner had to kill the best animal they had.
Isaiah 53:3-6
Because we are not under the Law of Moses, we don’t get how personal it is when we sin.
Leviticus 4:1-12

Consider the volume of blood involved and the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:4 – None of all this animal blood was sufficient to forgive sins.
Hebrews 10:26-31

Appreciate the detail involved in the sacrifices.

Leviticus 4:20 – God’s forgiveness is conditional.
Romans 12:1
The condition of our sacrifices matters!

If we’re not careful, all of this loses its significance.

Isaiah 1:10-15 – God was tired of their sacrifices because those sacrifices weren’t changing them.
If these people could lose focus, the same can happen to us!
Romans 15:4
Don’t undervalue any part of God’s word!

"The Beginning of the Gospel"

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 1:4 – Much of the gospel message is very simple.
Romans 11:33

Why was Jesus baptized? Why did he never sin?

Mark 1:9-12
If Jesus can be baptized when He was without sin, we must certainly obey God as well.

God calls all of us to service.

Mark 1:16-20
God calls all of us to obedience, but each of us has something different to bring to the work of God.

Jesus had authority.

Mark 1:21-31
The demons came out because they had to. He had authority over them.

People flocked to Jesus because they wanted something from Him.

Mark 1:32-45
God can do things for us that we can’t do for ourselves.

"Those Who Are With Us"

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

We may feel overwhelmed by immorality in this world, but God tells us to not be afraid.

II Kings 6:8-23

How God uses His people

I Kings 16:25-28 – Omri was the worst king Israel had yet seen. Omri was mentioned in secular history. He made Israel prosper economically (almost to the level of Solomon’s day), yet spiritually he was a disaster.
Omri’s reign was much like America today. The people did evil, but still claimed to serve God.
It was a hard time to truly serve God in those days. Elijah and Elisha are God’s response to Omri’s rule.
Our job is to stand up and tell people about God.

Appreciate what God can do!

II Kings 6:9-10 – God delivered Jehoram to be faithful to his promises.
Deuteronomy 6:7-11
We may suffer as Christians, but we can have confidence in God.
God is for us!
I Peter 1:14

We need to be a humble and forgiven people, not gloating over our victories.

II Kings 6:20-23 – Jehoram’s first response is to kill them. Elijah’s response is to treat them well, which brings a period of peace.
Our job is to show people Christ – not to win a battle.

Apologetics, Part 9: How We Got the English Bible

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

As we continue our series on apologetics, these last four classes will be about how we got the English Bible. We will talk a bit about how the Bible itself came to be, but we will focus on the early English translations of the Bible for most of this study. The story of the English translation of the Bible is a fascinating history by itself, but it illustrates in grand detail the danger of turning away from God’s design for the church.

What I hope you will take away from this study:

God’s power and wisdom in making His word known to us.
The reliability of the English translations we have today.
Appreciation for the dedication and effort that made our Bibles possible today.
How dangerous it is to organize differently than what God commanded and drift from God’s word! You won’t even recognize the pure truth anymore!
Secularly, why some parts of the US constitution are setup the way they are.
Finally, and most importantly: How much we should treasure God’s word!

We will be covering a significant amount of history but try to stay on the narrow track of the important parts of history that resulted in the English Bibles we have today.

I have two primary resources for this class:

I welcome your comments and questions!

What is the Bible?

The Bible as we know it today is a set of 66 books, written by various men over a period of roughly 1500 years. The word Bible comes from a word that means “book” in both Latin and Greek. As of 2006, over 4 billion Bibles have been printed in 2400+ languages.

In the beginning, writings were on stone, clay, and papyrus. Scrolls were used up to about the First Century A.D., then codices were used. (A codex is a book.) Papyrus came from the Nile delta. Paper as we know it today was developed in China in roughly 300 B.C. but was not common in Western Europe until the First or Second Century A.D. Papyrus supply eventually could not keep up and parchment and vellum became more common. Paper was not common until 12 Century A.D.

The Wycliffe Bible that we will study about was inscribed by hand on parchment or vellum. Production time was 10 months to 2 years. The cost was a laborer’s annual wage!

Just think how carefully you’d treat your Bible if it cost as much as your car!
We are very, very blessed that this is no longer the case!

These books were inspired by God but written by human hands. God gave these men the words to write. Men chosen by God to be prophets were given the words they needed to speak at the time they were needed. Notice how God sent Moses to be His mouthpiece to the Israelites:

Exodus 4:11–16 (NASB95)

11 The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” 13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. 16 “Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

The New Testament echoes the same kind of language:

Hebrews 1:1–2 (NASB95)

1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

1 Corinthians 2:11–13 (NASB95)

11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

Ephesians 3:1–5 (NASB95)

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

When was each book of the Bible written?

Old Testament

Book	Date	Book	Date
Job	Considered earliest, but date unknown	2 Kings	561-538 BC
Genesis	1445-1405 BC	Judith*	Uncertain (538 BC – AD 70)
Exodus	1445-1405 BC	Daniel	536-530 BC
Leviticus	1445-1405 BC	Haggai	520 BC
Numbers	1445-1405 BC	Baruch*	500-100 BC
Deuteronomy	1445-1405 BC	Zechariah	480-470 BC
Psalms	1410-450 BC	Ezra	457-444 BC
Joshua	1405-1385 BC	1 Chronicles	450-430 BC
Judges	1043 BC	2 Chronicles	450-430 BC
Ruth	1030-1010 BC	Esther	450-331 BC
Song of Solomon	971-965 BC	Malachi	433-424 BC
Proverbs	971-686 BC	Nehemiah	424-400 BC
Ecclesiastes	940-931 BC	Susanna*	400 BC-AD 70
1 Samuel	931-722 BC	Psalm 151*	400 BC-AD 100
2 Samuel	931-722 BC	Letter of Jeremiah*	307-317 BC
Obadiah	850-840 BC	Tobit*	225-175 BC
Joel	835-796 BC	Ben Sira (Sirach)*	200-175 BC
Jonah	775 BC	Bel and the Dragon*	200-100 BC
Amos	750 BC	Greek Esther*	200-1 BC
Hosea	750-710 BC	Prayer of Azariah*	200-1 BC
Micah	735-710 BC	1 Maccabees*	150-100 BC
Isaiah	700-681 BC	2 Maccabees*	150-100 BC
Nahum	650 BC	1 Esdras*	100 BC-AD 100
Zephaniah	635-625 BC	Prayer of Manasseh*	100-1 BC
Habakkuk	615-605 BC	3 Maccabees**	100-1 BC
Ezekiel	590-575 BC	4 Maccabees**	100-1 BC
Lamentations	586 BC	Wisdom*	50-20 BC
Jeremiah	586-570 BC	2 Esdras**	AD 100-200
1 Kings	561-538 BC

*A deuterocanonical/apocryphal book
**A pseudepigrapha book

New Testament

Book	Date	Book	Date
James	AD 44-49	Acts	AD 62
Galatians	AD 49-50	1 Timothy	AD 62-64
Mark	AD 50-60	Titus	AD 62-64
Matthew	AD 50-60	1 Peter	AD 64-65
1 Thessalonians	AD 51	2 Timothy	AD 66-67
2 Thessalonians	AD 51-52	2 Peter	AD 67-68
1 Corinthians	AD 55	Hebrews	AD 67-69
2 Corinthians	AD 55-56	Jude	AD 68-70
Romans	AD 56	John	AD 80-90
Luke	AD 60-61	1 John	AD 90-95
Ephesians	AD 60-62	2 John	AD 90-95
Philippians	AD 60-62	3 John	AD 90-95
Philemon	AD 60-62	Revelation	AD 68-69 or AD 94-96
Colossians	AD 60-62

The Old Testament books were written in Hebrew with some Aramaic. The New Testament books were written in Greek.

The Canon of Scripture

All the books of the Bible started as separate texts, but they came to be part of collections:

The Law (Pentateuch) - by 400 B. C.
The Prophets - by 200 B. C.
- Joshua, Judges, I and 2 Samuel, I and 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and minor prophets)
The Writings - by 130 B. C.
- Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations. Ecclesiastes, Esther. Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, I and 2 Chronicles

It was not until the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70 that the Old Testament was put together in its current form.

So how do we know that the books of the Old Testament should be in the Old Testament?

By the time of Christ, the canon of the Old Testament was firm and fixed. Jesus and the apostles quoted regularly from “Scripture.” Two examples:

Luke 24:44 (NASB95)

44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

The three divisions of scripture Jesus mentions line up exactly with the Jewish division of the Old Testament: Law of Moses, Prophets, and Psalms.

Luke 11:49–51 (NASB95)

49 “For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute, 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’

Here Jesus indirectly refers to the totality of the Old Testament as it was arranged by the Jews – from Abel (Genesis) to the death of Zechariah (II Chronicles 24:20-21), which comes at the end of the Hebrew Bible.

So, what about the New Testament? How do we know we have the right books?

First of all, we know we can trust what Jesus Himself said and the people He sent out to bear His message. The people of the first century were in an excellent position to judge the authenticity of the writings as they were copied and spread between churches and individual Christians.

The early churches were unanimous in accepting the 27 books of the New Testament as divinely inspired. We can also see that these books harmonize with each other, with the Old Testament, and with recorded secular history.

So, what about the Apocryphal books or Deuterocanonical books? These are currently included in Catholic Bibles.

These books were almost all written before the New Testament, but Jews of that time never considered them to be canonical. Jesus and his disciples also never quoted from them or referenced them, even though the rest of the Old Testament was quoted heavily.

These books also disagree with each other, recorded history, and the rest of the Old Testament. For example, in the book of Judith, Nebuchadnezzar is said to have ruled over the Assyrian empire from the city of Ninevah, when he was actually the King of Babylonia, ruling from Babylon.

It is for these reasons that these books are not included in the 66 books of the Bible.

The Septuagint

In the 3rd century B. C. 72 scholars (6 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel) were sent by the high priest in Jerusalem to Alexandria by request of King Ptolemy II Philadelphus. He wanted to include a copy of the Torah in Greek in his great library there. The scholars completed the translation in 72 days (according to tradition). Other Old Testament books were later translated, along with the 14 books of the Apocrypha. and the whole work became known as the Septuagint (p. 14).

The Septuagint was the Bible of the first apostles and was used by the early church. Because Christians adopted it as their own and used it in debates against Jews, the Jews tried to argue it was an imperfect translation.

This sort of backlash would happen repeatedly with new translations!

In the 2nd century A.D., the New Testament began to take shape. It was not until the middle of the 4th century A.D., that the canon of the NT was established.

Also, in the 2nd century A.D. an “Old Latin” translation of the Bible was made directly from the Greek by an unknown group. It came to be used as scripture by the Latin-speaking churches of North Africa, Italy, Spain, and Gaul.

Catholicism

Alongside this, the Catholic church began to take shape. Early Christians were very loosely organized as independent local churches as we read in the New Testament. But by the end of the second century, a more structured hierarchy developed with a central bishop having authority over the clergy in a city. The hierarchy started to mimic the structure of the Roman empire. The churches in some regions began to have more influence than others and by the 2nd and 3rd centuries, bishops were meeting in regional synods to resolve doctrinal issues. The bishop of Rome began to act as a court of appeals for problems that other bishops could not resolve.

Note that we see nothing in the New Testament authorizing any of this. There is no clergy/laity distinction. Under the New Covenant, all Christians are priests. Jesus serves as our high priest.

Revelation 1:4–6 (NASB95)

4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 7:23–28 (NASB95)

23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

There is no authority for bishops (elders) to have any oversight of anything beyond the local church they are part of. Once you start going the wrong direction here, it’s hard to find a place to stop!
We discuss the organization of the local church here with some regularity. You might be tempted to think that this is a side issue or a more technical thing that doesn’t really matter, but we will see in this class just how important this fundamental issue is and how badly things can go wrong when we don’t stick to the pattern God set forth in the New Testament.
Passages like 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9 give the qualifications of elders and deacons.
Elders and deacons are always mentioned in the context of a single local church. No higher levels of organization are laid out in the New Testament.
A complete study on elders and deacons is well beyond the scope of this class.
Paul warned Timothy that an apostasy was coming, which may in part refer to Catholicism and various traditions around celibate priests, forbidding certain types of foods, etc.:

1 Timothy 4:1–3 (NASB95)

1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

Over time, various theological leaders such as Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Augustine of Hippo defined Catholic teaching.

The problem is, they were already going down the wrong track!

When Constantine became Emperor of Rome, he worried that disunity among Christians would displease God, so he took steps to eliminate some sects of Christianity. He also called ecumenical councils to determine binding interpretations of church doctrine.

After one such council (the Council of Nicea, AD 325), questions about the divinity of Christ caused a schism.
A new religion called Arianism began to flourish outside the Roman Empire (they believe Jesus is a created being that is subservient to God but is also God).
Partially to distinguish themselves from Arians, Catholics’ devotion to Mary became more prominent.

In 380, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, which caused Christians outside the Empire to be persecuted. Other countries feared that Christians would revolt in favor of the emperor.

This is a surprising reason why it is good for a government to not endorse a particular religion. It can actually backfire for those of that religion!)

The church now had legal authority for capital punishment, resulting in the first use of capital punishment on a heretic in 385.

Back to the Latin translation…

By the middle of the 4th century, several variants were circulating. The Church authority saw this as corruption of the text and thus intolerable.

In 382 A. D., Pope Damasus invited Eusebius Hieronymus (later known as St. Jerome) to revise it. Jerome was a good choice as he was an outstanding biblical scholar and knew both Hebrew and Chaldee.

At first, he made edits to the gospels and Psalms. followed by several other books. In 391, he decided to abandon this and translated directly from the original languages. In 405, he came out with a Latin translation of the full Bible. The translation was not immediately accepted by the church. Some said it was “tainted with Judaism” while others adhered to the older Greek and Latin versions due to their “halo of sanctity.” This exasperated Jerome and even at his death in 420, it was still not fully accepted. (p. 15)

This issue of people refusing to accept a translation because it sounded like it supported a particular group will be a common theme in this series of lessons.
We will also see that it is very common for people to not accept a new translation just because it sounds different than what they are used to.

By the early 7th century, it was in general use by churches throughout the west.

So, with all of that foundation laid, we now look at what was happening in Britain.

Christianity in Britain

According to tradition, Christian missionaries first arrived in Britain not long after the Crucifixion. They settled as hermits at Glastonbury in Somersetshire, where they built a church of wattles (fence posts and twigs), dedicated to the Virgin Mary. For a while they lived in caves at the foot of Tor hill.

Tradition says were 12 in number and sent by Philip, coming in by way of Wales. Supposedly were led by Joseph of Arimathea. (Josephs’ story became more fantastical in Sir Thomas Mallory’s Morte D’ Arthur, in which he was the custodian of the Holy Grail (the chalice Christ drank from at the Last Supper and which was used to catch and preserve the blood flowing from Christ’s wounds).)

The church at Glastonbury was even older than the one at Rome, which gave some challenge to Roman claims. Christians were initially all through the British Isles until Germanic invaders pushed them west so only Ireland and Wales were primarily Christian (400s-500s AD).

In the spring of 597, Augustine of Canterbury landed on the Isle of Thanet with forty monks on a mission from Pope Gregory the Great. King Ethelbert of Kent received him and promised not to interfere. Thousands were reportedly baptized by Augustine himself on Christmas Day. Then a second wave of missionaries arrived. In 602, Augustine founded Christ Church, Canterbury as his episcopal see.

Now we see the errors of Catholicism spreading abroad.

Augustine learned of the other Christians on the island and met with them in the interests of “Catholic unity,” which went bad quickly. Their worship practices did not line up, and apparently even worse, the two church calendars did not line up. The British wouldn’t budge, but Augustine saw himself as their spiritual overlord and insisted they conform with Latin norms. This devolved into threats from the Catholics. The two church missions were joined by the Synod of Whitby in 664, incorporating Britain into the Holy Roman Catholic Church. A succession of popes then increasingly centralized HRCC authority and setup the complex hierarchical structure it has now, finally resulting in the papal monarchy as stated by Pope Gregory VI in the 11th century (see p. 23). Pope Innocent II adopted the title “Vicar of Christ.” and made himself the arbiter of the affairs of Europe. The HRCC represented order and stability during a time when there was chaos and lawlessness in the feudal system. But the HRCC began to decay from within and by the middle of the 14th century, papal authority had declined (p.24).

Overly large organizations always tend to crumble and decay from within. We see the same thing with large corporations.

The birth of religious inquiry and spiritual freedom can be traced back to John Wycliffe.

Now we must introduce a man named John Wycliffe:

Born of a squire in Yorkshire about 1328
Sponsored the first complete translation of the Bible into English.
Wanted to evangelize the common folk: “The preaching of the Word is an act more solemn than the making of the sacrament.”
Was admitted to Merton College, Oxford in September 1345. College life was very spartan, with meals just bread, beer, soup thickened with oatmeal, and one serving of meat a day (p. 25). The library was under St. Mary’s church in a large chest. Books were scarce and expensive.
Oxford started attracting a lot of people who would later become big names, including Roger Bacon and William of Ockham.
Wycliffe stayed at Oxford as a student and teacher for 35 years, acquiring degrees in 3 different colleges (Merton, Balliol, and Queens).
He survived the Black Death in 1349.

The Legacy of Jesus

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

His words

John 1:1, 14, 18
Luke 9:35 – Listen to Him!
John 12:48-50; 14:23-26 – The apostles would share Jesus’ words with help from the Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 18:15-19 – Jesus was prophesied!
Acts 3:22-26; 5:18-21 – All the prophets were looking forward to Jesus.
We should never try to separate Jesus from His words.
Our society needs the words of Jesus!

His death

Luke 23:33-38, 44-49
Jesus allowed this to happen.
Crucifixion was a terrible, painful, and shameful method of execution.
Hebrews 12:2
Matthew 26:28

His resurrection

Luke 24:1-7
Leviticus 23:16
I Corinthians 16:1-2
Acts 20:7 – We remember Jesus’ death every first day of the week.
I Corinthians 11:26; 15:14, 17
Romans 6:3-12 – Jesus literally died. We must die to sin and rise to walk in newness of life.

Bible 101: Attitudes

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 5:31; 19:3-9 – Henry VIII started the Anglican Church because of marriage, divorce, and remarriage!
Isaiah 53:5 – Modern-day Jews try to ignore this passage because they don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah.

I should know that the Bible is understandable.

John 20:30-31
Ephesians 3:4-6
Luke 10:25-28 – The Old Covenant law was readable and understandable.
II Peter 1:12-15; 3:1 – Peter was preserving this for them!

I should be willing to admit, “I don’t know” instead of developing pride.

Hebrews 5:11-14
Mark 12:18-27
Job 23:1-7
Deuteronomy 29:29
John 21:22-23
Acts 2:9-11
Let us focus on what we do know rather than what is not revealed.

I should try to overcome my bias instead of pretending I don’t have any.

John 11:47-48
I Peter 2:2
Luke 15:11-32 – Parable of the prodigal son.
- Mark Allen Powell – The Forgotten Famine

I should put the work in to actually read and study the Bible.

Acts 17:11
II Peter 3:16

I should apply everything that is relevant to me.

Ezekiel 33:30-33 – It does us no good if we don’t apply what we study!

What are your thoughts on being baptized a second time?

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

First of all, if you have been baptized, and then committed some sin, that by itself does not mean you need to be baptized again.
- Acts 8:12-23
- I John 1:9

Back when you were baptized …

… did you understand that you were personally guilty of sin?

Acts 2:38
I Peter 3:21
Acts 9:5-6, 9; 22:16; 2:23, 36-38
People in the Bible felt relief and joy after baptism
- Acts 2:46; 8:39; 9:19; 16:34

… did you know the good news?

Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 2:40-41; 8:12, 35
Romans 6:3

… were you truly convinced?

Mark 16:15-16 – Belief is a prerequisite of baptism.
Acts 2, 8; 17:2-4, 11-12; 18:8
Hebrews 11:6
Romans 10:8-10 – The true believer is able to confess Jesus as Lord.
John 12:42-43

… did you start a new life?

Acts 2:38-42
Ezekiel 18:30-32
Jonah 3:4-10; Matthew 12:41
Acts 26:20; 8:13, 18
Romans 6:4

The Bible itself does NOT give any of these reasons to be baptized:

To make my family or friends happy.
Because it seems like a grown-up thing to do.
I want to start taking the Lord’s Supper.
Someone told me, “It’s about time,” even though I wasn’t ready.
Someone else got baptized and I didn’t want to feel left out.
To join a denomination.
To accomplish something other than obeying God’s plan to put on Christ and receive forgiveness of sins.

Apologetics, Part 8: Age of the Earth

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
God reveals Himself in two ways:
- The book of scripture
- The book of nature
- Psalms 19:1-4, 7, 8; II Timothy 3:14-17; II Peter 1:16-21; Romans 1:18-20
- If those two do not agree, something is wrong with our understanding!

Patristic (early church fathers’) interpretations

Epoch day view

1 creation day = 1000 years
Taken from II Peter 3:8

Allegorical / figurative day view

“How could creation take place in time, seeing time was born along with things that exist?” – Clement of Alexandria

24-hour view

1 creation day = 1 literal 24-hour day

Modern interpretations (late 1700s+)

Concordist

Old earth
- Gap view
  - Popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible. God creates the world, Satan destroys it, then God recreates it.
- Day-age view
  - Days of creation are long but finite periods of time.
- Intermittent day view
  - Each “day” of creation is a 24-hour period followed by an extended, finite period of time.
- Days of divine fiat view
  - The six days of creation are the days that God commanded things to come into existence. Then God caused the different parts of creation to come into an existence over an extended period of time.
Young earth
- 24-hour view
  - Creation days were literal 24-hour days.
- Mature creation view
  - 24-hour literal days, but created to look fully mature.

Non-concordist

Framework view
- Seven days is a figurative framework around what really happened.
Analogical days view
- Seven days are God’s work days. The length is not specified and are not important.
Functional cosmic temple view
- Creation is talking about the functions God created – not the material things.
Historical creationism view
- Genesis 1:1 refers to the creation of the universe and all that is in it. Genesis 1:2-2:4 describes God’s work of preparing a land that would eventually be promised to Abraham and his descendants.
Days of revelation view
- The Genesis 1 account is a series of statements telling man what God had done in ages past to create the universe and earth. The six days of creation are the time God took to tell man about how He created the universe, not the time it took for it to actually happen.

Encouraging Bible Preaching and Teaching

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 8:4
I Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:4, 12-13

Preach the word.

II Timothy 4:1-5
To preach the word, you must preach from the word!
II Timothy 2:15
II Timothy 3:13-17 – This is what we want! The scripture that will prepare us.
Titus 2:1 – Teach sound doctrine.

Fight error.

I Timothy 1:3-7
Acts 20:26-32 – You need God’s word to fight off error.
I Timothy 4:5-8 – We must stay away from far-fetched theories.
I Timothy 6:3-5
II Timothy 2:14-18
Titus 3:9-11 – You will need to take a stand against error!
Titus 1:13

Speak with authority.

Titus 3:1
I Timothy 5:20
I Timothy 6:18
II Timothy 1:7

Bible 101: Word Studies

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 2:38
- “baptize”: immerse, submerge for a religious purpose
Matthew 5:3
- “blessed”: divine favor
- Use a Greek dictionary to find out the original meaning of a word.
Ephesians 5:27
- “church”
- Bible study tools can show you were a Greek or Hebrew word is used in the Old Testament.

How to look up a Greek word

Galatians 5:20 – What does “jealousy” mean?
We can use a Greek interlinear to find the exact word that was used.
In 1890, Dr. Strong setup a numbering system for all Greek and Hebrew words in the Bible. Most Bible study tools today are keyed to these numbers.
In the 1970s, Zondervan updated this system with new numbers for words found in additional manuscripts that had been found since Dr. Strong created his system. This system uses numbers starting with “GK” and is also used in Bible study tools. However, Strong’s numbers are still more widely used.

Be careful – you are not a Greek expert!

In this case, the same Greek word can mean either zeal or jealousy.
There is more to the meaning of a word than just the definition. Context matters!
All words have a semantic range (more than one meaning).
WARNING: Don’t randomly plug in definitions for a word.
Be hesitant to think you know more than the translators!

Refuting bad arguments

Acts 2:38 – “for” the forgiveness of sins.
The Greek word is eis, which means “forward” or “into.”
Compare Matthew 26:28. The same word is used here.
The people needed forgiveness of their sins. They had not been forgiven yet.

Practical advice

Compare English translations.
From time to time, look up a Greek word.
Find other places the same Greek word is used.

Exodus

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Exodus 12:2 – Their calendar started with the Exodus. This event formed the national identify of Israel.

The exodus

Exodus 3:7-10 – God heard their cries and was acting on His promises.
The ten plagues (Exodus 3:19):

Plague	Scripture
Blood	Exodus 7:14-25
Frogs	Exodus 8:1-15
Gnats	Exodus 8:16-19
Flies	Exodus 8:20-32
Livestock	Exodus 9:1-7
Boils	Exodus 9:8-12
Hail	Exodus 9:13-35
Locusts	Exodus 10:1-20
Darkness	Exodus 10:21-29
Firstborn	Exodus 11:1-12:32

God designed the plagues to specifically show that the many false gods of Egypt were powerless against Him.
Exodus 7:5; 8:19
God continually reminded the Israelites of what He did
- Exodus 12:12
- Joshua 24:5
- Judges 6:8
- I Samuel 10:18
- II Samuel 7:6
II Chronicles 7:19-22
Acts 13:16-17, 23, 26, 29
Hebrews 10:28-31 – Let us appreciate what God has done for us!

The law

Exodus 19:4-6
The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5)
- The covenant included many additional laws – over 600 in al.
God entered into a covenant with the people. This covenant was good for the people. The laws God set forth were not arbitrary.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 – They were to learn and obey these laws.
Deuteronomy 6:18-25 – These laws were good for them.
Jeremiah 11:1-8 – Israel broke the covenant with God.
Any time people stray from God’s law, bad things will happen!
Jeremiah 31:31
Romans 6:20

The leader

Timeline of Moses’ life:

First 40 years:
- Raised as an Egyptian
- Exodus 2:11; Acts 7:23
Second 40 years:
- Shepherd in Midian
- Exodus 2:15; 7:7; Acts 7:29-30
Third 40 years:
- Leaders of Israel
- Deuteronomy 34:7

We can grow into greatness!

Exodus 3
Exodus 2:11-15
The reluctance of Moses (Exodus 3:11-4:17)
- Exodus 5:22-23
- Exodus 11:3
- Exodus 12:1, 32
- Exodus 14:13-14 – This is a Moses with faith!
- Hebrews 11:24-29
The way to grow into greatness is to live by faith.

Apologetics, Part 7: Age of the Earth

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Apparent age

God created things in a mature, functional state.
Apparent Age
Romans 1:18-25

Difficulties with radiometric dating techniques

More Conflicting Evidence from Evolutionary Dating Techniques
New Findings Show Flags in Old-Earth Dating Methods
Radioactive decay rates are not as constant as once thought. Solar weather seems to change the decay rate.
How do we know the decay rates we have computed are accurate?

Soft tissues in dinosaur fossils

Dinosaur Soft Tissue is Here to Stay
Soft tissue has been found in dinosaur fossils, which should not be possible if the fossils are millions of years old.

Limitations in archaeology

Dating in Archaeology: Challenges to Biblical Credibility

Obligatory mutualism

Many plants and animals have symbiotic relationships such that they cannot survive without the other.
This means that they must be created very close together or neither would survive. This causes problems for the idea of creation happening over millions of years.

Surpassing the Scribes and Pharisees

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

ntroduction

Matthew 5:20
Acts 26:5
Jesus is not saying, “do more of what they are doing.” He is saying, “do things differently than them.”
We need to be on a different track than what the Pharisees were on.

Love the lost.

Luke 18:9
Luke 7:36-37 – Simon viewed the woman with contempt.

Love the truth.

Matthew 12:1-8
Matthew 12:9 – They were not for truth – they were simply against Jesus.
Matthew 16:1
Matthew 19:3; 22:15, 35, 41 – Their attitude was wrong!
We must do something different than this and love truth.
Luke 16:14-15
John 11:48

Develop humility.

Luke 14:7-11
John 4:1-3 – Jesus left, possibly to avoid conflict with the Pharisees.
John 7:31
Am I humble enough to learn from whoever might be able to teach me?
John 9:34

Be willing to change my mind.

Luke 6:10
John 9:16, 24; 10:20 – They didn’t know what they thought they knew!
Christians should be open-minded and learn.
My willingness to change my mind must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Study God’s word instead of blindly keeping tradition.

Mark 7:1-9
John 9:22
John 12:42
John 3:1-2; 7:50-52 – Nicodemus was willing to be open-minded.
We need to be honest and realize we might need to change.

Bible 101: God's Laws Through the Ages

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The context of stop signs.
Genesis 3
11 Things the Bible Bans, But You Do Anyway

God’s laws through the ages

Genesis 1: Laws for patriarchs
- Genesis 3:3; 6:14; 12
- Genesis 18:19 – This was intended for Abraham and his family.
Exodus 20: Law of Moses for Israel (Old Covenant)
- Exodus 19:3-6
- Exodus 20:3-17
- Deuteronomy 5:3 – This covenant was between God and Israel.
- This law was limited in applicability and in duration (Jeremiah 31:31).
Prophets: Laws for Gentiles
- Isaiah 13:1; 14:29; 15:1; 18:1; 19:1; 21:11, 13 – Messages for various particular nations.
Period of transition: Jesus lived under the Old Covenant, taught the New Covenant
- Matthew 5:17-18
- Matthew 4:23
Acts 2: Law of CHRIST for ALL (New Covenant)
- Hebrews 1:1
- Acts 2:36, 39
Acts 10
- Acts 10:34 – New Covenant opened up to all Gentiles. All nations are now under the same law.
- John 12:48
- Romans 1:16

Study each passage in its context to determine its relevance.

Generally the New Testament is for us, the Old Testament is not.
- But even that is an oversimplification.
Not everything in the Old Testament is irrelevant.
Not everything in the New Testament is an instruction for us.

Examples

Are we commanded to be vegetarians?
- Genesis 1:29
- Genesis 9:3

The Four D's of Serving Jesus

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 9:23

Desire: “if anyone wishes to come after me”

John 6:58-59, 66-69 – Many did not want to follow Jesus because of what He said. He taught controversial things, but would not alter the message for His audience. Any time truth is taught, some will be offended.
Matthew 10:34-37 – Jesus wants to be first in our lives.
Deuteronomy 6:5
Matthew 22:37
Do I wish to follow Jesus?

Denial: “he must deny himself”

James 1:14-15, 26
James 2:21
James 3:2 – We must practice self-denial with our tongues.
James 3:14
James 4:10 – We must deny ourselves and be humble before God.

Duty: “and take up his cross daily”

Mark 8:31-37
This is something we’re doing on a daily basis in service to God.
Am I doing my duty?

Discipleship: “and follow Me”

Luke 18:21-23
Luke 9:57-62 – We must not let excuses get in our way.
John 10:27-28
Am I following Jesus?

Apologetics, Part 6: Practice

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

New Book: For This Scientist, Science Did Not Point to Atheism

Intelligibility

The founders of modern science assumed the intelligibility of nature.
“They believed that nature had been designed by the mind of a rational God.”

Contingency

“They believed that God had many choices about how to make an orderly world.”

The fallibility of human reasoning

“early scientists accepted a biblical understanding of the power and limits of the human mind”

The purpose of science

“O Thou who by the light of Nature movest in us the desire for the light of grace, so that by it thou mayest bring us over into the light of glory … be gracious and deign to bring about that these my demonstrations may be conducive to Thy glory and to the salvation of souls, and may in no way obstruct it.” – Johannes Kepler

Our purpose

I Timothy 1:3-7

Can it make a difference?

I Timothy 1:13-17

Tools for the toolbox

Spot the assertions

___ million / billion years ago …
__ evolved from __

Spot the assumptions (i.e., unstated assertions)

Differentiate between conclusions and evidence
Popular science articles tend more toward conclusions
Peer-reviewed journal articles tend more toward evidence
Misrepresentations / strawman

Identify inconsistencies

Common logical fallacies

Appeal to authority (“Science says,” “scientists say,” “evolutionists say”)
Ad hominem (a religious person must be biased, intellectual insult, moral critique)
Judging an idea by its supporters (crusades, “Christianity has resulted in more deaths than …”)
Equivocation – changing meaning of words but reasoning as though you didn’t (“evolution”)
Failure to equivocate (“works” in Romans 3, 4; Galatians 2; and James 2)

Stealing from God

Moral condemnation of the God of the Bible
Order in nature
Supernatural action – breaking the observed laws of nature

Humility

Acknowledge faults and our need for grace
Be okay with ignorance – you don’t have to know everything to believe anything

Leverage your frustration

Something is so wrong you can’t even find a hole in it?
Your internal system telling you to check your assumptions.

Spot the god of the gaps

Recognize the limits of “science”

Practice article

Materialism Matters: The Role of Philosophy in Science

What does God say about Himself?

John 14:6
John 11:25

The Courage to be a Christian Comes from Faith

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Life's Most Important Question

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

"A throne set in heaven"

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Apologetics, Part 5: Faith, Science, and Scripture

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Find the faith / find the assumptions

Give examples of something you think you know about the natural world.
How did you come to that knowledge?
Why do you have confidence in that knowledge?

Does it require faith?

Supernaturalism
Naturalism
Christianity
Atheism
Agnosticism
Creationism
Evolutionism
Young earth
Ancient earth

Are science and religion mutually exclusive?

One scientist’s perspective on science and faith.

Sir Isaac Newton – Principia Mathematica

Relevance of scripture

What does God say about the opposition?

Psalms 14:1-6
Psalms 2:1-4
Psalms 10:4-6, 11-14
Isaiah 29:9-16
Isaiah 45:7-12

How ought we regard God?

With praise – Psalm 148
- The natural world praises Him.
- The people of the earth, great and small should praise Him.
With fear – Psalm 1:7
- It is the beginning of knowledge.

Do I Love Like I Should?

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I John 4:7-21

Love starts with God.

I John 3:1
Romans 8:35-39, 32
Romans 5:6
Titus 3:3-7
II Thessalonians 2:16-17
God loves you!

We should love Him back.

I John 4:19-21
Ephesians 2:4
We can’t love God in the way and to the degree that He loves us, but we must do so with the capacity that we have.
Ephesians 6:24
Luke 17:15 – We must show gratitude!
I John 5:2-3 – We must obey God!
Revelation 2:2

We should love others like He does.

I John 4:11
I John 3:14-18
Ephesians 5:1-2 – Walk in love.
Am I willing to help someone that does not deserve it?
Jonah 4:2
Luke 15:1-32
What is our attitude? Am I imitating divine love?
Matthew 11:28-30
Matthew 12:20

Bible 101: Translations

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 119:105

Translations are a blessing!

Imagine if you were not able to read the Bible in your own language or at all!

Translations are not inspired!

The original words were inspired but the translations were not.
Paul was preaching from a translation of the New Testament in Greek – the Septuagint.

Why are there so many translations?

Because languages change over time.
- James 1:2
Because translation is not simple.
- Word order changes
- Idioms
  - Numbers 12:9
- Examples from Spanish:
  - ¿Como se llama?
    - How do you call yourself? (word-for-word)
    - What is your name? (thought-for-thought)
  - ¿Cuantos años tienes?
    - How many years do you have? (word-for-word)
    - How old are you? (thought-for-thought)

Strengths of word-for-word translations

Easier to notice recurring words (lexical concourdance)
- Romans 7:21-23
Let readers interpret for themselves
- Revelation 1:1
- I Corinthians 5:5
- I Thessalonians 4:3-4
Retain meaningful sayings
- Genesis 35:29

Weaknesses or word-for-word translations

Awkward English that may be confusing
- I Corinthians 9:16
- Mark 1:2 (a dead metaphor)

Strengths of thought-for-thought translations

Natural language that may be more understandable
- II Corinthians 6:12

Weakness of thought-for-thought translations

More interpretation allows for less accuracy.
- II Timothy 4:6

Practical recommendations

Word-for-word		Thought-for-thought
KJV	CSB	NLT
NASB	NIV	NCV
NKJV	NET	GNT
ASV	NAB	CEV
ESV	NRSV	NIrV

Apologetics, Part 4

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Radiometric dating

Radiometric dating is often used by scientists to determine the age of rocks and, by extension, the age of the earth.
Video referenced: How Does Radiometric Dating Work?
Geologic Time, from USGS
Relative Time Scale, from USGS
Radiometric Time Scale, from USGS
Age of the Earth, from USGS
Radiometric Dating Does Work!, from NCSE
Uniformitarianism

How the World Knows We Are Christians

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

"Simon ... do you love me more than these?"

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Have I Really Forgiven?

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Apologetics, Part 3

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Age of the earth

Why does the age of the earth matter?
Dr. Rogers: Does the Hebrew word yom endorse an old earth?
- The word can be used either literally or figuratively.
  - Figurative: Genesis 2:4, 17
  - Literal in cases where it is used with the number of a day (first day, second day, etc.).
Other references to Creation
- Exodus 20:11
- Mark 10:6
Could the God described in the Bible create the earth in 6, 24-hour days?
Could the God described in the Bible create the earth across billions of years?
Based on the evidence available, which do you believe?
Age of the earth estimations from Biblical records
- Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus
  - Tracing Jesus’ lineage through Joseph
  - Establishes a paternal link to David
    - Legal right to inherit throne
  - Age of earth: 7,307 years
  - Date of creation: 5284 BC
- Luke’s genealogy of Jesus
  - Traces Jesus’ lineage through Mary
  - Establishes a blood link to David
    - Blood right to inherit throne
  - Age of earth: 8,596 years
  - Date of creation: 6573 BC
Underlying assumptions of this Biblical timeline
- The “days” of creation were literal, 24-hour days.
- No gaps in genealogies presented in the Biblical record.
- Where we don’t have the age of the father at the birth of the next person in a lineage, this timeline uses an “average lifespan” for that timespan.
- Assuming there are no gaps in the genealogies presented in the Bible, this makes the timeline longer than actual.

Abraham

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 12:1-3, 11-12 – God’s promises to Abraham.

God’s promises

Genesis 12:1-7

I will make you a great nation.

Genesis 21:5
Exodus 1:7-9, 20
Deuteronomy 26:5
Genesis 14:13 – “Abram the Hebrew”
Romans 4:18-22
FULFILLED! Abraham became the father of the Hebrew nation.

To your descendants I will give this land.

Joshua 1:1-6; 21:43-45
Nehemiah 9:7-8
FULFILLED! The nation lived in the land of promise.

In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

Matthew 1:1, 2-16; 3:8-9
Acts 3:13-15, 19, 25-26
FULFILLED! Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, became the Savior of the world.

Abraham’s exemplary faith

Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-19
John 8:31-33, 37-47
Romans 4:9-17, 23-24
Romans 9:6-8
Galatians 3:6-9, 26-29

Bible 101: Figurative Language

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 26:26-29 – Some take this literally. This is a metaphor. It was figuratively his body and blood.

Why does God use figurative language?

Figures make language more vivid, interesting, memorable, and powerful.
I Peter 5:8
II Peter 2:21-22
How about the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15)?
The basic message is that we should rejoice when sinners repent, but by presenting that as a parable, Jesus turns it into a memorable story.

When should we take a word or phrase figuratively?

A good rule of thumb is to understand a passage literally unless there is a good reason to believe otherwise:
- When it is said to be figurative.
  - John 2:18-21
  - Ephesians 6:17
  - Isaiah 9:2
- When a literal understanding contradicts another passage.
  - Mark 1:5; Luke 7:29-30 – Not absolutely all people came out to obey Jesus.
- When it matches a pattern of figurative language in other passages.
  - John 6:27; I John 3:18; I Peter 3:3 – Not-but passages.
- When a literal understanding contradicts known facts or common sense.
  - John 3:3

When should we NOT take a word or phrase figuratively?

When a literal understanding simply contradicts our beliefs.
- I Corinthians 7:1

Understanding the Church of the New Testament

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 8:1-3 – The church was the people. Not a building!
Romans 16:5
Acts 20:17, 28-30 – The trouble to come was that people would be drawn away. This was spiritual work to guard the people.

The word “church”

The word translated church in the New Testament simply means, “a called out group” or “assembly.” The word itself does not have a spiritual connotation.
Acts 19:32 – The word “assembly” here is ekklesia, often translated “church.”

Universal sense (all saved people everywhere)

Ephesians 5:22-28 – Christ died to save the church.
Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body (one church) because there is one savior.
Matthew 16:16-19 – Jesus was establishing a group of people who were saved.
Acts 2:38
Hebrews 12:22-23 – The people’s names are written in heaven.
Luke 10:20

Local sense (saved people working together as a congregation)

Romans 16:16
I Corinthians 1:2

The church does not save; it is the saved.

Acts 4:12 – Jesus is the savior – not the church!

Don’t think of the “church of Christ” as a denomination with a creed.

“Church of Christ” is a description – not a name.
Churches are described with many names in the New Testament:
- Romans 16:16
- I Corinthians 11:16
- I Thessalonians 2:14
- I Corinthians 14:30
- Acts 11:22
- Romans 16:1
- I Corinthians 1:2
- I Thessalonians 1:1
Acts 8:12

There should not be such a thing as “church of Christ” doctrine.

There is only the doctrine of God.

Let’s just objectively seek the truth!

Apologetics, Part 2

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction to apologetics, continued:

What do you hope to gain from this study of apologetics?

Internal motivations
- Answer questions you have yourself – Mark 9:24
- Stronger personal faith – know why you believe – Luke 17:5; Colossians 2:6-7
- Defend your own faith against attacks – II Timothy 3:13-15
External motivations
- Better able to answer questions of seekers (children, friends, coworkers) – Ephesians 4:11-14
- Persuade those in error – but to what end? Philippians 1:15-17
- “Win” an internet debate – Matthew 7:6
- Defeat opposition – to what end? Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
- Plant a seed – I Corinthians 3:6; Mark 4:31-32; Luke 8:11-15; 13:6-9

Purpose in apologetics

I Peter 3:15 – Ready to make a defense – but in what way?
- I Peter 3:8-9, 15 – our attitudes
- I Peter 3:11 – seek peace
- I Peter 3:12-14 – fearless
- I Peter 3:16 – our conduct
I Peter 3:18 – Christ’s suffering led me to our sanctification.
- What must our willingness to suffer for Christ do for others?

Final thoughts

Luke 12:11-12
- Jesus told his disciples not to prepare beforehand what they would say, because the Holy Spirit would teach them in that very hour what they should say.
- That promise was not made to us, but we can learn from it.
Luke 21:12-15
- Similar instructions, promise worded differently. He would give them wisdom and utterance no opponent could refute.
- Their persecution would lead to an opportunity for testimony.

Faith and science

What is faith?

Personal conviction that something is true when the believer has no first-hand knowledge of it.
Romans 8:24
II Corinthians 5:7
Hebrews 11:1

How do we develop faith?

Discuss
- Testimony
- Observation of evidence (as opposed to direct observation)
  - Secondary, tertiary, etc.
- Reasoning
Luke 24; John 20:25-31

What are some everyday things we believe or take for granted?

What is science?

Testing of theory against evidence

How does science work?

Attitudes Toward Money

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 8:7

You can’t chase contentment; you have to learn it.

Philippians 4:11-12
I Timothy 6:6-9
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
Ecclesiastes 5:10

Pay attention to lifestyle creep.

Deuteronomy 6:10 – If they were being warned when they were living in those conditions, what about us?
Matthew 16:24-26
Physical things are not bad on their own, but they must not distract us from spiritual matters.

Beware of social comparisons.

Luke 12:13-15, 21
Exodus 20:17 – Don’t covet what others have.
Ephesians 5:3

Use money as a tool for God’s work.

I Timothy 6:18
I John 3:17
Proverbs 19:17
Deuteronomy 24:19
I Peter 4:9
Matthew 25:43

Bible 101: Context and Harmony

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Context

Psalm 14:1 – “there is no God”
- Do you believe the Bible?
- This verse is taken out of context!
Studying the context means reading the surrounding verses to help you understand what a word or phrase means.
- Examples:
  - Foxes – Matthew 8:20; Luke 13:31-32
  - Love – II Samuel 13:1; Ephesians 5:25; Song of Solomon 1:2

How do you study the context?

Just read the verses before and after.
The headings in your Bible may be helpful.
Glance at an outline in a study Bible, commentary, or Bible dictionary.
Pay attention to connecting words.

Harmony

Make sure to also consider how this passage harmonizes with the rest of the Bible.
Matthew 4:5-7
Hebrews 9:12

How do you study harmony?

General knowledge of the Bible
Use cross references
Use digital search features or paper concordance
Use topical Bibles
Examples:
- Psalm 2
  - Psalm 2:1 has a cross reference to Acts 4:25-26, showing that part of the psalm was quoted there.
- Philippians 4:13

Homework

Do you believe the Bible is literal?
Open your Bible to any page. Can you find a figure of speech?

Men, Lead Your Kids

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ephesians 6:1-4
I Timothy 3:4-5
You can’t expect your wife to do your job for you!

Be there.

Genesis 26:3
Exodus 33:14-16
Joshua 1:5 – God would be with him.
Psalms 38
Matthew 28:20
Luke 13:25-29 – Hell is being away from God’s presence.
Everything we read about what a family needs requires the father to be there.
Philippians 3:17 – Follow good examples. How can our kids follow our example if we aren’t there?
Surveys show that if the father is the first to become a Christian in a family, there is a 93% chance that others in the family will follow. If a child or the mother is the first, the probability is significantly lower.

Discipline them in a way that yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:7-11
Proverbs 13:24 – Sometimes tough discipline is necessary.
Proverbs 19:18
Proverbs 23:13-14; 29:15

Exhort and encourage and implore them to follow God’s path.

I John 3:16
Matthew 18:21-35
I Thessalonians 2:5-12

Apologetics, Part 1

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Four fundamental questions

Does God exist?
Is the God of the Bible the real God?
Is the Bible from God?
Is the Bible accurate in all it communicates?

Three personal questions

Why do I believe?

Why do I believe God exists?
Why do I believe the Bible tells about the true God?
Why do I believe the Bible is from God?
Why do I believe the Bible is accurate?

How do I know?

How do I know God exists?
How do I know the Bible tells about the true God?
How do I know the Bible is from God?
How do I know the Bible is accurate?

How will you respond?

Believe them
Doubt them but for no particular reason
Disagree vehemently by using weak arguments
Lovingly, firmly, and fearlessly reject what is false and demonstrate for them the truth

Apologetics

Acts 24:10; 25:8, 16; 26:1-2, 24; II Timothy 4:16
- Paul in court
Acts 22:1
- Paul before the Jewish mob
II Corinthians 9:3
- Paul, defending his right to receive wages as a preacher and his decision not to do so from the Corinthians
Philippians 1:7, 16
- Paul’s defense and confirmation of the gospel
I Peter 3:15
- Always ready to make a defense

Paul’s apologetics in I Corinthians 9

Defense #1: Paul’s “right to eat and drink”

Argues from consistency - I Corinthians 9:5-6
Argues from similarity - I Corinthians 9:7
Argues from authoritative precedent - I Corinthians 9:9-10, 13
Argues from lesser to greater (~a fortiori) - I Corinthians 9:11
Argues from moral fairness - I Corinthians 9:12
Argues with appeal to ultimate authority directly on the question at hand - I Corinthians 9:14

Defense #2: Just because Paul didn’t exercise his “right to eat and drink” did not make him less of an apostle

External motivation: To cause no hindrance - I Corinthians 9:12
Purpose: Would not make his boast an empty one - I Corinthians 9:15
Internal motivation: Preaching voluntarily brought a reward - I Corinthians 9:17
Personal trustworthiness: A pattern of life to not exercise freedom, for the benefit of others - I Corinthians 9:19-22
Higher objective: For the sake of the gospel - I Corinthians 9:23
Charitable outlook: To share in the blessings with those he sacrificed for - I Corinthians 9:23
Consistent with his foundation for life: Lived with purpose - I Corinthians 9:25-27

What specifically are we defending?

Could be anything
- The plan of salvation
- Work, worship, and organization of churches
- Biblical views of sexual morality
For this class, foundational beliefs that all the rest depend on
- Does God exist?
- Is the God of the Bible the real God?
- Is the Bible from God?
- Is the Bible accurate in all it communicates?

Purpose in apologetics

I Peter 3:15 – Be ready to make a defense.

Acts 15: Figuring Out What God Wants

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 15:3-4 – Paul and Barnabas knew the answer to the question of circumcision of Gentiles already because of what God had revealed.
Acts 15:5 – They were not deciding what the Gentiles should do. They were figuring out what God had already said.

Background

Acts 10
- Acts 10:10-16 – Vision of unclean animals; “kill and eat”
- Acts 10:19-20 – Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with these men.
- Acts 10:22 – Peter learns an angel had told Cornelius to send for him and hear his message.
- Acts 10:28 – Peter infers: “God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.”
- Acts 10:45 – “the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on the Gentiles”
Acts 11
- Acts 11:1-4

Exhibit A: Peter – Cornelius (Acts 15:7-11)

No mention of the Law of Moses.
Peter is pointing back to what God has already revealed.

Exhibit B: Paul and Barnabas – preaching trip (Acts 15:12)

Acts 13:45-47

Exhibit C: James – Amos’ prophecy (Acts 15:13-19)

Amos 9:11-12 – “… all the Gentiles who are called by my name …”

Conclusion

Acts 15:19
God has included Gentiles without the requirements of the Old Covenant (such as circumcision).
What happened:
- They gathered relevant information (commands, examples, inferences, and statements) and acknowledged God’s will.
- This is what we should do, too!
What did NOT happen:
- Majority rule
- Opinion rule
- Expert rule
- Tradition rule
- Etc.
I Corinthians 14:37-38

Bible 101: Introduction

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Nehemiah 8:1-8

What is the Bible?

A collection of 66 books. It wasn’t called the Bible until some time in the Middle Ages (Bible comes from a Latin word that simply means “books”).
Written over 1500 years by 40 different authors.
The Bible is inspired by God
- II Timothy 3:16
- II Peter 1:20-21
Different styles and genres
Two major parts:
- Old Testament, 39 books (Genesis – Malachi)
- New Testament 27 books (Matthew – Revelation)

How do I find my way around?

Acts 17:11
Parts of a Bible reference
- Book, chapter, verse
- Chapters and verses were not added until the 1200s and 1500s. They were added by man, not by God.
- Five books have only one chapter: Obadiah, Philemon, II John, III John, and Jude

Which translation is best?

Old Testament: written in Hebrew with some Aramaic
New Testament: written in Greek
II John 1:12
Different translations use different philosophies.
- Word-for-word vs. thought-for-thought
Romans 13:4
Recommended translations:
- New American Standard, 1995 (NASB95)
- English Standard Version (ESV)
- New King James Version (NKJV)
- King James Version (KJV)

What type of Bible should I use?

Arrangement of the text
- Verse-by-verse
- Paragraph
- Journaling / wide-margin
- Daily reading Bible
- Parallel Bible
Extra material added
- Maps
- Concordance
- Reference Bible
- Devotional Bible
- Children’s Bible
Features
- Red letter
- Large print
- Cover
- Paper
- Foreword / preface
- Italics
- Small caps
Try a digital Bible

Homework

Try out two free Bible apps.
Study Philippians 4:13. What does it mean?

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 11

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

How to know if you are in a healthy relationship

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/all-about-healthy-relationship-4774802

Top 10 aspects of a healthy relationship

Source: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/relations/top-10-characteristics-of-healthy-relationships/

Respect
Intimacy
Trust
Effective communication
Friendship
Connection
Commitment
Healthy conflict
Flexibility
Enjoyment

12 elements of healthy relationships

Source: https://wellbeing.jhu.edu/blog/2020/09/15/12-elements-of-healthy-relationships/

Communication
Boundaries
Consent
Trust
Honesty
Independence
Equality
Support
Responsibility
Healthy conflict
Safety
Fun

The relationship spectrum

Source: https://www.loveisrespect.org/everyone-deserves-a-healthy-relationship/relationship-spectrum/
Healthy
Unhealthy
Abusive

Healthy relationships wheel

Source: https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/adolescenthealth/HealthyRelationships

How healthy is my relationship?

Source: https://www.hannanhigh.org/uploaded/PDF_Documents/Guidance_Counseling/How_Healthy_Is_My_Relationship_Quiz.pdf

Dating

If the person you are dating is trying to force a change on your beliefs, that is by definition (even man’s definitions!) an unhealthy relationship.

Justified By Faith

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

How is a person saved?

The Bible says a person is saved by:
- Jesus – I Timothy 1:15
- The Father – Titus 3:4-5
- The gospel and belief – Romans 1:16
- Confession and belief – Romans 10:9
- Baptism – I Peter 3:21
- Works – James 2:24
- Grace – Ephesians 2:8
- Blood of Christ – Romans 5:9
- Name of Christ – Acts 4:10, 12
- Etc. …
Romans 5:1-2 – We are justified by faith.

We’re all guilty of sin.

Romans 3:23
Romans 3:20
Romans 3:28 – We are justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Abraham is our example.

Romans 4:1-2
James 2:21
Romans 4:3-5 – God doesn’t owe us a spot in Heaven because of all the good deeds we’ve done. No matter how many good deeds we do, we can’t erase a single sin.

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Scripture records this statement three times:
- Genesis 15:6
- Romans 4:22
- James 2:23
Abraham believed God many times:
- Genesis 11:31; 12:1, 4, 7; 13:4, 6-12, 14-18; 14:18-20

This was written for our sake.

Romans 4:23-25
Romans 5:1 – This points back to Romans 4.
We need to have this pattern in our lives: “Yes, Lord.”

How do I develop this faith?

Do what Abraham did!
Read the Bible – I Peter 2:2
Then obey it – Galatians 5:16-17
- Hebrews 11:8

Numbers 34-36

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 34

Numbers 34:1-15 – Boundaries of the land are described.
- Notice Numbers 34:2 – “When you enter.” It was guaranteed to happen by God!
Numbers 34:16-29 – The leaders who would apportion the land out to the tribes are selected.

Numbers 35 – Cities for the Levites

Numbers 35:1-5 – The Levites were allocated various cities and the surrounding land scattered throughout Israel.
Numbers 35:6-8 – Some cities were designated as cities of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone.
Numbers 35:9-34 – Rules governing cities of refuge, murder, avenging murder, accidental death, and execution.
Numbers 35:33 – Murder pollutes the land in God’s eyes. Only the blood of the one who shed it can atone. See Cain and Abel (God says Abel’s blood cries out to him from the ground) – Genesis 4:10.

Numbers 36

Numbers 36:1-12 – How to handle female land inheritance.

Conclusion

God wanted future generations to learn from the mistakes of this generation in Numbers.
- The very next generation – Deuteronomy 6:16
- Several generations later – Psalms 95; 78
  - Psalms 78:32 – “In spite of all this, they still sinned.”
- Many generations later – Jude 1:5; I Corinthians 10; Hebrews 3-4
  - Hebrews 3:6 – It is possible to fall away.
  - Hebrews 3:7-9 – Quotations from Psalm 95.
  - Hebrews 4:11 – Be diligent to enter the reward.
Trust in the Lord, be diligent, and receive the promises of God instead of falling away!

Encouraging, Loving, and Growing

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 17:1-9 – Paul’s trip to Thessalonica. He seems to have written I and II Thessalonians to the church from Corinth soon after he had visited the Thessalonians.

“to strengthen and encourage you”

I Thessalonians 3:1-5
Paul was writing to strengthen and encourage them. This is so important for Christians. The weak Christians are the ones Satan targets the most. Every Christian in every congregation can benefit from encouragement.

“good news of your faith and love”

I Thessalonians 3:6-8
I Thessalonians 1:2-3 – Do we have the right attitude about praying for our brethren?
I Thessalonians 2:17-20 – Paul was looking forward to seeing them at the judgment!
II Corinthians 11:23-29 – What occupied Paul’s mind? What were his emotions like?
Philippians 1:6-8 – Could I sincerely write this to someone?
III John 1:4

“complete what is lacking in your faith”

I Thessalonians 3:9-10 – Paul wanted their faith to be fully functional.
Luke 6:40
II Peter 1:5-11
Luke 18:18-23 – Jesus challenges us to give up our most preferred sin.
Completing our faith is about fixing the most difficult sins – not the ones that are easiest to avoid.
Revelation 2:4-5 – God wants us to grow!

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 10

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Responsibilities to the local church

The importance of membership in a local congregation

The only functioning unit of the church is the local congregation. I Corinthians 1:2; I Timothy 5:16
All Christians are to join a local congregation (idea of “free-floating” members is unknown to the New Testament). Acts 2:44-46
All the members of a local congregation have a peculiar responsibility to it to fully support its work (not to be discharged in any other way).
- Based on mutual agreement to work together – Acts 9:26-28
- Based on mutual responsibilities to one another – Romans 12:4-8 (Each of us has the same amount of responsibility to do his own part.)
- Based on mutual love for one another. Romans 12:9-18
- Based on mutual need for one another. Ephesians 4:16

The importance of each member – I Corinthians 12:14-27

Each member of the congregation has his own function to perform. I Corinthians 12:14-19
Each member is important. I Corinthians 12:20-24
Each member should have the same care for one another. I Corinthians 12:25-27

The responsibilities of each member

Assemble faithfully with the saints. Hebrews 10:24-25
Give liberally to help the church discharge its work. II Corinthians 9:6-7
Fully support all scriptural functions of the church. James 4:17 (Galatians 5:13)
Diligently do whatever work he can do. Romans 12:4-8
Demonstrate love and concern for each other. Romans 12:9-10
Pray for one another. James 5:16

Conclusion

Each member of the congregation must fulfill his obligations for the local congregation to be successful in doing its work. I Corinthians 12:14
Are you doing your share? Romans 12:11

The Dangers of Spoiling Your Children

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Easy recipe for spoiled fruit

Start with lots of blessings.
Let those blessings turn to rot.
Romans 6:1; 2:4

Examples of spoiling

Giving too much permission
- Proverbs 29:15
Giving too much stuff
- Luke 15:12-13
Giving too much discipline
- Colossians 3:21

Why do we spoil our children?

Selfishness – easier to give stuff than sacrifice:
- My time
- My effort
- My preferences
- My emotional comfort
- My pride
- My ease
Misguided compassion
- Giving all my time
- Giving all my effort
- Giving them all their preferences
- Preserving their emotional comfort
- Reinforcing their pride
- Making them always at ease

The danger of spoiling your kids …

Destination without the journey
- They will try to start their adult lives with all that you have now, starting at the point that it took you decades to reach.
Creates a selfish, entitlement mentality.
Something is wrong if:
- Others don’t serve me
- I don’t get my way
- I don’t get what I want, when I want it
Creates expectations, defines normal
- Discontentment
- Rebellion
- Foolish, near-sighted decisions

Spoiled … fruitful?

Galatians 5:22-23
Imagine the outcome if you spoil your child with …
- Deuteronomy 6:5-9 – Time spent daily as a family in devotion to God, reading, meditating on, and discussing His word together.
- I Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoicing in the Lord.
- Ephesians 4:29 – Days filled with words of exhortation.
- I Thessalonians 5:17 – Praying frequently.
- Hebrews 12:11 – Discipline for their good, yielding peaceful fruits of righteousness.
- Ephesians 4:3; Hebrews 13:1; John 13:35 – Peace and unity in the local church.

Beware!

They might reach the destination without the same struggles of your journey.
You may create someone obsessed with receiving an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled.
They may think something is wrong if:
- Days are filled with entertainment and self-satisfaction
- There is complaining
- Words are used idly and for tearing down
- Others are quick to gossip
- Life is undisciplined and fulfilling the desires of the flesh
- There is division and unrest among brethren
They may have unrealistic expectations that clash with the reality of those around them, living a life …
- Discontentment with others’ apathy toward spiritual things
- Rebelling against society inciting others to rise up, too
- Making foolish decisions with eternity in mind

But the danger still holds true

They must learn spiritual wealth does not come easy
- It takes their investment and effort
- It needs their growth mindset
- They must defend against thieves who would swindle them of their inheritance
- They have to cherish and value it – understand how much they must be willing to give up for it
  - Time
  - Effort
  - Preferences
  - Emotional comfort
  - Pride
  - Ease

How should we proceed?

Deuteronomy 8
- Deuteronomy 8:2-5 – Give discipline, direction, provision, and hunger
- Deuteronomy 8:6-14 – With reward and warning
- Deuteronomy 8:16 – With purpose (Hebrews 12:10)
Deuteronomy 8:18

A Fisherman Walks on Water

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-51; John 6:15-21
Early in the morning, Jesus walks on the water in view of the disciples.
Peter asks to join and Jesus allows is.
Peter becomes afraid and begins to sink, but Jesus saves him.
The storm stops.
- John 9:8; Psalms 77:19; 89:8-9; 107:23-30

Faith

“Little faith”
- Means to be incredulous
- Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 16:8; 17:20
God calls us to have faith in:
- John 3:36; Romans 6:8
Can one’s faith be misplaced?
- I Timothy 6:17

Doubt

Matthew 28:17; 21:21; James 1:6
Romans 4:18-22
What can we be tempted to doubt but should not?
- God’s promises and assurances – II Peter 1:3-4; 3:3-4
- Veracity of the Bible – Psalms 19:7-11
- James 1:6, 8
When is it appropriate, if ever, to have second thoughts?
- Re-evaluating our judgments based on applications of God’s word.

Fear

“He was afraid”
- Fear is a natural response and can be helpful.
- Fear can paralyze – Matthew 25:25
- Luke 5:10
- Mark 4:40
- Matthew 17:6
Can fear be appropriate for a Christian?
- Acts 10:1-2; I Peter 2:17
Of what can we be wrongly afraid?
- Fear of man’s mistreatment of us. Matthew 10:28; John 7:13; 9:22; 12:42-43; Hebrews 13:6; I Peter 3:14
- Isaiah 29:13
Do doubt and fear outweigh your faith?

The Significance of Being a Christian

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A new creation

A Christian is a “new creation”

Romans 6:4-5
II Corinthians 5:17

A new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth

James 1:18; I Peter 1:22-23
John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5-7

This new creation embarks on a life of renewal …

II Corinthians 4:16
Romans 12:2

A new life

Having passed from death to life

John 5:24-25
Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:12-13
I John 5:11-13

Having passed from darkness to light

Acts 26:18
I Peter 2:9-10
Ephesians 5:8; I Thessalonians 5:5
Ephesians 5:9

For which we should ever be thankful

Colossians 1:12-13

A new loyalty

A Christian is a “converted person” …

I Thessalonians 1:9
Romans 6:16-18; I Thessalonians 1:9

A Christian is converted to Jesus Christ

Acts 2:36; I Peter 3:15
Matthew 10:37-39
Galatians 2:20

Such loyalty to Christ results in a new life

Philippians 4:6-7
Philippians 4:13

A significant thing about a Christian, then

Experiences a new creation
Enjoys a new life
Entertains a new loyalty
… Such an individual is truly “A person reborn”

But not all professing Christians show evidence of this rebirth … Why is that?

They may not have yet truly experienced the new creation.

Mark 16:16
Colossians 2:12-13

Though they may have been reborn and entered the new life, they may have gone back into sin.

Hebrews 3:12-13
II Peter 2:20

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 9

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Peace

Matthew 5:9
Hebrews 12:14
Romans 14:19
Psalms 133:1-3
Matthew 5:23-24
Romans 14:13; 12:17-21
Philippians 4:2-5
II Corinthians 13:11
Proverbs 20:3
II Timothy 2:24-26
James 5:9
Colossians 3:12-13
Romans 15:5, 7

Love

I John 4:19-21
John 13:34
Ephesians 4:2
I John 4:7
I Peter 4:8
Matthew 5:43-48
I Corinthians 13:7
I Thessalonians 4:9; 3:12
I John 3:11
Romans 12:9-21
II John 1:5
I John 3:23
I Peter 1:22

Humility

I Peter 5:3-5
Philippians 2:3-4
Ephesians 5:21
Matthew 7:12
I Peter 5:5; 3:8
Romans 12:10
I Thessalonians 5:15
I Peter 4:10

Forgiving

Matthew 6:12-15
Ephesians 4:32
Colossians 3:13
Ephesians 4:3

Encourage

I Thessalonians 5:11
Hebrews 3:13
Romans 15:2

Pets

Matthew 15:21-27; 7:6
Philippians 3:1-2
Proverbs 26:11, 17
II Peter 2:22
I Samuel 17:43
II Kings 9:10
Do you love your pets more than other people?
The Bible says nothing about prioritizing a pet over people.
If you see someone whose only friend is their pet, maybe you are the friend they need.

Creation and Sin

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Creator possesses all authority and deserves all worship.

Genesis 1:1, 26-26 ➡ Revelation 4:11
Nehemiah 9:6
Isaiah 66:1-2
Romans 1:20-25
Psalms 148
Colossians 1:13-17 – Jesus is the preeminent one of all Creation.
II Peter 3:11 – All these things one day will be dissolved.

Sin entered the world and is still humanity’s greatest problem.

Genesis 3:6; 4:6-8; 6:5-8
I John 3:4
Isaiah 59:1-4
James 1:14-15
Romans 5:12, 18-19, 8 – Adam brought sin, but Jesus brought salvation.

Numbers 31-33

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 31: God’s judgment on the Midianites

Numbers 25:1-9 – The reason God commanded vengeance on the Midianites.
Numbers 31:6 – Phineas was going with the men to war, which must have been a great encouragement.
Numbers 31:8, 16 – Balaam was killed for his part.
Numbers 31:15-18 – They were specifically to kill the women who had caused Israel to sin.
- The morality of this killing
  - God is sovereign as Creator.
    - Isaiah 45:9
  - God killed for certain reasons, not arbitrarily.
    - Deuteronomy 9:4; 12:31
  - God’s first desire was for people to repent.
    - Jonah 3:4; 4:11
  - God knows what’s best for innocent children.
    - Numbers 31:17
Numbers 31:25-47 – God instructs them on how to allocate the plunder.
Numbers 31:49 – Not a man was missing after the battle.

Numbers 31: Reuben and Gad settle in the land

Numbers 32:5-18 – Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh settle, but promise to carry on fighting with Israel until the fighting it completed.

Numbers 33: Israel’s journey recounted

We no longer know precise locations for many of the places listed here.
Numbers 33:38 – Aaron dies.

What it Means to Love Our Brethren

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Rebuke and forgive

Luke 17:3-4, 1-2
I Corinthians 5:1, 13; II Corinthians 2:6-8 – Rebuke and then forgive
Matthew 27:3-5

Differ and admire

Romans 12:3
Acts 16:1
Titus 1:2
We should appreciate our differences and learn from each other.

Weep and rejoice

Romans 12:15
John 11:30-36
Acts 15:3
Philippians 1:3; 2:1
Whether this comes naturally or not, this is a skill we must develop.

Seeking the Lord

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Seeking the Lord

Deuteronomy 4:29
Acts 17:26-27
Matthew 6:33
Zephaniah 2:2-3
Proverbs 28:5
Psalms 40:16; 70:4; 105:3-4
II Chronicles 7:14-15 – Humbling yourself.
II Chronicles 11:16 – Worship is a way of seeking God.
Isaiah 51:1-2
II Chronicles 20:1-4
Ezra 8:21-22
Daniel 9:2-5
Zechariah 8:21-22
Malachi 2:7 – Seeking to hear messages from God’s word is part of seeking Him. See Titus 1:9.
I Peter 2:9
Exodus 33:7-11 – We seek God through worship.
Jeremiah 29:11-15 – We can seek God through our expressions of belief.
II Chronicles 15:1-15; 17:3-4 – Seeking God comprises all sorts of righteous actions.
What things hamper us from seeking God?
- Hosea 7:7-11 – Doing things that don’t make sense.
- Amos 8:11-14 – Not setting God above all else.
  - Psalms 83:16
  - II Thessalonians 3:14

Security in an Unknown Future

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 26-30

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 8

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Money

We are not alone

James 1:17
Job 12:10
Matthew 6:31-34

Warnings

Luke 16:13
Hebrews 13:5
I John 3:17
Galatians 6:7-10

Contentment

I Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19

Work and idleness

Genesis 2:15
Colossians 3:23-24
Galatians 2:10
Matthew 25:26-29
II Thessalonians 3:6-15
Proverbs 10:4; 12:11; 13:4; 14:23; 6:6; 18:9

Examples (guidelines)

Acts 6:1-3
I Timothy 5:1-16
Acts 20:35
Luke 3:11
James 1:27; 2:14-17
Acts 5:3-4
Luke 12:33-34; 14:12-14; 18:22-24

The Influence of Salt and Light

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 5:13-16

Remembering our influence in the world

“You are the salt of the earth”

Matthew 5:1-2, 3-12
Ezekiel 16:4; Leviticus 2:13; (Ezra 6:9; Romans 12:1)

“… but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?”

Salt cannot lose its flavor as long as it is still salt. If it is changed by its environment, it can lose its properties.

“it is then good for nothing …”

Matthew 25:30

“You are the light of the world”

John 8:12; 12:46; 1:4-9

“A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden”

People will be able to see us if we are standing for the truth, even if they don’t want to.

“Nor do they light a lamp …”

Ephesians 5:8, 11; Luke 1:79
The purpose of the lamp was to burn bright and shine.
Song: “Let The Lower Lights Be Burning”
We must fulfill our purpose!

“Let your light so shine …”

III John 1:9; Galatians 2:20
This is about letting God’s light shine through us. It is not about us trying to shine our own light.

Religious Responsibility to God

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Religious responsibility as a member of Christ’s universal church

Local church

Ephesians 3:10-11, 21; I Peter 4:17

I

Moral conduct

Romans 13:13-14

Civic

Romans 13:5

Social

Romans 13:8
Ephesians 4:25

Economic

Ephesians 6:5-9
Ephesians 4:28

Spiritual service

II Timothy 2:15, 2 – Everyone must teach to the extent of their abilities.
Matthew 28:19
Galatians 6:9-109 – Do good and help others.
I Thessalonians 5:17

Husband – wife

If we do the other things, but neglect our spouse of family, we are wrong.
Colossians 3:18; Ephesians 5:22-27

Parent – child

Ephesians 6:1-4

Preach the Word

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Jesse Jenkins requested a sermon on the division in the 1950s-1960s.
Why is this important?
- Old Testament apostasy from the beginning came from within.
- New Testament division and fall always came from within.
  - Acts 20:28
  - I Timothy 4:1
  - Hebrews 3:12
  - II Timothy 4:2-4
  - This fall was already starting during Paul’s lifetime. Elders started leading more than one congregation, leading to Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, then the Protestant Reformation and more division.

History repeating

In the 19th century, the organization of the church was again corrupted, and instrumental music was introduced.
In the 20th century, there were only about twelve full-time conservative preachers, but they taught thousands, and the church grew enormously.
- The sponsoring church arrangement came about, along with institutionalism (organizations set up to do benevolent work), recreation, and entertainment.
- Churches came to be known as either liberal or conservative churches of Christ, depending on if they supported these institutions or not.
- Churches split, even to the point of taking members to court as troublemakers.
- II John 1:9
The division in the late 19th century eventually produced three groups:
- The conservative church were generally known as churches of Christ.
- The more liberal group was usually known as the Christian Church.
- In time an ultra-liberal group spawned, known as disciples of Christ.
The division of the late 20th century had the same results:
- The conservative churches hold to Biblical infallibility and insistent on having a “thus saith the Lord” for teaching and practice.
- There are the “main-line” institutional churches that insist we do NOT have to have authority for all that we do.
- There are the ultra-liberal folks who are determined to have the church take its place among the denominations.
This emphasizes the need for each generation to be taught the basic principles over and over again.
- II Peter 1:12-13
- When Israel came to the promised land, there were certain instructions that were given along these very lines.
  - Deuteronomy 6:1-2, 6-8

What about the Benchley church of Christ?

We are reputed to be a big strong congregation!
How can we avoid this same cycle?
By learning from the mistakes of the past.
By following God’s instructions to Israel: Keep my commandments, walk in my ways, teach my children.
And doing as the Holy Spirit directed: II Timothy 4:2-4

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 7

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Addiction, continued:

What is the difference between a habit and an addiction?
- Habit vs. Addiction: What’s the Difference?
  - Habits can be positive or negative. Addictions are always negative.
- Good habits are created in 18-66 days. Bad habits can be created in as little as three days.
Being sober
- I Thessalonians 5:4-11
- II Timothy 4:5
- I Peter 1:13-19
- I Peter 4:7
- I Corinthians 15:32-34
- I Timothy 3:3
- Titus 1:7
What are the early signs of addiction?
- What is an addiction?
- Types of addiction
- Identifying the initial signs
- Look for changes in personality
- Look for changes in health
- The long-term life consequences
- Next steps towards recovery
How to talk to someone with an addiction
- If necessary, stage an intervention
- Try to stay involved
- Strike a balance

Jesus

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 1:1

Birth

John 1:14
Micah 5:2
Luke 2:4-20 – Jesus started in a manger.
Luke 2:24 – They could not afford a lamb for the offering.
Mark 6:1
Philippians 2:5-8 – Christ humbled Himself to live and serve on earth.
Hebrews 4:15

Life

He lived as a perfect example to us.
I John 2:6
Luke 7:19
John 8:26-29 – Here is our example, to always do the things that please the Lord.
John 4:31-32
Luke 12:21

Death

Mark 15:24-39
Ephesians 1:7
Revelation 1:4-7 – Jesus loves us and released us from our sins with His death.
John 3:16
Romans 5:8
I am loved!
I Peter 1:18
Titus 2:13-14

Numbers 22-25

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 22-24

Numbers 22:1-4 – Balak was scared of Israel’s army.
- See Numbers 26:51 regarding the size of Israel’s army – over 600,000 men capable of going to war.
Numbers 22:12 – THIS is the bottom line from God. They are blessed – do not curse them.
Numbers 22:19 – Trouble starts. Balaam decides to see what else God will say. See II Peter 2:15-16; Jude 1:11.
Numbers 22:20 – God allowed Balaam to use his free will and go anyway.
Numbers 22:22-35 – The angel and donkey intervene to work against Balaam.
Numbers 22:41-23:12 – Balaam’s first blessing.
Numbers 23:13-26 – Balaam’s second blessing.
Numbers 23:27-24:13 – Balaam’s third blessing.
- Numbers 24:9 – See Genesis 12:1-3. God was working to protect them. See Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Joshua 24:9-10; Micah 6:1-3.

Numbers 25

Numbers 25:1-9 – The Israelites start to turn toward Baal, but Phineas kills a man and woman caught in sin, stopping the plague. See I Corinthians 10:8.
Numbers 25:10-18 – God promises a priestly lineage through Phineas because of his zeal. God orders violence against the Midianites.
- Numbers 31:7-12; Revelation 2:14 – Balaam apparently advised Balak how to get Israel to sin.
Lessons for us:
- Beware of the danger that comes from inside.
- We should line our morals up with our religion instead of “religion” up with our morals.

Growing Stronger

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Peter 3:17

Reading the Bible regularly

Psalms 19:1-11
Psalms 119:1-8
John 6:66-68 – Jesus has the words of eternal life!
A free daily Bible reading plan to read the entire Bible in a year, reading five days a week: https://www.fivedaybiblereading.com/
Acts 17:11
Recommendations:
- Try a Bible reading plan
- Try a different translation
- Try a new Bible that is specifically for daily Bible reading

Praying all the time

I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Numbers 14:1-4 – Wasn’t this the perfect time to pray, rather than rebel?
Numbers 20:2-5 – Another great time to pray!
What about us? Isn’t it better to pray than complain?
James 5:13
Daniel 6:7-10
We read of people praying in all situations and postures.
Luke 3:21-22; 5:16; 6:12; 9:16, 28; 10:17, 21; 23:46 – Jesus prayed often!

Worshiping with renewed sincerity

Jeremiah 17:20; 20:9 – Jeremiah wanted to prophesy. We should feel the same about worship.
Luke 17 – The leper offered sincere worship after being healed.
Romans 1:20
Our worship should be an overflow of love for God.
It’s important to worship in the right way, but we must worship in sincerity. The heart should be there.
Matthew 14:32; 28:8-9 – How sincere was this worship?
Luke 24:50
John 9:35
Good worship is an overflow of the heart.
Hebrews 9:11; 10:12

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 6

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Turning our conversations to spiritual subjects

How to train people for spiritual conversations:

Don’t tell people it’s easy.
Encourage people to value pre-evangelism.
Train people to tell their stories of coming to faith.
Remind people evangelism can be a “team sport.”
Adopt the mindset of an ongoing coach rather than a one-time seminar presenter.
Find ways to regularly enamor people with the wonder of the gospel.

Addiction

I Corinthians 10:13
Philippians 3:17-19
What is addiction?
Why does addiction begin?
What are the symptoms of addiction?
Can addiction be treated?
Christians struggling with addiction: there is hope
- Hope comes through:
  - Honesty
  - The gospel
  - Help
Christians don’t struggle with our addictions – we deny their existence by Linda Larson Schlitz

Getting Back to the Basics in 2024

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 6:6

Love God

Deuteronomy 6:1-6 – Jesus references this when asked what the greatest command is (Matthew 22:37-40).
Ephesians 2:1-6 – We are saved because of God’s great love.
I John 4:19 – Our natural response is to love God back once we learn of His love for us.
Psalms 84:2
I John 2:15
I John 5:3 – If we love God, we will keep His commandments. Loving God means constantly turning away from sin. If loving God is not your priority, you must repent!

Love your neighbor

Matthew 22:37
Romans 13:8-10 – Owe nothing to anyone except to love your neighbor.
We can’t fix the world, but we can fix ourselves.
Matthew 7:12 – The golden rule.
Matthew 5:23, 44
Matthew 6:1; 7:5

Love the truth

John 8:44 – Satan is the father of lies!
II Corinthians 11:3-4
Colossians 2:6
James 1:16 – Don’t be deceived!
II Timothy 3:12-17 – The deceivers are coming, so stick to the truth!
God’s truth:
- Genesis 1:27 – God created male and female.
- I Timothy 1:9-10
- Psalms 139:13-14 – What does this say about abortion?
- II Corinthians 5:10
- Psalms 130:3-4 – There is forgiveness!

Numbers 18-21

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 18 – Levites and priests

Numbers 18:1-7 – God reminds them of their roles.
Numbers 18:9-19 – The priests get the portions of the offerings and sacrifices.
Numbers 18:20-24 – The tribe of Levi would have no land inheritance in Canaan. They would have the tithe.
Numbers 18:25-32 – The Levites would need to give a tithe of the tithe to the Lord.

Numbers 19

Numbers 19:1-9 – This was to be purification from sin, but seems to also have been for hygiene. See Exodus 15:26.
- None of These Diseases by S.I. McMillen, MD and David E. Stern, MD
Numbers 19:11-13 – Uses for the water of purification.
- Germ theory – Dr Ignaz Semmelweis
Numbers 19:14-22 – Rules for uncleanness. All of these are spiritual laws, but make sense as rules for hygiene as well.

Numbers 20 – Meribah

Numbers 20:1 – Miriam dies and is buried.
Numbers 20:2-13 – Moses sins in bringing water to the people.
- Exodus 17:1-7
- Psalms 106:32-33 – Moses “spoke rashly with his lips.”
Numbers 20:14-21 – Edom refuses passage of Israel through his land.
Numbers 20:22-29 – Aaron dies. Moses sets up Aaron’s son Eleazer as his successor.

Numbers 21

Numbers 21:1-3 – God gives Israel victory at Hormah, the same place they had lost a battle forty years earlier.
Numbers 21:4-9 – The bronze serpent.
- II Kings 18:4 – The Israelites started worshipping this serpent and were still doing so 700 years later!
- John 3:14-15
Numbers 21:21-35 – Israel starts defeating kings of Canaan.

"The tongue is a fire"

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 12:13

James 3:1-12

James 3:1 – It’s good to teach, but be careful when you do! See II Timothy 2:2.
James 3:2 – If you can control your tongue, you are doing great! This is a real challenge.
James 3:3-4 – The tongue is small, but can control big things. See Proverbs 18:21.
James 3:5 – A small uncontrolled fire can lead to great destruction.
James 3:6 – The tongue has great potential for sin. See Matthew 15:18. The tongue can invite trouble into my life.
James 3:7-8 – Our tongue is never completely tamed. It is a daily effort.
James 3:9-12 – Nature is a good example of consistency. We should strive to show the same consistency with good speech.

Sometimes, just be quiet.

Job 38:2; 40:3
Proverbs 10:19; 12:13; 13:3
The more you talk, the more opportunity for sin.

The key to improving your speaking is improving your thinking.

Matthew 12:33-37 – The tongue and the heart are connected.
I Corinthians 16:8

Be proactive: find a way to give a compliment.

James 3:9-10
Romans 16:1, 3, 6-7 – Paul compliments these people and shows a good example of encouraging communication.
I Corinthians 1:1-4 – Paul found a way to speak positively about the Corinthians, despite their problems.

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 5

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 5:1-2, 13, 14, 16 – You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Proverbs 11:30
II Corinthians 5:10, 20-21
I Timothy 6:17-19
II Timothy 2:15, 24-26
I Peter 3:13-15 – Be ready to make a defense.
Ephesians 2:8-10
Ephesians 4:11-16
Romans 1:16-17 – Do not be ashamed of the gospel.
Romans 10:13-15, 17
I Corinthians 11:1
I Corinthians 2:1-5
I Corinthians 9:19-23

“Bob,” who we’ve known for a long time is gravely ill. How do we turn the conversation to spiritual things?

Six ways to transition a normal conversation into a spiritual conversation

Pray for a sensitive spirit.
Ask basic questions about life.
Inquire about a church connection.
Extend an invitation to attend church.
Transition the conversation to Jesus.
Share the gospel as the Spirit leads.

How to start gospel conversations

Smile.
Find something to comment on.
Ask open questions about the other person
- Philippians 2:4
Look for open doors to plan gospel seeds.
- Mention God, prayer, and the Bible in conversation.
- Quote or paraphrase the Bible.
- Use questions.
- Share stories.
Invite a response.

The three Cs of life: choices, chances, and changes

You must make a choice to take a chance, or your life will never change.

How to turn a conversation to spiritual things

Surface talk
Personal talk
Religious talk
Spiritual talk

Fishing With Jesus

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“But I will do as you say” – learning to trust Jesus over self

Luke 5:4-5
Many of Jesus’ miracles required a person to take a step or two themselves.
Luke 22:24 – Do we trust that the best leadership is to serve?
Mark 7:18-23

“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” – Understanding Jesus’ love for us

Luke 5:8-9
Luke 19:5
God can take someone who is broken and change that life!
Colossians 2:9
No one is too broken for Jesus to fix!

“Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” – Getting to work for Jesus

Luke 5:10-11, 27
Luke 6:12-16 – The apostles officially named.
I Corinthians 3:10-15 – What does your spiritual building look like? Is it a shack or a mansion.

Numbers 15-17

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 15

Numbers 15:2 – These words would be a constant reminder to the people that, because of their unfaithfulness, they would not inherit the land, but their children would.
Numbers 15:22-29 – Offerings for accidental sins.
Numbers 15:30-31 – People who sin defiantly would be cut off!
- Hebrews 10:26
Numbers 15:32-36 – A man is stoned for breaking the Sabbath.
- Exodus 16:22-26
- Exodus 35:1-3
- Exodus 20:8-11 – The Sabbath was based on the pattern of Creation.
- Deuteronomy 5:12-15 – Moses connects the Sabbath to slavery in Egypt.
Numbers 15:37-41 – Deuteronomy 22:12; Matthew 23:5 – Tassels on garments.

Numbers 16

Numbers 16:1-3 – Korah asserted that Moses and Aaron were exalting themselves above everyone else. But it was God who exalted Moses and Aaron.
Numbers 16:4-7 – Moses stands up to Korah.
Numbers 16:8-11 – Korah was against God and His delegated authority.
Numbers 16:12-15 – Dathan and Abiram refuse Moses’ summons.
Numbers 16:16-24 – Moses again pleads for the nation.
Numbers 16:25-35 – The earth opens up and swallows Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their families.
Numbers 16:36-40 – Censers of the sinful were pounded into plates to be used as a covering for the altar.
- Jude 1:11
Numbers 16:41-50 – The people continue to rebel and God sends a plague that kills 14,700 people before Aaron makes atonement before God, stopping the plague.

Numbers 17

Numbers 17:1-11 – God causes Aaron’s rod to bud, indicating that he is God’s choice. See Hebrews 9:3-4.
- II Peter 3:9, 17 – God wants to bless us and save us, but will punish those that rebel.
Numbers 17:12-13 – The people now fear they will all die.

Receiving God's Grace

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 3:23-24

I Peter – A letter about “the true grace of God”

I Peter 5:12
I Peter 1:14-19 – God judges according to our work.
I Peter 3:7 – Our behavior can affect our relationships with God.
I Peter 3:10-13
I Peter 4:4-5 – We will answer for what we do on earth.
I Peter 5:5
I Peter 3:21
No contradiction:
- 1 Peter 1:17 – judged according to works
- I Peter 1:18-19 – redeemed with blood of Christ

The example of Jericho – Joshua 6

Joshua 6:1-2 – God was going to give them the city.
Joshua 6:3-5 – God’s instructions
Joshua 6:16-20
They had to meet the conditions to receive the city God was giving them.
Deuteronomy 9:6
No contradiction:
- Joshua 6:2 – “I have given Jericho into your hand”
- Joshua 6:20 – “they took the city”

	Jericho	Salvation
God gives it	Joshua 6:2: “I have given Jericho into your hand”	Ephesians 2:8: “it is the gift of God”
You didn’t earn it	Deuteronomy 9:6: “it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land”	Ephesians 2:8, 9: “not of yourselves … not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”
And yet there are conditions	Joshua 6:3: “You shall march around the city …”	Matthew 7:21: “he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter”

Ephesians 2:8
Matthew 7:21
Hebrews 11:30 – They worked by faith.
Ephesians 2:8 – This doesn’t mean to just sit and believe and you’ll be saved.

The example of Naaman – II Kings 5

II Kings 5:1-4 – Naaman’s condition.
II Kings 5:10-12 – Naaman refuses to obey.
II Kings 5:13-14 – Naaman obeys and is clean.
II Kings 5:15 – Naaman gives glory to God – not the water.
We might reject God’s message because it is different than what we expected it to be.

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 4

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Immersing yourself in technology can physically change your brain.
Internet usage, especially social media, can affect your mental wellbeing.
Social media can change our perception of reality.
Signs of Internet dependency:
- You are spending more and more time online.
- You are spending less and less time with friends or family.
- You feel preoccupied with Internet activities and the next online session.
- You feel restless or irritable when not online.
If you don’t have an Internet dependency problem, someone in your circle of influence probably does!
I Timothy 5:8
James 1:27 – Personal contact is a must!
Galatians 5:13-14 – It is difficult or impossible to fully show love for a brother without personal contact.
Luke 10:33-34 – The Samaritan could not do what he did with a text message. It took personal contact.
Titus 3:8
Matthew 25:34-40
If we see someone with an Internet addiction, we need to have an uncomfortable conversation and help them.
I Corinthians 5:9-11
Acts 20:35
Acts 20:37

Matthew, a Good Example

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9)

This is Matthew speaking about himself. In just thirty-two words he gives the complete account of how he came to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. Just thirty-two words; that is all he said about himself. And even then, he did not use the personal pronoun “I.” We know very little about Matthew. But what we do know should make him a role model for every Christian. The place of custom was where taxes were levied. They were living under Roman rule and the taxes were set by the Roman government. Matthew was a tax collector – a publican. Publicans were generally considered to be very low in character. The indication is that most of them collected higher taxes than Rome required and pocketed the override (Luke 3:12-13). Not all tax collectors were sorry characters, however. Zacchaeus was chief among the publicans; yet he was an honest man (Luke 19:1-8). This brings us to our first major point about Matthew.

Matthew was better than his surroundings would indicate

He was a good character among sorry characters. If you and I had been looking for prospects, we would likely have passed Matthew by. But Jesus did not judge him by others of the same trade. He saw that Matthew was far above his fellow tax collectors. Thus, He said, “come follow me,” and immediately Matthew obeyed. What an example for us; the Christian does arise above his surroundings (John 17:15-16; Romans 12: 1-2).

Matthew was a busy man; not the most prestigious occupation, but he was working

Jesus never called one who was idle! If you want work done, get a busy person to do it. A busy person who has priorities is the one who will get the job done. Matthew was such a man; he was not too busy to follow Jesus. Again, what an example for us.

Matthew was willing to pay the price

Jesus stated the price of being His disciple. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) We must follow Matthew’s example; he had a good job, but he left all to follow Jesus. Is a man following Matthew if he works on Sunday morning because it pays double time? If he makes a trip to the Holy Land, but cannot be with a local church on Sunday to break bread, rather has shipside supper? If he goes on Saturday to set up college camp and on Sunday has “camp supper” instead of going to a local church? Brethren, if heaven is worth anything, it is worth everything.

Matthew was a modest man, an humble man

In just 32 words he told us about a man called Matthew who was called by Jesus. Even then, he did not say “I” was called. He did not say, as Luke did, that he left all (Luke 5:28). That says a great deal about Matthew. In a together situation, probably no single factor causes more trouble than ambition, wanting attention, looking to be noticed, or having one’s own way. Like Matthew, we must be humble in relation to one another (1 Peter 5:5-6). Matthew did not make the mistake that James and John made (Mark 10:35-37). Like Matthew, let us be modest, humble, and do what we can.

Matthew was interested in the souls of others (Matthew 9:10; Luke 5:29)

Matthew was too modest to say, “I made a feast.” But Luke tells us that it was Levi who made a great feast and invited others to come learn from Jesus (Luke 5:27-32). We do not know whether any of those invited became followers of Jesus. But we know that Mathew did right and set us a great example. We do not know the outcome of our efforts to teach others but let us do like Matthew and make the effort and be content to leave the increase to God (1 Corinthians 3:6). This man called Matthew sets before us five notable traits. In this he is an example for us. Brethren, let us be sure:

That we arise above our surroundings and follow Jesus.
That we do not get too busy to Follow Jesus.
That we are always willing to pay the price of discipleship.
That we are humble enough to deny self and serve.
That we are interested enough in souls to put forth some effort to introduce them to Jesus.

Jesse Jenkins

Daniel's Prayer

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Daniel 9:1-19

Is prayer my first reaction?

Daniel 9:1-3
Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10-11 – Daniel must have been reading these verses.
We must train ourselves to think about spiritual things and make time to pray.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Daniel 9:4-15

God is just.

The Israelites were being punished for their sin – not for no reason.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15 – The people knew the arrangement God had made with them.
Hosea 4:6
Romans 3:3-5; Psalms 51:4
Let us revere God!

We are guilty.

Daniel 9:5, 8 – We need to be honest like this with ourselves.
I John 1:8
I Peter 3:21
Psalms 51:12
It is good for us to feel guilty when we sin because that motivates us to come back to God.

“O Lord, forgive!”

Daniel 9:16-19
Romans 3:23-24
Am I appealing to God’s loving nature or am I ignoring Him?

Numbers 13-14

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 13

Numbers 13:2 – Compare Genesis 12:7. God is fulfilling the promise He gave to Abraham. God repeated the promise in Genesis 15:18; 17:8; Exodus 3:8; 12:25.
Numbers 13:4-16 – The spies are chosen.
Numbers 13:17-24 – It is estimated the spies walked 350-500 miles over forty days – 9-14 miles a day.
Numbers 13:25-33 – The spies give their report. Most of the spies give a bad report, saying that giants live in fortified cities that they wouldn’t be able to take. Caleb spoke against them, joined by Joshua in the next chapter.
- Numbers 13:33 – Note that the spies said they seemed like grasshoppers to themselves.

Numbers 14

Numbers 14:1-5 – The Israelites grumble and want to return to Egypt.
Numbers 14:6-10 – Caleb and Joshua try to encourage the people, but the people want to stone them.
- Compare Acts 20:29. This internal strife can happen in the church also.
Numbers 14:11-12 – God wants to disinherit the people and make a new nation from Moses.
Numbers 14:13-19 – Moses intercedes with God on behalf of the people.
Numbers 14:20-25 – God listens to Moses and doesn’t destroy the people, but sends them back into the wilderness to wander until the current generation dies off.
- See Joshua 4:19. This is within five days of being exactly forty years from Exodus 12:29-41, the Exodus from Egypt.
Numbers 14:39-45 – Some try to go fight in Canaan anyway, but God is not with them and they are defeated.

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 3

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 18:1-6
I Corinthians 6:9-11
Scotty’s House
One in six high school students under 18 reported sexual abuse in their lifetime.

Four Big Truths You Need to Teach Your Kids

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 127:3

God loves you, and you should love Him back.

Romans 5:6
Genesis 1:26-27
James 3:9
I John 4:19
Matthew 22:37

Do what is right because it is right.

Proverbs 3:11
God gets to define what is right and wrong because He is the Creator.
I John 5:3
We must teach our children discipline. What are we communicating about discipline?
Hebrews 12:7-12
Don’t give in to kids that whine and complain.
Ephesians 6:1-2
Don’t teach them to do right only to avoid punishment.

Life is hard. Get tough.

Judges 2:16-3:2 – The new generation needed to learn war.
I Corinthians 10:13
God allows us to struggle but prevents us from being overwhelmed.
James 4:4, 7; 5:10; 1:2

You are not the center of the world. God is.

Proverbs 3:5-7
Matthew 22:37
Ephesians 5:23; 6:4 – Husbands, lead your families!
Philippians 2:3

Conclusion

Take courage! Don’t let the world sway you!

Numbers 10:1-12:16

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 10

Timeline:

Relative date	Reference	Description
Year 1, month 3, day ???	Exodus 19:1-2	Arrive at Mt. Sinai
Year 2, month 1, day 1	Exodus 40:17	Set up tabernacle
Year 2, month 1, day 14	Numbers 9:1-14	Second Passover Feast
Year 2, month 2, day 1	Numbers 1:1-2	“Take a census”
Year 2, month 2, day 20	Numbers 10:11	Leave Mt. Sinai

Five sections of Numbers:
- Wilderness of Sinai – Numbers 1-10
- Travel – Numbers 10-12
- Wilderness of Paran – Numbers 13-19
- Travel – Numbers 20-21
- Wilderness of Moab – Numbers 22-36
Numbers 10:13-28 – They marched out in the specified order.
Numbers 10:29-32 – Moses convinces his brother-in-law Hobab to travel with them.
Numbers 10:35-36 – Moses prayed for their safety in travel.

Numbers 11

Numbers 11:1-3 – Three days in to the journey, they already start complaining and God punishes them.
Numbers 11:4-9 – The people complain about only having manna to eat.
- Exodus 16:14-15, 31-34 – Manna is first introduced. God wanted them to remember that He had provided for them.
- Joshua 5:11-12
- Deuteronomy 8:1-6, 16
Numbers 11:10-15 – Moses despairs because of the grumbling of the people.
Numbers 11:16-25 – God relieves Moses’ burden by setting up seventy men to share the load. Perhaps God was waiting for Moses to realize he couldn’t do it all alone.
Numbers 11:31-35 – God gives the people quail to eat, along with a plague to punish their greediness.
- Exodus 16:16-20 – Compare the rules for gathering manna.
- It seems they were trying to greedily horde the quail rather than trusting God to provide.
- Psalms 78:8-32, 40
- Deuteronomy 9:22

Numbers 12

Numbers 12:1-2 – Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses, apparently because of his marriage to a Cushite woman. We don’t know anything else about the Cushite woman.
Numbers 12:3-16 – Miriam is struck with leprosy and must stay outside the camp for seven days.

Paul

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 7:58 – First mention of Paul.
Acts 8:1-3 – Paul persecutes Christians.
Acts 9:1-6, 9, 11 – Jesus appears to Paul on the road to Damascus.
Acts 9:18-22 – Paul was converted and began teaching Christ.

Paul confessed his sins completely.

I Corinthians 15:8
I John 1:10
I Timothy 1:12-16

Paul learned how to truly love people.

The old Paul:
- Acts 26:10-11 – Paul was violent against Christians!
The new Paul:
- II Corinthians 7:3; 12:15; Philippians 1:8 – He helped and encouraged them to repent like he did.
I Corinthians 9:19, 22; 8:9, 13
It must have been difficult for Paul to love those who were less zealous in their beliefs than he was, yet he did that with the Corinthians.
I Corinthians 9:20
Philippians 3:5-6
Acts 26:15-18 – Paul was a Pharisee sent to the Gentiles.
Galatians 3:28
Ephesians 3:1, 6

Paul defended every inch of God’s truth.

Acts 15
Acts 26:25
Don’t overreact to error and swing too far the other way!
Psalms 119:1-2

Overcoming Ingratitude

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

We are commanded to be grateful

Ephesians 5:20
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Matthew 7:21
David – I Chronicles 16:7-11
- Psalm 136 – The writer of this psalm constantly stops to be thankful.
Daniel – Daniel 6:10
- We should be thankful to God whether things are good or bad.

How to overcome ingratitude

Prayer can often help us get our attitude right.
Don’t take your blessings for granted.
- Psalms 103:1-5
- Luke 17:11-19 – Only one of the ten lepers who were cured return to thank Jesus.
- “Blessed are those who give without remembering and those who can receive without forgetting.” – Elizabeth Asquith Bibesco
Don’t focus on your problems and troubles
- The key is contentment.
  - I Timothy 6:8
  - Hebrews 13:5
  - Philippians 4:10-13 – Paul was in prison when he wrote this! He had learned to be content in all circumstances.
  - Fanny Crosby
    - She was content and even thankful for her blindness!
Count your blessings
Stop complaining
Remember where your blessings come from.
- I Corinthians 15:10 – Paul knew.
- Luke 12:16-21 – The rich farmer didn’t.

Judgment

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 17:30-31:

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Judgment is coming. It is certain. Thus, it behooves us to consider the question of Job 31:14: “What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?” Most live their lives without giving this momentous question much thought. Let us not make this mistake, for judgment is coming.

Judgment is sure. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Acts 9:27). All things will be made known then - even secret things. “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (Romans 2:12) “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes. 12:14) How would you like for one to reveal to this congregation every thought you have had the last seven days? God knows, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13) All will be open at the judgment, every deed (Colossians 3:17), every word (Matthew 12:37), every thought (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Thus, it so behooves us to live so that our record will be clear on that day.

There will be no excuses at the judgment. People make many excuses now: too busy, not enough time, not enough ability, intend to do it soon, let someone else do it, etc. Jesus never did accept excuses while on earth; thus, He will receive none at the judgment (Matthew 7:21-23).

Judgment will be individual. It will not be what parents believed or did, what wife believed or did, what brethren believed or did. It will just be God and me (Galatians 6:7-8).

Consider the opportunities the sinner will not have at the judgment. He cannot believe unto salvation. I did not say that the sinner will not then believe, for he will, but too late (Philippians 2:10-11). He cannot repent unto remission of sins. He will repent – have a change of heart, but to no avail. He cannot confess unto salvation. Yes, he will confess Jesus to be Lord but to no benefit. He cannot be baptized for remission of sins. He then will be baptized (Matthew 3:11-12). But he will think less of that baptism than he did of baptism in Jesus’ Name. He can plead with Jesus (Matthew 7:22-23) but the answer will be “Depart, I never knew you.”

If we now consider God’s judgment and prepare, we will have opportunities that we do not have now. We will hear Him say “well done” (Matthew 5:21). We will have glorious bodies like Jesus (Philippians 3:21). We will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). We will ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

We will be as the angels of heaven (Matthew 22:30). We will have blessings unmanageable.

The wise will take advantage of opportunities now that will result with these glorious opportunities then.

Jesse G. Jenkins

"At Your Word I Will Let Down the Nets"

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Simon Peter before Luke 5

Luke 4:31, 38; John 1:44; I Corinthians 9:5 – Peter was a married fisherman from Bethsaida.
John 1:35-42 – Peter met Jesus through his brother Andrew.
Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39

The Scene (Luke 5)

Peter, Andrew, James, and John are cleaning up after an unsuccessful night of fishing (Luke 5:2, 5; Matthew 4:18-22).

“At your word I will let down the nets”

Peter calls Jesus “Master”
Jesus command probably didn’t make much sense to Peter.
- He obeyed
- Jesus as an example (Matthew 26:39, 42; John 6:38; Philippians 2:8)
Worldly wisdom and God’s word are often in conflict.
We must know God’s word.

Bible examples

Noah
Abraham
Conquering Jericho

Practical applications for today

Matthew 5:21-26
Matthew 5:27-30
Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9
Matthew 5:38-42; Romans 12:17, 19
Matthew 5:43-48; 7:12
Romans 14 – Foregoing a liberty

Breaking nets and sinking boats

By Luke 5:8, what is Peter’s main concern? His own sin!
Isaiah 6:5
This is not the last time Peter is afraid (Matthew 14:30; 17:6; Galatians 2:12).
Peter now calls Jesus “Lord” (Luke 5:8)
What is the connection between what Peter experienced (aw and felt) and what he said?
Sometimes our lives must crumble before we seek God.
- I John 2:15-17; Hebrews 4:16; James 4:8
- Matthew 27:3-5 – Contrast with Judas.
I Peter 5:5
Other Bible characters whose lives crumbled, yet remained steadfast:
- Naomi – Ruth 1
- Job – James 5:11
Being a following of Jesus means humbling ourselves – emptying ourselves of our own will and desires and replacing them with God’s.
How to remain steadfast during difficult times?
- Build strength during easier times (Did Job get that way overnight (Job 1:8)?)
- Lean on God – Psalm 55:22; I Peter 5:6-7
- Lean on fellow Christians – I Peter 4:8-9
- Read, study, and meditate on the Bible (Psalms 119:105)
- Pray and sing (James 1:5-6; 5:13; Colossians 3:16)
- Shun worldly wisdom (Proverbs 16:22, 25)

Leaving everything and following Jesus

Jesus as comforter – Luke 5:10; Matthew 5:4
They left everything.
- I Peter 1:3-9
Jesus call, rejected – Matthew 19:22
Matthew 10:38
- Matthew 16:24
I Corinthians 15:58 – We are called to work.
What is something you’re holding on to that is preventing you from following Jesus fully?

The Religion of Jesus Christ IS EXTREME

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

We’re told religion must be saved from extremism.

Jesus is the way

John 14:6 – “I am THE way.”
- John 8:21-24
- Acts 4:12 – “Neither is there salvation in any other.”
- Mark 16:16
- John 6:44-45 – Man is to be taught, then learn and come to God.
- Matthew 7:21
- Mark 16:15-16 – Those that don’t believe will be condemned.
- John 15:6
I Corinthians 6:9-10 – Adulterers shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Matthew 19:9 – Jesus teaches that after a divorce, all remarriages are adulterous relationships, with one exception.

Worship must be as God commanded

John 4:23-24 – Worship must be in spirit (from the heart) and in truth.
I John 1:9 – We must abide in the teaching of Christ.
- The truth – the teaching of Christ
  - Sing – vocal music from the heart
    - Acts 16:25
    - Romans 15:4
    - I Corinthians 14:15
    - Ephesians 5:19
    - Colossians 3:16
    - Hebrews 2:12
    - James 5:13
  - Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week
    - Matthew 26:29
    - Acts 20:7
  - The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God
    - I Corinthians 6:9-10 – homosexuals, drunkards, thieves, covetous

Conflict with the world

Some contend that such extremism promotes physical fighting and wars, and terrorism against others.
- II Corinthians 5:11; 10:3-5 – We do not war according to the flesh. We must bring every thought into captivity.
- Ephesians 6:11-20
As we persuade men, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, as Christ did …
- John 7:7 – The world hated Jesus.
- John 15:18-19 – The world hated Jesus’ disciples.
- II Timothy 3:12 – Living godly includes being an extremist like Jesus and His disciples.

The Importance of Creation

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

If you had a stiff-necked child that needed to wake up, what would you say to them? God started with Creation.
Genesis 1:1 – This was written by Moes for the Israelites – a stubborn people.
Job 38:1-4
John 1:1-3
I John 1:1

The Law of Causality and the Cosmological Argument

Everything that had a beginning had a cause.
If something exists, it either always existed, or it had a beginning.
The physical world could not always have existed.
Therefore, the physical world had a beginning.

Since the physical world is not eternal, its ultimate cause must be eternal.

What is the physical world?
- Matter
- Energy
- Time
- Matter, time, energy E=mc^2
- Information

Causality, the physical world, and Isaiah 40:28

The cause of the physical world must transcend …
- Time
- Matter
- Energy
- Information
Why Creation matters
- Is it just to know true facts?
- There is more to this world than matter, energy, time, and information.
- Therefore, there must be a cause or source of these things as well.
What else exists?
- Beauty
- Variety
- Provision
- Good
- Love
- Evil
- Suffering
The Bible’s account is the best explanation for all that we observe.

Why is Creation THE answer?

Revelation 22:13, 12
Isaiah 40
- Isaiah 40:5, 3 – The glory of the Lord to be revealed
- Isaiah 40:6-8 – All flesh is as grass.
- Isaiah 40:27, 29-31 – Provides from His infinite resources to those who wait for Him.
Job
- God created, God provides, God knows.
Genesis 1:1
- Exodus 3:13-14 – Who sent Moses? I AM.
John 1:1
- The man Jesus is the I AM.
I John 1:1
- Jesus is the source of light and love.
Colossians 1:17 – In Him all things hold together.
How great do you have to be to transcend the physical world? The cause must be adequate for the effect. So how big is the effect – holding all things together?
II Peter 3:10 – One day, all things will dissolve with fervent heat.
- Dissolve: Break of destroy but also untie or loose, like a sandal, a donkey, Lazarus
  - Acts 2:24
  - I John 3:8
II Peter 3:11, 14

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 2

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Things to always remember when having uncomfortable conversations

Biblical uncomfortable conversations recorded and not recorded:

Genesis 3:9-13
Genesis 4:9-10
- What about the conversations between Adam and Eve after Cain killed Abel?
- What about the conversations between Adam and Eve and Cain?
- What about the conversations between Adam and Eve and Seth?
Genesis 19:1-9, 36-38 – Lot and his daughters
Genesis 25:28; 27:41 – Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob
Genesis 37:3-5 – Israel and Joseph
I Samuel 2:22-25, 34 – Eli, Hophni, and Phineas
I Samuel 3:16-18 – Samuel and Eli
I Samuel 13:12-14 – Saul and Samuel
I Samuel 16:21; 18:3, 7-11 – David and Saul. Who should have had an uncomfortable conversation with Saul?
II Samuel 3:1-5; 11:1, 4, 27 – David’s sin with Bathsheba
II Samuel 12:13-14, 18-24 – Nathan and David
II Samuel 13:1, 14-15, 21-23 – Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom
John 8:1-11 – Jesus and the woman caught in adultery
I Corinthians 5:1-11 – Paul and the Corinthian church

Confessions That Save

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

In the New Testament we read about three different confessions that are unto salvation.

Confession with the mouth to become a Christian

Romans 10:9-10:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

This is not a confession of sin. It is a confession that Jesus is Lord. It is the confession that the eunuch made. “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37) It is faith responding.

Confession of sins

Acts 8:22:

“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

It is not a confession “if I have sinned.” It is a confession that I have sinned. It is a confession of sins. This confession of sins is to be as public as is the sin. If only God and you know the sin, confess to Him. There is no need to publicly confess sin that is not publicly known. If you and another know of the sin, confess to him (James 5:16). If the sin is publicly known, confess it publicly. Others are not to question the sincerity of the confession; rather they are to count it sincere unless and until there is proof otherwise. The sin IS to be confessed because one repents, not because one has been caught.

Confession of life

Matthew 10:32:

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

This is a context of persecution. As sheep in the midst of wolves (v. 16); be scourged (v.17); brother against brother (v.21) hated by all (v. 22) persecuted (v. 23) called names (v. 25) even death. (28) Fear not, rather confess. This is not just a mouth confession; it is a life confession. See Matthew 7:21 and Luke 6:46. The Lord will confess to those who make this confession. He will deny those who just say “Lord, Lord.’ This confession is taking one’s cross and following Jesus (v. 38). To be saved, everyone must confess Jesus today. We have no yesterday, nor tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation.

To become a child of God one must confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9-10). To be forgiven of sin a child of God must confess his sin (1 John 1:9). To be in fellowship with God, one must confess with life, do the things He says. Matthew 7:21-27)

Jesse G. Jenkins

Rage

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 5:21-22 – Our anger can cause us to go to hell if we don’t get it under control.
Mark 3:1-5 – Jesus showed anger and did not sin.
Psalms 78:49-50
Ephesians 4:26-32

Develop some helpful habits to get you through the moments of rage.

Slow down.

James 1:19
Titus 1:7

Be quiet (for now).

Ecclesiastes 3:7
Proverbs 12:18

Remember that you can’t fix every problem right now.

I Peter 2:19
Genesis 3:17-18

In the long-term, lay aside the old self and put on the new self.

Ephesians 4:22-24
Colossians 3:8-10

Change the entire way you think.

Luke 23:33
Hebrews 12:2
Philippians 2:4 – Start out other-oriented.
Look for positive – not negative.
Romans 15:1-3

Build spiritual muscle over time.

Philippians 4:8-9, 11 – Dwell on good things. We must learn these things!

Take the eternal view.

Colossians 3:1-2

Numbers 5:1-10:10

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Numbers 5

Numbers 5:16-28 – Special rules for a man who suspects his wife of adultery.
- Leviticus 20:10 – Rules for the man regarding adultery. Adultery was a sin for both parties.

Numbers 6

Numbers 6:1-21 – The Nazirite vow.
- “Nazirite” is a transliteration that means “separation.”
- Three main restrictions:
  - Stay away from grapes.
  - Don’t cut your hair.
  - Don’t go near a dead person.
- Other mentions of Nazirite vows:
  - Judges 13:5 – Samson was under a Nazirite vow from birth.
  - I Samuel 1:11
  - Amos 2:11-12
  - Acts 21:23-26 – A vow, but probably not a Nazirite vow.

Numbers 7

Twelve days of offerings.
- There is much repetition here, possibly because the text was used as a ledger for each tribe to keep track of what they needed to do.

Numbers 8

Numbers 8:5-13 – Cleansing of the Levites.
- See Hebrews 7:26-27
Numbers 8:14 – The Levites belonged to God!
Numbers 8:23-26 – The Levites served from age 25-50.

Numbers 9

Numbers 9:1-14 – The first Passover feast outside of Egypt is celebrated.
Numbers 9:15-23 – God lead them by the pillars of cloud and fire.

Numbers 10

Numbers 10:10 – Orders would be relayed by the silver trumpets.

The Hope of Salvation

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Thessalonians 4:13-17

The day of the Lord will come.

I Thessalonians 5:1-3
This fact greatly impacts our lives!
We need to prepare for this.
II Peter 3:10
We don’t know when this will happen.

Wake up!

I Thessalonians 5:4-8
We are children of light – not of darkness.
We must not be spiritually asleep.
Sober here is in a spiritual sense – be rational and clearminded.
I Peter 5:8
Romans 13:11-14
I Thessalonians 1:2; 4:1
II Thessalonians 3:11

We will live together with Him.

I Thessalonians 5:9-10
II Thessalonians 2:13-17 – What does it mean that they were chosen? God had planned to save people through Jesus before the creation of the universe.
Acts 17:1-2
I Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11 – The end of the world should be a day of rejoicing for Christians.

Uncomfortable Conversations, Part 1

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Why are we here? Why are you and I here on the Earth at this point in time?
Matthew 5:16

An individual’s “circle of influence”

No one else has the same circle of influence that you do.
How do these verses apply?
- Mark 12:28-31 – People see how we treat other people.
- I Corinthians 10:23-27
- Galatians 5:13-14
- Hebrews 13:1-2
- Matthew 7:12-14
- Philippians 2:3-5
- Romans 15:1-2
- Galatians 6:9-10 – “Do good to all people …”
- Galatians 3:12-14 – Forgive one another.
- Isaiah 1:17
- Romans 13:8-10
- I Thessalonians 3:12
- Job 6:14
- James 1:27
- Zechariah 7:8-10
- Matthew 22:36-40
- II Peter 1:5-8
- Luke 6:27-37
- Romans 12:16-18 – Try to be at peace with all men.
- Psalms 82:3-4
- Luke 3:11
- Matthew 5:13-16
What responsibility do we have to our circle of influence?

Talking to “Bob”

How would you approach a co-worker who was always angry?

The Bible in Six Verses

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

God is the Creator. This has tremendous moral implications!
If there is no God, there is no objective basis for morality.
”The Despair of Atheism”
“An Open Letter to the Scientific Community”

Isaiah 59:2

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

Our sins separate us from God!

Matthew 1:21

“She will bear a Son; and you call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Jesus would come and save us from our sins. He came to earth and showed us how to live perfectly, without sin.

Matthew 22:37

“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”

The meaning of life is to serve and glorify God.

Mark 9:31

“For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, ‘The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.’”

Jesus would be the sacrifice for our sins.

II Corinthians 5:10

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompenses for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

We will all have to give account to God for what we had done while on earth.

Numbers 1:1-4:49

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The book of Numbers gets its name from the two censuses that are taken and recorded in the book.
Exodus 19:1-2 – Israel camped in front of Mt. Sinai for about eleven months.
Numbers 10:11

Numbers 1

Numbers 1:1 – Year 2, month 2, day 1
- Numbers 10:1 – Year 2, month 2, day 20
- Hebrews 9:11-12, 23-24
- Nehemiah 9:20
Numbers 1:46 – Total military-age men: 603,550.
Numbers 1:47-54 – The Levites were set apart for the work of the tabernacle.

Numbers 2

Exodus 25:1-9
The tabernacle was the center of everything, both when camped and when moving.
Exodus 40:33-38
Numbers 5:3; 16:9 – God was dwelling in the camp with them.
- I Corinthians 3:16 – Christians are the temple of God. God’s word dwells in us.

Numbers 3

Numbers 3:5-10 – The priests would be from the lineage of Aaron and his sons.
Numbers 3:11-14 – The firstborn belong to God!
Numbers 3:39, 43 – The firstborn of Levi and the rest of Israel are counted. God declares that the firstborn belong to Him. God makes an exchange – the firstborn of Levi for the firstborn of the rest of Israel.

1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 16

I Corinthians 16:1-4 – Collections for the needy saints
- To whom was this money going?
  - Acts 2:44-45
  - Acts 4:32-35
  - Acts 6:1-6
  - Acts 11:27-29
  - Romans 15:25-32
  - II Corinthians 8:4
  - II Corinthians 9:1
  - I Timothy 5:5-16
  - To the needy saints!
- What was to be the method of collecting this money?
  - Weekly collections on the first day of the week.
- What was to be the method of delivering the money to Jerusalem?
  - The money was carried by hand by trusted men.
- What was each individual’s responsibility?
  - I Corinthians 16:2 – Set aside and save as he has prospered.
- What amount was to be given?
  - No set amount or percentage was specified.
I Corinthians 16:5-9 – See Acts 19:1-23. Paul stayed in Ephesus for quite a while (about three years).
I Corinthians 16:10-11 – Paul wanted them to encourage Timothy.
I Corinthians 16:12 – Apollos evidently had done good work in Corinth.
I Corinthians 16:13-14 – Be brave, courageous, and strong!
I Corinthians 16:19-20
- Aquila and Priscilla (Prisca) were in Ephesus at this time. They apparently had a church meeting in their house.
- Greeting each other with a kiss was a common practice at that time. In I Corinthians 16:20, Paul seems to be regulating a cultural practice that was already in use. Greet one another in a holy way. We should cherish our time with our fellow Christians and be close.
I Corinthians 16:22 – Maranatha means, “our Lord, come.”

Honoring Older People

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philemon 1:8-9
Psalms 71:9, 15, 5

Older people are vital and useful.

Psalms 92:12-15
Luke 1:36; 2:36-38
Leviticus 19:32
Titus 2:2-3
God has work for older people to do!
I Timothy 3:6
What would Benchley be like without older people?

Older people are still fighting the devil.

I Timothy 5:1-2
II Chronicles 26:3, 16
Different temptations can arise in old age.
Philippians 3:17

We should honor older people.

Proverbs 20:29
I Timothy 5:3, 9-10
Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 – The effects of old age.
II Corinthians 4:16

Exodus: Alphabets and Archaeology

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

One objection to the Exodus

Could not have happened
- Describes Moses as having written Exodus accounts (Exodus 34:27; et al)
- Describes the Law written by God’s own finger (Exodus 31:18)
- Archaeologists and historians denied existence of written Hebrew language that early

Written communication

Three main types of written communications:
- Syllabary – language dependent, symbols expressing sounds
- Pictograms – symbols independent of language, depict things, ideas
- Alphabets – language dependent, make sounds of the language
Dr. Miles R. Jones, former professor of education at Texas A&M University) – The Writing of God
- Purports that written ancient Hebrew is the first alphabet in history

Syllabary

Sound from combinations of consonant and vowel
- Ca, Ce, Ci, Co, Cu
- Da, De, Di, Do, Du, etc.
Cuneiform was a type of syllabary
Syllabary requires about 200 symbols
Communication is language dependent
Neither writing nor pictures, but symbols
- Made with stylus
- Makes wedged imprints on clay
- Not carved in stone
- Cumbersome in writing and preserving

Pictograms

Symbols express things, ideas, or states of being
Not language dependent
Requires huge number of symbols
Dynamic lexicon

Hieroglyphics

Type of pictogram
Symbols of things and ideas
Borrowed by Hebrews
- Hebrews borrowed symbols to depict sounds in Hebrew language
  - Took symbols for items beginning with a sound
  - Used that symbol to express that sound
- When did they do this?
  - Some time in the 2nd millennium B.C.
- When did Joseph’s family come to Egypt?
  - Early in the 2nd millennium B.C. – approximately 1850 B.C.

“A” is for cow

In Hebrew, Aleph means Cattle or Oxen
- Hieroglyph is a cow’s head
- Symbol of cow’s head used for the “A” sound
- Symbol evolved into a sideways “A”
The Hebrews took 22 symbols from Egyptian hieroglyphs
- One for each of the sounds in the Hebrew language
- The symbols were for the sounds, not the things or ideas
- Established a 22-letter alphabet
- By the Exodus, the symbol for cow had morphed into a sideways “A”

Hebrew experience with writing

Abraham – cuneiform
Joseph – cuneiform, hieroglyphics
Moses – cuneiform, hieroglyphics, alphabet

The term “alphabet”

Taken from the first two letters
Greek?
Hebrew?
You decide

Archaeological evidence

El Arish inscription
- Dates from 325 B.C.
- Problem?
Ipuwer papyrus
Mernepta Stele
- Presence of Israelites
- When?
Four-room houses
- Typical of Hebrew houses
- Found in both Egypt (pre-1440 B.C.)
- And in Canaan (post-1500 B.C.)

Effect of archaeology

Can’t probe the Exodus
Much of it puzzle pieces
Wide range of interpretations
Will always be a matter of faith

Where was Mount Horeb?

Also called Mount Sinai
Traditional – Sinai Peninsula
Bible – Midian – Exodus 3:1, 12

How to Become and Remain God's Friend

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

James 2:21-23 – Abraham was called a friend of God.
Abraham was justified by an active faith – his works. Works here are works of obedience – not works that earn one salvation.

Sacrifice

Hebrews 11
- Nouns (faith, belief)
- Verbs (prepared, offered, etc.)
I John
- Walking, confessing, keeping, loving, abiding, practicing, guarding, purifying
- If we say we have faith in God, we prove it by what we do!
James 2
- “Faith was completed by his works.”
Chronology of God’s promises to Abraham
- Genesis 12:1-3 – 75 years old when promised a seed/offering
- Genesis 16:15-16 – 86 years old when Ishmael (not the promised offspring) is born
- Genesis 17:1-19 – 99 years old when he and Sarah would have a son named Isaac
- Genesis 18:9-14 – 99 years old – in one year Sarah to give birth to Isaac
- Genesis 21:1-5 – 100 years old when the promised son Isaac is born
- Genesis 22:1-2 – Age unknown – God tells Abraham to offer Isaac.
Did Abraham actually sacrifice Isaac?
James 2:21
God got the sacrifice He wanted: He wanted Abraham.

Abraham the friend of God sacrificed his logic

II Kings 5:9-12 – Naaman didn’t think Elisha’s instructions made any sense!
Baptism may not make sense to us from a human standpoint.

Abraham the friend of God sacrificed his emotions

Matthew 10:34-38

Abraham the friend of God sacrificed his will

Matthew 16:24 – We must deny ourselves.

1 Corinthians 15:29-58

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 15, continued:

I Corinthians 15:29-32 – If the dead are not raised, continued
- I Corinthians 15:29
  - “For the dead” might mean “for the purpose of refilling the ranks of our fallen brethren.”
  - Paul might be illustrating his point by referring to an erroneous practice.
  - Whatever explanation is correct, Paul’s point in this section of scripture is easy to understand: the coming resurrection is a fact. We also know what it doesn’t mean – that we can be baptized for the benefit of people who are dead.
I Corinthians 15:35-58 – Details of the resurrection
- I Corinthians 15:42-44
  - See I John 3:2. We don’t know what our spiritual bodies will be like, but in some way we will be like God.

Sown	Raised
Perishable	Imperishable
Dishonor	Glory
Weakness	Power
Natural	Spiritual

I Corinthians 15:45-49

The first Adam	The last Adam
Became a living person	Spiritual
Natural	From heaven
From the earth	We will also bear the image of the heavenly

I Corinthians 15:50 – We put a lot of effort into maintaining our physical bodies, but they can’t take us where we really want to go – heaven! We need a spiritual body for that.

Local Churches Teaching the Gospel

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

What is the good news (the gospel)?

God authorizes local churches to teach the gospel.

Let’s make sure Benchley continues to teach the gospel!

Exodus 34:1-40:38

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Renewals

Exodus 34
Moses cut, God rewrote tablets at the top of the mountain
Same rules as before
God reveals Himself – Exodus 34:6-7
Moses worships and pleads His presence with Israel
God renews His covenant – all the same terms as before
Moses’ shining face and the veil
Command to obey all that God had spoken

The Tabernacle

Exodus 35
- Moses restates the Sabbath edicts
- Contributions for the tabernacle
- Workers for the tabernacle and contents
- All offered as free will offerings
- All who were so moved, contributed
Exodus 36-37
- Materials and workers pour in
- Moses had to issue a command to stop
- All the work was finally performed
- Exodus 37 – Ark, table, lampstand, altar of incense made
Exodus 38
- Altar for the burnt offering made
- Bronze basin
- The court
- Listing of materials for the tabernacle

The priestly garments

Exodus 39:1-31
All made to specifications as God commanded
Every stone in order to total twelve stones
Crowns engraved with “Holy to the Lord”

Tabernacle delivered

Exodus 39:32-43
The workers brought it all to Moses
Everything that had been commanded
Moses inspected it all
- All was in accordance with God’s commands
- Moses blessed them

Tabernacle erected

Exodus 40:1-33
This was one year after leaving Egypt (minus 14 days)
The tabernacle was erected
- All of its elements were exactly placed
- All utensils and articles were arranged
- Everything consecrated as instructed
- Priests purified and dressed in priestly garments
- Court was erected, veil hung
- Lamps lit, incense burned, offerings offered, laver filled
- All as the Lord had commanded

God’s glorious presence

Exodus 40:34-38
The cloud covers the tabernacle
God’s glory fills the tabernacle
The cloud signaled Israel’s movements
Cloud by day, fire by night
God present with the people as Moses had prayed

Capstone

What was Exodus about?
- In general terms
- In thematic content
What was God’s desire?
- Israel’s love – OR –
- Israel’s obedience?
- I Chronicles 29:18-19
- Circumcision of the heart
  - Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6
Does God hear the cries of the oppressed?
- Of the obedient?
- Of the disobedient?
- Exodus 2:23-25

Jezebel

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

She tried to stop the spread of God’s word.

I Kings 18-19

She had a terrible influence on her spouse.

I Kings 16, 21

She met the God of vengeance.

II Kings 9

1 Corinthians 15:1-29

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 15

I Corinthians 15:1-11 – Preaching Christ’s resurrection
- See Luke 24:44.
- I Corinthians 15:5 – See Luke 24:34. We do not have a direct record of Peter seeing the risen Jesus, but the two on the road also referenced this. “The twelve” here is a figure of speech (“adjournment”). There were not precisely twelve apostles at this time.
- I Corinthians 15:7 – See Acts 1:2-3.
I Corinthians 15:12-19 – Everything depends upon Christ’s resurrection (and resurrection in general).
- I Corinthians 15:12-14 – Apparently some in Corinth erroneously believed there was no resurrection.
- I Corinthians 15:19 – If Christ is not raised, we are in a terrible spot!
I Corinthians 15:20-28 – Christ leads the way.
- I Corinthians 15:24 – Compare John 1:1-5.
I Corinthians 15:29-32 – If the dead are not raised.
- I Corinthians 15:29 – Facts:
  - Baptism is an individual’s response to the gospel. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38)
  - Each person will be judged according to what he or she has done, not based on what someone else has done. (Romans 14:12; II Corinthians 5:10; Ezekiel 18:20)
  - In Luke 16:19-31, the dead man was not able to switch places in the afterlife.
  - Baptism doesn’t always refer to water baptism. It can refer to immersion in persecution/suffering (Luke 12:50; Mark 10:39). Suffering is in the context of I Corinthians 15:30, 32.
  - Therefore, I Corinthians 15:29 CAN’T be teaching us to be baptized for the salvation of those who are already daed.

Changing in Christ

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Summary of Romans:
- Condemnation (Romans 1-3)
- Christ (Romans 4-5)
- Choice (Romans 6-8)
- Children (Romans 9-11)
- Conduct (Romans 12-16)
Romans 6
- Romans 6:12-23

Dead to sin; do not let sin reign

We must put sinful habits to death.
We must consider our old selves as dead.
Psalms 97:10
What keeps drawing you back to sin? What do you like about it?
We’ll never be deaed to sin as long as we crave its passing pleasure.
Romans 6:12-14, 16-18 – We must choose who we want to obey.
Romans 6:21, 13 – Think about your sin and how it causes you spiritual death. You are not the person you would be if you were not enslaved to this sin.

Alive to God; slaves of righteousness

Ephesians 4:24-32
Psalms 15:4
Romans 6:11, 18
Acts 22:4
Is there something I still need to change so the old me stays dead?

In Christ Jesus!

Romans 6:11, 23
The only way to do this is with Jesus’ grace.
Colossians 3:15

Exodus 31:12-33:23

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The first commandments violated

Exodus 32:1-6
The demands of the people
- Aaron’s acquiescence and demand
- Makes a calf of gold – Psalms 106:19; Romans 1:22-25
- Their declaration, Aaron’s proclamation
Day of sacrifice and play

Why make a god?

What motivated them?
- Loss of leadership?
- Loss of faith?
- Loss of direction?
- How could it have been avoided?
- What lessons does this give us today?

Fallout

Exodus 32:7-24
God’s conversation with Moses
- God’s anger
- Moses’ pleading
Moses goes down from the mountain
- Encounters Joshua
- Tablets destroyed
- Calf elixir
- Aaron’s lie

Cleansing and blotting out

Exodus 32:25-35
Whoever is for the Lord
- Levi steps forward
- Punishment begins
Moses calls for dedication
Returns to the mountain
- Pleads to God for their forgiveness
- Blotting out from His Book
- The people smitten

Time to leave

Exodus 33:1-6
God repeats His promise
Sending an angel before them
Drive out the occupants
He will no longer be in their midst
Moses told the Israelites, they mourned
The ornaments

Moving the tent of meeting

Exodus 33:7-11
Tent of meeting
- Now pitched well outside the camp
- God would not be among the people
People would watch
- Moses went, entered, and pillar descended upon it
- People would then worship, but at own tent
- God would talk with Moses “as a man speaks to his friend”
Joshua – loyal and watchful servant

What Moses wants

Exodus 33:12-23
Favor in God’s sight
- Already had it (Exodus 33:12)
- Now he wants it (Exodus 33:13)
God’s presence
- It shows they’ve found favor in His sight (Exodus 33:16)
- God shows Moses graciousness and compassion
To see God’s glory

The War in Israel (Ezekiel 38-39?)

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ezekiel 38:1-3

Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38-39)

I Chronicles :4; Genesis 10:2; Revelation 20:8
Ezekiel 38:4-6 – Gog is the leader of the army.
The army is going to attack Israel while they are living securely in unwalled villages – Ezekiel 38:11, 14-16
God will utterly defeat Gog – Ezekiel 38:18-20, 22; 39:3-4, 7-8
It will take seven years to burn all the weapons – Ezekiel 39:9
It will take seven months to bury all the dead – Ezekiel 39:12
All the birds and animals will eat the dead bodies – Ezekiel 39:17
God’s reputation will be upheld – Ezekiel 39:21-24
There will be hope for Israel – Ezekiel 39:25-29

Many think Ezekiel 38-39 is talking about modern-day Israel

Ezekiel 38:2
- Rosh – Russia?
- Meshech – Moscow?
- Tubal – Tobolsk?
Luke 21:28-32 – This was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Start with eh facts you know and build from there.

Biblically, here’s what we know for sure …

Promises regarding physical Israel have already been fulfilled.

Genesis 12:3; Acts 3:25-26
Genesis 12:7; Joshua 21:43-45

New Covenant Christians are the “Israel” of today.

Romans 2:28-29; 9:6—8
Galatians 3:7, 29; 6:15-16

God is not planning a physical battle.

John 18:36
II Corinthians 10:3-6

Spiritual struggles are often pictured figuratively as physical fighting.

Ephesians 6:11-17

We don’t know when the world will end.

I Thessalonians 5:2-3

Jesus will not return to earth.

I Thessalonians 4:16-17

So, what is Ezekiel 38-39 about?

This is a vivid, figurative picture of God’s spiritual victory in the New Covenant – all enemies are defeated and God wins!
Why do I think it’s figurative?
- It would fit the context of Ezekiel.
  - Ezekiel 34 – shepherds
  - Ezekiel 37 – bones, sticks, “David”
  - Ezekiel 40-48 – temple
- It explains why no one knows of Gog leading this battle any time in history.
- It matches the imagery of the New Covenant.
- It makes sense with Revelation 20.

What does all of this mean for us now?

The events in the news have nothing to do with Bible prophecies or indications that the world is about to end.
Pray for Israel (and everyone else in the world involved in wars and tragedies)!

Congregational Independence

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

In the beginning of the gospel, each congregation was independent (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3). Each local church did oversee its own functions without either turning part of its work over to another oversight or trying to get the oversight of part of the work of another church. But soon, brethren decided the Lord’s way was not doing well enough and started centralizing part of the work of local churches under a single oversight. Ultimately, the outgrowth of that mistake was the Roman Catholic Church. That movement led most local churches into apostasy. Then about 170 years ago brethren again decided that the Lord’s way was not sufficient. Alexander Campbell stated that experience had proved that the local church was not sufficient to get the work done. He should have been looking for Bible authority for his missionary society instead of thinking experience was authority for it. Thus, they again turned to centralization of local churches to do part of their work under a single oversight. The result was the American Christian Missionary Society. Again, that resulted in most local churches going into apostasy. Brethren did a lot of preaching against mechanical instruments of music in the worship of God, but virtually none about centralization. Then about 65 years ago brethren decided that the Lord’s way was not sufficient. Thus, they again turned to centralization of local churches to do part of their work under a single oversight. The result was benevolent organizations for benevolent work and sponsoring churches for missionary work. And again, most local churches went into apostasy. All this should show every Christian that it is man’s way that does not get the work done, not the Lord’s way. It does seem that after all this, any arrangement for God’s people to form any kind of central oversight to oversee the work the Lord assigned to local churches brings disaster to souls. But again, not much teaching about congregational independence has been done in the last 30 years. And again, many are turning to man-made centralized arrangements to oversee work that the Lord specified the local church to do. The only way congregational independence can be maintained is for every generation to be taught.

Congregational Independence is Scriptural

Acts 2 records the beginning of the Lord’s church. Members continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42). Saved people in Jerusalem made up the Lord’s first local church. This was overseen by the apostles. When qualified men were available, elders were appointed (Acts 11:30). When other local churches started, and when qualified men were available, elders were appointed to oversee the functions of the local church (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23). God’s specified structure is an arrangement for saved people in a locality to agree to work together under a common oversight and pool resources to finance the work assigned by the Lord. Then, when a plurality of men are qualified, they appoint elders and deacons. Thus, at that point, a local church consists of saints, elders, and deacons (Philippians 1: 1). Each member is to be a teacher (Acts 8:4). New Testament organization stops with the local church. There is not one word about two or more local churches functioning under common oversight to do anything. There is not one word about a mass meeting of churches in an area. There is not one word about representatives appointed to attend any sort of a general meeting of local churches. Not one word about individual Christians forming some structure for the work the Lord.

The same thing is wrong with local churches functioning under a common oversight as with the mechanical instrument in worship. Simply put, there is no authority for it. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).

Congregational Independence is Effective

The gospel was preached to world in about 30 years (Colossians 1:23). This was done by local churches and individual Christians sounding forth the Word. It was done without any central oversight arrangement. Local churches supported preachers to preach the word (Philippians 4:15-16). Individuals taught the word everywhere they went (Acts 8:4). Man’s failure has not been a lack of organization but a failure to use that which the Lord provided. Individuals still move all over the country, but too many times they do not go preaching the word. Individual evangelism is most effective. It is practical, effective, inexpensive, and scriptural. Failure on the part of individuals to do this work is the greatest hindrance to the Cause. There is not a word about one congregation sending funds to another congregation to support a preacher. Each congregation is to select the preacher and give him wages (Philippians 4:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:8). This is true whether the support is at home or elsewhere.

Congregational independence is also in benevolence. The local church administers relief to its own needy (Acts 4:34). One local church sends funds to overseers of needy churches so they can administer relief to their own (Acts 11:27-30). Several churches send funds to one church so it can administer relief to its own (1 Corinthians 6:1-2; Romans 15:25-32; 2 Corinthians 8; 9). All this was done without centralization of funds to be administered by common oversight. To set congregational independence aside for some human arrangement is to reject God.

Congregational independence is a safety measure. As long as it is maintained, no other church is affected when one strays. In central arrangement of churches, when the receiving and overseeing church goes into error, every church in the central arrangement either goes into error or gets out of the unscriptural arrangement.

There is no stopping place beyond congregational independence. If one church can use some of the money of other churches to preach the gospel, it can use all the money of all churches to preach the gospel. This is exactly the roman Catholic Church’s concept. When one feels unconstrained by scriptural dictates concerning the work of the local church, the only constraints that remain to hold one back from conforming to Roman Catholicism are prejudice and the opinion of man.

Jesse G. Jenkins

It's Not About You

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 15:1-3

Jesus did not come to do His own will.

John 8:29; 6:38; 5:30; 4:34
Matthew 26:39
Psalms 40:7-8
Philippians 2:5, 8

You should be concerned about what is good for your neighbor.

Romans 14:9
I Corinthians 10:23-24; 10:32-11:1
We must love God and love our neighbor – neither of which is about us!

We must practice self-denial.

Luke 9:23

Application

Church is not about you.

I Corinthians 14:1-5, 12, 26 – Build up the church. It’s not about you!

Money is not about you.

Luke 12:16-21 – Parable of the rich fool. He laid up treasure for himself.
Money is a tool to demonstrate our priorities.

Leadership is not about you.

I Peter 5:1-4 – Elders are not to do the work for shameful gain. This principal applies to all levels of leadership.
Leadership is an act of service.

Relationships are not about you.

Matthew 5:43-48 – If you only love those who love you, you are loving like someone who does not know God.
Relationships are about what I give – not what I get!

The Jesus Interviews

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

You speak differently when you speak one on one versus to a crowd.
God cares and loves each of us individually.

Peter – you are a rock

John 1:35-39 – Many of John the Baptist’s followers start to follow Jesus.
John 1:40-42 – Andrew believes and goes to get his brother.
Here’s the first interaction between Jesus and Peter. Jesus gives him a new name, “Rock.”
What brings Peter to Jesus is an expectation to see the Messiah.
This name Jesus gives him speak to how Jesus knows him and knows what he’ll become.

Nathanael – you are a true Israelite

John 1:43-51
Israelite “indeed” – the most genuine kind of this qualifier.
“in whom is no deceit” – Nathanael responded with, “How do you know me?” Jesus read his heart.
Jesus reveals His omnipresence and Nathanael is convinced he’s found the Son of God.

Nicodemus – you must be born again

John 3:1-2
Nathanael is a major ruler among the Pharisees and sneaks to visit with this carpenter turned rabbi.
Nicodemus has a hard time understanding the born again metaphor. “How can these things be?”
Ezekiel 36:25-28 – This has been used before the idea of becoming new.
Ezekiel 37:13-14 – Ideas of coming alive again.
Nicodemus found out that something needs to change.

Woman at the well – you need living water

John 4:6-26
She’s brave to point out that it’s strange that a Jew is speaking to her.
He knows what she’s truly seeking.
When He reveals His knowledge of her past she changes the topic and then asks of Him to clarify a question on worship.
Jesus didn’t talk to her like others. He gets to the heart of what she needs. We need to learn to love and have compassion so we can offer others what they need.

Similarities in these interviews

Jesus exposes our hearts.
- He speaks right to what their hearts need to hear.
- He shows his identity by revealing their identity.
- If our live, let’s not let distractions and arguments that don’t matter distract from fixing our own hearts!
Jesus points us forward.
- Each of these people could have been criticized by Jesus but He points out the positive – gives them a path forward.
Jesus redeems us and uses us.
- He takes us and smooths our rough edges to use us for good.
- There’s no one that doesn’t fit or belong.

Confidence that Christ Lives in Me

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 2:20
When we lack confidence, there’s something missing.

I know that Christ lives in me when I don’t need people’s validation.

Galatians 1:10 – “approval of God or man?”
Galatians 2:6, 9 - … even if the people “seem influential”
Galatians 2:11
- You don’t need validation from man now because you’ve been validated by Christ.
Galatians 3:26
Galatians 6:14 – “the world is crucified to me”
- If becomes okay if the world doesn’t like me.

I know Christ lives in me when I become a different person.

Galatians 6:14; 5:24
- You are under new management.
Galatians 5:16-24
I Corinthians 6:9-11 – washed, sanctified
Ephesians 4:22-23 – putting off, putting on
- Not just a change, but to change to be more like Jesus.

I know Christ lives in me when I do things just because Jesus wants me to.

Galatians 2:20
Galatians 6:1
There is nothing in it for you to go restore your brother in those awkward situations. It’s just because it’s important to Christ.
We genuinely believe that if we sow to the Spirit we will eventually reap.

Conclusion

We need to see and celebrate just how Jesus is alive in us.

The Power of Overflow

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 12:33-34
Matthew 15:10, 16
Proverbs 4:23
John 4:10 – Jesus with the woman at the well.
John 7:37 – Jesus on the last day of the feast.
Colossians 3:12
There will always be convergence between what’s in your heart and your life.
When you fill yourself with God’s word, you develop an overflow that then goes out to bless others.

We serve others out of our overflow

Jesus is our example – fill yourself with the deeds and words of His.
Galatians 5:22-23 – Fruit of the Spirit.

We speak out of our own overflow

We teach out of our own overflow

I Timothy 4:13-16
When you’re truly excited and passionate about something, you can’t help but tell others.

We obey out of our own overflow

You will do what you love.

Four questions for practical application

What are we filling our minds with?
What are we dwelling on?
1. Philippians 4:8
What are we talking about?
What are we acting on?
1. Motivations?

Conclusion

There’s a challenge here for us!

Growing in Two Directions

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 9:31

We grow deeper

Acts 9:31
Acts 9:1-4, 25 – They went everywhere preaching the word!
Ephesians 1:15-21
Ephesians 3:14-21 – The strength here is for comprehending God’s word.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Philippians 1:9-11
What kind of depth is there in your faith?
This will take:
- Thought
  - How do I apply what I read?
- Willingness to serve
Acts 9:31
Romans 12:18; 14:14-19
- We must pursue peace wherever we can.
- Ephesians 4:2-3

We grow wider

People are drawn to real spiritual growth.
Acts 2:42-47 – People notice when others treat each other well.
Acts 5:11-16 – The people held them in high esteem!
Acts 6:1-7

When God Expects, He Equips

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hebrews 13:20-21

The pattern:

God expresses an expectation
Person expresses insufficiency for task
God equips person to fulfill His will
Examples:
- Genesis 18:9-14; Hebrews 11:11 – Sarah
- Exodus 3:10-12; 4:10-12 – Moses
- Judges 6:11-16 – Gideon
- I Kings 3:7-9 – Solomon
- Jeremiah 1:4-10 – Jeremiah
- II Corinthians 2:15-16; 3:5-6 – Paul
- Peter walking on the water.
  - Peter asked Jesus to command him because Peter know that he would then be given power to walk on the water.

How does God equip us?

Personal transformation – Mark 1:17
Other people – Ephesians 4:11-12
Scripture – II Timothy 3:16-17
Strength – Ephesians 3:16-19; I Samuel 30:6
Opportunities – Colossians 4:3-4

God equips us for:

Daunting tasks
Temptation – I Corinthians 10:13
Tough decisions

Don't Quench the Spirit

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Thessalonians 5:19-22
John 14:26; 16:13 – The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth.
I Corinthians 2:10-12
Ephesians 3:4-5
The Holy Spirit’s work is to reveal the mind of God. Anything we do to try to prevent that is quenching the Spirit.

By closing our minds

I Thessalonians 5:19-22
I John 4:1 – Test the spirits!
John 16:7-8
Matthew 13:13-15
Zechariah 7:11-12

By closing our Bibles

II Timothy 3:12-17
Hebrews 4:11-13
James 1:21-25 – If you hear God’s word, but don’t do anything with it, you are quenching the Spirit.

By closing our mouths

Acts 4:29-31
If we don’t share God’s message, we are quenching the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18

1 Corinthians 14:20-35

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 14

I Corinthians 14:2 – Speaking in tongues is only beneficial if the language is understood or can be translated.
I Corinthians 14:3-5 – Prophecy is seen as the more generally useful gift.
I Corinthians 14:6-9 – Speaking in tongues is useless unless the language is understood.
I Corinthians 14:10-11 – See Genesis 11:7-9. Clear communication is critical!
I Corinthians 14:13 – Apparently it was at least sometimes possible for one speaking in tongues to also interpret.
I Corinthians 14:14-17 – “Mind” is also translated “understanding.”
I Corinthians 14:18-19 – Compare Paul’s attitude in I Corinthians 10:33. The emphasis was always on edification.

Attitudes Toward God's Authority

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 8
Authority – the right to act or to command others to act.
Isaiah 45:9

We should respect God’s authority and be thankful that His laws are good for us.

Hebrews 10:30
Deuteronomy 4:5-8 – God’s laws were for their good!
Malachi 3:12
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Acts 2:36-38 – Jesus has authority! He is Lord!
I John 5:3 – Obedience is how we experience God’s love.
Philippians 3:1
II Timothy 3:16-17
I should submit to God’s authority.

But many reject God’s authority and turn to a different one.

Colossians 2:8-9, 20-23
I John 3:4
I John 2:4
Matthew 7:21-23, 15, 20
James 1:26
Romans 1:21, 25, 29-31

Others attempt to ignore the need for God’s authority.

Hebrews 7:12-14; 6:20; 8:5
Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32
Proverbs 30:5-6 – Do not add to God’s words!
Revelation 22:18-19

How to Study 1 John

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Hebrews 5:11-14

What is I John about?

Determining the meaning

Commentary, workbook?
Read, read, read, read, read the text.
Ephesians 3:4

Gathering evidence: objective, empirical

Hear, see, looked upon, touched – I John 1:1
- The best evidence we have for God is Jesus. John 14:9
Fellowship possible – I John 1:2-4

Sin

All are sinners – I John 1:8, 10
What it is – I John 3:4; 5:17 – unrighteousness, lawlessness
Two types of walking – I John 1:6, 7 – walking in light and darkness
How to avoid – I John 3:6, 9; 5:18 – get away from sin!
Provisions for – I John 3:5; 1:7; 2:2; 4:10
Consequences of – I John 3:6, 8, 10
When we sin – I John 1:9; 2:1

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 14

I Corinthians 14:2 – Speaking in tongues is only beneficial if the language is understood or can be translated.
I Corinthians 14:3-5 – Prophecy is seen as the more generally useful gift.
I Corinthians 14:6-9 – Speaking in tongues is useless unless the language is understood.
I Corinthians 14:10-11 – See Genesis 11:7-9. Clear communication is critical!
I Corinthians 14:13 – Apparently it was at least sometimes possible for one speaking in tongues to also interpret.
I Corinthians 14:14-17 – “Mind” is also translated “understanding.”
I Corinthians 14:18-19 – Compare Paul’s attitude in I Corinthians 10:33. The emphasis was always on edification.

"Justified by works"

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

James 2:14-26

James 2:14 – This is a rhetorical question.
James 2:18 – If I truly have faith, it changes how I live.
James 2:19 – Compare Luke 4:33; Acts 19:15. The demons believe in God also!
James 2:21-24 – Exhibit A: Abraham
- Galatians 3:7
- Abraham was declared righteous because of his works.
- Titus 3:7; Romans 5:9; I Corinthians 6:11
- Genesis 22:1-3, 10-12, 15-18
- Hebrews 11:17 “by faith” vs James 2:21 “by works.” Two ways of describing the same event.
James 2:25 – Exhibit B: Rahab
- Hebrews 11:31
- Joshua 2:1-6 – Rahab was commended for welcoming the spies in peace – not for lying.
- Joshua 2:8-11

But what about Romans 4?

Romans 4:1-8
Romans is using the word “works” in a different way than James 2.
Romans 4: Works = actions which allow one to “boast” about what he is “due.”
- Romans 3:23
- None of us are saved from being perfect!
James 2: Works = obedient actions which make faith come alive.

Develop a faith that works!

Hebrews 11:7-9, 23-25, 30
Joshua 6:1-5, 20 – They did these things by faith.
Ephesians 2:8 ➡ I Peter 3:21

Exodus 21:11-31:11

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Treatment of slaves

Exodus 21:1-11
Hebrew slaves
- Temporary servitude – Hebrew – six years
- Other factors
  - Married?
  - Given to marry?
  - Children?
  - Willing to remain?
- Selling a daughter
- Method of early redemption
- Severe treatment

Did God approve of slavery?

Did not approve of divorce – stated so
- Malachi 2:16
- Mark 10:2-12 (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9) – “from the beginning”
Where it starts
- Exodus 21:16 – To forcibly take a slave = death
- Appears forced slavery not allowed
- No restriction as to nationality or religion
Fact of slavery

Tortfeasance

Exodus 21:12-22:31
Uhhhh… What?
- Archaic legal term
- Twisted conduct
- Modern version: torts
- Better known as common law
- Requires both knowledge and wise interpretation
- Concerns all varieties of harm caused by imprudent conduct
- Code of Hammurabi?

Code of Hammurabi

18th Century BC
Legal code in Babylon
Some similarities with Law of Moses

Justice between Israelites

Exodus 22:16-23:9
Specifics and principles of justice
- “What to do if …” statutes
- Some capital offenses
- Usury laws
- First fruits and first born
- Perjury and suborning perjury
- Mob activity
- Partiality
- Returning lost property
- Perverting justice
- Graft
- Oppression against foreigners

Sabbaths and festivals

Exodus 23:10-19
Sabbaths for land
Sabbaths for animals
Sabbaths for servants, slaves
Feats to observe and some rules
Appearance of all males before God

The promise of victory

Exodus 23:20-33
Guardian angel
- Obey him
- Bring you to promised land
Serve God only
- You’ll be fruitful
- You’ll be victorious
- Enemies confounded, scattered
- No covenant or service to their gods

The blood of the covenant

Exodus 24
Moses comes down
- Recounts to the people
- They answer
- Moses records
- Makes sacrifice
Moses takes the blood
- Sprinkles half on the altar
- Reads the covenant
- People respond
- Moses sprinkles the people
- Declares it the “Blood of the Covenant”
Hebrews 9:18-28

Moses and others appear before God

Exodus 24:9-18
God appears
Moses moves up
After six days, He calls Moses
Moses remains for 40 days and nights

God instructs Moses

How to build the tabernacle
- Contributions needed (Exodus 25:1-9)
- Ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10-22)
- Table for Bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:23-30)
- Golden lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40)
- The tabernacle structure (Exodus 26:1-37)
- The bronze altar (Exodus 27:1-8)
More instructions
- Tabernacle court (Exodus 27:9-19)
- The lamp – oil and when to burn (Exodus 27:20-21)
- Priests’ garments (Exodus 28)
- Consecrating the priests (Exodus 29)
- Altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-10)
- Bronze basin for priestly purification (Exodus 30:17-21)
- Anointing oil and incense (Exodus 30:22-38)

Filling in the details

Importance of Oholiab and Bezalel
- Supply the details
- Provide excellence in workmanship
- Put their skill to work
- Do all under God’s inspiration

Paying the census ransom

Exodus 30:11-16
Applied to everyone 20 years and older
Also called atonement money
Half a shekel
Same amount for all
Went to the service in Tent of Meeting

Samuel

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Samuel 1:20, 27; 2:11, 26; 3:19-20
I Samuel 7:15-17 – Samuel served as prophet and judge.
I Samuel 25:1 – Death of Samuel

He summoned the courage to tell hard truths.

I Samuel 3:1, 10-14 – Samuel receives a message for Eli from God.
I Samuel 3:18 – Samuel delivers the message to Eli.
I Samuel 13 – Samuel rebukes Saul for failing to wait for him.
I Samuel 15:19, 27-28 – Samuel told Saul his kingdom was being removed.
I Corinthians 5:1-2
III John 1:9-10 – John had courage to talk to Diotrephes.
We must have the courage of Samuel to tell hard truths.
Proverbs 15:2
Parents need to have the courage to talk to their children.

He cared.

I Samuel 8:4-9
I Samuel 15:10-11
Amos 6:6
Psalms 119:136
Samuel was bothered by sin. Does sin bother us?

He lived with sadness in his life.

I Samuel 7:3-4
II Chronicles 35:18
I Samuel 8:1-3 – Samuel’s sons did evil.
Hebrews 11:32, 6

God

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“Who is God?”

Exodus 5:2
All men need to learn about God.
We live in an ever-changing world … but God never changes.
- God’s basic character never changes.
- You can use the word “always” to express this truth.
- Malachi 3:6
- Psalms 102:25-27
- Hebrews 13:8
- “He is the still point in a turning world.”
- God’s purposes do not change.
  - Isaiah 14:23-27
The God who sent His Son to die on the cross and raised Him from the dead IS THE SAME GOD …
- Who created the universe
- Who walked in the garden and talked to Adam and Eve
- Etc.
Remember He said what He purposed would be done, therefore God’s promises do not change or fail.
- II Peter 3:3-10
But what about those verses that say God changed His mind or that God repented?
- Genesis 6:6; Jonah 3:10
- This expresses God’s grief over sin. It doesn’t mean He made a mistake.
What difference does this make in practical terms?
- First consider God’s immutability as it applies to the lost.
  - This is very bad news for those living in sin.
    - Psalms 139
  - This is very good news to those who want to be saved.
  - God’s attitude toward obedience and disobedience has never changed!
    - Deuteronomy 6:5-6; 5:10
So what’s the difference in the Old and New Testaments?
- Matthew 22:37; Romans 6:17
- Romans 8:2; Hebrews 8:9-10
- The Old Covenant did not offer a means of forgiveness. The New Covenant does offer forgiveness through grace and forgiveness in Jesus.
- In both the Old and New Testament, God expected faith and obedience.
When faced with requirements and restrictions in God’s word, some reject it by saying God is just not that “picky.”
- Well, He’s as picky now as He’s always been.
- Adam and Eve – ate a fruit.
- Nadab and Abihu – used the wrong fire.
- Ananias and Sapphira – lied about what they gave.
- Paul blinded a man who perverted the right way of the Lord!
- He wants man to love and obey Him!
God is still the same.
- His expectations concerning man haven’t changed since creation.

What Sermon Are You Preaching?

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

We are an example to everyone around us.
Do we understand how influential we are?

How are Christians commanded to act?

As “salt of the earth” and “light of the world”
- Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 4:14-15
Having honorable conduct and good works
- I Peter 2:11-12
Striving to win souls with our conduct
- I Peter 3:1-2 – You can speak without saying a word!
Walking worthily and being fruitful
- Colossians 1:9-12

What might they know about us?

Lessons from a letter.

What our example shows

Diligence and work ethic
- II Thessalonians 3:10; I Timothy 5:8; Galatians 6:4-5; Colossians 3:23
Care and concern for family
- Proverbs 31:27, 15; 13:24; 19:18; Ephesians 6:1-2, 4; Proverbs 22:6
Care and concern for others
- Proverbs 31:20; Acts 2:44-45; James 1:27
A friendly nature despite unpleasant circumstances
- Acts 26:2; James 1:2-3; Acts 16:22-25; James 5:13; Philippians 4:11-13
A family attending every assembly
- Acts 8:4; Hebrews 10:24-25
Love and faith in God
- Philemon 1:4-7; James 2:18

Conclusion

Romans 1:16-17; I Peter 4:11

Exodus 17:8-20:26

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

But first …

Manna – where did its name come from?
What is it?
Exodus 16:15, 31

Battle at Rephidim

Exodus 17:8-16
Amalek picks a fight with Israel
- Moses’ arms up – Israel prevails
- Arms down – Amalek prevails
- Aaron and Hur support Moses

Jethro’s management philosophy

Exodus 18
Jethro saw Moses’ burden
- Micromanaging Israel
- Took more time than he had
Jethro – “this is not good”
- Yes, you be the leader
- Teach them God’s word
- His statutes and laws
- How to walk and work

The solution

Exodus 18
Vertical lines of authority
- Leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens
- They judge the easy, pass the difficult upstream
- You get the hardest cases
Two things, though …
- Who to choose – honorable, honest men
- You must choose to do it and God must command it

What Moses said later

Deuteronomy 1:9-18
Moses’ recounting of leadership plan
- Why he did it
- Gave instruction to tribes
- Tribes responded
- Moses appointed the leaders
- Gave them instructions

Israel comes to Sinai

Exodus 19
Three months to the day after leaving Egypt
- Camped in front of Sinai
- Met with Moses on the mountain

The holy mountain

Exodus 19
Mountain was holy – why?
God to come in a thick cloud
- The people would hear
- They’d believe in Moses forever
- Consecrate and purify
- Day three, they will see
- Set boundaries – for good reason
- “Don’t go near a woman” (Exodus 19:15)
Happened as promised on third day
- Warnings reiterated
- Moses went down to remind them

The commandments given

No other gods
No idols
Revere His name
Keep Sabbath holy
Honor parents
Do not murder
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
No false witness
Do not covet
Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40; Romans 13:8-10

Concerning idols and altars

Exodus 20:22-26
God as His own witness
Restates first two commandments
Making an altar
- Altar of earth
- No cut stones
- No steps

Godly Femininity

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The feminist movement has been a powerful force in the United States and worldwide. What does God’s word say about femininity? Note that I said femininity and not feminism! These are two very different things! Several months ago I preached a lesson about godly masculinity and this is intended to be the complement to that lesson. Let’s go to the source of all truth to see what God’s word has to say.

First, creation

God created man and woman.

Genesis 2:15–25 (NASB95)

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;

17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.

20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.

21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.

22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man.”

24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Why was woman created? Because God saw that man needed a helper. None of the animals were fit to be Adam’s helper. Adam needed a helper. God created woman to fill that need.

Man and woman were created to complement each other. They are similar, but not the same. Man was created in God’s image and woman was created from man, thus woman was created in God’s image also.

Who is superior?

Modern feminism likes to pit man and woman against each other, claiming that historically women had been subservient to men in some way and tries to right that perceived wrong.

What does the Bible say about this relationship? Should woman serve man or vice versa?

Genesis 3:11–19 (NASB95)

11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

12 The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

Cursed are you more than all cattle,

And more than every beast of the field;

On your belly you will go,

And dust you will eat

All the days of your life;

15 And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head,

And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

16 To the woman He said,

“I will greatly multiply

Your pain in childbirth,

In pain you will bring forth children;

Yet your desire will be for your husband,

And he will rule over you.”

17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;

Cursed is the ground because of you;

In toil you will eat of it

All the days of your life.

18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;

And you will eat the plants of the field;

19 By the sweat of your face

You will eat bread,

Till you return to the ground,

Because from it you were taken;

For you are dust,

And to dust you shall return.”

Results of the fall of man

Notice here that when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, both were cursed by God because of it. Adam was cursed to have difficulty in working the ground. Eve was cursed with pain in childbirth, but God said she would have desire for her husband who would rule over her. So, we see that this pattern of man being the leader was setup by God all the way back in Genesis 3.

Does this mean that man is superior to woman? Not in the least! Both are made in the image of God and both complement each other. God gave each gender specific roles to fulfill. God’s design is good and perfect!

It is important to realize that in life, all of us, both men and women, must submit to someone’s leadership. Maybe it’s your husband or your boss at work. It’s a bit ironic that modern feminists will refuse to submit to a man’s leadership at home (a man who loves her) and instead go submit to a boss’s leadership at work. Ultimately all of us must submit to God’s leadership.

Jesus and the church

Now that we understand man and woman’s relation to each other as God has arranged it, let’s look at some examples from the Bible to see how this works. We have many great examples of godly women in the Bible, but today I’d like to look at a somewhat different example – Jesus and the church.

We see that the church is described as the “bride of Christ”.

Ephesians 5:22–33 (NASB95)

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

30 because we are members of His body.

31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

We see here that the marriage relationship is compared to the relationship Christ has with the church. This gives us the most perfect example we could ask for in terms of how women should behave, especially in the marriage relationship.

What should we as members of the church do in this relationship?

So, from this passage, we see that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. What was the church (us) to do in response? We can add some other scriptures to this and sum this up as follows:

Be subject to Christ (Ephesians 5:23). Christ is the head of the church, so the church is subject to Christ. What does subjection mean? To respect one’s authority.
Worship God. Praise Jesus for His great love and sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:15 (NASB95)

15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
Pray. God wants to hear our prayers. He wants us to share our thoughts and feelings with Him.
Matthew 7:7–8 (NASB95)

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.**

Ephesians 6:18 (NASB95)
18** With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

What is the application?

If you remember back to my previous lesson on godly masculinity, I discussed the three primary needs women have in marriage and where we see these exemplified in Jesus:

To feel safe.
To feel known.
To be wholeheartedly cherished.

Now let’s look at this from the other direction. Men, you can correct me on this afterwards, but research has shown these are the three primary needs men have in marriage:

To be respected.
To be admired.
To receive wholehearted intimacy.

Notice how well this lines up with what we have seen from God’s instructions for wives!

We saw this in God’s instructions for the church:

The church should be subject to Christ as the head of the church. Jesus should be respected in His role as head of the church.
God should be praised by all for His glory and power and for providing a means of salvation to us.
All are to pray to God and bring their thoughts and troubles to Him. We are to be spiritually intimate with God.

Applications for women

Certainly, women are not the same as the church and do not have all the roles and responsibilities of the church. Similarly, men are not to be revered at the level of God. But the comparisons between the marriage relationship and Jesus’ relationship with the church give us considerable insight into how marriage should work and how men and women should behave in general.

(For the men, think about how you can make these things easy for your wife or future wife. If you are unmarried and hope to be some day, look for a woman who will do these things!)

Respect your husband

This is probably the application that people of the world have the most issue with because it is misunderstood. How should this play out in a marriage?

Listen to and respect his decisions.
- Don’t constantly second guess and question everything he does. If you feel like it is genuinely a bad decision, bring it up gently, preferably not in front of others. A good man appreciates the wise counsel of his wife, but he also appreciates it if she doesn’t constantly correct him in front of others.
Allow him room to lead.
- For decisions that affect the family, bring them to the husband and let him decide. Don’t decide first, then ask him if he agrees later once things are already in motion. At that point, he has little room to operate if he disagrees with the initial decision and will feel trampled upon.
- Your husband will likely not compete with you for leadership. If you take on leadership roles for certain things, your husband will probably just walk away from that thing and let you run it. God calls women to submit to their husbands. He does not call men to force them to submit and most men fundamentally understand this even if they don’t consciously think about it. Ladies, this means it is on you to make sure you are leaving room for his leadership in the relationship.
- When men walk away from leadership over a certain thing in the home, it can eat at them over time because they know they are not fulfilling their role, yet they cannot see how to do it. If this happens repeatedly, it can cause growing discontent in the relationship. The husband will gradually grow more aggravated with the wife, even if he can’t fully articulate why. Ladies, if you think this may have happened in some area, bring it up and give him the opportunity to take leadership. Men, take the opportunity!
Keep him informed of what is going on in the house.
- It’s so common that it’s almost a running joke now about how husbands have no idea what is happening with the kids or where people are at any particular time.
- A husband cannot lead if he doesn’t know what’s going on in the first place.
- Men, make it your business to know what is going on.
- Women, keep your husband up to date! Men, listen when she tells you!
- It can be deeply embarrassing for a man to be asked about something going on in his house and for him to have to admit ignorance or go ask his wife. Certainly, there are certain details that only the wife would generally know, but the husband should be informed on the big things.

Admire your husband

Of all the applications in this lesson, this is probably the one that slides under women’s radar the most. For many men, it’s probably something they wouldn’t know to ask for, but it is terribly missed when it is gone. So, what does this look like in practice?

Praise him for his work.
- If men are doing their job well, they are working hard to provide for their families. A little bit of praise from a man’s wife goes a long, long way to shoring up his determination and encouraging him to succeed and prosper in his work.
- Bonus: Praise him in front of your friends! Ladies, you can imagine how great it would feel for your husband to bring you flowers in front of your girlfriends. The same goes in the opposite direction for him!
Praise him for his leadership
- Is he leading the family wisely? Let him know!
Praise him for being a good father
- Is he doing a good job handling the kids? Let him know!
Praise him for his faith
- Is he showing faithfulness? Let him know you appreciate it and that you are growing spiritually thanks to his example!
Praise him regularly.
- Don’t just do it one time after you hear this lesson.
- Just like compliments about your beauty have an expiration date, these sorts of compliments do too.
- Ladies, you do have an advantage in this regard, though. You can confirm this with a guy later, but if you give a man a sincere, honest complement about something he did well, men will often tuck that away and think about it repeatedly, even years later. This sort of thing is a much bigger deal to men than they will readily admit.

Provide wholehearted intimacy

I want to be careful with my language here as we have a mixed audience, but understand that when I say intimacy, I’m referring to the physical relationship between husband and wife.

This is something we don’t really talk about a lot, but it is very important in a marriage. We have passages like I Corinthians 7:3 where Paul reminds us that we have duties to our mates, not to mention the entire book of Song of Solomon. Notice that this is not one way!

1 Corinthians 7:3–5 (NASB95)

3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Secular research agrees with God here. Researchers have shown that problems in this area can be a strong indicator of the likelihood of divorce.

First of all, why is this important to men? When polled, many women will say that this is a physical thing with their husband and they must help him handle his biological urges.

While there is some truth to that, if you poll men, you get a much different story. To men, there is a certainly a biological component involved, but they see physical intimacy much more as an emotional and spiritual bond with their wife. This is especially true as the relationship matures.

This makes sense when you see what great importance is placed on it in the New Testament. I have read many cases of wives who have been married for many years suddenly discovering this fact and it completely changes how they look at the physical relationship with their husband.

Biology backs this up as well. Scientific research has shown that when women have a great, in-depth conversation with their husband, they have a flood of hormones that makes them feel bound to their husband (oxytocin and other things). This does not, however, happen for their husband. He may enjoy the conversation, but he does not have the same response of hormones and neurotransmitters.

What does cause this to happen for men is physical intimacy. This causes the man to feel the same rush of bonding hormones and neurotransmitters, which helps him feel a tight bond with his wife. Once again, we see God’s design working to perfection. Men and women complementing each other perfectly in how their needs in the marriage are met. The deep conversations and the physical intimacy both need to happen for a marriage to function correctly, so God designed men and women to have complementary needs in this regard.

So, what should this look like for a wife?

Show him love and affection.
- Tell him you love him. Men need to hear this, too!
- Give him more than just an occasional peck on the cheek as he’s going out the door. One marriage counselor I heard recommends ten good kisses a day, every day!
- Something as simple as an occasional text to let him know you are thinking about him goes a long way.
Respond with delight.
- When he tries to be romantic with you, as feeble an attempt as it may be, respond in such a way that he knows you desire him as well. Remember this is a blessing you get to enjoy together – not just another item on your to do list.
- Remember what he is really asking for here. It is easy to develop a bad attitude if you think this is purely physical for your husband. There is an element of the physical here, but what he is really asking for is to be closer to you. He feels distance in the relationship and is trying to close the gap. I am convinced that God gave men this biological drive in part to cause them to be more closely bound to their wives. God’s design is good!
- Notice that the need is for wholehearted intimacy. Just as women want to feel wholeheartedly cherished, men want the same in intimacy. Just as you would want your husband to be wholeheartedly involved in a deep conversation with you, he wants the same in physical intimacy.
Make an effort.
- The man should of course have leadership in this role, but if you never make an effort and are always leaving everything to him, he will eventually begin to wonder if you really want to be with him in the first place.
- Initiate romance occasionally.
- This includes fixing yourself up. It’s too easy for both men and women to expect better of each other without putting in the effort themselves. How did you present yourself when you were dating?
Get off the phone
- Smartphones are amazing devices, but they sap a tremendous amount of time from our lives. They act as a virtual do-not-disturb sign for others, whether you realize it or not.
- My challenge to you is to stay off your phone if you are together with other people. It is so tragic to see people finish a meal and immediately descend into their phones. It’s especially tragic to see two people on a date do this.
Take it upon yourself to build desire for your husband.
- God said this would be the state of things in Genesis 3:
  Genesis 3:16 (NASB95)
  
  16 To the woman He said,
  
  “I will greatly multiply
  
  Your pain in childbirth,
  
  In pain you will bring forth children;
  
  Yet your desire will be for your husband,
  
  And he will rule over you.”
- Ladies may sometimes have the idea that it is their husband’s job to take them on dates, buy flowers, and woo them so that they’ll be “in the mood” for intimacy.
- I’m sorry to bear bad news, ladies, but while those are things your husband should be doing, research has shown that’s not how it works. Your husband doing those things might help, but even if he does them, it’s you that are putting yourself “in the mood.” He’s simply giving you a good opportunity to do so.
- Ladies, I know you are probably yelling at me in your head right now, but think about it this way: If your husband took you on an amazing, romantic date to an expensive restaurant, but you were grumpy and distracted by your phone the whole time, would you feel romanced? Of course not! On the other hand, if you had spent all day looking forward to time with your amazing husband and he took you to Taco Bell, you might wish he had better taste in restaurants, but you’d still feel romanced because you had your head in the right place to begin with.
- If you are already doing the other things we mentioned of respecting and admiring your husband, those alone help you build desire.
- This idea of building desire is incredibly powerful – much more powerful than any hormones! (This according to the marriage experts: young women in flawless health can have no desire for their husbands and older women with tons of health problems can have tremendous desire. The state of your body matters, but much less so than the state of your mind.)

Conclusion

Ladies, I want to challenge you to dwell more in your femininity. We have a society that is so terribly confused about sex and gender and gender roles. Men are shouted down for exhibiting “toxic masculinity” somehow and at the same time women complain that they cannot find masculine men. Meanwhile, men in the United States are giving up on finding women who want to take on the traditional roles of wife and mother and are going abroad just to find women with these attitudes. Women are told in our society that they can be anything they want to be, with the silent implication that it is somehow wrong to be a wife and mother. In response, many women feel forced to take on a more masculine role to be successful in the workforce. There is a great need in our society for this to be sorted out. But more than that, God wants it sorted out!

God has given us all roles to fulfill in this life. We may feel that this is not the set of roles we want to fulfill, but we know that God’s design is perfect. Could it be that God gave you the role that would help you grow towards Him the most?

Let me leave you with an example I heard. A man was being interviewed and he had a wife in a very high demand, lofty position in her company. To get to that position, she had become very tough and demanding in order to compete with the men who were also tough and demanding. She was very successful at work, but their marriage was in terrible shape and neither husband nor wife was happy. After some changes were made in their relationship, the husband took on a more masculine role at home and the wife relaxed back into her feminine role. When she went back to work, she was on a call with a man she had argued with mightily before, but this time she treated him with respect and stayed in her feminine role. Instead of arguing with her, they quickly agreed on a solution. It was such a big change that her co-workers that overheard her on the phone were amazed at how the call went. This change continued with the interactions she had with other men at the office. She realized she was actually much more effective (and happier, with a better marriage) when she operated in the feminine role God had given her.

I hope this lesson spurs some good discussions and positive change for all of us. May we all do our best to fulfill the roles God has assigned us!

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 13

I Corinthians 12-14 governs the use of spiritual gifts.
I Corinthians 13:1-3
- What are the tongues of angels? We don’t know, but we know angels could easily speak to men and be understood. This is likely hyperbole anyway – the emphasis here is speaking in love.
- No matter what extreme thing we may do in order to serve God, if we do it without love, it is nothing.
I Corinthians 13:4-8
- See I Corinthians 14:26-33. This seems to give us an idea of what behavior Paul is correcting here.
- “is not jealous” – See I Corinthians 3:2-4.
- “does not seek its own” – See I Corinthians 8:13.
- “is not provoked” – Love does not go around with a chip on its shoulder.
- “believes all things” – Love tries to believe the best about a person until it’s no longer possible.
I Corinthians 13:8-13
- I Corinthians 13:9 – The partial here is knowledge of the will of God. When that knowledge was available in its completed form (I Corinthians 13:10), the spiritual gifts would be taken away, like scaffolding on a building that was no longer under construction.

When I Hit a Spiritual Slump

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 2:14-17
Jesus died for you! He came for those in a spiritual slump.
I John 1:10
I John 2:1

Believe that you CAN overcome, escape, and endure.

James 4:7-8
I Corinthians 10:13
There is always something we can do to get through.
Your spiritual muscles may have atrophied and you don’t trust them yet. It will take time to get them back.

Remember the ugliness of sin.

Luke 22:60-62
Acts 5:27
Romans 6:16-18
You’re not the person you would be if that sin were not in your life.

Change your environment.

Proverbs 13:20
If you are hanging around places where people are sinning, you will eventually sin.
Proverbs 5:8; 7:7, 25
I Peter 4:1-5

Surround yourself with Christians.

Ezra 7:27-8:20 – Ezra assembled good people to go with him.
Don’t go alone!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Exodus 15:21-17:16

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

But first …

Two things came up
First –
- “Death angel?”
  - Couldn’t find one
  - Exodus 11:4-5
  - Exodus 12:12
Second -
- Did the Red Sea “unpart” while Israel was still crossing?
- Consider Exodus 14:26-29

The song

Exodus 15:1-21
Song of Moses? Revelation 15:3
- There is, apparently, a Song of Moses
- Is this it?
This song
- Three sections – Exodus 15:1-5, 6-10, 11-18
  - Begin praising God
  - Each succeeding one increases in magnitude
  - Each ends with statement of triumph
- Author Miriam?
  - Probably not
  - “Miriam answered them …”
Other possibilities
- Deuteronomy 32:1-47 (31:22, 30)
- Generic – a song after the fashion of these two
  - Praises God
  - Speaks to His triumph – OR –
  - Speaks to God’s faithfulness and Israel’s unfaithfulness
  - Then of God’s necessary chastisement on Israel
  - Then on God’s compassion on the humbled Israel
- As “Song of Moses”
  - Does not sing of Moses
  - Came from Moses
  - Speaks of God

Bitter water into sweet water

Exodus 15:22-27
No water for three days
- Encountered bitter water
- God provides a cure
God’s statute, His test
- If – then
- Exodus 15:25-26

Give us this day …

Exodus 16
Israel grumbles – we’ll starve to death
- About six weeks into the journey
- Wishing to have died in Egypt
- Accuse Moses and Aaron of trying to kill them
God provides
- Rules on gathering
  - Another test
  - Just enough
  - Cover Sabbath
  - No matter how much or how little …

Rock of waters

Exodus 17:1-7
More grumbling
- God had not yet left them lacking
- Killing our babies
Strike the rock
- Israel again lacked nothing
- Is the Lord among us or not?

Battle at Rephidim

Exodus 17:8-16
Amalek picks a fight with Israel
- Moses’ arms up – Israel prevails
- Arms down – Amalek prevails
- Aaron and Hur support Moses

The Four P's of Giving

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 16:1-4

Periodic – “On the first day of every week”

Acts 2:44; 4:34

Personal – “each of you is to put aside and save”

Just like all parts of worship, we must be personally involved.
I Corinthians 11:28
Do husbands and wives have to give separately? No.
Does this mean just save at home? No. Paul wanted it already collected when he came.

Proportional – “as he may prosper”

II Corinthians 8:12
Numbers 18:24 – tithing under the Old Covenant
Mark 12:41-44 – The widow gave all she had!
God is looking at our heart and attitude.

Purposeful – “as he has purposed in his heart”

II Corinthians 9:6-9
If our attitude is right, the amount will take care of itself.
If we do well in God’s eyes, He will bless us spiritually.
II Corinthians 8:1

1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 12

I Corinthians 12:2 – “Pagans” here is in contrast to Christians.
I Corinthians 12:3 – Compare I John 4:1-3. He could be combatting a heresy called Docetism, which teaches that Jesus did not really come in the flesh.
I Corinthians 12:4-6 – “Gifts,” “ministries,” and “effects” are synonymous here. All of these come from the Lord.
I Corinthians 12:7 – These gifts were for the good of everyone.
I Corinthians 12:8-10 – List of spiritual gifts.
I Corinthians 12:11 – The Holy Spirit was deciding who got gifts and what they were.
I Corinthians 12:12 – The point here is unity – we are all part of the same body.
I Corinthians 12:13 – By the teaching of the Holy Spirit, we’ve all been baptized into one body.
I Corinthians 12:14-18 – We all bring different blessings to the table. That diversity is a blessing!
I Corinthians 12:19-21 – Don’t look down on someone with different gifts.
I Corinthians 12:22-25 – We need to get rid of pride and appreciate each other.
I Corinthians 12:26-27 – This is talking about all Christians worldwide.
I Corinthians 12:28 – God decided who got which role.
I Corinthians 12:29-30 – All these different roles were necessary, but that diversity was a strength. We are all valuable in God’s sight!
I Corinthians 12:31 – The more excellent way – love!

A Modern Look at Malachi

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Develop honor and respect for God.

Malachi 1:6-14
Leviticus 22:21-22 – Sacrificial animals must be unblemished!
We must be respectful in our worship!
Their worship was bad, but the problem was their hearts!
Matthew 22:37-40 – This is discipleship. It’s not something we just get around to!
Proverbs 1:7
How do I develop the right attitude?
1. Read Job 38-42. See what God told Job.
2. Read Ephesians 1. Think through each phrase. Where would I be if God hadn’t done these things?
Malachi 3:9-10 – They were robbing God with their worship!

Be a good priest.

Malachi 2:1-9
Jeremiah 5:8
Ezekiel 22:26
I Peter 2:5
Revelation 1:6
Under the New Covenant, all Christians are priests! So what is our responsibility today?
Can I teach others the gospel?
What kind of priest am I?

Build strong relationships.

Malachi 2:10-16 – They were divorcing their wives and marrying non-Israelite women.
I Peter 3:7
Our worship is not separate from the rest of our lives. All of our lives belong to God!
Malachi 4:5-6 – Prophecy of the coming of John the Baptist.
Luke 1:16-17

Exodus 10:21-15:21

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Number nine – locusts

Exodus 10:21-29
No discourse, just straight to darkness
Seventy-two hours of darkness
Egyptians couldn’t see each other or anything
Goshen well lit
Pharaoh tries to negotiate again
God hardens Pharaoh’s heart again
Final farewell

Final plague – this is the one!

Exodus 11:1-10
Tell the people to ask of the Egyptians
God gave the people favor
Moses’ stature among all
Midnight passing of death
Dogs won’t bark
Your people will beg me to go

The Passover

Exodus 12:1-28
Right now is the beginning of the year for you
Passover lamb described
- One per household
- Unblemished male
- One year old
- Sheep or goat
- Kill at twilight on 14th of month
- Blood on doorposts and lintel where eaten
- Prepared – roast intact, eat with unleavened bread, bitter herbs
- Burn the leftovers
That night
- God will go through Egypt
- Strike down all firstborn
- Execute judgment against Egyptian gods
The blood will be a sign on the house
- God will pass over that house
- No plague will come upon that house
Passover a permanent ordinance
Start with seven days of unleavened bread
- No leaven in the house from first day to end
- Violation would result in being cut off from Israel
Assembly on the first day
Another on the seventh day
No work on either day
Each person prepares own portion
Blood on the doorposts and lintel – hyssop
- Stay inside until morning
- Destroyer will pass over, not smite
Observe forever
Remind children

Tenth plague

Exodus 12:29-32
All firstborn struck dead
- From Pharaoh’s firstborn
- To firstborn among prisoners
- To firstborn cattle
Every home affected
Pharaoh, that night, to Moses
- Go – everyone and everything you have
- Bless me

The Exodus begins

Exodus 12:33-42
Egyptians afraid they would all die
Left in haste – dough
Gold and silver, clothing
600,000 men on foot
All the people, all the herds and flocks
Took the bread they had
Left after 430 years to the very day
That night was for the Lord

Passover ordinance

Exodus 12:43-51
No foreigner is to eat it
- Exception – circumcised slave
- No sojourners or hired servants
Eaten in single house
- Don’t take it out
- Break no bones
Entire congregation of Israel

Consecrate the firstborn

Exodus 13:1-2
Firstborn of every womb in Israel belongs to God
Both man and beast
Contrast to last plague?

Feast of unleavened bread commanded

Exodus 13:3-16
Moses: Remember this day of the month of Abib
- Out of Egypt
- Out of slavery
Eat nothing leavened for seven days
Continue observing after entering promised land
Remind children why

God’s leadership made known

Exodus 13:17-22
Not by way of the land of the Philistines
- Might see war
- Return to Egypt
Bones of Joseph
God’s presence before Israel
- Pillar of cloud by day
- Pillar of fire by night
  - Provide light
  - Able to travel at night

The Red Sea

Exodus 14:1-31
Time to camp out by the sea
Harden Pharaoh’s heart
God will be honored
Pharaoh and his people “come to their senses”
Pharaoh’s army mobilized against Israel
They come upon Israel’s encampment
Israel: “We told you so!”
Tell them to move forward
Divide the sea
God will be honored by them
Angel of God, pillar of cloud moved
God parts the sea
Pharaoh’s army pursues
God confounds the Egyptians

God honored

Moses – stretch out your hand
- Sea returns to normal
- Covers Egyptians, none left
- Israel continued on dry land
- Egyptian bodies was up onto the shore
- Israelites saw, feared, believed

The song

Exodus 15:1-21
Song of Moses? Revelation 15:3
- There is, apparently, a song of Moses
- Is this it?
This song
- Three sections – Exodus 15:1-5, 6-10, 11-18
  - Begin praising God
  - Each succeeding one increases in a magnitude
  - Each ends with statement of triumph
- Author Miriam?
  - Probably not
  - “Miriam answered them …”

1 Corinthians 10:23-31; 11:17-34

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 10:23-11:1 – Meat and idolatry

I Corinthians 10:23 – Compare I Corinthians 6:12. Some translations add quotes here to indicate that Paul is responding to something someone else might.
I Corinthians 10:28-29 – The principal here is to not cause another to violate his conscience by making use of my own liberties. Compare I Corinthians 8:7-13.

I Corinthians 11:17-34 – The Lord’s Supper

I Corinthians 11:18 – Compare I Corinthians 1:10-11. He again brings up the divisions in the Corinthian church.
I Corinthians 11:20 – It’s possible to think we are worshipping correct, but completely miss the mark and fail to worship acceptably.
I Corinthians 11:21 – In this context, the drunkenness here may not be referring to intoxication.
I Corinthians 11:25-26 – The “cup” here is a metaphor, indicated by the fact that they were to “drink the cup.” Some try to take this literally and use only a single cup for everyone, but that is missing the figure of speech here.
I Corinthians 11:27-29 – It’s critical to partake of the Lord’s Supper correctly. To do so incorrectly is sinful. The manner in which we partake must be worthy. None of us are worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice itself.
I Corinthians 11:30 – Some had died because they incorrectly took the Lord’s Supper.
I Corinthians 11:34 – Eating to satisfy your hunger is not part of worship.

The Woman's Covering

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 11:3-16 is a much disagreed upon passage. It is misunderstood and neglected. However, its instructions are greatly needed. In the lines that follow I will attempt to direct an objective study of this passage.

Divine revelation

The instructions of 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 are a matter of divine revelation and not just a matter of custom. Verse 16 teaches that the rules Paul had given are binding and any other practice relative to his subject is not recognized. The verse is simply saying that if anyone is contentious about what Paul has herein taught, neither the apostles nor the churches of God have or recognize such a practice. Verses 4 and 5 show that when a man and a woman do not follow the instructions herein given, the man dishonors his head, which is Christ, and the woman dishonors her head, which is man. Since to violate the passage dishonors Christ, it must be a matter of revelation and not just custom.

Applicable today

The instructions are applicable today, and not just when men and women had spiritual gifts. Paul is not here discussing spiritual gifts; he is discussing the line of subjectivity – that is, God is head of Christ, who is head of man, who is head of woman. He then develops the idea of woman’s subjection to man. Since the very point of being stressed is as needed today as it was then, we must conclude that the instructions are also applicable today. Further, in verse 7 we read: “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is in the image and glory of God.” Thus, the reason a man is not to cover his head is not that he had spiritual gifts, but that he is in the image and glory of God. Also, the woman is to cover her head because she is of man, not because she had spiritual gifts (verses 9 and 10). Man with spiritual gifts was in the image and glory of God, and man without spiritual gifts is in the image and glory of God. Woman with spiritual gifts was of man, and woman without spiritual gifts is of man. Thus, men and women with spiritual gifts and men and women without spiritual gifts were and are to obey the passage. “Every man praying (that gets the one without spiritual gifts) or (not and) prophesying (that gets the one with spiritual gifts) having his had covered, dishonoreth his head.” As long as man is in the image and glory of God and as long as woman is of man, the passage will be applicable.

Instructions general in application

The instructions are general in application, and not just limited to the assembly. The assembly is not named, mentioned, nor implied in the passage. And wherever the woman with spiritual gifts was prophesying, it was not in the assembly; for she is commanded to be in silence there (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). Further, as the point under consideration was not spiritual gifts, but woman’s subjection to man in the assembly and out of the assembly, the conclusion is inevitable that the instructions are applicable in or out of the assembly. They are general, regulating the woman’s behavior in relation to man; her place is one of subjection.

Covering of long hair

The covering of the passage is long hair. And not an artificial covering. After talking about the covering for ten verses, Paul asked a question about it. Then he answered. Now, Paul’s answer to his own question ought to give some light on the identity of the covering he was talking about. In verse 13 he asked: “Judge in yourselves is it comely (befitting) that a woman pray unto God uncovered?” His answer: “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” He asked about the covering and then answered with long hair, not a veil. Thus, Paul tells us what kind of covering he was talking about. If he had asked the question of verse 13 and then answered: “Doth not even nature itself teach you that, if a man have a veil it is a shame to him? But if a woman have a veil, it is a glory to he: for her veil is given her for a covering,” I would make myself look absurd to argue that he was not talking about a veil, but about long hair. Just so, as he answered with long hair instead of a veil, one looks absurd to argue that he was not talking about long hair, but about a veil. Then verse 15 clinches it by saying that a woman’s long hair is given her for a covering.

What about the Greek?

At this point, someone usually objects by saying: “But the Greek will not bear you out on this.” Well, let us see about that. In verses 5, 6, 7, and 13 the word for covering is “katakalupto;” for uncovered it is “akatakalupto.” Verse 4 does not have a word for covering in the Greek. It is implied, but not stated. “Kata” is a preposition meaning “down” (Thayer, p. 327), or “an abundance of that with which a thing is filled up or as it were covered up.” (Thayer, p 329); thus, fully covered. “Alpha” (a) prefixed negated; instead of covered , it is uncovered. “Kalupto” is the general word for “covering.;” it does not have identity. It could be a covering of a veil, of long hair, or of a tow sack and still be “kalupto.” “Kalupto” is the word used in Matthew 8:24 where the ship was covered (kaluptesthai) with waves. It is the word used in 1 Peter 4:8 where love covers (kaluptei) a multitude of sins. It is the word in Luke 8:16 where no man lights a candle and covers (kaluptei) it with a vessel. So, we see that “kalupto” is just a covering and can be any kind. From the word one can not tell what the element of the covering in any passage is. The context must identify the element of the covering. Now, the context of our passage shows that the covering is not love, waves, or some vessel; but that it is “long hair.” In verse 13 Paul asked: “Is it fitting that a woman pray unto God uncovered (akatakalupton)?” He answered with the element of “long hair.”

In verse 15 we have a different Greek word for covering. Here it is “peribolaion.” This word means an artificial covering; it has identity. It is defined: “A covering thrown around, a wrapper, a mantle.” (Thayer, p. 502). The preposition “for” in the phrase “for a covering” is “anti.” “Anti” means: “instead of, in place of, to serve as covering.” (Thayer, p. 49). Thus, we have Paul saying that a woman’s long hair is given her instead of an artificial covering, or to serve as a covering. It seems as though inspiration might have foreseen that men would try to get an artificial covering from the passage! Berry’s Interlinear reads: “But if a woman have long hair; glory to her it is; for the long hair instead of a covering is given her.” Nestle’s reads: “But a woman if she wears her hair long it is a glory to her because the long hair instead of a veil has been given her.”

Now, if Paul had talked for ten verses about the Lord’s Supper and then concluded by telling us that the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine were the elements of the Supper, I would look pretty foolish to argue that some other elements were meant in the first ten verses. Just so, as he did talk about the covering for ten verses and then concluded by telling us that long hair is the element of the covering, does not one make himself look foolish to argue that some other element was meant in the first ten verses? When Paul said that long hair was given a woman instead of an artificial covering, that should settle the matter of the element of the covering under consideration. And he said that in Greek! So, the Greek does bear out my exegesis of the passage.

Four lengths of hair

The ones who think an artificial covering is enjoined in the passage try to prove it by verse 6. Their argument goes like this: “The covering of vs. 3-13 is man-made (artificial). Verse 6 – ‘for if the woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn:…’ Note the word also – it is significant. It shows conclusively that the covering Paul has under consideration at this point is something other than hair, because if her hair were the covering here and she did not have it on, she would already be shorn before Paul said, ‘Let her be shorn’.” (THE BIBLE STANDARD, May, 1975, p. 110). But “let her also be shorn” does not prove the covering was “something other than (long) hair.” It could mean something other than cutting her hair short like a man’s i.e., shear of shave it. I believe the context proves that this is exactly what it does mean. I have found “long hair,” hair “shorn,” and the head “shaved” in the context, but no one has found an artificial covering there yet!.

In verse six, four lengths of hair are under consideration, not a veil and two lengths (shorn or shaved) of hair. “For if a woman be not covered (hair cut short like a man’s, but not as short as a burr), let her also be shorn (cropped): but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn of shaven, let her be covered (have long hair).”

Thus, we have : (1) the covered state – long hair, (2) the uncovered state – hair cut like a man’s, but longer than a burr, (3) shorn – a burr, and (4) shaved – like a man’s face. Paul is simply saying that if a woman is going to cut her hair short and look like a man, let her make her shame complete by cropping her hair or shaving her head.

Why did Paul just demand this covering when praying or prophesying?

As long hair is the covering, to have long hair when praying or prophesying is to have the covering all the time. A woman’s hair is not something she puts on and off at will. If she has long hair when praying, she has long hair all the time. Thus, Paul just said when praying or prophesying. Now, we have no women who prophesy today, but we do have women who pray. And if their prayers are very consistent, and if they have the covering of long hair when they pray, they have the covering the passage enjoins all the time. It would be impossible for our women to be covered with long hair when they pray and then not have the covering at other times. Therefore, if our women have long hair when they pray, they cannot appear any place or any time without the covering Paul enjoins! In other words, when he enjoined the covering of long hair when praying, that took complete care of the situation; nothing further needed to be specified.

How long is long?

This is determined by both the context and the word Paul used. From the context we see:

Woman is to be in submission to man.
A covering of long hair is the token of this submission.
Thus, a woman must have the token of submission, that is, hair long enough to clearly distinguish between her and a man.

From the word “katakalupto” we see:

The covering is to fully cover or be down the head.
Long hair is the covering under consideration.
Thus, woman’s hair must be long enough to fully cover or hang down the head.

The conclusion is that a woman’s hair must be long enough to fully cover and to clearly distinguish between her and man. And conversely, man’s hair must be short enough to not hang down the head and to clearly distinguish between him and woman.

Does this prohibit a woman from cutting her hair?
Does this mean that it is wrong for a woman to cut her hair? Not necessarily, for a woman can cut her hair and still have hair down the head that distinguishes between her and a man. If a man had hair down to his waist and then cut off four inches, would he have hair short enough to satisfy the demands of the passage or would he still have long hair? All agree that he would still have long hair. Just so, when a woman has hair down to her waist and then cuts off four inches, she still has long hair. She still satisfies the demands of the passage and has not sinned.

Needed applications

Woman sins when she cuts her hair too short to satisfy the meaning of “katakalupto” – that is to be a covering long enough to fully cover or hang down the head., and she sins when she cuts her hair so short that it does not clearly distinguish her from man.

Man sins (dishonors his head – Christ) when he lets his hair grow too long to satisfy the meaning of “akatakalupto” – that is when it is long enough to hang gown the head and he sins when he lets his hair grow so long that it does not clearly distinguish him from a woman who has hair long enough to satisfy the demands of the passage.

Jesse G. Jenkins

Joy

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 5:22
Philippians 2:29
James 1:2-4
We can develop joy. We can work on this!

There will always be negatives in your life, so focus on the positive.

Genesis 3:14-19
We don’t live in the Garden of Eden. There will be problems in our lives.
Hebrews 11:16
There will be negatives until we get to Heaven.
Philippians 4:4
Joy is not the absence of negatives.
Philippians 3:1
Exodus 16:2-3
Exodus 20:2
Ezra 3:10-13 – Two different reactions to the same event!
Haggai 2:8-9
Ezra 6:15-16
If you tend to lack joy, make a change!

It’s not wrong to be ambitious, but remember to be thankful.

Philippians 4:10-11 – Paul learned to be content.
I Thessalonians 5:14-18
The devil can trap us into thinking joy is always coming tomorrow. Be thankful today!
Try gratitude journaling!

We’ll enjoy some temporary pleasures, but spiritual blessings are the endless spring of joy.

I Peter 3:9
Ecclesiastes 1:14; 2:1, 10-11, 18
Isaiah 29:13
You can grow joy in your life!

Exodus 6:1-10:20

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

God offers encouragement

Exodus 6:1-6
God reiterates all He has promised
- Appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
- Gave no Name until now
- He remembers His covenant
- Tell Israel, “I WILL deliver you …”
- You will be Mine
Moses tells the people, they don’t listen
God repeats His mandate – let my people go

Genealogy of Moses and Aaron

Exodus 6:14-30
Genealogy shows Levite lineage of both
God’s mandate repeated (Exodus 6:26-29)
Moses’ objection restated (Exodus 6:30)

Back before Pharaoh

Exodus 7:1-14
“I will make you as God to Pharaoh”
Will harden Pharaoh’s heart – why?
- Multiply signs
- Great judgments
- Egypt will know
They did what God commanded

Staffs to snakes

Exodus 7:7-13
Moses was eighty, Aaron eighty-three
Staff thrown down, Pharaoh’s snakes eaten
Pharaoh’s heart hardened
- Who hardened it?
- As God had said

First plague – Nile to blood

Exodus 7:14-25
God let Pharaoh sleep on his own stubbornness
Next day
- Nile struck with staff
  - Water to blood
  - Everything in the Nile dies
  - River stank of death
  - Not only the Nile, bu tall standing, flowing, and stored water
- Magicians replicated (but could not end the plague)
- Pharaoh unimpressed
- Went on for seven days

Second plague – frogs

Exodus 8:1-15
Same request, new threat
- Smite the land with frogs
- From out of the Nile to everywhere
- No respecter of people
Moses struck, magicians replicated
- Pharaoh asks Moses to relent
- Moses – choose a date
God performs, but plague not over!
- Land stank of frogs
- Pharaoh unmoved

Gnats – stretching magicians’ limits

Exodus 8:16-19
Third plague
- First one the magicians could not mimic
- Magicians’ confession
Pharaoh still not impressed

Flies, flies, flies, flies, flies

Exodus 8:20-32
Fourth plague – starts early in the morning
Met Pharaoh as he came to the water
- Plague to be one of flies
- Goshen will be unaffected
Negotiation begins
- Go sacrifice, but inside Goshen
- Nope, three days’ journey
  - Exodus 8:26 – The animals they would be sacrificing were an abomination to the Egyptians. The ox, bull, and cow were all considered holy by the Egyptians.
- Go, but not far away, and pray for me also
- Flies withdrawn
- Pharaoh hardens own heart

Number five – livestock die

Exodus 9:1-7
All livestock in the field to die
- If you don’t let the people go
- Includes horses, donkeys, camels, herds, flocks
- Again, Goshen is exempt
- “Tomorrow” was the day
- Happened as described
- He knew it happened, but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened

Boils from soot

Exodus 9:8-12
Toss handfuls of soot toward the sky
- Became boils on man and beast throughout Egypt
- Magicians effected also
- God hardened Pharaoh’s heart

Killer hail – seventh plague

Exodus 9:13-26
God’s message to Pharaoh
- Has been lenient to this point
- Wanted to show His power, proclaim His Name
- You exalt yourself by your defiance
Plague to start next day, this time
- Heavy, unprecedented hail
- Fire flashing continually within it
- Killed everything in the field – people, animals, plants
- But not in Goshen

Hail’s effect

Exodus 9:27-30
Death and damage overwhelming
- Pharaoh “repents” of sin against the Lord
- Declares self and nation as wicked
Moses knows better (Exodus 9:30)

God’s foresight

Exodus 9:31-32
Still wheat and spelt
Both good for bread
Also good for locusts

Back to start

Exodus 9:33-35
Moses performed as promised – again
Pharaoh’s heart was hardened – again
Just as God had promised

Eight – inundation of locusts

Exodus 10:1-6
Not much left
- Many animals, plants, people destroyed by previous plagues
- Still enough to get by
- Gives punch to the coming ultimatum
Worst ever locust infestation coming
- Will eat what’s left
- Will cover the ground
- Will even infest the houses

Frustration and defiance

Exodus 10:7-11
Pharaoh’s servants at tipping point
Pharaoh decides to make a point himself
- Moses and Aaron called back
- Told to go and serve the Lord
- Asks who would be going – everyone and everything
- Pharaoh – “That’ll be the day!”

God releases the locusts

Pharaoh loses this round also
Moses immediately instructed to act
Largest inundation ever, everything left was eaten
Pharaoh “repents” again
God hardens Pharaoh’s heart

Seeing Greatness as God Sees It

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 1:32
Ephesians 1:19
I Peter 1:3
Titus 2:13
Hebrews 13:20
God is great!

Greatness is striving to keep and teach every single part of God’s word.

Matthew 5:17-20
James 2:10-11 – We must keep all of God’s laws.
Galatians 5:19-23
II Peter 1:5-8
We don’t want to fall into hypocrisy.
There are many, many people who follow part of God’s law.
Find your weakness and work on it!
We might need to restore our conscience. We must grow it like a muscle.

Greatness is serving with humility.

Matthew 18:1-4 – To God, the humble are great!
Matthew 20:24-28 – Service is greatness!
John 13:5, 12-17
How can I serve my family with humility?
Ephesians 5:25-29
Titus 2:3-5
Ephesians 6:1
I Timothy 5:4

Greatness is going to Heaven.

Luke 6:22-23
Matthew 25:34
Hebrews 10:35

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 11:2-16 – Head coverings

First view – The covering is long hair and it does apply today.

The passage starts by talking about God’s arrangement.
- Notice that this goes all the way back to the beginning.
What is the covering under discussion?
- This seems to be referring to long hair – not some sort of clothing or artificial covering. I Corinthians 11:15 specifically says the woman’s long hair was given to her for a covering.
Was Paul stating a universal truth or just referring to a Corinthian custom that doesn’t pertain to us today?
When is this passage binding?
What does nature mean in I Corinthians 11:14-15?
What is meant in I Corinthians 11:16?
How long should our hair be?

Alternate view – This covering is something placed on the head, and this passage applies today.

I Corinthians 11:6 – This implies that two coverings exist – a symbolic covering and hair.
This was not simply a Corinthian custom.
- Universal truths are stated throughout the passage (I Corinthians 11:7-12).
- I Corinthians 11:10 – Angels are not unique to Corinth.
- I Corinthians 11:14 – “Nature” is not Corinthian custom, but human nature, which exists outside of Corinth.

Third alternative view – Whatever the covering was, Paul is talking about a Corinthian custom and this does not apply today.

This is the only place in the whole Bible that talks about this, although the concept of woman’s subjection is found in numerous places.
A man being covered or a woman being uncovered is a disgrace (I Corinthians 11:4-6). But why? Paul is not appealing to an established scriptural principle. Perhaps he is referring to it being a disgrace in their culture.
“Nature” (I Corinthians 11:14-15) is not referring to a universally recognized principle (example: Samson).
I Corinthians 11:16 – We have no such custom (of women being covered – this is what the context has been talking about).
There is a difference between God’s law and a custom that is one way to fulfill that law.

Law	Custom
Holy greeting	Kiss (Romans 16:16)
Hospitality	Wash feet (John 13)
Subjection	Covering (I Corinthians 11)

I've Got Good News and Bad News

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Bad news

Romans 3:23 – We’re guilty of sin and lost.

Good news

Luke 19:10 – Jesus is my savior!

Bad news

Romans 1:18, 29-32; 3:21-24
“sin is lawlessness” – I John 3:4
Mark 16:15-16
Acts 2:23, 36
Ignoring the problem of sin is not a good option!
Sin destroys our relationship with God.
Matthew 13:47-50
“the day of the Lord will be just like a theif in the night” (I Thessalonians 5:3)

Good news (“gospel”)

John 3:16
John 12:42
We must do more than just acknowledge that God exists.
Matthew 7:21
Romans 3:23-24, 27-28
“for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift ofGod; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Romans 5:1-2 (Romans 1:5; 16:26); Romans 6:3-7, 11-13
“Peter said to them, ‘Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38)
Matthew 25:31-33

Exodus 2:15-5:23

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Flight to Midian

Exodus 2:11-15
Moses tries to reconnect with his people
- Seeks to deliver
- Furtive
- Unappreciated
- Pharaoh seeks to avenge
- Moses flees to Midian
Exodus 2:16-22
At the well
- Seven daughters of Reuel (Jethro)
- Mean shepherds – Moses helps
- Early return
- Duty of hospitality

God remembers His promise

Exodus 2:23-25
No doubt Israel had already been praying for deliverance
Here, it is time for God to deliver as He had planned
- Leads us to the burning bush
- Reads Moses in on the plan

Moses and the burning bush

Exodus 3:1-8
The attention getter
- Who can resist a burning bush that doesn’t burn
God introduces Himself to Moses
- He is holy as the ground around Him
- Moses reacts – hides face
This is why I am here
This is where we are going

Who am I?

“I will send you to Pharaoh …”
Objections of Moses
- Who am I
  - Seeks to minimize self
  - Who better to be the negotiator?
    - Israelite
    - Raised in Pharaoh’s household
  - Well educated
- Former failure stifled his enthusiasm?
  - Tried to deliver
  - Rejected by his own
  - Those who had raised him sought to kill him

I AM THAT I AM

“I Am” in its simplicity
- Not dependent on time
- Depends not on anyone’s ideas
- 1st century Jews – understood
- John 8:58; Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13

God’s prediction of success

Exodus 3:16-22
You will inherit the Promised Land
Pharaoh will refuse you
I will compel him – let you go
You will plunder Egypt as you leave

Signs for Pharaoh

Exodus 4:1-9
What if they won’t believe me? (Exodus 4:1)
- Staff to serpent and back to staff (Exodus 4:2-5)
- Hand to leprosy and back to normal (Exodus 4:6-8)
- Water of Nile to blood (Exodus 4:9)
- But even after all that …

God’s anger burns

Exodus 4:10-17
Moses – not eloquent (I Corinthians 1:17; I Corinthians 10:10)
God – Who made your mouth?
Moses – Send someone else!
God -
- Aaron your spokesman
- I’ll put words in both of your mouths
- I’ll direct your actions

Moses leaves Midian for Egypt

Exodus 4:18-23
Takes his leave from Jethro
God informs Moses of death of Pharaoh
God reminds Moses of the task
Reminds Moses that Pharaoh’s heart will harden

First stop, then Aaron

Exodus 4:24-31
Rest stop
- God seeks to kill Moses
- Zipporah intervenes
God sends Aaron
- It’s been forty years
- Moses reads in Aaron
- Gathering of the elders
- Aaron does the spokesman thing
- They believe – for now

Get your own straw

Exodus 5:1-23
Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh – Let my people go
Pharaoh – Who is he, and no
Moses and Aaron
- Three days’ journey for sacrifices
- Or bad things happen
Pharaoh
- Back to work
- No straw for bricks
- Make quota

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Kingdom is coming

Isaiah 9:1-7 – Prophecy of the coming of Jesus.
Matthew 4:12-17
Luke 1:31-33
Daniel 2:31-45 – Prophecy of Babylon, Medo-Persians, Greeks, and Romans. As prophesied, Jesus came in the days of the Roman Empire.

The Kingdom is at hand.

Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17; 6:10; 10:7; 16:18-19, 28 – The Kingdom was coming in their lifetime!
Acts 1:6-8 – The apostles would receive power.
Luke 24:49

Acts 2

The apostles receive power to speak in the necessary languages and deliver the gospel.
Acts 2:29-38
Now people can enter Jesus’ kingdom through baptism.

The Kingdom is here now.

Colossians 1:13-14
Revelation 1:9 – John was partaking of the kingdom.

Why this matters

We must obey King Jesus!

Mark 6:27 – Human kings have tremendous authority.
Acts 12
Matthew 16:19
Acts 8:17
The apostles received delegated authority.

We must honor King Jesus!

Revelation 1:4-7, 13-18; 5:11-14; 17:14

We must thank King Jesus!

Matthew 25:31-40
II Timothy 4:18
A good king rewards those who serve him. Jesus is a good king!

1 Corinthians 10:1-22

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 10:1-4 – Our fathers

I Corinthians 10:1-2 – See Exodus 13:21; 14:29; Psalms 105:38.
I Corinthians 10:3-4 – See Deuteronomy 8:1-3. We are living on the word of God. See John 4:34.

I Corinthians 10:5-12 – Examples for us.

I Corinthians 10:7 – See Exodus 32:4-6.
I Corinthians 10:8 – See Numbers 25:1-9.
I Corinthians 10:9 – See Numbers 21:4-6.
I Corinthians 10:10 – It is not clear which specific event this is referring to. It could be referring to the general case that happened repeatedly with the Israelites or possibly to Numbers 16:41-49.

I Corinthians 10:13-14 – Temptation.

I Corinthians 10:13-14 – God always provides a means of escape. Jesus appealed to the word of God when He was tempted. This is a comfort for our future and a conviction of our past.

I Corinthians 10:15-22 – Don’t worship idols.

I Corinthians 10:19-20 – Paul didn’t want them to be involved with idol worship. If they joined in an idol feast, they were taking part in idol worship. There was nothing wrong with the meat itself – it was what they were doing with it that was the problem.

10 Ways to Build Your Character at School

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Joshua 1:9, 7-8

Show kindness to the kids who get picked on.

Proverbs 1:11-16 – Don’t join with the evildoers!

Practice better speech.

Proverbs 4:23; 16:27

Pray.

Philippians 4:6-7
I Peter 5:7

Get comfortable being different.

I Peter 4:3
Hebrews 11:7

Don’t make your clothes and appearance the priority.

I Samuel 16:6-7
Proverbs 31:30

Hang out with the most moral friends you can find.

Proverbs 13:20

Decide what kind of person you’re going to be.

II Chronicles 34:1-3
Ecclesiastes 12:1

Work hard.

Colossians 3:22-24

Be honest.

Matthew 5:33

Show other people what Jesus is like.

I Corinthians 11:1

Exodus 1:1-2:15

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Impact of Exodus, continued:

Joshua 24:6; Judges 2:1; I Samuel 12:8; I Chronicles 17:21

God’s purpose for the Exodus:

Exodus 5:1
More given in Exodus 6:1-13
Ultimate reason in Exodus 19
- Exodus 19:3-6 – Central theme of the entire Bible
- John 12:32 – God wants all of us to be with Him.
- John 14:3
- Matthew 23:37

The increase of Israel

Exodus 1:1-7
Sons of Israel who came to Egypt during the famine:
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher
- Note: These are not the twelve tribes. You see only eleven names. Joseph was already there and was one of the tribes. Also not the same as the twelve territories of Israel – Joseph’s two sons (Manasseh and Ephraim) got territory and Levi did not.
Total of 70 descendants of Israel
- 75 people total
- Plus Joseph’s family
- Exodus 1:5; Acts 7:14
Joseph died
So many Israelites that “the land was filled with them”
- Numbers 1:46 – 603,550 men capable of fighting, plus many more women and children
- Another promise fulfilled – Genesis 46:3. God made them a great nation.

Pharaoh’s solution – deal “wisely”

Exodus 1:8-14
Did previous Pharaohs know Joseph?
- Joseph was 110 years old his death
- Probably overlapped the lives of most of the Pharaohs
- New Pharaoh beyond the conversation
- OR king by conquest of usurpation
  - Not a descendant of the court
  - Not privy to the conversation
Wise solution?
- Early signs of conspiracy
- An opposition leader is born
- That leader goes into exile
- Exiled leader gains significant ally
  - Acts 7:25
- Pharaoh loses
  - Cattle
  - First born, heir to his throne
  - Army
  - Face, prestige
- So how wise was Pharaoh?
  - His hardness of heart was up front and with him to the end. Remember the wisdom of Gamaliel – Acts 5:38-39.
Result of Pharaoh’s harsh treatment of Israel
- God continued to keep His promise to Jacob
- Israel continued to increase
- Pharaoh’s will is thwarted by God
  - Pharaoh was already losing the fight – he just wasn’t wise enough to know it.

Pharaoh and the midwives

Exodus 1:15-22
The command from Pharaoh
The actions of the midwives
- Motivation
- Principal
  - Genesis 9:6
Their reply to Pharaoh
God blesses the midwives
Pharaoh’s new edict

God brings a deliverer

Exodus 2:1-10
God brings Moses to Israel
- But he goes into the hands of Pharaoh’s daughter
- Still, God provides

Flight to Midian

Exodus 2:11-15
Moses tries to reconnect with his people
- Seeks to deliver – looks this way and that
- His people don’t appreciate his action
- Pharaoh seeks to avenge
- Moses flees to Midian

The Two on the Road to Emmaus

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 24:13-35

They cared about Jesus.

Luke 24:14-20 – They were interested in this story!
Luke 24:13, 9 – These two were numbered with the disciples.
Luke 24:21, 32 – They were starting to lose hope in Jesus the Messiah, but they cared about Him!
Do we care about Jesus? Do we care about other things more? Are we involved and sincere?

They didn’t understand Scripture, so they were losing hope.

Luke 24:25-26
I Corinthians 15:3-4; Isaiah 53:12; Psalms 16:10; Luke 18:31-34; Matthew 27:63
Luke 24:6-12
Luke 24:20-24 – Cleopas detailed all the evidence that should have given him hope, but he didn’t understand.
I Timothy 3:12 – Are we going to lose hope?
I Peter 4:4, 12
II Peter 3:3-4
Luke 24:47

When they did understand, they were zealous to tell others about Jesus.

Luke 24:31
Mark 16:11-14
John 20:29
I Corinthians 15:5-8
Acts 2:29, 32
Can you make an opportunity to tell others about Jesus?

1 Corinthians 9:1-27

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 9

I Corinthians 9:1-14 – “to get their living from the gospel”

A preacher has the right to be paid for his work by a local church. Since preachers may be married, that support can be enough to support her as well.
See II Chronicles 31:4; Nehemiah 13:10-11. The Levites were also supported so that they could devote themselves to serving God.
Paul notes that he was not writing this for his own benefit (I Corinthians 9:12), but to improve their attitudes when dealing with other preachers.
See Numbers 18:8-21, 31. The Levites were well supported in their work.
See also Matthew 10:9-10.

I Corinthians 9:15-18 – “I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case”

Paul felt that he had to preach, but he was happy to be able to do it for free in their case.

I Corinthians 9:19-27 – “I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more”

Paul changed his approach depending on the circumstances so that he would be effective in preaching. He wanted to win by helping people be saved.

The Importance of Authority

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 4:2
Luke 10:16

We ought to honor Deity as the source of authority.

Genesis 1:1, 26
God’s authority is inherent as the Creator.
Isaiah 45:8-11
Romans 1:21
I John 2:3-4; 5:3
John 14:15
To respect God’s authority, we must obey His commandments.
Leviticus 10:1-3
Matthew 28:18-20 – What gave Jesus the right to command this? The authority He had.
Acts 2:36

We’ll be judged by what God has authorized.

Ephesians 4:1-3
When we disagree, it’s because we don’t have a standard to agree on.
Matthew 26:19
What if we just went to the standard of the Bible?
Acts 23:8 – Why were there Pharisees and Sadducees? Just be Jews!

Exodus: God Calls His People Out of Bondage

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Background on Exodus

The promise
- First given to Abraham
The covenant
- Given to Abraham = Genesis 17
- Permanent for his descendants
- Birthright passed to successors of subsequent generations: Isaac, Jacob (Israel)
The generations
Humble arrival in Egypt
- As a slave – sold by brothers
Joseph’s ordeal
- Refuses Potiphar’s wife
- Jail time
Joseph’s triumph
- Dreams
- Promotion
- Purpose
Family joins
- Out of hunger
- Joseph “master” of food
- Revealed to his brothers and father
Nation’s treatment
- Israel given Goshen, treated well
Dating of Exodus
- Several dates speculated
- Exodus even denied by some
- Most accepted date – 1446 BC
Support for the 1446 BC date
- Primary source is I Kings 6:1
  - Solomon’s reign began about 970 BC
  - 480 BC + 970 BC – 4 = 1446 BC
- Also, Acts 13:17-20

Pharaohs of Exodus

Consider the following:
- Psalms 83:3-4
- Proverbs 10:7
- God does not name Pharaoh
- Egypt would not name Israel
Contrast of Pharaohs
- Genesis 47:5-6
- Genesis 47:11
- Exodus 1:6-11
First Pharaoh (time of Moses’ birth)
- Thutmose I or Amenhotep I
- Both capable of issuing infanticide decree
Pharaoh of the plagues
- Amenhotep II
  - 7th Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty
  - His successor (Thutmose IV) not the “true heir” (not firstborn son)
  - Firstborn would have died in tenth plague
Answer could be “D – None of the above”
- Consider Psalms 9:5-8
- Also Psalms 109:15
- It was normal for names and events to be blotted out
  - Not flattering to Pharaoh
  - Not convenient to his self-perceived glory

Who wrote Exodus?

Exodus 17:14
Numbers 33:2
Exodus 24:4 (Exodus 20:21 – 23:33)
Exodus 34:27 (Exodus 33:11 – 34:26)
Familiarity with the ways and facts of Egypt – Acts 7:22
Mark 12:26-27 (Exodus 3:6)
Sounds like Moses is the author of Exodus

Was the Exodus real?

Our faith says yes
Many say no
- No direct archaeological evidence
- No direct writings
Indirect evidence is there
- Circumstances
  - Influx of Hyksos (Semites) some 400 years previous
- Buildings requiring intense labor
  - Innumerable slaves working to build a treasure city
  - Bricks with too little straw
- Records – not all the bad news was destroyed
  - Hapi (god of Nile) making waters undrinkable
  - Kermit (god of fertility) released frogs
  - Osiris (corn) would not hold back locusts
  - Ra (sun) refused to shine
  - Pharaoh had no eldest son to succeed

Why?

Purpose of Exodus event
- What was the point?
  - Goshen was nice
  - God defeated Pharaoh
  - Why not just stay
- What was the promise?
  - Did it include a “where”?
  - Could He have given them Egypt?
Remember the promise – Genesis 12:1-9
Repeated Acts 7:2-5

Impact of Exodus

God made Israel into a nation
- Laws
- Leadership
- Led them to a country
Nations would fear the God of Israel
Exodus 15:14 – “The peoples have heard, they tremble”
Remember Rahab? Joshua 2:8-11
Constant reminder of God’s lovingkindness toward Israel
Much of Chapter 13 reminds Israel during the Passover
Feast of Unleavened Bread – Exodus 23:15
Joshua 24:6; Judges 2:1; I Samuel 12:8; I Chronicles 17:21

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 8

I Corinthians 8:1-3

Paul starts by talking about love. Compare Romans 14:15. Love should be the guiding force behind our behavior.

I Corinthians 8:4-6

Pagan sacrifices at that time often resulted in a good amount of leftover meat that was still fit for consumption. Paul points out that these idols were nothing, so it was not inherently sinful to eat the meat.

I Corinthians 8:7-9

See I Corinthians 12:2; I Thessalonians 1:9.
Regarding conscience, see Acts 23:1; 26:9. Paul did wrong with a clean conscience. Paul had a strong conscience at the time, but was weak in knowledge.
I Corinthians 8:8 – See I Corinthians 10:25; 7:19. The meat was not an issue of sin, just like circumcision under the New Covenant.

I Corinthians 8:10-12

I Corinthians 10:10 – See I Corinthians 10:19. The meat is fine, but avoid idol worship.
I Corinthians 10:12 – See Romans 14:14. If you think you are sinning in your heart, you are!

I Corinthians 8:13

It’s better to forego liberties than to cause a brother to stumble.
Love is the common theme throughout this book.

Lessons from a Disobedient Prophet

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

David and Solomon reigned over a United Kingdom. 1 Kings 11:43 tells of Solomon’s death. Chapter 12 tells of the foolishness of his son Rehoboam as he began to reign. Because he was concerned about self instead of his people, ten tribes rebelled, and the kingdom was divided, and the northern kingdom had its beginning. God called Jeroboam to rule over the northern kingdom and told him He would bless him if he would honor him as David did. But Rehoboam cared more for self than for the people of God. And in an effort to keep the people from returning to Rehoboam, he built altars at Bethel and Dan and told the people it was too much for them to go to Jerusalem to worship (1 Kings 12:26-29). This was sin (1 Kings 12:30). In chapter 13 God sent a prophet from Judah to cry against the altar at Bethel. It would be helpful to you to read chapter 13 for lessons we learn from this.

God’s commands are plain and understandable

He was to cry against the altar. He was to eat no bread or drink any water. He was to return another way. These commands are not hard to understand. It is still so. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17). “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” If we will be wise and will to do His will, we can know His will. One can understand what God requires. One can believe what He requires. One can do what He requires. And one can be what He requires.

All of God’s commands are to be respected

What a small thing that he eat no bread or drink no water in Samaria. He could see no harm in it. But he disobeyed God. If God said it that makes it important. There is no room for rationalization where God has spoken! His trouble was not in the ability to understand and obey. It was a matter of faith. It is still so. When one rejects baptism for remission of sins his trouble is not baptism; it is a matter of faith. Just so as relates to attending, giving, being a brother’s keeper, keeping self pure, divorce and remarriage and in everything.

The effects of believing a lie

Because the old man was a prophet, he believed him instead of God. He thought God had given the old prophet latter revelation. But he knew he was not doing what God had told him to do. Thus, we see the effects of believing and following man even if he claims to be a prophet. We must be like the Bereans. “They received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11). We must never believe one who claims to speak for God unless his words agree with God’s.

Sin cannot be successfully committed

As he sowed, so he reaped. His sin found him out. “You have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will be found out.” (Numbers 32:23). It is still so. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7-8).

Disobedience is fatal

The lion slew him. It is still so. “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) “Who will render to every man according to his deeds. to them who by patience in good work are seeking for glory, and honor, and incorruptibility, everlasting life. But to those who disobey the truth out of self-interest, but obey unrighteousness, it will be anger and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who has worked out evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Greek.” (Romans 6:6-9). “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded on a rock. And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27).

From this that was written aforetime we learn that we must believe and respect all of God’s commands. We learn that to do otherwise, even if a “prophet” says so, it is to be refused. How do you treat God’s commands? Sinner, He tells you to believe, repent and be baptized in Jesus‘ name for the remission of sins. Will you believe and respect His commands, or will you rationalize around them? Brother, do you really put Him first in your life? Are you really trying to pattern your life after Jesus? Or do you rationalize around His commands when you want to do otherwise?

Let us be wise and learn from the disobedient prophet.

Jesse Jenkins

Three Truths That Motivate Sincere Prayers

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 18:1
I Thessalonians 5:17
Philippians 4:6
I Timothy 2:1-2

My life is very fragile!

Deuteronomy 8:6-18 – We should bless God when we are blessed. We must not forget God when times are good.
Proverbs 30:7-9 – “Give me neither poverty nor riches.”
Just as car accidents can cause us to be better drivers, problems can push us to be better at prayer.

God answers prayer.

I John 5:14-15
James 1:5-8; 4:3; 5:13-18 – God will answer prayer when it is asked according to His will.
Ephesians 1:16-17; 6:18-20

God deserves praise!

Matthew 6:9
Colossians 4:2
Psalm 71

Galatians 5:22-6:18

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 5, continued

Galatians 5:22-26 – Fruit of the Spirit

Love
Joy – Matthew 13:14
Peace – Romans 8:6; Galatians 1:3; 6:15; Ephesians 4:3; Philippians 4:9
Longsuffering – God is patient with us, therefore we should be patient.
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness – Galatians 2:16; 3:26; 5:6; James 2:17; Revelation 2:19
Gentleness
Self-control

Galatians 6

Galatians 6:1-2 – Those caught up in sin should be treated gently, like we would want to be treated.
Galatians 6:3-6 – We must each examine our own work.
Galatians 6:7-9 – We must sow spiritual things to reap spiritual rewards.
Galatians 6:10 – This is talking about individual responsibility – not general benevolence. There are other passages that address benevolence.
Galatians 6:11-13
Galatians 6:14-15 – We must crucify the works of the world in ourselves.
Galatians 6:16-18 – The “Israel of God” is the church. Paul bore the marks of his suffering for Christ.

Where to Look During the Lord's Supper

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Backward

I Corinthians 11:17-22 – They were abusing the Lord’s Supper to the extent that Paul said it was not the Lord’s Supper they were eating (I Corinthians 11:20).
“Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:19
Matthew 26:28
Horror of the cross: scourging, ridicule, crown of thorns, nails (7-inch iron spikes), painful movement to avoid suffocation.
Colossians 1:19-22
Hebrews 10:4-10
I Peter 1:18-19; 2:21

Forward

I Corinthians 11:26 – “until He comes”
Hebrews 9:28 – “will appear a second time for salvation”
Because of His sacrifice, I live for Him until the end.
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
I Corinthians 6:20 – “For I have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

Outward

I Corinthians 11:26 – “you proclaim the Lord’s death”
Consider …
I Corinthians 14:22-24 – “if the whole church assembles together and … unbelievers enter”
Joshua 4:6 – “when your children ask …”

Inward

I Corinthians 11:20, 27-31 – “but a man must examine himself … judge the body rightly”
“Where are my thoughts?”
Read a passage – Isaiah 53; Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 22-24; John 18-20; I Corinthians 11; Hebrews 9-10, etc.
Consider song lyrics.
Imagine the scenes in your mind.

Upward

I Corinthians 10:14-22
Christian Cup/table of the Lord Christ
Israel Eat sacrifices God
Gentiles Cup/table of demons Idols (demons)
We have communion (sharing, fellowship, participation) with Christ! See Matthew 26:29.

Dreamers

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Isaiah 29:8 – This is how it will be for everyone that tries to fight against God. They are dreaming!

Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem

Isaiah 36-37
Isaiah 37:33
185,000 of Sennacherib’s soldiers were killed. Then his sons killed him.

Esther

Haman planned to kill Mordecai and all the Jews.
Haman and his ten sons were executed. The Jews defeated their enemies.
Haman was just a dreamer to think he could work against God.

Genesis 11 – The Tower of Babel

God defeated them by confusing their languages.

Numbers 16 – The rebellion of Korah

God opened the ground and swallowed them and their households. Fire from heaven consumed the 250 princes that joined the rebellion.

Famous atheists

The Big Bang Theory
They are all dreamers!

Famous evolutionists

They are just dreaming if they think they can remove God from the equation.

I Corinthians 5:1 – Sexual immorality in the church

If they thought this sin was okay, they were just dreaming!

False doctrines of churches

The unbelieving will go to the lake of fire. Revelation 21.
False teachers are just dreamers!

If our interests are centered in this world, we are going to be like the dreamers.

I John 2:17; II Peter 3:12-13
Ephesians 5:14
I Corinthians 15:34
Romans 13:11-14
Heaven and hell are real!

We plan and dream for so many things …

Hebrews 6:18-20 – Follow Jesus within the veil.

Remove Not the Ancient Landmarks

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Do not remove the ancient landmarks

Proverbs 22:28; Deuteronomy 19:14; Proverbs 23:10
Leviticus 19:11-14
Hosea 5:10

God’s law is our boundary

Inspired word of God sets our boundaries
- II Timothy 3:16-17
Jesus gave us boundaries
- Hebrews 1:1-3
Apostles were commanded to teach God’s boundaries
- Matthew 28:19-20

God’s laws are our boundaries – Genesis 2:15-17

The world bristles at the idea of boundaries.
Galatians 5:13 – Don’t use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh.
Galatians 5:16-17

Boundaries protect us from things that are bad for us.

Sin corrupts us and damages us.
Deuteronomy 6:24-25
Boundaries are a blessing because they protect us from things that are bad for us!

Boundaries keep us from hurting others.

Romans 5:12
Ephesians 4:29, 25
Our sin is never committed in a vacuum. Our sin hurts others.
Numbers 13:26-31 – The unfaithfulness of the spies.
II Samuel 11-12 – David and Bathsheba
Genesis 37:34 – Joseph and his brothers
Acts 7:59-60; 8:1 – Paul’s persecution of Christians.
Boundaries are a blessing because they keep us from hurting others!

Boundaries help us become the person we want to be.

I Corinthians 9:24-27
Ephesians 5:25, 28
Hebrews 13:4
Romans 6:18-23
I Timothy 1:8-11
Romans 3:20
Boundaries are a blessing because they help us become the person we want to be!

Do not remove the ancient landmarks; they are God’s blessings to us!

Galatians 5:17-26

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 5, continued

Galatians 5:16-18 – This chapter talks about many contrasts between flesh and spirit (Philippians 2:5). See I Corinthians 2:14. We need to have the mind of Christ.
Galatians 5:19-21
- Jealousy is a negative form of zeal.
- Outbursts of wrath are not the same as righteous indignation, such as what Jesus showed. He was also notable in that He was also in control and did not have outbursts, even though He showed anger at times.
Galatians 5:22-26 – the fruits of the spirit

Connecting Grace, Faith, Baptism, and Salvation

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

How are we saved from our sins?

Ephesians 1:3-8; 2:1-10
Romans 3-4
- Through the blood of Jesus
- By God’s grace, through our faith
- Not by anything we do to earn it
I Peter 1:9
- Through our faith
I Peter 3:18-21
- Baptism saves you
Acts 22:16
- Baptism washes away sins
Mark 16:16
- Believe and be baptized and be saved
So which is it? Is the Bible contradicting itself?

I Peter 3:20-21

Who	Saved by	Saved through	Saved from
Noah	God gave Noah the plans (grace)	Building the ark (faith – James 2:14-26)	Flood
All people	God made a way to salvation (grace)	Baptism (faith)	Sin

Grace + faith = saved

What about you?

Romans 6:3; 3:23
Romans 10:14-17
Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10
I John 1; Romans 10:9-10
Acts 2:38; 22:16
I John 1; Revelation 2:10

1 Corinthians 7:15-40

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 7, continued

I Corinthians 7:15-16

Some argue that this passage provides another valid reason for divorce (the “Pauline Privilege”), but that is not the case. It is simply saying that if an unbelieving spouse leaves, the faithful spouse is not required to fulfill marital duties to them. It does not say that the faithful spouse can lawfully remarry.

I Corinthians 7:17-24

I Corinthians 7:17 – If your situation is not sinful, don’t change it when you are converted.
I Corinthians 7:18-24 – It is not sinful to be slave or free, circumcised or not. Serve God in whatever condition you are in, but correct any sin you have in your life.

I Corinthians 7:25-28

I Corinthians 7:25 – Paul is providing inspired judgment from the Lord on the particular situation they were in. The current “distress” might have been persecution but is not explicitly stated.
I Corinthians 7:26-28 – Again, this is not stating an additional reason for divorce and remarriage. It is only saying it is probably better not to become married at that particular time.

I Corinthians 7:36-38

The point continues here in that marriage is not wrong, but Paul was advising against it at that time. This was written in the first few years of Nero’s reign, so it’s possible that persecution was extreme for the Corinthians.

I Corinthians 7:39-40

I Corinthians 7:39 – If you do get married, it is still a permanent marriage. The law does not change because of persecution.
I Corinthians 7:40 – Compare I Corinthians 2:12-13; 14:37. This is worded as an understatement.

Abraham's Seed

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16)

It is commonly thought that Abraham’s seed here is Christ. I do not believe the context will allow that. The promises were made to Abraham’s seed. The promises were not made to Christ, but about Christ. Failing to recognize the metonymy “which is Christ” has led to this false conclusion. Again, in verse 19, it says “till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made.” Again, verse 22 says the promise was to them that believe. Then verse 29 concludes by saying “if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Abraham’s seed all through verses 16-29 are those who are Christ’s.

If the verse had not said “which is Christ” all would have easily seen this.

When verse 16 says, “He saith not, to seeds, as of many, but as of one” it has reference to the seed coming through Isaac and not Ishmael. See Genesis 17: 18-21.

It also shows that there is one seed, i.e., one people of God. Seed produces after its kind. The one seed cannot produce many kinds of religious bodies. This is a death blow to denominationalism.

Now let us consider the trouble spot “which is Christ.” As mentioned earlier, this a Metonymy. Acts 15:21 says: “For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.” Just as Moses was put for being read, Christ is put for His people – Abraham’s seed. A statement is to be taken literally unless there is something that makes a literal meaning make no sense. They could not read Moses; thus, we know that statement is not to be taken literally, but by metonymy means what he wrote. Just so, the promise to Abraham’s seed cannot refer to Christ. The promise was not made to Christ, but to Abraham’s descendants in Christ. Thus, by metonymy “Christ” in this passage is put for those who are His. How do we know that? Because the promise was not made to Christ, but to Abraham’s seed in Christ.

Verse one says the promises were made to Abraham’s seed. Verse 29 says those who are Christ’s are Abraham’s seed. That should settle who Abraham’s seed in this passage is. The promises were made to Abraham’s seed and those in Christ are Abraham’s seed.

Jesse Jenkins

"Until there was no remedy"

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 5:7-16

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Cornelius

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Will There Be a Rapture?

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Why Do You Sing?

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Some would answer, “I just like to sing.” Some would answer, “I sing because God commands it.” And some would answer, “I do not sing.” It is very good to sing because God commands it. But that is not enough. To be baptized because God commands it is good but that is not enough. Purpose must be understood, and one must be baptized for remission of sins. Just so, the purpose for singing must be understood. How do you answer this question?

The first song in the Bible is Exodus 15:1-21. They were singing to praise the Lord. Read verses 1, 6, 7, 11, and 18 for proof of this. Their singing was to thank God for deliverance from Exodus. Read verses 13, 19, and 21 for proof of this. The purpose of their singing was to praise God for deliverance.

As we turn through the Bible the second song is in Judges 5. They sang to praise God. For proof of this read verses 2, 3, and 9. They sang for the joy of deliverance from the army of Canaan. For proof of this read verses 11 and 12. The purpose of their singing was to praise God for deliverance.

In 2 Samuel 2 we have David’s song. He sang to praise God. See verses 2,3,4 and 47. He sang to thank God for deliverance. See verses 18, 44, and 49.

Thus, we see that they sang to praise for deliverance. From this we should see this is why we sing also. But let us go to the new covenant and see what we find.

See Romans 15:9-12. We are to sing to praise God (verses 9 and 11). We sing because we rejoice in the salvation that is provided in the “root of Jesse” – Jesus, verse 12.

See Ephesians 5:19-20. We sing to praise the Lord, verse 19. We sing giving thanks for the salvation He provides, verse 20.

See Colossians 3:15,16. We sing because we are thankful for the salvation He provides, verse 15. We sing to praise Him, verse 16. And here we learn one more reason to sing. We sing to teach and admonish one another, verse 16.

See James 5:13. It is natural to pray when in distress. And it is just as natural for the Christian to sing when he is merry because of the salvation God provides.

When one does not sing, it shows he/she is lacking in the desire to praise God for the salvation He provides and one’s concern for one another. And when one sings halfheartedly it shows he is weak in his desire to praise God and concern for one another.

Brethren, we have been redeemed; we have something for which to sing. So let us, each one, resolve to truly sing with the spirit and to be understood (1 Corinthians 14:15-16) so that we both praise God for redemption and edify one another.

Jesse Jenkins

Jesus is Awesome!

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

His birth was awesome!

Matthew 1:18-23
Luke 1:39-44
Luke 2:1-20
Matthew 2:1-2

His teaching was awesome!

Matthew 7:27-29
Mark 1:21-22
Matthew 4:23-25

His life was awesome!

I Peter 2:21-24
Acts 10:38-39
Hebrews 3:1-6
Hebrews 4:15
Hebrews 5:5-9

His death was awesome!

Matthew 27:33-54
Matthew 28:1-9

His promise of eternal life was awesome!

Hebrews 5:9
Matthew 5:3-12
Matthew 10:22
Hebrews 2:9-18

Galatians 5:1-6

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 5

Galatians 3:23
Colossians 2:14 – The Old Law has been put away.
Galatians 5:1 – See John 8:32-40.
- “Stand fast” – Ephesians 3:17; Jeremiah 2:8
- “again” – some were previously entangled in paganism.
- I Corinthians 15:58; 16:13; Ephesians 6; Philippians 1:27
Galatians 5:5 – See Titus 2:13; II Timothy 4:8; Philippians 3:8-11

The Waters of Meribah

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Numbers 20:1-13

Review: Moses

Exodus 1:15-2:4
Exodus 2:5-6
Exodus 2:11-15; Acts 7:23
Acts 7:30-36
Exodus 31:18; 34:27-28
Deuteronomy 34:7
Matthew 17:1-8

Previously on…

God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 1-14)
God provides manna and water from a rock (Exodus 16-17)
Moses receives the law at Mr. Sinai and the people worship an idol (Exodus 19-32)
Spies sent into Canaan and the people rebel (Numbers 13-14)
- God pronounces judgment on the Israelites – death and wilderness wandering
Numbers 20:1 – Miriam dies

People’s behavior affects us

Numbers 20:2-5
Recall that Moses is called “very meek” (Numbers 12:3)
Notice some interactions between God and Moses:
- Exodus 33:17
- Numbers 14:20
- Deuteronomy 34:10
But even he was not immune to the effects of other people’s behavior.
Moses behaved admirably on several occasions when he faced difficult circumstances.
- Exodus 17:4
- Numbers 12:13
- Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 14:13-19
Consider how Jesus behaved when He was mistreated (Matthew 27:24-50).
Moses is not alone in being influenced by others’ bad behavior.
- Galatians 2:11-14
- III John 1:9-11
Moses’ anger problem
- Exodus 2:11-13
- Exodus 11:8
- Exodus 32:19
- Psalms 106:32-33; 78:38-41
- Galatians 5:20
How we react, when mistreated, must be governed by God’s word.
- Matthew 5:11-12
- II Timothy 2:24-25

Partial obedience isn’t enough

Numbers 20:9-11
Exodus 17:1-7
The difference between the last time God commanded Moses to provide water and this time is one word: “strike” vs. “tell”
When Got issues a command or authorizes a work, it must be done fully and completely.
- Partial obedience = rebellion

Sin has consequences

Numbers 20:12, 24
Moses asks God to reconsider his punishment.
- Deuteronomy 3:26
- Deuteronomy 32:48-52
This moment of rash behavior at Meribah was a short one in light of Moses’ long life, but it had a lasting impact.
Sin’s earthly consequences may be short-lived or permanent.
Sin’s spiritual consequences may be short-lived or permanent.
Romans 6:23; James 1:15
II Corinthians 7:10-11 – One who fears the earthly consequences of sin more than spiritual consequences will never be saved.

Conclusion

Moses, like us, was not immune to temptation.
His actions at Meribah remind us that …
- Others’ behavior affects us
- Partial obedience is unacceptable
- Sin has lasting consequences
But, thanks to God, we can respond appropriately to negative behavior, please God with our service, and avoid eternal condemnation!

1 Corinthians 7:1-14

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 7

I Corinthians 7:1-5 – The marriage bed

I Corinthians 7:1 – Some translations add quotes here to indicate this is something written to Paul. This is not a general rule that sexual relations are wrong.
I Corinthians 7:2 – God created mankind with a sexual appetite, which should be fulfilled within marriage as God designed it. See Proverbs 5:19-20 and Song of Solomon.
I Corinthians 7:3 – The responsibility here is mutual. It is the same for both husband and wife.
I Corinthians 7:4 – This must be done in love. Sex should never be used as a weapon or a bargaining chip in marriage. This verse is not a license for abuse.
I Corinthians 7:5 – The marriage bed is a blessing. Sex should not be withheld. Self-control is still required.

I Corinthians 7:6-16 – Instructions to the married and unmarried

I Corinthians 7:6-9 – Paul is not saying marriage in general is bad. He’s giving specific directions for the present time.
I Corinthians 7:10-13 – Jesus had already taught against divorce (Matthew 19:6). Jesus had not specifically addressed the case in I Corinthians 7:12-13 about Christians married to non-Christians. See I John 2:1. I Corinthians 7:11 is not implying that divorce is okay.
I Corinthians 7:14 – “Sanctified” or “made holy” here means the marriage and children are legitimate. This is different than how the Old Covenant worked for Jews in that Jews could not marry Gentiles.

Cliques

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 22:39
Clique: “a small, exclusive, group of people”

ALL Christians should love ALL people.

Luke 6:31 – Love your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:27-37 – Parable of the good Samaritan.
- The Samaritan was used as the good example!
- Love expresses itself in action.
- Love other people. Don’t limit it to a particular group!
James 2:1-4, 8-9 – The “royal law.”
Ephesians 4:31-32
Colossians 3:12-13
Romans 12:9, 16-18 – We should not look down on others. We should be kind to others.

Just being part of a group is not sinful.

Psalms 135:4 – God created the “group” of Israel. This was clearly not a sin. But when they started thinking they were better than others, He corrected them.
Mark 3:13
Matthew 10:5-6
I Corinthians 13:4-5
I Corinthians 4:11-13 – Despite bad treatment, we must show love.

Let’s learn to appreciate other people and learn from our differences.

Acts 11:19-26 – Different cultures came together!
Matthew 13:53-58 – Jesus was rejected by those who had the most in common with Him!
Acts 2:9-11, 46

Galatians 4, Part 2

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 4, continued

Galatians 4:28
Galatians 4:1-7 – God purchased us so that He could adopt us as sons.
Galatians 4:9 – Knowing God and being known by God
- Galatians 3:27, 13, 14, 22, 26, 28, 29; 4:7, 15, 28
- God knows and loves each one of us personally. His attention to us is not diluted in the least by our numbers.
- Galatians 4:3, 8
- They wanted to bring back parts of the Old Law!
Galatians 4:12-15 – Paul was in Galatia because of his ailments. We are not told specifically what his ailment was.
- II Corinthians 12:7-10
- Paul bore the marks of the things he had gone through (stoning, beating, starvation, etc.).
Galatians 4:21-31
- Romans 4:13-25

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 6, continued

I Corinthians 6:16-20

The Greek text of the New Testament was written in all capitals with no punctuation or spaces between words.
- “Let’s eat, Grandma!” vs. “Let’s eat Grandma!”
I Corinthians 6:12 – There are two primary interpretations of this verse.
- #1 – This is a quote.
  - Some translations put this in quotes (“All things are lawful for me.”) to indicate Paul is responding to a common saying. However, we must be careful when inserting punctuation to be sure it is warranted.
- #2 – This is a statement, but “all” refers only to lawful things.
I Corinthians 6:13 – See Romans 6:12; 12:1-2. Paul strikes down both their reasoning and their excuses.
I Corinthians 6:14 – See I Corinthians 15:20-22.
I Corinthians 6:15 – Some at this time did not see prostitution as a sin. Paul speaks strongly against this idea here.
I Corinthians 6:16
I Corinthians 6:18 – Get away from sexual immorality (Proverbs 5:8). This is not a sin to toy around with!
- Possibility #1: “is” = “originates” and “outside the body” = “in the heart/mind”
- Possibility #2: This is another quote.
  - Gnosticism – There was a growing heresy that taught that the soul and body were two separate things, so it didn’t matter what you did with your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 – The Holy Spirit is in us in a figurative sense. God purchased us with the blood of Jesus. We are to use our bodies in God’s service.

How to Spot a Christian

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Judges 12:5-6

Everything they do comes from love.

Luke 6:27-32
We must develop love for everyone.
Romans 5:6-8

They have excellent behavior.

I Peter 2:9-12
Our behavior won’t fit in here because we don’t belong here.
Titus 1:16
Titus 2:6-8, 14; 3:8, 14 – We should be zealous for good deeds.

They glorify God instead of themselves.

Matthew 6:1-6
Matthew 5:16 – People should glorify God because of us.
We should reflect the glory of God.

They are morally pure.

Ephesians 5:1-7, 11
Romans 1:26-27, 29-32

They keep repenting.

I John 1:8

They genuinely trust God’s word.

I Thessalonians 2:13
Luke 4:16
II Peter 3:7-11
Acts 27:21-37 – Paul trusted God in the middle of a storm.

Galatians 4, Part 1

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 4

Matthew 5:17-20
Romans 3:21-31 – Our faith should result in works. If it does not, something is wrong with our faith.
John 1:1-17
James 2:14-28
Hebrews 10:19-11:8
Galatians 4:1-11 – Do we understand what it means to be adopted by God?
Galatians 4:8-12

Hezekiah

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Kings 18:5
II Kings 20:20

He restored the JOY of worshiping God.

II Chronicles 28:24-25 – Hezekiah’s father closed the temple.
II Chronicles 29:2-11, 27-30 – Hezekiah re-opened the temple!
II Chronicles 30:1, 22-27 – They had joy in their worship!
Is there joy in my worship?

He tore down idols.

II Chronicles 31:1
II Chronicles 30:7 – Don’t be like the idolaters in Israel!
Ecclesiastes 2:22 – What are the idols in your life?
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – How many souls have been lost chasing money?

In times of distress, he sought God’s help.

II Kings 20:1-3
II Chronicles 32:1-8
II Chronicles 32:10-18 – Sennacherib tried to scare the Jews.
II Kings 19:1-3, 14-19, 32-37 – God delivers Judah from Assyria.
James 1:2
II Chronicles 31:21

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 6

I Corinthians 6:1-8 – Brother goes to law with brother

The same Greek verb (krino) is translated by a variety of legal terms here.
This is dealing with disputes between brethren (I Corinthians 6:5-6, 8).
This passage is not saying that Christians can never use the legal system in reference to another Christian (I Corinthians 6:7-8).
This is not talking about Christians replacing or having jurisdiction in the civil legal system (I Corinthians 6:5-6; Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-17).
- See also Matthew 12:41; Hebrews 11:7 with regard to Christians “judging the world.”
Compare Galatians 5:15, 26.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 – The unrighteous

I Corinthians 6:9 – Kingdom of God here is talking about heaven. Homosexuality is clearly prohibited here.

What Makes a Strong Church

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Each member of this congregation should be doing all he or she can to make this a strong church.

We should do this not only for our salvation, but also to glorify God.

Negatively, for a church to be strong:

It does not have to have large numbers. God can do much with a devoted few. God would have saved Sodom if ten righteous could have been found (Genesis 18:32).

To be great a church does not have to have great wealth (Revelation 2:9). Wealthy churches are often worldly in their practice (Revelation 3:17). A poor church can bring much glory to God (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). They first gave themselves to the Lord.

For a church to be great it does not have to work through manmade organizations. God has given a simple structure for the church (Philippians 1:1). “Saints, bishops, and deacons.” Several sets of harness will not strengthen a mule. Just so, several madman structures to do the work assigned to a local church does not strengthen local churches. They always lead into apostasy. As C. R. Nichol used to close his articles “let the church be the church.”

Positively, for a church to be a strong church:

It must have a membership that is taught in the Word. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” It is bad enough that parents are destroyed for lack of knowledge. But most likely they are laying the groundwork for their children to be destroyed. Parents, be sure your children are taught the Word by teaching them and praying with them also. Years ago a preacher I knew said in his church bulletin that a son in the congregation had graduated and was preparing to leave for college. His parents admonished him to be faithful and never neglect the Lord. He asked them “how can I since as long as I can remember you have read the Bible and prayed for me to be strong in the Lorde very night.” With this kind of training, one could forget the Lord, but it is not likely. If so, it would not be because of you, but in spite of you.

It must have a devoted membership.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).

It must have a working membership.

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:6)

It must have a membership with vision.

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (John 4:35)

It must have a united membership.

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.’” (Matthew 12:25)

It must have an uncompromising membership.

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Let everyone of us say “I am going to do all that I can to make this a strong church.”

Jesse Jenkins

Introduction to the Bible

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

What is the Bible?

“Bible” comes from a word that just means “books.”
Written by forty different writers over 1500 years (about 1400 BC – first century AD).
II Timothy 3:16-17
II Peter 1:20-21 – God inspired the words of the Bible.

What’s the deal with translations?

Mark 5:38 – NASB vs. The Message
Recommended translations: New American Standard 1995 (NASB-95), English Standard Version (ESV), New King James Version (NKJV), King James Version (KJV)
Compare translations when you study!

How do I find my way around?

Acts 17:11
Book, chapter, and verse layout

What is the Bible about?

The Bible is the story of God’s love for us. Specifically, it’s the story of Him saving us from our sins through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1 - Creation
Genesis 12:1-3, 7 – God’s promises to Abraham
Matthew 1:1, 21-23
Matthew 20:17-19 – Jesus prophesied His own death and resurrection
Matthew 22:25-40
Matthew 27:22-26, 51-54 – Jesus’ crucifixion
Hebrews 10:4; 9:22
Acts 2:22-24, 32-39
Important teaching in the Bible:
- The Old Covenant God had with Moses and the Israelites is no longer in effect since it was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).
- Jesus is the head of one body (one church) (Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23)
- He is the Savior of that one body (Ephesians 5:23)
- We must obey God in all aspects of our lives (II Corinthians 5:10)
- We don’t decide how to serve God. Rather, He tells us what to do, and we do it (Romans 10:2-3).
- At any moment, God is going to end the world in the twinkling of an eye (I Corinthians 15:52).
- At that time, each one of s will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).
- Heaven awaits the obedient and Hell awaits the disobedient (Matthew 25:46).
Matthew 7:21

What should I do now?

Read Luke and Acts!

Galatians 3:16-29

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 3, continued:

Review of history

Genesis 12:1-3
Genesis 17:1-27 – God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Circumcision was a very important part of the Old Covenant.
Genesis 22:15-18
Genesis 26:1-5
Genesis 28:10-15 – The promise was carried on to Abraham’s descendants.
Luke 1:39-47 – Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 4:13-16
Romans 6:23
Acts 3:25

Galatians 3:15-29

Galatians 3:16 – Is Christ the seed, the promise, or both?

Knowing the Time

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 13:11

“Knowing the time”

Matthew 24 – Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem.
We know Judgment Day is coming, but not precisely when.
I Thessalonians 5:1-3 – The end will come like a thief in the night.
Acts 2:17
I Corinthians 10:11
II Corinthians 6:1-2 – Take advantage of the offer of salvation!
I Peter 1:10-12
Our lives could end at any time. We must be ready!

“Awaken from sleep”

Romans 12:11
I Thessalonians 5:4 – Wake up and be active!
I Corinthians 15:34
We can’t take a break from serving God!
II Corinthians 8:10
“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.” – Henry Ford
Romans 13:12

“Salvation is nearer”

We are continually getting closer to salvation. Are we using our time to glorify God?
II Peter 3:11
Christians do not look at the end of the world the same as people of the world.
I Thessalonians 4:13
II Timothy 1:12
Philippians 3:13-15
Acts 22:16

Where God's Name is Recorded

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.” (Exodus 20:24b) In this lesson we want to emphasize two points:

the importance of God’ s Name
1. the necessity of serving Him where He records His Name

Read Deuteronomy 12:5-14 and 14:23-26 to see how important it is to serve God where He puts His Name.

Deuteronomy 12:5-14

“5 But unto the place which Jehovah your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come; 6 and thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock: 7 and there ye shall eat before Jehovah your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee. 8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes; 9 for ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. 10 But when ye go over the Jordan, and dwell in the land which Jehovah your God causeth you to inherit, and he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; 11 then it shall come to pass that to the place which Jehovah your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, thither shall ye bring all that I command you: your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto Jehovah. 12 And ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath no portion nor inheritance with you. 13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest; 14 but in the place which Jehovah shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee…”

Deuteronomy 14:23-26

“23 And thou shalt eat before Jehovah thy God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear Jehovah thy God always. 24. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to set his name there, when Jehovah thy God shall bless thee 25 then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose: 26 and thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul desireth, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat there before Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household.

God first recorded His Name in the tabernacle (Leviticus 17:1-9), then in the city of Jerusalem (1 Kings 11:36), then in the temple (1 Kings. 9:1-3). If they were to receive His blessings, they must offer His sacrifices where He recorded His Name. Man cannot substitute his own plan. Jeroboam tried it. He told his people that it was too far for them to go to Jerusalem to offer the sacrifices and thus built altars at Bethel and Dan and told them they could bring their offerings to either place and that there God would bless them. (1 Kings 12:26-27) “This thing became sin.” (1 Kings 12:30).

Now, God’s Name is recorded in the church (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor.1:2). David was told that when he slept with his fathers, his seed after him would build an house for God’s Name (2 Sam. 7:12-13). That was a prophesy that Christ would build His church. This He did (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:29-30). Here his people must serve Him and here He will bless His people. The church was planned by God (Ephesians 3:10-11), purchased with Christ’s blood (Acts 20:28), and revealed by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13). In this saved relationship, God has authorized both individual action - man acting under his own oversight and with his own resources, and local church action - saved people acting together under a common oversight and with pooled resources. God has recorded His Name in the local church for His assigned work and worship under a common oversight and with pooled resources (1 Cor.1:2; Acts 2:28). The local church is sufficient to do all that is thus assigned. But like Jeroboam, people today are not pleased with God’s choice and build them altars at Bethel and Dan and promise their followers that they can there serve God and receive His blessings. This thing becomes sin. Every denomination is an example of the altar at Bethel and every man made collective that brethren have made to solicit and receive contributions to do the work God assigned the local church, whether a school Bible department or a foundation are examples of the alter at Dan. And it surely looks to me like this has become sin.

All one will have to do to prove me wrong is to find the passage that speaks of any manmade institution doing the work God assigned the local church. Brethren, let us be sure we honor the place where God has recorded His Name!

Jesse Jenkins

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 5

I Corinthians 5:1 – See I Corinthians 1:10-11; 2:2. Some translations use “immorality” here, but this is specifically talking about sexual immorality. This sexual immorality was being committed by someone in their midst. Some translations say “pagans” instead of “Gentiles,” both referring to people of the world.
I Corinthians 5:2 – Their attitude was wrong. They were arrogant about the sin instead of mourning. It was important that they remove the sinful person from the church.
I Corinthians 5:3 – Paul was not there, but his thoughts were with them. This does not seem to refer to anything more than that.
I Corinthians 5:4-5 – Paul seems to be simply saying that this is in harmony with Jesus’ will. See Romans 11:22-23. “Delivering to Satan” means to acknowledge the truth that this man is sinning and should be removed (I Timothy 1:19-20; Romans 1:24, 26, 28). “Destruction of the flesh” here might be referring to destruction of fleshly desires (Galatians 5:13). See II Thessalonians 3:6, 10-15 for similar instructions. In II Corinthians 2:6-8, we have an indication that this may have worked.
I Corinthians 5:6-8
I Corinthians 5:9-11 – See Matthew 18:15. It was important that they disciplined people who were in the church yet living in sin by not associating with them. This does not apply to those outside the church. This is tough love, but it is love!
I Corinthians 5:12-13 – A local church regulates its own membership (Acts 9:6), but that has no bearing on those outside the church.

"He was moved by his entreaty ..."

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

God loves us!

John 3:16 – The word “so” here may be more accurately translated “in this way.”
Psalm 8
- Astronaut Eileen Collins said spaceflight deepened her faith because she could see just how tiny humans are in the universe.
Isaiah 40:22-31

“He was moved by his entreaty …”

II Chronicles 33:13
II Chronicles 33:1-13 – Manasseh was a very evil king, but he turned to God and God heard his prayer.
Have you ignored God in your life?
II Chronicles 15:1-4
I Chronicles 5:20
This was a pattern – it was not just Manasseh.
II Kings 20:1-6 – God heard Hezekiah’s prayer
Exodus 3:7
Luke 18:7
Acts 10:4
God loves you more than anyone else has loved you or can love you!
II Peter 3:9
God’s love makes it easy for us to repent.
I John 4:19

Galatians 3:1-15

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Review of Galatians 1-2

Galatians 3

Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
Old Covenant teachings are still being taught as required today by various groups.
I Corinthians 10:11
Romans 15:4
Romans 3:28-31
Hebrews 8:13
I John 3:21-24
John 6:20

Why Do I Believe What I Believe?

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ephesians 4:4-6

Do I believe in a religious tradition simply because it’s a tradition?

II Thessalonians 2:15
Traditions can be either good or bad – we must go back to God’s word.
Mark 7:1-8
II John 1:9

Do I carry stuff over from the Old Covenant?

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Galatians 3:24-25
The Old Covenant is no longer in effect.
Hebrews 8:6-13 – The Old Covenant is obsolete.
Hebrews 10:9-10
Hebrews 10:1

Law	Old Covenant	New Covenant
Lawgiver	Moses	Jesus
High priest	Aaron, …	Jesus
Sacrifice	Animals	Jesus
Priesthood	Levites	All Christians
Worship	Instruments, temple, …	Singing, Lord’s Supper, …

Do I just believe what my family believes?

Matthew 10:32-38 – Jesus must be our priority, even if it disrupts family relationships.
Galatians 1:13-14; I Timothy 1:15 – Paul followed the traditions, but it made him the chief of sinners!

Do I just go along with the experts?

Who decides who the experts are?
Matthew 16:6-12 – Beware of the teaching of the experts!
Matthew 23:1-3, 15
Acts 4:1-3, 17-18 – The “experts” tried to stop the apostles!
Acts 5:34

Do I just follow whatever is popular?

John 6:60-66 – Jesus was not getting good reviews.
If you’re going with popular opinion, you’ll be against Jesus.
Matthew 7:13-14

Do I just believe what seems right to me?

Proverbs 14:12
Jeremiah 10:23
Acts 23:1; 26:9 – Paul was doing what seemed right to him.

Why SHOULD I believe something?

John 17:17
John 12:48-50
Can you find these in the Bible?
- Saved by faith only
- Once saved, always saved
- Homosexuality is acceptable
- Infant baptism
- Praying to Mary
- Having an ordained clergy class
- God’s people can divide into denominations
- Holy Spirit “irresistible grace”
- Etc.
Because I can find it in the Bible!

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 4

I Corinthians 4:1-6 – Paul is just a servant.

I Corinthians 4:4 – It is the Lord who judges! Don’t look to human wisdom.
I Corinthians 4:6 – These principles apply to all of us. Do not go beyond what is written. Regarding arrogance, compare I Corinthians 4:18, 19; 5:6.

I Corinthians 4:7-13 – Paul’s condition, contrasted with the Corinthians.

I Corinthians 4:8 – Paul is using irony and sarcasm here to point out their arrogance. Compare Revelation 3:17-18
See Philippians 3:4-7.
I Corinthians 4:11-13 – Paul completely refutes the “health and wealth gospel” that is popular today. Being a Christian doesn’t mean everything will suddenly be easy for you. It might be the opposite!

I Corinthians 4:14-21 – Paul admonishes as a father.

I Corinthians 4:16 – Can we teach someone the gospel and also say, “Be just like me?” That should be our goal!

How Do I Identify Gossip?

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Words translated as “gossip” in the NASB NT

Diabolos [1228] – I Timothy 3:11; II Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3 – devil, malicious gossip, slanderer
- “a common term for ‘devil’ found in about forty contexts”
Psithyristes [5588] – Romans 1:29
- Gossips, whisperers
- “A whisperer, a secret slanderer” (Zodhiates)
- We should not applaud those who practice gossip.
Psithyrismos [5587] – II Corinthians 12:20
- Gossip, whisperings
- “A whispering, particularly of slander and detraction, hurtful gossip” (Zodhiates)
Phlyaros [5397] – I Timothy 5:13
- Gossips, tattlers
- “A tattler, an idle or trifling talker, one who boils over with impertinent talk” (Zodhiates)

But lets realize that not ALL personal or negative communication is gossip.

II Timothy 4:14-15
I Corinthians 1:10-11
Galatians 2:11-14
III John 1:9-10

Definition of gossip

“The sharing of personal or negative information about someone else, either true or false, without righteous intent.”

Questions to ask myself before talking about someone

What’s my goal?

John 4:35

Should I say something now?

James 1:19
Proverbs 11:13; 17:19; 26:20

If the roles were reversed, would I want someone saying this about me?

Matthew 7:12

Am I telling the right people?

Proverbs 16:28

Galatians 2:10-21

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 2, continued

Galatians 2:10

How does verse 10 (remembering the poor) belong in the discussion?
A condition of accepting Gentiles into the church?
- How would one know?
- When would one be accepted?
Was there any indication that it was not being done?
- On the contrary – Acts 11:28-30
Why has Paul included this note?
- Did it change Paul’s behavior or the Gentiles’ behavior?
Conspicuous for what it is not
- Not a burden from Old Law
- Not condition of acceptance
- Not a commandment to Gentiles
- “Take care,” “Drive safe!”
- Paul states he was already eager to do this
- James, Peter, John not exercising authority over him
- Paul on equal footing as apostle

Galatians 2:11-14

Don’t know when
Prior to writing Galatians
- After the events of Acts 15
How bad did Peter’s conduct appear? Condemnable
Withdrew from Gentiles with whom he previously socialized
- Who were Christians
- Members at Antioch
What power did “certain men” have over him?
- Nothing said
- No negative example
- Presence altered Peter’s behavior
What makes this hypocrisy?
- Acts 10:34
- Acts 11:2-3
What was Peter afraid of?
- Party of the circumcision
- Why?
- Remove their approval of him?
- Whose favor was he seeking?
- Galatians 1:10
- Matthew 10:28
- Matthew 18:6
The effect of Peter’s hypocrisy
- Even the son of encouragement was led astray into hypocrisy
Paul not leads the reader into the heart of the problem in verse 14
What was Peter doing with regards to the truth of the gospel?
- Made them not walk uprightly
- In effect, teaching another gospel
- What had Paul said about that (Galatians 1:8-9)?
Done before all, rebuked before all
- Correct and appropriate
  - Acting contrary to the gospel
  - Carrying away others into same hypocrisy
- How many followed Peter’s wrong path?
- Open versus private rebuke

Galatians 2:15-17

Part of Paul’s rebuke to Peter, or written only to Galatians?
- “May it never be!” seen ten times in Romans in writing
- Two other times here in Galatians
- More likely written rather than spoken
Our justification must be by faith in Christ Jesus
- Can’t come from works of law
Our obedient faith in Christ admits
- We’ve sinned
- Can’t be saved by works of law
Our only appeal to justification is to Jesus
- Subsequent return to law, no justification from sin
- Would Jesus, then, be a minister of sin?
  - May it never be!

Galatians 2:18-21

Peter tore down
- Rule of Law of Moses over his life – couldn’t justify
- Departed the Law for Jesus – only source of justification
- Justification by faith, not by the law
- Took an even standing with Gentiles, who received the same justification
He built back up
- Returned to isolation from Gentiles
- Returned to vestiges of the Law
- Dividied the church at Antioch
- Put a burden on Gentile Christians
  - Had to take on Law of Moses to have Peter’s approval
  - Took them back to a non-justifying law
The law itself took the law away
- By Christ fulfilling it – Matthew 5:17
- Life in Christ and death to the Law – Romans 7:4-6
Christ living in us means
- We no longer guide ourselves, but are led by Christ
- Live by faith in Christ, not by works of Law
- Jesus gave Himself toward that end – for our justification by faith
- It was because of his loving kindness toward us
What if the law could justify?
- It would nullify God’s grace
- It would bring to nothing the sacrifice of the Son of God
  - It would not be needed

God's Most Glorious Work

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 14:15 says that God made “heaven and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” In Genesis 1 we have recorded several times that “God looked upon that which He made and saw that it was good.” He made light, firmament, sun, moon, stars, plant life, fish, fowl, cattle, and man. God saw that all He made was very good. But of all that He created in six days, man was His special creation. But He was not through creating; His most glorious creation was yet to come. We read of this new creation in 2 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.” (ESV) This is His most glorious work. Read Ephesians 3:3-11.

Paul’s assigned work was to preach to Gentiles, Jews, and kings (Acts 9:15). He did his work. He preached to Gentiles. He preached to Jews, and he preached to kings (Acts 26:13). He did not preach to make celestial angels see the wisdom of God as many try to make this passage say. Principalities and powers in heavenly places does not refer to celestial angels. It speaks of rulers in high places. Chapter 6 verse 12 gives us the key to how “heavenly” is used in Ephesians. “Heavenly” refers to the highest of the class being discussed. Principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness of this world certainly do not refer to things in heaven. They speak of men in high places. “Heavenly” is thus used in Ephesians 2:6; 1:20; 3:10. Just as the temple showed the wisdom of Solomon, the church the saved relationship in Christ Jesus shows the manifold wisdom God more than any other of His creation.

Man cannot improve upon the things God created in six days, and he knows it. And man cannot improve upon God’s most glorious work, but many think they can. Man today has the audacity to set aside God’s most glorious work by building and upholding manmade institutions of religion and asserting that they are better than God’s most glorious work. Every denomination is an example of this very thing. Christians have long marveled that man could be so bold and disrespectful. But today many who claim to be saints in Christ’s church are caught up in the same error.

Whatever it is called, if it solicits contributions in order to do the worship and work that God specified the church to do it has gone beyond the doctrine of Christ. And when they condemn denominations, they condemn themselves, Romans 2:21. They have become a completely different fellowship than God’s most glorious work.

In this church which is God’s most glorious work saints are to function individually. Passages like Ephesians 4:28 and 1 Timothy 5:16 show this to be so. And saints are to function collectively, under common oversight and with pooled resources. Passages like Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:19 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 show this to be so.

The local church is all that we need for together and collective functions in the things of Christ. To build human institutions to do the work assigned the local church shows a lack of respect for God’s Word and His local church arrangement. If a work has been assigned for a local church, the local church is sufficient to do it. If a work has not been assigned for local church function local church funds should not be used to do it, nor should elders oversee it.

God’s saved relationship is the only relationship in which one can be saved and the local church is the only relationship for work assigned to be done under a common oversight and with pooled resources. When we do individual and congregationally that which has been so assigned, the church magnifies the manifold wisdom of God. But when men do not respect God’s arrangement for both individual and congregational work, they do not show God’s wisdom to anyone.

One final word: Paul considered his service in Christ to be a gift of grace and so should we. Paul’s service was and ours is to teach the unsearchable riches of Christ, and then live it.

Jesse Jenkins

1 Corinthians 3:6-23

Wed, 31 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 3:6-23

I Corinthians 3:6-8 – Figure 1: Plants
- See Acts 18:11; 19:1. Paul and Apollos did their part, but the emphasis should be on God and His word. We should be disciples of Jesus – not of men.
I Corinthians 3:9-15 – Figure 2: Building
- Do good work for God! See Philippians 2:15-16. This work is bringing others to Christ.
I Corinthians 3:16-17 – Figure 3: Temple of God
- Do not destroy people’s faith! God’s spirit dwells in us through the word of God. See Matthew 18:6. It is a terrible thing to destroy someone’s faith.
I Corinthians 3:18-23 – Wisdom vs. foolishness

Heaven and Hell

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 13:40-43

Hell

Jesus uses the word “Gehenna.”

Matthew 23:15 – This word is used twelve times in the New Testament and eleven of those times are by Jesus Himself!
Matthew 23:33
“Gehenna” is a transliteration of “Valley of Hinnom,” which was a place to dump refuse and burn it. It was a physical place outside Jerusalem.
Mark 9:43-48

Hell is a place of horrors!

Matthew 5:22, 29-30 – Whatever it takes, avoid hell!
This was repeated three times in the gospels, so we need to pay attention.
Matthew 8:11
If we end up in hell, it is too late to change. There is no hope.
Luke 12:4-5

Heaven

We’ll enjoy the presence of God!

Hebrews 9:24
Matthew 25:34, 41, 46
I John 3:1-3
I Thessalonians 4:17

We’ll have fellowship with other saints.

I Thessalonians 4:15-17
Revelation 6:9-11 – They could remember their previous life.

There’ll be no more trouble.

Hebrews 4:8-11 – God’s people have a rest in store.
Matthew 5:11-12
Philippians 3:20-21
I Corinthians 15:51
Romans 8:31

Conclusion

John 5:28-29

Galatians 2:1-10

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 2

Chapter 2 starts

Paul has been stressing:
- No consultations
- Speaking from revelation
- Gospel of Jesus
- His apostleship was genuine

Galatians 2:1-10

Paul begins to make his second point
- First:
  - Direct appointment to apostleship
  - Preaching by revelation of Jesus
- Second:
  - Fellowship with other apostles
  - Others endorsed his message
After 14 years (Galatians 2:1) – a time during which:
- Galatians heard the gospel and believed
- Paul established churches
- No change in message over time
- He went “up” to Jerusalem
  - Not north/south
  - To Jerusalem – “up”
  - Compare:
    - II Samuel 19:34
    - I Kings 12:28 – Jeroboam, calves
    - II Kings 24:10
    - Ezra 1:3
    - Isaiah 7:1
    - Zechariah 14:17
    - Matthew 20:17
    - Acts – 9 times
Which trip was this? The same as Acts 15?
- Arguments for this being the same trip as mentioned in Acts 15:
  - Together with Barnabas – Acts 15:2; Galatians 2:1
  - From Syria – Acts 14:26-28; Galatians 1:21
  - To Jerusalem – Ats 15:2-4; Galatians 2:1
  - Opposition of Judaizing Christians – Acts 15:5; Galatians 2:3-5
  - Involvement of Peter and James
    - Peter – Acts 15:7-11; Galatians 2:7-9
    - James – Acts 15:13-21; Galatians 2:9
  - All agreed on a conclusion – Acts 15:19-29; Galatians 2:7-10
Why take Titus along?
- Ideas: Challenge to Judaizing Christians:
  - Show of force?
  - See if apostles objected or commanded he be circumcised?
Paul says he went up because of a revelation in Galatians 2:2.
- Acts 15:2 says they were sent by brethren.
- Discrepancy? No!
- Look at Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10
  - Cornelius – vision – sent messengers
  - Peter – vision – received messengers – went
  - What he sent or was he summoned?
  - By vision or by human request?
  - Both, of course, just as in Acts 15 and Galatians 2
What are these false brethren in Galatians 2:4 – pseudadelphos
- Two references: Galatians 2:4 and II Corinthians 11:26
- Pretending, but not brethren
- Planted by others to spy – motivation
  - Bring Gentile Christians into the bondage of the Law of Moses
  - Why?
  - Jealousy? (Acts 13:45; 17:5)
- Paul and his group did not give in to them – kept gospel pure for them (Galatians 2:5)
Key apostles (those of high reputation, pillars) added nothing to Paul’s message
- Instead, they granted the right hand of fellowship
- Agreed to continue the two paths:
  - The twelve to the Jews
  - Paul to the Gentiles
  - Strictly? Who first preached to the Gentiles?
  - How about the men of Cyprus and Cyrene? Barnabas? Acts 11:19-26
  - Who did Paul always go to first? Jews
  - Who had Peter already gone to? Jews AND Gentiles
The two-gospel heresy
- Central reference is Galatians 2:7
  - Gospel “of,”, “for,” or “to” the circumcision/uncircumcision implies separate gospels.
  - Gospel for the Jews, different gospel for the Gentiles.
  - Repentance and baptism for the Jews.
  - Faith and grace for the Gentiles.
- Problems with this two-gospel idea:
  - Paul in Galatians 1:8-9 (sent to a mixed audience)
  - How did this message change when leaving the synagogue for the Gentiles?
- Conclusion
  - This is a heresy
  - Perpetrators are to be “anathema”
At the conference’s end:
- The pillars of Jerusalem extend the right hand of fellowship to Paul’s group
- Only ask to remember the poor
- What about Acts 15
  - Things polluted by idols
  - Fornication
  - Things strangled
  - Blood
  - These were directed, required, “only burdens” from Old Law
- “Remember the poor” was a request – Don’t neglect to preach to the poor.
- Possibly reminiscent of references in Acts 7 and 11 to famines, both actual and prophesied.

Absalom

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Samuel 14:25-26

Seek justice, not revenge.

II Samuel 13:1, 14-15, 19-21 – Amnon’s sin against Tamar. David never punished Amnon for this.
II Samuel 13:23-24, 37-39 – Absalom murders Amnon and then exiles himself.
Romans 12:17-21 – God is the final arbiter of justice and He will set things right.

Conquer your pride before you make a mess.

II Samuel 15:1-17; 16:20-23
Psalm 3 was written while David was fleeing from Absalom.
II Samuel 18:7-15 – The death of Absalom.
II Samuel 18:18 – Absalom set up a monument to himself!
Proverbs 16:5
I Peter 5:5-7
Romans 12:3-8

Strengthen your relationships whenever possible.

II Samuel 13:37-39 – David longed to go out to Absalom.
II Samuel 14:21-24, 28-33 – Absalom returned, but David refused to see him.
II Samuel 18:5 – David still had a soft spot for Absalom.
II Samuel 18:31-33 – David’s grief at Absalom’s death
Matthew 5:23-26

A Door Keeper

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalms 84:10) This statement demands at least four characteristics of the person sincerely making it. Ask self – can I sincerely and objectively make this statement?

It demands knowledge.

One could not know if he had rather be a door keeper in the house of God if he did not know what it is. So, let us identify the house of God: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (I Timothy 3:15) The statement modified is I had rather be a doorkeeper in the church of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Thus, those who obey the gospel and live godly lives compose the church of my God. Door keeping necessitates service.

Now let us take a look at the tents of wickedness to see if we want to give them up or be a doorkeeper. Tents of wickedness refer to anything that comes from a carnal mind. Let us look at the results to see if we want to make that choice. The carnal mind leads to death (hell). The spiritual mind leads to life and peace (Romans 8:6). What choice do you make?

It demands discernment – good judgment.

Even the man in the world who has good judgment in business matters usually acts foolish relative to the soul. Good judgment is attained by application and exercise, “…who by reason of use have their senses to discern good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:8). The person who does not see wrong in drinking and dancing and missing Bible class and Wednesday night service, cannot correctly make this statement.

It demands a positive choice.

One can have knowledge and be able to discern good and evil yet make the wrong choice. Moses not only refused to remain in the king’s house, he chose to suffer with God’s people (Hebrews 11:24-26). Those who have “respect to the recompense of reward” will make the right choice also. When one makes a positive choice to serve in the house of God, he will not only refrain from evil, he will actively do the right. When one makes the positive choice to be a doorkeeper in the house of God, he will have the reward.

It demands humility.

Keeping doors is a position of low esteem. The high look down on door keeping. They want to do something big. If some cannot do something big, they will do nothing at all. Naaman (2 Kings 5:13) is a good example of this. One may say if I was a preacher or had much money, I would do great things for the Lord. The truth is one would do with would much exactly what he does with the little he does have. The humble realize their dependence on God. A congregation could not be divided if it was composed of truly humble people. Humble people depend upon God for direction, and they think of the welfare of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Being a doorkeeper in the house of God takes much faith and much effort. Is it worth it? Psalms 84:11 gives the answer. “For the Lord is a sun and a shield; the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” I repeat “no good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly.”

Jesse Jenkins

1 Corinthians 2:1-3:5

Wed, 24 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 2:1-3:5

I Corinthians 2:1-5 – Paul’s preaching style. True wisdom.
- Wisdom from people vs. wisdom from God
- Rhetoric – the art of using language effectively and persuasively.
I Corinthians 2:6-9 – God’s wisdom
- I Corinthians 2:7 – God already had the plan before creation!
I Corinthians 2:10-13 – God’s wisdom revealed by the Spirit
I Corinthians 2:14-3:5 – Spiritual people vs. natural people
- I Corinthians 2:14 – Is this teaching the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity? No. See Acts 18:5-6. Paul blamed the people for resisting his preaching. See also I Corinthians 1:18; 2:6. It was their decision whether or not to come to Christ. It was their decision whether or not to mature in Christ.

How Eternity Shapes Us

Sun, 21 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – God has created us with an innate curiosity about eternal things.
Exodus 3:13 – God exists in the most fundamental sense. “I AM WHO I AM.”
I Chronicles 16:36
John 8:56-59 – The Jews immediately realized that Jesus was making a claim to deity.

Preparing for eternity must be our priority!

Psalms 39 – Our life is short compared to eternity.
Luke 12:15-21 – What if I build up and save for retirement and not for eternity?
“Let me know how transient I am.” – Psalm 39
Colossians 3:1-5
How many minutes did you spend last week preparing for eternity?

Thinking about eternity gives us patience for justice and comfort.

Revelation 2:8-11
The suffering may be bad now, but the reward lasts forever.
Romans 8:18
I Peter 5:7

Eternal salvation moves us to TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE!!!

Hebrews 5:9
II Corinthians 4:17-18
2 Timothy 2:10
I Peter 5:10

Galatians 1:10-24

Sun, 21 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Galatians 1, continued

How Paul got the gospel he preached (Galatians 1:11-14)

Was revealed from Jesus Christ
Paul knew the Galatians were familiar with his former life
- Persecuted and tried to destroy the church
- Outdoing his contemporary Jews – more zealous
Why would Paul be such a zealot? Possibly …
- Not born in Jerusalem – born in Tarsus
- Not born to two Jewish parents – born to a Jew and a Greek with Roman citizenship
- Born with “evil” Roman citizenship
- Short – he was not like most Pharisees in Jerusalem
- East-west divide among Jews
  - Hellenistic Jews had a lower standing in many people’s minds than Jews from other areas.
- So here was Paul – Mister Different
- Paul kicks against the goads
  - Paul an expert with the Word – Acts 5:34; 22:3
    - He should have known!
  - Present at Stephen’s sermon – used status to approve
  - Side note: Philippian jailer, Paul, and Silas (Acts 16)
  - Paul persecutes – not doubt heard same, but trying to outdo Stephen’s murderers
  - He was pleasing – outdoing – them while resisting the Holy Spirit
  - He was advancing beyond his contemporaries
  - Being exposed to gospel at the same time

Galatians 1:15-17

God knew Paul
- From before his birth
- Understood his character and love for God
  - Persistence
  - Dedication
  - Zealous nature
  - God would set Paul apart
    - To preach the gospel to the Gentiles
- Once Jesus is revealed to Paul
  - No longer striving to be best Jew and Pharisee
  - Not any of what he’d previously been
- Where did Paul go?
  - Not Jerusalem!
  - He went there later
- Paul’s next move – what would most of us expect?
  - Not consulting with Peter, James, etc.
Paul didn’t go to get “trained” or to “intern”
- Went to Arabia
- Back to Damascus
- Saw no apostles

Galatians 1:18-20

Quite a while in Damascus
- Then on to Jerusalem
  - Met with Cephas/Peter and apostle James (Jesus’ brother)
  - No others – what is that important?
    - Revelation came from Jesus via Holy Spirit
    - Was not trained by apostles, not ordained at Jerusalem
Why would he make an oath as to the truth?
- Affirming all he’d written about this
- Quite critical to his apostleship
  - It was real
  - Jesus had given authority as apostle

Galatians 1:21-24

As read in Acts 9:25-30 and Galatians 1:21
- Fled Jerusalem
- Taken to Caesarea
- Moved on to Tarsus – capital of Cilicia
Judean Christians
- Couldn’t recognize him by sight
- They knew OF him!
- Praised God – he was converted and preaching the word

The Parable of the OLDER SON

Sun, 21 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 15:11-32 – Parable of the prodigal son.
The main point of this parable is the attitude of the older son.
Luke 15:1-3 – The setting for the parable.

Know the goal: saving the lost

Luke 19:1-10 – Jesus’ purpose was to save the lost!
Matthew 9:10-12
II Peter 3:9
We must not be prejudiced against the very people we should be trying to help!
Ephesians 5:11 – Jesus was not joining in with sinful deeds.
I Corinthians 15:33
Our hatred of sin should motivate us to try to help people out of it!
I Kings 11:4

We should rejoice when people come to the Lord.

Luke 15:28
Luke 15:4-10 – There is rejoicing in heaven when one repents!
James 5:19-20
II Thessalonians 3:14-15 – “admonish him as a brother”
I Corinthians 5:5
Let us not be like Jonah and be angry when people repent.

We should not follow our sense of fairness.

Luke 15:29
Hebrews 10:17
We should instead follow God’s sense of forgiveness.

Where Does the Spirit of the Righteous Go When it Departs the Body?

Sat, 20 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

While the spirit inhabits the body, there is life; when the spirit departs the body, there is death. But what is dead? It is not the spirit, but the body. When the spirit departs the body, where does the dead body go? Where does the living spirit go? The general answer is that the body goes to the grave and the spirit goes to the Hadean world. But where does the Bible teach that the spirits of the righteous go to hades? “Hades” is used eleven times in the New Testament and there is nothing good said about it.

It speaks of:

Death and the grave: Matthew 16:18 – they would kill Jesus but the grave could not hold Him; He would rise and build His church.
Acts 2:27,31 – place of corruption; the grave.
1 Corinthians 15:55 off the grave.
Revelation 1:18 – keys to hades; the grave.
Revelation 6:8 – death, likely by metonymy put for the grave.
Revelation 20:13 – the grave.

It is used figuratively:

Matthew 11:23 and Luke 10:15 – heaven, highly exalted; hades, brought down.
Revelation 20:4 – cast into lake of fire.
Luke 16:23 – a place of torment for disembodied spirits of the evil.

The spirits of the evil do indeed go to hades. But there is no evidence that the spirits of the righteous go to hades; in fact, it is incongruous to think the righteous go to hades since there is nothing good said about it in the New Testament.

What is the point that Peter was trying to make in Acts 2:31? Was it that Jesus’ spirit came out of the hadean world or was it that Jesus body was resurrected from hades, the grave? The entire context shows that he was speaking of the resurrection of Jesus’ body. His body was not going to be in hades (the grave) long enough to see corruption.

The word “soul” (PSUCHE) has many different meanings in the scripture; the context has to determine its meaning in any given place.

The whole man (Acts 7:14; 1 Peter 3:21).
The body “His soul draweth near the grave.” (Job 33:22).
Passions or emotions “Soul much discouraged.” (Numbers 21:4; Matthew 22:37).
One mindedness “Of one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32).
Life force (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
A dead body:

	KJV	NKJV	NASV	YOUNG
Numbers 5:2	The dead	Dead body	Dead person	Body
Numbers 6:6	Dead body	Dead body	Dead person	Dead person
Numbers 9:6, 7, 10	Dead body	Dead body	Dead person	Body
Numbers 19:11, 13	Dead body	Dead body	corpse	Dead body

A discussion of the spirit of Jesus is not even in this context. It is simply saying He would not be in the grave long enough for His body to see corruption.

Notice the contrast in each verse:


v27	soul	hades
	Holy one	corruption
v31	soul	hades
	flesh	corruption

Luke 16:19-31: The rich man’s spirit was in hades, where there is torment. Lazarus’ spirit was in Abraham’s bosom, where there is comfort. “Abraham’s bosom” is the antithesis of “Hades,” just as “comfort” is the antithesis of “torment.” Thus, “Abraham’s bosom” can no more be “hades” than “comfort” can be torment.”

Revelation 6:9: The souls of them that were slain for the word of God were not in hades. They were under the altar.

Revelation 14:1-3: The hundred forty and four thousand did not stand in hades. They stood on mount Zion.

They did not sing the new song in hades. They sung it before the throne and before the living creatures and elders.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8: When we are absent from the body, we will be present with the Lord. The Lord is not in the hadean world, but heaven (Matthew 22:44; Acts 7:55).

Hebrews 9:24: Jesus did not go to some intermediate place to offer the atoning blood; He offered that blood in heaven. Romans 8:34: Jesus did not go to the hadean world to make intercession for us; He makes intercession before the throne of God. (Romans 8:34).

Philippians 1:23: Paul’s desire was to depart and be with Christ. Christ was not in the Hadean world, but in heaven, where he offered the atoning blood (Hebrews 6:20; 9:24) and where He ever lives to make intercession for the saints (Hebrews 7:25).

I have seen no evidence that the spirits of the righteous dead go to an intermediate place. I have seen much evidence that they go to heaven. I have seen no evidence that “paradise” is an intermediate place. I have seen evidence that it is heaven. I have seen no more evidence for the “intermediate” place that my brethren speak about than I have for the intermediate place that the Catholics or Mormons speak about!

1 Corinthians 1:10-31

Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

1 Corinthians 1, continued:

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 – Do not be divided.

The unstated principle here is that we should be united on God’s truth.
This passage is the closest the Bible comes to addressing denominationalism. There is no support for any such idea in the Bible.
I Corinthians 10:17 – This passage is sometimes used to argue that baptism is not necessary for salvation.

I Corinthians 1:18-31 – Wisdom vs. foolishness.

I Corinthians 1:23 – Compare Galatians 3:13.
We must be careful that we do not miss God’s message because we are looking for the wrong things.
I Corinthians 1:27-29 – God purposely thwarts the prideful by using what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.

Am I a Disciple of Jesus?

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 28:18-20

A disciple is one who LEARNS.

Acts 6:7; 14:21
Matthew 5:1-2; 13:10-13, 52 – Am I curious? Am I trying to learn?
Mark 12:41-44
Luke 11:1
Do I actively engage in Bible classes?
In the last month, have I looked up something in the Bible out of curiosity?

A disciple wants to be LIKE THE TEACHER.

Luke 6:39-40
I Peter 2:21
Acts 11:26 – Am I living what Jesus taught?
John 8:31-32; 13:35; 15:8 – Have you had a friend for years and they don’t know you’re a Christian?
Luke 14:26-27 – We must love Jesus far more than everyone else, even ourselves!
Matthew 10:37
A man from New Zealand won a French Scrabble tournament despite not knowing French. He just memorized the words! Don’t be like that with Bible study!

Galatians 1:1-9

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Paul’s previous work in Galatia

Acts 13:13-15, 42-44, 51-52 – This Antioch was in Pisidia, a region in Galatia.
Acts 14:1-7
Acts 16:1-5
Acts 18:22-23

Galatians 1

Opening of the book

Paul’s first remark (Galatians 1:1) was about his apostleship.
- Appointed by Jesus and the Father
- Compared to Matthias?
  - Acts 1:21-22
    - Accompanied them throughout Jesus’ ministry.
    - Selected by other apostles through lots.
  - Paul
    - Not present throughout Jesus’ ministry
    - Not selected by other apostles through lots
    - See II Corinthians 12:12. Paul had signs and wonders to confirm his apostleship.

Balance of opening

From Paul and those with him
To the churches of Galatia
Salutations
- Grace
- Peace
- From God our Lord
- From the Lord Jesus Christ
  - Gave Himself for us
  - To rescue us from the present evil age
  - God’s will (II Peter 3:9)
  - Glory forever to Him

Galatians 1:6-9

Paul warned about being led astray by a different or distorted gospel taught by others.
II Peter 3:13-16

Three Faithful Mothers

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 31:25-31
Ephesians 6:1-3

Mary

Luke 1:28-38 – Mary was ready to be God’s servant and do His will.
Luke 2:24 – The family was poor from an earthly standpoint.
Mothers, God appreciates your work!
Mark 6:1-3 – Everyone looked at Jesus’ family as a normal family. They were far from wealthy. People were surprised when He started teaching!
Mary’s value did not come through special amenities she was able to provide for Jesus.
The value of mothers comes from raising Godly children.

Syrophoenician woman

Matthew 15:21-28 – She was humble and persistent!
I Thessalonians 2:7
Ephesians 5:22, 33
Luke 18:2, 8 – Be persistent in prayer. Do not lose heart!
I Peter 3:1

Eunice (and Lois)

Acts 16:1
Acts 14:19-22 – Paul’s experience in Timothy’s hometown.
Eunice and Lois became Christians when it was not easy to be a Christian. They might have seen Paul being stoned!
II Timothy 1:5; 3:14

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Wed, 10 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

1 Corinthians 1

The city of Corinth

Corinth was like the Las Vegas of its day. It was famous for its temple to Aphrodite and renowned as an immoral city.
Romans 1:28-32

Background: What happened prior to this letter?

Acts 18:1-8 – Paul tried to teach the Jews first, then the Gentiles.
I Corinthians 1:14 – Paul baptized Crispus!
Acts 18:9-17 – See I Corinthians 1:1. This is possibly the same Sosthenes.
I Corinthians 1:11; 7:1; 12:1; 16:1 – There seems to have been previous discussions with Paul on some of these issues.

I Corinthians 1:1-3 – Greeting

See I Corinthians 1:18, 30; 11:1; 15:1 – Even with these sins, God was allowing them time to grow.
I Corinthians 5:5; 11:30 – Some among them were not in a good state with God.

I Corinthians 1:4-9 – Corinthians in Christ

I Corinthians 1:4 – Paul was thankful for them despite their troubles. Contrast Paul’s attitude with that of Jonah (Jonah 3:10-4:4).
I Corinthians 1:7 – We should be looking forward to going home to be with God! Things of this life are only temporary.

Prerequisites of a Soul-Winner

Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

When Nathan confronted David with his guilt relative to his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, David prayed (Psalms 51:10):

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O God.

David did not need a physical heart transplant; but he desperately needed a clean Bible heart.

The Bible heart is identified by what it is said to do.

The Bible heart thinks (Proverbs 23:7). It reasons (Mark 2:8). It understands (Matthew 13:15). It believes (Romans. 10:10.). This is intellect.
The Bible heart loves (Matthew 22:37). This is emotion.
The Bible heart obeys (Romans 6:17-18). This is will power.
The Bible heart judges (1 John 3:20-21). This is conscience.

A clean heart is necessary for one to see God (Matthew 5:8). But how does one get a clean heart? Peter answers: “God put no difference between us (Jews) and them (Gentiles), purifying their heart by faith (Acts 15:9). But it is not by faith only; if so, even the devils would have pure hearts (James 2:19). It is a faith that obeys in love (Galatians 5:6). It is a faith that obeys by faith in baptism in the Name of Jesus (Acts 2:38). It is a faith that keeps one penitent and serving. As we leave this point, let me emphasize it says “create in me a clean heart”.

RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT IN ME.

The right spirit thinks on things that honest, true, pure, just, lovely and of good report (Philippians 4:8). A right spirit brings into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). A right spirit hates evil with the same passion with which it loves truth (Psalms 119:128). In short; a right spirit does whatever it does in the Name of Christ. (Colossians 3:17).

CAST ME NOT AWAY FROM THY PRESENCE.

The way to effectively pray this can pretty well be summed up in three points. Draw nigh to God (James 4:8). Keep one’s body in subject to the will of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:27). Abide in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 1:9).

RENEW UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATON.

Some members have no real joy in God’s salvation. This is the reason for unfaithfulness. It takes no coaxing to get one to do that which he enjoys. Rejoice is an oft-repeated command. Rejoice always (Philippians 4:4). Rejoice in hope (Romans 12:12). Rejoice in Christ (Philippians 3:3). When we delight in the law of the Lord, we will be faithful (Romans 7:22; Psalms 1:1-2).

Now let us notice verse 13:

“Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee”

When David got these things right, he would be in position to teach others effectively. So will we be. But let us be sure that we teach are “Thy” ways,” not my ways or the ways of any other source.

The church was started by teaching God’s ways, and it can only be kept pure by teaching God’s ways.

Jesse Jenkins

Victory Over Sin

Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Victory is found in Jesus, not in your own perfection.

Romans 7:14-25
I must continue to fight, but victory will only be in Jesus.

Realize that this will be a journey.

Ephesians 4:20-24 – We must continually put off the old self.
Luke physical exercise, it is a continual gradual progress.
Hebrews 5:13-14

Do some addition and subtraction.

Can I shape my environment to help with temptation?
Atomic Habits by James Clear
II Chronicles 24:1-2, 15-19 – Joash did good while Jehoiada was alive, but was then influenced by people who led him away from God.
Add godly people to your life and subtract ungodly people.
Psalms 119:9-16 – This is how you avoid sin!
Philippians 4:8 – Dwell on good things!
Proverbs 5:7-8; 7:7, 25
Proverbs 13:20
If it’s going to tempt you, stay away from it!

In the moment, try …

… thinking of God’s love

John 15:9

… thinking of God’s wrath

Mark 9:48

Introduction to Galatians

Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction to Galatians

Where was Galatia?

Near modern-day Turkey, between the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

What was Galatia?

A Roman province with changing borders.

Who lived there?

Numerous ethnic groups
- Lycaonians – Acts 14:11
- Homer and Pausanias – Barbari
- Other languages
  - Greek
  - Syrian
  - Pisidian
  - Solyman
  - Lydian
- Major ethnic group – Celtic

Where were the churches of Galatia?

In Galatia, of course
- Paul and Barnabas had visited the region (Acts 14)
  - Were run out of Iconium
  - Regarded as gods, but then stoned Paul in Lystra
  - Left to return to Antioch
- Paul returned later with Silas to Derbe and Lystra (Acts 16)
  - Found Timothy and other brethren
  - There were churches there! (Acts 16:5)
  - Passed through Galatia region, bypassing Asia (Acts 16:6)
  - Passed back through, strengthening disciples (Acts 18:23)
- Appear to have been churches in
  - Antioch in Pisidia
  - Derbe
  - Lystra
  - Iconium
- Other principle city of Galatia – Ancyra
  - No record of a visit from Paul
  - Well north of Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium
  - Certainly possible

Writing of Galatians

Who?
- Paul (Galatians 1:1)
- Almost universally accepted
Why?
- State his concerns to the churches (Galatians 1:6-7)
- Affirm his apostleship (Galatians 1:1, 15-16)
When?
- AD 53
- As early as AD 48 or late as AD 58.

Main themes of Galatians

Salvation by grace through faith
- No salvation by law
- Circumcision has no effect (Galatians 5:2-3)
Authenticity of Paul’s apostleship
- Nor from men
- Assigned an apostle by Jesus

End of Mark and the Great Commission

Wed, 03 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

End of Mark

The last twelve verses of Mark (Mark 16:9-20)

In some translations, these verses are removed or annotated to indicate that there is some doubt about their authenticity. The evidence in favor of their authenticity is overwhelming.
In one survey of manuscripts, out of 620 manuscripts which contain Mark, only two do not contain these verses.
“Church fathers” dating back to the 100s AD quote from these verses, indicating that they were commonly in manuscripts at that time.

The great commission

Luke 24:45-49
Acts 1:8
John 20:19-23

Return to the last twelve verses

Mark 16:9-11 – Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.
Mark 16:12-13 – Jesus appears to two disciples. Compare Luke 24:13-26.
Mark 16:14-18 – The great commission.
- Mark 16:17 – This is not saying that all who believe in Jesus will be able to work signs and miracles. It is saying that the signs would accompany those who were going out to preach (see Mark 16:20).
Mark 16:19-20 – The great commission executed.
- They started in Acts 2 just like Jesus commanded.
  - Study suggestion: Memorize all of Acts 2!
- Peter explains the plan of salvation:
  - Acts 2:22-36 – They heard the word.
  - Acts 2:36 – They believed.
  - Acts 2:37 – Confess.
  - Acts 2:38-40 – Repent and be baptized.
- The rest of Acts is a history of the apostles doing like they did here in Acts 2.
- Compare: Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:47-49; John 20:21-23; Mark 16:15-16
- Mark 16:20 – And they went everywhere doing this! We need to do the same thing!

Psalm 51

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Review of Acts

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Final Exam

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ

Some people say that Jesus had to die at the same time as the Passover. That, combined with a misunderstanding of John 18:28, causes them to put Jesus’ resurrection on the Sabbath (14th day of first month).
The term “Passover” is used in three senses in the Bible:
- Exodus 12:21; Numbers 28:16; Mark 14:12 – The lamb they sacrificed and the day they killed it are both called the Passover.
- The Passover feast – Ezekiel 45:21; Luke 22:1

Accounting for days

Leviticus 23:32
Jews counted days from sundown to sundown.
Numbers 33:3-4
1st month, 14th day
- Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-15; Matthew 26:17-21 – Passover lamb killed. They ate the lab before Jesus was crucified.
15th day
- Mark 14:17-72; 15:1, 24-26 – Jesus was crucified about noon and taken down before Sabbath started at sunset.
16th day
- Luke 23:12-16 – Sabbath
17th day
- Mark 16:1-16; Luke 24:1-21 – Jesus resurrected on the first day of the week.
What about John 18:28? They did not want to disqualify themselves from the rest of the Passover feast, which was a 7-day feast. See Numbers 28:16-25.
What about Matthew 12:40 and Jesus being in the grave for three days and three nights? It is a different way of reckoning time. Part of day 1, all of day 2, and part of day 3 is counted as three days, or three days and three nights even though it was not a full 72 hours.

Five Ways to Improve My Spiritual Leadership

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Take the initiative.

Nehemiah 1:2-4; 2:5, 15-18
Nehemiah’s leadership was contagious!
Nehemiah was 1,000 miles from the problem, but he traveled to go help.

Keep learning God’s truth.

II Peter 1:8, 5
Titus 1:9
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 – Leaders had to know the law!
Luke 8:9 – Disciples were asking questions and learning!
Luke 11:1 – Teach us to pray! The disciples wanted to learn how to pray properly.
Luke 6:39-40

Demonstrate the proper behavior.

I Timothy 4:12 – Lead by example.
I Corinthians 11:1 – Paul said for them to imitate him.
Do I hold myself to the standard I require of others?
Can others see my behavior and look to me as a proper example?

Grow my communication skills.

Proverbs 15:1-2, 28 – The righteous ponder how to answer.
Proverbs 29:20
James 3:2
It takes practice to build this skill.

Be willing to change myself.

John 3:1-3, 9-10 – Nicodemus came to Jesus by night.
John 7:13, 48-52
John 19:38-40 – Nicodemus showed respect for Jesus in public, which was quite a dangerous thing for him to do!
Nicodemus was willing to change!

Conclusion

Nothing will happen unless you take the initiative!

Acts 26:24-28:30

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24-26), continued:

Agrippa (Acts 26), continued:

Our role is to plan the seed, no matter how long it takes someone to convert.

Taken to Rome (Acts 27-28)

Sailing from city to city (Acts 27:1-13)

Everyone survives the shipwreck (Acts 27:14-44)

God knows when and how to answer prayer!

The island of Malta (Acts 28:1-10)

Thanks to the shipwreck, the gospel was spread to Malta.

Paul in Rome (Acts 28:11-31)

Acts 28:13 – Paul sailed past Mount Vesuvius about 10-20 years before it erupted.

Lessons from Zephaniah

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Zephaniah 1:1

Idols distract us.

Zephaniah 1:4-5
You don’t have to make a statue to be guilty of idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 – Greed is idolatry!
Idols are anything that distract us from God.
Zephaniah 1:6
When I am worried or happy or insecure, do I seek God or something else?
Zephaniah 2:1
Zephaniah 3:1
We must not be distracted with things of the earth.

Laziness is deadly.

Zephaniah 1:12
II Peter 3:3-7
Zephaniah 1:13-17 – Punishment is coming. Don’t get complacent!
We must see our sin and decide to change!

God always wins.

Zephaniah 2:8-11 – This happens today – people taunting Christians.
Zephaniah 2:13-15 – Ninevah, the largest city in the world would fall by God’s hand. World powers are no problem for God, so we can’t be scared of them as Christians.
Acts 4:3-5, 13-15, 19, 24-28 – The powerful people thought they had Jesus taken care of. The quote here is from Psalm 2. God in heaven laughs at the attempts of powerful people. Take courage!

Make Me a Servant

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 9:33-37 – The disciples discuss who will be the greatest.
Matthew 20:20-28
Luke 22:24-27 – The greatest is the one who serves.
John 13:1-17 – Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. These were the same people who would forsake Him on the cross! He commanded them to wash each other’s feet – to serve each other.
Philippians 2:5-8
Greatness will only come to those that serve others.

How to become a servant

Deny self / crucify self (Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20)
- We must first desire discipleship. God doesn’t force anyone to serve Him.
Make Christ Lord of your life (I Peter 3:15)
Remove pride, humble self (I Peter 5:5-6)
Esteem others better (Philippians 2:3)
Seek out ways to serve others (Galatians 5:13)

Ways we can serve

Doing good works (Titus 2:14; 3:1, 8, 14)
Practicing hospitality (Romans 12:13)
Encouraging others (I Thessalonians 5:11, 14)
Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Pray for the needs of others (Colossians 1:9-12; James 5:16)
Share our blessings with others (Hebrews 13:16)
Teaching the gospel to the lost (I Corinthians 9:19-22)
Serve in the local church (Romans 16:1-2)
- Greet people, send cards, clean building, mow grass, teach a Bible class, provide a ride, lead singing, give a talk, lead a prayer, make visits, etc.

Servant Song by Matthew Bassford

Conclusion

Matthew 25:21 – “Well done good and faithful servant.”

The Dangers of Biblical Ignorance

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

[Due to technical issues, we had to make do with a backup recording system. Sorry for the lower audio quality on this lesson! -MRW]

Introduction

II Chronicles 34:15 – The book of the law of God was lost in the house of God! It was lost for probably 60 years.
20 million Bibles are sold in the United States every year. How many are read?
Ignorance just means lack of knowledge.
George Gallup described America as a nation of Biblical illiterates.
Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance of scriptures.
Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Matthew 4:4 – Man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

How do we prevent Biblical ignorance?

I Peter 2:1-3
Colossians 2:6-8, 18-19
I Timothy 4:6-8
Psalm 1:1-2
Ephesians 5:17
I Timothy 2:3-4; 4:13 – Give attention to reading!
II Timothy 2:15
Everyone can understand God’s word if they take the time to study!

Are we destroyed for lack of knowledge?

Do you know the books of the Bible?
Be careful about being too dependent on a Bible app.
Hebrews 5:11-14 – They had become lazy about God’s word. We can have this problem also!
Have we walked away from God’s pattern and just continued to drift because we didn’t study?
II Peter 3:15-18 – If we don’t grow, we’ll forget and go backwards!
Can you teach someone the plan of salvation from the scripture? If not, make up your mind to learn!
Can you explain why we don’t use instrumental music in worship?
Can you teach what the New Testament says about baptism?
Matthew 19:3-6
II Peter 1:3
Matthew 22:24-33 - Jesus said, “Have you not read?” He expects us to read and study! See Exodus 3:6.
What does God say about civil authority?
- Unless it contradicts God’s commands, we are to submit to civil authority.
Where do we go when we die?

Leaving the Church

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Why Young People Stay “In Church”

Ate dinner 5 of 7 nights a week as a family.

Proverbs 15:17; Matthew 6:9, 11
“The Family Dinner Table” – Connie Adams

Served with their families in a local church.

Romans 16:1-5; I Corinthians 16:15-18
Parents and their children personally involved in the work of the local church.
- Cleaning the building.
- Participate in workday.
- Preparing communion.
- Taking food to a member.
- Visiting the elderly.

Had one spiritual experience in the home during the week.

I Thessalonians 5:17; II Timothy 3:14-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Psalms 145:4
Prayer should be a daily activity.
Reading the Bible and discussing it.
Preparing lessons for Bible classes.
Engaging our children in spiritual conversations.

Entrusted with responsibility in spiritual service at an early age.

Luke 2:49; Ecclesiastes 12:1
Helping to prepare the classroom for a new teaching quarter.
Putting up numbers for songs/attendance.
Handling out bulletins.
Reading scripture.
Leading prayer.
Extending the invitation.
Leading singing.

Had at least one faith-focused adult in their lives other than a parent.

II Kings 12:2; Hebrews 13:7, 17; I Peter 5:3
Those that take a sincere interest in them:
- Preacher
- Elder
- Deacons
- Bible class teachers
- Parents of other young people
- Older members

Staying in the Church

Luke 9:23-26
Attached instead of detached.
Involved instead of uninvolved.
Connected instead of disconnected.
A spiritual focus instead of a world focus.
Two-fold responsibility:
- Proverbs 22:6; cf. Ephesians 6:4 – “Train up a child in the way he should go …”
- Ecclesiastes 12:1 – “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth …”

Turning the World Upside Down

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 17:1-9
Matthew 10:34-38
Luke 12:51-52
I Corinthians 1:22-24 – We preach Christ crucified.

Christ and His teaching was controversial to:

The Jewish rulers (John 9:16)
The Jewish people (John 7:40-40; 10:19-21, 30-33)
His family (John 7:2-5)
His disciples (John 6:59-67)

The controversial gospel of Christ

God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)
God made two genders: male and female (Genesis 1:27)
Marriage is between man and woman (Matthew 19:4)
Homosexuality is perverse and sinful (Romans 1:26-27)
Your body belongs to God (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
Baptism is essential to salvation (Acts 22:16)
Repentance precedes baptism (Acts 2:38; 17:30)
One, true church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23)
No authority for instruments in worship (Ephesians 5:19)
One scriptural cause for divorce (Matthew 5:32; 19:9)
II Corinthians 10:4-5
Jesus and His teachings have always been controversial.
Jude 1:3
II Timothy 2:24-26

Turning the world upside down preaching …

The truth that sets men free from sin was taught. (John 8:32)
The message was preached with humility, love, plainness, and boldness.
Many rejected the gospel; some souls were saved.
Will continue to be controversial and divisive.

52 Days, Part 2

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Nehemiah 6:15-16

What could you do in 52 days?

Sunday, April 16 to Tuesday, June 6.
Read through the entire New Testament!
- I Timothy 4:13; Psalms 1:2; Matthew 4:4; 5:6
- You will make time to do whatever you delight to do!
End bad habit, begin good habit! (Ephesians 4:20-24)
- Euphemisms; impatience; wasting time on TV, video games, social media, cell phone use, etc.
- Pray, visit sick, family Bible study, hospitable, etc.
Make at least on spiritual contact!
- Matthew 9:35-38
Strive for perfect attendance
- Hebrews 10:24-25; Matthew 6:33
Every member increase their giving
- II Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:6-7
Evangelistic effort by the local church
- I Thessalonians 1:8

Conclusion

Nehemiah 2:17-18 – Let us get to work!

52 Days, Part 1

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Rebuilding the wall: Nehemiah

Nehemiah 6:15-16

Fifty-two days

Nehemiah 1:1-2:10
The condition of the people of Jerusalem
- In great distress and reproach (Nehemiah 1:3)
The condition of the walls of Jerusalem
- Broken down and gates burned with fire (Nehemiah 1:3; 2:13)
Their enemies mocked and plotted against them.
- Nehemiah 2:10, 19; 4:1-3, 7-8
The remnant held strong, godly leadership.
- Ezra (Ezra 7:10; Nehemiah 8:1-8); Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:11-20)
The people had a mind to work.
- Nehemiah 4:6
The people joined together in a united effort.
- Nehemiah 3
Continued to work and were prepared to fight.
- Nehemiah 4:9-23 – They refused to quit working! This was the work of the Lord.
- Nehemiah 6:15-16

Conclusion

What could you do in 52 days?

Be an Encourager, Not a Discourager

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Thessalonians 5:11
Be an encourager, not a discourager!
Numbers 13:25-33 – Ten of the twelve spies brought back a discouraging report.
Numbers 14:1-4
Deuteronomy 1:21, 28 – “our brethren have discouraged our hearts”

The effects of discouragement

It is demoralizing.
It often has a leavening effect.
It creates a negative atmosphere.
- Ezra 4:4-5

Barnabas, son of encouragement

Acts 4:32-37 – Our first introduction to Barnabas.
Be a Barnabas!

What does a “Barnabas” do?

He or she gives comfort and encouragement to others (Acts 4:36; cf. Galatians 6:2).
- I Thessalonians 5:14
He or she stands up and speaks on behalf of others (Acts 9:26-27).
He or she encourages fellow Christians “that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23; cf. I Corinthians 15:58).
He or she gives others a “second chance” to serve the Lord (Acts 15:37-39).

Be a “Barnabas” to others!

Let us encourage our older members.
- Those who are faithful in coming but often in pain; widows and widowers; our shut-in.
Let us encourage those who are married to non-Christians or divorced, but faithful.
Let us encourage those who battle chronic illnesses and diseases.
Let us encourage our Bible class teachers.
Let us encourage our children and young people to put God first in their lives.
Let us encourage elders, deacons, preachers (and their spouses) as they serve.
Let us encourage younger men to be preparing themselves to be elders/deacons.
Let us encourage those we know who are presently struggling with discouragement.

Conclusion

We all need an encourager!
- I Thessalonians 5:11
You need an encourager!
- Who’s your Barnabas?
Every Christian should see encouraging others as an essential part of their discipleship.
- Encouraging is a spiritual art that can be learned, mostly through practice.
Let me encourage you:
- To obey the gospel of Christ, in order to receive salvation (Romans 1:16; Mark 16:15-16).
- To grow in your faith and remain faithful in serving the Lord (II Peter 1:5; Acts 11:23).

Preaching in Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Preaching in Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-12:44)

Mark 11:1-11 – Fulfilled prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.
Mark 11:27-33 – Authority of Jesus challenged. All authority is from one of two sources: man or God.
Mark 12:-1-12 – Parable of the tenants.
Mark 12:13-17 – Paying taxes to Caesar
Mark 12:18-27 – “Sadducees,” no marriage in resurrection
Mark 12:28-34 – Greatest commandment – love God and neighbor
Mark 12:35-37 – Whose Son is the Christ?
Mark 12:38-40 – Beware of the scribes and their hypocrisy
Mark 12:41-44 – Widows offering – “gave more than all”
Mark 13:1-2 – Temple would be thrown down, not one stone left on another. Josephus said there were some stones of the temple that were 8’ x 10’ x 70’!

Destruction of Jerusalem and the temple

Destruction of Jerusalem	Mark	Luke
Admiring the temple and buildings	Mark 13:1
Temple will be destroyed	Mark 13:2
Questions: When? Sign?	Mark 13:3-4

Early events before destruction	Mark	Luke
False Christs	Mark 13:5-6
Wars	Mark 13:7-8
Famines (Acts 11:28)	Mark 13:8
Earthquakes	Mark 13:8
Delivered to death (Acts 12:1-2)	Mark 13:9, 11
Apostasy (II Peter 2:20-22)	Mark 13:12-13
Gospel to all the world (Colossians 1:23)	Mark 13:10

Then cometh the end	Mark	Luke
Abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:23-27)	Mark 13:14	Luke 21:20
Disciples are to flee	Mark 13:14-18
There will be great affliction – Josephus said over 1.1 million were killed by the Romans and famine (including cannibalism) and 97,000 were enslaved and abused by the Romans.	Mark 13:19-23
Followed by nation goes dark (Isaiah 13:1-22) (both nations gone, the rulers (sun, moon, stars) are dark)	Mark 13:24-25
Coming of the Son of Man (Isaiah 19:1) – see below	Mark 13:26
Send angels (messengers/teachers)	Mark 13:27
Gather (save) the elect	Mark 13:27
Fig tree and the sign – When the trees bud out, that is a sign that summer is nigh.	Mark 13:28-29

Four different comings of Jesus in scripture:

Physical, coming to earth – John 16:28
Spiritual, come into hearts, mark abode with us – John 14:23
Coming thru/via agent representative (Egypt, Assyria, Rome, etc.)
- Isaiah 19:1 - Agents God used to afflict Egypt was Egypt from within, Israel, and Assyria
- Mark 13:26 – The agent Jesus used in the destruction of Judaism, Jerusalem and the temple, was the Roman army.
Second coming of Jesus

Conclusion	Mark	Luke
This generation shall not pass away till all these things are accomplished.	Mark 13:30-31	Luke 21:32; Matthew 24:34

How Do I Benefit from the Resurrection of Jesus?

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 1:3-5

I must first believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

Acts 2:3, 24, 31
Peter reached a spiritual low point after denying Christ.
Luke 24:11-12, 17-27, 45-49 – The life work of the apostles would be to tell people about the risen Jesus.
Acts 1:1-8
Acts 2:36 – What changed for Peter? The resurrection!
I Corinthians 15:12-17 – If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, how could we believe anything He said? But He did rise!

I must get to work!

Acts 2:38; 3:15, 19-20
Acts 17:18, 30-31 – This is the proof that we need to repent!
Romans 1:4-5

I must die to sin and walk in newness of life!

Romans 6:1-4

Jesus (spiritual)	Me (physical)
Death	Dead to sin
Burial	Buried in baptism
Resurrection	Walk in newness of life

Our goal should be to never sin again!
Philippians 3:6-11 – However hard it is to put away the old life, it’s worth it!
Colossians 2:12; 3:1-14
I Peter 2:24

Acts 24:10-26:23

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24-26), continued:

Felix (Acts 24), continued:

Acts 24:10 – Felix had been governor for 5-6 years at this point.
Acts 24:24-27 – This seems to be moral procrastination on the part of Felix. Compare Acts 2:41; 8:36; 16:33. In those cases, baptism was immediate!

Festus (Acts 25)

Acts 25:11-12 – We have known for a while that Paul would somehow end up in Rome. See Acts 23:11.
Acts 25:13 – This is King Agrippa II. Agrippa and Felix were brothers-in-law. Berenice was Agrippa’s sister (with some rumors of an incestual relationship).

Agrippa (Acts 26)

Acts 26:6 – Compare Acts 23:30-35.

Andrew the Ordinary

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 4:18; 10:2; Mark 1:16; Luke 6:14; John 1:40; 6:8
Andrew was always described as Peter’s brother.
John 12:20
Mark 13:3-4
Just because Andrew’s work was not mentioned much in the Bible does not mean his work wasn’t important.
Mark 3:13
Mark 14:6 – This small act was remembered!
Mark 9:41

He spotted the truth and told others about it

John 1:35-42
John 1:15, 19-23, 29
Am I open to truth like this? If we are waiting for the majority, we won’t be like Andrew!
Andrew brought Peter to Jesus and Peter is still teaching many through his recorded words. Not bad work for the ordinary man Andrew!

He changed his life for Jesus

Mark 1:14-22
He dropped everything to follow Jesus!
Acts 23:24-25 – Don’t be like Felix!
We all have our own lives. So did Andrew. But he dropped everything to follow Jesus.

He was still a disciple after seeing what was involved

Acts 1:13-14
Matthew 10:16-23 – Their job was not a rosy picture!
Matthew 13:20-21
Being a Christian means persecution and enduring temptation.

Divorce and Remarriage

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Divorce and remarriage

Mark 10:1-9 – Jesus went all the way back to the beginning to explain marriage.
Mark 10:10-12 – The laws of marriage work the same way for both husband and wife.
Compare Matthew 19:8-9.
God’s plan was one man and one woman for life.
Jesus re-affirms and re-establishes God’s original plan for marriage and gives God’s present law for mankind.
All who are put away for any reason and anyone who has put away a mate for some cause other than fornication cannot remarry with God’s approval – their marriage is adultery!
What are people to do who are in such marriages?
- Some say, “well, they’re married, so it’s okay.”
  - Mark 6:17 – Herod was in an unlawful marriage and was rebuked for it.
- Some say, “God wouldn’t break up families.”
  - Ezra 9:3 – Ezra was dismayed at the unlawful marriages.
  - Ezra 9:4-15 – They took this seriously!
  - Ezra 10:1-2 – Now there is hope!
  - Ezra 10:3-4 – They put away unlawful wives and children.
  - Ezra 10:11 – It took time, but they did it!
- Repent or perish!
  - Repentance demands cessation of all sinful deeds and relationships.
There are many false doctrines on divorce and remarriage.
- Alien sinners and marriage
  - Do God’s laws apply only to Christians?
  - The Bible teaches:
    - Men in the world are guilty of specific sins.
      - I Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:9-11
    - We are to reprove the world of specific sins.
      - Ephesians 5:3-13, 11
    - All men are subject to the universal authority of Jesus.
      - Matthew 28:18
      - Ephesians 1:19-23
- But doesn’t baptism wash away all sins?
  - Baptism does not allow any sinful relationships to be continued or carried over into Christ’s church.
  - Baptism without repentance is NO GOOD. Repentance demands the cessation of all sinful deeds and relationships.
  - Repentance and prayer do the same thing for the Christian (Acts 8:22; I John 1:7-10) that repentance and baptism do for the alien sinner (Acts 2:38 - remission of sins in both cases).
Conclusion
- The only God-approved “remarriage” whether involving aliens or Christians is when:
  - One remarries after his/her mate has died.
  - One remarries after putting his/her mate away for adultery.
  - All other remarriages are without God’s approval and are adulterous relationships.
- There are three groups God will join in lawful matrimony:
  - Those who have never been lawfully married.
    - Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-9; I Corinthians 7:2
  - Those whose mate has died.
    - I Corinthians 7:3-9 (marriage must be according to God’s law)
  - Those who have put away a mate because of fornication.
    - Matthew 19:9; 5:32

1 Peter 2:11-12

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

“Abstain from fleshly lusts”

I Thessalonians 4:3-8 – God takes this seriously!
I John 2:15
This admonition is for all of us!
Matthew 18:6 – Jesus cares if we cause others to sin!
It is certainly possible for us to dress in such a way to cause others to sin.
Genesis 29:17 – “form and face”
Genesis 39:6
Esther 2:7

“aliens and strangers”

We’re different! We don’t belong here.
Philippians 3:19-20
Hebrews 11:13
When temptations arise, we must remember that we are different. Just because other people in the world are doing something, that doesn’t mean it’s okay for us to do the same.
Hebrews 13:4
I Peter 4:2-5

“… they may, because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation”

I Peter 2:15
I Peter 3:16

Acts 22:17-24:9

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Imprisoned in Jerusalem (Acts 21:18-23:35), continued:

“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense” (Acts 22:1-21), continued:

Acts 22:17-21 – This is the first mention we have of this trance. It is clear that Paul’s travels were being directed from heaven.

“A Roman and uncondemned” (Acts 22:22-30)

Acts 22:25 – Paul used a legal defense, which is an example for us today. If we can use legal means to prevent persecution, we are permitted to do so.

“Paul, looking intently at the Council …” (Acts 23:1-11)

Acts 23:1 – Compare Acts 26:9. Paul thought he was doing right even while he was doing wrong. We must be careful – we can all make the same mistake!
Acts 23:3 – “Whitewashed wall” is probably referring to hypocrisy on the part of Ananias. A whitewashed wall appears clean, but it is only a superficial appearance.
Acts 23:5 – This could have been sarcasm on Paul’s part. He is seeing that Ananias was not behaving in the manner of a high priest. Ananias also was not the legal high priest according to the Old Law – Caiaphas was.
Acts 23:6-9 – This was a clever tactic by Paul that resulted in at least part of the council siding with him. See Acts 4:1-2.

From Jerusalem to Caesarea (Acts 23:12-35)

Acts 23:16 – This is the only mention we have of Paul’s family. We know that his parents were Pharisees, but not much else.

Imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 24-26)

Felix (Acts 24)

Acts 24:1-8 – Yet another version of the events! Compare Acts 23:26-30. Paul is now firmly established as an influential Christian.

The Transfiguration

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The transfiguration

Mark 8:27-30
Mark 8:31-33 – Jesus begins teaching them that He would be killed. Peter says no because of his misconception about the Messiah.
Mark 8:34-38 – They must become living sacrifices for Jesus and the gospel’s sake. Don’t be ashamed of Jesus!
Mark 9:2-13 – Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah about His death (see Luke 9:31). Jesus had to die for them to be saved (Hebrews 9:15)!
Mark 9:30-32 – Jesus again tells them He will be killed.
Mark 10:32-34 – Again, Jesus tells them He will be killed.

30+ years after the transfiguration, Peter uses it to teach a lesson

II Peter 1:16-18 – They were eyewitnesses of His majesty!
Peter and the other apostles were eyewitnesses of and participants in many miracles.
John 15:27 – They bore witness of what they’d seen.
I John 1:1 – “seen with our eyes,” “bear witness,” “heard”
II Peter 1:19-21 – We have a more sure word of prophecy. Prophecy shined in the darkness until Christ came to bring the full light.
Luke 16:29 – Moses and the prophets had been dead 400-1400 years! Today we still have them, along with Jesus and the apostles.

Bible date	Bible reference	Scientific fact	Discovery date
1000 BC; 700 BC	Proverbs 8:27; Isaiah 40:22	Spherical earth	1500s AD
2000 BC	Job 26:7	Unsupported earth	1600s AD
64 AD	Acts 17:26	Mankind is one blood	1900 AD

God revealed these things to them!

Fulfilled prophecy, including some about Jesus

Bible reference	Approx. date prophesied	Specific event	Approx. date fulfilled	Bible reference
I Kings 13:1-2	960 BC	Told of Josiah and his actions 300 years before his birth	660 BC	II Kings 22; II Kings 23
Isaiah 44-45	720 BC	Cyrus to release Jews	536 BC	Ezra 1:1-3

About Jesus, beyond His ability to “fix”

Bible reference	Approx. date prophesied	Specific event	Approx. date fulfilled	Bible reference
Micah 5:2	720 BC	Place of birth	4-5 BC	Matthew 2:5-6
Jeremiah 31:15	600 BC	Slaughter of babies	5-6 BC	Matthew 2:17-18
Psalms 41:9; 55:13	1000 BC	Betrayed by a friend	30 AD	John 13:18
Zechariah 11:12-13	520 BC	Price of betrayal	30 AD	Matthew 27:9-10
Psalms 69:21	1000 BC	Vinegar and gall on cross	30 AD	Matthew 27:34
Isaiah 53:12	720 BC	Crucified between two thieves	30 AD	Mark 15:28
Psalms 22:16; Zechariah 12:10	1000 BC; 520 BC	Nailed and pierced	30 AD	John 19:34, 37
Psalms 34:20	1000 BC	No bones broken	30 AD	John 19:33, 36
Psalms 22:18	1000 BC	Cast lots for garments	30 AD	John 19:23-24

Nathan the Prophet

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Reverence

Nathan revered God’s word over his own opinion (II Samuel 7)

II Samuel 7:1-7, 12-13, 17 – Nathan had to deliver the message that would stop the project David was excited about.
Ecclesiastes 4:13
I Peter 4:3
We are all growing. As we learn more about God’s word, we must have the humility to change.
Luke 16:18

Courage

Nathan rebuked David after his sin with Bathsheba

II Samuel 11:27; 12:1-15
It takes courage to tell someone about their sin face to face.
Galatians 6:1

Initiative

Nathan took action when Adonijah attempted a coup

I Kings 1:5-27, 32-35, 49-53
John 12:6 – Judas had greed that was unaddressed.
Matthew 5:27-30 – Looking with lust is already a problem!
Is there something in your life that needs adjusting?

Acts 21:18-22:21

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Third preaching journey (Acts 18:23-21:17), continued:

Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia (Acts 20:1-16), continued:

There has been some debate about exactly when Paul partook of the Lord’s Supper due to questions around whether Luke was using Jewish timekeeping (a day is sunset to sunset) or Roman timekeeping (a day goes from midnight to midnight). From the context, it is clear that the only way this passage makes sense is for Paul to have taken the Lord’s Supper on a Sunday, then preached and talked to them overnight before departing on Monday.

Farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38)

Acts 20:25 – See Acts 9:15-16. Paul knew he was about to suffer and was offering his farewells.
Acts 20:28 – Compare I Peter 5:1-2. Together, these passages show that elders, bishops, overseers, pastors, shepherds, and presbyters are all the same office or position in the local church.
Acts 20:35 – We don’t have other records of Jesus saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The help referred to here could be either physical or spiritual.

End: Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-17)

Acts 21:4 – Did Paul disobey by going to Jerusalem? That seems unlikely. It’s possible that the disciples themselves were concluding that Paul shouldn’t go to Jerusalem because of the prophecies of what would happen to him there.

"I will harden Pharaoh's heart"

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

If you were so inclined, could you make a loved one upset?
Exodus 7:1-5 – Did God control Pharaoh’s mind in some miraculous way?
People lose their faith over these sorts of topics.
God presented a choice that He knew Pharaoh would not accept, thus hardening his heart.

God hardened Pharaoh’s heart

Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17

Pharaoh hardened his own heart

Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34

Pharaoh’s heart is hardened

Exodus 7:13, 22-23; 8:19; 9:7, 35

The hearts of Pharaoh and his servants are hardened

Exodus 9:34-10:1

God’s knowledge of the future does not take away Pharaoh’s free will.

Exodus 13:17-18, 21
Exodus 14:1-8

God’s foreknowledge

Exodus 3:19-21; 6:1; 7:4; 8:14-15, 19; 9:11-12, 15-16; 11:1, 9
Acts 2:23

Pharaoh’s free will

Exodus 7:14, 16; 8:2; 9:2, 17, 20-21, 27; 10:3-4, 16-17; 13:15
Exodus 6:1 – God knew this stubborn man would resist!

Take-aways

Watch out for Calvinist claims.
- Romans 9:17-18 – God does not choose salvation for people.
Be assured that God is just.
- James 1:13; Colossians 3:25 – Sin is never God’s fault.
Learn from Pharaoh’s terrible mistakes!
- Soften your heart to God!

Jesus' Teaching in Galilee; Did God Forsake Jesus on the Cross?

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Jesus’ teaching in Galilee

Mark 6:30-44 – Jesus feeds 5,000 men with five loaves and two fishes, with twelve baskets of food left over. Matthew says there were women and children also, meaning there were probably at least 10,000 people there in total.
Mark 6:50; Matthew 14:27; John 6:20 – Jesus said, “I am” according to the Greek. Compare Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8; John 8:24, 58.

Did God literally forsake Jesus on the cross?

Many have this idea of “substitutionary atonement,” wherein Jesus’ righteousness was transferred to man and man’s sin was transferred to Jesus.
Mark 15:34 is often taken to mean that God actually forsook Jesus on the cross.
II Corinthians 5:21 – The words “to be” are not in the original. The Greek is more accurately translated, “He has made Him sin, or a sin offering.” There are many places (Leviticus 10:17; Hosea 4:8) where the word sin is used in the sense of a sin offering. See also Hebrews 9:26.

Regarding Jesus taking on sin and being forsaken by God

If one is guilty, he deserves to die and his death would have no merit for everyone. If Jesus took on sin, when and how was He taken back into fellowship?
See Hebrews 10:5-10. Jesus came to do the will of the Father, which was that He suffer and die on the cross. See also Hebrews 9:26; Ephesians 5:2; I Corinthians 15:3; I Peter 1:18-19; Mark 10:45.

Jesus, a ransom

See I Timothy 2:6

What about the phrase itself?

See Psalm 22. Jesus was appropriating the message of that psalm to Himself, calling attention to the fact that He was fulfilling this psalm.
Psalm 22 can be divided in two parts:
- Psalms 22:1-21 – Forsaken by God
- Psalms 22:22-31 – Delivered by God
The forsaking was in appearance, not reality. See Psalms 22:24. God has not hid His face from nor despised the afflicted.
Psalm 22 was a Messianic prophecy and Jesus was calling attention to it:
- Psalms 22:6-8 – expressed what happened to Jesus
- Psalms 22:16-18 – referred to piercing His hands and feet
- Psalms 22:24 – God had not hidden His face from Jesus
See Hebrews 5:7-8.
Jesus said, “It is finished,” which matches up with the last verse of Psalm 22: God has “done it.”

Is there any application for us?

When times are difficult, this psalm should be a great assurance to us (Hebrews 13:5-6).
I Peter 5:6-7 – It is okay to call out to God!
Romans 8:31-39

What We Noticed in Paul's Three Journeys

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 1:8
Paul’s three preaching journeys:
- Acts 13:1-14:28
- Acts 15:36-18:22
- Acts 18:23-21:17

What the world needs is the good news about Jesus!

Acts 13:2, 23, 38
Acts 14:15
Acts 19:20
Acts 20:21, 27
Acts 18:2 – We learn about Aquila and Priscilla because they were forced out of Rome by Claudius.
Paul’s job was not political reform!
Luke 19:10
Would you rather change someone’s political ideas or convert them to Christ?
Jesus could have shown us all manner of inventions or things about medicine. Instead, He did what we needed most – He taught us about God and died for our sins!

Paul loved all kinds of people!

Acts 13:47
Acts 16:13, 27-31
Acts 17:4
Acts 18:8
Acts 19:18 – Paul preached to practicing magicians!
Colossians 3:11-12
We should not be thinking about what is different between us and other people, but about how we can be one in Christ with them.

Christians draw strength from each other.

Acts 14:21-22; 15:36, 41; 16:5
Acts 20:1

Acts 20:7-21:7

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Third preaching journey (Acts 18:23-21:17), continued:

Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia (Acts 20:1-16), continued:

There has been some debate about exactly when Paul partook of the Lord’s Supper due to questions around whether Luke was using Jewish timekeeping (a day is sunset to sunset) or Roman timekeeping (a day goes from midnight to midnight). From the context, it is clear that the only way this passage makes sense is for Paul to have taken the Lord’s Supper on a Sunday, then preached and talked to them overnight before departing on Monday.

Farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38)

Acts 20:25 – See Acts 9:15-16. Paul knew he was about to suffer and was offering his farewells.
Acts 20:28 – Compare I Peter 5:1-2. Together, these passages show that elders, bishops, overseers, pastors, shepherds, and presbyters are all the same office or position in the local church.
Acts 20:35 – We don’t have other records of Jesus saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The help referred to here could be either physical or spiritual.

End: Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-17)

Acts 21:4 – Did Paul disobey by going to Jerusalem? That seems unlikely. It’s possible that the disciples themselves were concluding that Paul shouldn’t go to Jerusalem because of the prophecies of what would happen to him there.

Imitating the Corinthians

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

They had to be Christians in an un-Christian world.

I Corinthians 1:2; 11:1
This was not an easy or popular thing to do!
I Corinthians 1:18-20 – The Corinthians had to combat so-called intellectuals and their theories.

They had to be moral despite rampant immorality.

I Corinthians 6:9-11
I Corinthians 10:14; 12:2 – They were dealing with idolatry!
I Corinthians 5:9-10; 15:33; II Corinthians 6:14, 17 – Be careful of immoral influences!
Even though they had difficulties, they did their best to serve God.
I Corinthians 4:16, 21 – The same standard was required of everyone!

They had to be faithful even when their brethren were not.

I Corinthians 3:3; 5:1-2; 11:20; 15:12
II Corinthians 5:17
I Corinthians 16:13 – Be strong! Stand firm!
I Corinthians 11:19
II Corinthians 7:4, 9
Be godly regardless of your circumstances!

Mark 4:1-34

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Mark 4

The parables of Jesus

Jesus often usen parables. There are about forty-one parables total in the gospels, but Mark records five.
A parable places one thing next to another with a view to comparison.
Why teach in parables?
- Mark 4:11 – So Jesus could teach His disciples in private.
What are they about?
- Generally, to teach what the kingdom “at hand” is like.
How should we interpret them?
- Don’t look for lessons in every small detail.
- Let Jesus explain!

The kingdom is like a sower (Mark 4:1-20)

Mark 4:15 – Compare Luke 8:11. The seed is the word of God. The wayside is people who hear the word, but don’t grow with any depth.
Mark 4:16-17 – The rocky place – people who hear the word but will not endure persecution.
Mark 4:18-19 – The thorns – people who hear, but the word of God is choked out by the cares of the world.
Mark 4:20 – The good ground that bears fruit.
The kind of heart determines the reception and relation to God’s word. We determine what type of heart we have!

Lamp under a bushel (Mark 4:21-25)

Compare Matthew 10:27. We should proclaim God’s word! See also Acts 13:47.
Be lights of God’s world. Teach and do God’s word!

The growing seed (Mark 4:26-27)

Compare I Corinthians 3:6-9. We are laborers together with God. We plant and water, but God gives the increase in His own time.
See Galatians 1:7. We have no right to cross-breed or modify the message. See also Romans 1:16; I Peter 2:5. God’s church is not for entertainment or a social club.

The kingdom is like a mustard seed (Mark 4:30-34)

The kingdom, from a small beginning, grows to a place of strength and comfort for those therein. Remember the figure of the kingdom in Daniel 2.

The wicked vinedressers (Mark 12:1-12)

See I Peter 2:8. Unlike other parables, the Jewish leaders immediately understood the parable and knew He was condemning them.

A Completely Different Way of Looking at the World

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Corinthians 5:17

Created vs. evolved

Genesis 1:1, 27
Genesis 9:6 – Why is man’s life different? Because we are made in the image of God.
Matthew 10:28
There is no sense of “ought” if God did not create us.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn – “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.”
I Corinthians 8:10-11

Loving vs. selfish

Matthew 18:1-4 – We must have the humility of a child!
Matthew 19:30; 20:16
A Christian views things differently!
Acts 8:13, 18
II Corinthians 5:14-15
How does love change my schedule? My money habits?

Optimistic vs. pessimistic

Matthew 12:20 – God doesn’t want to give up on us! He sees the potential that is there.
I Corinthians 13:7
John 3:16

Acts 18:23-20:11

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Third preaching journey (Acts 18:23-21:17)

Apollos (Acts 18:23-28)

Priscilla was a great example of a woman serving the Lord. This is a great example of proper attitudes in teaching and learning. Apollos is a great example of humility in learning.
See I Corinthians 16:12

Ephesus (Acts 19:1-41)

Acts 19:1-7 – If we have had a different baptism, this passage shows you should be baptized again in the correct way.
Acts 19:13-15 – Archaeological digs have since found a number of artifacts referring to Jesus and having various incantations similar to what is quoted here.

Asia, Macedonia, and Achaia (Acts 20:1-16)

Acts 20:7 – Compare Acts 2:42, 46. The context must indicate whether “breaking bread” refers to the Lord’s Supper or not. This seems to be referring to the Lord’s Supper, while Acts 20:11 refers to a common meal.

Called by God

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

What does it mean to be “called by God?” People today seem to have a different understanding of it than what it meant in Bible times. Especially “called by God” to do something specific. Can we say the same today?

We are all called to SALVATION by the gospel.

II Thessalonians 2:14; 1:11-12
I Corinthians 1:2-6

There is no doubt that God called specific people to do specific things for Him in the Bible.

Jeremiah 1:4
Hebrews 5:1-4
Acts 9:3 – There was a specific thing God wanted Paul to do.
Acts 13:2

But God’s direct intervention in Bible times cannot be generalized to everyone.

Jeremiah 29:11, 1 – This was a letter to the exiles in Babylon.
Romans 10:14-15
Acts 16:6-10
Esther 4:14

Caution: I might interpret signs and violate God’s will.

I Samuel 24:1-7 – David’s men just knew this was a sign from God.
Matthew 19:9 – We know this is God’s will. If we feel we are receiving signs to divorce, we know that any signs could not go against God’s written will.

Instead of looking for signs, just get to work obeying the Bible.

Ephesians 2:10; 4:25-28
Luke 7:28-30
II Peter 1:10

Mark 3:7-30

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Mark 3, continued:

Mark 3:22 – See John 11:48-50. The Jews were afraid of losing their power.
Mark 3:28-30 – The “Holy Spirit” here could be referring to the “divine nature of Christ.” They were denying Jesus’ deity and attributing it to Satan.
- Matthew 12:34 – Matthew records Jesus’ strong description of His accusers.
- John 12:37
- Matthew 13:14-15
- Acts 28:25-27
- John 12:37-41 – Isaiah showed that the underlying sin was hardness of heart.
- The “eternal sin,” therefore, was a wicked mindset that would follow these hardened rebels into eternity, where an “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2) would be pronounced, and an “eternal punishment” of unending misery awaited them (Matthew 25:46), because there is no post-mortem plan of salvation (Hebrews 9:27). So, we see the final end Jesus announced upon those who deny the power and word of God, attributing it to another source, in this case, Satan.
- Is it possible to be guilty of this sin today? Yes! See John 20:29; I Peter 1:8-9. If someone persistently rejects the New Testament evidence that supports Jesus’ credibility, hasn’t he in principle done the same as these Pharisees?

The Simplicity of God's Plan

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 1:16-17
II Corinthians 11:3; 4:3-4
Ephesians 5:17; 3:3-4
Luke 10:21

The simple, yet thrilling, account of the cross

Matthew 27:46
Romans 5:6-8
Philippians 2:5-8
I John 4:14; 2:2
John 3:16-17
Hebrews 2:9
I Peter 1:18-19
I Corinthians 15:57
II Corinthians 8:9
Acts 10:34
Hebrews 2:9
Revelation 22:17
Titus 3:5
Ephesians 2:8-9
I Corinthians 1:18, 22-24

The simple requirements to be numbered among the redeemed

Mark 16:15-16
Acts 2:38
II Corinthians 5:7
Romans 10:17
John 3:3, 5
I Peter 1:22-23
Romans 10:1, 16
I Corinthians 15:1-4
Romans 6:17-18, 1-5
II Corinthians 5:17
Galatians 3:26-27
Acts 8:5, 12, 35-39

The simple worship of the Lord’s church

II Peter 1:1
Acts 20:7
The elements of worship:
- Teaching
  - Acts 2:42; 20:32
  - II Timothy 2:15
  - Psalms 119:97, 103
- Giving
  - I Corinthians 16:1-2
  - II Corinthians 9:7
- Lord’s Supper
  - Matthew 26:26-28
  - I Corinthians 11:26
  - Acts 20:7
- Praying
  - Hebrews 4:16
  - Acts 2:42
  - I Thessalonians 5:17, 25
- Singing
  - Colossians 3:16
  - Ephesians 5:19
John 4:24
II John 1:9
I Peter 4:11
Colossians 3:17

The simple and great organization of the Lord’s kingdom

Philippians 1:1
II Peter 1:1
Romans 16:16
I Corinthians 1:2
Colossians 1:18
Ephesians 1:22-23
II Timothy 3:16-17
Acts 20:28
I Peter 5:2
Ephesians 3:21, 10
Acts 11:27-30 – care for needy saints
I Corinthians 16:1
Ephesians 4:16
I Thessalonians 1:8 – proclaim the word of the Lord

Conclusion

Jeremiah 6:16
II Corinthians 11:3, 14-15
Matthew 7:13-15
II Thessalonians 2:10-12
II John 1:9
Colossians 3:17
Philippians 4:9
Psalms 119:161
II Corinthians 11:3
Mark 16:15-16
Acts 22:16

Cup

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The cup Jesus drank

Matthew 26:36-42
Mark 14:35-36
Luke 22:42-44
John 18:10-11
Matthew 20:17-19 – Jesus foretells His death.
Matthew 20:20-23; Mark 10:38-40

What is the “cup” referred to in these verses?

Genesis 40:13 – literal cup
Genesis 44:1 – literal cup
Matthew 23:26-27 – literal cup as a figure
Psalms 16:5 – figure
Psalms 23:1-6 – blessings
Psalms 116:13 – blessings
Jeremiah 16:7 – advice, blessings
Psalms 11:6 – suffering
Psalms 75:8 – symbol of the wrath of God
Isaiah 51:17, 22 – wrath of God
Jeremiah 25:15, 17, 28 – wrath of God
Jeremiah 51:7 – wrath of God
Lamentations 4:21 – curses
Ezekiel 23:31-33 – curses
Habakkuk 2:16 – curses
Zechariah 12:2 – curses
Revelation 14:10 – curses

Joshua renews the covenant

Joshua 8:34
Matthew 10:42 – cup is a figure for any need a person may have
Mark 10:38-40
I Corinthians 10:16:22
I Corinthians 11:25-29

Mark 1:16-3:6

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Mark 1, continued:

Jesus calls disciples and appoints the twelve

Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-21
When Jesus appointed the twelve, there appear to have been others there with Him, which was important when a replacement was needed for Judas. The requirement for a man to be appointed an apostle was that he had been with them the entire time (Acts 1:21-26).

Apostle	Cause of death (most from history - ?)
Simon Peter	Crucified upside down
Andrew, Peter’s brother	Crucified
James, son of Zebedee	Beheaded by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2)
John, son of Zebedee	Exiled, died of old age
Matthew	Beaten, then crucified
Bartholomew	Crucified
Philip	Speared to death
Thomas	Crucified
Simon, the zealot	Stoned to death
James, son of Alphaeus	Stoned to death
Judas Iscariot	Suicide by hanging (Matthew 27:5)
Matthias (replaced Judas)	Stoned or died of old age (???)
Paul (selected by Jesus)	Killed by Nero (II Timothy 4:6)

Mark 6:7-13 – The apostles were sent out in pairs, given power over unclean spirits, and told not to take money or supplies with them. Note that miracles were secondary to teaching! Miracles could not and cannot save! Romans 1:16; Acts 11:14; James 1:21
Mark 1:21-28 – Jesus taught as one having authority. Even the unclean spirits obeyed Him. He told the unclean spirits not to tell people who He was, possibly to avoid endorsements from disreputable sources.
Mark 1:35-39 – Jesus came to teach.

Mark 2

Mark 2:1-12 – Jesus forgives a man’s sins who was brought to Him for healing.
Mark 2:18-22 – There was a right time and place for fasting.
Mark 2:23-28 – The Sabbath was made for man!

Mark 3

Mark 3:1-6 – Jesus is grieved at their hard hearts when they try to trap Him with regard to the Sabbath.

Avoiding Logical Fallacies

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 32:8-9 – God wants us to think!
Matthew 22:44

Equivocation

Deceptively switch the meaning of a word.
Example: “A feather is light. What is light cannot be dark. Therefore, a feather cannot be dark.”
This is also called “bait and switch.”
Ephesians 4:25
Sometimes this is used as a joke or a rhetorical device and is not a logical fallacy.
II Corinthians 5:21 – “Sin” is used in two different ways, but it is not a fallacy.
The word “evolution” can mean minor changes or major changes.
Clear, precise language can prevent misunderstandings.
- I Peter 3:21
- The Bible uses “baptism” in several different contexts.
  - Matthew 3:11
  - Mark 10:38-39
  - Acts 1:5; 19:3
  - Romans 6:3
  - I Corinthians 10:2
- And people today use it in different ways.
  - Infant baptism
  - Baptism into a denomination
  - Baptism as an outward sign of inward grace.

Circular reasoning

Assuming what you are trying to prove.
Mark 2:1-12 – How did Jesus prove He could forgive sins? By miraculously healing a paralytic.
II Timothy 3:15-17 – The Bible claims to be inspired, but that claim alone is not sufficient to prove it.
Dating fossils and rock layers is often done using circular reasoning.
Matthew 26:63-66 – “Jesus is not the Christ” because “He blasphemes (by claiming to be the Christ)” because “Jesus is not the Christ” …
Example: Evolution occurred because we are here!
It’s easy to slip into this if you are speaking to an audience that already agrees with you.

Acts 16:35-18:23

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Second preaching journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)

Philippi (Acts 16:9-40), continued

Acts 16:35-40 – Paul is attempting to exonerate himself and the cause of Christ by having the officials publicly declare his innocence.

Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9)

A bad attitude can counteract the truth.
Despite a bit of a rough start, this would later become a strong church!

Berea (Acts 17:10-15)

This group had a different reaction to those in Thessalonica, despite the message and the messenger being the same.

Athens (Acts 17:16-54)

Compare Acts 14:15.

Corinth (Acts 18:1-17)

Acts 18:8 – Compare I Corinthians 1:14-15.
If the gospel worked in immoral Corinth, it will work anywhere!
Acts 18:12 – This was AD 51. Archaeology shows that Gallio served in that role in that year only.
Acts 18:17 – See I Corinthians 1:1. Is this the same Sosthenes that replaced Crispus?!

Antioch (Acts 18:18-23)

The first and second journeys of Paul began and ended in Antioch.

The Nation of Israel

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 7:1-8 – Stephen summarizes the formation of the nation of Israel.

The nation God created and cared for

Genesis 12:1-3; 15:3; 17:3-8
Exodus 13:3 (Deuteronomy 5:6)
Exodus 19:3-6
God loves to bless His people!
- Luke 18:28-30 – Even if we must leave the physical, we will gain the spiritual.
- Ephesians 1:1-6
- Ephesians 3:19-21

The nation who made Him grieve

Hosea 2:2, 7
Hosea 11:1-9 – Israel just kept turning away from God.
Nehemiah 9:26
God’s heart breaks when we sin.
- Ephesians 4:30
- We must learn not to turn our backs to God!
- Hebrews 10:28-29

The nation who gave the world our savior

Matthew 1:1, 20-21
God allows anyone to become a child of Abraham!
- Romans 2:28-29
- Romans 9:3-8
- Galatians 3:6-9, 28-29

Mark 1:14-15

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Mark 1, continued:

Mark 1:14-15 – Compare the message of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7.

The kingdom promised and prophesied

Daniel 2 – Prophesied the rule of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and then the kingdom of God.
Daniel 7 – Four beasts: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. Then the kingdom of God would come and saints would prevail despite persecution.
Daniel 7:14 – See Acts 2:14-47; Ephesians 1:18-23.
What is the kingdom that is at hand?
- The word “kingdom” is used in different ways:
  - The universal dominion of God – Psalms 145:13
  - Heaven – II Peter 1:10-11 (see also I Peter 1:3-4)
  - Inhabitants or population subject to a king Individuals who’ve been “translated into the kingdom” by being “born again” (baptized) – Colossians 1:13; John 3:3, 5
- The kingdom is the saved!
  - Colossians 1:13-14
  - Acts 2:22-36
  - Matthew 7:21
  - John 3:3-5
  - I Peter 3:15
- The church is the saved!
  - The church is the “called out.”
  - II Thessalonians 2:14
  - Romans 6:3-11
  - I Corinthians 12:13 (Ephesians 5:26)
  - Ephesians 5:23
  - Ephesians 5:24
- The house of God is the saved!
  - I Timothy 3:15
  - Galatians 3:26-27
  - Ephesians 2:16-22 – church, kingdom, and family
- Kingdom, church, and house of God – three different terms identifying the same group of people.
Acts 2 – Fulfillment of all
- Daniel 2; Daniel 7; Matthew 16:18; Isaiah 10:22; Romans 9:27
- This is what was at hand.
Luke 1:32-33
The kingdom coming with power!
- Mark 9:1
- Acts 1:6-8
- Acts 2:1-36
- The kingdom came with power when the Holy Spirit came with power on Pentecost in Acts 2.
In the church, in the kingdom.
- Colossians 1:12-14
- Revelation 1:4, 9
- Churches:
  - Baptized into – I Corinthians 12:3
  - Member of body – I Corinthians 12:14-26
  - A house / body of stones – I Peter 2:5-9
- Kingdom:
  - Baptized into – John 3:3-5
  - Citizen of kingdom – John 3; Ephesians 2; Hebrews 8
  - A kingdom of priests – Exodus 19:6; I Peter 2:6-9; Revelation 5:10
Jesus came to preach!
- Mark 1:38
- Salvation is at hand!

Pick a Habit to Become a Little More Spiritual

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 15:35-16:35

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Godly Friendship

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Samuel 18:1

A good friend helps others see the truth.

Proverbs 27:6, 9
A true friend is willing to tell you the cold, hard truth.
A good friend is not someone who always agrees with you.
Esther 5:9-14 – What should Haman’s friends have said? They should have encouraged him to let this go. Instead, they encouraged him in his foolishness.
If you have a friend that will tell you the truth, count your blessings! If you don’t have this kind of friend, is it because you are too intimidating?
Proverbs 15:2 – The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable.

A good friend brings out the best in others.

Proverbs 13:20; 27:17
Proverbs 22:24 – Bad friends bring out the worst in you!
- What if my friend always uses bad words at red lights?
- What if my friend is always complaining?
- Will we not tend to start doing the same things?
Proverbs 16:28; 17:9
Luke 15:6, 9 – Good friends rejoice together in spiritual things!
Acts 10:24 – Cornelius called his friends and relatives to hear the gospel. That’s being a good friend!
I Corinthians 13:6
How have your friends influenced you? Do you think about spiritual things more? How do you dress and act? What kind of friend are you to them?

A good friend helps when it counts.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – Friends make us stronger when trouble comes.
Proverbs 19:4, 6
Job 2:11-13 – Before they started speaking bad advice, Job’s friends were good friends.
Proverbs 17:17
John 11:19, 31-36 – In grief, good friends come to grieve with you.
Romans 12:15
Am I this type of friend?
Are my friends true friends like this?
II Timothy 4:16
John 15:13

Mark 1:1-13

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Mark 1

Mark 1:1-8 – See Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3. Compare Matthew 11:10-15. John was to come in the spirit and power of Elijah.
Mark 1:9-11 – See Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 3:21-22. Luke reports there was a bodily form for the Holy Spirit. It is not clear from the grammar if the form was like a dove or the form just descended like a dove. What is remarkable here is that all three persons of God are seen at the same time!
Mark 1:12-13 – Jesus is tempted in the wilderness.
- Tradition says the location was somewhere near Jericho.
- Mark 1:13 – Compare I John 2:15-16; Genesis 3:6; Matthew 4:1-11. Satan is given several names in Revelation 20:2.
- The temptations Jesus faced:
  - Lust of the flesh – Matthew 4:4. He answered from Deuteronomy 8:1-3.
  - Pride of life – Matthew 4:7. He answered from Deuteronomy 6:10-16. See also Exodus 17:3-7.
  - Lust of the eye – Matthew 4:10. He answered from Deuteronomy 6:10-16.
- Temptation itself is not a sin (see Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was tempted but never sinned. Temptation only becomes a sin when we give in to it. James 1:12-15.
- I John 1:7-9; 5:18 – God will cleanse us of our sins if we are baptized and continue to repent and confess our sins.
- I Corinthians 10:13 – The faithful promise of God concerning temptation. The way of escape is God’s word (see Psalms 119:11). But in order to use God’s word to escape temptation, we must know God’s word!
Jesus’ travels
- Mark only records part of Jesus’ travels during his public ministry. We know from the gospel of John that Jesus traveled much more than this. He records that Jesus attended four Passovers in Jerusalem:
  - 30 AD – John 2:13
  - 31 AD – John 5:1
  - 32 AD – John 6:4
  - 33 AD – John 11:55; 13:1
- Jesus would also have come to Jerusalem for three feasts every year.

Joseph

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 37:2-4

I can resist the lust of the flesh.

Genesis 39:1-12 – Joseph was a young man, 17-28 years old, at this time. This was a tremendous temptation, but Joseph prevailed.
Joseph’s reason for resisting was that he didn’t want to sin against God.
I Timothy 4:12 – This is what God expected of young Timothy.
I Timothy 5:2
God doesn’t give us a pass because we’re young!
II Peter 2:5-10
Proverbs 1:10

I can strengthen my faith over the years of my life.

Genesis 37:28
Genesis 39:2, 20
Genesis 41:15 – Joseph glorified God.
Genesis 41:51-52
Genesis 50:19-21
Joseph maintained and strengthened his faith over his long life, despite all the difficulties he faced.
Genesis 45:4-8

I can face death with peace.

Genesis 50:22-26
I Corinthians 15:35-49
Joseph was a great example of how to live and how to die – trusting in the Lord.

Acts 14:11-15:35

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

First preaching journey (Acts 13-14), continued

Treated like Gods in Lystra (Acts 14:8-20)

Sustaining souls (Acts 14:21-23)

Paul turned around and went right back to the places they’d been so terribly treated. He was interested in helping people – not about his own physical safety.

End: Antioch of Syria (Acts 14:24-28)

Meeting in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-35)

Debating circumcision (Acts 15:1-6)

The apostles led them to understand God’s will. Even Barnabas was involved in the debate.

Proof #1: Peter – Cornelius (Acts 15:7-11)

See Acts 10:44-48.
Acts 15:11 – Note the ordering here. He’s telling the Jews that our circumcision doesn’t matter either. We will be saved like them.

Proof #2: Paul and Barnabas – 1st preaching trip (Acts 15:12)

Proof #3: James – prophecy (Acts 15:13-18)

Acts 15:16-18 – This is a quote from Amos 9:11-12.

Writing a letter (Acts 15:19-35)

Our Responsibilities Toward Elders

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Have respect for God’s arrangement.

Acts 14:23
Titus 1:4-5
Acts 6:3
The local church should follow the elders, not whoever complains the loudest.
Hebrews 13:17

Esteem them highly.

Hebrews 13:17
I Thessalonians 5:12-13
I Peter 5:1-5

Take responsibility instead of just blaming the elders.

I Thessalonians 5:14 – Brethren are the ones being urged to action here – not just elders.

Remember that they are humans, not superhumans.

I Timothy 3:2-7
Titus 1:5-9
We must be careful to not be too lenient or too strict with God’s qualifications for elders. After the many mistakes that Peter made, he was an elder!
I Timothy 5:17-22

Free up the shepherds to shepherd.

I Timothy 3:8-13 – Qualifications for deacons.
Acts 6:2-6 – Were these men deacons? It’s not clear. Either way, their job was to free up the apostles to do their work.
Not just deacons but all members should do their part to serve.

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction to the book

I Peter 5:13 – Mark was not a physical son. This is referring to a spiritual relationship.
Colossians 4:10
Mark worked with Peter and Paul.
Antioch – Jerusalem
- Acts 11:29-30
Jerusalem
- Acts 12:5, 12
- Act 12:1-17 – Paul and Barnabas in Jerusalem.

Travels of Mark

Antioch (45 AD) – Acts 12:25
Salamis (48 AD) – Acts 13:5
Perga – Acts 13:13
Jerusalem (49 AD) – Mark back home
Antioch (52 AD) – Mark with Paul and Barnabas
Cyprus – Acts 15:37-39 – Mark with Barnabas (the last we hear about Barnabas)
Rome (63 AD) – Mark with Paul during his first imprisonment
- Colossians 4:10-11; Philemon 1:23-24
Babylon (I Peter 5:13) – Mark with Peter in Babylon
Asia Minor (68 AD) – II Timothy 4:11 – Mark with Timothy during Paul’s second imprisonment
Rome: Until Paul was killed
Alexandria, Egypt – Preached and was martyred there

Timeline

Mark was written about 67 AD according to most sources, although some say it was written about 48 AD, before Matthew.

The Work of Elders

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 20:17, 28
I Thessalonians 5:12-13; I Timothy 3:1

Why study this?

To help our current elders in their work.
To help other men prepare for this work.
To help the rest of us appreciate their work.
To differentiate between tradition and God’s word.

Overseeing souls

Acts 20:28-32
I Thessalonians 5:12-13 – Elders have charge over people in the congregation and lead them.
I Timothy 3:4-5 – Elders take care of the church of God. An elder’s work as a family man shows how he will do as an elder. If a man cannot lead his own family well, how can he hope to lead a local church?
Hebrews 13:17 – Elders keep watch over souls. They will give account for the souls under their care.
Acts 11:27-30 – This is the only passage in the New Testament that specifically talks about the elders handling money.
James 5:14-16 – This could be talking about spiritual sickness.

Wielding the sword of the Spirit

Titus 1:9-14 – Elders must use the Bible in both positive and negative ways. Both exhorting and refuting error.
Acts 20:32 – Prepare to use the word!
I Timothy 5:17-18 – Elders are worthy of double honor: respect and money. It is rare these days for elders to be paid, but we do have scriptural authority for it.

Developing their character

I Peter 5:1-4 – Elders work voluntarily, show eagerness, and act as examples for others.
Ezekiel 34:1-6, 10 – Shepherds love people and are willing to step into many situations even if they are awkward.
Acts 20:30
I Thessalonians 5:12
Titus 1:9, 13

Acts 13:1-14:10

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 1:8
- Acts 2-7 – Jerusalem
- Acts 8-13 – Judea and Samaria
- Acts 14-28 – Remotest parts of the earth

First preaching journey (Acts 13-14)

Begin: Antioch of Syria (Acts 13:1-3)

Acts 13:1 – Manaen grew up with Herod Antipas!

Cyprus (Acts 13:4-12)

Acts 13:11 – Saul had the power to strike people blind!
Acts 13:9 – We are not told why Saul’s name changed to Paul. Saul was a Hebrew name and Paul is a Greek name, so it’ possible he used this name when preaching to Gentiles.

Paul’s sermon in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:13-43)

As was common, Paul started with a history lesson and cites Israelite history.
Acts 13:22 – This could be a subtle reminder that God can “remove” us for disobedience.
Acts 13:37-39 – How to convince Jews? Remind them of the prophecies and show how Jesus fulfilled them.

Jews and Gentiles (Acts 13:44-52)

Acts 13:44 – In the second week, nearly the entire city came to hear Paul. The audience was probably a Gentile majority at this point.
Acts 13:45 – The Jews were jealous of the large crowds and began actively working against God!
Acts 13:48 – “as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
- This is a bit of a grammatical inversion. We never see a case of God directly changing someone’s heart. Compare Hebrews 9:27.

Division in Jerusalem (Acts 14:1-7)

Treated like Gods in Lystra (Acts 14:8-20)

Acts 14:9 – This does not mean that the man’s faith was required for the miracle.

Genesis, Part 13

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 26 – Isaac repeats some of the mistakes of Abraham

Genesis 26:34-35 – Esau marries foreign wives.

Genesis 27 – Jacob tricks Isaac and Esau

Genesis 27:1-4 – Isaac asks Esau to bring him his favorite food so he can bless him.
Genesis 27:5-17 – Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac to get the blessing.
Genesis 27:18-29 – Isaac blesses Jacob.
Genesis 27:30-46 – Isaac is angry with Jacob.

Genesis 28 – Jacob’s ladder

Genesis 28:1-3 – Isaac blessed Jacob and tells him to go find a wife from Laban in Paddan-aram. Do not take a wife from Canaan.
Genesis 28:6-8 – Esau takes a wife from Ishmael to spite his father.
Genesis 28:10-20 – God makes the covenant with Jacob and blesses him. Jacob realizes the “Lord is in this place and I did not know it.” Really?
Genesis 28:21-22 – Jacob seems to put a condition on God’s journey (“then the Lord shall be my God”).

Genesis 29 – Jacob gets snookered

Genesis 29:1-12 – Jacob meets Rachel. Notice the contrast between the approach of the servant of Abraham and Jacob.
Genesis 29:13-20 – Jacob sets his own price, saying he will serve Laban for seven years. Jacob is not motivated to go back because he is afraid of Esau.
Genesis 29:21-30 – Laban tricks Jacob. Did Laban really care about the marriage order of his daughters? How did Jacob not know it was Leah? Where was Rachel? What should Jacob have done instead? Laban sets the new price.
Genesis 29:31-35 – The results are a truly dysfunctional family, but God uses Jacob and Laban’s bad decisions to progress His plan and keep His promises.

Genesis 30 – A dysfunctional family

Genesis 30:1-24 – Jacob’s wives fight over him. Jacob has to deal with his family drama. Rachel’s irony of saying she will die without children, but then dying while giving birth.
Genesis 30:25-36 – Jacob wants to leave but Laban sets a new price. Laban recognizes that God is behind Jacob. Jacob uses the word “I” a lot. Jacob makes a deal with Laban.

Genesis 31 – Jacob goes back to Canaan

Genesis 31:1-19 – Jacob realizes that Laban is starting to figure out he is losing livestock. Jacob stops using the word “I” so much.

Genesis 32 – God prevails over Jacob

Genesis 32:9-12 – Jacob humbles himself to God and prays.
Genesis 32:13-23 – Jacob prepares a massive gift for Esau and changes the way he originally intended on meeting Esau.
Genesis 32:24-32 – Jacob wrestles with God. God renames Jacob to Israel.

The Local Church

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 3:16

Characteristics of the local church

Characteristics	Per secripture	Catholic	Baptist	Assembly of God	Church of Christ	church of Christ
Authority	New Testament	❌	❌	❌	❔	✔️
Name	church of Christ	❌	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Plan of salvation	Hear, believe, repent, confess, baptism	❌	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Order of worship	Sing, pray, teach, Lord’s Supper, give	❌	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Work	Preach gospel, benevolence, discipline	❌	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Organization	Local church	❌	❌	❌	❌	✔️

Acts 11:19-12:25

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 11

Acts 11:21 – They turned to the Lord. Compare Acts 26:17-18; I Thessalonians 1:9. Turning to God involves serving Him (and repenting).
Acts 11:23 – Barnabas saw the grace of God – how the church was growing and prospering.
Acts 11:28 – This famine is recorded in history.
Acts 11:29 – Relief was sent specifically to the needy brethren – not to all people in the region.

Acts 12

These events took place roughly 44 AD, about 14 years after the events of Acts 2.
Acts 12:1-2 – Two martyrs are mentioned by name in the first twelve chapters of Acts: Stephen and James. We don’t know how many more Christians were killed by Paul before his conversion.
Acts 12:3 – Herod imprisoned Christians to please others. We must be careful not to do wrong just to please others.
Acts 12:11 – Compare Psalms 126.
Acts 12:13 – Compare Peter’s state in John 18. God has truly brought Peter out of prison. He is a changed man now.
Acts 12:17 – Catholics sometimes argue that this “other place” is Rome where Peter became the first Pope. But Peter is again in Jerusalem in Acts 15:7 and we have no evidence in the New Testament of Peter taking any sort of position like this. Peter might have left to an undisclosed location as a strategic move because he knew the persecution was pointed at him at this point, so he left to take it away from the other Christians.

I Corinthians 4: God, the Corinthians, and Paul

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Keep the proper reverence for God.

I Corinthians 4:1
I Corinthians 1:14-15 – Paul is trying to get them out of the party spirit.
I Corinthians 1:25
I Corinthians 1:31; 2:4-5
I Corinthians 3:19
I Corinthians 4:19-20 – God has the real power! See I Corinthians 1:18. The power is the gospel.
I Corinthians 2:1

Be willing to accept admonishment.

I Corinthians 4:6-8 – Watch out for arrogance! Paul and Apollos submitted to these things, so they should also.
I Corinthians 8:1 – Don’t let knowledge make you arrogant.
I Corinthians 4:14, 18, 21 – Paul loved them enough to admonish them.
II Corinthians 2:6-9
We must be willing to accept admonishment and accept others back when they repent from sin.

Endure headships for Christ.

I Corinthians 4:9-21

Genesis, Part 12

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 23 – Sarah dies

Tribute to Sarah. Sarah dies and Abraham buys a burial place. I Peter 3:6; Hebrews 11:11. Sarah was a big deal!

Genesis 24 – Isaac marries

Genesis 24:1-9 – Abraham asks his servant to get a bride for Isaac from Mesopotamia but not to take Isaac there. Trust God to show you.
Genesis 24:10-14 – The servant prays for God to direct him.
Genesis 24:15-27 – The servant asks the first woman he sees, who happens to be beautiful but proves to be a servant. The servant bows and worships.
Genesis 24:28-61 – The servant repeats what happened at the well to show that God was behind it. Laban and Bethuel cannot argue. The servant wants to go back to Isaac as soon as possible. Rebekah agrees to go.
Genesis 24:62-67 – Isaac was going out to meditate and meets Rebekah, who covers herself. She became his wife and he loved her.

Genesis 25 – Abraham dies, Jacob and Esau are born

Genesis 25:1-6 – Abraham has other sons with other women. (Was this right for Abraham to do?) Abraham sends them away to the east.
Genesis 25:6-11 – Abraham dies and Isaac and Ishmael bury him in the cave he bought to bury Sarah.
Genesis 25:11-18 – Descendants of Ishmael. Muslims claim they are descendants of Ishmael, thus also children of Abraham.
Genesis 25:19-21 – Isaac prayed for his wife to be pregnant.
Genesis 25:22-23 – Her pregnancy was difficult, so she prayed to God. God chose who would be blessed. See Romans 9:11.
Genesis 25:24-28 – Jacob (supplanter, cheater) and Esau (hairy) were born. Parental partiality caused problems.
Genesis 25:29-34 – Jacob cheats Esau out of his birthright, but Esau allows himself to be cheated. Esau didn’t view his birthright as important enough (see Hebrews 12:15). As Christians, how many times do we fail to value our birthright of salvation by continuing to sin?

Genesis 26 – Isaac repeats some of the mistakes of Abraham

Genesis 26:1-6 – There was a famine in the land. God tells Abraham not to go to Egypt but to stay in Canaan and He would bless him.
Genesis 26:7-11 – Isaac repeats the same mistake that Abraham made to the same guy!

Jericho: In God's Word and in the Ground

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Joshua 6
Kathleen Kenyon, Digging Up Jericho, p. 262-262
- In her timeline, no trace of the town walls of Jericho could be found.
Joshua 6:1-3, 20-27

Fortified walls – just like the Bible says

Deuteronomy 9:1
Kathleen Kenyon doesn’t deny that Jericho was a mighty, fortified city.
The city was built on a hill with a 30-40 foot other wall six fee thick. There was an inner wall that topped out at 70-75 feet above ground level.
The area inside the inner wall was about six acres. The total area inside the outer wall was about nine acres.
There were possibly 1200 people inside the inner walls.
People also lived between the inner and outer walls, but this was likely slums. Rahab would have lived here.

The walls fell flat – just like the Bible says

Joshua 3:15 – a time of harvest
Jericho had a spring inside the city, along with massive food storage. They were well prepared for a long siege.
The walls fell in such a way to provide a siege ramp for the Israelites.
Joshua 6:20 – Each man went straight ahead because the fallen walls made a siege ramp for him.

Rahab’s home – just like the Bible says

Joshua 2:15, 12-21
Joshua 6:17, 22-23
There was an area of the wall on the north side with a couple of homes attached that did not fall down. This is possibly Rahab’s house. Outside the wall on that side was a convenient place where the spies could have escaped to.

A city destroyed by fire – just like the Bible says

The city was heavily burnt, but the outer walls fell first.
Much burned grain in ports was found, which is very unusual. Normally, attackers would steal the grain first because it was very valuable and then burn the city. But God told Israel to turn the city without taking the grain, so that is what they did.
Joshua 6:18-19
Hebrews 11:30

Acts 10:1-11:18

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 10

Acts 10:1-2 – Cornelius was a devout man, who had a good reputation (see Acts 10:22).
Acts 10:3-4 – This is the first of four supernatural events in this chapter.
Acts 10:9-16 – Peter sees a vision from God. This is the second supernatural event.
Acts 10:17-23 – God gave Peter the vision, then allowed him some time to meditate on it.
- Acts 10:23 – Six men accompanied Peter, as we learn from Acts 11:12.
Acts 10:24 – Cornelius wanted all his friends and relatives to hear the message also.
Acts 10:25-26 – Peter made it clear that he was not to be worshiped.
Acts 10:28 – Peter now understood his mission.
In Acts 8, 9, and 10, the Holy Spirit always worked to bring the sinner and the gospel together. The Holy Spirit didn’t directly tell the sinner what to do to be saved but brought him in contact with a man who could.
Acts 10:44 – The Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles, showing that the message was for them also. There is nothing in this passage that implies that the Holy Spirit will fall upon all believers.
Acts 10:47 – Clearly baptism is required for salvation.

Acts 11

Acts 11:2-3 – Peter gets rebuked for going and eating with uncircumcised people.
Acts 11:18 – They rejoiced that the Gentiles could now partake of salvation!

Can You Imagine?

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Samuel 7:5-16 – A temple was not something God has asked for. God was the one taking care of David, not the other way around. Got turned it around and gave David a house and great promises. Can you imagine being David and receiving these promises?
I Chronicles 22:7-13
I Kings 2:1-4 – David’s parting message to Solomon.
I Kings 3:10-14 – God makes promises to Solomon. Can you imagine being Solomon?
I Kings 6:11
I Kings 9:3-5
I Kings 4:20-25 – The promises had already started to happen!
I Kings 9:4; 3:14 – There were conditions for these promises.

Can you imagine turning your back on all this?

I Kings 11:1-8 – Solomon was drawn away to idols by his foreign wives.
I Kings 9:3-9 – Israel would become a byword to other nations. Idol-worshipers couldn’t imagine the Israelites turning from God after what God had done being them out of Egypt!
Hebrews 6:1-8 – We also have these amazing promises! Why would we turn from these?

What should we do instead?

II Samuel 7:18-24 – The nation belonged to God. All things come from God.
We need to let others see what God has done for us.
II Corinthians 6:16-7:1 – We need to cleanse ourselves.
We need to perfect holiness in the fear of God.
II Peter 1:3-9
Hebrews 6:9

Genesis, Part 11

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 19

Genesis 19:26 – We are not told exactly why Lot’s wife looked back, but we know God didn’t approve since she was struck dead.
Genesis 19:34-38 – Bad choices can affect our family for generations.

Genesis 20 – Abraham and Abimelech

Genesis 20:1-2 – Abraham has a relapse of faith. Abraham assumes Abimelech is evil. Abimelech takes Sarah. Sarah must have been pretty good looking for a 90+ year old woman!
Genesis 20:3-7 – We see another example of God keeping His promise to protect Abraham. God also respects Abimelech’s heart. Think of Uzzah.
Genesis 20:8-14 – Abimelech approaches Abraham and restores Sarah.
Genesis 20:15-18 – Abraham prays for Abimelech and his people.

Genesis 21 – God keeps his promise

Genesis 21:1-6 – Isaac is born. God keeps his promise. They name him “he laughs” as God commanded. It would remind them of when they doubted God. Abraham follows God’s instruction to circumcise Isaac.
Genesis 21:7-21 – Sarah has a bad attitude against Hagar. Abraham is distressed but he trusts God. Hagar leaves, then God saves and blesses them. Was this fair?
Genesis 21:22-34 – Abimelech and Abraham make a covenant. They place is called Beersheba. Why is this story in the Bible?

Genesis 22 – Abraham finally lives up to the hype

Genesis 22:1-2 – In light of sending Ishmael away, God tells Abraham to offer Isaac.
Genesis 22:3-8 – Abraham travels about 40 miles to obey God and prepares to worship. Isaac understands what worship was.
- Where is Mt. Moriah?
  - II Chronicles 3:1; Matthew 26:36
  - This is where Solomon built the temple and where Jesus prayed before His crucifixion.
- Genesis 22:8 – “God will provide for Himself the lamb” – this was prophecy about Jesus! In the case of Isaac, God provided a ram for the sacrifice.
Genesis 22:9-14 – Abraham attempts to go through with offering his son. God provides a ram.
Genesis 22:15-19 – God blesses Abraham and all people forever because of Abraham’s obedience. God knows the hearts of men.
Genesis 22:20-24 – God sets the stage for Isaac’s future wife.

People of the Bible

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Holy Spirit taught a lot of truth through PEOPLE.

Could you summarize the Bible without using any names?
Leviticus 19:18
Luke 10:25-37 – Jesus taught this truth through people. Here’s what is looks like to be a neighbor.
For example:
- I Corinthians 10:1-13
  - Exodus 32:4-6 – quoted from I Corinthians 10:7
  - Numbers 25:1-9 – referenced from I Corinthians 10:8
  - Numbers 21:4-6 – referenced from I Corinthians 10:9
  - Numbers 16:41-49 – possibly what is being referenced from I Corinthians 10:10
  - These stories are written as examples! God does not look kindly on grumbling and complaining.
- Genesis 4:2-7
  - Genesis 4:4-5 – This showed that God expected to be worshiped in the way He commanded. Just because we have a talent doesn’t mean that we can use it to worship God. Abel worshiped from faith (Hebrews 11:4).
  - Genesis 4:7 – Cain had a choice!

We’ll notice some unique things about the Holy Spirit’s descriptions.

He’s absolutely honest about the good and the bad.
- II Chronicles 25:2
He writes about people differently than we probably would.
- I Kings 11:4
- The Holy Spirit is much more concise than we would be!
He knows more about us than we know about ourselves.
- John 12:42-43

Acts 9:1-43

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 9

Acts 9:1-2 – Persecuting Christians was Saul’s goal in life at this point!
Acts 9:3-5 – From other references, we find this happened about noon and the voice Saul heard was in a Hebrew dialect. Saul was persecuting Christians, but he is rebuked for persecuting Jesus Himself.
Acts 9:6-9 - Acts 9:27; 26:16; I Corinthians 15:38 – Just as other apostles saw the resurrected Jesus, so did Paul.
Acts 9:10-16 – Ananias went to Saul and restores his sight. Saul is immediately baptized. Paul took food and went through a time of refreshing.
Acts 9:20-22 – Saul began preaching Jesus immediately!
Acts 9:23-25 – Now Saul is under attack from the Jews. The disciples help him escape by letting him down from the wall in a basket.
Acts 9:26-31 – Saul saw the need to join a local church, but they were scared to allow him in. Barnabas vouched for Saul.
Acts 9:32-35 – Peter healed a paralytic man in front of the residents of Lydda and Sharon.
Acts 9:36-43 – Peter restores Tabitha (Dorcas) to life. Peter then stays in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.

I Feel Like a Fake

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 23

Go back and build the foundation: my heart.

Acts 8:21-22 – The root problem was Simon’s heart.
Luke 6:43-45 – Actions come from what is in the heart. You can’t skip the heart and go straight to the actions.
Matthew 22:37 – The greatest command: love.
I John 4:19
It may be helpful to sit and think (meditate) about love.

Be humble enough to remember that I’m a work in progress.

Romans 12:3
I need to have an accurate view of myself and be humble enough to see where I need work.
Stop faking and start learning!
Luke 18:13-14 – The humble will be exalted.
I John 1:8-9 – If we say we have no sin, we lie!

Build a faith that is my own.

Matthew 22:36-38 – Our priority must be loving God.
I Corinthians 1:12-15 – Paul was correcting misplaced allegiance.
Our actions must be motivated by a heart that wants to serve God.
John 7:46-52
Romans 10:17

Genesis, Part 10

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

[NOTE: Unfortunately, we had a wireless microphone die during this class, so there is a couple minutes of silence that have been cut from this recording at around the 8:30 mark. Sorry about that!]

Genesis 17

Genesis 17:1-8 - God repeats His covenant with Abraham and changes his name:
- Abram: exalted father
- Abraham: father of a multitude
Genesis 17:9-14 – All males commanded to be circumcised as a sign from God.
Genesis 17:15-22 – God blesses Sarai and says she will be the mother of nations. God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah. The change is very minor but reinforces the fact that both Abraham and Sarah were given new names by God. God confirms that the blessing will come through Sarah.
Genesis 17:22-27 – Abraham did as God commanded that very day.

Genesis 18

Genesis 18:1-8 – Abraham and Sarah are visited by three men. Abraham prepares them a tremendous amount of food (thirty pounds of flour, over thirty loves of bread). Abraham calls one of them lord (H112 adon).
Genesis 18:9-15 – At some point Abraham realizes that these men are different and that one of them is God. Sarah laughs at herself and gets called out. In Genesis 18:13, one of the men is referred to as Jehovah.
Genesis 18:16-33 – God tells Abraham what He is about to do to Sodom. Abraham asks God to spare the city. Abraham calls Him adonay (H135), a reverent term for Yahweh (Genesis 18:27, 30, 31).

Genesis 19: Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 19:1-7 – Two men enter the gates of Sodom and Lot invites them to his house. The people of Sodom come to sin with them.
Genesis 19:8-11 – Lot offers his daughters. Men complain of Lot’s judgment, and they are struck with blindness.
Genesis 19:12-23 – The men had to drag Lot and his wife and daughters out of Sodom. See II Peter 2:7-8.
Genesis 19:24-29 – God destroys Sodom and the whole area except where Lot had gone. Lot’s wife looks back (Luke 17:32). Abraham looked on from a distance and saw the destruction.
Genesis 19:30-38 – Lot’s daughters get Lot drunk in order to have children. The people of Moab and Ammon are born.

Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah

Fame and fortune are not worth your soul.
Stay away from things that torment your soul (II Peter 2:6-8).
Tradition is not an excuse to sin.
Excuses can be made for just about anything.
Sin is the worst thing in the world.
Be honest when someone is judging you truthfully.
Be patient.
Alcohol can cause us to do unspeakable things.
Bad choices can affect our family for generations.

Traditions and Examining Scripture

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Traditions

II Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6; I Corinthians 11:2 – These are good traditions!
Colossians 2:6-8
Galatians 1:13-14 – Paul was zealous for the old traditions.
Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-13 – Their human traditions contradicted the word of God.
A tradition is just something that’s repeated and handed down. There’s nothing inherently right or wrong with that.
But God’s word itself is the authority, not any tradition.
Not all traditions are bad. Some are great!
What’s wrong is if we develop an attitude that says, “That’s the only way it can be dome.”
It’s impossible to not have traditions.
Acts 15:1; 16:3 – They were saying circumcision was required. It was not required, but Paul had him circumcised later just to allow him more access to teach the Jews.
Galatians 2:1-5 – Titus was the inverse case. Paul refused to circumcise him to make a point to those who were trying to force the issue.
It is wrong to insist on one particular way if there are other God-approved ways of doing something.

Traditions and examining the scripture

I Thessalonians 5:19-22; Acts 17:11 – We must be discerning and examine everything.
When I hear about some new belief or practice:
- What I should not do: just immediately conclude, “Well, that’s wrong because that’s not what I’m used to.”
- What I SHOULD do: open the Bible and study, being humble enough to realize that I may have been relying on assumptions or traditions.
The Pharisees were influential in part because they claimed to have all the answers.
Some traditions to think about:
- Being baptized by the preacher
  - I Peter 3:21
- Ending with a “closing prayer”
  - Mark 14:26
- Putting “church of Christ” on the sign out front
  - Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 1:2; I Thessalonians 1:1
- Is “going forward” in the last three minutes after a sermon the only way to obey God in certain ways?
- What if, instead of us all sitting facing the front, we sat in a circle during assembly?
- What if, instead of passing the Lord’s Supper trays, we walked to the table, and each took some?

Acts 8:1-40

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 8

Acts 8:1-3 – Saul approved of the stoning of Stephen. Saul and others greatly persecuted the church at that time. Many Christians were scattered, but not the apostles.
Acts 8:4 – The people who left preached the word wherever they went. The persecution caused the gospel to spread!
Acts 8:5 – This is not Philip the apostle. This Philip was one of the seven chosen to attend to the widows in Acts 6:5.
Acts 8:9 – See Revelation 22:14. God does not look kindly on sorcery. See II Peter 2:2.
Acts 8:13 – Simon was clearly saved here, having believed and been baptized.
Acts 8:14-17 – Apostles were sent to transfer spiritual gifts. Philip was able to work miracles but could not pass them on. Only apostles could do that.
Acts 8:20-24 – Simon had sinned and needed to repent. This causes a problem for Calvinists who believe once saved, always saved.
Acts 8:26-30 – Philip was not just a robot but eagerly did what the Holy Spirit instructed.
Acts 8:31 – The Catholic church uses this passage to say that help from clergy is required to understand the scriptures. Today we have the complete Bible, which is a tremendous advantage that the Ethiopian did not have. See Ephesians 3:3-5.
Acts 8:34-36 – Clearly, teaching Jesus includes teaching baptism.
Acts 8:37-38 – Baptism is clearly immersion here. They both went down into the water.

The Sermon in Acts 13

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Sermon in Acts 13

Acts 13:17-22 – Paul starts with some brief history.
Acts 13:23-25 – Paul skips 1000 years to talk about Jesus and John the Baptist.
Acts 13:26-31 – Paul has now proclaimed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Acts 13:32-35 – Paul did some convincing, by referencing Old Testament prophecy, which would carry a lot of weight with the Jews.
Acts 13:36-37 – This is the same point Peter made in Acts 2.
Acts 13:38-39 – Forgiveness of sins comes through Jesus.

This was a sermon about forgiveness of sins through Jesus

Acts 13:23 – Jesus was called the Savior. This was probably a new idea to much of the audience.
Acts 13:38-39 – Christ now offers freedom from sin. See Hebrews 10:1-4, 10-12. The time has come and the Law of Moses is over!
Acts 13:42-44, 48-49 – The people shared the gospel and were excited to hear more!

God worked for thousands of years to bring about forgiveness today!

Acts 13:17 – God “chose our fathers.”
Acts 13:23 – God did as He promises. See II Samuel 7:12; Acts 2:30.
Acts 13:27-29, 32 – These promises can be tracked all the way back to Genesis (Genesis 3:15; 12:2).
Ephesians 1:4-5; II Timothy 1:9 – God’s plan started before time began!

It’s possible to go to church every week and still not know the truth.

Acts 13:15, 38-41 – They were reading the Law and Prophets, but didn’t know what Paul spoke. The quote here is from Habakkuk 1:5.
Let us be careful to remove our bias and see God’s plain truth!

Genesis, Part 9

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 13 – Abram (a work in progress)

Genesis 13:10 – It is thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were somewhere near the Dead Sea.
Genesis 13:14-18 – God repeats two of His promises to Abram.

Genesis 14

Genesis 14:5-13 – Kings joined forces in battle – 4 kings vs. 5 kings. Lot, his family, and his possessions were captured. One who escaped traveled to tell Abram (approximately 30 miles).
Genesis 14:14-16 – Abram takes 318 trained men and defeats Chedorlaomer and three other kings. He drove them out of Canaan (over 100 miles).
Genesis 14:17-24 – Abram meets Melchizedek, priest of God Most High. Melchizedek recognizes that God delivered Abram. Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek and repeats his words. Hebrews 7 references Melchizedek and compares him to Jesus. This shows that God had dealings with other people besides Abram and his lineage. There were righteous people living in Canaan.

Genesis 15

Genesis 15:1-5 – God reaffirms His covenant. Abram asks for clarification about offspring.
Genesis 15:6 – Abram believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. His faith was pleasing to God. It’s important to note that God was the one who did the counting as far as righteousness is concerned. It is God’s decision, not ours. See James 2:20-24.
Genesis 15:7-21 – God gives Abram a sign to prove to him the land promise and to show him what would happen to his descendants, foretelling of the Israelites in Egypt. The iniquity of the Amorites was not yet complete, showing that God is patient and just.
Genesis 15:18 – The land described here is much bigger than what was eventually taken, however under the rule of David and Solomon, the area did indeed expand to what is described here.

Genesis 16

Sarai tried to intervene for God. She gave Hagar, her Egyptian maid, to Abram as wife.
Hagar conceived and looked down on Sarai.
Sarai is upset with Abram, then deals harshly with Hagar, who runs away.
Hagar travels toward Shur but God sends her back.
God continues to tell the history of his people.

Growing in Gratitude to God

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Letter about starting child beside the road in Ethiopia.

Does my gratitude to God motivate me to imitate Christ by being compassionate and generous to others?

Who gets the credit?
I Corinthians 15:10-11 – Paul gave the credit to God.

Thankfulness is a command, an active behavior, an evident foundational attitude

Ephesians 5:20
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Philippians 4:6

Thankfulness is more than a momentary response to our blessings; it includes a continuing attitude of humility toward God

Luke 17:15-16
Daniel 6:10

Glorifying God involves admitting we aren’t the source of our blessings and developing the proper attitude toward our possessions

Luke 12:16-21, 15
If it’s not us doing it and it’s not for us, why do we work?
Ephesians 4:28

A grateful attitude toward God will encourage us and move us to share our blessings

Galatians 6:10
I John 3:16-17
Matthew 19:16-22
Our gratefulness and desire to follow Christ should bring us joy as we have opportunity to share.
Luke 16:19-23
Matthew 25:34-40, 41-46
- Thanks, gratitude, compassion, and sharing are not optional!

As our gratefulness helps us grow and want to imitate Christ, we become more Christlike ourselves

Learn to be thankful	Motivated to share	Imitate Christ
Actively thanking God	Compassion and generosity to others	Be more Christlike

We can’t fix the world, but we can find small ways to help.
John 8:12
John 3:16 – The greatest blessing God has ever given us!

Acts 6:1-7:60

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 6

Acts 6:1 – This issue could have caused division, so it was important to resolve it. The devil is always looking for ways to divide us (Luke 4:13). Satan never stops! Note that food is not mentioned here. This distribution could be money or some other type of help. Also note that it was to help needy members of the congregation – it was not a community outreach project.
Acts 6:3 – Seven men were appointed to take care of the task. They are not specifically called deacons. The congregation selected the men and the apostles appointed them. The men’s names seem to be Hellenistic, which would seem to be a wise choice given that the Hellenistic widows were the ones being neglected.
Acts 6:5 – The phrase “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” seems to indicate that the men were full of the word of God – not necessarily that they already had spiritual gifts.
Acts 6:6 – This is the first recorded instance of the apostles laying hands on people. Acts 6:8 shows that Stephen could work miracles after this.
Acts 6:7 – Priests being converted and becoming Christians was a huge change. This no doubt caused even more fear in the remaining Jewish leadership as their numbers diminished.
Acts 6:11 – This is the same thing Jezebel died to Naboth (I Kings 21:1-14) and the chief leaders did to Jesus (Mark 14:56-59).
Acts 6:15 – An angel is often thought of as one who reveals the word of God, which is exactly what Stephen was doing.

Acts 7

Acts 7:1 – The accusations were clearly false, brought up by false witnesses (Acts 6:11-14).
Acts 7:2-7 – Abraham was obedient to God before circumcision was ever initiated as an act of obedience.

Genesis, Part 8

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 10

The descendants of Noah are listed.
Shem was contemporary with Abraham!
Genesis 10:5, 20, 31 – The first mentions of languages in the Bible.
Genesis 10:25 – This seems to be talking about the tower of Babel.

Genesis 11

Genesis 11:1-9 – The Tower of Babel
- Genesis 11:4 – The people had an attitude of defiance or self-reliance in a negative sense. They were not looking to God.
- Genesis 11:5 – “Children of men” or “sons of men” here seems to be referring to unrighteous people.
- Note: OpenBible.info has KML files for Google Earth showing places referenced in the Bible.
- Genesis 11:6 – The word translated “impossible” is the Hebrew word for “restrained” or “cut off.” There would be no end to the pursuit of their own desires.
- Genesis 11:7 – The languages were confused, possibly leading to isolation of certain traits within different groups.
- It is thought that the Tower was some sort of ziggurat. Many ruins of ziggurats are located in the Middle East, but it is not known if any of these were the Tower of Babel.

Genesis 12

Genesis 12:1-3 – God makes a covenant with Abram, including three promises: making him into a great nation, giving him the land of Canaan, and blessing all people through his descendants (the coming of Jesus).
Genesis 12:4 – Abram does as God commanded.
Genesis 12:5-9 – Abram passed through Canaan to Shechem (390 miles). He had to walk through the promised land!
Genesis 12:10-20 – Abram goes to Egypt because of a drought (232 miles to Giza). Is this what God intended? He apparently forgot the promise that God made to him in Genesis 12:2-3 and displays selfishness to protect himself. God continued to keep His promises even though Abraham forgot.

Top 10 Blessings

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

James 1:17

10: Living in the USA

Deuteronomy 8:7-10
We also have great blessings here in this land of plenty.

9: The beauty and wisdom of nature

Jeremiah 10:10-13
God could have made a barren wasteland, but He gave us so much beauty!
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir

8: The Benchley church

Philemon 1:4-7

7: Easy access to the Bible

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

6: Prayer

Psalms 5:1-2
What a blessing that we can speak to God!

5: Our ability to change

Colossians 3:5-10
We are commanded to repent – to change! Clearly, we can change.
We have the ability to learn and do better if we want to!

4: Forgiveness and fellowship

Acts 8:22-24
I John 2:1-2; 4:10

3: A clean conscience

II Corinthians 1:12 – Paul had this comfort.

2: Hope beyond death

I Corinthians 15:12-19, 52

1: God’s love for us

I John 4:16-19

Acts 5:16-41

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 5, continued

Acts 5:25-26 – Ultimately, the people feared God and the rulers feared the people.
Acts 5:27 – The apostles were teaching in the name of Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:28 – The rulers didn’t want blame to fall on them.
Acts 5:29 – Note that Peter was grouped with the apostles and had no special authority over the other apostles. Between the apostles and the rulers, who was right and wrong? God showed the apostles were right via signs and wonders (Acts 14:3; Hebrews 2:4). We should fear God more than we fear men. See Proverbs 1:7; 2:2-6; Isaiah 33:6; Proverbs 29:25; Acts 9:31. We obey who we fear. Thus, fearing God means obeying Him. Compare Acts 5:14. After Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead, more people believed than ever.
Acts 5:32 – The apostles continue to emphasize that they were witnesses of these things. The same Greek word is translated both “witness” and “martyr.” See I Corinthians 5:12.

Using Christmas-time to Talk about Jesus

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 17:16-23

Discussion opportunities

Current events may give us opportunities to start religious discussions.
John 4:10
John 6:32

“Yes, Christ’s birth WAS amazing!”

Luke 1:32-35; 2:10-20
This had been God’s plan for a long time.
Matthew 1:22-25

“Peace is a wonderful blessing!”

Luke 2:13-14
Matthew 10:34-36
Romans 5:1

“It’s weird that a tradition started about His birth when it’s His death that’s really emphasized in the Bible.”

I Corinthians 11:23-26 – Jesus left instructions for how we are to remember His death.
We don’t know precisely when Jesus was born. It was probably not in winter.
Over time, various facts from the scriptures have been mixed and confused in the modern traditions. For example, the wise men came to a house not a manger. Also, we have no indication that they were kings.

“Have you ever thought about when Jesus grew up?”

Mark 1:21-22
Luke 17:10
Matthew 19:9
Many of Jesus’ teachings angered people. Baby Jesus doesn’t challenge us, but grown-up Jesus does!

“Why doesn’t your church do a special Christmas service?”

“Well, we honor the birth of Jesus just as much as any other part of the gospels. But in Mark 7, Jesus warned about authorized practices transforming into unauthorized human traditions, and so we try to respect that warning. We want to worship only in the ways authorized in the New Testament without adding to or taking away from it.”
Mark 7:1-8
Deuteronomy 12:32
Mark 9:2-10 – The transfiguration.
- What if we decided to celebrate a day for Jesus’ transfiguration?
- II Peter 1:16-18
- We have no authorization for celebrating such a day in a religious manner!

Genesis, Part 7

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

[Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this lesson were not recorded. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Genesis 8

Genesis 8:1 – The word “wind” here is sometimes translated “spirit.” Whatever this wind was, it was God who dried the earth.
Genesis 8:20 – The first thing Noah did after leaving the ark was to build an altar and worship God. He sacrificed some of the animals from the ark!
Genesis 8:21 – The phrase “the intentions of man’s heart is evil from his youth” should not be taken as an endorsement of the doctrines of original sin and total depravity. Other passages directly contradict this idea. Compare I Peter 3:18-21. Just because man can sin doesn’t mean that man can’t make good decisions to serve God.

Genesis 9

Genesis 9:1-17 – God makes a covenant with Noah. Man is special in God’s eyes, especially when He obeys God. The rainbow was to be a sign of the covenant. Man now has permission to eat meat and is given dominion over the animals. God institutes capital punishment for murder.
Genesis 9:20-28 – Noah sinned. Ham had the wrong attitude about it, which brought a curse on him. This shows why Canaan was given to God’s chosen people.

Things You Won't Regret

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 15:58
You will never waste your time serving God.

You won’t regret doing your part for God (even though you didn’t do so perfectly).

Moses
- Deuteronomy 29
- Deuteronomy 31:1-8; 34:1-6
Paul
- Acts 20:18-31 – Paul’s work was hard, with tears and trials.
- II Timothy 4:6
- You won’t wish you had done less for God on your death bed.

You won’t regret living honorably.

I Samuel 12:12, 1
Acts 20:33; I Corinthians 11:1 – Paul was able to say, “Imitate me.”
On your death bed, could you tell your kids to live like you?

You won’t regret trusting in God.

Joshua 23:1-14
Numbers 14:6-10
Joshua 14:14
Caleb and Joshua were vindicated in their trust for God.
Hebrews 9:1, 6, 15.

Building a Personal Bible Study System

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

This morning I’d like to talk about the idea of building a personal Bible study system.

We know that we are commanded to seek the Lord first, above all material things:

Matthew 6:33 (NASB95)

33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We often talk about Bible reading plans and various ways to get the Bible in front of our eyes. These are fantastic and something we should definitely be doing!

But what if we want to go deeper than just reading and get God’s word into our heads in such a way that it changes us and becomes a part of us so that we can obey His commands and teach others.

I’ve been building out a system of Bible study for the past few years that has been helpful to me, and I’d like to present it to you. Maybe it will be helpful to you in your own Bible study, whether you implement part or all of it.

Caveat! I’m not trying to tell everyone this is the best or only system of Bible study. It’s simply what I use. Take whatever ideas and benefits from it that fit you and what you want to get out of Bible study!

The main idea: Zettelkasten

Introduction

Here’s a big word: Zettelkasten. Let’s talk a minute about what this is and then we’ll look at how it can help your Bible study.

It’s a German word that means “slip box” or card file. The idea for this method has been around for a long time, but it became better known after Niklas Luhmann made such extensive use of it. He was a social scientist who published fifty books and over six hundred articles in his lifetime. He also left over 150 unfinished manuscripts, at least one over a thousand pages long. This level of productivity was no accident – he used an enormous Zettelkasten (over 90,000 physical cards) to do this.

How it works

The general idea for a Zettelkasten is very simple:

Take small ideas and write them on slips of paper (like index cards).
Give each card a title or a number so you can find it.
On each card, add a list of references to other cards that might be of interest.
Keep all your cards sorted in a box.

As Luhmann read new material, he would make notes, picking out interesting ideas and cross-referencing them to other notes he already had. He would add bibliographic information to the back of the note so he could go back to the source if necessary. His notes were just summaries of the idea or maybe a particularly interesting quote. He didn’t copy large pieces of text into his notes.

Luhmann did all this in the age before computers, so his system was entirely manual with thousands of paper slips. It can still be done that way today or digital tools can be used, of which there are many.

This is how Luhmann was so productive – he had already catalogued research on a wide variety of topics from all sorts of sources he had read (books, articles, etc.).

When it was time to write a new book or paper, he just jumped into his Zettelkasten and started following cross-references. Even the bibliography was already done because it was listed on the notes!

Why is this useful?

There are several reasons that this very simple system is so useful.

For one, it helps improve the connectivity of our thoughts. It causes us to put ideas together and get new insights from that.

It makes your notes accessible. Writing things in a notebook is great, but will you really go back and dig through physical notebooks later to find something?

We stop wasting effort because any notes we write get built into the system and may be useful later.

The value of the system grows exponentially with the size of the system (the network effect). It’s like Facebook – pretty boring if you only have three friends, but as soon as you have fifty “friends” on Facebook, things get much more interesting.

Once the system gets large enough, you start noticing insights that weren’t previously obvious. Hey, this note is connected to this other note and they both reference this scripture…

How to do Bible study with a Zettelkasten?

Sample study system

There are many, many ways to do this, but I’ll give a simple example to start with. Then we can work through a few actual examples of Bible study to see how to apply this in real life.

Last summer, I had Owen and Kylie use this system for their Bible study. I gave them some index cards, a box to store them in, and a little notebook. Each week they were to study a new topic of their choosing.

Monday

Select a topic to study for the week. The topic can be something of your choosing. For this exercise, I’d recommend choosing a topic that is relatively self-contained so that it is not difficult to complete your research in a week.

Tuesday

Using your brain, Bible, concordance, or electronic tools, build a set of relevant scriptures that relate to your topic. Write these down in your notebook.

Wednesday

Read all the scriptures you found and write a short summary of your ideas on the topic in your notebook.

Thursday

Consult other reference materials, such as Logos, to find any other scriptures or commentaries that you find useful on your topic.

Friday

Write up a Zettel card on your topic. Your card should include:
- The topic name on the top left of the card.
- A summary of the topic.
- A list of any scriptures you found to be particularly relevant.
- Any extra-Biblical quotes you found particularly insightful.
- Along the bottom of the card, a list of other topics that might be related. (For example, if the topic was “baptism”, a related topic might be “plan of salvation” or “forgiveness of sins.“)
File your card in your box!

At first, one topic a week was about right as far as time spent went, but by the end of the summer they were significantly faster researchers and could easily do multiple topics in a week.

My sample card:

I wrote up a sample (first on paper, then transferred to digital): [see slides]

Why is this useful for Bible study in particular?

Having a note archive available to you is incredibly useful in general for the reasons we’ve already talked about, but it’s particularly useful for Bible study:

Helps connect ideas and scriptures in our mind.
- Learning means integrating new information into what we already know, which is exactly what this system does.
- The act of writing and manipulating information gets it into our heads in a way that simply reading the Bible does not.
- Summarizing the information to write notes means we must fully process it.
Provides insights we might not otherwise have seen.
- Walking the cross-references may surprise you!
A great resource when studying with others.
- If a question on a particular topic comes up, you have at least a place to start.
Provides a framework for future study.
- As you continue to study, if you find additional information related to a note, either add it to the note or create a new note and link it to this one.

Additional advice: Keep a list somewhere (maybe a separate note or just a page in a notebook) of additional topics of study that you run across as you are studying something. When you run out of road on a particular topic, the list will give you some options for where to start your next study.

Practical considerations

Mark, I’m not carrying a box of cards with me everywhere I want to have a Bible study!

There are some great digital tools that make this very easy and can be used from a phone or computer:

Obsidian (recommended) – free for personal use
Zettlr – free
Roam Research - paid
Notion - paid
The Archive – paid, MacOS only
Even a simple document with headers for the different topics would work, although without the bells and whistles.

If you’re curious about these, see me afterwards.

The nice thing about several of these digital tools is that they allow you to see “back-links” for a note, which tells you what other notes link to this one. Obsidian will also show you a visual graph for a note, showing you a diagram of what notes are connected.

You could also use a simple notebook and put each “card” on its own page, then just use page numbers to link things together. It doesn’t need to be complicated!

Remember the goal here is to learn and understand God’s word. We want just enough of a system in place to help in our study, but not so much that the system itself is distracting or hinders study.

Let’s work some examples!

Example: A book study of Nahum

As we go through this example, think about what other topics or scriptures we could link in here.

Overview of the book

Look up some historical data on the book. Thankfully, brother Jenkins did a class on the minor prophets a while back and I was able to pull from my notes there for this class!

Nahum means “consolation.”
- The only consolation we read about in the book is that Assyria would no longer bother Judah.
- Doom was at hand for Assyria. Ninevah had repented 150 years earlier after Jonah’s prophecy, but not was in terrible condition.
The book was written between 663 and 612 B.C., between the fall of Egypt and the fall of Assyria.
Nahum was contemporary with Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk.

Outline of the book

Nahum 1 – God is over all things. His judgments are correct.
Nahum 2 – Facing God in judgment, Ninevah is doomed. Ninevah’s great lions (rulers) would meet their doom.
Nahum 3 – Ninevah had shed much blood. It would be destroyed, and its ruin would be seen by all. Others would rejoice over its destruction.

Lessons for us

The Lord is slow to anger and good to those who repent before Him.

What cross-references could we add to this note?

Possibly:
- Jonah?
- Idolatry
- Nakedness
- Jeremiah
- Zephaniah
- Habakkuk
- Minor prophets

[see slides for sample card]

Example: A study of Cornelius

Key verses

Acts 10:1-48

Notes

Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a Gentile.
He was a faithful man who prayed and gave alms.
Cornelius had a vision telling him his prayers had been heard and to send men to fetch Peter from Joppa.
Before the men arrived, Peter had a corresponding vision about clean and unclean food, illustrating that he was no longer to call any man unclean (Acts 10:28).
Peter went with the men to see Cornelius. He realized God meant for him to teach the gospel to Gentiles also.
Peter preached and the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard, including the Gentiles.
Peter then baptized Cornelius and those with him.
This incident clearly showed the gospel was intended for all mankind. See Romans 1:16. Compare Acts 2:39, where Peter taught that the gospel was for all at Pentecost but apparently didn’t realize what he was saying!

What cross-references could we add?

Jews
Gentiles
Peter
Pentecost
Unclean food

[see slides for sample card]

Conclusion

Bible study is important! As James DeVoll used to constantly remind me growing up, we need to get our heads in the book and the book in our heads.

If you have a good Bible study plan in place, keep at it! Never stop learning! Maybe something we talked about here would be a useful addition to what you are already doing.

If you do not have a study plan in place, now is the time to get started. It does not need to be a giant, complex endeavor. Start with something small and simple. Consistency is more important than complexity. It’s much better to do something simple for twenty minutes a day than to try to manage a giant contraption of a study program for two hours, but you can only do it once a month.

God’s word is the most valuable resource we have, so let’s make every opportunity to study it and teach it to others.

One Thing You Lack

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Mark 10:17-22
God deserves all of our heart, soul, and mind.

Even good people have areas of weakness.

Eli
- I Samuel 1:9-14; 2:11, 26 – He did a good job of raising Samuel.
- I Samuel 4:18 – Eli was a priest and a judge – no small thing!
- I Samuel 2:12, 29; 3:13 – Eli was negligent with his sons.
David
- I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22 – David was a man after God’s heart.
- I Kings 15:5 – David had his weakness.
Peter
- Matthew 26:69 – Peter did so much good, yet he had his weakness.

Self-evaluate and find your weaknesses.

Don’t …
- Advertise your other virtues.
  - Matthew 23 – The Pharisees did some good things, but had gaping holes in their character.
Do …
- Find verses and let them convict you.
  - Hebrews 4:13
  - Read the verses and weep like Peter.
Don’t …
- List excuses
  - Exodus 32:3, 24 – Aaron and the golden calf.
Do …
- Repent and pray for forgiveness.
  - Psalms 51:17
  - Acts 8:22
Don’t …
- Procrastinate
  - Luke 9:61-62
Do …
- Bear fruit in keeping with repentance
  - Acts 26:19-20
Don’t …
- Survey your friends and fish for approval or permission for your sin.
  - I Peter 4:4-5
Do …
- Ask a trusted, mature Christian for help if needed.
  - Galatians 6:2

Genesis, Part 6

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 7 – God’s flood, continued

Existing physical evidence, continued

The hydrology
- Plate tectonics
- Where did the water come from?
  - Hurricane Harvey in 2018 dropped sixty inches of rain over four days. This level of rain over 40 days over the entire earth would put fifty feet of water over the entire surface of the earth.
The landforms
- Genesis 7:11 – What was the deep? This word almost always refers to a body of water.
  - The power of God
    - Mr. St. Helens volcano
    - The Hunga-Tonga volcano
- The ark rested on Ararat after 150 days and the floodwaters receded.
- If thousands of feet of water started draining off of the earth, wouldn’t there be evidence?
- Large volumes of water do not cause damage. Moving water does.
  - If the Grand Canyon were filled to the brim and suddenly allowed to drain, the flow would reach 273 ft./sec.
- Where did the water go?
  - God could have made it disappear.
  - God could have sent it back to where it came from.
  - Psalms 104:8-10.

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, Part 3

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

If you are in an unlawful situation …

Love God and lean on brethren.
- Acts 17:11
- Matthew 19:10-12
- I Corinthians 7:11
- Matthew 12:46-50
- Romans 8:18

If you have never been married …

Be wise and choose carefully.
- Mark 10:11-12
- Luke 8:13; 16:18
- We must be deeply convinced that marriage is permanent.
- Are you and your prospective spouse free to be married?

If you are lawfully married …

Work on your marriage!
- Ephesians 5:28-29
- Titus 2:3-4
- Marriages need maintenance.

Acts 4:17-5:16

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 4, continued

Acts 4:23-30 – Despite the persecution, they continued to pray for boldness.
Acts 4:32-35 – Some use this passage to promote communism, but that is not what is being taught here. We know from other scriptures that each should work for his own food. This is talking about common treasury controlled by the apostles.

Acts 5

Acts 5:1-6 – The sin here was lying to the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 5:4 – Note that this verse combined with v3 equates the Holy Spirit to God.
Acts 5:9 – Peter says they “test(ed) the Spirit of the Lord.” God does not look kindly on those who try to see what they can get away with.
Acts 5:12 – In Acts 1-5 so far, the apostles alone have been working all the miracles.

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, Part 2

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

[Due to technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this lesson were not recorded. Sorry about that! -MRW]

Introduction

This is such an emotional topic, but we must remain objective and appeal to God’s word.
Mark 6:17, 21 – John ended up being beheaded because he called out the marriage as unlawful.

What should happen in an unlawful marriage?

Luke 16:18
They must divorce and repent of their adultery. I Corinthians 6:9
“But marriage itself is holy. No one should be told to divorce.”
- Ezra 9-10 – These marriages were unlawful and had to be broken up.
- Mark 6:17-18

Are divorced people still “marriage in God’s eyes?”

I know of no passage that uses or implies that wording or concept. Sometimes we might say that because we’re trying to communicate the fact that God doesn’t approve.
Luke 16:18
Romans 7:2-3
Mark 10:11-12
These people were really divorced and actually marriage to other people. They were married to one person, yet bound to another, thus it is adultery.
Matthew 19:9 – These divorces and marriages are real.

What about marriages and divorces before one was ever a Christian?

God’s laws are for everyone, both Christians and non-Christians.
Mark 6:17-18 – Herod and his wife were not Christians, but they were in sin.
I Corinthians 6:9-11
If God’s laws do not apply to non-Christians, why are people told to repent before they are baptized (Acts 2:38)?
And why would you even get baptized and become a Christian, if prior to that you have no sin and therefore no need of salvation?

Does forgiveness change the situation?

Acts 2:38; 8:22; 26:20
There is still a need to repent and not keep sinning.
If I steal a car…
- Then I pray for forgiveness ….
- Can I keep the car?
- No – it is still a sin for me to have it.
If I take an unlawful wife …
- They I pray for forgiveness …
- Can I keep the wife?
- No – it is still a sin for me to have her.

Does I Corinthians 7:15 give another exception?

I Corinthians 7:10-17
- I Corinthians 7:10 – “Leave” here means “divorce.”
- I Corinthians 7:11 – This does not imply approval of the divorce. See I John 2:1.
- I Corinthians 7:12-13 – It is okay for a Christian to be married to a non-believer.
- I Corinthians 7:14 – This cannot be saying that an unbelieving spouse can be saved by the believing spouse (II Corinthians 5:10). It is merely saying that the marriage is legitimate.
- I Corinthians 7:15 – There is no permission for remarriage here. Matthew 5:32

Does I Corinthians 7:27-28 give another exception?

I Corinthians 7:27 – “Released” here cannot mean “divorced for any reason” because it would contradict what Paul just wrote in I Corinthians 7:10-17.

Can the innocent party divorce years after the divorce?

Suppose that:
- A man divorces his wife (not for fornication)
- Years later, he remarries.
- Can the wife now divorce him for fornication and remarry with God’s approval (Matthew 19:9)?
No. You can’t divorce someone you’re not married to.
Luke 16:18

Conclusion

Nothing is greater than fellowship with God; nothing lasts longer than heaven.

Genesis, Part 5

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 6 – Animals, continued:

God gives instructions about how many animals to bring according to their kind (H4327 – min)
- After their kind
- Same phrase as used in Days 3, 5, and 6 to describe plants and animals.
- Does the application of the phrase “after its kind” support evolution?
How did Noah and his family take care of the animals?
- Hibernation?
- God told Noah to feed the animals

Genesis 7 – God’s flood

Noah and his family and the animals go into the ark.
When did they go into the ark and when did it start to rain? Is there a discrepancy?
Genesis 7 is made up of four paragraphs: Genesis 7:1-5, Genesis 7:6-10, Genesis 7:11-16, and Genesis 7:17-24.
- The first three contain repeating information about:
  - Noah and his family entering the ark
  - The animals entering the ark
  - The flood coming upon the earth
  - Noah did as God commanded.
- The fourth paragraph describes what happened to everyone else except Noah and his family.
God’s flood was a catastrophic, earth-changing event.
If God flooded the entire globe, wouldn’t there be evidence? Acts 17:23-28
Absolutely! If we can show people the evidence, then we can teach the truth.
- Thomas in John 20:24
Existing physical evidence
- Hydrology and hydraulics
- Landforms
- Geology
Evidence of God’s power
- Mount St. Helens volcano
How could 40 days and 40 nights of rain flood the entire earth?
What did the earth look like before the flood?
- Supercontinent?
- Mountains?
- Canyons?
- Ocean depth?
How much water?
- We estimate there is currently 332.5 million cubic miles of water on earth.
- If we assume a pre-flood average mountain height of 5300 ft., this would require about 335.3 million cubic miles of water, which is within about one percent of the current estimated total.

Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, Part 1

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 6:9
I Thessalonians 5:2
Failure to obey God’s law on marriage and divorce will keep us out of heaven!
This is a very emotional topic, but we must be led by God’s word.
John 12:48
Acts 17:11 – This is what we want to do – search the scriptures.

Seven scriptures about marriage

Genesis 2:18, 22-24 – The first marriage

The word “marriage” is not used here, but that is clearly what is being talked about.
Deuteronomy 24:2; 7:3
Ezekiel 16:8
I Corinthians 7:2
Romans 7:3 – The phrase “joined to” is the same as is used in Genesis 2.
In Hebrew and Greek, there was no separate word for “husband” or “wife.” Context must be used to determine if it’s “man” or “husband.”
Genesis 2:22-3:2
Words can help refer figuratively to the past or future.
- Prolepsis:
  - Luke 2:11
  - Deuteronomy 22:23-24
- Adjournment
  - Exodus 7:10, 12
  - John 9:17
  - II Samuel 11:26; 12:10
  - Mark 6:17

Romans 7:2-3

The married woman is bound by God’s law while he is alive.
The phrase “joined to” means marriage here, just as we saw in Genesis 2.
If the woman is bound to one man, but marriage to another, she is an adulteress.

I Corinthians 7:39

“Only in the Lord” means “according to God’s marriage law.”

Mark 10:11-12

Marriage law is the same for men and women.

Luke 16:18

Divorcing a spouse and marrying another causes one to commit adultery.

Matthew 19:9

The NASB (1995) uses the word “immorality” here, which is too broad. Other translations make it more specific by using the phrase “sexual immorality.”
I Corinthians 6:13, 18; 7:2 – Same word used here to mean “sexual immorality.”
A man who divorces his wife for sexual immorality is no longer bound to her and is free to marry again. The original wife is still bound and not free to marry.

Matthew 5:32

The man causes his wife to commit adultery because of the situation he put her in.

Conclusion

Sin and Satan are the problems here, not God or His laws!

Acts 3:16-4:17

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 3, continued:

Acts 3:16 – Peter had convicted the audience at this point.
Acts 3:19-20 – This is what it’s all about!
- “Times of refreshing”
  - See Isaiah 35:1-7; Jeremiah 17:5
Acts 3:24 – See II Samuel 7:12.

Acts 4

Acts 4:7 – By whose power? Jesus! See Acts 4:10.
Acts 4:8 – Peter shows his boldness. Compare Matthew 10:5, 16-20.
Acts 4:11 – See I Peter 4:4.

Genesis, Part 4

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 4 – Cain and Abel, continued:

Cain is afraid of being killed
- By whom?
- What mark?
  - This may or may not have been a physical mark. Compare New Testament passages in which we are to mark those who are out of step as brothers.

Genesis 5

Eve had another son after Abel died – Seth.

Genesis 6 – Corruption of man and the ark

Sons of God, daughters of man
- Where is the sin?
- Beauty over content
- Abandoned God to pursue fleshly desires
My spirit shall not remain with man forever (Genesis 6:3)
- His days shall be 120 years
- Lifetime or life left?
Who were the Nephilim?
- Context of Genesis 6:4 indicates that different kinds of people were having children and producing other kinds of people.
Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord
- In a nearly completely wicked world
- Perfect (complete)
- How? By walking with God.
- Complete dependence
God gives instructions for Noah to build the ark
- Perfect dimensions for stability

Eagles Fly Alone

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

“EVERYONE” was in sin but Noah

Genesis 6:5-8
Matthew 24:37-39
Hebrews 11:7

Abraham left “EVERYONE” to serve God

Genesis 12:1-4
Hebrews 11:8-10

“EVERYONE” Joseph called a brother hated him

Genesis 37:11, 18-20
Genesis 50:20
Hebrews 11:22

Moses had to leave “EVERYONE” in Pharaoh’s house

Hebrews 11:24-27

Others who turned against “EVERYONE”

Esther, Mordecai, Daniel, etc.

Sometimes “EVERYONE” is who is leading us away from God

Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus lived a lonely life, yet soared with God

Matthew 4:11
Isaiah 53:3-9

Acts 2:38-3:16

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 2, continued:

Acts 2:38
- The word “for” in “baptism for the remission of sins” here means “so that your sins will be forgiven.” The Greek word behind it has the idea of moving toward a goal.
- “Gift of the Holy Spirit”
  - Acts 8:20 – The gift is from God, not God Himself.
  - Romans 5:17 – Similar usage.
  - According to the context, the gift is salvation.
Acts 2:42 – The doctrine was what came from the twelve apostles, not the 120 disciples or another group.

Acts 3

Acts 3:6-10 – See Isaiah 35:6. The apostles performed this miracle to confirm the authority of their message. See I Corinthians 13:8-10. We no longer see miraculous works like this today.
Acts 3:13-16 – See Isaiah 49:3; 42:1.

Godly Masculinity

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I’m going to put a word up on the screen that is often considered a bad word by today’s society: Masculinity.

Masculinity is often talked about today as being “toxic” or dangerous to society in some way, especially to women. The feminist movement has been particularly aggressive in promoting this idea.

It has become clear that much of what is troubling our society is a lack of proper male leadership in the home. Men being derelict in their responsibilities causes all sorts of problems, from crime to even homosexuality based on some reports.

The question for us this morning is, what does the Bible say about masculinity? What does it mean to be masculine? How do men become godly men?

Jesus our example

When we think about the best example we have of how to properly be a man on earth, the best example we could possibly find is Jesus.

Ephesians 5:25–30 (NASB95)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

30 because we are members of His body.

It may seem odd to think about Jesus in terms of masculinity, but there can be no doubt that He is the prime example for men.

We often don’t think of Jesus as being macho or manly, but perhaps that is because we have in incorrect idea of what it means to be masculine.

We also see in the Bible that the church is referred to as the “bride of Christ.”

Ephesians 5:23 (NASB95)

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.

So, we see the analogy of Christ to the church as husband is to wife. Jesus even refers to Himself metaphorically as the bridegroom:

Mark 2:19–20 (NASB95)

19 And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

20 “But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.

So, how was it that Jesus was masculine? How did he exemplify the proper role for men?

Let’s look at what Jesus did for people while He was on earth.

Provided salvation

Spiritual safety – the most important kind. Jesus provided a way for us to be saved from our sins.

Acts 2:22–24 (NASB95)

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Jesus suffered mightily for us, but He did this so that we could be saved from our sins.

He knew our struggles

Jesus suffered through all the same temptations we face every day. Then He went to heaven to act as our mediator before the Father.

Hebrews 4:14–16 (NASB95)

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:23–27 (NASB95)

23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Jesus humbled Himself to come to earth and suffer as a man. He lived life on earth, suffered temptations, and remained sinless.

He loves us

Jesus showed His great love for us by planning for our salvation from the beginning of the world.

Romans 5:8 (NASB95)

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus knew from the start that we would sin, and he would need to provide a way for us to be saved, yet He created us anyway and then suffered terribly to be our sacrifice.

What is the application?

So how does all of this connect to masculinity on earth? How should men behave, especially towards their wife and family?

The family is the foundational unit of society. If we get that right, the rest follows.

Through my own research (and ladies, you can correct me on this afterwards!), women primarily need three things to be happy and fulfilled in marriage: to be safe, to be known, and to be cherished.

We see this in the example of Jesus:

He provided for our spiritual safety by providing a path to salvation for us.
He suffered through a life on earth and physical temptation, so He knows what life on earth is like. He works as a mediator before the Father so that we can pray and share our difficulties with God. He listens to our prayers! This provides a way for us to be known.
He showed His great love for us, not only in providing for our salvation, but also in all the teaching, healing, and miracles He did while He was on earth. He was generous with His time and abilities in fulfilling the Father’s will. Jesus even wept over the dead, even when He was about to bring them right back to life (John 11:35)! Jesus showed repeatedly just how much He loved His creation.

Applications for men

Certainly, mortal men cannot do all the things that Jesus did. We cannot provide spiritual salvation for our wives or act as mediators before God for them. Those roles belong to Jesus alone. But we can learn much from Jesus’ example!

(For the ladies, consider how you can support your husband or future husband in these things! You are his right hand and his closest friend on earth, so use that esteemed position for good! If you are an unmarried lady and would like to be married one day, seek out a man who does these things!)

Provide safety

Part of a man’s role in the household is to provide safety. Safety here may take many forms:

Physical safety
- Protecting wife and family from outside threats of man, beast, or weather.
Financial safety
- Providing for your family.
- This doesn’t mean you have to make billions of dollars, but it is your responsibility to keep food on the table.
- Saving and investing to prepare for the future.
- Note that you can’t just make a paycheck and consider your obligations complete!
Emotional and psychological safety
- Don’t provoke your wife or children to anger. (Ephesians 6:4)
- Protect your wife from those who may treat her unfairly or abusively. This includes the children! Stand up for your wife.
- Make the home a place everyone wants to come home to. If the father is constantly angry or withdrawn completely, how easy is it for the wife to carry out her role of being in subjection? What example does this set for the children?
Leadership
- It is the husband’s job to set the tone for the home and provide direction.
- This provides safety for the wife and children because they have clear boundaries and know what to expect. When things are clear and consistent, everyone can relax.
- Spiritual leadership is a large part of this. The man sets the spiritual direction of the house. Men, take leadership and make opportunities to pray and discuss Bible topics!
- Leadership can be everything from deciding what time to leave for church to how much to be involved in school sports. This might sometimes mean saying no to obligations on the family’s behalf that would over-extend the family, or especially the wife.
- Know your convictions and stand by them. Even if your wife or children disagree with your decision, if it was based on sound principles and you stand firm, they will come to respect you for it.
- This does not mean being a tyrant! Look to Jesus as the example in leadership. Although He was sometimes forceful in correcting error, He also showed compassion and lead by example.
- Men, be careful you don’t abdicate this function. It MUST be done, so if you don’t do it, your wife will be forced to. Although she may excel at it, it is not her God-given role and she would still much prefer you take the leadership position.

Know your wife

Listen to your wife.
- Don’t try to fix everything she wants to talk to you about.
  - (Except for the flat tire – you do need to go fix that right now.)
- Just let her talk and really listen hard at what she’s saying.
- Ask good questions.
- Remember things that are important to her. Ask her for updates about them later.
Compare this to how we want God to listen to our prayers.
- We want Him to really listen to us.
- Put down the phone, turn off the TV, look her in the eyes and give your full attention.
- Often, talking through the problem is the solution to the problem.
Think about how it works when you pray.
- When you bring troubles before God, do you not feel better afterward even though God may not have immediately done anything to address the issue?
Consider it a blessing when your wife confides in you, not a burden.
- Just as God wants us to confide in Him in prayer, we should want our wives to confide in us.

Cherish your wife

Show her love and affection.
- Provide romance.
- Go on dates.
- Tell her you love her!
- Praise her for her beauty.
Show gratitude.
- Tell her how blessed you are to have her.
- Thank her for a great meal.
- Thank her for keeping the house tidy.
Bring her the occasional gift for no particular reason (especially if it’s something she talked to you about before!).
If you were not married to her now, what would you do to woo her?
Ladies, show gratitude for men trying in this regard, feeble and awkward though their attempts may be!
- Men can feel vulnerable showing love or giving gifts. Show them grace and gratitude to help their confidence.
- Once the confidence issue is sorted out, gently and respectfully provide guidance if necessary.

Attitudes

Men, I have some bad news. If you do all these things, you are not a hero. You are simply fulfilling your God-given role.

Luke 17:9–10 (NASB95)

9 “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?

10 “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ ”

Whether your wife shows you gratitude or not is on her side of the equation and should have no bearing on how you perform your duties. Let’s look back at Ephesians 5:

Ephesians 5:25–30 (NASB95)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

30 because we are members of His body.

We can only do our part, but we must do it to the best of our abilities regardless of the circumstances. Nothing in that passage is conditional on the wife’s behavior!

Conclusion

Men, let us all do our best to be godly men and fulfill the roles God has set for us.

This is not easy, but it is a worthwhile endeavor!

Let us demonstrate what godly masculinity looks like to our wives and to the world.

Genesis, Part 3

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 3

What changed about the tree?
- It changed in Even’s mind. Satan convinced her that she needed it.
The curses
- God apparently would visit Adam and Eve.
- They were ashamed.
- They made excuses.
- They blamed others.
- They blamed the accuser.
Sin immediately required the sacrifice of Jesus.
Gender roles were redefined.
- Women would painfully bear children and seek the satisfaction of their husbands.
- Men would be the provider and servant to the family.
The need for rain is met.
- Man would be the cultivator.
- He would eat the plants of the field.
God drove our man so that he would not eat of the Tree of Life.
- Is that why we will never find the Garden of Eden?
  - No. The flood would have destroyed it.

Genesis 4 – Cain and Abel

Eve obtained a man from the Lord.
- She now has an attitude of reliance on God.
In the course of time …
- God instructed them to make sacrifices.
Cain and Abel brought what they thought were good sacrifices.
God has no regard for Cain and his offering.
- God still wanted Cain to do right.
- God warned Cain about his sin.
We can master sin.
“Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Can puts himself on equal footing with God.
- God wants us to rely on Him for everything.
- Cain’s pride got in the way.
God punishes Cain with an unbearable punishment.
- God takes away what Cain was most proud of.
Cain is afraid of being killed.
- By whom?
- What mark?
Where did Cain’s wife come from?
- Adam and Eve evidently had more children that are not listed.

Keys to Gratitude

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philippians 4:6
An attitude of thanksgiving should overflow into all we do.

Let’s start by remembering that all blessings come from God!

James 1:17-18
Romans 6:23
We deserve to be destroyed because we are all sinners.
Matthew 8:19-20
Instead of saying, “I deserve,” say, “I am grateful for …”
I Timothy 1:12-17 – Paul was glad he was not getting what he deserved.

Count your blessings instead of soaking up negativity from others.

Deuteronomy 18:19
James 4:4
We live in a bubble and see things from an earthly perspective.
Genesis 37:28; 39:20; 40:23; 50:18-21 – Joseph saw God’s purpose in his troubles.

Think: I’m saved right now, no matter what else is happening.

Hebrews 13:5-6
Ecclesiastes 7:10
Exodus 16:2-3
Numbers 11:4-6
Exodus 2:23; 3:7-9 – The good old days weren’t that good!
I Timothy 6:8

Acts 1:22-2:38

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 2

Mnemonics
- Chapter 2 – On Pentecost, the church on earth is new.
- Chapter 2 – Peter baptizes a crew.
Acts 2:1 – “They” here is referring to the apostles that were just mentioned. Pentecost means “fifty.” It was fifty days after Passover.
Acts 2:6 – Everyone heard the apostles speaking in their own language, so the tongues they were speaking in were evidently intelligible languages.
Acts 2:14 – Note that it was the apostles who were speaking in tongues. False doctrines have come from misunderstanding this.
Acts 2:16 – This prophecy was cited from Joel 2:28-32.
Acts 2:25 – This is cited from Psalms 16:8-11. For a Jewish audience, David was accepted as a reliable prophet, so this would be a powerful prophecy of the resurrection of Jesus.
Acts 2:37 – “What shall we do?” This might be the most important question in the Bible!

Grace

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Revelation 22:21
Grace is “unmerited favor.”

Grace gives me peace and confidence.

Titus 2:11-14; 3:4
I John 2:28; 4:17
I John 1:7
Romans 4:1-8
Confidence doesn’t come from me and my works – it comes from trust in God.
Our job is to completely surrender to God’s will.

Grace changes how I look at others.

Luke 18:9-14
Ephesians 3:1-8, 13-21 – Paul was full of humility. He was a humble steward of God’s grace.

The devil is good at hiding the beauty of grace.

One extreme: grace means sin doesn’t affect my salvation
- Romans 6:1-2, 15
- Jude 1:1-4
- I John 1:5-6
Other extreme: grace means I can earn my salvation
- Ephesians 2:8-9

Genesis, Part 2

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Genesis 1, continued:

Genesis 1:27-31

God made us male and female.
Each of us have a role for which we were created.
God gave us dominion over the animals.
- We should have more value than the animals.
- We should be good stewards of God’s creation.
God made us different than the animals.
- Animals act instinctively and impulsively and think only of survival.
- The sinful world acts impulsively and thinks only of survival.
- God wants us to rely on him.
- We need to realize our dependence on God.
God gave man every plant yielding seed.
God gave animals every green plant.
It was good! There was nothing wrong with it.
- God’s word is good.
  - Hebrews 4:12; II Timothy 3:16-17; John 17:17; Proverbs 30:5; Psalms 18:30; 19:7

Genesis 2

Creation was complete by Day 7.
God establishes a one week pattern for the life of man.
The week is not based on orbits or rotation. It is based on God’s word.
Recap of Day 6.
No shrub of the field was on the earth yet. Why?
- No rain.
- No cultivator.
A mist used to rise from the earth to water the plants.
God tells specifically how He created man.
Man is special.
The Lord chose man to manage His perfect creation.
God created every tree that was good to see and eat.
He also created two special trees!
- The Tree of Life
- The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Who was the writer of Genesis?
- Moses
Who was the audience in v10-14?
- The Israelites
When Moses described the location of the garden of Eden, he was possibly describing where it was in the past using current landmarks.
God put man in the garden to cultivate it.
Why did God put two special trees in the garden?
- Free will! The choice to serve God is a benefit to man.
God decides to make a suitable helper for Adam.
- Adam needed someone to share life with.
Genesis 2 ends in absolute magnificent perfection.
- Man and woman together in the presence of God with work to do and the right to obey.

Genesis 3

The serpent was more cunning…
- Was the serpent Satan? Revelation 12:9; 20:2; Genesis 3:14

Courageous Parents

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Joshua 1:9
II Timothy 1:7-8
God has always instructed His people to be strong and courageous.

Courage to confront them

Hebrews 12:7-9 – Discipline is part of what parents do!
I Samuel 2:12, 22-25; 3:13 – Eli talked to his sons, but did not do enough to correct them.
We shouldn’t commit the Eli Mistake by not doing enough to correct our children.
I Kings 1:5-6 – David had never crossed his son!
I Thessalonians 5:14 – Admonish the undisciplined.
Proverbs 29:17
James 5:19-20 – What if this is our son or daughter?

Courage to protect them

Acts 2:40
Ephesians 6:4
We must protect our children from the error in the world.
Genesis 1:27
Lawrence Krauss – Should Religion be Taught in School? (YouTube)
- People are actively trying to turn people away from religion.
John 9:22; 12:42

Acts 1:1-26

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Acts chapter 1

Acts 1:1 – This gives strong evidence that Luke is the writer of both Luke and Acts. “Teaching” is a recurring theme in Acts.
Acts 1:2 – “Apostle” can sometimes be used generically as a messenger, but here refers to the twelve apostles specifically.
Acts 1:3 – This allows the apostles to serve as true witnesses of Jesus. They saw his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
- Matthew 27:62-66 – Some tried to argue that Jesus’ body was stolen and not resurrected, but it was well guarded.
- Luke 24:36-40 – The apostles saw Jesus after the resurrection.
- Luke 24:49
Acts 1:5 – The apostles would be given tremendous power by the Holy Spirit. Note that “you” here is referring to the apostles – it was not directed at all Christians.
Acts 1:6 – The apostles were still expecting an earthly kingdom!
- Luke 24:45 – The Holy Spirit would help them understand what had happened.
Acts 1:9 – The apostles watched as Jesus ascended into heaven. See John 14:19-21.
Acts 1:16 – David prophesied about the fall of Judas. See Acts 1:20.
Acts 1:21-22 – There were specific requirements for the apostles. The man who replaced Judas also had to have the same requirements.

A Joyful Heart is Good Medicine

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 17:22 – A joyful heart is good medicine.

The power of the mind

Hebrews 12:2 – Jesus endured because of the joy that was before Him.
Job 1:20-22; 3:11; 27:1-6; 28:12, 23-28 – Job was miserable but his mind was still sound.
Acts 27:33-38 – Paul took time to give thanks for the small things.
Philippians 4:6
Acts 16

You see what you’re looking for … so we should deliberately choose what to focus on.

Philippians 4:8
Acts 9:1
I Corinthians 1:4; 4:14; 11:2; 16:24 – Even with all their problems, Paul was thankful for them.
What if I start looking for reasons to be happy or things to be thankful for?
What if I’m looking for opportunities to encourage others?

Genesis, Part 1

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Why is Genesis so important?

Acts 17:23-28 – God gave us evidence so we would seek Him.
Hebrews 11:3
Colossians 1:16-17
Psalms 33:6-9
Romans 1:18-25
Genesis establishes God’s presence and His power.
If you don’t believe God created the world, you cannot defend anything in the Bible!

A denial of the literal Genesis account is a denial of Jesus.

John 5:45-47
Exodus 20:11
John 1:1

Repeating theme in Genesis is:

Man’s total dependence on God.

Genesis 1

Genesis 1:1

God’s omniscience and omnipotence is established.
God’s authority is evident.

Genesis 1:2

“Spirit of God” (H7307 – ruah)
- Same word as Genesis 8:1; Exodus 15:8
- “Deep” usually refers to the ocean, but there were no defined oceans yet.

Genesis 1:3

God spoke and it happened – Psalms 33:9
- Display God’s total control of all the elements, energy, time, and space.

Genesis 1:4-5 – Day 1

God created light.
What is light?
- Light is a particle and a wave.
- Light is energy.
God created energy, quantum mechanics, and physics (a way to control the elements)
God is organizing his creation in a very specific order.
God established the period of time to define day and night.
- God called the light good.
- Who was writing Genesis?
- Evening and morning?

Genesis 1:6-8 – Day 2

God separated the waters.
There was water on the earth and water in the air.
Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide.
- Pressure, temperature, gravity
Science tries to explain creation and chaos.
God created it with complete control and order.

Genesis 1:9-13 – Day 3

God gathered the water which caused…
Dry land to appear.
Then God created life …
- Vegetation started to sprout
  - According to their kind (H4327 – min)

Genesis 1:14-19 – Day 4

God made the sun, moon, and stars to govern the seasons.
God made the earth on an axis with tilt, rotation, and spin.
Do planets help dictate the seasons on earth?
Why did God create the Sun on Day 1 and not Day 4?

Genesis 1:20-23 – Day 5

Birds and fish

Genesis 1:24-26 – Day 6

Animals and everything that crawls on the ground
Man in our image

Genesis 1:27-31

God made everything necessary for life to begin and to continue.
If each day took millions of years, then life would not have survived.
God’s people understood this to be one week (Exodus 20:9-11).

Meditation

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

[Note: Jady was kind enough to pass along his PowerPoint slides, which contain more information than is in this outline. You can download them by clicking the link to the PowerPoint file in the “Resource files” list above. Thanks, Jady! -MRW]

Introduction

Psalms 19:14

What is meditation?

Psalms 77:6
Psalms 77:12
Isaiah 33:18; Psalms 73:16
Contemplate
Dwell on
Consider

What does the Bible teach us?

Genesis 24:63 – He was deliberate in going to a place to meditate.
Joshua 1:8 – Meditation on God’s law would bring success.
Job 15:4
Psalms 1:2 – Meditating on God’s word shows we delight in it.
Psalms 4:4
Psalms 19:4
Psalms 27:4 – Meditation should be a priority.
Psalms 49:3
Psalms 63:6
Psalms 77:6, 12, 2
Psalms 119
Psalms 143:5
Psalms 145:5
Psalms 104:34 – This whole psalm was a meditation to God. All the psalms are meditations.

Summary

Who

You
- Young, old, or depends on the day
- Book smart or practical
- Lover of routine or … squirrel!
- Just you
  - There is time for others for study and edification, but we need time alone with God.
  - Moses spoke to God 1-on-1, THEN he came and others saw the glory of God in his face (Exodus 34:29-35).
God
- Listening to God’s words
- Thinking about God’s thoughts
- Speaking to God

What

All the ways God has made himself known – print, people, planet
All the ways your walk interacts with God
- Good times and bad
- Joys and sorrows
- Easy times and hard times
- In strength and in weakness

When

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
At the beginning of the day
In the night watches
All throughout the day
Luke 1:29; 2:19, 51
- In the middle of a conversation
- When God does and declares wonderful, and maybe even perplexing things

Where

Everywhere
- Noisy or quiet
- Alone or in a crowd
- On your bed
- On the road
- In the city
- In a desolate place
  - By the “sea” – Matthew 13:1
  - On the “mountain” – Matthew 15:29
- A secluded place – Mark 1:39
  - Corner of a coffee shop, or McDonald’s, a park, library, your closet, porch, or portable isolation (headphones)
- On a mower or tractor
- In your car
  - Instant meditation – turn off the radio!

How

But I can’t focus!
- Maybe that’s okay
- Find purpose
  - For others
  - For yourself
Techniques
- Start with meditating on meditating
- Find silence
  - Whatever silence is most important to you – auditory, visual, mental, physical
- Visual reminders – cards, marker/chalkboard
- Phone reminders
- Buddy system – one or a group
Tips from friends
- From David: Imagine yourself as the person being spoken to in scripture.
- Lessons from Andy Cantrell
  - Hearing from God: Meditation
  - The Value of Meditation
Tips from Jady
- Start in the morning
- Immerse in the text
- Ask questions
- Before leaving study, identify what you are going to think about.
  - Make it small and focused, memorable
- Walk. At the right speed.
- Stare
- Stop doing

Why

Deuteronomy 6:1-3, 12, 20-21, 25
- For yourself
- For your family
- That it may be well with you
- That you may prosper and multiple in your promised land
Deuteronomy 8:2, 11, 14, 18, 19-20
- That you may remember
- Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God
- Then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God
- But you shall remember the LORD your God
- It shall come about if you ever forget the LORD … you shall perish

Introduction to the book of Acts

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction to the book of Acts

The writer is Luke, the author is the Holy Spirit.
The book seems to have been written from Rome.
Luke was a Greek physician who travelled with Paul. I Timothy 4:11
The beginning of the book of Acts takes place about 30 AD. The book was written about 63 AD and records history of the first 30 years of the church.
The book is extremely accurate, mentioning many people and places by name.
Acts is in a way a sequel to the gospels.
John 14:26; 15:16, 26; 16:13
Matthew 28:18-20 – The great commission to the apostles.
Mark 16:15-16
Luke 24:46-53 – These promises were made to the apostles.
Holy Spirit baptism was a promise to the apostles, not a command. The Holy Spirit would be received in Jerusalem soon (“not many days”). The Holy Spirit would allow the apostles to work miracles and bear witness of Jesus.
Mark 16:20
“Witness”
- Martyr?
- A witness gives testimony of something they know or have seen.
Why is God’s message still alive today?

Barnabas

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Barnabas

First introduced in Acts 4:36.
Isaiah 40:31

Events involving Barnabas

Acts 9:26-30 – Barnabas was willing to associate with Paul immediately after his conversion when others would not.
- I Corinthians 15:58
- John 14:27
- Barnabas was willing to take the risk on Paul.
Acts 11:19-26 – Barnabas was sent to encourage the Christians in Antioch.
- Romans 15:5
- Barnabas spent a year there with Paul building up the church.
- Acts 11:24 – Barnabas continued to add to the number of Christians.
Acts 15:36-41 – Barnabas wanted to give John Mark another chance.
- II Corinthians 13:11
- II Timothy 4:11 – Paul did eventually want to work with John Mark again.
Galatians 2:11-14 – Barnabas was drawn away in Peter’s hypocrisy.
- Philippians 1:10
- Galatians 3:28
- Romans 14:19

Acceptable Worship

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Worship is foundational to the life of a Christian.
John 4:20-24 – Acceptable worship is in spirit and in truth.

There are two areas of worship – public and private.

I Corinthians 6:19-20
Public and private worship are both necessary.
If we don’t worship privately, our public worship will be anemic.
Psalms 113:3

God seeks worshippers.

Acts 17:5
Psalm 148 – All these things praise God by doing what they are supposed to do (and what they were designed to do).
Philippians 2:10-11 – In this life is the only time we have a choice in whether or not to praise God.
Ephesians 1:18 – Christians are God’s inheritance.

The meaning of worship.

Malachi 1:6
Psalms 29:2

The object or worship.

Our Father is the object of our worship because He is the father of all the world by creation.
Psalms 24:1
God’s glory is intrinsic.
II Corinthians 8:5

The essence of worship.

John 4:24
Two things are necessary: the right information and the right disposition.
Do I have the right attitude when I worship?
Colossians 3:16
Acts 2:42
II Timothy 2:15
II Corinthians 8:5 – We must give ourselves to the Lord.

Conclusion

The fuel of worship is the truth of God; the furnace of worship is the spirit of man. And if it is authentic, it will make it outside the building and all week. Let us have the disposition of Psalms 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at al times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” God seeks worship of people; angels and nature worship Him (Psalm 148). He wants people to want to worship Him. Worship is not a place or an event; it is a true faith praising God. Thus, let us say with the Hebrew writer, “Let us offer sacrifice and praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips, giving praise to His Name.” (Hebrews 13:15).

The New Testament Church, Part 11

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians, continued

Objections, continued

Galatians 6:10 – “The church should ‘do good to all people,’ not just Christians.”
- The book of Galatians was written to a church, but not everything in the book is specific to churches.
- Galatians 6:1-10 – Notice that this passage has been addressing individuals. The topic is how to help people caught in sin, but no church action is in the passage. Also notice that spiritual restoration is in the passage, but not material benevolence. Galatians 6:6 does not seem to be the right passage to use to justify paying a preacher.

What makes Benchley work

Love	Truth	Work
I Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:12-18; II Thessalonians 1:3-4	Acts 17:1-4; I Thessalonians 2:12; II Thessalonians 2:10-3:1	I Thessalonians 1:6-10; II Thessalonians 3:4, 13-14

Show Us the Father

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 14:7-15

God spoke in a way that we could understand

I Corinthians 2:6-13
II Peter 1:13-15; 3:1
John 20:30-31 – The written word is powerful and can cause readers to believe.
Ephesians 3:4-6
All these men thought the word of God could be understood!

We can still miss the meaning if we’re not careful.

Luke 9:22, 43-45 – Jesus spoke plainly more than once, but they failed to understand it.
I Corinthians 2:14; 1:22-24 – It’s possible I am not spiritually-minded enough to understand.
Therefore, we must be objective and open-minded.

God views His message as an extension of Himself.

Luke 6:46-49 – Hear God’s word and act on it.
Numbers 20:6-11
Habakkuk 2:18-20 – God is on His throne. We need to be quiet and listen to Him.
Therefore, we must respect His message!
- Acts 7:51-53

God’s word is the most important truth we have!

Hebrews 1:1-2; 2:1-4 – How will we escape God’s judgment if we reject this message?

The Women Who Supported Jesus and the Apostles

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The women who supported Jesus and the apostles

Luke 8:1-3; Matthew 27:55-56
Mary Magdalene
Martha
- Luke 10:38-42 – Compare Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Mary showed the correct priority, Martha did not. See also John 4:13-14.
(Another) Martha
- Matthew 16:24
Joanna
The woman who washed Jesus’ feet
- Luke 7:36-50
- Over time, we may forget how much we have been forgiven of and lose some of our love for God. We must be careful to not let that happen!
- Proverbs 11:22; 12:4; 14:1; 19:14

Practicing on My First Soul

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 5:8 → II Peter 1:16

Helping someone else starts with helping myself.

Matthew 7:3-5
Luke 22:61
We are continual works in progress, so we can’t wait until we’re perfect to help others.

Courage to confront my own sins … so that I can help others do the same.

Acts 26:18, 9

Learning God’s truth … so that I can help others do the same.

I Timothy 4:15-16
II Timothy 2:2, 14-15
Acts 17:2-3

Wise decision-making … so that I can help others do the same.

Colossians 1:9-11
II Timothy 2:24-26

Zeal … so that I can help others do the same.

Titus 2:14
I Corinthians 12:14
If everybody at Benchley was as zealous as me, what kind of church would it be?

The New Testament Church, Part 10

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians, continued

Objections

James 1:27 – “Can’t the church practice pure and undefiled religion?”
- This passage is talking about individuals – not the church acting collectively.

	James 1:27 (individuals)	I Timothy 5:16 (churches)
Widows	●	●
Orphans	●

Luke 10:30-37 – “Jesus taught us to do the same as the good Samaritan.”
“Even the Old Covenant provided for the needy and the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant.”
- God defines what is “better.” We can’t pick and choose things from the Old Covenant.
Acts 2:46 – “The early church broke bread from house to house.”
- “All” must be kept in context. The passage is not saying that 100% of their goods were in the church treasury.
II Corinthians 9:13 – “Paul said the money went to ‘them’ (needy saints) and to ‘all’ (non-saints).
- This money would do more than just pay the bills – it would cause others to glorify God.
- Paul mentioned this money seven times in three different letters, always noting it was for needy saints.
  - I Corinthians 16:1; II Corinthians 8:4; 9:1,12; Romans 15:25, 26, 31
- Acts 10:28, 34-35; Galatians 2:11-13 – Relations were icy between Jews and Gentiles.
- Romans 15:25-27
- Paul is referring to the money and the message is sent about the relationship between Gentile saints and Jewish saints.

Herods of the New Testament

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Herod the Great (37 BC – 4 BC)

Matthew 2:1-8, 12-20 – Herod sought to kill Jesus in fear for his own power.
Herod the Great was constantly paranoid about losing power.
Herod was the great builder at the time, building fortresses (Herodium, Masada, etc.) and doing massive renovations on the temple and surrounding buildings.
John 2:19-21
Mark 13:1 – A few years later, the Roman army destroyed the temple as Jesus prophesied.
I John 2:15-17 – God always wins. The world will pass away.

Herod Antipas, the tetrarch (4 BC – 39 AD)

Mark 6:14-28 – Like his father, Herod was afraid of embarrassment before his dinner guests. He was also afraid of John the Baptist.
Son of Herod the Great.
Herod knew that there was power outside of him that he had no control over and it made him afraid.
Luke 23:7-12

Herod Agrippa I (39-44 AD)

Acts 12:1-3, 19, 21-23
Nephew of Herod Antipas, grandson of Herod the Great.
Matthew 10:28
Herod had power over James’ body, but it did not go beyond that.

Herod Agrippa II (48-93 AD)

Son of Herod Agrippa I.
Acts 25:23; 26:1-32

Final take-aways

Don’t be afraid of “power.”
- Romans 13:1
No one outlasts King Jesus.
- Revelation 1:5-6
Seize the truth!
- Proverbs 23:23

Where are the Dead?

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Time

Romans 7:9 – Paul was alive apart from the law because he didn’t know good from evil.
Romans 3:23
I John 1:8
Mark 16:16
Acts 2:38
Romans 10:9-10
Romans 8:24
Ephesians 2:8-9
Colossians 1:12-17
Hebrews 9:27

Death

Where did Jesus go?
- Luke 23:40-43
- Paradise – II Corinthians 12:1-4
Did Jesus die?
- Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46; John 13:33-39
What about the thief?
- John 19:31-33
Was that heaven?
- John 20:12-17, 30-31
- Acts 1:9-11 – Jesus ascended to heaven.
- Luke 16:19-31
- Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8 – The second death is eternal separation from God. That death is optional!
- Physical death – Ecclesiastes 12:7
- Spiritual death – Revelation 21:8

Hades

All the dead will be raised (Revelation 20)
- I Thessalonians 4:13-18
- I Corinthians 15:35-55

The Sifting of Peter

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Satan and sifting

Job 1 and 2 – Satan asked permission to sift Job (to see what he was made of).
Matthew 3:11-12 – “and his winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean his threshing floor” (wheat from chaff)
Amos 9:9 – “shake the house of Israel as grain is shaken in a sieve”
Acts 5:3 – Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie
Luke 22:3; John 13:2, 27 – Satan entered Judas’ heart

“Has requested permission”

Satan was not content with Judas alone (John 13:2, 27)
Mark 5:1-15 – Jesus has control over demons.
Acts 19:10-19 – Paul had power over demons also.
II Corinthians 2:11 – “We are not ignorant…”
We like to think that we don’t have control over our errors because of fear, stress, emotions, etc.

Peter’s basic personality and demeanor

Extremely self-confident and often not as smart or tough as he thought it was.
Very motivated, to the point of appearing arrogant at times.
Always the first to speak and relay his plan to all.

“To sift you like wheat”

Some of Peter’s sifting:
- Luke 22:54-61; Mark 16:7 – humiliation
  - Peter realized he was not as smart or as tough as he thought he was. Would Peter be excited to see Jesus again after His resurrection?
- John 21:15-23 – not enough faith
- Acts 4:3-11; 5:18; 12:4-11 – prison
  - Peter had quickly gone from somewhat of a coward to a man that would loudly proclaim Jesus without fear of death.
  - Peter was sleeping in prison the night before he was to be put to death!
- Galatians 2:11-14 – publicly condemned by Paul
  - Peter was caught up in hypocrisy. He still needed sifting. This is no doubt something Paul did not want to do.\
- I Peter 1:6-12; 4:1-2, 12-16
  - As you grow older, has your personality and understanding of God changed?
  - The testing of your faith makes you a different person.
  - Sifting and testing are the same thing. Peter is no longer concerned about death. He is concerned about having his name written in the book of life.

How does God prepare us for His service?

By gifting us – Romans 12:6-12; I Peter 4:10; Matthew 25:29
- This process allows us to grow talents we have and acquire new ones.
By sifting us – I Peter 4:12-19
- This process helps me to eliminate the bad thing in me and enhances the good.

Remember

God always totally controls the sifting process.
- Job 1-2
  - Job was being sifted, but he had no clue about it!
- Philippians 1:19-21
- I Corinthians 10:11-13

Two responses to the sifting process

Anger, rebellion, depression, etc. – That leads to eternal death and destruction.
- Romans 1:24-32
Repentance and confession of wrong attitudes and actions – That leads to godliness
- James 4:13-17; I Peter 5:6-7
  - How much of our anxiety can we hand to God? All of it!
Eventually, we all repent!

The First Five Minutes of Eternity

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Considerations

The world beyond, the world unseen, the world in which we enter after death is a world that is not revealed in human philosophy and human reason.
There have never been any human philosophers that have been able to pull back the veil that lies between life and death.
There is no amount of knowledge from science, math, or otherwise that can help us understand what happens after death.
That is why so many highly educated men view immortality as a myth.
Isn’t it amazing that the Bible spends an enormous amount of time in this very subject of what happens after this life.
The prophets saw it for 1500 years before the birth of Jesus.
4000 years ago, Job spoke in detail about it (Job 14:14; 19:25-26).
The apostles revealed it in great detail, and the revelation unveils a glorious life that is yet to come almost 2000 years ago (I Thessalonains 4:13-17; I Corinthians 15:50-58).
So not by human or philosophy, only by revelation from God, we have an enormous body of information on the matter.
Believe it or not!

The first five minutes of eternity

Without exception, entrance into the next life is absolute and immediate.
Soul sleeping, purgatory, limbo, and period of probation are all of human creation because there is no mention of any of this in revelation from God.
With absolutely no exception, we are ushered into the next life immediately, and we will spend eternity there.
This was even true with Enoch and Elijah (Genesis 5:22; Hebrews 11:5; II Kings 2:11, 17).

Life in two parts: this life and the next life

There is a blessedness in life and a cursedness in damnation, and the two are always presented in detail in the Bible.
There are no gray areas with God, only black and white.
We are either saved in Christ, our sins forgiven in Jesus, and we are forever in the presence of God, or we are shut out and eternally separated from God (Luke 13:22-30).
In Luke 16, the angels come to get the soul of Lazarus and carry him to Abraham’s bosom immediately after his death (Luke 16:22).
Luke 23:43 – “Today you shall be with me in paradise.”
II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
- II Corinthians 5:1-8
Hebrews 2:15 – The fear of death causes us to be held in slavery.

First five minutes

I Thessalonians 4:13-17 – There is one great redemptive triumph in the final judgment of the body from the dead.
II Corinthians 5:1-8 – Immediately upon death, a child of God enters into that eternal life with God.
The same thing occurs in the other world.
Luke 16:22-23 – The rich man died, and in Hades he lifted up his eyes being in torment, and saw Abraham and Lazarus (immediately).
In my first five minutes in eternity, I am in, and will life for eternity in heaven or hell.

The two states

Given this is the way God reveals the matter, what do you think preachers ought to do about presenting this material?
Should we discuss issues of the day? Political climate?
These kinds of events have changed a thousand times since mankind came to this earth, and might change a thousand times more if the Lord does not return.
What does it mean to be lost?
- To die without the atoning blood of Jesus covering our sins
- No man can see God without it
- To experience complete separation from God for all eternity
- Separation – sheep from goats – Matthew 24:31-46
- Wheat from the chaff – Luke 3:17
- Fish caught in a net – good kept, bad thrown away – Matthew 13:47-50
- Wise and foolish virgins – Matthew 25:1-13
- Luke 17:34-36 – Separation
- Luke 16:26 – A great gulf fixed – no one can cross forever
Greater suffering than any human ever experienced for eternity
- Luke 16:23-24 – Agony, torment, flame
- Weeping and wailing, gnashing of teeth – Matthew 13:42, 50; 24:51; 25:30
- The worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched – Mark 9:44
- Always a sense that damnation and hell and separation is a place of suffering that humans have never seen on earth for eternity.
The meaning of being lost is death
- The second death – Revelation 20:11-15
  - A second death means to die forever in torment.
  - It was this that caused Jesus to die on the cross for the future sins of every human – Hebrews 10:4-18; I Timothy 1:15
- Have you ever seen a devout Christian die? Heard them discuss death?
- There is no fear in their hearts of breathing their last breath.
- They had been preparing for this trip for a long time.

Final thoughts

Eternity is a place – John 14 – “I go to prepare a place…”
We will have bodies in that place – Luke 24:36-40; I Corinthians 15
A bodily resurrection – I Corinthians 15 – Beautiful description of the resurrection of the body
Someday God will raise up a resurrected body and a redeemed soul to live in a place called heaven – Revelation 21:1-3; II Corinthians 3:18

Living With Eternity in Mind

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Consider

The greater your expectations of heaven, the better your life on earth will be (moral compass, priorities, value system).
Why? Because expectations affect behavior.
Philippians 3:3-11
If you want to live a life on earth the way it ought to be lived, you must live with eternity in mind.
If my view of this life is big, and my view of eternal life is much smaller, it will absolutely be reflected in my priorities.

II Peter 3:1-4

II Peter 3:1-2 – Learn to live in the light of God’s word.
Their expectation of their future was based on data in their mind – “For ever since our fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
Based on my past, I determine probability for the future.
They did not really know about the past. (Time lapse)
If I can get God and eternal judgment out of my mind, then I can live any way I want to live. It frees me up – no worries.
Make this life so important I can’t see eternity.

II Peter 3:5-6

By this analysis, things have always been just like they are now.
Imagine how Noah was mocked.
- He was building a boat on dry land for 120 years.
- People had possibly never seen rain (Genesis 2:5-6; 7:11).
- Noah preached for 120 years that people had to get on his boat or die.
- Noah’s short sermon – it’s gonna rain a lot!
What made Noah act this way? (Genesis 6:8-9; I Peter 3:18-22)
- Matthew 24:36-42

II Peter 3:7-9

II Peter 3:7 – Do you believe the world will someday be completely destroyed by fire (if you live that long)?
How much do you believe it?
II Peter 3:8 – Humans live a linear life – God does not.
We live in yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
We cannot measure God’s thoughts and actions by our watch or calendar.
God wants us to learn to see time and events as he sees them.

II Peter 3:10-13

II Peter 3:10 – The uncreation.
II Peter 3:11-12 – Does this fact affect how you live? See this life?

Conclusion

II Peter 3:14 – “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;”
Philippians 3:12-21

Is My Name Written in the Book?

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 10:17-20
Revelation 3:5

The book of life

Mentioned 6 times in the New Testament.
Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8
Mentioned 5 times in the Old Testament.

Matthew 10:34-36

Jesus was in the people separating business.
The sword indicated war or conflict.
Luke 12:51-53
Jesus separated people physically during the ministry on earth, and He will ultimately separate people eternally.

Matthew 25:31-46

The final throne scene.
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people (Matthew 25:34).
Hell is a prepared place for an unprepared people (Matthew 25:41).
The final separation accomplished by Jesus (Matthew 25:46).

Luke 13:22-30

Strive to enter the narrow door – indicates multiple paths/separation.
Door closes eventually – final separation.
Proximity does not equal intimacy! (Luke 13:26)

Luke 16:19-31

Lazarus had memory after death.
Torment begins immediately after death.

Revelation 19l 6:9-11

The final battle of good and evil on earth.

Revelation 20:11-15

The final throne scene.
The book of life – dead were judged.

Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-5

The beauty and splendor of heaven

Consider

In order to visibly see yourself saved, you must be able to visibly see yourself as eternally lost!!!
There are no:
- Weekend passes
- No visits to see if I like it
- No exit signs
- No ability to change anything

My motivation

To be eternally removed from all evil.
To see/meet the great men and women of the Bible.
To again see the godliest people that ever walked this earth.
To meet the Lord and to spend eternity with Him (I John 3:2-3; I Thessalonians 4:17).

Most important question

Matthew 7:21-23
Revelation 3:5 – “Will erase his name from the book of life.”
Is my name written in the book?
Can you picture yourself listening for your name?

The Parable of the Talents

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The parable analyzed

Distribution of talents to the servants (Matthew 25:14-15)
A talent was about 6000 denarii.
A denarii was a day’s wage.
Two doubled their talents and one hid his.
The two that doubled their talents were happy to see the master.
The one who hid his talent began making excuses immediately.
The Lord’s response – “wicked and lazy” (Luke 16:19-31)
Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 19:26

Godly one talent Christians

Andrew – Peter’s brother

John 1:29-42
John 1:41-42 – Andrew brings his brother to Jesus.
Andrew is mentioned 14 times. Peter is mentioned 176 times.
John 6:5-9 – Andrew brought the boy with the lunch to Jesus.
Matthew 19:13; Mark 10:13; Luke 18:15 – The apostles rebuked people for bringing children to Jesus.
John 12:20-22 – Philip seeks advice from Andrew.
Peter had constant issues with Gentiles, so he probably was not the logical person for Philip to ask.
Andrew and Philip brought these people to Jesus.
He brought his brother, the young boy, and the Greeks.
That was Andrew’s talent, and he used it well.

The parable applied

Main points – we must find and use all that we have.
If we do not, we:
- Lose that ability in this life
- And are judged for it in the next life
Diligence is rewarded, neglect is punished!
Is it possible that you once had a God given talent that you never used, and God took it away?

The Value of Disrupting Your Comfort Zone

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Malachi 4:4-5

Luke 3 – John’s message

Luke 3:1-15 – 15th year of Tiberius Caesar (14-37 AD)
Luke 3:2-3 – John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4).
John was about to disrupt the Jewish culture in Judea like had never been seen in centuries.
It is a tremendous mistake to tell people you won’t have to do much to become a Christian.
You will have to change everything about how you think and see the world around you (continuous).
How much of my time/talent/money do I give to God?
Rather, how much of God’s stuff should I keep?

You must disrupt your comfort zone

Following Jesus will totally disrupt your view of personal accountability.

These people were clearly and powerfully told that their old Jewish life was of little value in their new walk with Jesus (like many good people today).
Luke 18:9-14 – The Pharisees and tax collector.
The gospel will completely blow up your view of a “good person.”
I Peter 4:12-19 – Judgment will begin with us.
Ezekiel 18:4, 30-32 – I am the way I am because of how I was raised. “I will judge each man according to his works.”
It doesn’t matter who your parents were.
It doesn’t matter how you were mistreated or wronged in your life.
Stop blaming your current mistakes on past events.

Righteousness works from the inside out, not outside in.

Following Jesus cannot be just a religious ritual, or an old habit. You cannot defeat the devil with that alone (Luke 18:14).

Stop thinking that going to church occasionally will get you to heaven. That is outward, not inward.

Galatians 2:20; 5:24 – Conversion to Christ is called being crucified.
II Corinthians 4:16-5:24 – “The love of Christ controls us.”
Romans 7:9-8:18 – Only following Jesus Christ can disrupt my life in a way that has value to Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:31-39 – The end.

Judas and Peter

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Judas and Peter

Judas	Peter
Turned Jesus over to the Pharisees. Matthew 26:47-50	Denied Jesus 3 times. Matthew 26:69-75; John 14; Matthew 16:21-23
After seeing Jesus condemned, he was remorseful. John 12:1-6; Matthew 27:3-8	Remembered what Jesus told him, felt grief and sorrow after the realization.

Repentance

II Peter 3:9
God doesn’t compare sins. Romans 6:20-23; Galatians 3:10
John 21:15-19
Judas and Peter go in separate directions in how they grieved and faced their mistakes.
- Matthew 27:5 – Judas took matters into his own hands.
- John 21:15-19 – Peter is restored.
I Corinthians 6:9
I John 1:5-2:2
James 5:19-20

Proverbs for Life

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 1:1-4

Make your ear attentive to wisdom

Proverbs 1:20-22; 2:1-5
Proverbs 2:11-22 – Wisdom will help us avoid traps.
Proverbs 3:5-7 – Who is wiser, you or God?
Proverbs 5:11-12
Proverbs 6:20-26
Proverbs 7:24-25 – It comes down to your heart. Watch your heart and attitudes.
Proverbs 4:7 – The first rule of wisdom: Get it!

If sinners entice you, do not consent.

Proverbs 7:6-20 – The adulterous woman tries to entice with worldly wisdom.
Proverbs 1:10

Can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?

Proverbs 6:27-35
Proverbs 8:1
Proverbs 5:15

… as an ox goes to the slaughter …

Proverbs 7:21-27 – There’s a big difference between the façade and the reality.
Proverbs 5:3-11

The New Testament Church, Part 9

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians, continued

God authorized churches to provide for needy saints, continued

Acts 24:17 – Paul carried money from other churches to Jerusalem. He simply acted as the means to transport the money.
Romans 15:25-27
I Corinthians 16:1-3 – A voluntary collection of funds was taken on the first day of the week. The amount was “as he may prosper.” Some argue that this passage is only talking about funds for benevolence, not for preaching, but there are several passages that show that a local church can use its money to support preaching the gospel.
II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
II Corinthians 9:1 – The money was directed specifically to needy saints.
I Timothy 5:16, 3-5 – “Honoring” widows can include monetary support. See Matthew 15:4.

Observations

Churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians.
Individuals are authorized to provide for anyone.
How generous!
- Acts 11:29
- Acts 4:34 – These people were selling their own property to give the money to others in need.
Use wise judgment.
- II Thessalonians 3:6-12 – Be generous, but also be wary of those who would prey on that generosity.

The Devil Won't Stop

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Job 1:8
Luke 4:13

Sin tends to get worse until someone intervenes

II Kings 17:7-13, 22-23
Jeroboam set up idols in Dan and Bethel
- I Kings 12:26-30
- King after king followed these sinful ways. The altars stood for 300 years until Josiah tore them down.
- Hosea 8:7
- Strong leadership could have changed things, but none of the kings were willing to do anything.
- Proverbs 22:6

So take the initiative to be righteous and teach the next generation!

Judges 2:8-10
The ugliness of sin
- Hebrews 10:29
Physical purity
- Romans 13:12
The importance of family
- Titus 2:3-5

Solomon

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Solomon

II Samuel 12:24 – First mention of Solomon.
II Samuel 3:2-5 – Sons born to David.
II Chronicles 2:5 – God is the one who chose Solomon to succeed David as king.
I Kings 1:5-6 – David never rebuked Adonijah for attempting to usurp the throne.
I Kings 3:10-14 – Solomon asks for wisdom from God. Solomon’s annual income in gold alone was 25 tons, worth about $1.2 billion in today’s money. Solomon’s net worth was estimated at about $2.1 trillion.
I Kings 10:23
I Kings 10:6-9 – The report of the queen of Sheba.
I Kings 9:4-9 – God’s warning to Solomon if he departs from God’s commandments.
Proverbs 22:6 – Is this 100% foolproof? No, it is a general guideline.
Proverbs 4:20-27
Proverbs 10:16
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Proverbs 11:6-10 – Activities of the righteous vs. wicked.
Proverbs 5:1-6 – Warnings about forbidden women (adultery, etc.).

Psalm 62

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

“He only is my rock and salvation.” (Psalms 62:1-8)

Daniel 4:28-33 – Shouldn’t we learn the same lesson of humility that Nebuchadnezzar did? Proverbs 3:5
I Timothy 6:17 – Riches are uncertain.
Nothing on earth is secure like God is!
Psalms 62:3-4 – David had enemies all around.
- John 16:33
Psalms 62:8 – See I Peter 5:7.

“You recompense a man according to his work.” (Psalms 62:9-12)

Proverbs 1:10-19 – Do not go in the way with the evil man.
Psalms 62:11-12 – God will make things right in the end!
Do I ever stop and take a good look at my life?
- Mark 9:20-24 – “Help me with my unbelief!”

The New Testament Church, Part 8

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Colossians 3:17

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification, continued

Notice that New Testament churches were focused on spiritual edification

Not any type of edification is a work of the church.
There is a difference between edification and what might be done simultaneously with it.
- Acts 2:46-47
- Matthew 9:11

Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians

God authorized churches to provide for needy saints.

Acts 2:44-45
- Acts 5:4
Acts 4:32-35
- Acts 5:2
- Acts 22:3 – “at the feet of Gamaliel”
Acts 6:1-3
Acts 11:27-30 – Some use this verse to argue for the sponsoring church arrangement, but that is not the arrangement we see in scripture.

Esther

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Esther

Background

The book is set in the capital city of the Persian Empire, Susa, east of the promised land and covers a period of about ten years.

Main characters

Esther
Haman – son of Hammedatha the Agagite (King Agag who was supposed to have been killed by King Saul).
Mordecai
Ahasuerus / Xerxes

Persian Empire

492-490 B.C. – Darius makes an effort to conquer Greece
480-479 B.C. – Xerxes starts second Greece campaign
The history is primarily from Herodotus’ 440-430 B.C. writiings.
Four capital cities: Pasargadae, Babylon, Susa, and Ecbatana

The removal of Vashti (Esther 1)

The king’s anger was long-lasting. It was about four years before Esther took over as queen.

We read the gospel of John last week!

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 21:20-25
John is unique among the gospels, describing many things the other gospels do not.

The Last Conversation

John 13-17

“Wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14)

John 13:5, 12-17
Jesus gave them an example of humble service.
The apostles were about to be in a position of authority and they needed to be humble.
Acts 10:25
Don’t I also need to be a humble servant?
Proverbs 21:4

“Take courage” (John 16:33)

John 16:33
John 15:18-20
The apostles would not have an easy job!
John 17:14
We must also take courage because our Savior has overcome the world.
I John 2:17

“He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13)

John 14:16
John 15:26
John 16:13
The apostles would have everything they needed to spread the gospel without error.

The New Testament Church, Part 7

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification, continued

The local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together, continued

Praying
- John 11:42
- Acts 12:5, 12
- Acts 4:18, 21-24, 29, 31 – After praying they spoke with boldness.
- There is benefit to praying with others!
Singing
- Colossians 3:16
Assembling
- Hebrews 10:24-25

Notice that New Testament churches were focused on spiritual edification.

Acts 20:32
I Corinthians 14:11-19 – People should understand what is going on in a worship service. It should be organized and not just chaos.
I Corinthians 11:26
II Timothy 4:2
Worship is not entertainment.
Ephesians 4:11-16

Being a Welcoming Church

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 14:22-26

This starts with our attitude.

I Timothy 2:3-4; II Peter 3:9 – Do I have the same attitude as God that I want everyone to be saved?
Acts 26:24-29 – Paul doesn’t get offended at the insult and maintains a good attitude.
John 1:35-37; 3:26-30 – John was a good example. Christians are not in competition with each other. We’re all just trying to lead people to Jesus.
“This person has an eternal soul.” (John 5:28-29)
“I should take the initiative in loving my neighbor.” (Romans 5:8)
“I want to be an expert at love – just like my Father.” (I John 4:7-12)

What this looks like.

Be happy when people come!
- Acts 11:13-14; 10:24; Luke 5:27-29 – Cornelius and Levi both invited others to meet Christ. We should have the same attitude!
Be kind!
- II Timothy 2:24-26
Absorb inconveniences.
- I Corinthians 9:19-22 – Paul’s attitude was that he would bend over backwards to help people learn the gospel.
Look at people the way God does.
- Acts 9:11-16

Welcoming has its limits.

Colossians 3:9-10
Galatians 1:6-8; 4:16 – Paul would not change the gospel. His approach would change for different audiences, but not the underlying message.
Matthew 7:28-29
Titus 2:14-15 – This is always what our preaching should be.

Conclusion

I Corinthians 14:25 – Will our services honor God and edify us?

Deborah

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Deborah

She was a judge of Israel and prophetess, as well as military leader. She is one of the very few female prophets we read of.
She correctly prophesied the outcome of the battle between Israel and Sisera’s army.
Deborah and Barak then sang a song rejoicing in the deliverance God had granted them over Sisera and his army.

Let's read the gospel of John this week!

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

What?

Three chapters a day for seven days, starting today.
John 1:1

Why?

Because Bible reading is really important and this can be a great way to give ourselves a jumpstart!
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 – Kings were to write a copy of God’s law and then read it!
Luke 4:16
I Timothy 4:13

Where?

At home.
- Colossians 4:16
In a private Facebook group if you want.
- Read the text first and then go to the group.

Who?

All of us
- Psalms 119:18, 38, 72, 97-105
Get the kids involved!
- Joshua 4:6-7 – Every child that saw this would ask about it and be reminded.
- II Timothy 3:14

When?

Reading schedule:
- Sunday: John 1-3
- Monday: John 4-6
- Tuesday: John 7-9
- Wednesday: John 10-12
- Thursday: John 13-15
- Friday: John 16-18
- Saturday: John 19-21
Luke 8:14 – The busy-ness of life can get in the way!
Luke 10:38-42

How?

Just John
- Acts 17:11
- Read only the text! Do not read commentaries or other people’s comments on the text.
“How does it read to you?”
- Luke 10:25 – This is something we can understand.

The New Testament Church, Part 6

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel, continued

Observation: The gospel was taught.

II Corinthians 11:7
I Corinthians 15:1-5
Matthew 4:23
II Thessalonians 1:8
I Peter 4:17
Matthew 28:18 – Compare Mark 16:15-16.
It’s possible to think of the gospel as less than it is or more than it is. Many today see the church as a kind of community improvement project.
- Romans 1:13
We have the joy of spreading God’s message to others.

Observation: Encouragement of preachers was important (not just money).

Acts 13:1, 2; 14:26-28

Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification

The local church is a group designed for mutual encouragement as we serve God together.

The benefit of a group.
- I Corinthians 14:3-6, 12, 17, 26, 31
- Atheist mega-churches?
Lord’s Supper
- Acts 20:7, 16, 6 – Paul made extra effort to be with them.
Studying/preaching
- I Corinthians 14:26
- I Timothy 4:6, 16; II Timothy 4:1-5
Giving
- I Corinthians 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8:1-7; 9:1-2

Is the Word of God Performing Its Work in Me?

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Thessalonians 2:13-14
God’s word is meant to work in people.
I Thessalonians 3:6; 4:1; 5:11
Acts 17:2
Luke 11:27-28 – Jesus emphasized the importance of doing God’s will.

Do I listen to warnings about sin?

Psalms 119:9
Matthew 5:28 – Warning about lust.
Romans 1:29 – Warning about gossip.
I John 2:16 – Warning about pride.
James 1:21-26 – Don’t just see your sin and walk away. Fix it!

Do I take the initiative to do good?

James 1:27
It is not anyone else’s job to tell us what good we need to do. We must work to study God’s word and figure it out for ourselves.
II Peter 1:5-8 – I need to work on these things.

Do I make opportunities to teach?

II Timothy 3:16-17
Titus 1:9-11
Acts 8:4
We need to know God’s wrd so that we can teach ourselves and others effectively.
We should pray, “Please give me a teaching opportunity I can handle.”
If someone asks you something you don’t know, admit that you don’t know. That will teach them also. Then show them how to study and find out.
Acts 26:9
Psalms 1:1-3 – We should be like strong, healthy trees nourished by God’s word.

Ruth

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Ruth

Loyalty and dedication

Leaves her homeland
Commits to going with Naomi – Ruth 1:16-17
Naomi’s God becomes her God
Do we have the committed loyalty to God that Ruth had?
Matthew 9:35 – The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.
I Corinthians 3:5 – Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

Didn’t do things for glory or to seek attention

Luke 17:7 – We are good-for-nothing slaves; we’ve only done our duty.

Boaz wanted to bless her and Naomi wanted her to be taken care of

Leviticus 25:48; Numbers 35:19; Leviticus 25:25; Deuteronomy 25:5 – Responsibilities for the family redeemer.
Ruth 4
What did this lead to by continuing the family live for Elimelech?
- Ruth 4:18-22
Judges 10:6 – Ruth grew up in an idolatrous nation, but she turned to God.

Have You Forgotten?

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 11:23-25 – “in remembrance of me”

Go to the garden for deeper faith and love

Song – vs. 1-2
Christ’s agony in the garden
- Matthew 26:31, 36-47, 56; Luke 22:44
Christ’s attitude in the garden
- Matthew 26:39, 42; John 4:34; 10:11, 18

Go to the cross for stronger faith and love

Song – vs. 3-4
Christ’s suffering on the cross
- Matthew 27:27
Christ’s willingness to suffer, although innocent
- Matthew 27:38-40, 44; I Peter 2:21-24
Christ’s love for all
- Romans 5:8; John 3:16

Turn again to the world with a changed perspective

Song – vs. 5
Changing our perspective towards Christ
- I Peter 2:21; John 14:15; I John 5:3
Changing our perspective towards those around us
- II Corinthians 5:14-15; Mark 16:15-16

Spiritual Characteristics of the Church

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Spiritual nature of the church

Also spoken of as the kingdom
- Church – called out – I Peter 2:9; Ephesians 5:8
- Kingdom
  - Jesus – not of this world – John 18:36
  - Not physical – Romans 14:17
  - Entered through a spiritual change – John 3:3-5
Don’t conform to this world – Romans 12:2
Things of this world are contrary to the kingdom – John 12:31; Ephesians 2:1-2
Saved from this world into the kingdom – Colossians 1:11-14

Membership in the church

Membership in the church – Acts 2:46
There is one way in – Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus maintains the list of those allowed to enter – Revelation 21:27
II Peter 1:10-11

Structure

Designer and builder – Hebrews 11:9-10
Physical death powerless to stop it – Matthew 7:13-14
Foundation – I Corinthians 3:8-11
- Foundation stones – Revelation 21:14
- Foundation and corner stone – Ephesians 2:19-22
- Walls – I Peter 2:4-6

Relationships

Heavenly Father – whose Father?
- Matthew 10:32-33; Ephesians 1:3
- Luke 20:34-36; Romans 9:26
- What does that make us? Luke 8:19-21
- How can this be? John 1:12-13; Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 1:5-6
- What special right do we attain? Hebrews 9:15

Inheritance – reward

Eternal life
- Matthew 25:46; John 3:16; Romans 6:22; Galatians 6:8
- Rest – Hebrews 4:9
- Presence – John 14:2-3
- Lots of space – John 14:2-3
- Likeness of Christ – I John 3:2
Rooms vs. mansions
- John 14:2

Music in Worship of God

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Does it really matter if we use mechanical instruments of music in worship?

David used instruments of worship in the Old Testament

If instrumental music could be brought into modern times under the New Covenant, we must also bring over polygamy, observing the Sabbath, animal sacrifices, etc.
We are under the New Covenant now.
- Hebrews 1:2
- Hebrews 7:12, 18
- Galatians 3:24-25
II John 1:9; Colossians 3:17

Verses about music in New Testament worship

Acts 16:25
Romans 15:9
I Corinthians 14:15
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 2:12
James 5:13
All of these verses specifically say to sing!

What about instruments used in heaven?

Revelation 5:8
Heaven is a different place with different rules. We are not yet in heaven!

The word “psalmos”

The definition does not necessarily include an instrument. If an instrument was included in the definition, use of an instrument would always be required.

The word “psallo”

It means “to pluck.” The context must indicate what is being plucked.
In Ephesians 5:19, the context indicates vocal music from the heart.

“Jesus didn’t say not to.”

But Jesus told us what to do. That eliminates all other possibilities.

Makes no difference, God’s not that “picky” … (and it’s just church of Christ tradition anyway)

Was God just being “picky?”
- Genesis 3 – They just ate a piece of fruit!
- Leviticus 10:1-2 – They just used a different fire!
- II Samuel 6:6-8 – Uzzah was just trying to keep the ark from falling.
- Galatians 2:11-14 – Peter just chose not to eat with the Gentiles!
What we say and do makes a difference to God.
- Colossians 3:17
- II John 1:9
- II Thessalonians 1:7-9

What is Sin?

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 5:19-20

Words and phrases that God uses to tell us what sin is

General description

Galatians 4:8-9
- Weak
- Beggarly elements
- Bondage
Romans 6:17
- Slaves of sin
Romans 6:13
- Instruments of unrighteousness
Matthew 18:11
- Lost
Revelation 3:17
- Wretched
- Miserable
- Poor
- Blind
- Naked

Infirmities

Matthew 9:11-12
- Sick
II Timothy 2:16
- Cancer
Hebrews 5:11
- Dull of hearing
Matthew 23:19
- Fools
- Blind
John 8:12
- Walking in darkness

Filthiness

II Peter 2:21
- Vomit
- Mire
Matthew 23:27
- Dead man’s bones and all uncleanness

Conclusion

God uses these words to show us how we should think about ourselves when we sin.
James 1:21-25
I Corinthians 6:9
Hebrews 10:22
I Peter 3:21
Revelation 7:14
Luke 4:18
All of these things are choices we make. We can make other choices!
Acts 26:18
Psalms 51:7

The Religion of Self

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 3:1-5

Completely dedicated to self

Philippians 3:19
Example: The Church of Satan
- They worship themselves!
- Satanists place themselves at the center of their worldview.
Genesis 6:5
Genesis 18:20; 19:4, 24
Example: The Satanic Temple
- They do not believe in the actual existence of Satan.
- They try to use the courts to advance their agenda.
- “Thyself is thy master.”
James 5:1, 5

Still dedicated to self, but pretending to serve God

James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is enmity with God.
Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters.
Matthew 22:37
Galatians 5:19-24 – If I disobey some of God’s laws, am I really obeying Him in anything?
Mark 10:17-23
Has the Bible really changed me?

Completely dedicated to God

I Samuel 13:14
I Kings 15:5
Psalms 51:1-4, 16-19 – David wasn’t perfect, but he kept coming back to God.

The New Testament Church, Part 5

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel, continued

Overview of New Testament passages, continued

Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
Acts 14:26 – “commended … they began to report”
Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
- The general principal is that those who work should receive compensation for their work.
- Apparently, the Corinthians never paid Paul while he worked with them and he did not ask because he knew their spiritual maturity level was not high enough. See Acts 18:1-5. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul turned completely to teaching and preaching.
- I Corinthians 9:13 – See Nehemiah 13:10-14. Nehemiah reprimanded the people for not handling the tithes correctly and paying the priests as they should.
- I Corinthians 9:14 – A preacher has authority to be supported by his work.
I Corinthians 14 – “for edification”
- I Corinthians 14:1-4, 26-33, 40 – In the days of spiritual gifts, those gifts could be controlled. The focus was always to be edification for those who heard. Things were to be done properly and in order.
- We no longer have spiritual gifts, but we have assemblies that need to be done properly and in order, with the focus being edification.
II Corinthians 11:7-9 – “I robbed other churches”
- This is figurative language. He’s making the point that the church in Corinth should have supported him but did not.
Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 – “participation in the gospel”
- The church can send money to someone preaching the gospel in another place.
I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – “sounded forth from you”

Observation: The money was sent directly to the preacher.

Acts 15:3 – Antioch to Paul and Barnabas
I Corinthians 9:1-18 – Corinth should have paid Paul.
Philippians 4:14-15 – Philippi to Paul
II Corinthians 11:7-9 – Multiple churches sending money to Paul.
There were no additional organizations involved. The money was sent directly to the preacher.
In modern times, the sponsoring church arrangement has developed, in which multiple churches send money to a single church, which then supports a preacher.
- First, there is no authority for churches to pool money together for evangelism.
  - II Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:15 – Was Philippi the sponsoring church? There is no reason to connect these two passages. There is no evidence this was the same occasion.
- Second, local churches – which should have independent function and local oversight – give away control of the money they send.
  - Acts 14:23; I Peter 5:1-2
  - We never read anything of a collective larger than a local church.
  - Wayne Goforth, “Why I Left the Institutional Position”
- Stick to the simple New Testament pattern!

Zimbabwe

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Ed Brand made a trip to Zimbabwe to meet with Dickson Dangirwa, who is supported by the church at Benchley.
Zimbabwe has been known by many names over the years and has twelve official languages, including English.
Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of Africa, but that is no longer the case. Food is now a concern. Most people eat a significant amount of grain and bread, but little protein. Dickson has his own wheat field that he is able to irrigate, but that is an unusual luxury.
Culturally, men and women often sit separately in worship services and elsewhere.
Church buildings are often posts with a tin roof.
Where Dickson lives, there is no electricity or water service. He has solar panels that he uses to charge his phone.
Travel is difficult because the region is mountainous and the roads up and down the mountain where Dickson lives are unpaved and extremely rocky. The roads are very rough on the vehicles.

Loving What We Have

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Thessalonians 3:12

Loving our kids

Mark 9:33-37; 10:13-16 – Jesus loves children and blessed them.
Deuteronomy 31:10-13 – It is important for children to hear the word of God and learn.
Joshua 8:33-35 – The children were present for the reading of the law.

Loving our older folks

Titus 2:1-3
Psalms 90:10; 92:12-15; 71:8-18 – Older folks can still bear fruit!
Proverbs 16:31; 20:29
Leviticus 19:32 – Respect your elders!
I Timothy 5:1-2
Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 – The difficulties of old age.
II Samuel 19:31-39 – David’s treatment of Barzillai the Gileadite: Barzillai accepted his age gracefully and did what he could.

Loving our workers

Nehemiah 6:1-9, 15 – The determination of Nehemiah and the workers.
II Corinthians 10:10 – Paul was criticized in his work.
Luke 7:39 – Even Jesus was criticized in His work!

The New Testament Church, Part 4

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

What is a local church, continued?

When do you have local church action, continued?

When all local church members act together?

Not necessarily.

When all local church members act together in Christ?

Yes.
I Timothy 5:16 – Caring for widows.
Acts 4:32-5:4 – Once the money was in the common fund, that was something different than an individual’s own money.
John 12:3-6 – The money belonged to the apostles, but Judas was setting some aside for himself.
Matthew 18:15-17
Philippians 2:25, 30; 4:14-18 – Epaphroditus did the work, but Paul attributed it to the church because Epaphroditus was doing it on their behalf.
I Corinthians 11:17
Philippians 1:27

Local churches are authorized to provide for the preaching of the gospel

Overview of New Testament passages

Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
Acts 14:26 – “commended … they began to report”
Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
- Acts 18:1-4

The Benefits of Knowing My Purpose

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 7:28-30 – The Pharisees rejected God’s purpose.
II Timothy 3:10 – Timothy had seen Paul living with purpose.
Matthew 6:33 – Seek God first.
Matthew 16:26; 22:37-39
Acts 17:26
I Corinthians 10:31

Purpose gives me the correct way to view the world and make decisions

Joshua 24:14-15 – Joshua’s purpose was serving the Lord.
I Peter 3:8-9
I Thessalonians 4:3
Many decisions are already decided for us if we have the right purpose.

Purpose allows me to fulfill my greatest potential

Matthew 1:21
John 12:27 – Jesus knew His purpose and was prepared to fulfill His greatest potential.
Philippians 1:21-24
What’s the best way for me to live my life? What is my greatest potential?
Acts 20:27 – Paul fulfilled His purpose with them.
II Timothy 4:6-8
I Corinthians 15:58
I Peter 4:1

Purpose brings true joy to my life

Hebrews 12:2
Philippians 3:5, 19-20; 4:4

Elijah

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Elijah

Major events in Elijah’s life

First mentioned in I Kings 17:1. Last mentioned in II Kings 10:17.
Prophesied against Ahab and Ahaziah.
I Kings 17:1 – famine
I Kings 17:2-7 – fed by the ravens
I Kings 17:8-24 – fed the widow and raised her son
I Kings 18:19-19:3 – defeated the prophets of Baal and fled Jezebel
I Kings 19:16-21 – chose Elisha to succeed him
II Kings 2:1-12 – taken up to heaven. Elijah was one of only two people in the Bible to not experience physical death (Hebrews 11:5).
Malachi 4:1-5 – At the very end of the Old Testament, Elijah’s name is mentioned again. John the Baptist was a parallel to John the Baptist.

Elijah’s impact

Elijah is mentioned during a relatively small part of the Old Testament, but he had a great impact, even in the New Testament.
Luke 1:17 – See I Kings 18:39.
Luke 4:25-26 – Reference to Elijah being sent to the widow in Sidon. God preserved her.
James 5:17 – Elijah mentioned in reference to the power of prayer.
Romans 11:4-5 – A remnant of faithful people remains. Compare I Kings 19:14-18.
Matthew 11:7-14 – When Jesus talks about John the Baptist, we learn more about the determination of Elijah as well.
- Elijah was strong-willed in his determination to God. He demanded repentance and a return to God. He knew who should be punished for evil.
What kind of lasting impact do we have on people? Is it for the better or worse?

Elijah encounters God

I Kings 19:9-13 – Elijah’s encounter with the Lord.

What Are We Looking For ... ?

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 3:4-5
Matthew 11:8-9 – John the Baptist was more than a prophet. What would we have thought of him if we saw him?

… in Jesus?

John 6:13-15, 35, 45-51, 66-68 – “I am the bread of life.” Jesus said they had to receive Him.
John 8:31-34
Jesus was often misunderstood when He was on earth. Are we still misunderstanding Jesus?
I Corinthians 6:9-11 – Do we realize we need Jesus for salvation?
Revelation 5:12 – Jesus is the king!

… in a local church?

I Thessalonians 2:13, 14 – They knew the difference between the word of God and everything else.
Am I looking for the word of God?
I Thessalonians 5:11
I Thessalonians 2:19

… in a career?

Ephesians 5:28-29 – Properly maintaining a marriage requires time.
Ephesians 6:4 – Raising children takes time.
Titus 2:4-5
Proverbs 15:16-17
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Philippians 3:7-8

Conclusion

Colossians 3:1-2

The New Testament Church, Part 3

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

What is a local church?

There is a difference between an individual and a local church.

Matthew 18:15-17 – Three different parties are involved here. One person, a few members, and the entirety of the local church (or a representative thereof).
I Timothy 5:16
Some say that whatever an individual has authority to do, a local church has authority to do, but …
A letter being addressed to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to collective church work.
- I Thessalonians 1; 4:11
- I Corinthians 1:2; 7:1-2
- I Timothy 1:2; 3:1-13; 5:16
- Titus 1:4-5

The Bible uses “church” as a collective noun.

Acts 8:1-3
Acts 11:26 – “Church” talking about a plurality of disciples.
Acts 14:26
I Corinthians 1:2
Philippians 1:1
Hebrews 12:23
Acts 2:41

Never does the Bible use the word “church” to collect congregations.

There is a difference between collecting congregations and collecting individuals.
If the universal church is composed of congregations, that would mean you must be a member of a local church to be a member of the universal church.

When do you have a local church action?

When a plurality of Christians act together?

Not necessarily.
Acts 13:1-3
I Corinthians 11:22, 34, 18
Philippians 4:15

The Holy Spirit's Masterpiece

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

[Sorry, due to technical issues, the audio is not available for this lesson. -MRW]

Introduction

II Timothy 3:14-17
John 14:16, 26
John 15:26; 16:13

Precise

I Corinthians 2:10-13
I Peter 1:10-12 – The prophets themselves were wondering about the full picture behind their message.
The prophets’ job was to carry God’s message, even if they did not fully understand it.
II Peter 1:20-21 – Men wrote the words provided by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:39 (Ephesians 2:13) – The “far off” people were Gentiles. Peter did not understand this when he said it in Acts 2!
John 11:49-52 – Caiaphas was an unwitting prophet of Jesus.
Matthew 10:17-22

Personal

I Corinthians 1:4
The Holy Spirit made it personal by sending His message through anyone.
Psalm 6
Ecclesiastes 1:1-4; 12:12-14 – Solomon’s story resonates with us.
By using stories, God made His message much more powerful for us.
II Samuel 12:1-7 – The Holy Spirit telling a story through Nathan the prophet broke through to David’s conscience.
I Corinthians 10:6-11 – These stories were written for us!

Perceptive

Hebrews 4:12 – God’s word goes straight to our innermost being.
Acts 2:37 – God’s word pierced their hearts.
John 12:42-43
God knows everything. We’re not hiding anything from Him!
Luke 22:33
I Samuel 13:12

David

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

David

Timeline

I Samuel 16:1-13 – Appointed by Samuel
I Samuel 16:14-23 – Serves Saul (age approximately 16-20)
I Samuel 17 – Defeats Goliath
I Samuel 21:10-15; 23 – Flees from Saul
I Samuel 24:2-6 – Spares Saul
II Samuel 2:1-5:5 – Becomes king (age 30)
II Samuel 7 – Receives God’s covenant
II Samuel 11 – Sins with Bathsheba
II Samuel 15; 17:24-19:8 – Son Absalom rebels
I Kings 2:10-11 – Dies (age 70)

I Samuel 13:14 – A man after God’s own heart

I Kings 15:3-5 – Example of how repentance of our sins can show a heart dedicated to God.

Action	Repentance
David cut the corner of Saul’s robe. I Samuel 24:4-7	Conscience bothered him, swore to never lift his hand.
Moving the ark, death of Uzzah. II Samuel 6	Priests carried the ark.
Adultery and murder of Uriah. II Samuel 12	Immediate confession, great sorrow. II Samuel 12:13
Unauthorized census. II Samuel 24	Guilt, pleading, and worship to God. II Samuel 24:10, 17.

Praise and devotion of David

I Chronicles 29:10-22
I Chronicles 28 – David wants to build a house for the ark of the Lord’s covenant and a footstool for God.
Solomon and every king after David was told to follow his example and were measured against David.
- Solomon – I Kings 3:14
- Jereboam – I Kings 14:7-8
- Abijam – I Kings 15:3
- Asa – I Kings 15:11

David and the church at Corinth	Evil kings and the churches of Galatia
Sinned against God, yet didn’t turn away from God or the gospel of Christ. I Corinthians 1:4	Turned away from God to idols and turned to another gospel.
David: I Samuel 13:14 “The Lord has found a man according to his heart.”	Solomon: I Kings 11:9 “… his heart had turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel”
Church at Corinth: I Corinthians 1:4-9 “Eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”	Abijam: I Kings 15:3 “… not completely devoted to the Lord.”
	Churches of Galatia: Galatians 1:6 “…you are so quickly turning away from Him”

Psalm 51

Back to School

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Proverbs 13:20

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
Proverbs 1:10-16
I Corinthians 5:6-8; 15:33
Be aware of the danger of bad influences!

I Timothy 4:12

“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather … show yourself an example.”
Acts 14:13, 19
Timothy showed that young people can do well.
Daniel 1:8 – “Daniel made up his mind …” Daniel was a young man, taken captive in a foreign land, but he decided to obey God.
Daniel 2:17, 47 – Daniel influenced them, not the other way around.
Daniel 4:8-9
Daniel 5:18; 6:5, 10, 25 – Daniel had a reputation as a man of God and was called upon by several kings.

Conclusion

I John 2:1

The New Testament Church, Part 2

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

What does “church” mean, continued:

The Bible’s use of ekklesia:

Universal spiritual group

Hebrews 12:18-24
- See Colossians 1:15, 18 regarding use of the word “firstborn.”
- “Firstborn” in this passage in Hebrews is plural. This passage is talking about the group of people who are in a saved relationship with God.
Matthew 16:13-20 – Jesus built His church on what Peter confessed – Jesus’ identity as the Christ. Compare Acts 2:44-47.
The Bible uses the word ekklesia (church) to mean a group of saved people.
The term “universal church”
- The word “catholic” just means “universal.”
One single savior one single group of saved people (church)

Local spiritual group

I Corinthians 1:2
I Thessalonians 1:1

Local church assembly

I Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 34, 35

Regional spiritual group

Acts 9:31 – The textus receptus has ekklesia as plural. Some other manuscripts have the singular form here.

The Bible’s use of ekklesia compared to ours!

Various examples of phrases we use to talk about the church.

Can Christians Fall Away and Be Lost?

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, and Documented by Steele, Thomas, and Quinn
Calvinists argue that the saved cannot fall away. Those that do fall away were never really saved.

Colossians 1

This letter was clearly written to the saved (Colossians 1:1-2, 13, 21-23).
“… if you continue in the faith” (Colossians 1:23)
Colossians 2:5 – Paul was not doubting their commitment to God, but he shows it was possible for them to fall away.
I Timothy 1:19; 4:1 – Examples of those who did fall away.

Hebrews 3-4

Hebrews 3:1
Hebrews 3:7-11 – The Israelites were unfaithful and were not allowed to enter the promised land.
Hebrews 3:12-14 – Learn from the Israelites and don’t fall away!
Hebrews 3:15-19 – Don’t repeat the mistakes of the Israelites.
Hebrews 4:1-11 – There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
Is sin a matter of salvation? See Hebrews 3:6; 4:14. Yes!

Once a child, always a child?

I John 3:1-2
Terry Watkins, Dial-the-Truth Ministries argues for this view
John 10:14; Matthew 5:13 – A good shepherd raises sheep to be sheered and slaughtered. Is that what this figure means? Salt kills slugs. Does that mean that we should be the salt of the earth and kill slugs?
John 1:11-13 – Those who received Jesus were given the right to become children of God.
Hebrews 12:5-8
I John 3:7-10 – Those who do not practice righteousness are not of God.
If you start as a child of the devil (as per Calvinism), then by this reasoning you would always be a child of the devil.

Conclusion

Hebrews 4:11

Moses

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Moses

Life of Moses

Moses spent 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, and 40 years in the wilderness
Deuteronomy 34:5-8 – Buried by God, no one knows where. Moses died at 120, but was still in good health.

What are some things that stick out about Moses?

Committed – Exodus 2:11; Hebrews 11:27
Humble – Exodus 18:13-26; Numbers 12:3
Spoke face to face with God – Exodus 33:11; Deuteronomy 34:10-12

“The Lord/God spoke to/unto Moses”

This exact wording is recorded 106 times from Exodus to Deuteronomy.
The same phrasing applied to other people occurs only 26 times in the Bible.

Why did God choose Moses?

Committed murder
Did not consider himself a leader
Not an eloquent speaker
Lost his temper
Got provoked with the people and disobeyed God

Matthew 9:12-13 – “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”

Exodus 32:32 – The golden calf
Numbers 11:2 – Complaining people
Numbers 12:13 – Miriam and Aaron
Numbers 14:19 – Refusal to enter Canaan
Numbers 16:22 – Korah’s rebellion

Moses	Jesus
Deuteronomy 18:15, 19	Quoted by Peter in Acts 3:22-23 and Stephen in Acts 7:37
	John 1:45

Psalm 90

A psalm written by Moses.

"O LORD, I pray, open his eyes"

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Kings 6:8-23

We should open our eyes to the joy in Heaven!

Luke 15:3-10 – There is great joy in Heaven when a sinner repents.
II Peter 3:9

We should open our eyes to Jesus watching us.

John 1:43-51 – Jesus saw Nathaniel when he thought he was all alone.
Hebrews 4:13

We should open our eyes to people who are in the afterlife.

Luke 9:28-31
Luke 20:37-38
Luke 16:22-31

We should open our eyes to the glory of the Lord.

Acts 7:55-60 – God is on His throne now just as He was in the days of Steven.

We should open our eyes to the future.

Hebrews 11:3, 7-10, 13, 20, 27
Can we see this scene in faith?

The New Testament Church, Part 1

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Christ is the head of His church.

Matthew 16:18
Acts 11:20-26 – “… to the Lord”
Acts 20:28
Ephesians 5:23-30

Let’s be precise and kind with our words.

Proverbs 15:1-4
“Legalist”
“Anti-“
“Conservative” / “Liberal” – These are relative terms.
“Institutional” / “Non-institutional”

We’re not interested in trying to prove points based on tradition or bias.

John 12:48

We’re interested in Biblical truth.

It’s important to continually study this topic.

What does “church” mean?

The word “ekklesia”

Matthew 16:18
“the ‘called out ones’ of God” (Mounce)
The word “group” is a good parallel to ekklesia.

The Bible’s use of “ekklesia” – secular group

Israel in wilderness – Acts 7:38
Riotous mob – Acts 19:32, 41
Legal court – Acts 19:39

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 12

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Enkrateia – Self-control

It’s a core quality of successful living

Titus 2:11-14 – Restraint allows us to live better lives.
Luke 9:23 – Jesus had perfect self-control.
I Corinthians 9:23-27 – It takes discipline and self-control to put ourselves on the right path.
II Peter 2:1, 14, 18-19
Secular research results
- Self-control is a better determinator of success than intelligence or athletic ability.
- People with more self-control are happier about their lives.

You can grow it like a muscle

Galatians 5:24-25 – We are making a choice to put away sin.
II Peter 1:5-11 – These qualities should be continually increasing.
Improving self-control in one area helps in all areas!

Be thinking of some ways to exercise more self-control starting today!

Finances – Ecclesiastes 5:10
Emotions – Proverbs 16:32
Speech – Proverbs 21:23
Lust of the flesh – I Thessalonians 4:7
Lust of the eyes – Job 31:1
Pride – I Peter 5:5
Teach children self-control. If all you leave them is good self-control, that is a great inheritance!

How Delightful is a Timely Word

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 15:23

The power of words

Proverbs 25:15 – Thoughtful speech can have great power!
Romans 1:16 – The gospel is the power of God for salvation.
Acts 11:14; 4:17 – The word of God is powerful. So much so that the Jewish leaders of the time tried to prevent the apostles from speaking.
Psalm 145:4, 6-7, 11-12 – God’s people tell others about God.
Colossians 4:5-6 – Let our speech always be with grace, making the most of our opportunities.
Ephesians 4:29 – Say only what is good for edification.

What can I say?

Comment: “It’s just like the Bible says…”

“you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow” (James 4:14)
“whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 20:26)
“he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19)
“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
“he who listens to reproof acquires understanding” (Proverbs 15:32)
“everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (James 1:19)
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

Question: “Have you ever thought about… ?”

“What do you think would happen if we got rid of every single preacher, church, religious tradition, and book about the Bible and all we had left was the Bible itself?”
- Matthew 15:1-9; II Timothy 4:1-5
“Can you imagine what it must have been like for Jesus to leave Heaven to come live on earth?”
- Romans 5:6-8; Philippians 2:5-8
“How different do you think the world would be if we were all truly grateful for our blessings?”
- Luke 17:11-19; I Thessalonians 5:18
“What’s the solution to hypocrisy in church members?”
- Matthew 23; James 2:14-17
“What do you think some of the devil’s favorite tricks are?”
- Matthew 4:1-11; Galatians 1:6-9
“If churches today would teach the same things Jesus taught back then, how do you think people today would react?”
- Mark 15:10; John 15:18
- God’s teaching has not changed. Have we changed?
“Do you have a favorite Bible story?”
- I Corinthians 10:6-12; II Timothy 3:14-17
- These are actual events!

Preparing ourselves

Matthew 12:33-37 – First, we must be spiritually minded!

Challenge!

Pick ONE of these items and pray for an opportunity to say it somewhere to someone.
“Please give me an opportunity I can handle.”

Overview of Romans

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Lord's Supper: Its Meaning

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 11

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Prautes – Gentleness/meekness

This word is hard to translate. In the original language, the word does not connote “weakness.” It is the idea of power under control.

Meek toward God, then others

James 1:21

Power under control

Zodhiates: “getting angry at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right reason”
Proverbs 16:32
Jesus
- Matthew 11:28-30
- I Peter 2:22-23
- John 13:13-14
- Matthew 23

Boldness through God (without selfishness or ego)

James 3:13-14; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 3:3-4, 15
BDAG: “not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance”
Jesus
- Matthew 21:1-5
- I Peter 2:23
- Philippians 2:6-8
- John 8:29
Galatians 6:1-2 – It takes boldness to confront someone about sin!
Timothy
- I Timothy 6:11-12
- II Timothy 2:22-26
Titus
- Titus 1:12-13
- Titus 2:15-3:3
Numbers 12:3 – Moses is given as an example of meekness and humility.

False Doctrines Kill Faith

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

“Seven Problems in Christianity that Killed My Faith” by Joe Omundson
John 3:1-8 – Nicodemus was willing to listen!
There’s a chance that I might be confused.

Expecting miraculous guidance/experience

“Guidance of the Holy Spirit”
- If the Holy Spirit guides us directly, why is there so much disagreement between churches?
- John 16:13; 13:1 – Jesus was speaking to the twelve apostles here, not to everyone!
- II Peter 3:13-16 – It’s possible to distort scripture!
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
- James 4:8
- Revelation 2:13; I John 4:15; John 15:5 – Examples of metaphorical language.

Calvinism

“Bondage to sin”
- People are powerless to do anything but sin, according to Calvinism.
“All real Christians remain lifelong Christians.”
- Ezekiel 18:20, 26 – Men can change their ways.
- James 5:19-20 – It’s possible for Christians to leave the faith.
- Because Calvinism is false, it constantly conflicts with reality.

Issues with God’s justice

“The corruption of humanity”
“Hell”

Prayer

“God’s answers to prayer”
- I John 5:14
- We cannot try to use prayer as a proof for our faith.

False doctrines kill faith

Matthew 23:15
II Timothy 1:13
So, let’s cling to God’s truth!

2 Peter, Part 4

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

II Peter 3:8 – Time is of no concern to God. Time is just a short space between two eternities.
II Peter 3:9 – We should be thankful for the Lord’s patience so that we can have the honor of serving Him and then living with Him in heaven.
II Peter 3:10 – The Lord will come, but no man can predict when that will be.
II Peter 3:11-13 – We should live as though the Lord could return at any time. We should look forward to the new heaven and new earth and live acceptably before God, taking advantage of the forgiveness Jesus offers.
II Peter 3:15-16 – Some things in the scriptures will be difficult to understand. Also note that Peter vouches for Paul and his writings here.
II Peter 3:18 – We must continue to add to ourselves the qualities in II Peter 1:5-7.

Balaam

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Numbers 22:1-6 – Balak was scared of the people of Israel.
Numbers 26:51
Numbers 22:7-14 – The story should have ended here!
Numbers 22:19 – Balaam asked God again because he wanted the money!

Sometimes we just want to sin

II Peter 2:15-16
Jude 1:11
Numbers 22:20-22 – God did not want Balaam to go, but since he was determined to sin, God allowed him to go.
I John 2:15
We need to see our sin the way God does.

Israel destroyed themselves from the inside

Numbers 23:7-12, 18-27; 24:9-11
Numbers 25:1-5
Numbers 31:7-8, 15-16 – Balaam was killed. He didn’t curse Israel, but he taught Balak how to cause Israel to sin.
Revelation 2:14
Could Benchley destroy itself from within some day?
Acts 20:17, 28-31
Ephesians 1:15; 6:23; I Timothy 1:3, 19; II Timothy 2:17; Revelation 2:1-7 – Ephesus had left their first love!
This could happen to us!

God is faithful

Numbers 23:27
Numbers 22:31
Deuteronomy 23:3 – God had been protecting Israel even though they didn’t know it.
Micah 6:1-5 – God had been faithful to Israel the entire time!
I John 5:14
Romans 8:35

Unity and Growth

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Ephesians – basic outline

Ephesians 1:3-14 – God’s eternal purpose in Christ
Ephesians 1:15-3:21 – God’s eternal purpose in the church. We (the church) are the called and chosen of God in Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-6:20 – Therefore walk worthy.
Ephesians 6:21-24 – Final greeting

Unity and growth

Relationship

Ephesians 4:1-16

Attitude

Ephesians 4:2-3 – We must have the right attitude to produce unity.
Lowliness – Considering other higher than self; humbleness of mind
Meekness – Basic idea is humble submission to God’s will. Toward man, the idea seems to be humble service to one another.
Longsuffering, forbearing – To bear with, put up with one another in love. See Colossians 3:13. If we truly one another, we will have tender affections for, or be devoted to one another.

Foundation of the unity of the spirit

All unity and growth must be built on these seven truths (Ephesians 4:1-6):

One body or church of Jesus Christ – Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18
One Spirit, one of the three divine beings of the Godhead
1. Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34
One hope of entering within the veil where Jesus has entered as high priest – Hebrews 6:19-20
One Lord, the Master of all, with all authority in heaven and on earth
One faith, the one gospel once delivered to the saints – Jude 1:3; Acts 6:7; Galatians 1:6-9, 11-12, 23
One baptism
1. There were two on Pentecost but Jesus fulfilled his promise of administering Holy Spirit baptism and now there is just the “baptism in Jesus’ name,” which is baptism in water for the remission of sins. Acts 2:38; 8:12-16; 10:47-48
One God and Father of all

Gave works (offices)

Ephesians 4:7-11

Conclusion

Ephesians 4:2 – For the perfecting of the saints … unto the building up of the body of Christ.

Committed to God

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Why are we separated from God?

God has always been here.
- Genesis 1:1-2
- Exodus 19:10-11, 16-20 – God spoke to Moses.
- Matthew 3:16-17 – God was present when Jesus was on earth.
- I Timothy 3:16
- Matthew 18:20

Sin has separated us from God.

Matthew 5:3
We forget that we need God.
Psalm 86:1

We must have a commitment to serving Christ.

This is our bridge back to God.
Luke 9:23
Some claim to know a lot about Jesus, but are nothing like Him.

Luke 9:23

Let him deny himself.
- Galatians 2:20
And take up his cross daily
- II Timothy 3:12
- Romans 12:12
And follow me
- John 8:31
- Hebrews 10:25
- We must plan if we are going to meet our commitment to serving Christ.

2 Peter, Part 3

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

II Peter 2:5-8 – Noah was a preacher of righteousness. Righteousness was something he did. Sadly, he was not able to save anyone except his own family.
- II Peter 2:6 – See Genesis 19. Like Noah, Lot was not able to positively influence anyone except his own family, and even his wife was then lost as they escaped the city.
II Peter 2:9-10 – God knows how to deliver us from temptation and he has shown us how through His word. Instead of yielding to temptation, we must go to God’s word and pray.
II Peter 2:15-16 – See Numbers 22-25 for the story of Balaam. Balaam repeatedly said he would do only what God told him to do, while he was doing exactly what God told him not to do!
II Peter 2:20-22 – This is a horrible image, but it shows what it looks like to God when someone returns to sin after becoming clean.

Slippery Slopes

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Abortion
- Nearly a million abortions are performed legally in the United States each year.
Homosexuality and transgenderism
- Marriage is between one man and one woman.
- James 4:6 – God opposes the proud!
The Bible has many examples of slippery slopes.
- I Samuel 8:10-18 – There were 43 kings. Only seven were good!
- Genesis 25:28; 37
Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are all slippery slopes!
Romans 14:11 – Society tries to lie and tell us we are not accountable for our actions.
Mark 10:15
Matthew 15:18
II Peter 2:20
Hebrews 10:22

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 10

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Pistis – faithfulness

God is faithful (reliable)

Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Joshua 21:43-45 – God promised to bring the people to the land of Canaan and He did!
Numbers 23:19-20
Romans 3:1-4 – God is faithful even when no one else is.
I Thessalonians 5:23-24
II Thessalonians 3:1-3 – You can count on God’s plan happening!
I Corinthians 1:7-9; 10:13-14 – God is faithful in providing a way for us to escape sin.
II Corinthians 1:15-20, 23; 2:1

We must also be faithful (reliable)

I Corinthians 4:1-2 – We must be good, faithful stewards.
Philippians 1:27; 2:14-16
Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22 – When you say something, mean it! Don’t be deceptive or play word games.
James 5:12
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 – Be careful what you promise!
Matthew 25:14-30

The Basics

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 15:20 – What did Paul preach when He went to a new place? He probably started with the basics.

God created us in love.

Genesis 1:1
Acts 17:22-28 – God doesn’t need us, but He designed us to seek Him.
Psalms 115:1-9
God created us, so He is in charge!

The Bible is His word.

John 1:1-10 – The word of God came to Jeremiah.
I Thessalonians 2:13
Psalms 119:17-24

Judgment Day is coming.

Acts 17:29-31
Romans 3:8-12, 23
Romans 2:16
We’re all guilty of sin. What are we going to do about it?
Am I ready?

Christ died for our sins and then resurrected!

Romans 3:21-24 – God intervened and made a way for us to be saved.
Romans 5:6-9

2 Peter, Part 2

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

II Peter 1:16-18 – Peter was an eye witness of Jesus. These aren’t just fables. See Matthew 17:1-5.
II Peter 1:19-21 – The words of the prophets give us even more surety of these events. Verses 20-21 are often misused, but this passage is simply saying that prophecy comes from God. It is not invented by man.
II Peter 2:1 – It’s possible to be wrong on a point of doctrine, but that’s not necessarily the same as being a false teacher. If you are knowingly teaching error, that is a character flaw and that makes you a false teacher. See I Corinthians 15:15; I John 4:1-3.
II Peter 2:4-6 – Peter uses three illustrations of God’s judgment. Note that context must indicate what kind of messenger is under consideration.
- Uses of the word translated “angels”:
  - Matthew 1:24 – celestial angel
  - Matthew 25:41 – the devil’s angels
  - II Corinthians 12:7 – angels of Satan
  - Luke 7:24, 27 – messengers of John the Baptist
  - Luke 9:52 – Jesus’ messengers
  - James 2:25 – the two spies

God Has Faith in Me!

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Job 1:6-12; 2:3-6; Luke 22:31-34

Job had faith in God, but God also had enough faith in Job to bring up his name with Satan.
Jesus also showed faith in Peter that he could defeat Satan.
Even after being tempted, we have the power to come back to God.

Temptation to sin (I Corinthians 9-10; James 4)

I Corinthians 10:13 – God promises that we can endure any temptation!
James 4:7 – God has made it so we can beat the devil every time if we choose to do so.

Persecution (James 1; II Timothy 3)

God allows trials because He has faith that we can handle it!
II Timothy 3:14-15 – Timothy, you have what you need!

Terrible circumstances (Job 17; Romans 8)

Job 17:1 – We may have felt like Job at some point.
Romans 8:18
When terrible circumstances come, it is a compliment from God because He knows we can handle it.

Job 1:11; 2:5

The devil is rooting for us to fail!

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 9

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Crestotes – Kindness, Agathosune – Goodness

“A mellowing of character; gracious”
Acts 24:4; 27:3; 28:2 – Examples of kindness
Luke 6:31-35 – Kindness is about not expecting anything in return. Treat others how you want to be treated! God did not wait for us to be worthy of this love. Neither should we wait for others to “deserve” our kindness.
Ephesians 5:5-12 – Kindness may require us to rebuke another for their sin. It should be done out of love and to help save their soul.
Romans 11:22; 15:14
Acts 9:36-39 – Tabitha was full of good works (kindness). She continually did these things – it wasn’t a one-time thing!
Ephesians 2:4-7 – God showed us great kindness in providing salvation while we were still in our sin.
Titus 3:4-7
I Peter 2:1-3 – “tasting the kindness of the Lord”
Even though God offers kindness to all, not everyone will receive it. That does not change God, though. He still offers kindness. We may find ourselves in a similar situation in being kind to others who refuse to accept it. Like God shows us, we should still be kind, regardless of the behavior of others.

Thinking About Abortion

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalm 139:13-14

Demonstrate the love of Jesus

Matthew 22:39 – Love your neighbor!
Mark 8:2-3 – Jesus had compassion for the people.
Mark 6:34
John 8:31-36 – Jesus came to set us free from sin.

Stand on God’s word

Luke 1:39-44 – The baby leaped in her womb for joy!
Luke 2:12, 16 – The word for “baby” here is the same as for the unborn baby in Luke 1:39-44.
Luke 1:57, 36 – The same word for “son” is used before and after birth. The same language goes all the way back to conception.
Exodus 21:22-25 – The Old Covenant law for injury to a pregnant woman on her unborn child. This is Old Covenant law, but the truth and God’s thinking behind it still stands.
Genesis 25:26; 38:27-30
Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-14
Genesis 9:6 – Murder is sin, but capital punishment is permitted.
Abortion is murder of an innocent life and therefore sin.

“You shouldn’t tell others what they ought to not do.”

Why not?
Matthew 28:18-20 – It was not wrong for the apostles to go out teaching God’s message.
Acts 8:3-4
II Timothy 4:1-5; 2:2
This is logically inconsistent! You can’t tell people they shouldn’t tell others what not to do, because you are doing that same thing yourself!

“My body, my choice.”

Our bodies belong to God! We can make choices, but ultimately we are accountable to God.
Romans 6:11-13
Romans 12:1-2 – We are to be living sacrifices to God.

2 Peter, Part 1

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The author is the Holy Spirit. The writer is the apostle Peter.
The date is uncertain, but usually thought to be about 65-70 AD.
The purpose of the letter is to combat apostasy and false doctrine.

II Peter 1

II Peter 1:1 – Peter first calls himself a servant of Jesus – even before noting his role as apostle. See Romans 10:1 regarding the righteousness of God.
II Peter 1:2 – The only way to be righteous before God is through knowledge of Him.
II Peter 1:3 – See John 16:13. Knowledge of God can only be obtained through study. It is a marvelous thought that God has called us to glory!
II Peter 1:4 – Partaking of God’s divine nature:
- I John 4:8; 5:1; 1:7
- Hebrews 12:10
- I John 2:29
- Matthew 5:7
- Ephesians 4:1
- Luke 17:3 – Forgiving
- I John 4:20 – Loving others
- Revelation 2:10
II Peter 1:5-7 – To show godliness, we must respect God’s word. If we have brotherly love, we will show brotherly kindness. One is the virtue, the other is the result.
II Peter 1:8-11 – Stated positively, these things will make you effective and fruitful in God’s service. Don’t forget these things. Be diligent. If you do these things, you won’t fall. This verse shows that it is possible to fall, contradicting the doctrine of perseverance of the saints. The beginning of these qualities is appreciating the blessing of our salvation.

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 8

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 26:1-3 – We want people to be patient with us!
Ephesians 4:2
Colossians 3:12

Makrothymia – patience, longsuffering

God is patient with us!

Romans 2:4
I Peter 3:18-20
II Peter 3:6-15 – God is absolutely just and trying to get all to come to repentance.
Paul: I Timothy 1:16; II Timothy 3:10

Now it’s our turn to be patient with others.

I Corinthians 13:4
II Corinthians 6:3-6
I Thessalonians 5:14 – Be patient with everyone!
II Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word with patience.
James 5:7-11 – Farmers understand patience. They don’t have any choice! We need to slowly be developing patience and other virtues in ourselves over time.

Treasure Hunting

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalm 119:11
We should treasure God’s word!
Forrest Fenn
- He left a 24-line poem to direct seekers to a treasure chest hidden in the Rocky Mountains.

Hunting for treasure

Matthew 13:44-46 – Spiritual things are the priority!
Matthew 6:19-21 – Your heart goes with what you treasure.
Finding Fenn’s treasure became a hobby for some, but an obsession for others.

A community of treasure hunters

II Peter 1:1 – There is a common faith that binds us.
Acts 15:7-11 – The gospel heals differences from the past and brings people together.
In searching for Fenn’s treasure, people started banding together. They like to talk about the treasure and support each other.
Acts 2:41-42, 9-11 – People from all over the world came to share in seeking the same spiritual treasure.
Romans 1:11-12
Hebrews 10:24-25 – Community is important for Christians!
Am I engaged with the brethren?

Hunting the right treasure

Luke 18:18-23 – This man had earthly treasure but not spiritual treasure.
Luke 16:13-15 – We must make a choice!
I Timothy 6:17-19
Fenn’s treasure was finally found.
Hebrews 11:24-27
The treasure we seek is worth it!

Hebrews, Part 19

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 13:7-9 – Jesus is eternal and unchanging, so remember the words of your leaders. If they were true to Jesus’ teaching then, they are still true now. Don’t allow strange new teachings to carry you away from Jesus because His teaching has not changed.
Hebrews 13:10 – We worship at the altar of the New Covenant. This verse alone refutes the AD 70 doctrine. Serving under Old Covenant law is clearly no longer acceptable.
Hebrews 13:11-13 – Jesus offered His blood outside the camp – outside the Old Covenant. We must also go outside the camp of Judaism and serve Him according to the New Covenant.
Hebrews 13:14-16 – We are looking forward to the city that is to come – Heaven. We are to continually offer praise to God, although this isn’t particularly speaking about singing. We are to do good for others and share what we have, which is also pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:17 – The elders serve the congregation – not the other way around. We should respect our leaders and obey their rule because they are watching out for our souls. If we don’t follow their rule, it will not be profitable for us.
Hebrews 13:18-21 – The writer offers a final reminder that God through Jesus has equipped them for all good things.
Hebrews 13:22-25 – Final greetings from the writer.

Sure-fire Ways to Help the Devil Win

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ephesians 6:10-16 – We are in a war with Satan!

Preach it, but don’t live it

Matthew 23:2-3, 13-15 – Their hypocrisy not only kept them from heaven – it kept others from going to heaven also!
What impression do we leave with people from our behavior?
II Samuel 12:13-14 – David gave the enemies of God a reason to blaspheme, so God punished him.
I John 1:6-10 – What’s the difference between a Christian and a hypocrite? The Christian admits his sin and repents.

Look down on certain people

Luke 7:34-39
Luke 5:29-32
Luke 15:1-2
Luke 19:5-7
Jesus was constantly criticized for associating with sinners.
Do I look down on people who have obvious sins?
This problem is still happening today!
Luke 18:13
Luke 7:40-50 – The greater the sin, the greater the forgiveness and love! Everyone is worth our time. Jesus died for all of us. How can I dare look down on someone?

Support sin

I Corinthians 5:1-7 – The Corinthians had accepted sin in the church and were arrogant about it!

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 7

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philippians 4:6-9
John 14:17
Matthew 10:34

Eirene – peace

Peace with God

What is peace with God and how do we achieve it?
- Ephesians 2:11-22 – Peace with God is reconciliation to Him.
- Acts 10:34-43 – Spiritual peace comes only through Jesus.
- Romans 5:1 – We have peace with God because we have been justified by faith.
Peace with God is the restored relationship we have with God and we achieve it through forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.
Sin separates us from God. Forgiveness through Christ means we can reestablish peace with God. This allows us to have peace with self and others (hopefully).

Peace with self (clean conscience)

I Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8 and I Timothy 1:15?
II Timothy 4:6-8
Acts 9:4, 9, 17-20; 26:24-26
Jeremiah 6:13-15
I John 1:3-6

Peace with people

Romans 12:18
Colossians 3:12-15
Our peace with God is the basis for our peace with others.
John 16:32-33

Courage

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 12:7 – God promises the land to Abraham.
Genesis 13:17; 15:18; 17:8 – God continues to repeat the promise.
Exodus 3:8 – It was time for the land promise to be fulfilled.
Exodus 12:25
Numbers 13:1-2, 17-24 – Moses sends men to spy out the land.
Numbers 13:25-29 – The spies give a discouraging report.

Courage to trust in God’s way

Numbers 13:30 – Caleb spoke up with courage!
Numbers 13:31-33
Numbers 14:6-9 – Caleb and Joshua were willing to trust in God. God had said it, so that settled it!
God’s way is always the right way!
Hebrews 13:4 – This temptation may seem unconquerable, but we must trust in God!
Proverbs 29:25 – Courage comes from trust in the Lord.

Courage to stand in the minority, when even brethren are weak

Numbers 13:31
Caleb and Joshua had to stand even against their brethren.
Numbers 14:1-10
Isaiah 40:8, 23-24, 28-31
Acts 20:28-30

Courage to know God controls the future

Numbers 14:28-30
Romans 4:17 – See Genesis 17:5. God spoke of the future in the past tense!
Joshua 21:43
I Timothy 1:8-11 – Are we willing to stand by what the Lord says about homosexuality?
The future does not belong to the giants of today. It belongs to God.
Numbers 1:45-46

Hebrews, Part 18

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 13:4 - Divorce and remarriage

Definition of terms:
- Married – relationship between man and woman
- Bound – relationship between man, woman, and God
- Divorce – See Matthew 5:31. Divorce is when the marriage is severed.
- Loosed – When one is freed from a marriage. One may be either loosed by God’s law or civil government or both.
Galatians 5:22
Marrying someone who is bound to another is adultery.
Three things that prevent divorce:
- Love and respect for God’s law
- Love and care for the wellbeing of your spouse
- Doing your part in the marriage – don’t ask if you are being treated right.
I Corinthians 7:15 – Some argue that a person is left unbound and can remarry in this case, but that’s not what this verse is saying. It’s referring to spousal duties. If the other spouse leaves, those duties cannot be performed.
Some teach that the alien sinner is not amenable to God’s marriage law. WE don’t see such a distinction anywhere in the Bible. God’s marriage law is for all mankind.
Some teach that because all sins are forgiven at baptism, one can stay in an adulterous relationship after he is baptized. This is false. We cannot continue in sin just because we are baptized!
Some teach that if one spouse is loosed, the other is also. This is not what the scripture teaches.
Matthew 19:9 – Divorce for the cause of adultery is the only way marriage is allowed. Some teach that adultery after the divorce allows the other spouse to remarry, but this does not match what we see in the scriptures.

Hebrews 13:5-6

Hebrews 13:5-6 – Let us live without covetousness. Putting anything ahead of God is equivalent to adultery with God.

Reasons We Fail to Obey

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Pride

Matthew 23:2
Acts 2:41; 3:7, 26; 4:1-3, 16-17 – The miracle had taken place and could not be denied, but out of pride they tried to stop the spread of the truth. Acts 5:17; 2:37
Acts 7:54 – Pride makes us look at truth and deny it.
Maybe something about obeying God hurts our pride.
Every great question got that way swallowing their pride!

I like things the way they are

Acts 19:1-10, 19-20, 23-32 – The gospel threatened their way of life! The temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Romans 13:13 – These are things we must give up when we turn to Christ.
I Timothy 5:16

I won’t get past the “almost”

Acts 26:4-11, 18-20, 26-29 – King Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian.
Maybe we know the truth but are too laid back about applying it.
II Peter 3:10
There won’t be a worse feeling in the universe than not being prepared for the afterlife!

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 6

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Chara – joy

Philippians 2:29; James 1:2-4 – Joy is commanded, so clearly it is something that can be developed!
I Peter 1:3-9; Acts 22:4; 18:2; Hebrews 10:32-36 – Joy Is not the absence of trouble! We can have joy even in persecution and tribulation. Christians have a long term, abiding joy.
Ecclesiastes 1:14; 2:1, 10-11, 18 – Solomon explored everything looking for pleasure and joy, but he did not find it in earthly things.
Acts 8:38-39; 16:33-34 – People rejoiced when they were baptized.
Psalms 51:8-14 – There is no joy without God’s salvation.
Philippians!
- Joy in salvation
  - Philippians 1:25 – joy in the faith
  - Philippians 2:17-18
  - Philippians 3:1 – rejoice in the Lord
  - Philippians 3:20 – our citizenship is in heaven
  - Philippians 4:4 – rejoice in the Lord
- Joy in fellowship
  - Philippians 1:3-5 – joy in fellowship
  - Philippians 2:2
  - Philippians 2:28-29
  - Philippians 4:1 – brethren should give us joy
  - Philippians 4:10
- Joy in helping others be saved
  - Philippians 1:12-13, 18
Acts 13:52; John 11:35; Philippians 2:27; James 1:2 – Even the most spiritually-minded people will be sad sometimes. Being sad doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing something wrong.

Psalm 139

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 139
This psalm begins and ends with “searching.”

Omniscience, v1-6

God knows everything about me.
Genesis 3:8-13 – You can’t hide from God! God already knew what happened with Adam and Eve before he asked them.
Genesis 4:8-10 – God already knew what Cain had done.
Psalm 139:3 – God knows all about our ways!

Omnipresence, v7-12

God is everywhere.
Jonah 1:1-6, 17; 2:5-6 – Jonah tried to run from God, but God was everywhere, even in the deep.

Omnipotence, v13-16

God is all powerful. He wove us together. He knew us before we were born.

God’s thoughts, v17-18

How many thoughts has God had?
I Kings 4:29-34 – All of this was just a gift from God!
Psalm 136 – “for His lovingkindness is everlasting”
God’s thoughts are precious!

God’s enemies, v19-22

James 4:4
I John 2:2
We are at war with sin and Satan.
Our God will never side with evil.

Search me, v23-24

David volunteers himself to be searched by God. This took bravery!
David had plenty of sins in his past, but he knew that God was merciful. We all need God’s grace!

Hebrews, Part 17

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 12:12-3:4
The purpose of the book of Hebrews was to provide correction and forestay further apostasy.
Hebrews 12:12-13 – Since the word of God is correcting you, respond! Don’t fall from grace (in this case, leave the New Covenant and return to the Old Covenant) like your brethren!
Hebrews 12:14-17 – Don’t disregard the New Covenant like Esau disregarded his birthright. Esau found no chance to repent, just as we won’t if we don’t turn back to God before the end.
Hebrews 12:18-20 – The kingdom they had come to was a heavenly kingdom – one that could not be shaken.
Hebrews 12:21-24 – Angels here is probably better translated “messengers.” It may not be referring to celestial beings here.
- Hebrews 12:24 – See Hebrews 10:22. The way they had been sprinkled with blood was by being baptized into Jesus’ death.
Hebrews 12:25-29 – Our purpose in life is to serve God acceptably, in reverence and awe. But we can look forward to great blessings in God’s kingdom if we do!
Hebrews 13:1 – Without brotherly love, we cannot see God. See I John 4:7-8; 5:1.
Hebrews 13:2 – Lot was an example of this. He didn’t know the men he took into his house were angels.
Hebrews 13:3 – Remember those that are in prison. As they have suffered for truth, you may suffer also.
Hebrews 13:4 – God created the marriage relationship for man’s benefit.

"That OFFENDS Me!"

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 12:18

We must be kind

Romans 12:10-21 – We shouldn’t be trying to pick fights in the world.
Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12 – God commands us to be kind and forgive each other.
Romans 14:13, 19; 15:1-2; 14:3 – Seek peace and try not to put stumbling blocks in front of others.
Acts 15:1-2, 7, 22-23, 31 – There was great disagreement and debate, but the truth of the matter was found, and peace resulted.
I Timothy 5:1-2; II Timothy 2:24-26 – Don’t ignore the problem but be kind in addressing it.
Disagreement doesn’t mean you’re not a Christian!

But the sad fact is, God’s truth will always offend people.

Matthew 15:2-3, 12-14 – People get offended at the truth! The most loving thing Jesus could do was correct them in their sin.
Luke 11:42-46 – Jesus was accused of insulting them, but He refused to back down.
Have we forgotten the definition of love and kindness?
Ephesians 4:29-32
Speaking the truth out of love is not sin, even if it gives offense.
Ephesians 4:15, 5, 13-14; 5:3-6, 11-12 – There’s only one truth! It is worth standing up for!
- Ephesians 5:11 – “expose”
  - See also Matthew 18:15; Jude 1:15; John 3:20; I Timothy 5:20; II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:15; Revelation 3:9
Galatians 5:14-16; 5:4, 7-8 – Paul told them about their error directly!
Which book of the Bible could we read that would not offend people?

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 5

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Agape – Love

Matthew 22:36-40; I Corinthians 13:1-3; I John 4:7-8
- Love should be the basis for our actions. If we aren’t acting out of love, we are wasting our time.
II Samuel 13:1, 14-15
- This was not true, benevolent love.
John 3:16; 15:12-13; Romans 5:8; I Corinthians 13:1-8
- Love is not just a human emotion. It emanates from God. God loves us in an unselfish way. The greatest love you can show is lawing down your life for another, which is exactly what Jesus did.
Definition of love:
- “Affectionate regard, benevolence” (Zodhiates)
- “Deep concern for the wellbeing of another”
- “Deep regard for others that is shown in action.” (David)
John 13:34-35; 17:26
- Showing love for others is an identifying mark of Christians. Jesus showed love in many positive actions (healing, teaching, weeping with the sorrowful, dying for our sins, etc.).
Romans 13:8-10
I John 4:7-11
Love involves two things:
- Initiative – people who love take the initiative in doing what is right. God took the initiative in showing love for us.
- Sacrifice – be willing to sacrifice of yourself to show love for others.
John 3:16-18 – Jesus laid down His life for us!
Love acts. It is not just a feeling!

Against All the Gods of Egypt

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Exodus 12:12
The plagues were specifically directed against the gods of Egypt, to show God’s power over them.
Moses and the Gods of Egypt by John J. Davis
The Egyptians had somewhere around 80 gods. Pharaoh himself was considered deity.
Exodus 7:5 – It was important that the Egyptians would know about God and not just Israel.
Exodus 8:19; 9:20; 18:11
Numbers 33:4 – God had executed judgment on the Egyptian gods.

The ten plagues

1st plague – water to blood

Exodus 7:17
Egyptian gods:
- Hapi – god of fertility
- Khnum – guardian of the Nile sources
- Osiris – god of the underworld
Hymn to the Nile

2nd plague – frogs

Exodus 8:3
Egyptian gods:
- Frogs themselves were deified.
- Heqt – frog-headed goddess

3rd plague – gnats (lice)

Exodus 8:16-18
Egyptian gods:
- Set – god of the desert
- Priests – physical purity ruined

4th plague – flies

Egyptian gods:
- Uatchit – associated with one type of fly

5th plague – death of livestock

Egyptian gods:
- Cows were sacred
- Hathor – goddess represented by cow
- Apis bull – sacred bull – god Ptah
- Mnevis – sacred bull – god Ra

6th plague – boils

Exodus 9:8-12
Egyptian gods:
- Sekhmet – goddess of epidemics
- Sunu
- Serapis
- Imhotep

7th plague – hail with fire

Exodus 9:24
Egyptian gods:
- Nut and Hathor

8th plague – locusts

Exodus 10:15
Egyptian gods:
- Isis and Seth – gods of crops

9th plague – darkness

Exodus 10:22
Egyptian gods:
- Ra – god of sun, king of gods
- Horus – another important sun god
- Aten – the deified sun disc
- Atum – god of the setting sun
- Nut and Hathor – goddesses of the sky
- Thoth – god of the moon
A universalist hymn to the sun

10th plague – death of firstborn (people and cattle)

Exodus 12:29-32
Egyptian gods:
- Pharaoh – son of Ra
- Pharaoh’s son – born of the gods
- Anubis
- Min – god of procreation
- Isis
- Hathor
- Apis bull – sacred, firstborn animal

Application

Do I give God the honor He deserves?

Exodus 20:1-6
God must be my priority!

Do I truly repent, or fake it?

Exodus 8:8, 13-15
Six times Pharaoh quickly turned back to his ways when the immediate panic was over.
Do I forget God when times are good?

Have I accepted the salvation God offers?

Exodus 8:22-23; 12:7, 12-13; I Corinthians 5:7; Romans 5:8-9

Hebrews, Part 16

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 12:1-11
Hebrews 12:1-2 – The witnesses are those that were just described in Hebrews 11. We can only run with endurance if we look to Jesus. He authored and finished our faith through the written word. Jesus endured what He did because of the joy that was ahead of Him – the joy of the salvation for Christians. When we walk by faith, we produce joy in God.
Hebrews 12:3-4 – Evidently some of the Hebrew Christians had suffered persecution but had not yet had to give their lives for the faith.
Hebrews 12:5-11 – The idea in this context is of correction. God disciplines and corrects people by Hi word.

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 4

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

NOTE: We had some technical difficulties with the audio for this lesson. The first few minutes were lost and we had to change microphones part way through the lesson. My apologies. -MRW

Hairesis – factions, heresies, divisions

I Corinthians 11:19; II Peter 2:1; Acts 5:17; 15:5; 24:5, 14; 26:5; 28:22
All these groups had their own interpretations of the law.
There should be no “church of Christ” doctrine. There is only the gospel. We always have to go back to the one source of truth.
Ephesians 4:1-6
II Samuel 15:1-6 – Absalom carefully converted people to his cause. Don’t allow this behavior in the church!

Phthonos – envy, envying, envyings

“… pain felt and malignity conceived at the sight of excellence or happiness” (Zodhiates)
“… envy desires to deprive another of what he has, jealousy desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself” (Vine)
Luke 11:53; 19:35-40
Matthew 27:17-18
How do I deal with envy within myself?
How do I help others that may be envious of me?

Methe – drunkenness

Luke 21:34
Romans 13:12-14

Komos – carousing, revelings, orgies

The idea is that of wild, out of control parties, often associated with drunkenness.
I Peter 4:1-5
We are to be soberminded, looking for good things to do.

“and things like this”

These things will keep up out of heaven!
Galatians 5:4 – We can fall from grace!
Galatians 3:26

Imputed Righteousness

Sun, 29 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 4:1-12
“Impute” means to put to one’s account whether in relation to sin or righteousness.

All have sinned

Romans 3:12, 23; I John 1:8-9
There are two ways of life – sin or righteousness.
This leaves us with four possibilities:
- No escape – not compatible with the love of God
- Saved in sin – not compatible with the justice of God
- Live so righteously that merits forgiveness – not possible
- God imputes righteousness – Romans 4:6-8
Since God imputes righteousness, this leaves two possibilities:
- Man lives so good that God counts him righteous because he has merited forgiveness.
- Because of man’s faith in Christ, God forgives him, i.e., imputes righteousness to him (Romans 4:6-8; Psalms 32:1-2)
Since God’s forgives sins and imputes righteousness, this leaves two possibilities:
- God counts man righteous even though he is not actually righteous.
- God counts man righteous because God imputes righteousness to him, forgives him, puts righteousness to his account. Thus, man is actually righteous.
This leaves one possibility:
- Man is not saved by his own righteousness, but by the mercy of God. Titus 3:5
Imputed righteousness does not mean that Christ’s personal righteousness is accounted as mine. It does mean that my unrighteousness has been seen and forgiven, as made possible by the sinless life and sacrificial death of Christ and by my complete trust and reliance upon Him!
Thus, God’s amazing grace is seen:
- In giving the gospel
- In His continued forgiveness to those who walk in the light (I John 1:7)

Conclusion

If we walk in the steps of that faith of Abraham, God will not impute sin unto us; rather He will forgive us – impute righteousness unto us. And forgiven we will be righteous by the grace of God.

Hebrews, Part 15

Sun, 29 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 11:13-16
- v13 – “These all died in faith” – what a compliment!
- v16 – Like them, we seek a heavenly country.
Hebrews 11:17-19 – Abraham’s great faith in offering Isaac
Hebrews 11:20 – II Kings 8:20 – Esau became a great people as promised.
Hebrews 11:21 – The blessings of Jacob came to pass for Ephraim and Manasseh.
Hebrews 11:22 – Joseph spoke of the exodus and knew that God would deliver the Israelites from Egypt.
Hebrews 11:23-29 – Moses was hidden “by faith” – evidently his parents somehow knew of God’s plan or hid him because they thought it would be sinful to allow him to be killed. Moses could have had all the money and power he wanted, but he left Pharaoh’s house to serve God.
- v27 – When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, he did not fear Pharaoh, but trusted God.
- v28 – Here we see the power of the blood in saving the firstborn from death. The blood itself had no power except for God’s promise. Today, Jesus’ blood has a similar power to save us in a spiritual sense.
Hebrews 11:30 – By faith, the people did what God said and the impregnable walls of Jericho fell down.
Hebrews 11:31 – Rahab protected the Israelite spies and helped them escape. Rahab was a harlot, but she turned in faith to God.
Hebrews 11:32-40 – Even though all these showed great faith, they did not receive what was promised. (See Hebrews 9:15.) All of these were looking forward to the coming of Jesus. Through Jesus they, like us, receive forgiveness of sins as was promised.

What Do I Do When Someone "Goes Forward"?

Sun, 29 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 2:36-41

Let’s talk about “going forward.”

Traditions must fit within truth, not truth within traditions

James 5:16
There’s nothing specified about when one must confess.
The “altar call” tradition seems to have started in the 1830s.
We are not bound by any tradition outside the Bible.

Church announcements don’t replace obedience or God

Acts 8:22 – Confession is needed, but it doesn’t replace anything that needs to happen between you and God.
“Going forward” is not the same as repentance or forgiveness.

Some sins/repentance require public attention; others do not

I Timothy 5:20
Matthew 5:23
Matthew 18:15-17 – Some sins can be handled in private.

Get my attitude right

James 5:19-20 – Christians should be the first responders coming to help someone in need.
Luke 15:1-32 – Rejoice with those who repent!
Matthew 18:21-22 – Be ready and willing to forgive.
II Corinthians 7:9-10

Galatians 6!

Galatians 6:1-2 – Help those who need it!
Galatians 6:3-5 – Get to work and help!
Galatians 6:6 – The helper and the help-ee share the things of Christ.
Galatians 6:7-10 – Help anyone caught in sin, but especially brothers in Christ.
Galatians 5:22-24
These things take time, effort, and love!

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 3

Wed, 25 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Zelos – jealousy, emulations

II Corinthians 9:1-2
Exodus 20:5
II Corinthians 11:2
Jealousy can be good or bad.
Acts 5:12-18
Acts 13:42-43 – The Jewish leaders thought of themselves as defenders of the truth, but really they were acting out of jealousy.
James 3:13-17

Thymos – outbursts of anger, wrath, fits of anger

Luke 4:28-30 – They were so angry they were ready to murder Jesus!
Acts 19:28
Matthew 5:21-22 – This is how important it is to control your emotions!
James 1:19-20 – To help control anger, slow down.

Eritheia – selfish, ambitions, disputes, strife

Philippians 2:3

Dichostasia – dissensions, seditions

Romans 16:17-18 – Every disagreement is not wrong. It’s the ones that go against God’s word that are wrong.
I Kings 18:17-18 – Elijah was not the troublemaker – Ahab was!
I Corinthians 5:11 – Who’s causing the conflict? The one who is sinning!
Matthew 15:12-14 – Jesus never apologized for offending people with His teaching!
Luke 11:45-46

"I'm Too ____ to Seek God."

Sun, 22 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 24:24-27
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

“I’m too young to seek God.”

Ecclesiastes 11:8-12:1 – Enjoy your youth but use that youthful energy to serve God.
I Timothy 4:12 – Use your youth to set up some good habits.

“I’m too busy to seek God.”

Nehemiah 2:1-5 – Of everyone that could have done it, why was Nehemiah the one to go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem?
Do we carve out time to seek God?
If we really are too busy to seek God, we need to get less busy!

“I’m too happy to seek God.”

Revelation 4:11
I John 4:19
Deuteronomy 6:10-13
God is not 9-1-1! We don’t just call Him in emergencies!

“I’m too in love to seek God.”

Ephesians 5:28-29
Deuteronomy 24:5
Galatians 5:20-21
Matthew 10:37
If I’m turning away from God because of a human relationship, something is wrong!

“I’m too sick to seek God.”

Mark 2:1-5 – Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic man. The man had faith!
John 8:24
Luke 7:47

“I’m too late to seek God.”

Luke 16:23-26

Conclusion

I need to take the initiative in loving God and seeking Him!

Hebrews, Part 14

Sun, 22 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 11:1-12
Hebrews 11 talks about a faith that obeys in love.
Hebrews 11:1 – This explains what faith does. Obedience shows faith to God.
Hebrews 11:3 – See Romans 10:17. This faith comes from testimony. See Romans 1:20; Genesis 1. We did not see the creation happen but we have reliable testimony about it.
Hebrews 11:4 – Cain could make a good argument for the sacrifice he gave, but it was not what God specified. Abel acted out of obedient faith, but Cain did not.
Hebrews 11:6 – The world is full of people who believe in God, but do not believe God. They do not believe that they must diligently seek Him to receive His rewards.
Hebrews 11:7 – See Genesis 6:1, 6. God used Noah to save a remnant. Noah worked for many years in faith before the rains came.
Hebrews 11:8-10 – See Genesis 12; 26; 28. God made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the last of which was fulfilled in Christ. Abraham was looking for a city who builder and designer is God.
Hebrews 11:11-12 – At first, Sarah laughed when learning that she would conceive, but then she had faith.

Did Humans Evolve from Ape-like Ancestors?

Sun, 22 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Where did humans come from?

Genesis 1:24-31
Genesis 2:7, 20-22 – God made man and woman.
Genesis 3:20; I Corinthians 15:45 – Adam is called the first man. Even was called the mother of all living.
There is no mention of evolution in the creation account.

Fossils that turned out to be frauds/mistakes:

Piltdown Man
Nebraska Man

Fossils that turned out to be apes:

Lucy

Fossils that turned out to be humans:

Neanderthal
- Genesis 19:30; 23:19-20 – Cave men!
- DNA tests show that Neanderthals interbred with humans.
- Genesis 11:7-8

What have we learned so far?

There are no transitional fossils between apes and man.
Genesis 1:12, 25; 6:19-20

Bias is at work

Artists doing work around evolutionary topics are heavily biased and pushed to hold to the view of evolution. The pictures are designed to fit the story of evolution.
It has taken a long time to correct errors.

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 2

Wed, 18 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Eidololatria – idolatry

Colossians 3:5
Placing anyone or anything before God.
Ephesians 5:5
I Timothy 6:10-17
Greed causes us to fix our hope on things other than God.
Romans 1:21
James 4:4

Pharmakeia – sorcery, witchcraft

This includes magical incantations and drugs.
Acts 19:18
Acts 8:9-11

Echthra – hatred, enmities, hostilities

Romans 8:7
James 4:4

Eris – strife, variance, contentions

I Corinthians 1:11; 3:3
II Corinthians 12:20
When does a spirited discussion turn to strife?
I Timothy 6:3-5
Titus 3:9-11

The Doomsday Vault

Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 1:11-12, 29-30
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault

We should praise God for the information He stored for us.

I Corinthians 15:36-38
Proverbs 8:22-31
I Peter 1:22-25 – What happens when you plant a spiritual seed in good soil? You get a Christian!

There’s nothing like the pure, original seed.

Galatians 1:11, 15-18, 6-8 – Paul got his message directly from Jesus. He didn’t consult the other apostles until years later.
In the Bible, we have the original, 2,000-year-old seed that will still bear fruit!
Jude 1:3

We still need good soil.

Luke 8:4-15
Is your Bible being used? What’s the point of having this great blessing if we don’t use it?

From Stress to Success

Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Philippians 1:3 – Paul in prison at Rome. This, no doubt, put a lot of stress on Paul, yet he writes to encourage others!
- Acts 16:19 – Paul started the church in Philippi, and it started in the midst of persecution and difficulty.

Paul had stress from at least four areas:

A former life of persecuting the church – I Timothy 1:13; Philippians 3:6
The persecutors who followed him from place to place, as he preached the gospel – Philippians 3:2, 18; 1:15-17, 23
Responsibility to preach the gospel – I Corinthians 9:16; James 3:1
Concern for all the churches – II Corinthians 11:28

We want to learn from Paul’s example and go from stress to success in God’s eyes.

Paul says to think about others instead of self – Philippians 2:1-8; 1:23-24, 3-11
Paul says to forget – Philippians 3:4-15
Set the proper goal – Philippians 3:14-15; 1:20; Colossians 3:1-2; I Corinthians 9:24-27; 10:31
- The goal is not the same thing as the prize. Don’t get them confused!
Paul says to rejoice – Philippians 4:4, 10; 2:17-18; 3:1; 1:18; Psalms 32:11; 33:1
Paul says to pray – Philippians 4:5-6; James 1:5-8; 4:2-3; I John 5:14-15
- Pray with thanksgiving
Paul says to think (about proper things) – Philippians 4:8
Paul says to do – Philippians 4:9; 2:12-16; James 2:19-20
Paul says to have the peace of God – Philippians 4:7; I John 4:18; Hebrews 13:3-6; Philippians 4:9
Paul says to be satisfied – Philippians 4:11-12; 2:14
The success of Paul is “in Christ” – Philippians 4:13; 3:3, 14, 17-21; Ephesians 1:3

Conclusion

Will you turn stress into success as Paul did or will stress be your spiritual downfall?
- I Corinthians 11:1; II Timothy 4:6-8

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 2

All of us have become guilty of sin.

Acts 2:22-23, 36-37
Romans 3:23
Romans 8:1
Romans 1:20, 29
Romans 2:1-3, 17-20 – Beware of hypocrisy. No matter who you are, a sin is a sin!
If you know better, but don’t do better, it is sin.
Romans 1:18

Jesus Christ died so we can be forgiven!

Luke 23:33-38, 44-49
Luke 24:1-9 – Jesus rose from the dead!
Luke 24:44-53 – Jesus ascended to heaven.
Acts 2:1-4, 14-17 – The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the message to speak, as was prophesied.
Acts 2:38-42 – The first people react to the gospel.

I need to do something!

Acts 2:41
We need to recognize our shortcomings and be prepared to deal with them.

Develop a heart that’s ready to learn and submit to God’s truth.

Develop a faith based on God’s word.

Acts 2:42
Acts 17:2, 11

Identify the sins in my life and repent.

Acts 2:38
Acts 17:30

Put my faith into action.

Acts 26:19-20
Romans 10:9-10

Be baptized into Christ.

Acts 2:38 – Baptism is for forgiveness of sins.
Romans 6:3-4
I Corinthians 12:13
I Peter 3:21
Galatians 3:27

Continually learn and grow and repent when necessary.

Deeds of the Flesh, Fruit of the Spirit, Part 1

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 5:13-24
Flesh vs. spirit
- Romans 6:11-13
- Whose slave will I be?

Sexual immorality; impurity; indecent behavior (Galatians 5:19)

II Corinthians 12:21
Porneia – sexual immorality, fornication, immorality
- I Corinthians 5:1
- Mark 7:14-23 – The body is involved, but the sin starts in the mind.
Akatharsia – impurity, uncleanness, moral impurity
- Matthew 23:27
- Ephesians 5:1-6
Aselgeia – sensuality, lasciviousness, licentiousness, depravity, promiscuity, debauchery
- Lack of restraint
- Romans 13:13-14 – Make no provision for the flesh.
- Ephesians 4:17-19
- Pornography works like a drug addiction – more and more is needed to get the same effect.

Naomi: The Potential of Widows

Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Show others how to persevere through heartache

Ruth 1:1-3 – Naomi endured famine and the loss of her husband.
Ruth 1:4-5 – Naomi lost her two sons.
Ruth 1:6-13 – Naomi felt that God’s hand was against her.
Job 19:6, 19
Ruth 1:19-21 – Don’t call me “pleasant.” Call me “bitter.”
Ruth 2:19-20 – Naomi’s attitude toward the Lord begins to change.
I Timothy 5:5-6

Advise and teach the next generation

Ruth 1:8-9 – Despite her hesitation, Naomi dealt kindly with her daughters-in-law.
Ruth 1:14
Ruth 2:2, 19, 20; 3:1-5, 16 – Naomi advises Ruth.
Ruth 4:16-17
Titus 2:3
Luke 2:36-38 – God had an important job for Anna the prophetess!

Glorify God with what you have

Ruth 1:21, 16-17 – Naomi was not empty. She still had blessings in her life (Ruth).
Ruth 4:13-17
Ruth 2:10
The key to being productive in later years is attitude.

Hebrews, Part 13

Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 10:26-39
Hebrews 10:26 – One may get the idea from this verse that after we have knowledge of the truth and sin, we can never be forgiven. That is not what this verse is saying. It is simply saying that you cannot be forgiven while you are willfully sinning.
Hebrews 10:27-31 – Those who had heard the gospel and turned back to the Law of Moses had no way to be forgiven of their sin.
- Hebrews 10:29 – The “spirit of grace” here could refer to the Holy Spirit, but it may also refer to the disposition of grace, which would apply to God the Father and Jesus also.
- Hebrews 10:31 – For Christians, it will be a wonderful thing to fall into the hands of God.
Hebrews 10:32-36 – This passage refutes the idea of “once saved, always saved.”
- Hebrews 10:36 – “What a great admonition for all of us! This passage would make no sense if “once saved, always saved” was a true doctrine. This verse appears to be the bookend of the section started in Hebrews 10:19, referring to our confidence as Christians.
Hebrews 10:37-39 – This is referring to Jesus coming in judgment (possibly on Jerusalem since the time is indicated as being near). This is a quote from Habakkuk 2:3-4.

Top 5 Feelings at the End of the World (for Christians)

Sun, 08 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 6:13-16
Hebrews 9:28 – Jesus is coming back not for sin, but for salvation!

Rest – “By the grace of God, I made it!”

Hebrews 3:4; 4:1
Hebrews 4:8-10
I Corinthians 15:58

Comfort – “No more sickness and death!”

I Corinthians 15:35-49
Luke 16:19-31 – The rich man and Lazarus
Philippians 3:20

Awe – “This is God in His glory!”

Revelation 4:1-11
Revelation 20:11
Matthew 25:31-32
I Thessalonians 4:17
I Thessalonians 5:10
I John 3:2

Vindication – “Finally, Lord!”

Revelation 6:9-11
II Thessalonians 1:6
Romans 14:11
Our choices in life to serve God will finally be validated.

Gratitude – “Thank you, God!”

I Corinthians 15:55-57
Revelation 5:11-14

Conclusion

For Christians	For others
Rest	Dread
Comfort	Torment
Awe	Fear
Vindication	Condemnation
Gratitude	Regret

II Thessalonians 1:8-10

Relationships, Part 11

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Parent and child, continued:

Exercise tough love, continued

Hebrews 12:4-6 – This verse quotes Proverbs 3:11-12. God disciplines us out of love. Just as we should appreciate (and not reject) the discipline that comes from God, we should appreciate the discipline that comes from our earthly parents.
Hebrews 12:7-11 – Discipline should result in righteousness in our children. We shouldn’t just yell at our kids to blow off steam!
Discipline is not pleasant for mothers and fathers, but it is something that must be done! Refusing to discipline your children for your own comfort is selfishness.
Proverbs 29:17
The Eli mistake
- I Samuel 2-3
- I Samuel 2:12-16 – Eli’s sons steal from the people.
- I Samuel 2:22-25 – Eli’s sons commit fornication.
- I Samuel 3:13 – Eli was condemned for not rebuking his sons. He spoke to them, but did not go far enough to change their behavior.
- Discipline may involve some breaks in the parent-child relationship. We can’t be so afraid of short periods of disharmony in the relationship that we fail to discipline our children, though.

Beware the devil!

Did Jesus make a mistake in teaching Judas that caused Judas to betray Him? No! It was his decision to betray Jesus.
We cannot force our children to obey God. It is their choice.

The Experience of Salvation

Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 1:9

The experience of salvation

Those who are in Christ are saved
But this is not just a future prize
- Ephesians 1:3
- Luke 19:9
- Jude 1:3 – “the salvation we share”
Our relationship with God in Christ
- John 17:23
- Colossians 1:27
- I John 4:15-16
We should relish and enjoy it
- Acts 8:39 – “went on his way rejoicing”
- I Peter 1:8-9
We should practice it
- Colossians 2:6-7
- I John 1:6-7, 9
- Hebrews 5:8-9 – those who are actively obeying
- Philippians 2:12-13

What is heaven?

Being with God, Revelation 21:3
Praising Him together, Revelation 7:10
Rejoicing together, Revelation 19:7
Serving Him, Revelation 22:3
Living without sin, Revelation 21:27
Living without fear, Revelation 21:4

Conclusion

Salvation is our present reality
Not just the knowledge that we are saved, but the experience of it
By living the grace, love, goodness, knowledge and truth of Christ

The Joy of Faith

Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Paul in Philippians
A Christian life should be a joyous life. God wants us to be joyful!

The mystery of a joyful man

Philippians, a letter of joy
Paul was filled with joy
But his circumstances were awful
- Paul’s circumstances:
  - A prisoner, Philippians 1:13
  - Wearing a chain, Ephesians 6:20
  - Facing possible execution, Philippians 1:21
  - Harassed by enemies, Philippians 1:17
  - Thorn in the flesh, II Corinthians 12:7
  - Periods of deprivation, Philippians 4:12
  - Brethren in trouble, II Corinthians 11:28-29
How is this possible?
Because he found joy in Christ
- Philippians 4:4 – If you’re not rejoicing in the Lord, you’re not doing it right!
We need to learn from his example
- Philippians 4:9
- Things Paul didn’t do:
  - Complain, Philippians 2:14
  - Hold grudges, Philippians 1:15-18
  - Worry about pointless things, Philippians 3:7-8
  - Let his imperfection bother him, Philippians 3:12
  - Dwell on the past, Philippians 3:13
- Things Paul did:
  - Expressed gratitude, Philippians 1:3
  - Build and nurtured relationships, Philippians 1:7-8
  - Had hope for the future, Philippians 1:18-21
  - Saw the good in his life, Philippians 1:12
  - Was prepared to die, Philippians 1:21
  - Focused on helping others, Philippians 2:3-4
  - Praying about his difficulties, Philippians 4:6-7
  - Thought beautiful thoughts, Philippians 4:8
  - Was content with what he had, Philippians 4:11-13
- Your joy in the Lord is independent of your circumstances. Once you learn that, you are free!

Conclusion

Despite trying circumstances, Paul was able to have great joy.
This comes from completely giving oneself to the spirit and life of Christ.
If we follow Paul’s example, we can share his joy.

Going Up to Jerusalem

Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 9:51 – Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. We, too, need to be resolute in traveling to spiritual Jerusalem.
Luke 9:57-58

Going up to Jerusalem

Jesus knew what awaited Him
Yet He went willingly
If we want to join Him…
Then we too much be resolute
Luke 13:22 – Jesus taught on the way
- The path is not a direct one
- It winds through a lifetime
- It requires that we teach others along the way
Luke 13:31, 33 – “I must press on”
- Some will try to turn us away
- They may even be well meaning
- But we must not get distracted
- We must live deliberately
- We too are on a set path
Luke 17:11-14 – Jesus helped people on His journey
- We will meet souls in need
- We must help them as we can
- Some will appreciate it
- Many will not
Luke 18:31-34 – Jesus knew exactly what would happen in Jerusalem!
- We too must be prepared to face what lies ahead
- Some will not understand our commitment
- That must not deter us
Luke 19:28 – “He went on ahead…”
Mark 10:32
- We should never forget that our Lord has gone ahead of us.
- He has secured the path
- There is no need to be afraid
Luke 19:36-38
- We too rejoice that our savior went to Jerusalem
- He is our blessed king and the bringer of peace
- Because He suffered there
Revelation 21:2, 14 – Have you washed your robe?
- Will you follow Jesus and go up to Jerusalem?
- It is a journey that entails service and sacrifice
- But you don’t want to miss it

The Curses of Disobedience

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Deuteronomy 11:26-29
Joshua 8:33-34

The curses of disobedience

Did this really happen? Yes!

Folded lead tablet from Mt. Ebal
- A folded lead sheet
- Found on Mt. Ebal
- Debris to late bronze age (1400-1200 BC)
- Inscribed on the inside
- Written in paleo Hebrew
- Oldest Hebrew inscription
- It is a “curse amulet”
- Writing on the tablet: “Cursed, cursed, cursed – cursed by the God YHW. You will die cursed. Cursed you will surely die. Cursed by YHW – cursed, cursed, cursed.”
  - Writing is a poetic form called chiastic parallelism, where the sentence structure is palindromic.

Did the curses come true? Yes!

II Chronicles 34:24-25
Babylonian invasion of 586 BC
Large Israelite cities were all destroyed
The land was emptied
The people carried away to captivity

What do we learn?

The curses of Deuteronomy 27
- Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol
- Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother
- Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone
- Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road
- Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow
- Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife
- Cursed is he who lies with any animal
- Cursed is he who strikes down his neighbor in secret
- Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person
- Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice
That it matters how we honor God
That social justice, moral purity, and doing right by others is essential
That there are consequences for disobeying God
That sin brings a curse
It still does
- The seven woes pronounced by Christ
  - Woe to those who shut the door to the kingdom
  - Woe to hypocrites who make other hypocrites
  - Woe to blind guides who swear dishonestly
  - Woe to nit pickers who ignore justice and mercy
  - Woe to those clean on outside but full of greed
  - Woe to the whitewashed full of wickedness
  - Woe to those who laud martyrs and murder them
That is why we need Christ
- Galatians 3:13

Conclusion

Turning our heart from God brings curses in this life and in the life to come.
These woes are real and certain.
We should hate the disobedience as fervently as we fear these curses.

The Blessings of Obedience

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Deuteronomy 11:26-29
Joshua 8:30-34

The blessings of obedience

Did this really happen? Yes!

The location is there.
Its arrangement works.
An altar has been found.
Other structures have been found.
- Joshua 1:3
- Joshua 4:19-20 – Gilgal means “circle.” It’s not necessarily a city or town.
- Archaeologists found a large stone circle in the right place to be the “Gilgal” mentioned in the text.

Did the blessings come true? Yes!

Deuteronomy 28:6-7
- Late bronze age/early iron age
- Large Canaanite cities were destroyed
- Replaced by small settlements of invaders
- Dietary remains, construction techniques, and inscriptions say …
- They were Hebrews
Joshua 11:10-11 – The ruin of Hazor
- Archaeologists found a thick layer of destruction and ash when excavating Hazor.
- Joshua 21:43-45

What do we learn?

Deuteronomy 11:26-27
The blessings of obedience
- The blessing of God’s help
- The blessing of righteousness
- The blessing of true success
- The blessing of rest and peace
- The blessing of a lasting legacy
How do we receive them today?
- Ephesians 1:3
- John 4:14, 23
- Blessed are the poor in spirit
- Blessed are those who mourn
- Blessed are the gentle
- Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness
- Blessed are the merciful
- Blessed are the pure in heart
- Blessed are the peacemakers
- Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness

Conclusion

Obeying God from the heart beings blessings in this life and the life to come.
These blessings are real and certain.
We receive them in Christ.
We should choose these blessings and the life of obedience that brings them.

The Harm of Sin

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Many people see the Bible as a list of rules you can’t break.
When we break God’s rules, we cause harm.
God’s rules are not arbitrary.

Where’s the harm?

Many people reject the morality of the Bible.
They see themselves as being a better judge of what is right and wrong.
Often, it’s a question of seeing the harm in a particular activity.

What could possibly go wrong?

II Samuel 11 – David’s sin

II Samuel 11:1

Where’s the harm in David staying home?
The moral obligation of God’s word
- The most common rejection of Biblical morality is failure to do what God requires.
- People just don’t see the need.
- They see no harm in failing to act.
- Therefore, they feel no responsibility.
- No harm, no foul, no guilt.

II Samuel 11:11

When you’re not with the Lord’s people, you are missed!
The harm in failing to do good
- The danger of idleness, II Samuel 11:2
- Failure to set a good example, II Samuel 11:4
- Failure to be grateful, II Samuel 12:7
- Failure to be content, II Samuel 12:8

II Samuel 11:2

Where’s the harm?
- Matthew 5:28 – It’s already harmful!

II Samuel 11:3

Where’s the harm?
- Proverbs 4:14-15 – Avoid the harm at the beginning!

II Samuel 11:4 – David commits adultery

Where’s the harm?

II Samuel 11:5 – Bathsheba is pregnant by David

Is this the only harm?
Is it enough to avoid this outcome?
If we can avoid this, is it okay?

II Samuel 11:6-9

It’s hard to manage consequences.
Too much is outside our control!

II Samuel 11:13

We can’t control other people.

II Samuel 11:14-15 – David conspires to murder Uriah

Sin takes us places we never imagined we would go.
We often do evil to avoid trouble, but we only cause more.

II Samuel 11:17

The harm of sin
- It comes even if we don’t see it.
- It comes no matter how hard we try to avoid it.
- It comes to people we had no intention of harming.

II Samuel 11:26-27

Does “getting away with it” mean there’s no harm?
“the thing … displeased the Lord” – The world does not recognize this harm, but it’s the worst.

II Samuel 12:9

If it is evil in God’s eyes, it really is evil.

II Samuel 12:10

A moment of pleasure often leads to a lifetime of pain.

II Samuel 12:11

The harm that David could foresee

David’s character was stained
A marriage was violated

The harm that David could not foresee

Joab’s integrity was compromised
Several innocent men were murdered
A child lost his life
David’s family was thrown into turmoil
Two of his sons would be murdered
The nation was plunged into civil war

But is this all the harm?

II Samuel 12:13 – How could God take away sin? Isaiah 53:5
When you have a chance to commit sin, look to the cross!

Where’s the harm?

Many reject the morality of the Bible
They cannot see the harm in what the Bible calls sin
But we are woefully incapable of making such determinations

Where’s the solution?

We must follow God’s will.
It will keep up from true harm.
He will deliver us from the harm of our sins by bearing them Himself.

The Power of Kindness

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Our faith can’t just be a sideshow or a hobby.
Your faith should make you different!

Kindness

Being helpful and supportive
Acting out of sympathy
Voluntarily answering a need
Being gentle and forbearing
Usually not a big sacrifice

Examples of kindness

Drawing water for a stranger – Genesis 24:18
Ruth taking care of Naomi – Ruth 3:10
Recovery of Saul’s body – II Samuel 2:6
Anointing Jesus – Matthew 26:10
Helping shipwreck victims – Acts 28:2

The power of kindness

Kindness is an attribute of God
- Psalm 100:5
It is the example of Christ
- Christ had all power on earth (Acts 10:38) and He used it to show kindness.
We are called to embrace it
- Deuteronomy 22:1-2
- Proverbs 19:22; 31:26
- Isaiah 58:6-7
- Micah 6:8
- Luke 3:11
- Acts 9:36
- Galatians 5:22-23
It has the power to effect good

What does kindness do?

It draws people together
It engenders good will
It shows the better way
It defeats malice
It draws us closer to God
Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:21; Luke 6:35

Conclusion

Showing kindness to others is central to our faith.
It bears all the blessings, power, and goodness of God’s spirit.
It is how we exercise His power.

Relationships, Part 10

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Parent and child, continued:

Exercise tough love, continued

Ephesians 6:1-4

Ephesians 6:1 – “for this is right”
- This should relieve us of any guilt in asking our children to obey.
- We want to get beyond mere obedience with our children. They need to obey with the proper attitude. We are trying to teach them how to serve God.
Ephesians 6:2 – “Honor your father and mother”
- Proverbs 1:8; 19:26
- Both parents should be respected. Not just one!
Ephesians 6:4 – “do not provoke your children to anger”
- Ephesians 5:18
- This is a not-but passage. Sometimes are children will be angry with us because they don’t like our decisions as parents. The emphasis here is on not causing them to be angry unnecessarily, driving them away from God.
- Colossians 3:20-21
- Ephesians 4:26, 31 – Anger itself is not necessarily sinful, but it can get that way if we don’t control it.
Ephesians 6:4 – “bring them up”
- This phrase is translated from the same word as “nourished.”
- If, as a parent, you see something that needs correcting, speak up and do something about it!
- I Kings 1:5-6 – David had never crossed Adonijah to correct him!

Four Ways to Point People to the Lord

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 2:12

React to events like a Christian

Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 5:10-12 – Christians react differently to events.
Acts 5:40-41 – They rejoiced after being beaten! They were happy to be persecuted for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 1:12-14 – Good was coming out of Paul’s imprisonment.

Admit to past sin

Galatians 1:23-24 – People glorified God because of the change they saw in Paul.
I Timothy 1:13-15 – Paul’s life was an example of how Christ came to save sinners.

Say things that bring out the spiritual side

Titus 2:7-8
Every day is an opportunity to put something spiritual in someone’s mind.
Acts 9:1; Romans 1:7 – Paul’s speech changed when he became a Christian.
I Peter 4:11

Invite someone to learn about Jesus

John 4:7-30, 39-42 – The Samaritan woman was one of the most effective personal workers in the New Testament. All she did was say, “Come see!”

Hebrews, Part 12

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 10:1-27
Hebrews 10:1-4 – Under the Law of Moses, sins were remembered every year and the debt was rolled forward. When Jesus came, the debt was paid in full, never to be charged again.
Hebrews 10:5-10 – Animal blood could never accomplish what Jesus’ sacrifice was able to do. The message of the Old Covenant was that Jesus was coming to take away sins. He took away the first covenant so He could establish the second. Note that in verse 10, “will” is God’s will – it’s not referring to a legal will and testament. It’s simply saying that Jesus came to do God’s will.
Hebrews 10:11-14 – See Romans 15:25. The last enemy Christ will destroy is death.
Hebrews 10:15-18 – The verse quoted here is Jeremiah 31:31-34. Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a new covenant with man.
Hebrews 10:19-25 – Let us be sure that we are encouraging others to good works (Ephesians 2:9). As Christians, we should not be constantly complaining. In verse 25, the word translated “forsaking” means “abandonment.” The purpose of assembling is to encourage each other to love and good works (Colossians 3:16).

God Keeps His Promises

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Titus 1:1

The journey may surprise us

Genesis 37:2-11, 28, 36; 39:20; 40:14, 23; 41:1; 46:29-30 – There was nothing obvious about how Joseph’s story would work out!
I Corinthians 10:13 – How will God keep this promise in various circumstances? It could be something we don’t expect. It could be through external factors or through my own practice and training.

Some promises have conditions attached

Genesis 12:5-7 – God made this promise to Abram while he was standing in the land of Canaan! See Acts 7:5.
Joshua 23:14-16 – The land promise was contingent on them continuing to serve God.
Colossians 1:21-23 – The promise of salvation has conditions!
Hebrews 3:1-14; 4:1, 11 – Stay faithful! Don’t fall away.

God can work out the details

Genesis 17:19
Genesis 22:2 – Abraham trusted God to work out the details.
Hebrews 11:17-19
I John 5:14

Conclusion

God’s word is a solid foundation. Let us be thankful for His promises!

Relationships, Part 9

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Parent and child, continued:

Exercise tender love, continued

Listen

I Peter 5:6-7 – God wants us to pray to Him.
Listen to your children, even if what they are saying seems insignificant to you. It is significant to them!

Teach

Deuteronomy 6:7-9 – The Israelites were told to teach their children all the time – not just once in a while.
Proverbs 1:8; 6:20
If we don’t teach our children about spiritual things, it is neglect!
Joshua 4:4-7 – God set up memorials in part to help teach children. When children would see the memorials, it would give the parents an opportunity to teach them about God.
II Timothy 3:16-17

Exercise tough love

Ephesians 6:1-4

Obey your parents!
- Romans 1:30
- Obey your parents because this is right (Ephesians 6:1).
- To teach your children not to obey, let them whine and throw a tantrum, then reward them by giving them what they want.
- Colossians 3:20
- I John 5:3

Did Jesus Even Exist?

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 1:1-4, 31
Luke 3:23-28 – Jesus was real – here is His family!
Luke 4:14-15
Luke 19:37 – Jesus performed miracles and gained notoriety.
Luke 22:54 – Jesus was arrested.
Luke 23:1, 4, 20, 24, 33, 46 – Jesus was crucified.
Luke 24:1-7 – Jesus rose from the dead!
Luke 24:46-53 – Jesus ascended into heaven!
Acts 1:1-4 – Luke wrote a sequel.
Acts 2 – The gospel is preached at Pentecost.
Many doubt the veracity of the New Testament.

Hostile and secular writers

Tacitus, Annals XV.44 (AD 110-120)

He mentioned Jesus as a historical figure who was executed by Pilate. He also mentioned the persecution of Christians.

Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (AD 120)

Reference to Claudius persecuting Jews (see Acts 18:1-2).

Pliny the Younger, Letter 96 (AD 110)

Reference to persecution of Christians.

Lucian of Samosata, The Death of Peregrine (AD 125-180)

Reference to Christians, their beliefs, and their “crucified sage.”

Mara bar Serapion, Letter (AD 70)

Reference to Jesus as a real person.

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews (AD 93-94)

Born AD 37
Pharisee at age 19
Later, a historian for the Romans.
He made reference to Jesus, His brother James, His miracles, and His resurrection (see Matthew 13:55).

Christian writers

Clement of Rome (AD 30-100)
Polycarp (AD 69-155)
Ignatius (AD 70-110)
Justin Martyr (AD 100-165)
Quadratus (AD 125)
Irenaeus (AD 130-202)
Aristides (2nd century AD)
Clement of Alexandria (AD 150-215)
Tertullian (AD 160-215)
Origen (AD 185-253)

Conclusion

Further reading: Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
There is ample evidence for Jesus if we will look for it!

Hebrews, Part 11

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 9:14-28

Testament	Covenant
Testator	Covenant maker
Gift	Mediator
Heirs	Death of sacrifice
Conditions	Relationship established
Death of testator
Probated
Executor
When conditions met, and the gift received, it is not reversible.	Must continue in the conditions of the covenant to maintain this relationship.

Hebrews 9:15 – Some translations render this as “testament” rather than “covenant,” but this is clearly talking about a covenant relationship.

Old Covenant		New Covenant
God	Maker	God
Moses	Mediator	Jesus
Sacrifice	Animal	Jesus
Those who kept the conditions of the covenant.	People	Those who keep the conditions of the covenant.

Hebrews 9:16 – The word here often translated as “testator” is translated as “appointed” or other words in other places. This gives the erroneous idea that this is a legal will.
- In this text:
  - There is a covenant maker.
  - There is a mediator.
  - There is a blood sacrifice.
  - The mediator is the sacrifice.
  - The mediator died for the redemption of those who lived under a former covenant.
  - Is parallel to the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:19-22 – Both the book and the people were sprinkled with blood in the Old Covenant. Today we must be sprinkled with blood in a spiritual sense (i.e., blood purified) to be acceptable

The People of God

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

People (made in the image of God)?

Genesis 1:27; 5:1-3
Genesis 9:6
James 3:9
In a sense, all people are people of God because He created us all. But God is looking for more than that!

… who descended from Abraham?

Genesis 12:1-3
Exodus 19:5-6 – Among all the people, Israel would be His special nation. Through them, Jesus would come into the world.
Galatians 3:16
Matthew 3:9

… who knew what God says?

Luke 10:25-28 – Obedience is required!
Romans 2:17-21 – Jews knew the law, but were they obeying it?

… who participate in acts of worship?

Isaiah 1:10-17
Isaiah 29:13-14
Hosea 6:6
True worship is good, but many worship in vain.

… who avoid sin?

Matthew 25:24-30
Luke 10:30-32 – The priest and Levite failed to love their neighbor when they had opportunity.
I Thessalonians 5:22; 4:1
Ephesians 5:15

Those who truly love God!

More than simply being humans, God’s people are those who conform to His spiritual image.

Romans 8:29
Colossians 3:9-11
Ephesians 4:22

Regardless of lineage, God’s people are spiritual Jews.

Galatians 3:7-9

Deeper than external actions, God’s people are those who love Him and thus obey.

Deuteronomy 10:12-20

If I want to be one of the people of God, I need to give my heart and life completely to Him.

Relationships, Part 8

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Parent and child, continued

Introduction

God identifies Himself as our Father.

Exercise tender love

Forgive

Isaiah 1:18; 59:1-2, 9, 15-16, 20 – When we were at our worst, God forgave us.
Hebrews 10:29 – Sin is an insult to God. But even so, He offers us forgiveness.
Should we not follow God’s example and be willing to forgive?
We teach our children to own up to their mistakes and apologize, which is all part of the path to forgiveness.
Acts 26:20

Encourage

I Thessalonians 2:5-12
Parents should help and encourage their children.
II Corinthians 7:16 – Would you say this to an unruly child?
II Corinthians 8:7 – Paul is anticipating success!
III John 1:1-4
Look for ways to encourage your children!

Three Profound Facts About Noah

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 6:9-13

Noah was different

Genesis 6:5; 7:1 – Noah was by himself in his righteousness, surrounded by a world of evil.
Ezekiel 14:12-14 – Noah, Daniel, and Job stand out in the mind of God for their righteousness.
II Peter 2:4-9
Hebrews 11:7 – Noah’s obedience in building the ark condemned the world.
It’s good to be different!
II Corinthians 6:14-18

Noah built the ark before it rained

Genesis 6:8

Noah in Genesis		Us in II Peter
Genesis 6:8	God extends grace!	II Peter 3:9
Genesis 6:13	Judgment is coming!	II Peter 3:10
Genesis 6:14	Prepare!	II Peter 3:11
Genesis 6:22	Obedience and salvation!	II Peter 3:14

Prepare before it’s too late!
I Peter 3:18-22
Matthew 24:36-39 – The people were surprised when the floods came. Everyone outside the ark had a moment when they realized it was too late.
At judgment, all who are not saved will realize it is too late.

After everything, Noah worshiped God

Genesis 7:11; 8:13-14 – Noah and his family spent one year, ten days in the ark.
Genesis 8:20 – Noah could have been bitter, but instead he worshiped God.
Let bad things push you closer to God!

Hebrews, Part 10

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 8:7-9:14
In Hebrews 8, the writer is contrasting two covenants – not a covenant and a will. This is an important distinction.
Hebrews 8:7 – If the first covenant could have accomplished everything God wanted, there would be no need for the new covenant (Romans 8:3). What the law could not do, God sent His Son to do. The law was not at fault in not doing what God wanted it to do. It was only at fault in not being able to do what Jesus alone could.
Hebrews 8:8-12 – The quote here is from Jeremiah 31:31-34.
- Hebrews 8:10 – God’s people have His law in their hears and minds. That does not mean we walk in God’s law perfectly (I John 1:8-9). See Romans 4:12.
- Hebrews 8:12 – Once God forgives a sin, He no longer holds it against us.
Hebrews 8:13 – When the new covenant came, the old covenant was no longer in effect and was ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 9:1-5 – The old covenant required spiritual worship to be done in an earthly place (the tabernacle or temple). The new covenant prescribed spiritual service to be done in a holy place (the saved relationship). See Exodus 20:24.
Hebrews 9:7 – See Leviticus 16:12-15 – rules for the day of atonement.
Hebrews 9:13-14 – Christ’s blood is more effective for sanctification than the blood of bulls and goats.

What Should We Pray About Putin?

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 2:1-3

It’s okay to pray for justice.

Genesis 9:3-6
Exodus 20:13
Exodus 21:12-17 – God does not condemn all killing. There is a distinction between murder, accidental killing, and capital punishment.
Numbers 35:20-25
Psalms 35; 58 – Imprecatory psalms, calling down curses on evil ones.
Romans 13:3-4
These passages don’t necessarily say that war is wrong. Governments should punish the evil and defend the innocent.

But what about…

Matthew 5:38-44?
- We must be willing to endure personal insults. But evil must still be stopped and punished.
II Corinthians 10:3-6?
- Paul was not going to use physical weapons to fight a spiritual war.

Our deepest desire and prayer is salvation for all.

Ezekiel 18:20-23, 30-32
II Peter 3:9
I Timothy 2:3-4

Relationships, Part 7

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Parent and child

Train children to love God

Matthew 22:36-40 – The ultimate goal we have for our children is for them to observe the two greatest commandments and love God and love others.
I John 4:20

Love God yourself

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 – It starts with you! It can’t be a hypocritical thing.
Proverbs 20:7 – It is a blessing to our children to walk in God’s way.
Matthew 7:5 – Don’t be hypocritical! Be what you want your kids to be.
II Timothy 1:5 – Timothy grew up with great spiritual influences in his mother and grandmother.
Romans 2:24 – Try switching out the words “the Gentiles” for “your kids.” Don’t raise your children so that they harm the name of Christ.
Hebrews 4:15; I Peter 2:21 – Christ left an example for us.
Learning by example: Parents teach toddlers English by example – one of the most complex languages in the world! That’s how powerful teaching by example can be.

Partaking of the Lord's Supper Genuinely

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Editor’s note: David has graciously allowed me to include a PDF version of the handout he mentions in this lesson. See the link under “Resource files for this lesson” above. Thanks, David! -MRW

Introduction

Mark 14:22-25
I Corinthians 11:20-34 – It’s possible to partake of the Lord’s Supper incorrectly! This was happening in Corinth. We need to make sure we partake correctly.

HORROR at His pain

Matthew 26:27-28; 27:27-31; John 19:1

SORROW for my sin

Isaiah 53:5-6 – This is because of us!

GRATITUDE for salvation

Matthew 26:27-28
I Corinthians 15:57

HONORED with fellowship

Matthew 26:29
I Corinthians 10:14-22 – We have fellowship with God and with each other when we partake of the Lord’s Supper.

HOPE for the future

I Corinthians 11:26 – We will partake until the Lord comes again!
Hebrews 9:28

Hebrews, Part 9

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 7:4-8:7
Hebrews 7:9-10 – This illustrates the greatness of Melchizedek. Even in Abraham’s time, his priesthood was greater than the priesthood of Levi, given that Levi in a sense gave tithes to Melchizedek, being still in the loins of Abraham.
Hebrews 7:11-12 – Perfection could not be found under the Law of Moses, so there must necessarily be a change of law and priesthood.
Hebrews 7:13-14 – For Jesus to serve as high priest, he had to operate under a new law and a new priesthood. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah – not Levi.
Hebrews 7:16 – Jesus was a high priest after the order of Melchizedek not based on family descent but based on His indestructible life. This may imply that Melchizedek was a heavenly being taking the form of a man on earth.
Hebrews 7:23-25 – Unlike human priests under the Law of Moses, Jesus serves as a high priest permanently.
Hebrews 7:26 – Jesus is the best possible high priest – holy, innocent, and exalted.
Hebrews 8:1-2 – Jesus serves as a high priest and ministers in the new tabernacle – the saved relationship. See Exodus 20:24. God recorded His name in the tabernacle and then the temple. Today, He records His name in the saved relationship, which is the new temple.

Four Qualities Displayed by Daniel

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The prophet Daniel

Daniel obtained prominence and power – Daniel 1:3-6
- Preeminence among the wise men of Babylon – Daniel 1:17-20
- Power over all of Babylon – Daniel 2:48-49; 5:29
- Power over Medo-Persian empire – Daniel 6:1-3, 28
How could he do this as a Jew in a pagan kingdom?
- Retaining his faith
- Doing so without compromise

Four qualities of Daniel

A man of purpose

“Daniel purposed in heart” – Daniel 1:8
- Young boy in a strange land
- Challenged to violate God’s law
- His purpose was to remain faithful to God
  - God rewarded him with favor in sight of others – Daniel 1:9
  - Much like He did for Joseph – Genesis 39:1-4, 21
- We all need to be people of purpose – Matthew 6:33
  - Seek God’s will and live it in our lives
  - We will have sufficiency in all things

A man of principle

Refused to compromise his convictions
- Young man – Daniel 1:8
  - Refused to eat king’s meat
  - Refused to drink his wine
- Older man, refused Belshazzar’s gifts – Daniel 5:13-17
- Refused to obey decree of Darius against God – Daniel 6:10
Such people usually admired
- Outwardly admire
- Know who they can trust
- God accepts such people – Psalms 15:1-5

A man of purity

No fault found in him by his opponents
- Looked at his governmental affairs
- Found to be faithful, without negligence or corruption – Daniel 6:1-4
Christians also must maintain purity of conduct
- I Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:6-8
- Young or old
- Must be examples of believers
- Regardless of status – Titus 2:9-10

A man of prayer

Devotion was well known – Daniel 6:5
Its hallmark was his continued praying – Daniel 6:10
- Demonstrated humility – took to his knees
- Gave thanks – in face of persecution
- Was his custom over time
- Continued along with his success
Christians should follow his example
- Always and with thanks – I Thessalonians 5:17-18
- Devotedly with thanks – Colossians 4:2

Daniel – an example for us

Do we live lives of:
- Purpose
- Principle
- Purity
- Prayer

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The rich man and Lazarus: Luke 16:19-31

God expects us to take the opportunity to help others

Romans 2:6-8; Matthew 22:37-40 – What was the rich man seeking? Was he loving his neighbor?
Galatians 6:9-10 – Don’t grow weary doing good.
Matthew 25:14-30 – Our reward will depend on our use of the talents God has given us.
Matthew 25:31-46 – Helping others is helping Christ.

God expects us to have compassion

Compassion is “suffering with one another.”
Without compassion, it’s hard to see opportunities.
Examples of God’s compassion: Psalms 86:15; 111:4; 145:8-9; 78:37-38
Examples of Jesus’ compassion:
- Spiritual needs: Matthew 9:36; James 5:19-20
- Physical needs: Matthew 15:32; 20:34; I John 3:16-17; James 5:13-16

Hebrews, Part 8

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 6:4-7:4
Hebrews 6:4-6 – The “goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come” may be referring to the gospel.
- Hebrews 6:6 – Anyone who went back to the Law of Moses was going back to the law under which Christ was crucified. This is in effect crucifying Jesus again.
Hebrews 6:7-8 – People who receive God’s word are blessed by it. Those who don’t (and return to Judaism in this case) will be worthless and cursed (see Luke 8).
Hebrews 6:19 – Hope is the anchor of the soul. Our hope is tied to Jesus. Without Him, we would have no hope.
Hebrews 7:1-3 – Some argue that this is talking about the priesthood of Melchizedek and not the man, but verse 4 makes it clear that this is referring to the man.
- The man Melchizedek could have been a heavenly being in the form of a man (see Genesis 16; 22:1; 42:24-30; Exodus 3; Judges 14:9-10) or it could simply be that the man had no known genealogy. It’s possible that the writer of Hebrews was indicating that God had dealings with other nations (and thus other priests) that were outside the Law of Moses. These other priests necessarily operated under a different priesthood, just as Jesus operates now.

Living with Integrity

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

What is integrity?

“the continued adhering to a moral or ethical code”
Psalms 26:1-7

Examples of those with integrity

Samuel

I Samuel 12:1-5
Matthew 23:1-3, 25-26

Job

Job 2:1-10
Job 27:3-6

David

Psalms 7:8
II Corinthians 4:1-2

Daniel

Daniel 6:1-4
I Timothy 4:15-16 – When we live with integrity, it helps others also.
“Our character is defined by what we do when we think no one is looking.”

The blessings of integrity

Integrity helps guide our lives

Proverbs 10:9
Proverbs 11:3

God will be delighted in us

Proverbs 11:20

Relationships, Part 6

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Love for Souls, Part 3

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews, Part 7

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Benchley Teaching Program

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Confidence

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

God's Salvation

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews, Part 6

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Condoning Sin

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Relationships, Part 5

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Luke 19:1-10

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 19:8 – Zaccheus made a radical turn toward God. This is a great story of repentance.

I may be misunderstanding repentance.

I may thing it’s just a one-time thing.

Everybody who has sinned needs to repent – and we’ve all sinned!
Acts 8:13-22
Romans 1:7; 6:3
II Corinthians 7:8-9 – They needed to repent again!
Revelation 2:5, 16, 22; 3:3, 19
God offers grace, but we must repent!

I may not realize I need to grow.

Ephesians 4:1-3
John 8:11; Luke 22:32 – God told people to grow!
We can’t just say, “This is the way I am.”
Acts 17:30
I Corinthians 6:9-11 – These were hard changes to make!

I may not ever really commit.

Acts 26:19-20
Acts 2:41, 44 – Why didn’t they all obey?
John 3:5-10

Hebrews, Part 5

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus can be touched by our infirmities because He was tempted like we are, yet never sinned.
Hebrews 4:16 – Because Jesus endured temptation, we know that He understands us and can approach Him with confidence.
Hebrews 5:5 – Compare Acts 13:32-33. Thi sis referring to Jesus’ resurrection – not His birth.
Hebrews 5:6 – See Psalms 110:4.
Hebrews 5:7 – Jesus was clearly not praying that He would not die because it says His prayer was heard. The Father was able to save Him from physical death and Jesus was resurrected. Jesus was evidently praying that the time on the cross would be short, which it was (six hours rather than multiple days as was often the case for crucifixion). See Matthew 26:39-42; John 12:27; Acts 27:9; James 1:10.

Relationships, Part 4

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Relationships affected by work

Do you think work ethic has changed in America?

Galatians 2:20
Proverbs 30:8-9

How does a good, strong work ethic affect my relationships with others?

Genesis 2:15 – Work was part of God’s plan from the beginning!
Psalm 128:1-2
Ephesians 4:28 – Work so that you have something to share with others.
I Timothy 6:17-19

What if I’m lazy and don’t work enough? How does that affect my relationships?

II Thessalonians 3:6-12; II Thessalonians 2:2 – God expects us to work!
I Timothy 5:8
Proverbs 21:25-26

What if I’m alcoholic or materialistic? How does that affect my relationships?

Luke 3:10-14
James 3:13-18
I Timothy 6:9-11
Proverbs 15:16-17

Paul Was Not a Good Father

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The Bible shows us the importance of good fathers.

Paul

Paul was not a father, but he was a tremendous servant to God.
I Corinthians 7:32-34, 18-21
I Corinthians 12:4-31
Romans 12:3-5, 1

Serving God vs. using my gifts

	Serving God less	Serving God more
Using my gifts more	Distraction Galatians 1:14 Philippians 3:4-6 Saul before his conversion.	Desire I Corinthians 3:6, 10 Galatians 2:7-9 Paul planted, Apollos watered. Peter, the common man, was apostle for the Jews. Paul, the Jew of the Jews, was apostle for the Gentiles.
Using my gifts less	Drudgery Romans 7:21-24 Titus 3:3 Sin, selfish desires.	Disinterest, discipline II Corinthians 12:8 Thorn in the flesh.

Philippians 3:14-17 – What should you do if your gifts are not fully developed for serving God? Find a mentor to help and grow it!
Serving God is not so much about what we want as it is about what He has given us.
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 25:15 – There was a five-talent man before he had five talents.
I Corinthians 7:7, 18
I Corinthians 14:12 – Whatever abilities you have, use them to serve God!

Action items!

Evaluate yourself
- Identify your strengths
  - Clifton Strengthsfinder
  - Isaiah 40:29-31
- Look for and make opportunities to use and build on your strengths.
- Shore up your weaknesses, do your best.
Evaluate your actions
- How are you using your gifts? Are you investing them or burying them?
- Go ALL IN.

Conclusion

Paul was not a biological father, but he was a father figure to many people in a spiritual sense.
Ephesians 4:11

Hebrews, Part 4

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 4:1-16
Hebrews 4:1-2 – We must be careful to live faithfully so we can take advantage of this rest.
Hebrews 4:3 – The writer compares lack of faith now to the lack of faith of the Israelites (Hebrews 3:7-14) that caused God to make them wander in the wilderness for forty years, rather than entering God’s rest.
Hebrews 4:6-7 – There remains a rest for those who will serve God faithfully.
Hebrews 4:8 – Joshua has a rest to give the people, but it was far inferior to the rest Jesus would offer.
Hebrews 4:11-13 – The word of God can see through us like no one on earth can. God can see our disobedience even if it is hidden from men. “Division of soul and spirit” means dividing soul and dividing spirit – not separating them from each other.
Hebrews 4:14-16 – The incredible (Romans 7:25; 8:26-34) nature of our high priest, Jesus, is all the more reason to hold fast to our faith.

Give Us a King

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Why have churches departed from the pattern we see in scripture?

Drifting from God’s word

I Samuel 8:1-4 – The people recognized a need for improvement. They looked around and saw nations with kings that appeared to be thriving.
Why did Alexander Campbell push for the American Christian Missionary Society? He thought he perceived a need that was not being addressed.
But why was Israel week and oppressed? Not because they didn’t have a king, but because they were not obeying God. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Characteristics	Also the Pattern in Scripture
Authority	II Timothy 2:2 – giving diligence Hebrews 5:14 – constant practice
Name/description	John 13:35 – identified as Christ’s by love for one another Philippians 4:1 – loving and longing for each other
Man’s part in obtaining salvation	Romans 3:23-24 – acknowledge sin and recognize grace as a gift Romans 10:1 – salvation of the lost is our heart’s desire and prayer
Manner of worship and activities of the assembly	Acts 2:42 – continued devotion Hebrews 12:28 – grateful worship, with reverence and awe
Work	I Thessalonians 1:8 – sounding forth the word Acts 2:44-45 – selling and sharing Matthew 18:15 – discipline to gain the brother
Organization	Hebrews 13:17 – obey those watching over our souls Acts 2:46 – breaking bread from house to house

Relationships, Part 3

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Boyfriend and girlfriend, continued:

Look for someone who loves God and others

Matthew 22:36-40

Respects God’s word enough to actually obey it

I John 5:2-3
Luke 6:46-49
Mark 10:11-12

Grows and works on weaknesses

I John 1:8
How do you handle weaknesses and sin?
Acts 5:29 – Peter showed tremendous growth.
Acts 9:20 – Paul was a great example of positive change and spiritual growth.
II Timothy 4:7

Treats people well

Luke 10:33-35 – The example of the good Samaritan.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Galatian 5:22

Demonstrates humility

Psalms 51:16-17
Ephesians 5:22-27 – A husband should be prepared to sacrifice himself for the spiritual betterment of his wife.
Colossians 3:12-14

Communicates well

James 1:19
Proverbs 15:1-2, 28
Proverbs 12:18 – Good can come from talking!
Proverbs 17:27 – Restraining your words can also be good!

Love for Souls, Part 2

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

James 5:19-20

Notice!

Philippians 2:4-7
We need to get out of our own busy schedules and notice others who may need help.
II Corinthians 11:28-29 – Do I have intense concern for those led into sin?
Luke 15 – The end goal is to help sinners repent!
Attendance: Hebrews 10:25
Observation: Acts 15:36
Do this: Scroll through the directory this week.

Encourage!

Acts 14:1-3
I Thessalonians 5:14
Do this: Contact a member and encourage them.
Three ways to encourage:
- God’s people: Romans 1:12; I Corinthians 16:5-7; III John 1:14
- God’s worship: Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19
- God’s word: Mark 6:34; Romans 10:17

Hebrews, Part 3

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 3:1-6 – Jesus is a better keeper of God’s house than Moses was.
- Hebrews 3:3-4 – God built the house. See John 1:1.
- Hebrews 3:5 – Moses was a faithful servant to God. See Hebrews 10:1-10. Part of his service was testifying about the things that would come later (Jesus and the New Covenant).
- Hebrews 3:6 – Moses kept God’s house as a servant, but Jesus kept God’s house as a son.
Hebrews 3:7-11 – If we harden our hearts and do not believe, we will also not enter the promised land.
Hebrews 3:12-13 – We must be careful not to let an unbelieving heart lead us to fall away from Christ.
Hebrews 3:14-15 – To hear God and do what He says is to not harden your heart to God.
Hebrews 3:18-19 – See Matthew 7:21; Acts 22:16. Paul called on the name of the Lord by doing what He said. The Israelites could not enter Canaan because of unbelief.

The First Sin

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 3:1-7

We must learn to be content with the blessings we have.

Genesis 2:9
Even focused on the good in the sin.
Genesis 2:8-18 – Look at where Adam and Eve lived! They had everything they needed! Why not be content with this?
Philippians 4:11-13 – Paul learned to be content in whatever situation he was in.

We should be scared of sin’s consequences.

We don’t know how sin might hurt.
- Genesis 3:7-11 – They had a changed attitude about self (shame) and blamed each other.
We don’t know who sin might hurt.
- Eve’s sin drew in Adam as well.
We don’t know how long sin might hurt.
- Genesis 3:16-24 – The rest of their lives were changed!

God provides hope!

Genesis 3:9, 15 – God was alluding to the coming of Jesus.
Galatians 4:4

Relationships, Part 2

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Boyfriend and girlfriend, continued

Listen to people around you who are spiritually wise.

Titus 2:3-5
Philippians 3:17
Proverbs 12:15; 13:10
Psalms 119:97-99 – All human advice has the potential to be flawed.
Leviticus 19:32

There’s no such thing as a soul mate.

If I start having trouble in my marriage and start doubting that my spouse is my soul mate, this line of thinking could cause me to seek another.
Titus 2:3-4
Ephesians 5:25
Whoever I choose to be married to, I have to make it work!
Romans 5:8

Beware of infatuation.

Am I equating physical attraction with true love?

II Samuel 13:1-6, 11-17 – Amnon acts on his infatuation with Tamar. Any time we stray from God’s plan, we are setting ourselves up for trouble.
Genesis 39:6-15, 20 – Potiphar’s wife is infatuated with Joseph.

Am I just in love with being in love?

I Kings 11:1-3; Ecclesiastes 2:8

Why Does it Make Sense to Believe in God?

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews, Part 2

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Dancing

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Relationships, Part 1

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Love your neighbor

Matthew 22:39-40
James 2:8-9; Luke 10:29, 33, 36
I John 4:20-21
Titus 2:4
Titus 2:9-10

Our lives are full of relationships

Noah
Job

Relationships are powerful

I Kings 21:25 – Jezebel incited Ahab to evil.
I Peter 3:1-2 – Wives can be great influences on husbands.

Boyfriend and girlfriend

Listen to the objective truth of the Bible

Proverbs 1:1-7 – You need God!
Judges 16:4-6, 15-17 – Samson loved her, but we have no evidence she loved him also! Her questions should have been red flags to him, but he did not pay attention because he was in love.
Judges 14:16-18 – This had happened to Samson before!
Hebrews 13:4
I Peter 4:3
Psalms 119:9-16
Matthew 10:16 – This principle may also apply in the area of relationships.

What Tanner and I Learned from Teaching Your Kids

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 19:13-15

Kids are extremely practical.

James 1:21-22, 25-27
Acts 17:18, 21, 30-32
Kids look for immediate applications of Bible principles.

Their prayers are eager, thankful, and detailed.

Mark 1:35; 6:46; 14:32
Philippians 1:3-4
I Thessalonians 5:17-18
Matthew 6:9-13
Kids can teach us a lot about how to pray!

They are sharp!

Matthew 21:14-16
Hebrews 12:1, 11
I Peter 5:8
II Corinthians 7:8-9

We have excellent Bible class teachers here!

Acts 20:28

Hebrews, Part 1

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction to the book

The author is the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:13-14)
- John 14:26; 16:13
- The Holy Spirit inspired men with the very words to speak.
The writer could be Paul, but it is difficult to tell for sure.
- The Holy Spirit is the author, so determining the writer is not hugely important.
The letter was written from Rome to Hebrew Christians.
Hebrews 13:10

Overview of the book

Jesus is superior
- Jesus is a better spokesman than the prophets.
- Jesus has a better name than the prophets.
- Jesus is a better builder than Moses.
- Jesus gives a better rest than Joshua.
- Jesus is a better high priest than Aaron.
A superior workman turns out a superior product. Thus, the New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant.
Hebrews 8:6

Notes on the text

Hebrews 1:4-7
- Jesus has a better position than the angels.
- Judges 13:20; Genesis 3
Hebrews 1:8
- Daniel 2:44; Hebrews 12:28
- The kingdom of Jesus will never end.
- I Corinthians 15:25-28
Hebrews 1:9
- John 1:1; Colossians 1:16
Hebrews 1:13-14 – Some teach that all people have ministering angels that watch over them. This passage does not teach that, nor does it have anything to do with the functions of angels in the New Covenanent.

Humility Practice, Part 10

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Shine the spotlight on others

Matthew 6:2, 5, 16 – The proud act is to bring attention to themselves.
What if we don’t seek praise and people offer it anyway?
- Acts 3:12, 16 – Peter and John
- Acts 12:21-23 – King Herod
- Acts 14:11-14 – Paul and Barnabas
- I Corinthians 1:12-15; II Corinthians 12:9-10
- Revelation 4, 5 – Him who sits on the throne, and the Lamb

Wait

Matthew 4:1-11
- Satan appealed to pride in every one of his temptations.
  - “If you are the Son of God…”
- Jesus waited
  - He would miraculously create food on two recorded occasions – Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; Matthew 15; Mark 8
  - The angels did come and minister to Him (twice – here and in Gethsemane! Luke 22:43)
  - He reigns as king over all the world.
When is it hard to wait?
Alternatives to waiting with humility
- Taking what we want now
- Waiting with complaining
Who or what should we wait for?
- The Lord
- Each other

Waiting for each other

I Corinthians 11:33 – What is Paul talking about? How did pride factor into this situation?
When do we have to?
- I Thessalonians 5:14 – with everyone
- II Timothy 2:24 – when arranged
II Peter 3:9 – I need the Lord’s patience

Waiting on the Lord

Why can’t we wait on the Lord? Why do we get impatient?
- II Kings 6:33-7:2, 17 – Lack of faith
- Lamentations 3:24-26 – What if we waited instead?
Psalms 25:2-3, 20-21
Proverbs 20:22
Isaiah 40:30-31
I Peter 5:3-10

Conclusion

Some of the worst of the worst
- I Kings 21:27-29 – Ahab humbled himself
- II Chronicles 33:12-13 – Manasseh humbled himself
- Daniel 4:34-37 – Nebuchadnezzar
- Romans 12:3 – “sound judgment” is the same word as “sane”

The Faith

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 2:20
Romans 1:17
The world is full of people who believe in Jesus, but don’t believe Jesus.
- John 6:35
Ephesians 2:10

Paul’s saving faith

I Timothy 1:12 – Paul believed Jesus.
Romans 4:12
Genesis 22:1-12; Hebrews 11:17-18 – Abraham believed God.

Saving faith in the book of Romans

Romans 16:26
Ezekiel 3:11 – God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
I Timothy 2:4
Luke 15 – Parables about the lost being saved.
John 12:27

When Christ lives in me, I will teach what He taught, and do what He says.

Luke 6:48
Ephesians 5:26-28
II John 1:2
Matthew 15:9
Ephesians 2:10
Acts 2:42
I Timothy 2:8
Acts 20:7
Philippians 4:15-16
Colossians 3:16
Matthew 26:26-29

If Christ lives in me, I will teach others that the local church must do only the things Christ authorized it to do.

I Corinthians 7:2-14 – Preachers should be supported for their work.
Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2
I Corinthians 5:1-8

If Christ lives in me, I will not teach that others can be saved without the Word of Jesus.

John 16:13
Romans 10:17
Matthew 10:32

Conclusion

Galatians 2:20

Romans, Part 19

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Marriage Myths

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 23:23
John 17:17
Expectations about marriage are critically important.

Pessimistic – “Marriage is horrible.”

Genesis 1:26-31 – God’s creation is very good, including marriage!
Genesis 29:20 – How good it feels to be in love!
Proverbs 18:22; 19:14
Ephesians 5:28, 33

Idealistic – “This will solve everything.”

You may still face money problems or depression.
Your spouse is not your purpose in life.
Acts 17:26-28 – God is our purpose in life.
Luke 18:28-30
Luke 20:34-36 – We can be happy in heaven without marriage.
I Corinthians 7:1-9 – Being marriage won’t instantly cure lust and temptation.
Romans 7:3 – Why is this verse here if marriage is the end of temptation?
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – Getting a great job won’t necessarily solve your money problems.
I Thessalonians 4:3

Materialistic – “Everything’s gotta look good.”

II Kings 9:30; I Kings 21:25 – Everything is not what it appears to be!
Proverbs 31:30 – Fearing the Lord is what makes a good marriage.
Proverbs 21:19
John 2:1 – It’s about more than just the wedding.
I Peter 3:3, 7-8
Ephesians 5:25

Not a marriage myth: Optimistic – “Marriage takes work, but it’s a great relationship.”

Proverbs 31:10

Humility Practice, Part 9

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Notice your green grass

Hebrews 13:5
Luke 12:15-31
Philippians 4:11-13 – Be content in whatever situation you find yourself in.
Philippians 3:7-11
What does contentment have to do with humility?
I Timothy 6:6-11
Exodus 20:17
Colossians 3:5-6
Hebrews 11:24-25
Philippians 3:14
Social media can be a breeding ground for discontentment.
II Corinthians 12:9-10

Hold your tongue

James 3:2-12
James 1:26

Church Membership

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

What is a church?

A spiritual team working together in the things of Christ.
Matthew 18:15-17
Acts 4:32; 5:4

What about church membership?

I Corinthians 1:2; 5:1, 10, 12-13
III John 1:9-10
Acts 9:18, 26-28
Acts 11:25-26
Acts 13:1
Acts 15:22
What about college students? Join the church where you are while you’re there.

Benefits	Obligations
Edification – Romans 1:11-12; 15:1-2; I Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11	Teamwork – Ephesians 5:18-19
Accountability – Titus 1:5, 9; I Peter 5:2; Hebrews 13:17	Initiative – Romans 12:10; 15:14

Romans, Part 18

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Love for Souls

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 22:35-40; 16:24-27 – Love your neighbor; there is nothing more valuable than a soul.

Every soul must be valued

The saved – need edification

I Thessalonians 1:1-7
II Thessalonians 1:1-4
Why spend time writing to people who are already saved? Because they needed to continue to grow.
I Thessalonians 4:1
II John 1:1-2, 4-11 – Saved people need to be warned and encouraged.
Acts 14:21-22

The straying – need restoration

James 5:19-20 – There’s no greater help we can give someone than to turn their soul back to God!
Hebrews 3:7-13 – Don’t let this happen to you!
Hebrews 4:2-3, 11
Hebrews 10:24-25

The lost – need conversion

Romans 15:20
Acts 8:4
Acts 19:1-5 – These people were already spiritually minded, but didn’t have all the information yet.

Getting better at loving souls

Open your eyes

John 4:35

Gladly spend and be spent

II Corinthians 12:14-15

Develop skills

Acts 11:22-23
We may need to expand our spiritual skill set.

Humility Practice, Part 8

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Tonight, we’ll be continuing our study on humility, looking at Chapters 20-22 of Humility Practice.

Chapter 20: Let it Go

Examples in the Bible

Letting go in our context refers to getting over minor frustrations and inconveniences.

Joseph treating his brothers kindly despite their behavior towards him:

Genesis 50:20–21

Esau greets Jacob warmly, despite previously having his birthright swindled away from him:

Genesis 33:1–9

Paul refuses to take John Mark at first, but later gladly works with him:

Acts 15:36–39
2 Timothy 4:9–11

Jesus teaches on forgiveness

Matthew 18:21–22
Luke 17:3–4
Matthew 6:12–15
If Jesus commanded this liberality of forgiveness, how could we dare to hold onto outrage over small slights?

Why is this a sign of humility?

Anger can be a selfish thing. We want to be right and show that the other person is wrong and needs to make things right.
Letting go can seem like we are giving up on the issue – saying it doesn’t matter. Or that our emotions don’t matter.
Letting things go does not mean that we refuse to label sinful things as sinful. Jesus commanded forgiveness when people repent of their wrongs.
But when a thing is a small slight, let it go. Don’t hold it over the person’s head and require them to repent for every little thing.

How can we apply this ourselves?

The golden rule

Matthew 7:12

Treat others with love

Matthew 22:37–40
Aim to see the best in others, assume the best about their intentions until you have reason not to, and above all, show love.
Humble yourself and leave room for God’s justice.
Remember all the times you have wronged others and appreciated it when they let it go, whether you knew about it or not!

Chapter 21: Deflect a Compliment

Examples in the Bible

Joseph giving credit to God for interpretation of dreams

Genesis 41:15–16

Daniel crediting God for interpretation of dreams

Daniel 2:27–30

Peter points to God as the source of the healing power

Acts 3:12–16

Peter refuses worship

Acts 10:24–26

Paul points to God’s power

1 Corinthians 2:1–5

Why is this a sign of humility?

When offered a compliment, we selfishly want to revel in it. It feels good to get a compliment!
It is a good thing to give compliments genuinely and to receive them from others, but it can also make us prideful. This is something God hates! Proverbs 6:16–19
It shows humility to deal with a compliment gracefully and then immediately get back on an even keel. Don’t allow yourself to become prideful and revel in it. It’s easy to want to swim around in compliments like Scrooge McDuck!

How can we apply this ourselves?

Do what the title of the chapter says: deflect the compliment!
Accept the compliment gracefully but remember the others who have been involved or helped in some way.
Remember who is ultimately responsible – God!
Find a way to be thankful and express humility instead of pride.

Chapter 22: Worship

Examples in the Bible

In the days of the Law of Moses, the Jews had a prescribed method of worship, which involved animal sacrifices and worship at the temple.
Today, we are governed by the New Covenant, in which Christians worship by singing praise to God, praying, observing the Lord’s Supper, and studying God’s word.

In worship, we are kneeling before God.

Psalm 95:6–7

David showed a great example of the right attitude to take in worship before God:

Psalm 8:1–4

Our worship is an offering to God

Romans 12:1

We worship God because He commands it and because it is good for us. God does not suffer without our worship:

Acts 17:24–25

Why is this a sign of humility?

We are taking time to expressly put our focus on God – not ourselves.
Worship is not something that we do to entertain ourselves. It is a service to God.
In taking time to voluntarily worship God (He commands it, but does not force us to do it), we are resetting our perspective to be God-centered, not self-centered.

How can we apply this ourselves?

Focus during worship. Think about what you are really doing. Focus on the words of the songs and the scriptures. Take the sermon to heart and see where you can improve your service to God.
Don’t use vain repetition. Matthew 6:7
Try to see things from God’s perspective.
Humble your heart. Remember that your worship is an offering to God.

Jesus Walking on Water

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Colossians 1:16-20

The miracle itself

John 6:15-21; Matthew 14:22-33
This was an actual miracle, not just a dubious sighting. One of the witnesses even participated in the miracle!
Jesus is worthy of our worship.
- Matthew 2:11; 28:9 – Jesus was worshiped from the beginning to the end of His life.
- Matthew 27:50-54 – Jesus is the Son of God!
- Revelation 1:5-7

The need to grow

Mark 6:45-52 – The disciples were astonished but had not learned from the miraculous feeding of the five thousand.
John 6:12-15 – They still misunderstood the nature of the kingdom.
Matthew 14:29
The Bible shows us how inadequate we are. This should motivate us to do better!
Matthew 15:2-3, 30
Matthew 16:21
We need to grow!

The priority of prayer

Mark 6:32-34, 42, 44-46 – Jesus sent them away so He could pray.
Do I make prayer a priority like Jesus did?
Romans 12:12
Is what you are doing more important than what Jesus was doing?
Matthew 6:7-9
Don’t try to justify your lack of prayer with some bad excuse!

Romans, Part 17

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

How Do I Help My Kids Develop Faith?

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 2:6

Get them in the Word

Romans 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing the Word.
Psalms 102:25-27
Proverbs 1:7 – We must always be learning!
James 4:4 – There is a conflict between God and the world.
These things come from the Bible, and it is our job to pass it on!
Things you can do:
- Bring children to worship.
- Read the Bible to them. Help them read themselves.

Keep God front and center.

Mark 4:18-19 – Parents have to make God the priority.
II Timothy 4:9-10 – We don’t want our children to desert God like Demas deserted Paul.
Great youth groups don’t necessarily create faith.
II Timothy 3:10-11 – It was good for Timothy to spend time with Paul, a veteran in God’s work.
Psalms 95:1-3 – Values are communicated through joy. What are we joyful about?

Demonstrate genuine faith.

I Corinthians 4:14-17 – Be an example of faith!
Confess your sins – James 5:16
Enforce rules – Ephesians 6:1-3; Mark 10:21-22; Proverbs 3:12
- Making someone upset doesn’t mean you don’t love them.
- Who will teach our kids right from wrong, if not us?
Be thankful – Colossians 3:15-16

Conclusion

Kids must develop their own faith. We can help them.

Humility Practice, Part 7

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Ask for advice and follow it

Proverbs 1:7, 20-27; 15:5, 32
“I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.” – Winston Churchill
We have to be willing to listen to others.
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” – Harry Truman
“I never learned from a man who agreed with me.” – Robert Heinlein
“A man who asks is a fool for 5 minutes. A man who never asks, is a fool for a lifetime.” – Chinese proverb

Serve someone

Mark 10:43-45 – Jesus came to serve!
Philippians 2:3-4
I Corinthians 9:19-22
Philippians 2:5-8
“Regard one another as more important than yourselves.”

Give a soft answer

Proverbs 15:1; 25:15
Romans 12:17-18
Romans 12:10

Let's Make a Deal

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Two deals

$100,000 for your car right now.
$1,000,000 for your car, but you don’t get the money until you return in seven days and you lose access to the car immediately.

Satan offers us a similar deal

Hebrews 11:25
Satan requires no self-discipline

God offers an eternity of bliss, but requires sacrifice, faithful service, and enduring persecution

Romans 6:23
I Timothy 4:8
Mark 10:28-30
Many people literally sell their souls.
Hebrews 11:24-26
Many are not willing to make the effort to serve God.
Some fall short after deciding to service God.
Ephesians 5:3-5

Have you accepted Satan’s offer in your life?

It’s not too late to change!
John 14:6

Proverbs 30

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Continuous Improvement, Specks and Logs, Confession

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Continuous improvement

God’s salvation is such that being a Christian is not an exercise in being perfect; rather it is an exercise in continuous improvement.
- Saved by grace through faith
  - Ephesians 1:3-7; 2:1-10
- What is faith?
  - Hebrews 11; James 2
    - Complete trust and reliance on God.
- Walking in the light
  - I John 1:5-2:2

Specks and logs

Luke 6:41-42; Galatians 6:1-5
- Focus first and primarily on identifying and correcting my faults.
- Then help others overcome their faults.
Identifying and correction certain faults in myself, makes me uniquely qualified to help others who have the same, or a similar fault.

Confession

James 5:13-16
Confessing sins to other people brings powerful healing.
- Exposes the problem
- Allows others to help

Humility Practice, Part 6

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Due to technical difficulties, the first six minutes of the recording were lost. My apologies. -MRW

Apply the Bible to your faults

Matthew 7:21-27
James 1:21-25
Why is it hard to apply the Bible to our faults? Selfishness.
Sometimes change is challenging.
- Ezra 9:1-4 – The Jews had intermarried with the people around them, in violation of God’s commands.
- Ezra 10:1-4 – The people took responsibility for their own sin and corrected it. This was extremely difficult!
- Ezra 10:9-14 – The change would take time.
John 3:16-21

Question your anger

Ephesians 4:26-27
Genesis 4:5-8 – God tried to get Cain to question his anger, but Cain refused and sinned in murdering Abel.
Jonah 3:10
Anger gives us an opportunity to improve the situation.
Mark 3:1-6 – Jesus was angry at their hardness of heart.
What are justifiable reasons to be angry?

Improving My Life Like Josiah

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Overcoming your raising.

II Kings 21:1-6, 9, 16 – The evil of Manasseh.
Manasseh ➡ Amon ➡ Josiah
II Kings 21:19-22 – The evil rule of Amon.
Maybe you had a lot of bad examples growing up. Whatever your childhood was like, God calls you to holy living.
Ephesians 3:16-19
II Chronicles 28:3 – Hezekiah’s father Ahaz sacrificed some of Hezekiah’s brothers to idols!
I can overcome and make the right choices today!
II Kings 19:14; 20:2-3 – Hezekiah prayed when he was in distress. He had a Father in heaven who loved him!

You might as well start right now!

II Chronicles 34:1-4, 8
John 12:42
Acts 24:25
If there’s something that needs improving in your life, what are you waiting for?

Dust off the book.

II Chronicles 34:8-11, 14-21, 29-31
II Chronicles 34:27-28 – God showed mercy on Josiah because of his humble heart.
Galatians 5:19

Romans, Part 16

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Humility Practice, Part 5

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Be nice to someone undeserving

Why is this a challenge?
- We don’t want to be taken advantage of or hurt.
- Can’t get over past events
- Think about how we’ve been hurt before
- See them hurting someone else
- See someone we love being hurt by them
- Someone we love being used in a way to hurt us
- Rationalize that we can just be indifferent
- They may justify our kindness as approval for their actions
How do we overcome this?
Examples
- Saul appointed king (I Samuel 10:27), David overthrown by Absalom (II Samuel 19:22)
  - Chosen leaders by God. Men stood against them.
  - They were humble and didn’t strike them down.
- Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he married a Cushite woman (Numbers 12)
  - Numbers 12:3
Romans 12:9-19

Let someone else decide

Submitting to someone, putting others first, being at peace with all men
What are some other ways we can view this as being Christ like?
What about when our decision is the best decision?
- Colossians 1:17
Extremely challenging because it requires us to fully put our trust in others.
- Ephesians 5:21; I Corinthians 13:5; Romans 12:18
What problems can result in the local church when we don’t humble ourselves in this?
Outside of the church?
Mark 10:42-45

Refuse to complain

Everyone has a voice. We have an American right to that voice. We can use that voice to complain.
- Put our complaints in perspective first.
Complaint = offended
- James 1:2-3

Psalm 8

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Psalms 8:1

“O LORD, our Lord” – The word LORD is used in place of God’s actual name, Yahweh (YHWH). Jews traditionally avoided saying the name YHWH, substituting the word “Adonai” (Lord) instead.
Exodus 6:2-3
Isaiah 42:5, 8

Psalms 8:2

Matthew 21:9, 14, 16 – Even the children could see that there was something special about Jesus!

Psalms 8:3

Psalm 19
Just looking up at the stars shows the power of God!

Psalms 8:4

Isaiah 40:22-28 – God has absolute power!

Psalms 8:5-8

Genesis 1:26-27
Hebrews 2:5-9 – This may be referring to Adam’s curse in Genesis 3. It is also referring to Jesus.
I Corinthians 15:23

Psalms 8:9

The psalm ends in the same way it began.

Romans, Part 15

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Romans 12:11 – Serving God is an active lifestyle.
Romans 12:13 – Hospitality in those days was more the idea of having someone in your home that needed a place to stay.
Romans 12:14 – We should continue to speak well of people who are persecuting us and remember them in prayer to God. God requires us to love even our enemies.
Romans 12:15 – We share in both rejoicing and weeping because we love each other. Jealousy could make it easier to weep when others suffer, so we must be careful.
Romans 12:16 – We are all children of God. We should not see ourselves as being above others.
Romans 12:17 – It can take a lot of control to not repay evil for evil. If you don’t stop the cycle, evil just continues.
Romans 12:18 – Strife should not start with us.
Romans 12:19 – We must leave it to God to punish in the perfect way.
Romans 12:20 – See Proverbs 25:21. Treating your enemy well could be like throwing cold water in his face – an embarrassment and a wake-up call.
Romans 12:21 – This is a good summary of the preceding verses.
Romans 13:1 – In what sense does God establish governments? See John 19:10-11. God clearly doesn’t approve of every leader just because they hold a leadership position. God approves of governments existing in a general sense.
Romans 13:2 – Resisting authority = resisting God. See Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13-17. It is okay to resist government when it contradicts God. See Acts 4:18; 5:8, 42.
Romans 13:3-4 – God authorizes capital punishment for governments – they “do not bear the sword in vain.” The New Covenant does not have the idea of the “avenger of blood.” Now the civil government has that role. See Genesis 9:6.
Romans 13:5-7 – There are two reasons to be in subjection to the government – fear of punishment and our own conscience. We are commanded to pay taxes regardless of how the government is using them. The Roman government used tax money to persecute Christians, yet Christians were still instructed to pay the taxes.

Bible 101: Chasing Curiosity - Starting a Bible Study Habit

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Timothy 2:2
Ephesians 4:11-12
Each and every Christian needs to be studying the Bible on a regular basis!

What are you curious about?

Make a list: “Things I’m curious about.”
- Acts 17:30
- Acts 13:47
- Pick the most interesting thing on the list and study that!

Do some simple study

Find all the relevant passages.
- Example: The Lord’s Supper
  - Matthew 26:26-29
Read!
Compare translations.
- What does the phrase “drink ye all of it” mean? Comparing translations shows that Jesus meant for all of those gathered to drink of the grape juice. It did not mean for them to drink all of the grape juice.
Read the context.
Consider the original meaning.
- Matthew 26:27 – “fruit of the vine”?
Account for figurative language.
- Is it literally Jesus’ blood? Matthew 26:28-29. Jesus was using a metaphor.
Check fallible sources for passages and ideas.
- Don’t do this before reading the passages yourself first!
- Acts 19:1-7; 18:24-28 – Apollos taught an incomplete message at first.
- Acts 17:1-3
- Are people proving their points from the passages?
- Don’t look for the “church of Christ position”!
  - Matthew 15:2; 19:3-9 – Jesus directs the Pharisees back to the text when they try to figure out what doctrinal camp He is in.
Harmonize all the passages into a conclusion.
Repent and change yourself as needed.
- Luke 6:46
Save your notes.
- Set up your own filing system, either on paper or digitally, so that you can find your notes again later.
- Editor’s note: Consider a Zettelkasten system like Obsidian if taking notes digitally.

Conclusion

II Timothy 2:15

Humility Practice, Part 4

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Compliment someone

Bible connection
- Luke 6:43-45
- Romans 12:9
- Matthew 12:34-35
- James 1:26
- Ephesians 4:29
- Hebrews 3:13
- Hebrews 10:24-25
- Complimenting others exhorts and encourages others. It takes the spotlight off us.
- Luke 19:6 – The example of Zaccheus.
- John 4:29 – The example of the Samaritan woman at the well.
- Hebrews 13:1
- Matthew 12:36
Why is this hard?
Why is it hard to accept a compliment?
How can we improve on giving compliments, exhortation, and encouragement?
- Golden Rule: Treat other people the way you would like to be treated.
- Show interest in other people’s interests.
- Philippians 4:8 – If we focus on positive things like this, complimenting others is so much easier.

Saved by Grace

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ephesians 2:5, 8-9 – Does grace mean we have no role in salvation? Faith clearly has a role in salvation. God provides salvation through His grace, but it is on us to receive it.
John 3:16; 8:24; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:21 – What faith does for the believer.

Faith alone is not sufficient

Romans 10:9-10
If salvation is dependent on confession, confession is not a “work” because we know that works don’t save us (Ephesians 2:8-9)!
Acts 2:37-38 – Peter didn’t tell them to do nothing because they had already been saved. Acts 3:19-20
Mark 16:15-16 – Belief and baptism are both equally required for salvation.
Isaiah 59:16 – God’s own arm provided salvation, but we may accept it.
Acts 9:18; 22:16 – Saul had been repenting and fasting for three days, but was not forgiven of his sins until he was baptized.

Ephesians	Colossians
Ephesians 2:1, 5	Colossians 2:13
Ephesians 2:11	Colossians 2:11
Ephesians 2:15-16	Colossians 2:14
Ephesians 2:5, 6, 8	Colossians 2:13, 12

Titus 3:5
Ephesians 5:26 – This may also be a reference to baptism, indicating that baptism is a work of Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10

Choices

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Jesus

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Mediator

I Timothy 2:5
Mediator – one who goes between two parties to reconcile them.
Hebrews 8:13
Moses was mediator of the Old Covenant. God spoke to man through Moses. Through Moses, people could approach God. Moses made this communication possible.
Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant. Jesus makes it possible for man to approach God.
We must be careful not to equate the mediator with the intercessor. Jesus on earth was a mediator – not intercessor.
Hebrews 8:4

Sacrifice

Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22
Hebrews 10:1-10
II Corinthians 5:21 – Jesus did not take on the guilt of our sins. He became the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus knew no sin.

High priest

Leviticus 16:12-34 – The high priest was to offer the blood sacrifice at the mercy seat of God and make intercession before God.
Hebrews 7:24-25 – Jesus is our high priest.
Hebrews 9:24-28
Romans 8:27, 34, 26

Savior

Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; Titus 2:12-14
Matthew 11:28-30

Judge

Jesus is going to be our judge!
II Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 6:46; I John 1:8-10

Humility Practice, Part 3

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Take the lowest place

Put others first.
Luke 14:7-11
This has spiritual implications, not just physical ones.
Esther 6 – Haman’s bad example.
Proverbs 15:33
Mark 9:35 – To get the best position, start out with humility and serving others.
Luke 17:7
Matthew 16:1-16
Matthew 25:34-40

Consider the other side

Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla are good examples. Aquila and Priscilla did not look down on Apollos because of what he did not know. They helped him learn what he was missing!
III John 1:9-10 – Diotrephes refused to listen to the other side.
I Kings 21:17-29 – King Ahab had a major life event change his point of view. He humbled himself.

Disagree respectfully

II Timothy 2:23-26
I Peter 3:14-15
Acts 26:24-29 – Paul responded very calmly.

Has God Authorized Instruments as Worship? (Part 2)

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Greek word psallo includes instruments.

Look in Greek dictionaries.
Look in reliable English translations.
- Romans 15:9; I Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13
- Ephesians 5:19 – This context is referring to what happens in your heart.

Harps are used in Heaven.

Revelation 5:8; 14:2; 15:2; 18:21-22
The first challenge is to prove these are even literal harps.
Second, why stop with the harps?
Events in Heaven aren’t instructions for Christians on earth.
- Matthew 22:30

We should use our God-given talents to worship Him.

I Peter 4:11
I Peter 4:15? – What about talents we have that are sinful? Can those also be used for worship?
I Peter 4:3, 5?
I John 5:3?
God wants us to follow His instructions in worship.
- John 4:24
- Genesis 4:2-5; Hebrews 11:4
- Leviticus 10:1-2

Instruments were used for Old Covenant worship.

That’s right!
- Numbers 10:10; II Chronicles 29:25-28
But we follow the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant.
- Hebrews 8:7-8, 13
- Acts 15
- Galatians 5:1-3

No one can argue that we should use instruments because they are clearly authorized as acceptable in the New Testament.

Colossians 3:16
They are not clearly authorized in the New Testament.

Romans, Part 14

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Children (Romans 9-11), continued

Romans 11:25 – The “partial hardening” here could mean the Jews partially rejected Jesus.
Romans 11:26-27 – “all Israel” here could be referring to spiritual Israel (see Romans 2:28-29). All Israel can be saved if they have faith in Christ. The quote is from Isaiah 59:20. Some people take this passage to mean that there will be some mass event at the end of time and that’s how all Jews will be saved, but that’s not what Paul is talking about here. Compare: Zionism
Romans 11:28-29 – Unfaithful Jews are enemies to Christians from the perspective of the gospel, but they are still beloved by God.
Romans 11:30-32 – The Gentiles had a sinful history, but mercy from God was available. God’s mercy was now available to all!
Romans 11:33-36 – Paul praises God for His grace and mercy.

Conduct (Romans 12-16)

Romans 12:1-2 – We all end up conforming to the world to a certain degree (local customs, habits, etc.), but the emphasis here is on transforming ourselves to be what God wants us to be. We must renew our minds – it must be from the inside out! Christians will put God’s word into practice and show how good it is in real life.
Romans 12:3-5 – Verse 3 is a not-put construction, emphasizing the need for humility and sound judgment. This measure of faith is roughly synonymous to each person’s function in verse 5 and gifts in verse 6. See Ephesians 4:7, 11; I Peter 4:10 for a similar construction.
Romans 12:6-8 – Whatever your talents are, serve the best you can. It takes concerted effort to do these things well! The abilities are gifts from God. We should rejoice that we have them!
Romans 12:9 – Don’t be hypocritical in loving others. Genuinely do the best for others. Love and hate go together in the Bible. We should work on attitudes so that we hate what God hates. We should cling to what God says is good.

Has God Authorized Instruments as Worship? (Part 1)

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Foundational truth

Acts 16:25
Romans 15:9
I Corinthians 14:15
Ephesians 5:19
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 2:12
Hebrews 13:15
James 5:13
(Matthew 26:30)

God didn’t say NOT to.

Carrying the ark

Exodus 25:14 + Numbers 4:15 + Numbers 7:6-9
I Chronicles 13:7-12; 15:2, 5, 12-15 – The issue was not carrying the ark the way that God had authorized.

Priesthood

Numbers 3; Hebrews 7:11-14; 8:4
God said nothing about priests from Judah, meaning that they were not allowed according to the law. Jesus as high priest proves that the law has changed.

Strange fire

Leviticus 10:1-2

Preaching circumcision

Acts 15:5-6, 24

Instruments are just aids, like pitch pipes or song books.

Mark 16:15 – “Go” and “preach the gospel”
I Corinthians 16:1-2 – “collection … put aside and save”
- Bake sales would be a separate method of gaining money – not an aid to the collection.
Eight passages above – “singing”
- Instruments are a separate thing – not an aid.

Psalms 150:1 – In the Old Testament, God allowed worship with instruments and did not consider them an aid.

Humility Practice, Part 2

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Admit you don’t know

I Corinthians 3:18
Acts 8:26-39
- Sometimes being in a position of authority can make us unwilling to admit ignorance.
- The eunuch showed the benefit of admitting he didn’t know. He received salvation and went away rejoicing.
- Philip showed humility in obeying God. Contrast this to Jonah’s response to God’s command.
Luke 14:27

Skip a meal

Skipping a meal reminds us that there are other things that are more important.
Leviticus 16:29-30
Activities associated with fasting:
- Mourning for a calamity or loss of a loved one.
  - Mark 2:18
- Prayer
  - Acts 14:23
- Repentance – mourning for sins
  - Nehemiah 9:1
- Study
- Promote the cause of Christ, not self.
  - I Corinthians 6:4
July 20, 1775 and May 17, 1776 – Day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer.
- See Forged in Faith by Rod Gragg.

Read the Bible for no reason

… except to know God better.
James 1:21-25
I Peter 5:5 – Clothe yourself with humility.
We need to look at ourselves.

Elijah

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Micah 4:4-6
Elijah was one of the most powerful prophets ever to serve God.
Matthew 17:10-13 – John the Baptist served in the spirit of Elijah.

The widow of Zarephath – I Kings 17

I Kings 17:8-16 – This woman was at the edge of starvation, but God preserved her.
I Kings 18:1
A successful life may not include riches and honor.
II Kings 2:11-12
Genesis 5:5
Only two people in the Bible did not die: Enoch and Elijah.
Matthew 17:1-4
If God didn’t like Elijah, He showed it in a strange way!
Why did God allow Elijah to live in near poverty? Because God doesn’t look at success the same way.
Luke 12:20 – Some of the greatest people in history didn’t have much money.

Mt. Carmel – I Kings 18

Stand up for truth and fight sin.
I Kings 18:17 – What a great victory for God!
We may not have a public stage like Mt. Carmel, but we need to stand for truth in our lives.

Alone in a cave – I Kings 19

I Kings 19:1-18
Push through the hard times.
When we get depressed, sometimes we need to get active.
God showed Elijah that he was not alone. He reminded him of the facts.
I Peter 5:6-7

Romans, Part 13

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Children (Romans 9-11), continued

Romans 11:1-4 – Paul is reassuring them that God had not rejected Israel. It is Israel that had rejected God! Elijah felt alone in standing for God in I Kings 19:10-18, but God reminded him that God still had many followers left.
Romans 11:5 – Despite being in the minority, there were still a remnant clinging to God in Paul’s day.
Romans 11:6 – What sort of works are these? Works of merit – something we can do in order to be owed salvation (Romans 9:31; 4:4-8). It’s impossible for man to do such works. We need Jesus for salvation!
Romans 11:7-10 – Got chose a certain type of people to be saved – the faithful. People themselves decide if they will be in that group. It is very easy for us to be prejudiced against God’s word so that when we see evidence that it is true, our heart is hardened instead of softened to faith. You must have the right information and the right attitude to be able to accept it. See also Isaiah 29:10; Psalms 69:22-23.
Romans 11:11 – See Acts 13:44-47. The Jews were jealous of salvation coming to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:12 – How much better would it be for the Jews to turn and believe in Jesus!
Romans 11:13-15 – See Acts 9:15-16. How odd it must have been for Paul, a Jew of Jews, to go speak to Gentiles and see their conversion when the Jews rejected him. See Acts 14:27; 15:3, 12.
Romans 11:16-18 – See Genesis 12:2-3; Romans 9:7-8. There was a physical part of this “tree” and a spiritual part. Gentiles can now be grafted into this tree in a spiritual way, enjoying the blessings that come from Christ. Paul warns the Jews not to have a bad attitude about this as though the blessings come from them. The blessings come from God!
Romans 11:19-21 – Be careful with your attitude, Gentiles! Paul warns that they could be “broken off” as well if they fall into unbelief.
Romans 11:22-24 – See Romans 2:4-6. If we are removed from the tree for unbelief, we can still come back to be grafted in again, whether Jew or Gentile. This passage also obliterates the arguments from Calvinists around unconditional election and perseverance of the saints. See also Galatians 3:26-29.

Humility Practice, Part 1

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Class outline taken from Humility Practice by Jacob Hudgins.
Humility is not something to check off a list. It requires continual improvement.

Questions

How do we protect our relationship with God?
- Isaiah 66:1-2
How is God’s dislike for arrogance described?
- Proverbs 6:16-19 – As an abomination!
What is pride and haughty spirit preceding?
- Proverbs 6:18-19
How can we stay justified before God?
- Luke 18:10-14
When, where, and how are we supposed to be humble?
- Luke 14:7-11
What is one thing required to receive God’s grace?
- I Peter 5:5 – Humility towards another.
How is the absence of humility manifested in James 4:1-8?

Pride

What is “sober judgment” and how does that help prevent pride?
- Romans 12:3
What do you have?
- I Corinthians 4:6-7
How do you see yourself? Are you a better person than most? Are you kinder, more patient, more loving, more giving?
What speck have we noticed in our brother’s eye?
- Matthew 7:3
“I’m not like the others … I’m better.” Have we ever felt this way?
- Matthew 26:33-35

Confess a sin

Why do we blame others?
- Aaron – Exodus 32:24
- Adam – Genesis 3:12
Why is it important to confess our sins?
- I Kings 21:27-29
- I John 1:8-10; James 5:16
Why don’t we confess our sins to each other?

Pray for someone

What interferes with us praying for others?

Legalism

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 19:17 – Was Jesus just a legalist?

If we think we’re saved by the law, we’re wrong.

Romans 3:19-20 – The law made people aware of their sin.
Romans 1:15-17
Romans 5:1; 8:1 – Salvation comes through Christ. Not through law!
Titus 3:4-7
The New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant, not because it has better laws, but because it is founded on Jesus’ sacrifice.
Salvation is not through works – it is through Jesus.

But if we think we don’t need to obey, we’re also wrong about that.

Matthew 7:21; II Thessalonians 1:8
“spiritual” – Galatians 6:1-2
- Being spiritual involved obeying God’s laws and helping others do the same.
“love” – James 2:8-13; Romans 13:8-10; I John 2:2-6; 5:2-3
- Love is God’s way of summarizing His commands. It is not in opposition to obedience.
“letter … spirit” – II Corinthians 3:5-18
- Letter here refers to the Old Covenant. Spirit refers to the New Covenant. This is not referring to two different approaches to following the New Covenant.
Pharisees – Matthew 15:3, 6; 23:3, 23-24
- Jesus was not saying to not do the small things. He was teaching against hypocrisy. The Pharisees in their hypocrisy were failing to obey God’s law even though they outwardly proclaimed to be doing so.

Conclusion: Trust in Jesus with an obedient faith.

Romans 3:21-24, 27-28
Romans 6:17-18
Hebrews 5:9

Romans, Part 12

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Children (Romans 9-11), continued

Romans 10:1-4 – Paul wishes that the Jews would be saved. They were religious and believed in God but did not have full knowledge of God’s plan for salvation. They wanted to be saved their own way – through the Law of Moses (see Romans 9:30-33). They were looking for Jesus and He was right in front of them, causing them to stumble over Him. Compare John 9:28-29. The Law of Moses pointed toward Jesus (Matthew 5:17; Galatians 3:23-25). They had all these scriptures, but they read with prejudice and missed the point.
Romans 10:5-13 – See Leviticus 18:4-5. Man could live by following the Law of Moses, but no one could follow them perfectly. See Galatians 3:10-14.
- Romans 10:6-8 – The quote is from Deuteronomy 30:8-14. The word of God is not in some far off, inaccessible place.
- Romans 10:9-10 – Salvation is from God. We can’t look to ourselves to find a way to be saved. Our only option is to turn to God.
- Romans 10:11 – The writer quotes Isaiah 28:16 here. See Acts 7:35. Paul is pleading with them to not make the same mistakes of the past, when then initially rejected Moses as their leader.
- Romans 10:12-13 – The quote is from Joel 2:32. Jesus is the way to salvation. He is Lord! See Matthew 7:21; Acts 9:18; 22:16. Calling on the name of the Lord involves more than just saying words. Paul had already been praying for three days, but he still needed to call on the name of the Lord and have his sins washed away. Clearly, “calling on the name of the Lord” involves more than just prayer. See Acts 2:16-21, 37-38, 47. Peter called on them to do more than just pray to be saved. See I Corinthians 1:2; II Timothy 2:22.
Romans 10:14-15 – This is referring to men that God sent in the first century – not preachers today. See Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:8; 9:15; 10:42. Jesus sent forth the people who had witnessed His life, death, resurrection, and teaching.
Romans 10:16-17 – See Acts 14:1; 15:7. Faith comes from hearing (or reading) the word of God. It is not by a direct indwelling of the Holy Spirit as is often believed today. If you want to develop faith, study the Bible! Even when the Holy Spirit did intervene miraculously in Acts 2:4, He made it so everyone could hear the message in their own language. He did not miraculously change their hearts!
Romans 10:18-21 – The quote in verse 18 is from Psalm 19:4. “They” here is referring to Israel. Everyone has heard the gospel message! Paul then quotes more Old Testament scripture (Deuteronomy 32:21; Isaiah 65:1-2) to illustrate that their behavior was prophesied long before. Israel should have been the first in line to follow Christ, but many of them refused His message.

Jonah

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Kings 14:25

You can’t hide from God!

Jonah 1:1-10, 17; 2:1, 10; 3:1-2 – Jonah tried to escape God’s command but could not.
Romans 10:9, 10; Acts 2:38 – God has commands for us today. We cannot run and hide from them!
Psalms 139:1-12 – God knows even our thoughts. There is no hiding from Him! He knows everything about us.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
Matthew 12:36
Hebrews 4:12
If we can’t hide anything from God, how can we cope with that?
- Romans 3:10
- The only option is to throw ourselves on his mercy.
- I John 1:9

God’s word works.

Jonah 3:1-10 – This is possibly the most successful instance of preaching anywhere in the Bible!
Jonah’s message was simple and negative.
Luke 10:27-29 – When the Bible message is simple, leave it simple!
Matthew 12:41
There are negative elements to God’s message. We cannot try to hide it or take the teeth out of that message.
Matthew 7:13
We do ourselves and others no favors to pretend that hell is not real.

God expects us to love souls.

Jonah 4:1-11
The Assyrians were a brutal and merciless people. Israel held a deep-seated resentment against them.
God wants us to love everyone’s souls!
Luke 9:59-62
Luke 23:34 – If Jesus could have this attitude toward His murderers, can’t we love others also?

Thanksgiving

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Why does the United States celebrate Thanksgiving?
Is Thanksgiving a religious holiday?
What are the top three things you are thankful for?
Is it always easy to be thankful?
- Philippians 4:6-7; Jonah 2:1, 9-10
Who is to be thankful?
- Hebrews 12:28-29; Colossians 3:14-17; 2:6-7; Philippians 4:4-7
What should we be thankful for?
- Ephesians 5:17-21 – Be thankful for everything!
When should we be thankful?
- I Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Always!
Where should we show our thankfulness?
- Psalms 35:18; 95:1-3; Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:15-17; Philippians 4:6
Why should we be a thankful people?
- I John 4:19; John 3:16; Romans 5:6-8; I Corinthians 15:57; II Corinthians 9:15 – Because of God’s love for us!
What is the danger if we are not a thankful people?
- Psalms 28:7-9; Romans 1:18-25

God's Help on the Path to Heaven

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 8:28-32

One another

James 5:15-16 – Brethren can help us when we sin! Confession is good for us.
Romans 15:14
Galatians 6:1-2 – We must know about each other’s sins in order to help with them! We need to drop the mask of perfection and admit our faults.
- I John 5:11

Scripture

Romans 15:4
II Timothy 3:14-17 – Timothy had both learned the scriptures and become convinced.

Sufferings

Hebrews 10:32-34
Romans 5:3-4 – Persecution brings about perseverance.
Matthew 5:10-12 – Blessed are you when you are persecuted.
Revelation 2:8-11 – Be faithful until death!
- This doesn’t just mean being faithful until the end of your life. Be faithful even if it costs you your life.

Romans, Part 11

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Children (Romans 9-11)

Romans 9:1-5 – It became apparent that the Jews were refusing Christ, which caused great sadness to Paul. Paul refers to their “adoption as sons,” which was through the lineage of Abraham in their case. In verse 5, “the fathers” refers to the patriarchs, through whom which Christ had an earthly lineage (Genesis 22:18).
Romans 9:6-8 - The fact that many Jews did not accept Jesus did not mean God failed. All people who are descended from physical Israel are not part of spiritual Israel. The promise of God’s blessing is available to more people than just the physical descendants of Israel. See Galatians 3:28-29. Note the quote in verse 7 – “through Isaac your descendants will be named” (compare Genesis 21:12; Hebrews 11:18). It took more than just descendancy through Abraham to be a child of God. God was choosing a particular branch of the family tree. The Jews would not want to think of the Ishmaelites as children of God! In a spiritual sense, God was choosing those who were of the promise, which was more than just physical lineage.
Romans 9:9-13 – God chose which branch of the family tree He would bring Jesus through. Calvinists sometimes misuse this passage, interpreting it to mean unconditional election on God’s part. The quote in Romans 9:13 is from Malachi 1:2.
Romans 9:14-16 – Paul quotes Exodus 33:19 to illustrate that God has the authority to make these decisions.
Romans 9:17-18 – God demanded things of Pharaoh that He knew Pharaoh did not want to do. See Exodus 9:11-17, 34-35; 10:1. God could have annihilated Pharaoh but did not because He had His own purposes. The same message from God can harden some people and cause others to repent. See also Romans 10:11-12. It was God’s choice on how to setup the plan of salvation. Thankfully, it is available to all!
Romans 9:19-21 – God can do what He wants. Who are we to question His ways?
Romans 9:22-26 – God can decide the criteria for salvation versus destruction. Lest the Jews counter that they were God’s chosen people, the writer quotes Hosea 2:23 and Hosea 1:10, indicating that salvation for Gentiles was always part of God’s plan.
Romans 9:27-29 – The writer is quoting from Isaiah 10:22-23; 1:9. He is reminding the Jews that God could have also wiped them out just like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Romans 9:30-33 – The Jews generally rejected Jesus, believing that they could be righteous according to the law. They failed to attain righteousness through the law, though, because they were trying to be saved by good works rather than by faith. In verse 33, the writer quotes from Isaiah 28:16. We must be careful to not make the same mistake, thinking that we can be saved by some way other than submission to God. We can’t invent our own way to be saved.

Bible 101: Bible Reading

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Why should I read the Bible?

Exodus 24:3, 7
Joshua 1:8
Judges 2:7-10, 20-21 – They had stopped reading and didn’t know the Lord.
II Kings 17:13-14; 22:8-11; 23:1-3
Ezra 7:6, 10 – Ezra had set his heart to study and teach others.
Nehemiah 8:1-8, 13-18; 9:3 – The people stood up to hear the word of God! They understood what they were hearing and realized they should be observing the feast of booths, so they did.
Luke 4:16
I Timothy 4:13

How do I form a habit?

Engineer your environment.
- Psalms 119:14-16
Attach it to an existing habit.
- Mark 6:17-20
Short and small is okay.
- Matthew 7:28

How do I involve the kids?

Joshua 8:30-35 – The scriptures were read before everyone, including the children.
- You might be surprised what children pick up on!
Read aloud.
Audio Bibles:
- Word of Promise
- Dwell
Bible storybooks as you see fit
II Timothy 3:15

How do I get the most out of it?

Summarize as you read.
Keep a journal.
Listen to a sermon or class about that book online
Start early!

Let’s read

Characteristics of God

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Define anthropomorphism

From the Greek anthropos (“human”) and morphe (“form”).
The attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object.
Humanization.

Examples of anthropomorphism

God is spirit and does not dwell in temples made of hands but there are humanized descriptions of God. Why?

John 4:24; Acts 17:24
The command to leave Sinai
- Exodus 33:1, 18-23
The glory of the Lord
- Ezekiel 1:26-28
Heaven
- Revelation 21:15-23
Have not heard, seen, or even imagine
- I Corinthians 2:9

Characteristics of God

His face
- Numbers 6:24-26; Matthew 18:10; Psalms 51:7-13
His heart
- II Chronicles 7:14-16; Genesis 6:5-8; 8:20-22; I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22
His hands
- Exodus 15:1-6; Deuteronomy 33:3; Isaiah 14:24-27; I Chronicles 28:19; 19:14; Acts 11:21; 2:33-34; I Peter 5:6-7; Isaiah 40:12
His eyes
- Psalms 34:15; Proverbs 15:3; II Chronicles 16:8-9; Deuteronomy 11:11; Amos 9:8; I Peter 3:12
His feet
- Ezekiel 34:7; II Samuel 22:10; Ephesians 1:22-23
His arm
- Jeremiah 32:21; Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 5:15; Job 40:9; Isaiah 52:10; 53:1; Luke 1:51; John 12:38

Questions Exposing Selfishness

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 2:5-8
Doesn’t all willful sin come from selfishness?

Do I look down on others?

Luke 18:9-14 – The selfishness and condescension of the Pharisee.
When we fail to admit our own faults, we fall into selfishness.
Matthew 7:3 – Fix yourself first!

Do I think revenge is sweet?

Romans 12:17-21
II Timothy 2:22-26 – We should be patient when wronged.

Do I think more about helping others or how they can help me?

Mark 9:30-35 – To be great, serve others!
Mark 10:32-37 – How could James and John be so selfish?
Mark 10:43-45
Let us discover the joy of serving others!

Do I neglect God?

I Kings 12:26-30
Hebrews 10:25, 23-24 – People were neglecting service to God.

Conclusion

Romans 2:9-11 – God will judge our deeds.

Romans, Part 10

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The glory that is to be revealed (Romans 8:18-25)

Romans 8:18 – This is quite a contrast from the first three chapters of Romans. Before there was condemnation, but now we see hope.
Romans 8:19 - Compare Psalm 148. How do the sun or moon praise God? When things do what God created Him, they praise Him in a figurative sense.
Romans 8:20-21 – “Subjected to futility” could be the curse upon Adam and Eve, but that doesn’t seem to match up with later verses. See II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15. Is “creation” used the same way here? It could mean Christians as the new creation waiting for the end.
Romans 8:22-25 – See Philippians 3:20-21; I Corinthians 15:42-44. Christians eagerly await the end. The word “hope” here is used in the sense of confident expectations. It’s not just an idle wish.
Romans 8:26-27 – When we pray, God gets the message! We know that Jesus is the one who intercedes for us. See Hebrews 7:25; I Timothy 2:1-2; Numbers 21:7; I Timothy 2:5-6. People can also pray for other people, though, not at the same level that Jesus can. God is also called our savior. See I Timothy 1:1; 2:3; Titus 3:4-6. The Spirit here could be referring to the Holy Spirit. See I Corinthians 2:11.
Romans 8:28 – God has provided for us a path to redemption. We can be His children. He has given us all the blessings in this context. These blessings work together for the best for us. If we try to take this to mean that absolutely all things work together for good, we get illogical results, such as trying to make good come from sin.
Romans 8:29-30 – See II Thessalonians 2:14. God knew that those who loved Him would conform themselves to the image of Jesus. This is not teaching the Calvinistic idea of predestination, in which God selects individual people to be saved, regardless of their actions.
Romans 8:31-32 – God has done everything for us.
Romans 8:35-39 – Nothing external can take us away from God. Only we can turn ourselves from God.

What Baptism Does NOT Do

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

It does not reject or replace Christ

Acts 2:38 (Acts 3:6; 4:18; II Thessalonians 3:6)
- The apostles had authority only through Christ.
- Baptism had power in connection with Christ.
Romans 6:3
Colossians 2:12 – “buried with Him in Christ”
I Peter 3:21 – Baptism is through His resurrection.

Therefore … obey Christ by being baptized

Luke 6:46 – Christ demands obedience!

It does not add one to a denomination

I Corinthians 12:12-13, 27
Galatians 3:27
Baptism is into Christ – not a manmade organization.

Therefore … submit to Christ only

I Corinthians 11:12-15

It does not mean your work for God is done

Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 2:41-42
Romans 6:3-4
Baptism is not the finish line. It’s the starting line!

Therefore … walk in newness of life

Romans 6:18, 11-13
Ephesians 2:10

It does not keep one from sinning later and being lost

Acts 8:12-13, 18-24
Galatians 5:4, 7 (Galatians 1:2; 3:26-27) – Paul told them they had fallen from Christ!
I Corinthians 9:19-27 – Paul disciplined himself so he would not be lost!

Therefore … keep resisting the devil

James 4:7
Colossians 1:21-23
What Does the Bible Say?

Suicide

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What do you think of Robert Lowery?

Do you feel sorry for him?
- Money/marital problems
- Distraught/depressed
- Overwhelmed/inadequate
Selfish?
Do you wonder why?
Do you think he is unusual?

Statistics

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
2nd leading cause of death for 10-34 years old
4th leading cause of death for 35-44 years old
5th leading cause of death for 45-54 years old
There are 2.5x more suicides than homicides in the United States.
In 2019, suicide rate was nearly four times higher in males than females.

What does the Bible say about suicide?

Nothing direct, but there are principles.
Six characters that committed suicide:
- Abimelech – Judges 9:54
- Saul – I Samuel 31:4
- Saul’s armor bearer – I Samuel 31:4-6
- Ahithophel – II Samuel 17:23
- Zimri – I Kings 16:18
- Judas – Matthew 27:5
- Samson? – Judges 16:26-31
God gave life
- Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:28; James 1:18; Genesis 9:6
Our purpose is inconsistent with suicide
- I Chronicles 6:11; John 8:12; 7:38; I John 3:16
I Corinthians 6:20 – Glorify God in your body!

Why do people commit suicide?

Mental illness (depression)
Traumatic stress (sexual abuse, rape, physical abuse, war trauma)
Substance abuse
Loss/fear of loss (academic, job, imprisonment, financial, relationship)
Chronic pain, terminal illness
Feeling like a burden to others
Social isolation
All of these basically relate to hopelessness.

Are you or your family at risk?

Warning signs
What to do
- Talk to a respected church member.
- I Corinthians 15:1-15, 50-58 – Consider the value Christ puts on your life.
- Focus outside yourself, do good for others

If the Foundations be Destroyed, What Can the Righteous Do?

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Psalms 11:1-3
The foundations then are the same as they are today.

Family

Genesis 1:28; Matthew 19:6; Genesis 4:19; 6:1-8; Matthew 19:1-9
Husband – wife – children
- Companionship
- Share marriage bed in honor
- Replenish the earth
The family as God would have it is under attack.

Civil government

Romans 13:1-7
Has two primary functions
- Protect the good
- Punish the evil
The government as God would have it is under attack.
Thomas Jefferson said, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that my God is just. His justice will not sleep forever.”

The church

It’s purpose is reconciliation to God.
- The relationship of service.
- The relationship of blessings.
The reconciliation is unto God, no other. Ephesians 2:14-16
Reconciliation is by the cross of Christ, no other.
Reconciliation is in the one body, no other.
The church as God would have it is under attack.

If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Psalms 11:4-7
Can keep on trusting
Can keep on being righteous
Can keep on teaching

The gospel has not lost its power.

The church has lost its fire. Brethren, let us rekindle the fire of love for God, the gospel and souls.
If heaven is not worth everything, it is not worth anything!

Excuses and Evangelism

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Sorry, no outline available for this class.

Let Your Light Shine Before Others

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Questions

Who are you?
List the top four topics that are currently very controversial.
Name three characteristics, features, qualities, and abilities that are unique to only you.
What are your two primary purposes for your life?
Why do you believe God gave us local works, congregations, spiritual families?
What comes to mind when you read these verses?
- Genesis 1:26-27
- Romans 6:23; Acts 2:38
- Hebrews 6:11-12
- I Timothy 4:16
- II Timothy 2:23-26
- John 4:35

Applications

Ephesians 1:3-14 – We should be a child of God first.
Philippians 3:12-17
Acts 26:28-29 – We should look to share the gospel.
We need to take advantage of our spiritual family!
- Galatians 6:10
- Romans 12:4-9
How can you start a spiritual conversation with …
- Someone you know?
  - What do you think happens when you die?
- With strangers?
  - Are you happy?

Bible 101: Dealing with Troublesome Topics

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Samuel 15:3 – Saul was told to annihilate the Amalekites.
Genesis 7:23 – God destroys the earth in the flood.
Marcion, 140 AD – He thought the God of the Old Testament was different from the New Testament. He edited a new Bible to remove the violence.

This is a huge source of criticism and confusion

Deuteronomy 32:42
Steve Wells: Drunk with Blood: God’s Killings in the Bible

God is just and will punish those who reject Him

Genesis 6:5
Genesis 18:20
Deuteronomy 9:5
Deuteronomy 18:9-12
Deuteronomy 20:16-18

God is compassionate and wants to bless people

Exodus 34:6-7
Ezekiel 33:11
II Peter 2:5-7; 3:9 – Even in God’s fury, he provides salvation for the faithful.
Joshua 6:21; 2:11; 6:25 – God saved Rahab because of her faith.
- Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25; Matthew 1:5
Jonah 3:4, 10; 4:2, 11 – Ninevah repents and God relents, deciding not to destroy the city.

But what about the children?

Consider the eternal perspective.
- Matthew 19:13 – Children are innocent. At death, they go to be with God.
God is sovereign as creator.
- Job 1:21
- Romans 8:18
- As the creator, God has the right to create and destroy.

Application

Be wary of how critics frame the issue.
Don’t start with the bias of “modern society is right.”
Keep the eternal perspective.
- Luke 12:4-5

Romans, Part 9

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

No condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1-17)

Romans 8:1 – Choose the good path!
Romans 8:2 – See Romans 6:5. This is a contrast between the paths of good and bad.
Romans 8:3 – We could not save ourselves through the law.
Romans 8:4 – See Hebrews 9:22. This possibly refers to blood as the requirement of the law. Or it could mean perfect obedience. Hebrews 7:19; 12:23; I John 1:7
Romans 8:5-8 – Flesh vs. spirit. What is my heart centered on?
- A spiritually-minded person follows the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 6:11-13
- James 4:4 – You can’t have it both ways!
Romans 8:9 – “Spirit of God” here probably means the “disposition of God.” Compare the phrase “spirit of Christ” later in the same verse.
Romans 8:10-13
- Romans 8:10 - Colossians 3:16; I John 4:12 – “Abide” here is influence, not a physical indwelling.
- Romans 8:11 – See Galatians 2:19; 5:24; Colossians 3:3
- We must put to death the sinful deeds of the fleshly body.
Romans 8:14-17 – New metaphor: slaves of sin vs. adopted as sons of God. See Galatians 4:4; I John 3:1

The Church as God Would Have It

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The reasons I am a member of the church as God would have it

The right authority

Acts 20
II Timothy 3:16-17
II Peter 1:3
Jude 1:3 – “the faith,” delivered once for all
John 14:26
II John 1:9

The right name

The right plan of salvation

Matthew 7:24 – One must hear and obey.
Romans 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of God.
John 8:24 – One must believe.
Faith must be active. He must confess faith in Jesus.
Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38 – Baptism is required. The gift of the Holy Spirit is salvation.
I Peter 3:21

The right congregational worship

Acts 20:7 – “on the first day of the week,” “Paul preached”
I Corinthians 14:26
Singing – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16
Prayer – I Timothy 1:8; Acts 2:42
Lord’s Supper - I Corinthians 11:25-26
Giving – I Corinthians 16:1-2
- This is the only way a local church is authorized to purpose to make money to do the work God has specified.

The right congregational work

Support preaching - I Corinthians 9:6-14
Benevolence under some circumstances
Discipline under particular circumstances – I Corinthians 5

The right structure or oversight

The right life

James 1:27

Obscenity

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 12:35
What is the reasoning we need to have in place to determine what is obscene?
Ephesians 5:12

Principles

Ephesians 1:3-14 – If you have hope in Christ, there is a direct connection between your thoughts, conduct, and speech.
- Why did God adopt us?
- What was God’s aim in choosing us?
Ephesians 2:1-10 – Paul describes a transformation in the Gentiles (and himself). They had died to sin, as we should.
Ephesians 4:17-24 – Is what we are doing, saying, and watching after the likeness of God?
Matthew 7:15-20 – We are known by our words!
Matthew 12:33
Ephesians 4:29 – What should our speech be? Something that is timed appropriately and will build another up.
Ephesians 5:1 – Be imitators of God.
Ephesians 5:4
- Filthiness: disgraceful or improper
- Silly talk / foolish talking: the talk of the unwise
- Coarse jesting / crude joking: speaking in a crude, debased way
Ephesians 5:3, 5 – See II Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; I Thessalonians 4:3

Application

Is it wholesome?
Who am I trying to impress?
Galatians 5:12
Harsh language in the Bible was used to point out sin.

Christians & Generosity

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I John 3:16
Luke 10:30

We ought to look for opportunities to help people

Luke 10:30-37 – Parable of the good Samaritan.
Helping people means some amount of sacrifice.
- The Samaritan sacrificed time, money, and goods to help.
- The more we can live with a little bit of margin, the better we position ourselves to be able to help when the need arises.
- I Timothy 6:18
Love your neighbor! Luke 10:27-29
- The Samaritan felt compassion for the man.
- Ephesians 4:28, 22-27 – Work so that you can give to others.
- James 1:27 – God always made provision for widows and orphans.
Generosity is part of our service to God.
- Matthew 25:40

When a Christian is in need, the church can jump in

Pertinent passages:
- Acts 2:44-45
- Acts 4:32-35
- Acts 6:1-3
- Acts 11:27-30
- Romans 15:25-26
- I Corinthians 16:1-3
- II Corinthians 8:3-4, 14
- II Corinthians 9:1
- I Timothy 5:16, 5
There is a difference between personal funds and church funds. God has limited what church funds can be used for.
II Corinthians 9:12 – Being generous builds fellowship between saints.

What’s the best way to help someone?

Acts 6:1-2; Philippians 3:7-11
Money is not the answer to everything. The most valuable things are spiritual.
The best thing to give someone is the gospel.

Romans, Part 8

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Therefore, did that which is good become a cause of death for me (Romans 7:13-16)?

Paul emphasizes again that the law is good but sin is the problem.

The struggle against sin (Romans 7:17-25)

Temptation does not go away just because we are Christians. We must continually fight against temptation. Our victory will come through Christ.
Compare Galatians 5:17.
Paul was writing to Romans here. His message was to Christians.

No condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1-17)

Flesh vs. Spirit

There are differing views on what the word “spirit” means in this passage. Whatever spirit is it is in contrast to the flesh. What is the contrast?
- Is it fleshly mind vs. spiritual mind?
- Is it flesh vs. the Holy Spirit (through the Word of God)?
Jeremiah 10:23; Acts 26:9 – A spiritually-minded man can only be spiritually-minded by the word of God.
Romans 1:9; John 4:24
Can the same word refer to different things in the same passage?
- Yes!
- I Corinthians 2:10-13 – “spirit”
- Luke 9:60 – “dead”
- Romans 9:6 – “Israel”
- II Corinthians 5:21 – “sin”
- I Peter 3:1 – “word”

Avoiding King Saul's Mistakes

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

I Samuel 8:4-22

Obey God precisely

I Samuel 10:8 – This order to wait was apparently a standing order.
I Samuel 13:7-14; 15:3-28 – This occurred some years after the events of I Samuel 10:8. Saul waited seven days, but not the full seven days.
I Corinthians 10:5-14 – All these things were written for our instruction.

Take responsibility

I Samuel 13:11-13 – Saul made excuses for his sin.
I Samuel 15:13-24 – Saul blamed the people for sin, but took ownership for good things. This is not an honorable way to handle sin. Contrast Saul’s behavior with that of David when he sinned.
Ephesians 6:4 – Being the spiritual leader of the family is a duty given to fathers. Don’t pass the buck!
- Current day example: Dads on Duty
Genesis 3:12-13 – Blaming others didn’t work. Everyone got punished.
Stop making excuses and be the kind of person God wants you to be.

Step up and get involved

I Samuel 17:2-25, 37, 45 – David was willing to face Goliath.

Trusting in the Lord

David trusted in God to defeat Goliath.
Daniel 3:17-18 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted in God.
Proverbs 3:5

Get involved

Titus 1:9-11 – Action is required to combat false doctrine.

Violence

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Defining violence

Deuteronomy 19:16-20
Exodus 20:16 – Do not bear false witness. Bearing false witness is an attempt to do violence to another.
Exodus 23:1-2
I Kings 21:9-10 – Ahab and Jezebel did violence in taking Naboth’s vineyard.
Psalm 97:12
Psalms 35:11-15
Psalms 55:9-11
Isaiah 59:3-8

God’s attitude toward violence

Violence is punished!
Genesis 6:11-13
Psalms 7:14
Psalms 11:5-7
John 18:36

How do we prevent violence in our lives?

On earth, we will be faced with violence.
Proverbs 1:10-14 – We can be enticed to violence by others.
Psalms 73:3 – Envy can lure us to violence.
We may have a strong emotional desire to right wrongs. This tests the righteous man (Psalms 11:5). The righteous man fails the test when he is violent himself (James 1:12-15).

Examples of violence

Religious Violence and Abortion: The Gideon Project
- Men blew up an abortion clinic and were convicted for it.
- They saw an evil and decided to correct it through violent means, which was not right.
- The men belonged to a denominational church that practiced tongue-speaking. This might have contributed somewhat in that false, modern-day tongue-speaking can lead people to believe God said things He did not say.
“Hatchet Granny” tearing up bars to fight against alcohol.
Dinah was violated, so Simeon and Levi committed violence to avenge her (Genesis 34; 49:4-7).
Current events may cause otherwise good people to be tempted to violence.

With so many wrongs surrounding us, what can we do?

Jesus was cruelly treated with great violence, but responding with violence was not the answer. Acts 2:38

Telltale Signs of Immaturity

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 3:1-7

I look to be served instead of to serve.

II Corinthians 8:9 – Jesus served so that we could be spiritually rich. He is our example of service.
Philippians 2:6
Mark 10:42-45 – We need to be looking for ways to serve others.

I choose instant gratification instead of delayed gratitification.

Genesis 12:2, 4; 15:4; 21:5 – Abraham had to wait 25 years for Isaac to come!
I Samuel 16:1, 13; II Samuel 5:4 – David had to wait a long time to become king.
Hebrews 13:4 – Wait for marriage.
“Not microwave culture. Crockpot culture!”
Hebrews 11:24-26 – Moses had patience and looked to the reward.

I get defensive instead of reflective.

Genesis 3:11; 4:8 – Adam and Cain tried to shift the blame.
Acts 18:25-27 – Apollos reacted in a mature way to correction.

Romans, Part 7

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Romans 6:15-7:12

Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:15-7:6)?

No! If we go back to sin, we’re a slave to sin.

Old Master	Old Result	New Master	New Result
Sin (Romans 6:16)	Resulting in death (Romans 6:16)	Obedience (Romans 6:16)	Resulting in righteousness (Romans 6:16)
You were slaves of sin (Romans 6:17)		You become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18)
Slaves to impurity and to lawlessness (Romans 6:19)	Resulting further (Romans 6:19)	Slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:19)	Resulting in sanctification (Romans 6:19)
You were slaves of sin (Romans 6:20)	Death (Romans 6:21)	Enslaved to God (Romans 6:22)	Eternal life (Romans 6:22)
Sin (Romans 6:23)	Death (Romans 6:23)	God (Romans 6:23)	Eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)

This chapter strongly refutes the Calvinist idea that obedience is not necessary for salvation.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – Choose life! God is laying out the possible choices and the outcomes here just as He does in Romans 6.
Romans 7:1-6 – Just like a widow is released from the law concerning her husband and many marry another, so the Jews died to the Law of Moses (and all people died to any law system, Romans 3:20-22) and can be joined to Christ.

Is the Law sin (Romans 7:7-12)?

God’s law showed us what is sin. The law itself is not sin.
Galatians 3:19
Once we know the law, we start recognizing sin within ourselves. The sin was there the whole time, but we suddenly start realizing it.
Deuteronomy 6:24 – God’s law is for our own good!

Bible 101: Attitude Problems

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 8:15

We’re frustrated by the challenge.

Hebrews 5:11-14 – The Bible is a deep book! Some truth is deeper and takes more effort to understand.
II Thessalonians 2
Romans 8:26
I Corinthians 11
Luke 19:1-10 – There are many simple truths in the Bible that are valuable to understand.
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 1:7
If you don’t understand a passage, make a note and pigeonhole it for further study later.

We’re just plain biased.

Jeremiah 42:5-6, 17; 43:1-4 – They did what they wanted to, regardless of God’s word.
Galatians 5:21 – Drunkenness is a sin!
Ephesians 4:32 – Forgive each other.
What’s the point of reading and studying if we don’t obey?
I Peter 3:21 – Baptism saves! Bias can cause us to overlook the simple meaning of a passage.
Romans 4:10 – Abraham was counted as righteous before he was circumcised.
Acts 15:15-19 – Amos talked about how to deal with Gentiles. The Jews had overlooked this for 800 years! We can have the same problem because of our own bias.

We’re reluctant to admit, “I don’t know.”

Mark 12:18-25 – The Sadducees did not understand the scriptures regarding marriage or resurrection.
There are certain things we just don’t know!
Deuteronomy 29:29
Acts 4:12 – Jesus is the only way to salvation. What about the tribe isolated in the jungle? We don’t know, but God is fair and righteous, and He can work it out.

We’re afraid of the application.

John 9:16, 20-23 – The parents of the formerly blind man were afraid to say anything about Jesus because of the Jews.
John 12:37, 42-43 – Many believed, but were afraid to act on their belief.
I Corinthians 6:9-10 – We can’t be scared of applying these verses.
Galatians 2:12 – Even an apostle (Peter) succumbed to fear!
Acts 2:38
John 16:33

James 4:7 – If we don’t submit to God, the rest of it doesn’t matter!

Abuse

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Notes from an article about abuse:
- Psalms 40:1-4
- Abuse can be a horrible pit that few escape from.
- Psalms 59:1-4
- Psalms 55:12-14
- Who inflicts the wounds when abuse occurs? Often it is the ones closest to you.
- How wounds torment victims
- “There are truths that I know. My father taught them to me.”
  - Proverbs 11:29, 17; 20:1
- On alcohol:
  - Proverbs 23:29-35; 19:19; 10:7; 15:13
If you are being abused, GET HELP. Do not wait and allow the situation to get worse. Find a trusted family member, friend, or fellow church member. If necessary, involve the authorities.

Two Beautiful Things

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

My soul

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7 – We were made in God’s image.
John 4:24
Hebrews 12:9 – We inherit physical characteristics from earthly parents, but spiritual characteristics from God.
Genesis 9:3, 6 – The difference between humans and animals.
Acts 7:59 – Stephen prayed for his spirit to be received by God.
Psalms 90:1-4, 10 – The body lasts for a while, but the spirit flies away.
I Timothy 4:7-8
Luke 12:19-20 – Lay up spiritual treasures!
Mark 12:25 – Nothing can compare to the value of my soul!
Matthew 16:26 – One soul is worth more than the world!

God’s love

I Peter 1:3-5, 9, 6 – God is interested in saving our most valuable possession.
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 – God offers an eternal solution.
Matthew 25:46 – The righteous will receive eternal life. God wants us to come home forever.
Romans 8:35-39
Galatians 5:1-4

Take-aways

Do the smart thing – save your soul.
Accept God’s love.

Romans, Part 6

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Christ (Romans 3:21-5:21), continued:

Adam vs. Jesus (Romans 5:12-19), continued:

Romans 5:18-19 – Adam performed his transgression, and it introduced condemnation to all men. Christ performed His act of righteousness (His sacrifice) and it introduced justification to all men. Neither of these happen automatically! See Romans 6:12. Compare Hebrews 5:9.

Grace reigns (Romans 5:20-21)

When God reveals a law, such as the Law of Moses, it shows people what they are doing wrong. They may not have realized they were sinning, but now they do. See Romans 3:20; 7:7.

Choice (Romans 6-8)

Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound (Romans 6:1-14)?

No! We repented and decided to die to sin. How could we go back to it?
Romans 6:3-4:

Jesus	Me
(physical)	(spiritual)
Death	Dead to sin
Burial	Buried in baptism
Resurrection	Newness of life

Hebrews 9:26-28; Romans 8:34
Romans 6:11 – We must consider ourselves dead to sin!
Romans 6:13 – Don’t go back in the mud and get dirty again!

Speaking in Tongues

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Tongues were…

Real languages

Acts 1:6; 2:1-11
Acts 10:44-48
Glossa “tongue” (Acts 2:4, 11) vs. dialektos “language” (Acts 2:6,8)
I Corinthians 13:1 – Some argue they are speaking the tongues of angels, and thus, not to be understood. That is not the point Paul is making here.

To edify through understandable communication

I Corinthians 14:1-26 – If you speak in a tongue no one understands, you are not edifying others. Tongues were for a sing to unbelievers. Prophecy was a sign to believers.

Able to be controlled

I Corinthians 14:27-33 – Things were to be done in an orderly manner. “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”

Limited to the first century

I Corinthians 13:8-10 – The spiritual gifts would cease, but love never fails. The “perfect” in I Corinthians 13:10 is teleos, meaning “complete.” When the full revelation of God was available (i.e., the full New Testament), spiritual gifts would go away. Spiritual gifts were like the scaffolding around the New Testament.

Compare Biblical teaching with modern-day practice

Is it a real language?
It is edifying others in the assembly because it is understandable communication?
Is it controlled?
No modern-day tongue-speaking is in the first century.

Immodesty

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What do we do when we encounter immodest behavior?

Where are we most likely to see immodest behavior?

It’s nearly everywhere!

Principles to consider

Where does immodesty lead?
- Example: David and Bathsheba
- It can cause us to lose our soul.
- Matthew 5:28
- Seeing immodesty is nearly unavoidable, but if you keep looking, that leads to trouble.
- The pornography industry is massive. Pornography will enslave you if you allow it enter your life.

Consider one’s self

James 1:14-15 – It is our own lust that causes us to sin.
Genesis 39:9

Convictions to hold

Be determined not to sin.
- Hebrews 10:26-39
- We might be afraid we can’t handle the temptation or that we will miss out on the pleasure of sin.
Move forward – don’t shrink back.
- Romans 13:13-14
Prepare your response to temptation ahead of time!
- Genesis 39:9

Fighting back

“I can handle it.”
James 4:7; I Peter 5:6-9; II Timothy 2:22; I Corinthians 9:27; I Peter 1:13

Stewards of God’s Money

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Everything belongs to God

Colossians 1:16; Psalms 24:1

What a steward is

A person who manages another’s property.

Stewardship

Luke 19:11-27
Luke 12:16-21
I Timothy 6:6-10 – Godliness with contentment is great gain. Beware the love of money!

Actions we must take

I Timothy 6:17-19 – Be generous and ready to share.
Matthew 6:19-21 – Lay up treasure in heaven.
Luke 3:11
Proverbs 11:24-26 – The generous will be blessed.
II Corinthians 9:6-7
We must make the effort to understand what people truly need.

Who is rich?

2018: Top 1% annual income for the world is $32,400 (datatopics.worldbank.org)

Idle hands

Proverbs 12:24 – Diligence leads to increase
Proverbs 10:4-5; 12:11, 24; 14:23; 20:4; 20:13

Honest business

Proverbs 11:1; 13:11; 16:11; 20:23; 21:6

Generosity

Proverbs 13:22; 11:24-26; 22:22-23

Building wealth

Proverbs 13:7

Co-signing

Proverbs 6:1-5; 17:18; 22:26-27

Debt

Proverbs 22:7
The danger of student loans and compounding interest.

I Corinthians 7

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

I Corinthians 7
- At that time, the disciples were in a period of great difficulty.
- I Corinthians 7:9 – Some try to misuse this verse to defend multiple marriages, but that is taking the verse out of context.
- I Corinthians 7:12-16 – If a person has an unbelieving spouse, they should stay with them. If the unbelieving spouse decides to leave, the Christian should let them go. In that case, Paul says that God calls them to peace and they are not required to fulfill marital obligations. This does not mean that the Christian spouse can now remarry, however.
- “Bondage” – Compare other uses of the same Greek word:
  - Acts 7:6
  - Romans 6:18-22
  - I Corinthians 9:19
  - Galatians 4:3
  - Titus 2:3
  - II Peter 2:19
  - I Corinthians 7:15
- I Corinthians 7:25-26 – See Revelation 14:4. Paul here is referring to male virgins.
- I Corinthians 7:35-37 – The translation here is somewhat difficult. Paul could be referring to a man protecting his own virginity. The NASB translation supplies added words to interpret this as a man protecting his virgin daughter, but that does not seem to match the context.
- I Corinthians 7:39-40 – Marriage is for life. Re-marriage is only approved by God after death of a spouse or for the innocent party in adultery. The phrase “only in the Lord” means “according to God’s law.” It is not saying the new mate must be a Christian.

Learning to Love

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind

Jesus had to deal with His confused, immature apostles (Matthew 16:8).

Is not jealous (does not envy)

Jealousy never leads to good (Acts 5:17-19; 7:9)
Romans 12:15 – Rejoice for those who do well.

Does not take into account a wrong suffered (resentful), bears and endures all things

Think of the harm you do to yourself by holding a grudge (Proverbs 19:11).
Matthew 18:15 – You can’t just ignore sin. That’s different from enforcing some personal type of justice.
Luke 4:28-30 – When people wanted to kill Him, Jesus just left!

Love does not brag (boast), is not arrogant, does not seek its own (insist on its own way)

If we’re fixated on ourselves, we can’t humbly serve others (Matthew 20:20-28).

Does not act unbecomingly (rude), is not provoked (irritable)

Don’t go around with a chip on your shoulder (I Samuel 25:3, 10-11).

Loving God

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Deuteronomy 6:1-5 – The greatest command – love God.

He loved us when we weren’t lovable.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8
Why does God treat us the way He does? Out of love!
Romans 5:6-8; 3:10
I John 4:10
Ephesians 2:1-7
God knows all our secrets and faults, but He loves us anyway!
Hebrews 8:12 – God shows us mercy and forgiveness.

It only makes sense to love Him back.

I John 4:19
Hosea 11:1-7 – So many times God’s children have turned from Him.
I John 2:15
Deuteronomy 32:6-18

What that means:

Delight in the Lord – Psalm 84
Delight in His word – Psalms 119:97-104
Obey Him – I John 5:3
Love others – Matthew 22:39; I John 3:11-18; 4:11, 20
- The second greatest command – love others.

Conclusion

Loving God is the basis of our character as Christians.

What Should I Learn from Judas?

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We can be involved in the work for years and still sin.

Mark 3:13-14; 6:7, 12-13, 30 – Judas was involved with the work of the apostles. There’s a reason Jesus chose him.
Luke 22:1-6

You must nip sin in the bud.

John 12:1-6 – Judas would steal from the money box.
Matthew 25:14-16 – Judas’ thievery got worse!
John 7:30
James 1:14-15

I shouldn’t give up on myself!

Matthew 27:1-5 – Judas hanged himself after betraying Jesus.
I Corinthians 6:19-20

10 Verses for Social Media

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Luke 3:11-14 – John the Baptist told particular people what they needed to know.

Ten verses

Mark 8:38
- If someone knows you well, but doesn’t know you are a Christian, something is probably wrong.
- Am I hesitant to share spiritual things online?
Proverbs 26:17
- Don’t add unnecessary conflict to your life. Mind your business!
- I Peter 4:15
- Matthew 18:15 – Handle things are privately as possible.
- Romans 12:18
- Proverbs 18:17 – You may only have one side of the story!
Job 31:1
- Social media makes it very easy to indulge in lust of the eyes.
- Don’t post those photos, and don’t look at them! Both sides of this are sin.
Proverbs 18:19
- If we use up our credibility on something that doesn’t matter, how can we win over someone on something that does matter?
Galatians 5:22-23
- Earth would be an amazing place if we all exhibited the fruit of the spirit.
- A lot of good can be done on social media!
James 1:19
- Be quick to hear and slow to speak!
- Social media prompts us to respond immediately to everything.
I Peter 3:3-4
- Instagram is particularly toxic to young girls.
I Peter 2:12
- People should notice we are different in a good way.
- Imagine looking at your own social media profile as another person. How do you look online?
Galatians 6:10
- Do good to all, especially those of the household of faith.
- Colossians 3:16
Psalms 130:3-4
- Aren’t we glad that God forgives?

Racism

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Define “truth”
- The true or actual state of a matter.
Does it matter who makes a “true” statement? Does its “truthfulness” vary because of who said it?
Define “race”
- A group of persons related by common descent or heredity.
Define “discrimination”
Define “prejudice”
Define “racism”
What does the Bible not say about racism?
- Genesis 4:15 – It does not say the mark of Cain was light or dark skin.
- Numbers 12:1 – It does not say it is sinful to marry a Cushite woman because she was dark skinned.
- Genesis 9:27 – It does not say black men must be slaves.
- Deuteronomy 7:6-9 – It does not say white men are to be superior.
What does the Bible say about racism?
- Genesis 1:26-28 – There is one race: mankind.
- Exodus 2:21
- Numbers 12:1, 8
- Jeremiah 38:7-10; 39:16-17
How do you picture characters of the Bible?
Dealing with prejudice and racism
- John 1:46; 4:9; 8:48; Acts 22:21; John 7:24 – Prejudice was a problem in the New Testament.
- Galatians 2:11-14
- Acts 17:24-28 – There is no distinction with God.
- Galatians 3:28
- Acts 10:28
- Acts 2:39
- Galatians 6:3
- Philippians 2:3
- I John 4:20
- Colossians 3:10
- Matthew 7:12; 22:37-39
- Titus 3:1
- II Corinthians 5:16
- John 10:16
Racism is not a skin problem. It is a sin problem.

Church Work in Evangelism

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Relevant passages

Acts 11:21-23 – “they sent Barnabas”
Acts 13:1-3 – “teachers … they sent them”
Acts 14:26-28 – “commended … they began to report”
Acts 15:1-3 – “sent on their way by the church”
I Corinthians 9:1-18 – “get their living from the gospel”
I Corinthians 14 – “for edification”
II Corinthians 11:7-9 – “I robbed other churches”
Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-18 – “participation in the gospel”
I Thessalonians 1:6-10 – “sounded forth from you”

Observations

The gospel was taught.
- Local churches in the New Testament were focused entirely on teaching God’s Word – not general personal improvement.
The money was sent directly to the preacher.
- This was simple and effective. No bureaucracy or hierarchy needed.
- Modern sponsoring churches have corrupted this simple arrangement. There is no scriptural authority for this.

Romans, Part 5

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:1-25), continued

Romans 4:18-25 – Abraham believed God would bring life to a dead womb (Sarah and Issac). We believe God brought life to a dead tomb (Jesus). We share the type of faith Abraham had. Compare Hebrews 11:8-19.

God helped the helpless (Romans 5:1-11)

Romans 5:1 – Paul now begins to focus on people under the New Covenant. We are “justified by faith” when we have the same kind of faith that Abraham had.
Romans 5:2 – Jesus has given us access to the grace of God. We rejoice in that grace because we now have hope.
Romans 5:3-5 – Even tribulations don’t get us down, because we recognize them as opportunities for growth and maturation.
Romans 5:6-8 – A righteous person is one who will abide by the law exactly. A good person goes beyond and shows mercy and compassion. Christ died for us while we were enemies with God.
Romans 5:9-11 – We have no power to reconcile ourselves to God. God made it possible through Christ. See II Corinthians 5:18-21, 15.

Adam vs. Jesus (Romans 5:12-19)

Romans 5:12 – Adam ate the forbidden fruit and sin entered the world. This section draws a parallel between Adam and Jesus. This spiritual death spread to all because all sinned.
Romans 5:15-16 – What Adam did led to condemnation. What Jesus did led to justification. Note that if all died because of Adam’s sin, then all were saved by Jesus, but clearly the Bible does not teach this.

Marks of a Great Man

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The mark of a great man is what he does and who he is.

Paul could change when he learned he was wrong.

He went from persecuting Christians to teaching Christ all over the world.

Paul could feel sorrow for sin.

Acts 22:20
Acts 8:4
I Timothy 1:12-13
II Corinthians 7:10

He was humble yet had self-respect.

I Corinthians 9:27
Acts 16 – He demanded that the authorities come and release him when they learned they had imprisoned him illegally.

He was able to compare values and choose the best.

He never looked back.

He had purpose in life.

Philippians 3:13
He wasn’t just shadowboxing. He was fighting the enemy.
His purpose was serving the Lord.

He had faith in the outcome.

II Timothy 4:6-8

Conclusion

These characteristics made Paul great and will make any man or woman great.

Homosexuality

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Church and What it Means for Me

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Romans, Part 4

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:1-25)

Romans 4:2 – Compare Romans 3:20, 28. None of us can be saved on the basis of law-keeping.
Romans 4:4 – In a physical job, the employer owes the employee his wages – it is not a gift. It is not that way with God and salvation. Salvation is a gift from God. Regardless of how many good deeds we have done, none of them can make up for our sins. “Words” here is about being perfect.
Romans 4:1-8 – If a person never sinned, he would be righteous by works. If he sinned and God forgave him because of the man’s faith, he would be righteous by grace (through faith). Abraham fell in the latter category, as do all of us.
Romans 4:3 – “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
- Scripture records this statement on three occasions:
  - Genesis 15:6 – When God said Abraham would have an heir.
  - Genesis 17:16; 21:5; Romans 4:18-22 – When God said Sarah would be the mother.
  - Genesis 22:10; James 2:21-24 – When Abraham was willing to offer Isaac.
- Abraham had a long record of obedient faith even before Genesis 15:6.
  - Genesis 11:31; Acts 7:2-4 – Abraham and family moved from Ur to Haran.
  - Genesis 12:1, 4 – Abraham traveled from Haran to Canaan.
  - Genesis 12:7 – He built an altar to God after God’s promise.
  - Genesis 12:8 – He again built an altar.
  - Genesis 13:4 – He called upon the name of the Lord.
  - Genesis 13:6-12 – Abraham made peace with Lot.
  - Genesis 13:14-18 – Abraham built another altar after God renewed His promises.
  - Genesis 14:18-20 – Abraham met Melchizedek and gave him a tenth of all.
Romans 4:6-8 – Even Abraham sinned (Genesis 12:13). He, like us, was justified by faith instead of perfect works.
Romans 4:9-13 – Abraham’s faith was credited to him before he was circumcised. The Jews prided themselves on circumcision, but Paul brought up this fact that they may have never thought about.
Romans 4:14-17 – Law systems, such as the Law of Moses, bring about wrath because no one perfectly obeys the laws. What we need is a system of faith and grace.

Gambling

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

This lesson is a continuation of our series on moral issues facing the church. Tonight we’ll be talking about gambling.

Part of the reason I selected this topic to teach on is that I felt like I did not have a good grasp on the issue myself. If someone asked me if I thought gambling was wrong and why, what would I tell them?

Maybe you are in the same position yourself. Hopefully our discussion tonight will result in some concrete Biblical principles we can all apply both to gambling and related issues.

Gambling is somewhat of a difficult topic to address because the Bible does not mention it specifically. We do have quite a number of principles laid out in the Bible that address various aspects of gambling.

I encourage your participation in the class tonight. I’m sure I cannot answer all the questions you may have, but we have many excellent Bible students here tonight that may be able to help.

What is gambling?

This is an important question because people often like to confuse the issue of gambling by conflating it with other risky behavior and trying to draw parallels that aren’t really there.

To play a game of chance for money or other potential gain.

That in itself is pretty straightforward. Closely related to gambling is another idea we need to get clear on – betting.

Betting

Winners are created at the expense of losers through the wagering of money or valuables.

Betting – the staking of money on an outcome that is in doubt is the heart of gambling.

Playing a game of chance for pure amusement is not necessarily considered gambling. Rather, it is the betting—the staking of money on an outcome that is in doubt—that is at the heart of gambling.

Pocket Dictionary of Ethics

So, what constitutes gambling?

Which of these things really constitutes gambling or betting as we’ve defined them?

Living life
Farming
Moving your family to a new town and starting a new job
Investing in the stock market
Buying health insurance
The claw game at the arcade
Slot machines
Betting on sports
Playing poker for money

Maybe you have some immediate ideas on which of these is gambling Put these in the back of your mind for a minute and let’s look at the Bible to see what principles we can find that might apply.

Bible principles

The two greatest commands

Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

Matthew 22:37–38

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:39–40
Romans 13:8–10

Be a good steward of your blessings

Parable of the talents – Matthew 25:14-30
Proverbs 10:2–5
1 Timothy 6:17–21

Flee covetousness

Luke 12:15–21
The problem with greed is that it takes our mind off God!
Ephesians 5:3–7
Colossians 3:5–7
1 Corinthians 6:9–11

Work to provide for your own

Acts 20:33–35
Paul used himself as an example of how they should work.
2 Thessalonians 3:7–12
1 Timothy 5:8

Resist the love of money

1 Timothy 6:6–11
Hebrews 13:5
Mark 4:18–19
Luke 16:13–15
Ephesians 4:28

Be a light to the world

Matthew 5:13–16

Applications

Now that we have established some related Biblical principles, we can begin to look at these different scenarios and see which of them violate any of these principles.

I should note here that each of these are presented as a hypothetical, limited situation. In real life, there might be a lot more going on in a given situation that you need to consider than just what we are looking at here.

Living life

With the principles we’ve laid out, clearly just living the life God has given us cannot be considered a gamble in the strict sense we are talking about here.
Certainly, we must evaluate and take risks as we live, but this is not the same as gambling.
This is a case where people often use this scenario as an example to make gambling seem more acceptable, but this is simply a diversion tactic.
Living life in the way God prescribes should follow all of the principles we’ve laid out so far.

Farming

Farming is working and providing for your own and for others, showing love for your neighbor.
It can indeed be very risky, but that in itself does not mean it is gambling.
A good farmer is a good steward of what God has given him.
Many jobs carry their own risks (starting any business, for example, can be quite a big risk, especially if the business must support a family).

Moving your family to a new town and starting a new job

This can certainly be a risky endeavor, but it is not gambling in the strict sense.
If you are simply changing jobs to chase a bigger paycheck without proper concern for yourself and your family, then that is a separate issue.
Once again, risk does not necessarily equal gambling.

Investing in the stock market

There are possibly multiple sides to this, depending on how you are investing in the stock market.

Gradual investment for long-term returns (like a 401(k), for example):

This sounds very much like the example of the ten talent and five talent men in the Parable of the Talents.
This is simply being a good steward of your money and providing for your family’s future.
There is some risk involved, but it is not the same as gambling.

Day trading (short-term investments that try to time dips and spikes in the market):

In some forms, this could be considered gambling because you are not really using the stock market as a way to invest in companies you believe in.
Instead, you are putting down money (betting) to wager that the stock price goes the way you hope.
In the very short term, the price fluctuations are essentially random, so you are reduced to wagering on random events.

Buying health insurance

Buying insurance is a way of managing risk.
Some things in life have the potential to be financially disastrous, even though they are unlikely.
If your family depends on your job to provide for them, it is probably wise to have health insurance (and maybe several other kids of insurance, too!) to cover unexpected expenses.
This is an example of being a good steward and providing for your own.

The claw game at the arcade

This might seem like a strange application to add, but the reason it is here is because of the way the claw game works.
It presents itself as a game of skill where you try to aim for the prize you want to win.
The deception is that the claw only closes with full force at random intervals set by the owner of the machine, which turns this into essentially a slot machine with a small element of skill added at the beginning.
Many carnival games are actually designed like this. Beware!
I’m not arguing that playing carnival games is gambling, but you should be aware of what you are getting into when you play the game.

Slot machines

Slot machines are essentially the definition of gambling.
You are betting on the outcome of a random event.
This violates the principles of resisting covetousness, working for your living, being a good steward, resisting the love of money, and also being a light to the world.
Playing slot machines is not the best way to bring people to Christ.

Betting on sports

Is it showing love for your neighbor to make an agreement to take their money if a team they support loses?
It is certainly not an example of good stewardship to wager money on an event you do not control.
Betting may also be a sign of covetousness, greed, and love of money.
We have not really mentioned addiction in this lesson, but gambling does have addictive qualities that are dangerous.
Betting is certainly not the best way for a Christian to be a light to the world.

Playing poker for money

Playing poker is a little different in that there is actually skill involved in playing the game, although there is still quite a bit of randomness in how things turn out.
Like betting on sports, though, it can still be a sign of covetousness, greed, and love of money.
Taking money from another in a game is also not the best way to show love for a neighbor or to be a light to the world.

Who Do I Want to Be?

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 4:12

Opportunity cost

(The value of the option I did NOT choose.)
Philippians 1:23-24
Luke 12:16-31
Ecclesiastes 12:12
Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on things that are above.
You can’t do it all!
What are you going to leave out?

My parents’ faith vs. my faith

Jews: John 8:33; Romans 3:2; Luke 3:7-8
My parents cannot save me.
John 3:16 – “whoever believes”
Galatians 1:14
Romans 10:1-3, 14-17
Acts 17:2, 4
I can’t use my parents as a reason anymore.
- Why do you do it?
Matthew 18:7

Romans, Part 3

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Condemnation (Romans 1:18-3:20), continued:

Romans 3:1-2 – Being a Jew was not worthless, but it never meant automatic salvation and should not have been a reason for self-righteousness.
Romans 3:3-6 – Paul defends the justice of God. God is not wrong for condemning anyone, including the Jews.
Romans 3:7-8 – It is pure rationalization to say you are sinning so that grace may abound. See Romans 6:1-4.
Romans 3:9-18 – All, both Jews and Gentiles, have sinned.
Romans 3:19-20 – No one can be justified by works of the law.

Christ (Romans 3:21-5:21)

What’s the remedy for sin? Faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-31)!
Nobody perfectly keeps the law (Romans 3:19-20), therefore, God provides a remedy separate from a law system: faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26).
Romans 3:21 – Salvation through Christ was not a change in God’s plan. This was God’s plan from the beginning. Acts 3:22-26; II Timothy 1:9-10; 3:15.
Romans 3:22-26 – All have sinned and need God’s grace. God put forward Jesus as a propitiation for our sins. God “passed over” sins under the Old Covenant until Jesus came to be the sacrifice for those sins. God is both just and the justifier.
Romans 3:27-31- No one can boast in salvation through their own hand.

Bible 101: Context

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 27:5; Luke 10:37; John 13:27 – Picking random verses in the Bible is not a good way to study!
It’s easy to make mistakes by quoting scriptures out of context.

Who is speaking, writing, or talking?

Psalms 14:1 – “there is no God”
- This is what the fool says!
Romans 3:8 – “let us do evil that good may come”
Job 4:18 – “against His angels He charges error”
- This is what Eliphaz is theorizing. In Job 42:7, Eliphaz is rebuked by God for not speaking rightly!

Who is being addressed?

Matthew 10:8 – “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers …”
- Jesus was addressing the twelve apostles. This message was specific to them.
Luke 23:43 – “today you shall be with Me in Paradise”
- So, is baptism not required?
- See Luke 23:39-42. Jesus was not yet dead, so no one could be baptized into His death. Baptism for remission of sins was not yet in force.
Psalm 150:3 – “Praise Him with trumpet sound”
- Is instrumental music authorized? This was written under the Old Covenant when instrumental music was authorized. See II Chronicles 29:25-26.

How is a word or phrase being used?

“do not become children” (I Corinthians 4:20) vs. “become like children” (Matthew 18:3)
- Different aspects of children are being discussed here.
“God so loved the world” (John 3:16)
“God who made the world” (Acts 17:24)
“Do not love the world” (I John 2:15)
“How are you fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer?” (Isaiah 14:12, NKJV)
- Compare Luke 10:17-18. Lucifer was referring to the evil king of Babylon. Jesus was referring to Satan being defeated.

What subject is under discussion?

I Corinthians 2:9 – “All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Biblical View of Alcohol

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Alcohol is everywhere

What does history say about alcohol?

Grapes were crushed. Natural yeast on the skin of the grape and sugar in the juice fermented to a maximum of 3%. Adding more yeast can bring the alcohol content up to 11%.
Wine was sometimes boiled to increase sugar content and boil off the alcohol.
It was common practice to dilute water with wine to make the water taste better and make the water safe to drink.
Wine in ancient times was in any range of alcohol state.

What does the Bible say about alcohol?

Greek word oinos literally means wine.
Oinos refers to wine with any level of alcohol up to 10%.
It is difficult from the context to determine what concentration of alcohol is under consideration.
New Testament passages concerned with drinking:
- John 2:1-4 – Jesus turned water to oinos. The context does not indicate what alcohol content, if any, was in the wine.
- I Timothy 5:23-25 – Timothy was told to drink oinos for his stomach.This passage indicates that oinos mixed with water is not sinful to drink, at least in small doses.
- Matthew 27:48 – Jesus drank sour wine on the cross. In sour wine, the alcohol has partly or completely turned to vinegar.
- I Timothy 3:3, 8 – Elders and deacons are not to be addicted to wine.
The Bible expressly condemns getting drunk.
- Proverbs 20:1
- Proverbs 23:29-35
- Romans 13:11-14
- I Corinthians 6:9-10
- Galatians 5:19-21
- I Peter 4:1-3
Why does the Bible condemn drunkenness?
- Loss of control
- Loss of inhibitions

What is drunkenness?

Blood alcohol concentration
- 0.02% - loss of judgment, feeling warm and relaxed
- 0.05% - exaggerated behavior, loss of control of small muscles
- 0.08% - legal limit for intoxication in US (not Utah)

Conclusions

Drinks today contain higher alcohol content than they did in ancient times.
Impairment occurs after only one standard drink.
Impairment is drunkenness, which is condemned in the Bible.

Applications

I Peter 5:8; 3:14-15

The Church Universal and Local

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The church

Universal sense: Ephesians 3:15; 2:12; Hebrews 12:23
Local sense: I Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 1:1

Apostasy in the church

Apostasy within the church often arose because of laziness within the eldership. Rather than handling their own needs, they sent money to another local church and let them handle it. This is not God’s pattern.

Universal		Local
Lord adds (Acts 2:47)	Membership	Man joins
With deity (I John 1:7)	Fellowship	With man
Christ controls (Revelation 2:5)	Discipline	Man controls (I Corinthians 5:4-5, 7)
Eternal (Philippians 1:27)	Duration	Time
Independent	Function	Joint
Individual	Oversight	Elders

There is no such thing in scripture as joint participation of churches.

God’s Moral Standards

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Why should we accept God’s moral standards?

Romans 9:20-21
Luke 17:10
I Corinthians 1:18-21

Why does anyone choose to submit to what is wrong?

Does the Bible relate to today’s moral questions?

Yes, it is the ultimate authority.
- II Timothy 3:16
- Galatians 1:8-9
- John 16:13
- II Peter 1:3

Conclusion

We must be willing to remove ourselves from the process of deciding what’s morally right and wrong to keep from causing a disaster.

The Gospel Chariot

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Am I picking up sinners … or running them over?

Galatians 6:1-5
Hebrews 12:11-17
James 5:19-20
Ephesians 4:11-16
I Corinthians 9:14-23 – Things Paul did to “pick up sinners.”
- Meet people on their level.
- Don’t dodge issues but speak the truth in love.
- Change is a function of energy and time.
When I sin, am I running myself over or letting others pick me up?
- Philippians 3:11-17
- God’s people are forgiven – not perfect.

Am I running over the devil or picking him up?

Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:1-16 – Imitate God, not the world. Don’t be deceived – you can’t walk in sin and serve God.
James 4:4-10
I Corinthians 10:12-13
I Peter 5:8-11

Dancing

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Three kinds of dancing in the Bible

Religious enthusiasm and rejoicing (approved by God) – II Samuel 6:14; I Samuel 18:6
Idol worship (condemned by God) – Exodus 32:19
Lascivious dancing (condemned by God) – Matthew 14:6-12

How do we know lascivious dancing is condemned?

Galatians 5:19-21 – “revelries”
Matthew 6:13 – Don’t let yourself be led into temptation.
Matthew 5:28 – Looking to lust condemned.
I Corinthians 10:31
I Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from all forms of evil.
Philippians 2:15 – Be blameless and innocent.
I Corinthians 6:19
I Peter 3:15

Quotes regarding dancing and the trouble it brings

… various.

Spiritual Gifts

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Miracles – Works of a supernatural origin, such as could ot be produced by natural means.
I Corinthians 2:8-10 – Nine spiritual gifts are named
- Word of wisdom
- Word of knowledge
- Faith
- Healing
- Miracles
- Prophecy
- Discerning of spirits
- Diverse kinds of tongues
- Interpretation of tongues

Neither Christ nor the Holy Spirit empowers man with these gifts today.

It’s not a question of power, but of will.
Christ has the power to work miracles today.
He has power to will not to work miracles today.
He, in His power, has willed not to work miracles today.
He has revealed this in the New Testament.
- Hebrews 8:13

Who had spiritual gifts?

Jesus had complete power, being deity.
The apostles had greater power than any other men.
- I Corinthians 16:13
- They could reveal divine truth, work miracles, and confer gifts to others. These others could not confer the gifts.
Those to whom the apostles conferred gifts.
- They could use the gifts but could not pass them on to others.
Cornelius
- Acts 10
- Could speak in tongues.
The seventy
- They could preach the “kingdom of God.”
- Could heal the sick.

The purpose of spiritual gifts

Jesus: to prove He was the Son of God.
Apostles: to reveal and confirm the word they preached.
Those to whom apostles gave gifts: to edify the saved and convince the lost.
Cornelius: to convince Jews that God accepts Gentiles.
The seventy: to prove they were speaking for Christ.
Spiritual gifts no longer have a purpose today because the gospel has the power of salvation. See Acts 20:28. Preachers can prove their message is from God by the scripture. The word is sufficient to edify the saved, save the lost, and prove that Gentiles can be saved.

The duration of spiritual gifts.

I Corinthians 12-14 – instructions regarding spiritual gifts
When the last person who had received spiritual gifts died, spiritual gifts were no more.
I Corinthians 13:10
II Timothy 3:16-17
When revelation was completed, spiritual gifts ceased.

Romans, Part 2

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Condemnation (Romans 1:18-3:20), continued

Hypocrites are condemned (Romans 2:1-16)

Romans 2:1-3 – Paul switched the pronouns from “they” and “them” (Romans 1:18-32) to “you” and “yourself.” He’s forcing his audience to examine themselves rather than point fingers at others. We need to watch out for sin. Paul is warning about hypocritical judgment.
Romans 2:4-11 – God’s punishment is righteous and impartial. We cannot claim that He is unfair.
Romans 2:12-16 – Sometimes Paul is referring to law in general or the law of Moses. See Acts 16:21.
- Romans 2:12 – Gentiles could still be guilty even without the Law of Moses.
- Romans 2:13 – You have to obey the law, not just hear it! God still expected Gentiles to infer some things about Him (Romans 1:19-21) and follow their conscience which He instilled in them (Romans 2:14-15).

Religious hypocrites are condemned (Romans 2:17-29)

Romans 2:17-20 – Jews had a right to glory in being a Jew (Romans 3:1-2). It was a wonderful blessing! But wearing the name (and having the physical lineage) did not mean automatic salvation (remember Romans 2:13). We should make the same point about ourselves: If you bear the name “Christian” …
Romans 2:21-24 – The Jews had a big problem with pride (Matthew 23). Paul presses them to examine their hypocrisy.
Romans 2:25-29 – Who was in better shape with God? A Jew who did not obey God or a Gentile who did?

Samson

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Judges 16:3
Judges 13:5 – Samson’s hair was very important.
Samson was a Nazirite (rules for Nazirites listed in Numbers 6).
Some things were by God’s design.
- Judges 14:1-4
- God can use both upright and sinful people to accomplish his will.

Don’t let a relationship mess up your thinking.

Judges 16:4-21
Samson finally told her his secret because he loved her.
He was blinded by emotion long before he was physically blinded.
True love doesn’t mean your decisions are automatically wise.
Acts 18:26 – Priscilla and Aquila are a good example of a healthy relationship.

Trust in God, not yourself.

Judges 3:4; 6:34; 11:29 – “the spirit of the Lord”
Judges 13:24-25; 14:5-6, 19; 15:14-15; 16:20 – This was God’s strength that Samson was using!
Judges 13:3-7
The long hair wasn’t the source of his strength – it was a condition of using God’s strength.
Judges 16:22, 28-30
I Peter 3:21 – Does baptism itself save us? No. It’s a condition God set to receive his salvation.
I Peter 1:18
I John 1:7 – If we walk in the light, God will save us.
Colossians 1:13-14

Abortion

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Timothy 1:5
Romans 12:9
Hebrews 10:23-25 – Stir one another up to love and good works.
I Corinthians 6:9-11

What is an abortion?

Termination of a pregnancy.

What is life worth?

John 3:16
What is a baby’s life worth?
- Luke 1:36, 41, 57; 2:12 – Note that in Luke 1:36, 57 the Greek word for “son” is used. In Luke 1:41; 2:12, the Greek word for “baby” is used. God referred to the unborn child as a human life.
- Exodus 21:22 – Punishment for endangering a pregnant woman or her child.
- Isaiah 44:2 – God didn’t specify when life becomes a baby – just “from the womb.”

Is life supposed to be easy, convenient, or comfortable?

II Corinthians 11:23-27
James 1:2-8
II Timothy 2:2-4

It is my body.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Swipe left/swipe right

I Corinthians 6:18
I Corinthians 7:1-2
Romans 12:1 – Our bodies should be a living sacrifice to God.

“Turned to the Lord” – Acts 11:21

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 11:20-24

What turning to the Lord is NOT:

Blind obedience – Ephesians 4:22-24; 3:16-17
Just adding church to my schedule – Hebrews 10:19-25
Trying to earn salvation by doing enough good deds.
- Romans 4:1-5, 11-12, 23-25
- Abraham was justified because he believed God, which resulted in his obedience.
- We can’t earn salvation!

What turning to the Lord IS:

It’s a complete surrender …
- Matthew 13:44-46; Galatians 2:20
… that results in faithful obedience.
- Acts 11:27-30
When I turn to the Lord …
- My wardrobe will change – I Timothy 2:9-10
- My language will change – Ephesians 5:4
- My social media habits will change – Ephesians 5:3
- My reputation will change – Acts 9:26; II Timothy 3:10

Romans, Part 1

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction (Romans 1:1-17)

Romans 1:1 – See Acts 9:15; Romans 2:17; 11:13. Paul is the writer. The theme of the book is that salvation is for everyone!
Romans 1:5 – Paul was made an apostle to bring about obedience in all the nations. Compare Romans 16:26.
Romans 1:6 – The people were “called” by the gospel.
Romans 1:7 – The people in Rome apparently had a good reputation in the world.
Romans 1:11-12 – The spiritual gift he is referring to may be the encouragement they receive from each other’s faith.
Romans 1:15 – We should also be eager to preach the gospel.
Romans 1:16-17 – The gospel is the universal solution to the problem of sin. This is the theme of the book. Compare Romans 10:3.
- “from faith to faith” – This could mean “from the gospel to a believing faith.”

Five-word outline of Romans:

Condemnation – All of us are guilty of sin and justly condemned by God.
Christ – Thankfully, we are justified through faith in Jesus Christ!
Choice – We must choose to die to sin, a system of perfect law-keeping, and the flesh.
Children – ALL people can be children of God, whether Jews or Gentiles.
Conduct – Given God’s love, His people ought to conduct themselves accordingly.

Condemnation (Romans 1:18-3:20)

Unrighteous people are condemned (Romans 1:18-32).
Romans 1:19-20 – God expected people to glorify Him! We should honor Him and give thanks.
Romans 1:24, 26, 28 – God “gave them up” because they chose to sin.
Romans 1:26-27 – This is a clear condemnation of homosexuality. See also I Corinthians 6:9-11 and I Timothy 1:10. The “due penalty” could be either physical issues, spiritual penalties, or both.
Romans 1:29-31 – The “rollcall of the hell bound.”
Romans 1:32 – See Romans 6:23. This is probably referring to spiritual death.

Putting Our Suffering into Perspective

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

How can God allow suffering to occur?

God allows us the freedom of choice

Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6 – Adam and Eve had the freedom of choice.
Joshua 24:14-15
If there were no consequences, it wouldn’t really be freedom of choice.
Luke 23:39-43
Sometimes the choices of others cause our suffering. Sometimes it is our own choices.
I Peter 4:14-16
We need to make the right choices!
- I Timothy 4:8
- II Timothy 3:12

The world is a temporary stop on the way to eternity.

Hebrews 11:13-16
Eternity will far outshine whatever suffering we endure here.
I Peter 2:11
Job 3:17
Romans 8:17-18 – Suffer now, glory later.
II Corinthians 4:17-5:1

If our attitude is right, we benefit from suffering.

James 1:2-4
I Peter 1:6-9
When did you pray the hardest? When you were suffering!
Psalms 119:65-68
There is good that can come from suffering.
II Corinthians 12:7-10 – We can get to the place Paul was if we have the right attitude.
II Corinthians 1:8-10

Jesus suffered.

I Peter 2:21-23
Jesus suffered for a time and now I suffer for a time.

Conclusion

Let us not let suffering be a stumbling block!

Who Decides Morality?

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Love Truth

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What is the most foundational pursuit?

To love, seek, and do what is true.
John 3:16-21
John 4:1

Culture of truth

Context of truth is universal.
Truth is loved, sought, held to
Encourage honest discussions
Questions answered with truth in a spirit of love
Never settle
All levels of seekers welcome
Spread culture to all spheres of influence

Questions

How do you teach someone the gospel if they don’t believe there is a God or the Bible is His word?
What evidence convinces you the Bible is from God and that there is a God?
What evidence is there that the texts are the words of God and have been copied accurately?

How were the Bible texts originally composed?

Hebrews 1:1-2 – Transmission history of about 1000 years (1000 years for the Old Testament, 50 years for the New Testament).
How?
- God speaking to us through prophets, Jesus, and apostles.

Composition of the Old Testament

Purpose of the New Testament
Ten commandments – Deuteronomy 10
Moses wrote the words of the law in a book.
The “law of Moses” became a formal law.
Torah (first 5 books)
Historical books – 1, 2 Samuel, 1, 2 Kings, 1, 2 Chronicles
The proverbs
The psalms
Writings of the prophets

Composition of the New Testament

Christians did not have a compiled New Testament for about 400 years after Jesus’ time.
At first, the gospel spread orally.
Move from oral to written transmission follows the needs of the church
Period of composition: 30s AD to just before the end of the first century
Authors: primarily apostles
Purpose of the writings

The “Original Bible”

Production of the autographs was recorded in the Bible.
The Old Testament and New Testament both state they were inspired by God
- I Chronicles 28:19
- Jeremiah 21:1; 36:1-2
- II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 3:15-16
Why don’t we have the originals?
- Original materials wore out.

Witnesses to the Old Testament text

Greater weight:

Primary sources; Copies of ancient Hebrew manuscripts

Dead Sea Scrolls; Masoretic text

Secondary sources; Versions: ancient translations into other languages

Septuagint; Latin vulgate

Tertiary sources: Paraphrase of the Hebrew text

Lesser weight:

Quaternary sources: Quotations of the Hebrew text in Greek

Dead Sea Scrolls

Probably produced in Hasmonean period (152-63 B.C.) and early Roman period (63 B.C. – 68 A.D.).

Witnesses to New Testament text

Greater weight

Manuscripts

Written in Greek

To date, 5745 known manuscripts.

New Testament versions

Translations into other languages

15,000-20,000 such documents, ranging in date from 3rd to 16th centuries AD

Lesser weight

Citations

Citations of the New Testament in sermons, commentaries, letters, etc.

Over 1 million known citations, ranging in date from 1st to 13th centuries AD

Textual criticism

Process of diligent appraisal and comparison of texts.

Recovering the Old Testament text

Two basic steps:
- Look at Masoretic text
- Compare Dead Sea Scrolls

Recovering the New Testament text

Compare available manuscripts

Reference materials

Randall Price, Searching for the Original Bible

Conclusion

III John 1:1-4

Entitlement, Part 2

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What does entitlement mean?

I deserve something. Society owes me.

Does our society struggle with the concept of entitlement?

Yes!

Parenting – raising our kids and avoiding entitlement.

Disciplining a child can help guide the child away from entitlement.
Hebrews 12:3-11

Our society – dealing with entitlement in others!

II Timothy 1:7
Pursuing contentment rather than happiness?
I Timothy 6:6-12
Hebrews 13:5-6

Our spiritual family – keeping the entitlement culture out!

Christian Attitudes, Part 20

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The church and its members

Biblical description of the church

Universal
- Hebrews 12:15-24 – Old Covenant vs New Covenant
- Acts 9:31 – The size of the church (in the universal sense) multiplied.
Local church
- Galatians 1:21-24
- I Corinthians 1:1-3

Universal church

Jesus said He would build it – Matthew 16:18
Bought it with His blood – Acts 20:28
Loves it and gave Himself for it – Ephesians 5:25-29
Wants it pure, blameless, holy – Ephesians 5:27
Maintained in His word – John 17:17
His body – Romans 12:4-5

Church – body of Christ

We are not just individuals
Members of each other
One body – I Corinthians 10:16-24
Seek our neighbors’ good
Desire that all be pure – Colossians 1:21-23
All the saved are added to it – Acts 2:41, 47

Local church

Where all collective activities are undertaken – Acts 20:7
- Saints have much or most Christian associations – Acts 2:44-47
- Analogy of the body – I Corinthians 12:12-27
  - Baptized, obedient believer is member of the body
  - We all work together – Philippians 2:1-4
    - Single-minded purpose
    - Part of a whole, each member has a purpose, value – Ephesians 4:11-16

Bible 101: Original Meaning

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Colossians 2:21 – “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”
Colossians 2:20-22 – Context.

Consider the original meaning …

… in that culture.

Proverbs 31:31 – “let her works praise her in the gates”
- “Gates” was a common cultural idiom.
Matthew 5:20 – “scribes and Pharisees”
- Matthew 23:1-3; Mark 7:3 – More information about scribes and Pharisees and why Jesus rebuked them.
Matthew 18:17 – “as a Gentile and a tax collector”
- In that culture, Gentiles and tax collectors were hated and the Jews would not associate with them.

… to those people.

Jeremiah 29:11 – “… plans for welfare”
- The context is the exile in Babylon.
John 16:13 – “the Spirit … will guide you into all truth”
I Corinthians 7:27 – “Do not seek a wife.”

… using those words.

“Samaritan”
- This word has a good connotation today, but it didn’t then!
- John 4:9
- John 8:48 – They used it as a bad name to call someone!
“church”
- Acts 8:3 – The word church means “people.”
“fellowship”
“baptism”

Even if specifics have changed, find what is relevant to us.

Jeremiah 29:11
I Corinthians 14
- I Corinthians 14:5 – Our concern should be edification.
- I Corinthians 14:40 – Worship should be orderly.
II Timothy 3:15 – Young people can study scripture. The Old Testament is valuable to study.
None of the Bible was written to us, but it was written for us!

Beware of wild interpretations that stray from the original meaning.

Example: “Puff the Magic Dragon”
Example: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Daniel 4:23-25

Bringing it all together

Test case: Matthew 24
- Matthew 24:1-2 – The destruction of the temple was the context.
- Matthew 24:34 – The events would happen within the lifetime of those present. The temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., which fits the prophecy by Jesus.

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 12

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ecclesiastes 10:3-12:14
Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 – One’s wisdom does not always benefit him.
Ecclesiastes 10:8-11 – One does not always see the benefit of his hard work.
Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 – Having a lot to say does not mean one is wise.
Ecclesiastes 10:15 – A fool has trouble doing simple things and what he does accomplish is much more difficult.
Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 – The importance of kings and the influence of their leadership: a king should be a good steward and not lazy. Be careful what you say, even in private. Words have a way of getting out.
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 – Work and maybe you will see a return.
Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 – There is always an excuse not to work. If you focus too much on the risks, you will never do anything. See Proverbs 22:13.
Ecclesiastes 11:5-6 – Work because you don’t know what will prosper.
Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 – Enjoy the days of your youth!
Ecclesiastes 12:1 – Compare Genesis 8:1; Exodus 20:8; Jeremiah 15:15; 31:34. “Remember” is not just about mental recall. It’s about picking a direction of action.
Ecclesiastes 12:2-5 – Solomon may be figuratively talking about the ailments of old age.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 – Solomon ends where he began – vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 – Solomon left behind a tremendous body of work.
Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 – Books are wearying!
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – Solomon’s conclusion – fear God and keep His commandments. This applies to all of us.

Do You Need Another Reason NOT to Sin?

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates us from God.
Deuteronomy 6:24; I Timothy 4:8 – Not sinning is a benefit now and in eternity.

Sin invites trouble to my life!

II Samuel 11:2-15; 12:14 – David’s sin with Bathsheba.
- David caused the death of Uriah and of his infant child.
Hebrews 12:15-17 – Esau could never recover what he lost when he gave away his birthright.
Luke 13:4-5

Sin gives me a guilty conscience.

Genesis 42:21-22; 50:15
Matthew 27:3-5 – Judas hanged himself in guilt!
Hebrews 9:14
I Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8 – Paul carried his guilt of persecuting Christians the rest of his life.
I Timothy 1:15; Acts 24:16 – Paul tried to put his sin behind him the rest of his life.

Sin might ruin my conscience.

I Timothy 4:2
Titus 1:15 – It’s possible to defile your conscience.
Ephesians 4:17-19

Sin gets me into bad habits.

Acts 8:9-10, 18-19
Hebrews 10:25 – Missing worship can become a habit.

My sin affects others.

Galatians 2:11-13 – Barnabas was caught up in Peter’s hypocrisy.
Luke 17:1-2
Our lives are like ripples in a pond – we affect others.
Even if no one else is aware of your sin, you are a different person because of your sin. You are not as spiritually-minded as you could be otherwise.

Christian Attitudes, Part 19

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

People who disagree with us, continued

Remember who we are
- Correcting error
  - Part of what we do
  - Not who we are – Revelation 2:2-6
  - Seek opportunity to teach that first love
    - I John 4:19
    - Romans 5:6-8

Time

What is it? Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
- God’s creation – Genesis 1:1-5
  - His command
    - Against the Amorites – Joshua 10:10-14
    - As a sign for Hezekiah – II Kings 20:1-11
  - He is timeless – II Peter 3:8
  - It changes us, but does not change God – Hebrews 13:8
The gift of time
- Limited resource – Psalms 90:8-10
- Must use wisely – Ephesians 5:13-17
- Wise use brings better life – Ecclesiastes 12:1
- Don’t waste time when something needs doing!
  - Zaccheus - Luke 19:5-6
  - Shepherds – Luke 2:10-16
  - Philippian jailer – Acts 16:27-31
  - Joseph and Mary – Matthew 2:13-14
- Emulate their attitudes – Hebrews 4:7; 3:13

What’s Different About the Benchley Church?

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Thessalonians 2:16

We believe and practice what’s in the Bible – even the controversial stuff!

I Peter 3:21 – Baptism is required for salvation.
I Timothy 2:11-15 – Women are to be submissive in spiritual matters.
I Timothy 1:8-11 – Homosexuality is a sin.
Matthew 19:9 – Except in the case of adultery, divorce and remarriage is a sin.
James 2:24 – Man is not saved by faith alone.
John 6:59-66 – These beliefs make us less popular people, but that has always been the case for followers of Christ.

We organize ourselves as they did in the New Testament.

Philippians 1:1 – “saints … overseers and deacons”
- Saints just meant “Christians” in the New Testament.
- Deacon just means “servant.”
- Overseers also serve the church and watch out for people’s souls. Overseers are also called bishops, elders, presbyters, shepherds, or pastors. See I Peter 5:2.
  - People today often confuse the term “pastor” with “preacher.”
Acts 9:26-28 – “associate with the disciples”
I Corinthians 5:1-2 – The sinful man was to be removed from their group.

We believe God assigns unique work to local churches.

Churches provided for:
- Philippians 4:15-16 – teaching and preaching of the gospel
- I Corinthians 14:26 – worship and spiritual edification
- Acts 4:32-35 – needy Christians

We believe that nothing is more powerful than the love of Christ!

Romans 5:6-9; 6:4, 11

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 11

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ecclesiastes 8:1-10:2
Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 – How to interact with a king. Obey authority and try not to find yourself at odds with it. There may be a right time and place to try to influence the king (Ecclesiastes 8:5-6). Compare Esther asking the king for a favor (Esther 4:14).
Ecclesiastes 8:11 – Punish evil quickly or evil will be encouraged.
Ecclesiastes 8:12-15 – Compare Psalms 73. Sometimes good happens to wicked people and evil happens to good people. God will eventually make it right.
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 – This sounds like Solomon is tired. One man can’t know everything!
Ecclesiastes 9:1-9 – Death comes to everyone. Enjoy life with he one you love.

	Under the sun	In eternity (left unspoken here)
Fate of righteous and wicked	“same for all … one fate”	Luke 16:19, 31; John 5:28-29
The living	“there is hope … enjoy life … this is your reward”	Hebrews 9:27-28; I Thessalonians 4:16-18; Matthew 6:19-21
The dead	“the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward”	Luke 16:19-31; Philippians 2:9-11; Luke 23:43

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Work with all your might on earth because our life is the only chance we get!
Ecclesiastes 9:11 – Time and chance happens to all of us! It’s not fair. John the Baptist is a prime example of this!
Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 – Wisdom is good, but not always respected.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 – A little foolishness ruins a lot of good. See I Corinthians 5:6.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 – The right side is the side of protection and good. Compare Matthew 26:64.

Diagnosing Pride

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Proverbs 26:12
It is hard for us to see pride in ourselves. The pride keeps us from seeing it!

I hate apologizing.

Psalm 51:16

My worship is weak.

Luke 18:9-14 – The Pharisees’ worship was not acceptable! The tax collector’s worship was acceptable because he humbled himself before God.
We need to recognize our great need for God in our lives.
Psalms 32:1-6
There should be a desire in us to pray.
Colossians 3:16 – We will not sing with thankfulness if we are filled with pride!
I John 2:16

I keep thinking, “I should have a better life than this.”

Luke 1:30-31, 38 – Mary had a tremendously good attitude when such a responsibility was put before her!
Luke 17:7-10
When we have an unexpected opportunity arise to serve God, but we do not want to do it because it conflicts with our own plans, that is pride!
Philippians 4:11-13 – Paul leaned to be content!

I resist advice and teaching (that I really need).

Acts 17:18, 30-32 – Some sneered at Paul’s teaching.
Proverbs 15:5, 31-33 – It is not easy to listen to reproof.
Proverbs 9:8-9; 10:8; 11:2; 19:20; 23:22 – Listen to wise counsel!
Ecclesiastes 4:13
Jeremiah 9:23-24

Christian Attitudes, Part 18

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Old Testament Relevance

Was it relevant to people in the first century?
- First gospel sermon – Acts 2:16-21
- Other preaching and writings of apostles and inspired men
  - Acts 8:30-35; 18:24-28
  - Paul – Romans 1:1-4
  - Stephen – Acts 7:2-53
Relevant today?
- Romans 15:2-4 – The Old Testament was written for our instruction.
Its foretelling nature – Colossians 2:16-17
- From law to grace and truth – John 1:15-17
- Jesus and the pattern of the law – Hebrews 8:4-5; 9:8-12; 10:1
What does it offer us today?
- An extended story of salvation
- A history of God’s relationship with man
- Examples of God’s love for man
- Examples for us to follow
- Examples of what God loves and hates
- A much better understanding of the New Testament

People who disagree with us

Any examples in Bible?
- Rehoboam and Israel – I Kings 12:1-15
- Abram and Lot – Genesis 13:7-12; 14:10-16
- Paul and Barnabas concerning John (Mark) – Acts 15:36-40; I Timothy 4:11
- Paul and the Athenian idolaters – Acts 17:15-34

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12, Part 2

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:19
Matthew 6:31
I Timothy 6:11
II Timothy 2:22
I need to get to the point where I intensely desire to please God.

Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Ephesians 2:3-7
James 2:13 – God is watching how we treat others!
Matthew 9:10-13
I need to get to the point where I naturally and automatically look on other people with compassion.

Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Psalms 24:1-5
Matthew 23:27-28 – God has seen plenty of hypocritical people. He needs those who are pure in heart.
James 4:8
I need to get to the point where I am sincerely and completely devoted to God.

Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 10:34
Romans 5:1
Ephesians 2:11-18 – All can have peace with God and each other.
I need to get to the point where I look for opportunities to say things and influence people to think about their relationship with God.

Matthew 5:10-12 – Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness. …

Hebrews 11:35-38
I need to get to the point where I can face these sorts of threats and rejoice.

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 10

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ecclesiastes 5:10-7:29
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – No amount of money will give us true satisfaction.
Ecclesiastes 5:16 – We only die “naked” in the sense of earthly wealth. We should still be striving to build up spiritual wealth.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 – We should enjoy the satisfaction that God gives us in our earthly labors.
Ecclesiastes 6:1-12 – Solomon laments that man cannot enjoy his wealth on earth.
- Ecclesiastes 6:6 – All people die, so in that sense they go to the same place, but people go to different eternal places.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 – If you have a good reputation, the day of your death is better than the day of your birth because of the life you’ve lived.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 – Mourning over a death is good because it keeps us grounded.
Ecclesiastes 7:13 – Some things can’t be changed because that’s the way God made them.
Ecclesiastes 7:25-28 – See I Kings 11:3. This point of view could be from Solomon’s bad experience with women.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 – It’s not God’s fault that man went into sin!

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12, Part 1

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Things to remember

These are spiritual (not physical) character traits.
- Matthew 4:17, 23
- Matthew 6:19-20
“Blessed” = having God’s favor / happy
These are timeless instructions.

Matthew 5:3 – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Psalms 51:2-3, 8, 17 – David showed he was poor in spirit. The poor in spirit are those who realize they are in spiritual debt and are hopeless without God.
John 9:39-41 – These people needed to become poor in spirit.
Revelation 3:17

Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

I Corinthians 5:1-2 – The Corinthians should have mourned over their sin.
II Corinthians 12:21
James 4:8-10
Jeremiah 6:15
Romans 12:9
I need to get to the point where I am truly sad and sorry about my sin.

Matthew 5:5 – Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 11:29, 20-24 – Jesus was strong, but meek.
Matthew 21:12
Matthew 23:37
Meekness is strength under control.
“Inherit the earth?”
- Joshua 23:14 – It’s not referring to the land promise given to Abraham. That had already been fulfilled.
- It’s not talking about a future thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth.
- II Peter 3:7-14
- This must be referring to a spiritual place – a heavenly inheritance.
- I Peter 1:4
- I need to get to the point where I have my strength under control.

Christian Attitudes, Part 17

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Last week: forgiveness

Government

Authority comes from God

All authority comes from God – Ephesians 1:18-23
- Authority is under Him – Colossians 2:8-10
- Defying authority is to defy God – II Peter 2:9-10
He has ordained governments – Romans 13:1-7
- They have a purpose – Romans 13:4
- They may sustain themselves – Romans 13:6
- He expects that we submit to their rule – Romans 13:1

God reigns supreme

God and government don’t always agree
- Government sometimes usurps or conflicts
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3)
- Daniel (Daniel 6)
- Peter and other apostles (Acts 4)

For God’s purpose

The Exodus – Exodus 10:1-2
Cyrus – Isaiah 44:28-45:3; 46:8-11

Government service

Joseph
- Pharaoh’s bodyguard – Genesis 39:1-4
- For head jailer – Genesis 39:20-23
- Pharaoh’s number two – Genesis 41:41-44
Daniel
- Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 2:48-49
- Belshazzar – Daniel 5:29
- Darius – Daniel 6:1-2
- Cyrus – Daniel 6:28
Saul and David

Simon the Magician

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Claims vs truth

Acts 8:6-13 – Simon was practicing magic and claiming to be someone great.
Simon immediately saw there was a difference between what he was doing and what Philip was doing. It was real power and was not done to promote Philip himself.
It’s easy to claim anything, but people need truth.

It’s hard to kick old habits

Acts 8:14-24
Mark 16:16
Simon was saved through baptism, then sinned and needed to repent. This disproves the “once saved, always saved” doctrine. See Galatians 5:4; James 5:19-20.
Simon had built a reputation as a magician and was likely used to the attention.
Acts 8:21 – Simon’s problem was his heart.
I John 2:16

The gospel is for all

Acts 8:5, 12-13, 22 – Philip went to teach the Samaritans, a group hated by the Jews.
Galatians 3:28
You can find hope in the gospel.
Anyone can find hope in the gospel.
- Everybody has a soul!

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 9

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:10
Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 – Solomon sees life on earth as vanity. But if you bring eternity into the picture, it’s better to live even with suffering and enjoy eternity. Compare Luke 16:19-31; Romans 8:18. See also Psalms 73:1-3, 17, 26.
Ecclesiastes 4:5 – See Proverbs 6:10. The fool is lazy!
Ecclesiastes 4:6 – Over-work is also vanity. Moderation is key.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – Companionship is valuable!
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 – Power and influence don’t last. Beware of getting stuck in your ways as you age and refusing good advice.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 – Be careful what you promise, especially to God. Compare Ecclesiastes 6:12; 7:14; 9:1, 12; 10:14.
Ecclesiastes 5:7 – Be careful not to over-commit yourself, especially because we can’t control most circumstances. See James 4:13-15. Finish what you say you will!
Ecclesiastes 5:8 – Everybody has a boss!
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – Contentment is a state of mind – not an amount of money. See Philippians 4:11.

Experimenting With the All-in-the-Morning Format

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Is this authorized?

Mark 16:9; John 20:19; Acts 2:1, 41; I Corinthians 16:1; Acts 20:7 – The importance of the first day of the week. Only one day is specified as a special day under the New Covenant – the first day of the week.
I Corinthians 14:15
Colossians 3:16
Acts 20:7-12 – Are assemblies limited to certain hours? No.

Is this helpful?

I Corinthians 10:31, 23-24
Our purpose should be to glorify God and edify each other.
I Corinthians 11:20-22 – The same two principles applied to worship.
I Corinthians 14:1-4, 12, 26 – Let all things be done for edification.
The change in schedule is not an allowance for laziness!
Acts 2:42; 19:9; I Peter 2:2; Psalms 1:2 – God’s people desired to be zealous in study and worship.
More convenience does not make worship sinful.
Colossians 2:20-23 – Paul preached against the idea of depriving yourself to attain holiness.

Is this going to work?

Maintain brotherly love.

I Corinthians 13:1-3
Philippians 2:2-4

Give yourself a chance to get used to it.

Use the breaks.

Voice any concern with love.

I Peter 5:1-3

If this doesn’t work, blame David.

Conclusion

Hebrews 10:23-25

Christian Attitudes, Part 16

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Where does forgiveness come from?

Combination
- Change of mind (repentance)
- Request
- Desire to reconcile (Romans 12:18; II Peter 3:9; Colossians 3:12-13; Matthew 5:23-24
- Accessibility to the one forgiving (II Corinthians 5:18-20; Matthew 11:28-30; 23:37)

What it is not

Quid pro quo (Colossians 3:12-13)

How did Jesus forgive us?
What did it cost Him?
What did He want in return? (Acts 17:24-25)
- He wants our hearts and our love. He doesn’t need anything from us!

Forgetting

We remember our own sins (who can forget?)
- Learn (James 1:2-3)
- Gain strength against repeats.
Put them behind us – press on! (Philippians 3:13-14; I Timothy 1:12-14(

Avoiding the offender

Consider Peter and Jesus
- On the water (Matthew 14:26-31)
- Night of betrayal (Matthew 26:69-75)
- Attitude toward Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11-14)
- Jesus’ forgiveness foreseen and planned for (Luke 22:31-32)
- Relationship continually renewed
- No demotion
- Confidence given

For us toward others

We are not better than Jesus
Forgiveness for mending, not separating (Matthew 5:23-24)
His desire should be our desire

Making excuses for the forgiven

Accountable for their actions (Luke 19:8-9)
If forgiveness needed, offense must have occurred.
The devil didn’t make me do it.

Our attitude

Our great desire
- For our forgiveness
- To forgive others
- Forgiving brethren
- Ephesians 4:32
- We should be willing to out to others (I Peter 1:17-21; Ephesians 3:8-12)
- Be accessible so others can receive forgiveness (Revelation 3:20)

What Did Thomas Miss?

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Entitlement

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What I Owe This Congregation

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Christian Attitudes, Part 15

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Drawn to Jesus

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 12:32 – People would be drawn to Jesus at His crucifixion.
- John 12:12-36 – Context.
The world has always been drawn to Jesus.

His person

The character of Jesus draws people to Him.
His character was sinless.
- II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 5:14
- I Peter 1:22 – We must reach toward the bar set by Jesus.
His disposition was that of love.
- His message was that of hope.
- I John 4:8
- Mark 2:15
- Matthew 9:36
He had a personal acquaintance with God the Father.
- John 14:10-11
- John 10:30

His miracles

Matthew 4:24
Matthew 8:27
John 6:19
Matthew 14:21
Mark 5:22
John 20:30-31 – We don’t have record of all of Jesus’ miracles.

His teaching

It was different than what the teachers of the time taught. This difference drew people to Him.
Matthew 7:28-29
Matthew 13:1-2
Mark 2:1-2
Matthew 5:1-12 – Attitudes of moral character.

His faithfulness

Jesus is trustworthy!
Romans 5:6-8 – If Jesus would die for us, we can trust that He will do what he promised.
Matthew 26:36-44 – Jesus was faithful to His Father’s plan so that we can live.
Matthew 27:29-31
Luke 22:63
Mark 15:15
Philippians 2:8

His resurrection

He was raised and never died again.
I Corinthians 15:1-8 – People saw Jesus on earth after His resurrection.

His words

They were words of eternal life.
Matthew 19:16
John 6:62-66, 26-27, 67-70 – Jesus had the words of eternal life!
John 8:24
Luke 13:3
Matthew 10:32
Romans 10:10
John 3:3

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 8

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ecclesiastes 2:12-3:22
Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 – Following wisdom itself is helpful, but and end unto itself. See Ecclesiastes 9:13-16.
Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 – Hard work is not the secret to life either. Eventually the fruits of that labor will be left to someone else.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – See Jude 1:22-23. Different times call for different ways to help others. Compare Paul’s words in I Corinthians 5:5 and II Corinthians 2:7.
Ecclesiastes 3:10 – God has given us our work to be busy with.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – God allows us to glimpse eternity, but not see the full picture from end-to-end.
Ecclesiastes 3:17 – See Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:14. God will judge at the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 – How miserable life is without God! Earthly pursuits don’t bring fulfillment. We must learn from Solomon’s experiences.

Bible 101: Bible Translations

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

There are over 100 English translations of the Bible!
God intended for us to read and understand His word.
- Matthew 24:15 – “let the reader understand”
- Luke 10:26 – “how does it read”
- Ephesians 3:4

Translating isn’t as simple as it sounds

No translation is inspired or perfect.
- Example: Exodus 20:14 typo in “The Wicked Bible”, 1631 – “thou shalt commit adultery”
Languages change over time.
- When the King James Version first became available, some criticized it for being too easy to understand!
There is usually no word-for-word correspondence.
- Example: “Como se llama?” in Spanish:
  - “How yourself call?”
  - “How do you call yourself?” (Translation philosophy similar to the NASB.)
  - “What’s your name?” (Translation philosophy similar to the NIV.)
Grammar and word order are different.
- Example: John 3:16

Word-for-word		Thought-for-thought
KJV	CSB	NLT
NASB	NIV	NCV
NKJV	NET	GNT
ASV	NAB	CEV
ESV	NRSV	NIrV

Word-for-word translations aim to closely reflect the original.

Preserve the Holy Spirit’s phrasing
- I Kings 2:10 – ASV vs. NLT
- I Thessalonians 2:12 – NKJV vs. NLT
Make it easier to notice repetition
- “immediately” in Mark
- “abide” in I John (Compare I John 2:24 in NASB vs. NLT)
Let readers interpret for themselves
- I Thessalonians 4:3

Thought-for-thought translations aim to interpret the meaning of the original.

These translations are generally more readable and natural.
Acts 27:17 – Compare ESV vs NIV vs NLT.
Matthew 23:5 – Compare NASB vs NIV vs NLT.
Psalms 23:5 – Compare ESV vs. GNB.

My recommendation: Use several word-for-word translations as your main Bibles

KJV, NASB, NKJV, ASV, ESV

Compare some thought-for-thought translations to prompt deeper looks … just know what you’re reading!

I Timothy 5:22

Christian Attitudes, Part 14

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Notes on attitude

Not a class on compliance
No denial or need to comply – it’s necessary!
Seeking motivating attitudes
- Propel actions
- Meditation and consideration

Last class

Husband’s attitudes toward his wife
- Rooted in:
  - Love
  - Purpose
  - Service
  - Steadfastness
  - Sacrifice
- Jesus: the comparison and example (Ephesians 5:25-32)
  - John 3:13
  - Luke 9:21
  - I Timothy 2:5-6 – Jesus gave Himself for us.
Husband’s role
- Leader of his family – Ephesians 5:23
  - Position as head
  - Implies a following

Wife’s attitude toward husband

Who is the best leader?
- Great follower
- In subjection to:
  - Government authority – Romans 13:1-5
  - Family leaders set over us – Luke 2:51
  - Fellow workers in Christ – I Corinthians 16:15-16; Ephesians 5:21 (Galatians 2:4-5)
  - Our employers – Titus 2:9-10
  - Relationships of this life not undone under Christ
Qualities of a good follower
- Strives for excellence – I Peter 2:12; Proverbs 31:10
- Willing and eager to work – Proverbs 31:13
- Ready to help – Proverbs 31:11
  - Trusted adviser
  - Assistant, aide
- Optimistic toward the future – Proverbs 31:25
- Accepts responsibility
- Teaches from her experience to others – Titus 2:3-5
- Respectful – Ephesians 5:33
Respectful
- Has purpose – I Peter 3:1-6
  - In action (I Peter 3:2)
  - In attitude (I Peter 3:4)
  - In speech (I Peter 3:5-6 – direct and indirect)
- How is it shown?
  - Treatment of husband
  - Treatment of his family
  - Treatment of other people (reflects on husband)
Doctrinal conflict
- Underlying principal – God as ultimate authority
  - Supersedes all other considerations
    - Abigail and Nabal – I Samuel 25
    - Book of Daniel (Daniel 1, 3, 6)
    - Peter and John – Acts 5:29
  - Work with authority where able
  - Sway by behavior – I Peter 3:1-2
- Husbands – lead gently
  - No conversions at the point of the sword
    - Don’t abuse your authority

What a Christian Offers the World

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Matthew 5:13-16

Ethics

Definition: Moral principles that influence our behavior.
Galatians 1:10
Stick to God’s unchanging truths!
Ephesians 6:5-8
Psalms 15:1-5 – Would you want your employee to be like this? Your chief of police?
What God is prescribing causes us to be good people in the world.
Proverbs 23:23 – Hold to the truth!
Romans 14:11

Service

Mark 10:34-35
“I’m not here for attention or glory.”
“I’m here to work.”
Luke 17:7-10
What job is beneath a Christian?
John 13

Joy

Romans 12:15
Philippians 3:1
I Peter 4:13
Deuteronomy 28:47
Galatians 5:15-24
Acts 16:22-25
Philippians 1:1-5, 18-20
Christians should be joyful people!

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 7

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:17

Writer

The writer appears to be Solomon.
Solomon (971-931 BC): I Kings 1-11; II Chronicles 1-9
- Blessed with wisdom, riches, and honor (I Kings 3)
- Built temple (I Kings 6-8)
- Wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
- Women: 700 wives, 300 concubines, “turned his heart away” (I Kings 11:3)
- Last king of the united kingdom

Themes

Vanity / wind / evil / futility
Under the sun
- The scope of the book is life “under the sun.” That helps explain these strange statements (Ecclesiastes 4:2-3; 10:18).
Nothing new / things go in circles (Ecclesiastes 1:3-11)
Death (Ecclesiastes 2:14-16)
Hard work / possessions (Ecclesiastes 2:18-26)
Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)
Time / chance / random / unfair (Ecclesiastes 9:11)
Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)

Tone

Brutally realistic
Contrast with Proverbs

Proverbs	Ecclesiastes
Living according to God’s will tends to lead to a happier, healthier life …	… but not always.
Emphasize the rules.	Emphasizes the exceptions to the rules.
Solomon as the wise father giving optimistic advice about how to prosper and succeed.	Solomon as the cranky old grandfather who says, “Life’s hard, then you die.”
“In all labor there is profit …” (Proverbs 14:23)	“Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.” (Ecclesiastes 2:18)
“For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” (Proverbs 2:10)	“in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain” (Ecclesiastes 1:18)

Notes on the book

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 – Everything is circular and there is no progress.
- Ecclesiastes 1:7 – This seems to be a reference to the water cycle, which may be an example of scientific foreknowledge in the Bible.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 – Solomon did the experimentation, so we don’t have to. He explored by wisdom but found only vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – Solomon tried all sorts of pleasure, but never found fulfillment.
Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 – Wisdom is better than folly, but will not save you from death.

Worshipping in Song

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

“Making melody with your heart to God”

Ephesians 5:18-21
Matthew 12:34 – Singing is speaking to God, and this starts in the heart.
James 5:13
Colossians 3:16
Matthew 15:8-9
Matthew 18:35
Matthew 22:37
Songs are a beautiful way to combine truth and emotion.

“Praise to God”

Romans 15:7-12 – The unity all people have in singing praise to God.
Hebrews 2:11-12
Hebrews 13:10-16 – Through Jesus we can offer up praise to God.
Philippians 4:!8
Our singing is a sacrifice to God. Just like in the Old Testament, we must do it properly to be acceptable to Him.

“Sing with the mind”

I Corinthians 14:11-16, 26 – Worship should be understandable to yourself and other people.

“One another”

Colossians 3:15-17
Acts 16:25 – The prisoners were listening to them sing!
We have an effect on each other when we sing.

What Makes a Good Sermon or Bible Class?

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Truth

Speaker: Jeremiah 6:13-14; II Timothy 4:1-5
- Must speak the truth! Don’t cover up or ignore sin.
- See also Galatians 1:6-10.
Listener: Acts 17:11
- Examine the scriptures to verify the truth of the teaching.

Attitude

Speaker: Acts 20:18-24; Romans 10:1
- Teach with humility and concern for the souls of the listeners.
Listener: Nehemiah 8:1-8
- Listen with respect for God’s word. Don’t take His teaching lightly.

Motivation

Speaker: Ecclesiastes 12:11; I Corinthians 4:16-21
- Motivate the listeners to seek and obey God.
Listener: Acts 2:37; 17:21
- Acts on this motivation – don’t just traffic in idle words and theories.

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 6

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

God and Job

Job 38:1-7; 40:1

God’s sovereignty over creation (Job 38:1-39:30)

Dialogue between God and Job (Job 40:1-5)

Job immediately responded with humility.

God’s sovereignty over creation, continued (Job 40:6-41:34)

Compare Job 10:3, 17.
Introduction – Job 40:6-14
Behemoth – Job 40:15-24
Leviathan – Job 41:1-34
Behemoth and Leviathan could be extinct dinosaurs. (See https://apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=9&article=184 )
It’s very possible that leviathan was actually a fire-breathing animal. Many animals can eject various chemical as defense. One great example is the bombardier beetle (https://youtu.be/W3sxJNt8CYw ).

Job’s final response (Job 42:1-6)

Job repents and retracts his words.
Job 30:19-21 – This might be a place where Job went too far.

God’s conclusion (Job 42:7-17)

Job 42:7-8 – God refers to Job as His servant. Job’s right speaking here might be his repentance.
James 5:10-11 – The story of Job teaches us about God’s compassion and mercy.
Job’s role was to stay committed to God. That’s our role as well, regardless of what we face!

Perfection

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 19:28 – The word translated “perfect” is also translated as “accomplished” and “fulfilled.”
We must keep the word in its context.
- Matthew 5:43-48 – “Perfect” here means loving everyone.
- James 1:2 – Trials bring a state of maturity. This completeness is also a type of perfection.
- Hebrews 5:7-9, 14 – Jesus was made perfect. He perfected Himself by carrying out His mission.
- Philippians 3:11-16 – Paul wanted to be perfected in the sense of being resurrected. Christians can be perfect today in the sense of spiritual maturity.

My relationship with God

Matthew 22:37 – Martin Luther was racked with guilt and didn’t think he or anyone else could live up to this. He misunderstood perfection and God’s crace, thinking that God must just do everything for us.
Hebrews 9:1-14 – Our consciences can be perfectly cleansed today by the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 10:1-4, 10-14
I John 1:7 – The sacrifice has been made!
I John 2:1-2 – I can be perfect because I can partake of God’s perfect plan.

My relationship with myself

Isaiah 55:3, 7-9 – God’s thoughts are far above us.
Perfectionism can bring us down and lead us to procrastinate and be idle.
Robert Turner is a good example of a man who, although he preached God’s word for many years, was still plagued with self-doubt.
Haggai 2:3
We need to come to terms with our limits as humans.

My relationship with others

Luke 18:9-14
Self-righteousness ruins our relationship with others.
Ephesians 5:21
Romans 12:16
Romans 2:23
I Timothy 1:15 – Paul said he was chief among sinners!

Conclusion

Let us live with humility and an understanding that we need God.

Christian Attitudes, Part 13

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Last week

Giving – Jesus our example

Gave Himself – I Timothy 2:5-6
Left heaven – John 3:13
Served His creation – Matthew 20:25-28
Sacrificed His life – John 10:14-18

Importance of marriage relationship (Ephesians 5:25-33)

Ordained by God – Genesis 2:24 (not new in Ephesians 5:31)
Requires great knowledge of each other – John 10:14
Lasts for life – Matthew 19:6
Much like the most important spiritual relationship

Likeness of marriage

The marriage relationship is:
- Established in love
- Maintained in purpose
- Sustained in service
- Steadfast in all things
- Sealed in sacrifice

Marriage

Established in love

A commandment to husbands – Ephesians 5:1-2, 25
What kind of love?
- John 3:16
- Romans 5:8
- I John 4:8
- Much like “love your neighbor” from Luke 10:25-37

Maintained in purpose

What purpose?
- Ephesians 5:26-27
Similar figure in Revelation 21:2; Colossians 1:21-22
Requires God-ordained leadership – Colossians 3:18
- Relationship of one in subjection
- Similarity of Christ-church relationship
- Importance of respect – Ephesians 5:23
  - Two-way street
  - I Peter 3:7 – Compare uses of “honor” in I Peter 2:17.
- Leadership is gentle – I Peter 3:7
- Leadership is responsibility, not privilege.

Sustained in service

To become the greatest in a marriage – John 13:3-15
Comparison of Matthew 20:25-28; 23:11

Steadfast in all things

Example of Jesus’ steadfastness – Romans 8:38-39
Steadfastness in consistency – Hebrews 13:8

Sealed in sacrifice

Giving of self – Ephesians 5:25
- Time
- Effort
- Resources
- Love
- Consideration
- Respect
- Concern
- Ear

Unity and Peace

Sun, 30 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 17:20-21
Ephesians 4:1-3 – “unity of the spirit in the bond of peace”

Unity and peace among brethren

Psalms 131
Ephesians 4:13
Philippians 1:27; 2:2
Mark 9:50
Luke 1:79
John 16:33
Romans 8:6; 14:19
I Corinthians 14:13
II Corinthians 13:11
Galatians 5:22
Ephesians 6:15
I Thessalonians 5:13
II Timothy 2:22
Hebrews 12:14
I Peter 3:11
Jude 1:2
Philippians 4:7
John 17:23
I can be the source of unity and peace or of discord in the local church.

Lack of unity among believers produces infidelity

John 17:20-21
How God looks on one that causes disunity:
- Proverbs 6:16-19
How God looks on one who sows discord demands that we mark those that cause disunity.
- Romans 16:17

God’s platform for unity

Ephesians 4:1-7
I Corinthians 1:10
If we build our lives on God’s platform for unity, we will be acceptable to Him.

Things that are detrimental to unity.

III John 1:9 – Having our own way.
II Timothy 2:14 – Strife among brethren
James 3:5-6 – Uncontrolled tongues
I Corinthians 5:1-5 - Worldlines

Means of promoting unity and peace

Philippians 2:3-4 – Humility
I Corinthians 9:19-22 – Serving others
Ephesians 4:15
I Thessalonians 2:10

Unity, peace, and joy

Unity and peace will ultimately produce joy.
Philippians 4:1
Romans 12:12; Psalms 5:11; I John 1:4

Unity, peace, joy, and happiness

Matthew 25:46
I Thessalonians 4:13-17 – What happiness!

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 5

Sun, 30 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Job 32-37

Elihu’s speeches to Job

Job 32:3, 5, 12 – Elihu is not impressed with the words of Job’s three friends.
Job 33:8-11 – Elihu summarizes Job’s stated position so far.
Job 33:13-28 – Elihu points out that God has several ways of communicating with man.
Job 34:7-8 – Elihu accuses Job of evil and associating with sinners.
Job 34:9 – See Job 21:15.
Job 34:12 – God will not do wicked things!
Job 34:21-30 – God sees and punishes the wicked.
Job 34:31-37 – Elihu claims Job has spoken inappropriately.
- See Romans 3:23; 4:1-3.
Job 35:12 – Elihu claims God does not reply because of Job’s pride.
Job 37:14-24 – Elihu urges humility for Job. God is so far above us, we have no right to question Him.
I John 4:20 – God does not look kindly on those who malign one of His own.

Bible 101: Which Parts are Relevant to Us?

Sun, 30 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Dan Kimball, How Not to Read the Bible

God’s Laws Through the Ages

Genesis 1 – Laws for Patriarchs

Genesis 3; 6:14; 12
Genesis 4 – Cain and Abel presenting offerings, showing they had been instructed to do so.
Genesis 18:19

Exodus 20 – Law of Moses for Israel (Old Covenant)

Exodus 19:3-6
Deuteronomy 5:1-3
This was Gid’s law for Israel. It was specific to that group.

Prophets – Laws for Gentiles

Isaiah 13:1; 14:29; 15:1; 18:1; 19:1; 21:11, 13 – Examples of God giving instructions to Gentiles.
Jeremiah 46; Amos 1
Romans 4:15 – Without law, there is no sin.
Jonah 1:2 – The Ninevites evidently knew God’s laws.

Transition: Jesus Lived Under the Old Covenant, Taught the New Covenant

Matthew 5:17-18 – Jesus came to fulfill the law.
Matthew 4:23

Acts 2 – Law of Christ for ALL (New Covenant)

Hebrews 1:1-2
Acts 2:36-39
Acts 10 – Law is for Gentiles also!
- Acts 10:34-35
- Galatians 3:28
John 12:48 – Jesus’ law will carry on until the last day.
Romans 1:16

Study each passage in its context to determine its relevance to us.

Generally, the New Testament is for us, the Old Testament is not. But even that is an oversimplification.
Not everything in the Old Testament is irrelevant.
Not everything in the New Testament is an instruction for us.

Christian Attitudes, Part 12

Wed, 26 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Attitudes toward giving (continued)

Elements of giving, continued
- Planning
  - Giving should not be haphazard, but done with proper planning and management. II Corinthians 9:7
  - Demands thought, premeditation, intent
    - Strike a balance between church collection and charity
    - II Corinthians 8:13-14
  - Consider the gift itself
    - It’s ours – Acts 5:3-5
    - God placed it in our care
- Following through
  - Determining to do what we’ve purposed
    - Called to be steadfast – I Corinthians 15:58
    - Sign of maturity – Ephesians 4:14-16
  - Review and revise the plan
    - The OODA loop – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act
    - Incomes and circumstances change
    - Ability to “do less with more”
      - Learned trait
      - Comes with time, practice, and purpose
Individual charitable giving
- Who is needy? Psalms 41:1-3
- Where do we find them?
- What are they in need of? Isaiah 58:6-11; Romans 5:6
- Acts 4:7-10 – Jesus helped the helpless. We should stribe to do the same.
- How much to give?
  - According to need and ability.
  - Final rule is within the heart – II Corinthians 9:6-11
  - Example at the judgment – Matthew 25:32-46
  - Act of faith – James 2:15-17

Qualities We Want Our Kids to Develop

Sun, 23 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

II Peter 1:5-11

Moral excellence (virtue)

Philippians 2:19-23, 25-30 – Epaphroditus had been entrusted to carry money to Paul. Paul called him a “fellow worker.”
We want our children to be workers for the Lord. Don’t make excuses for your children to get them out of work for the Lord!

Knowledge

Colossians 1:3-10
Do our children know how to serve God?

Self-control (temperance)

I Corinthians 9:24-27 – Paul had to exercise self-control often in dealing with things that happened to him.
Our children need experience with self-control and self-denial.

Perseverance (patience, steadfastness)

Romans 5:3-4
We have to allow our children to persevere. They need opportunities to grow and build character.
I Corinthians 10:13
There is value in the struggle. The struggle causes us to grow!
If we jump in and help every time our children face a challenge, they will never develop perseverance.

Godliness

I Timothy 4:7-8; 6:3, 5-6, 11
Godliness is about dedication to God.
The most important thing is serving God!

Brotherly kindness

I John 4:5

Love

Romans 13:10

Conclusion

II Peter 1:8
Are we raising our kids so they will be useful to God?

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 4

Sun, 23 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Eliphaz (Job 22:1-30)

Eliphaz assumes God is punishing Job, which is a false assumption. He insists that Job needs to repent and get right with God. Be careful what you assume! Starting with a false premise leads to error.

Job (Job 23:1-24:25)

Job 23:1-9 – Job longs to speak to God.
Job 23:12-17 – Job still has his faith in God, but is dismayed and confused.
Job 24:1-12 – Job complains that it seems God doesn’t care about punishing sin.
Job 24:18-25 – Job acknowledges that the wicked finally meet their end.

Bildad (Job 25:1-6)

God is so perfect and glorious that no human can stand before Him.

Job (Job 26:1-31:40)

Job 26:1-4 – Job is not impressed with his friends!
Job 27:7-23 – Job still sees justice in the world.
Job 28:1-28 – Wisdom is not a physical item that can be mined from the earth.
- Job 28:23-28 – God understands wisdom. Fearing God is wisdom!
Job’s friends had less confidence in Job than God did. We should strive to have God’s confidence, not that of our friends. We should also show the kind of confidence in God that Job did!
Job 29:1-2 – Job longs for the good ol’ days.
Job 31:1-40 – Job declares his innocence in various ways.

Confidence Through Grace

Sun, 23 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What does the scripture say?

I John 1
“Grace means I don’t have to do anything!”
- I John 1:5-6; 2:3-6
- Hebrews 5:9
- This is a wrong conclusion!
“Grace means I know/do everything perfectly!”
- I John 1:8, 10; Luke 18:9-14
- This is also a wrong conclusion!
“Grace means I walk in the light and have fellowship with Him.”
- I John 1:7-9
- Romans 6:4; Colossians 3:1; II Peter 1:8
- Walking in light vs darkness
  - I John 2:1
  - Examples of walking in the light
    - Acts 2:41 – Jewish misunderstanding abounded, but they were saved that day! They still needed to grow.
    - Acts 16:32-34 – The jailer rejoiced in his salvation even though he had much growing to do.
    - I Corinthians 1:1-9 – The Corinthians still had plenty of problems to solve, but they were sanctified in Christ Jesus. I Corinthians 15:1-2
    - Colossians 1:9; 2:20-22 – They still needed to learn and grow! They also had some false practices to clean up. Colossians 1:3-5
    - I Thessalonians 1:2-3, 9-10 – Judgment was a comforting thought to the Thessalonians. They had confidence in their salvation. They were recovering idolaters, but they had hope!

So have confidence!

I John 2:28; 4:17 – If we are constantly fretting about the judgment, something is wrong!
Romans 4:1-8 – Abraham’s belief saved him – not his good deeds.

Christian Attitudes, Part 11

Wed, 19 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Review of last lesson

Attitudes toward money
- Matthew 6:24
- Luke 18:24
- We should be actively seeking God - not riches.

Attitudes toward giving

Five basic elements:
- Need
  - Communicated to giver – Acts 11:22-30
  - Recognized – Luke 7:12-15; 10:33
  - Results – Exodus 36:2-6
- Desire
  - To follow the example of Jesus
  - To be like God – Acts 14:15-17
  - To join into the fellowship of giving – II Corinthians 8:3-5
- Prosperity
  - Our giving comes from this – I Corinthians 16:2
  - Recognize when you’ve prospered.
    - It is sufficiently.
    - It is not necessarily riches.
    - Part of sufficiency is “sufficient to give.”
  - Don’t make yourself needy by your giving – II Corinthians 8:12-13
  - As much attitude as amount
    - We should desire excellence.
    - II Corinthians 8:7

Romans 1-3: I’m Guilty and Need Christ

Sun, 16 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Everybody’s guilty of sin.

Romans 1:18, 25, 29-32 – God gives us free will, but He is not happy about our sinful behavior.
Stop pretending you’re perfect!

We try to squirm out of our guilt.

Deny everything: “God doesn’t even exist!”
- Romans 1:20
Finger-pointing hypocrisy: “Yeah, those sinners sure are bad. Give it to ‘em, Paul!”
- Romans 2:1-5 – God is an impartial judge.
Religious hypocrisy: “Sure you don’t mean me? I’m a guiding light, a corrector, a teacher!”
- Romans 2:17-24 – Sin is sin no matter who does it. When people are religious hypocrites, they cause others to blaspheme God.

What must we do?

Acknowledge our guilt.
- Romans 3:9, 23 – All have sinned!
- Romans 3:10-18 – Paul quotes the Old Testament saying the same thing!
Put our faith in Christ!
- Romans 3:21-28

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 3

Sun, 16 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Job 15:1-21:34

Eliphaz (Job 15:1-35)

Eliphaz is not convinced by Job’s rebuttals. He again tries to point to Job as a wicked man.

Job (Job 16:1-17:16)

Job is not impressed with his friends’ words!
Job 16:7-18 – Job sees God as both his comforter and his tormentor.
Job 17:1-16 – Job anticipates death as the end to his suffering.

Bildad (Job 18:1-21)

Bildad also tries to characterize Job as wicked.

Job (Job 19:1-29)

Job 19:13-19 – Job’s family and servants even turned away from him.
Job 19:21 – Job was starved for love and compassion.
Job 19:25-27 – Job still has faith in God!

Zophar (Job 20:1-29)

Zophar again rebukes Job and tried to claim he is a wicked man.

Job (Job 21:1-34)

Job points out that the wicked do prosper!
Matthew 23:5-7

The Role of Satan

In all these speeches, no one mentioned Satan, the real source of all this!
Job 1:11
II Corinthians 11:1-4 – Satan is deceptive! He’s been telling lies and trying to trick people since the beginning.

Paul’s Sermon in Athens (Acts 17)

Sun, 16 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Acts 17:22-31

Seek God

Acts 17:27
Athens was a city full of idols (Acts 17:16). The Parthenon, Erectheion, and other temples were everywhere!
Psalms 51:17 – God has always wanted a humble heart.
II Chronicles 6:18 – Man’s service to God is about the heart. God even tore down the temple when Israel turned from Him!
God created us so we would seek Him! (Acts 17:27)

Develop confidence in this universal truth

Acts 17:23-24, 26, 28, 17-18 – God is universal. Paul does not describe Him as the Hebrew God, but as the God. God created us all and we are all His children.
Acts 17:31 – God will judge all the nations. See Matthew 25:32. God gave proof in Jesus’ resurrection.

Don’t let others discourage us.

Acts 17:18, 32 – The philosophers sneered at Paul!
Romans 1:15-16 – Paul was eager to preach and was not ashamed of the gospel.

Wisdom and Folly

Wed, 12 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Proverbs 9; Psalm 73

Proverbs 9

Two women are described: Wisdom and Folly.
Proverbs 9:1-12
- The woman Wisdom desires a relationship. She wants people to come and learn. Compare John 9:35; Revelation 22:17; Matthew 5:6; Proverbs 10:17; 4:11
- When seeking wisdom, you can walk with no one wiser than Christ. Colossians 2:3
- Proverbs 9:3-6 – The woman sends out messengers to invite people to wisdom. Compare Luke 14:16; II Corinthians 5:20; Luke 11:49; I Corinthians 2:6
  - Romans 10:14 – God sends out His messengers.
  - See Psalms 119:130. To respond, we must turn to God’s Word.
Proverbs 9:13-18 – The invitation of the woman of folly (the wisdom of the world).
- I Corinthians 1:20
- Proverbs 7:10 – Foolishness is loud and rebellious.

Psalm 73

Psalms 73:16 – The writer was invited to wisdom.
Psalms 73:2-6 – The writer saw the allure of worldly wealth.
Psalms 73:16-19 – The writer came to understand the end of the rich. See Matthew 16:26; 13:22. God’s wisdom was the right path.

Conclusion: Seek Wisdom

I Corinthians 10:21; Proverbs 1:24-33 – Wisdom is not pleased with rejection.

Q & A

Sun, 09 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Joshua 4:4-7

Who were the Nephilim?

Numbers 13:33; Genesis 6:4
Genesis 6:1-4 – Descendants of men and angels?
- Matthew 22:29 – No. Angels don’t marry!
Who were the sons of God? Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7
- They were not necessarily referring to celestial angels. In this context, the phrase probably means, “godly men.”
Numbers 13:32
II Samuel 21:20-22 – There are several mentions of physically unusual people in the Bible.
We aren’t told much about the Nephilim in particular. We do know that the Bible is reliable. It is not a book of fairytales!

Does it matter what order you partake in the bread and fruit of the vine?

Matthew 26:22-29; Mark 14:22-24; I Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 22:14-20
- Luke 22:17 – The “cup” could simply be the Passover Feast. Luke could also be mentioning the cup of the Lord’s Supper before it actually happened chronologically.
General rule: Always interpret difficult passages in light of easier ones.
Do we have to follow every detail in spiritual examples?
- No. We must follow the parts othe example that are significant to God.

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 2

Sun, 09 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Eliphaz (Job 4:1-5:27)

Teman was a city in Edom known for its wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7).
Job 4:6-8 – Eliphaz implies that Job is in the wrong.
Job’s friends don’t know what they are talking about. They don’t know about God and Satan’s conversations. These speeches are a small sample of the ignorant words that God has to listen to from humans every day!
Job 4:12-21 – Eliphaz claims to have had a dream or vision.
Job 5:8-16 – Eliphaz advises Job to seek God.
Job 5:17 – Eliphaz says Job should appreciate God’s discipline.

Job (Job 6:1-7:21)

Job 6:9-10 – Even though Job still wishes for death, he is still thankful that he did not forsake God.
Job 6:11; 7:6-10 – Job saw no hope in his future.
Job 6:24; 7:20 – Job doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. He’s confused about why he is suffering. This confusion also contributes to his suffering.
Job 7:11-21 – Job expresses his frustration to God.

Bildad (Job 8:1-22)

Job 8:3-6 – Bildad has similar advise to Eliphaz – somehow Job is at fault.

Job (Job 9:1-10:22)

Job 9:1-13 – God is powerful and sovereign!
Job 9:13 – What does Rahab mean here?
Job 9:32-10:2 – Job wished to have a dialogue with God. He wanted answers!

Zophar (Job 11:1-20)

Job 11:13-20 – Zophar tells Job to put away his sins.

Job (Job 12:1-14:22)

Job 12:1-3; 13:4-5, 12 – Job thought the words of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were useless. He responds with sarcasm.
Job 13:3, 22 – Job wants to speak with God.
Job 13:15 – Job trusted in God despite his troubles.
Job 14:1-2 – Job was quite pessimistic at this point.

Worry

Sun, 09 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Jeremiah 8:11 – There are some spiritual things we need to worry about.
Revelation 3:17
II Corinthians 2:4
II Corinthians 11:28 – Paul’s daily concern for all the churches.

Matthew 6:19-25 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.”

If my focus is on physical things rather than spiritual, I will always be plagued with worry!
We must fix our hope on God.
Matthew 6:24 – A divided allegiance is impossible!
Matthew 13:22
Luke 10:40-42 – We are like Martha too often – caught up in mundane things of the world.

Matthew 6:25-30 – “You of little faith!”

God provides for us!
Mark 14:7
Luke 12:31-32
Philippians 4:6 – Don’t let anxiety consume you!
Philippians 1:12-14 – Paul was in jail and could have worried endlessly, but instead he worked for Christ. People took courage because of his imprisonment!

Matthew 6:31-34 – “So do not worry about tomorrow.”

Matthew 6:27 – Worry doesn’t fix things!
Matthew 23:37 – Even Jesus could only do His part and leave the rest. We still have the final decision to obey or not.

“He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear”

Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew 11:15
Luke 8:18 – Take heed how you hear.
Acts 2:11
Acts 2:32-33, 36 – They could know for certain that God made Jesus Lord and Christ because of what they had seen and heard.
Acts 2:37 – See Romans 10:14.
Hebrews 4:2
Hebrews 3:7 – Hardening of heart will cause us not to hear.
Zechariah 7:11
Hearing involves:
- Listening carefully with an open and honest heart.
- Comprehending
- Being prompted to action
Mark 4:24 – Take heed what you hear.
- Romans 10:17 – Hear the word of God
- Matthew 17:5
- Hebrews 1:1; 2:1
- Matthew 15:10
- Luke 15:1; 5:1
We need to discern what we hear.
Hearing prompts a response.
The word of God is a great blessing!
- Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:27-28; Luke 10:23-24
Hearing involves reading and understanding.
- Galatians 4:21
- Ephesians 3:1-4 – When we read, we can understand.
Seeing also helps us hear and understand.
- Romans 1:20
John 9:31
John 8:47
Matthew 6:7 – Speaking many words to God doesn’t necessarily mean you will be heard.
Zechariah 7:13
Matthew 13:1-8 – Parable of the sower. People have different responses when hearing the gospel.
I Timothy 4:!6

Job and Ecclesiastes, Part 1

Sun, 02 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Job 1

Job 1:1-5 – See Ezekiel 14:12-16, 18-20. Job was doing everything he could to make sure he and his family were on good terms and God. Ezekiel references Job as a faithful man.
Job 1:6-12 – Who were the sons of God? Compare Job 38:7.
Job 1:13-22 – Immediately after all the bad news, Job worshipped God.

Job 2

Job 2:1-10 – Satan brings physical misery on Job. Job still refuses to curse God. See Job 38:1; 40:1-4; 42:6-7
- Job 2:6 – Note that Satan is neither omniscient nor omnipotent.
Job 2:11-13 – Job’s three friends arrive and sit with him. See John 9:1-3; Luke 13:1-5. We can’t presume to know why God does various things or allows them to happen.

Job 3

Job 3:1-26 – Job is in anguish, wishing he’d never been born.

Developing Spiritual Love

Sun, 02 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Love the Lord

Luke 9:57-62 – Jesus can tell the difference between reasons and excuses!
Luke 5:27-28 – Levi got up and left when called! He did not make excuses.
We probably wouldn’t say we don’t love God, but we would make excuses and procrastinate in serving God.
Luke 9:23 – We must deny ourselves to serve God!
Don’t lie to yourself and say you love God if you are not serving Him now!

Love the brethren

Acts 16:1 – Timothy went all over with Paul.
II Timothy 3:10-11 – Timothy had seen persecution.
I Timothy 5:1-4; 6:17 – Timothy would be dealing with all sorts of people. He was to love and serve all of them.
II Timothy 2:23 – Timothy’s role – love.
We need to develop a sincere love for all the brethren.
We should focus on what unites us – our faith in Jesus.

Love the truth

II Corinthians 10:1, 11, 2-6 – Verse 1 might be sarcasm from Paul. He certainly was not timid in person when it came to defending God’s word!
I Corinthians 2:1-5 – Paul came not with wisdom of men.
Romans 1:!6
II Thessalonians 3:10

Preventing “Another” Generation

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Judges 2:6-10 – “know” means to regard or esteem God. They knew of God, but did not esteem Him.
Apostasy doesn’t happen overnight. It often happens after years of unaddressed spiritual problems.
Apostasy often has outside help. Possibly even parents and elders.

Things that can produce “another” generation

Young people not encouraged to ask “why”

Acts 17:11 – This advice is good for others and for us.
John 20:24-25
- There are two kinds of doubt:
  - “I doubt it!” – refusal to budge from a position
  - “I doubt it?” – honest doubt seeking answers
- Thomas had the right kind of doubt. He was willing to believe, but wanted reason to.
Paul Little, paraphrased – Children who ask questions to adults with a high shock index are quickly taken aback by their reaction and switch to towing the party line. They quietly wait until the pressure to conform is reduced and then leave a faith that was never really their own.

Pressure to become a Christian

Galatians 4:19
We can’t force people to be Christians. We should be leading people to Christ.
Even after people are baptized, don’t leave them. Help them grow.
I Peter 3:15
We need more real disciples of Christ!
Luke 17:20-21 – The kingdom of God is within you! Kingdom here means the rule of God in your heart.

Self-righteous people

Luke 18:9
II Corinthians 10:12

Hypocrites

Romans 2:17-24 – The name of the Lord was blasphemed because of their hypocrisy!
Little eyes and ears pick up on hypocrisy and it can stay with them for years.
Galatians 5:13-15 – Don’t bite and devour each other!

Romans 1

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Romans 1

Evidence from Jesus That the Old Testament is God’s Word

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 3:15-16 – “to give an answer” – apologia – “verbal defense, a speech in defense”
Jesus was an actual historical being.
Jesus is the reason …
- I believe in God.
- I believe the Old Testament is a revelation from God.
Three things make the Old Testament unique.
- Claims of inspiration
- Claims of prophecy
- Claims of miraculous historical events
What is the best evidence that these claims are valid?

Jesus and Old Testament inspiration

II Peter 1:20-21
Luke 24:44-45 – “Scriptures” here refers to the Old Testament
The Old Testament was viewed as three parts:
- The Law of Moses – Genesis through Deuteronomy
- The Prophets – Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 minor prophets
- The Psalms – Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentation, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles

Claims of inspiration in the law

Exodus 24:4; Leviticus 1:1; Numbers 1:1; Deuteronomy 4:2

Claims of inspiration in the prophets

“Thus says the Lord” – 3,308 times!
Zechariah 7:12; Nehemiah 9:30

Claims of inspiration in the psalms

Acts 1:!6 – the Holy Spirit spoke by David
Psalms 95:7, referenced in Hebrews 3:7
Psalms 45:6, referenced in Hebrews 1:8
Psalms 102:23, 27, referenced in Hebrews 1:10-12
Spoken to you by God – Matthew 27:31-32 refers to Exodus 3:6
The scripture says
- John 6:42 is the same as “God says,” Micah 5:2; 1:1
David in the Spirit
- Jesus quotes David, Psalms 110:1, and says he was “in the spirit,” Matthew 22:43
Jesus quoted from each of the three sections.

Jesus and Old Testament prophecy

Matthew 24:15 – Daniel the prophet

Prophet

Fulfillment

Date B.C.

David – Psalms 41:9

John 13:18

1,000

Isaiah – Isaiah 61:1; 6:9-10

Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 13:14-15

750

Daniel – Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11

Matthew 24:15

605-530

Zechariah – Zechariah 13:7

Matthew 26:31

520

Malachi – Malachi 3:1

Matthew 11:10

445-432

Prophecies in the book of Daniel

605 B.C

549 B.C.

547 B.C.

506 B.C.

Daniel 2:36

Daniel 7:4

Babylon, 626-539 B.C.

Daniel 2:39

Daniel 7:5

Daniel 8:3, 4, 20

Daniel 11:1-2

Media-Persia, 5390330 B.C.

Daniel 2:39

Daniel 7:6

Daniel 8:5, 21-22

Daniel 11:3-4

Greece, 330-63 B.C.

Alexander the Great

Daniel 11:5

Egypt, 323 B.C.

Daniel 11:6

Syria, 204 B.C.

Daniel 8:23-25

Daniel 11:21-35

Antiochus Epiphanes, 175 B.C.

Daniel 11:32-35

Maccabees, 168 B.C.

Daniel 2:40

Daniel 7:7-8, 24-25

Daniel 11:36-45

Rome, 63 B.C.

Daniel 2:44

God’s kingdom, 33 A.D.

Media-Persia

Daniel’s first prophecy of Media-Persia – 605 B.C.
Media-Persia ascended to prominence – 539 B.C.
605-539: 66 years prior to fulfillment

Greece

Daniel’s first prophecy of Greece – 605 B.C.
Greece ascended to prominence – 330 B.C.
605-330: 275 years prior to fulfillment

Alexander the Great

Daniel’s first prophecy of Alexander the Great – 547 B.C.
Alexander the Great ascended to prominence – 330 B.C.
547-330: 217 years prior to fulfillment

Rome

Daniel’s first prophecy of Rome – 605 B.C.
Rome ascended to prominence – 27 B.C.
605-27: 578 years prior to fulfillment

Jesus and Old Testament historical events

The preaching of Jonah – Luke 11:32

Old Testament events

Jesus’ reference

Creation – Genesis 1-2

Mark 13:19

Ark and flood – Genesis 6-8

Matthew 24:37-39

Sodom/Gomorrah – Genesis 19

Luke 17:29

Lot’s wife – Genesis 19

Luke 17:32

Manna – Exodus 16

John 6:31-32

Brazen serpent – Numbers 21

John 3:14

Jonah and fish – Jonah 1-2

Matthew 12:39-41

Conclusion

Was Jesus wrong about
- Old Testament claims of inspiration?
- Old Testament claims of prophetic messages?
- Old Testament claims of miraculous historical events?
Did He know better and was lying?
Did He think they were true and was a fool?
Was He sane and telling the truth?
To believe in the sanity and veracity of Jesus is to believe God is the Divine author of the Old Testament.

Evidence from Jesus That There Is a God

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 3:15-16 – “to give an answer” – apologia – “verbal defense, a speech in defense”
Why do you believe in …
- In God?
- In the Old Testament?
- In the New Testament?
- Jesus is the reason!

Jesus really lived

Secular documents – Josephus
New Testament documents

Does God exist? The best evidence.

Subjective evidence

“You ask me how I know he lives, He lives within my heart.” – This is not a good reason to believe in Jesus!
The atheist simply responds that he knows Jesus does not live because Jesus does not live in his heart.

Objective evidence

Cosmological evidence – cause and effect
- Hebrews 3:4
Teleological – design and designer
- Romans 1:19-20
Empirical – an appeal to the five senses

The importance of empirical evidence – John

John 1:1-3, 14 – God became flesh. We have empirical evidence!
I John 1:1-3

The importance of empirical evidence – Jesus

John 12:44-45 – When one looks at Jesus, he sees empirical evidence of God the Father.
John 14:8-10 – Seeing Jesus = seeing the Father

Jesus is the reason I believe in God

Jesus’ claims

I John 1:3
“I AM” – John 6:35, 48, 51; 7:29; 8:12, 23-24, 28, 58; 9:5; 10:7, 11, 36; 11:25; 14:6, 10-11, 20; 15:1
- The light of the world – John 8:12
- From above, not of this world – Hebrews 9:23-24, 28
- I AM, John 8:58 (“I AM” is the root of the word Jehovah)
Equality with God – John 5:17-18; 14:9
Sinlessness – John 8:46
Eternal – John 8:58; 17:5
Miracles – Matthew 11:26; John 5:36; 10:25
Forgive sins – Mark 2:5
Accepted worship – Matthew 8:2
Come to Father by Him – John 14:6
Eternal life through Him – John 3:15
Resurrection
- Would be the sign that would validate all His claims and deeds. Matthew 12:38-40; John 2:18-22
- Repeatedly said He would arise from the grave. Matthew 12:38-40; 16:21; 17:9, 23; 20:19; 26:32; Mark 8:31; 9:9, 31; 10:34; 14:28; Luke 9:22; 18:33; John 2:18-22; 10:18
- He claimed that He had arisen. Luke 24:46; Revelation 1:18; 2:8

Jesus’ miracles

I John 1:3
“The only way we can know whether an event can occur is to see whether in fact it has occurred. The problem of ‘miracles’ then, must be solved in the realm of historical investigation, not in the realm of philosophical speculation.” – John Warwick Montgomery, History and Christianity
Water to wine – John 2:1-11
Healing lame man – John 5:1-9
Healing nobleman’s sons – John 4:46-54
Feeding five thousand – John 6:1-14
Walking on water – John 6:16-21
Healing blind man – John 9:1-12
Raising Lazarus – John 11:39-44

If claims and miracles were false

Did Jesus know they were false? Then He was a liar.
Did Jesus sincerely believe them to be true? Then He was mentally disturbed.

If claims and miracles were true

John 20:27-28 – Empirical evidence! Thomas believed. “My Lord and my God!”

If Lord and God

Luke 6:46

Conclusion

Major premise: If God has been seen, God is.
Minor premise: God has been seen in the person of the historical Jesus.
Conclusion: Therefore, God is.

Jeremiah

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Hebrews 11:32-34

Jeremiah’s work

Jeremiah began prophesying when Josiah was king and prophesied for about 50 years.
Jeremiah 1:10 – The majority of Jeremiah’s work was relaying negative messages from God. This certainly must have been tiring for Jeremiah to constantly warn and prophesy doom with only a few positive messages sprinkled in.

Jeremiah’s struggles

Jeremiah 15:16-17 – Jeremiah would have to work alone.
Jeremiah 18:18, 22; 11:19 – Enemies devised schemes against Jeremiah, some of which he was ignorant of.
Jeremiah 20:7; 12:6 – Jeremiah was mocked and laughed at – even by his own family!
Jeremiah 38:6; 37:15-16; 20:2 – Jeremiah was put into the bottom of a dry well. He was imprisoned, beaten, and put in stocks.
Jeremiah 4:10; 15:8; 20:14-18 – How did Jeremiah respond? He wished he had not been born to see such awful things.
Jeremiah 6:10; 9:2 – Jeremiah expressed skepticism. He wanted to quit!
Jeremiah 12:1 – When Jeremiah struggled with moments of weakness, he talked to God.
Jeremiah 20:7-9 – Jeremiah wanted to quit but could not.

How Jeremiah rose above his struggles

Jeremiah 10:6-7; 16:19; 20:11 – In the end, Jeremiah praised God!
Psalms 73:1-5, 13-17 – David despaired of the evil done to the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked. But then he saw the end that was coming for the wicked.

Application for us

Take your concerns to God and don’t give up!

I Thessalonians 5:19-22

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Acts 17:11
I Thessalonians 5:19-22
- All five of the statements in this verse are related. They are not independent thoughts.
- v19
  - See Acts 7:51. Moses commanded through writings.
  - Do not extinguish the message from the Holy Spirit.
  - The two most important words in Bible study: Keep reading! Verse 20 explains verse 19.
- v20
  - Prophecy often means foretelling future events. It can also mean simply telling the mind of God. It can mean both foretelling and “forthtelling.”
  - See Jeremiah 36:19-26
- v21
  - The meaning of “all things” is context dependent. It very rarely means absolutely all things.
  - I John 4:1 – Check to see whether people and messages are from God!
  - When we find something to be from God, we should hold tight to it. Proverbs 23:23
- v22
  - “Evil” here refers to teaching that we examine and determine is not good. We should stay away from the teaching. It is not saying we have to literally avoid everything that appears to be evil. That is impossible and Jesus did not even do it.
- Compare I Corinthians 15:33. The context is false teaching on the resurrection. The “bad company” are the false teachers on the resurrection. If you listen to them and believe there is no resurrection and no accountability, you will start acting like it!

Saved Like Timothy

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What must I do to be saved?

II Timothy 3:14-15 – What were these scriptures that Timothy knew? It was the Old Testament! This was sufficient to lead Timothy to salvation.
James 2:21-22 – Works here = obedience. The way we see Abraham’s faith is by his obedience. Your faith is evident not by just what you say but by what you do.
- Genesis 22:1-14 – God had promised Abraham a son for 25 years, which he finally had at the age of 100. God then asked Abraham to sacrifice that same son, which surely made no sense to Abraham. God got the sacrifice He wanted – He wanted to see that Abraham was willing to make a great sacrifice to serve Him.

Three things that Abraham sacrificed and that we must also sacrifice

His logic

II Kings 5:10-14 – Naaman was told to do an illogical thing!

His emotions

Abraham knew that sacrificing his son would not be quick and painless.
Matthew 10:34-38 – We may have to sacrifice relationships to serve God, even in our own family.

His will

Matthew 16:24 – We must give up ourselves – let God rule our lives.
This is what was instilled in Timothy and must be instilled in us.

Christian Attitudes, Part 10

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

About fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)

There is no general command for fasting in the Old Testament or New Testament. Some specific groups were commanded to fast at particular times. Other times it was done voluntarily.
Keep it clean
- Fasting is not to be done for show. God will not accept it as spiritual service if it is done for show.
What about fasting?
- Self-denial with purpose – Isaiah 58:3-7
  - Isaiah warned about fasting without dedication.
- Devotion to prayer
  - Command
  - Necessity
  - Authorization
  - Practicality

Worry and service (Matthew 6:19-34)

What is prioritized? Matthew 6:19-20
What is exclusive? Matthew 6:24
Are these related?
Concern vs. worry:
- Concern motivates you to address the problem. Worry only makes the problem seem worse without actually doing anything to fix it.
Exclusivity demonstrated by Moses – Hebrews 11:24-26
Choose the right priority
- The rest will fall into place.
- II Corinthians 9:10 – As we do good, God increases our capacity for doing good.

Obsess over wealth?

Don’t obsess – God is in control, not us.
- Add a cubit?
- Add an hour?
Necessity of money
- “Make” a living
- Share
Wealth is neither evil nor virtuous
- Abraham – Romans 4:9-16; Genesis 13:2
- Daniel

Galatians 6

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Galatians 1:1-5

Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-10)

Galatians 5:17 – Desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:15, 19-21, 26 – Fruits of the flesh.
Galatians 5:13-14, 22-24 – Fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 6:1-10 – Will you really love your neighbor and help when they need it? The helper and the helped have fellowship together in Christ and both benefit.
- Galatians 6:10 has often been used in the past to support the idea of unlimited benevolence using church funds. Money is not really in this context at all – this is about helping those in sin.

Boast … in the cross (Galatians 6:11-16)

Circumcision was a big deal under the Law of Moses, but now it was no longer a part of service to God. This was not easy for many to give up!
Galatians 5:1-6
Galatians 2:12-13
Galatians 5:4
Galatians 1:8
Ephesians 4:22-24
I Corinthians 7:19
Galatians 6:12, 14

The brand-marks of Christ (Galatians 6:17-18)

Paul was not popular for preaching Jesus.
Galatians 5:11; 1:10
II Corinthians 11:23-27 – Paul took a lot of punishment for preaching Jesus. This is the courage we should have!
Acts 14:19
II Timothy 3:12 – Christians will be persecuted!

Summary

Love God when times are hard.
Love your neighbor when they need help the most.

Put on the New Self, Part 11

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Put on … love

Colossians 3:14

Let us contemplate Divine love.

We ought to just stop and think about God’s love!
- I John 4:10
- I John 3:1
- Romans 8:35-39 – This is not a shallow love!
- Isaiah 59:14-17 – God’s own arm brought salvation!
The ultimate expression of that merciful love was the crucifixion of His Son.
- John 3:16
- Romans 5:6-8; Titus 3:3-7 – We didn’t deserve God’s love.

Let us reciprocate Divine love.

I John 4:19 – Why do we love?
I John 4:20-21 – What does loving God include?
Matthew 22:36-38; Ephesians 2:4-5 – We can love God back, but on in the same way He loves us. Ephesians 6:24
One way to love God back is to praise, honor, and show gratitude to Him. Psalms 29:1-2; Luke 17:15-18
I John 5:2-3 – Loving God includes keeping His commandments.
Revelation 2:4 – The church in Ephesus had left their first love.

Let us imitate Divine love.

I John 4:11 – God’s love for us should transform the way we live our lives.
I John 3:14-18 – Jesus’ sacrifice should motivate us to love our brothers.
Luke 15
John 13:34-35; 15:12-13 – Jesus used Himself as the example of love. The apostles did not have perfect moral character!
Love is a decision we make, a “direction of the will.” Matthew 5:43-44; Romans 5:6-8
Some thoughts to help us develop love:
- John 5:28-29 – This person has an eternal soul.
- Matthew 6:14-15; 7:2; 25:40 – God is watching!
- I John 4:7-21 – Become an expert at love like God.

Let us prove to be neighbors.

Luke 10:25-29, 36
Mark 5:43-48
- Matthew 7:6
- Mark 3:5
- Matthew 18:15
- I Thessalonians 5:14
My job is simply to love my neighbor, and I need to be a neighbor to everyone!

Bible 101: Summary of the Bible

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Salvation!

II Timothy 3:15

The story of the Old Testament

Genesis 1:1, 27
God never gives dogs or trees moral commands. Man is unique in his ability to make moral decisions.

Main problem = sin

Ecclesiastes 7:29
Genesis 3:6 – Man sins.
I John 3:4 – Sin is the transgression of the law.
Isaiah 59:2 – Sin separates us from God.
Romans 5:12 – All sinned, so death spread to all men.
Ezekiel 18:20 – A man is responsible for his own sin.

God’s solution = promises to Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3, 7 – God makes three promises to Abraham:
- I will make you a great nation – fulfilled in the Old Testament
- in you all the families of the earth will be blessed – fulfilled in the New Testament
- to your descendants I will give you land – fulfilled in the Old Testament
Genesis 50:26 – Israel is already starting to become a great nation while in Egypt.

Books of the Old Testament

Genesis – Creation, nation of Israel goes to Egypt and multiplies.
Exodus – Israel leaves Egypt
Leviticus – God’s law for the Israelites
Numbers
Deuteronomy
- Deuteronomy 4:1-8
Joshua – Canaan settled by the Israelites
Judges – Later generations of Israelites fall away from God repeatedly, to be led back to God by judges chosen by God.
- Judges 2:8-10
I Samuel, II Samuel – Beginning of the kingdom of Israel. The reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon.
I Kings, II Kings – Divided kingdom – Israel and Judah. Both kingdoms are eventually taken into captivity.
- II Kings 17:5-6
Ezra, Nehemiah – Jews return and rebuild.
- Nehemiah 9:1-5, 30-34 – It’s important to follow God’s law!
Jeremiah 31:31 – A new covenant was coming!

The story of the New Testament

Matthew 1:1, 16-17
John 1:14-18
Matthew 4:23 – Jesus came and proclaimed the good news.
Jesus proclaimed a spiritual kingdom, not a physical one. This confused many people.
Jesus publicly called out the hypocrisy of religious leaders, especially the Pharisees.
Matthew 27:50-54 – Jesus was crucified.
Hebrews 10:4; 9:22 – Blood is required for forgiveness of sins.
Hebrews 9:15
Acts 2:22-24, 32-41 – The full gospel is presented for the first time.

Highlights from the New Testament

Colossians 2:14 – Old Covenant no longer in effect.
Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:18
Ephesians 5:23
II Corinthians 5:10
Romans 10:2-3
I Corinthians 15:52
Romans 14:12
Matthew 25:46

I Corinthians 15:56-57

Christian Attitudes, Part 9

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

To be noticed by others (Matthew 6:1-18), continued

Beware!
- Meaning
- Examples
- Repercussion
  - No reward in heaven (Matthew 6:1).
- Consistency
  - Proverbs 27:2
  - John 5:44
  - Matthew 23:25

Not for show

Left hand versus right hand – I Corinthians 12:14-27
Leading a group prayer – I Corinthians 14:15-17, 26
Where is the inner room? – Daniel 6:9-11
- Places Jesus prayed
  - Luke 3:21 – after baptism
  - Matthew 14:23 – alone on a mountain
  - Mark 6:46 – on a mountain
  - Luke 6:12 – off to a mountain to pray all night
  - Mark 1:35
  - Luke 5:16
  - Luke 9:18
  - Matthew 14:19 – Before feeding the crowds.
  - Matthew 19:13 – Prayed over children that were brought to Him.
  - John 17 – With His disciples just before His betrayal
  - Luke 22:32

Meaningless repetition – I Kings 18:26-29

Why?
- They were trying to wake up their idols!
Why not? Isaiah 65:24
- God hears us!
Versus persistence – Luke 18:3-8
- Earnest repeated prayer for the same thing is not vain repetition.

Pray in this manner

After a manner, not rote – II Corinthians 13:7-9; II Thessalonians 1:11
Short, simple, to the point.

About fasting

Keep it clean
What about fasting?
- Self-denial with purpose – Isaiah 58:3-7
- Devotion to prayer
  - Command
  - Necessity
  - Authorization
  - Practicality

Sodom and Gomorrah

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Genesis 13:8-13; 19:1-13, 24-25 – Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

God’s punishment (Genesis 19:24)

They were guilty of sin.

Genesis 18:20-22
God sees sin occurring on earth. He will not fail to punish that sin.

Sodom and Gomorrah became a legacy.

Deuteronomy 29:23-24
Jeremiah 23:14 – Centuries later, Sodom and Gomorrah were still remembered.
Jude 1:5-7 – The story was well known even into New Testament times!

We need to understand that God punishes!

Mark 9:43-48 – Jesus the loving savior warned about hell.
Luke 12:4-5

God’s compassion

Even in this sad and tragic story, we see God’s compassion.

Genesis 18:23-33 – God was willing to stay the destruction for the sake of ten righteous people, but even that number could not be found in Sodom and Gomorrah!
Genesis 19:14-23
II Peter 2:4-10 – God knew how to rescue Lot, and He knows how to save us, too!

We need to accept God’s compassionate offer!

Genesis 19:17, 26 – Remember Lot’s wife. Don’t look back!
Luke 17:32
Luke 9:61
Let’s put sin behind us and leave it there!

Put on the New Self, Part 10

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Put on … forgiveness

Colossians 3:12-13
What is forgiveness?
- I John 1:9
- The word forgiveness means “leave, abandon, or release.”
- The same Greek word translated forgiveness is also translated to other English words:
  - Matthew 27:50 – “yielded up” His spirit
  - Matthew 4:20 – “left” their nets
  - Matthew 4:22 – “left” their boat and father
  - I Corinthians 7:11 – “divorce” his wife

God is the source of forgiveness.

Psalms 130:3
Psalms 103:10-13 – We don’t want God to deal with us according to our sins!
Acts 5:30-31; 13:3-39 – Forgiveness of sin is only through Jesus and His sacrifice.
II Chronicles 33:5-6, 9, 12-13 – Even evil king Manasseh received forgiveness after he humbled himself before God.

God is the motivation for forgiveness.

Matthew 6:12-15 – We should have an attitude of forgiveness because we are thankful for our own forgiveness.
Matthew 18:21-35; Hebrews 10:29 – People’s sins against me cannot compare with humanity’s sins against God.
Ephesians 4:32

God is the example of forgiveness.

Colossians 3:13
Does the Bible require me to forgive and forget?
- This is a common phrase, but it is not found in the Bible.
- Hebrews 10:17, 3 – Peter and Paul were forgiven, but their sins were recorded in Scripture. They could not be forgotten!
- Genesis 50:15-21 – Joseph was willing to forgive but could not forget the sins his brothers had committed against him that put him in the position he was in. He did let go of any desire to retaliate. He showed them love.
Must one repent to be forgiven?
- Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4 – We are not instructed to jump to forgiveness.
- I Corinthians 5:1-2 vs. II Corinthians 2:6-8 – If this is referring to the same man, evidently, he repented.
What about the statements from Jesus and Stephen?
- Luke 23:34
- Acts 2:22, 36-38; 3:13-15, 19
- We should have an attitude of forgiveness.

A Few Observations about New Testament Churches

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

Romans 16:16 – These were groups “of Christ.”
I Corinthians 1:2

Jesus was the authority

Acts 11:20-26
Romans 6:3 – People were baptized into Christ – not into a church or a denomination.
Christians are primarily loyal to Christ – not to their local church.
I Corinthians 5:1-2 – Local churches can make mistakes!
II John 1:9 – We must abide in Christ’s teaching.
John 12:48

Sin was dealt with

II Thessalonians 1:1; 3:6, 14-15 – Keep away from unruly brethren.
Galatians 1:2; 6:1-2 – Try to restore a brother that is caught up in sin.
Acts 20:17, 28-32
I Timothy 1:3
II Timothy 4:1-5

The church was a spiritual team

Philippians 1:1, 27; 4:15-16
We can read about New Testament local churches:
- Getting organized with elders and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
- Praying in a crisis (Acts 12:5)
- Taking up collections of money (I Corinthians 16:1-2)
- Sending money to gospel preachers (Philippians 4:16)
- Trying to get a brother in sin to repent (Matthew 18:17)
- Providing for its needy members (Acts 6:1)
- Coming together to worship (I Corinthians 14)

There was lots of teaching and study

Jerusalem: Acts 2:41-42; 4:2; 5:21, 28, 42; 6:7
Antioch: Acts 11:20, 26; 13:1; 15:35
Acts 17:11

Members were simply Christians

“Christian” – I Peter 4:16; Acts 11:26; 26:28
“Saints” – Acts 26:10
“Brethren” – Hebrews 3:1

Christian Attitudes, Part 8

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)

Not just your neighbor
Also your enemies – Romans 12:14-21
Reflects back on us
- Ephesians 5:1
- Romans 5:8 – Christ died for us while we were still sinners!
- Romans 2:24 – Our behavior reflects back on God.
- I Peter 2:12
- Our behavior should demonstrate that we are children of God.
Who is our example?
- Jesus!
How are we to be perfect?
- Complete in terms of love for others.
- God’s love is perfect when it fills His capacity for love. When our love is perfect, it fills our capacity.

Nor for show (Matthew 6:1-18)

Beware!
- Meaning
  - Don’t do good deeds to be seen of men. Do them quietly and humbly to help others.
  - Examples
    - Celebrities giving to causes in very public ways
    - Long prayers in public
  - Results – positive, negative
  - Self-promotion – Jehu (II Kings 10:16, 31)
    - Examples
    - Consistency – Proverbs 27:2; John 5:44; Matthew 23:25

Put on the New Self, Part 9

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Put on … the full armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-17 – This is spiritual warfare. Our strength for the fight comes from God!

Having girded your loins with truth

Ephesians 4:20-24
John 8:31-32, 44-45

Having put on the breastplate of righteousness

I John 3:12
Romans 6:12-13 – We may not think of good deeds as armor, but they work that way. If we occupy our minds and bodies with righteous acts, we’ll find little time to fall into the devil’s traps.

Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace

The idea is standing on solid ground and having a strong foundation.

Taking up the shield of faith

With faith, we are “able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Examples of some flaming arrows others may hurl at us:
- “The Bible is just a book of fairy tales.”
- “Christianity has been used to justify more evil than just about anything else.”
- “The best science points toward evolution. Creation is a myth.”
  - Hebrews 11:3

Take the helmet of salvation

The crowning glory of a Christian is that he or she looks forward to Heaven. A Christian can look death squarely in the face because he wears the armor of God.
I Corinthians 15:54-57

And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Revelation 2:16
II Timothy 2:15

Church Government

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

The Lord’s church does not continue by succession. (A local church does not trace it’s history back to other local churches in the past.)
The church in the universal sense is a direct relationship between God and Christians. There is no other structure involved.
In a local church, saints depend on each other to work and worship together.

Three basic forms of church government

Universal concept

Universal church is made up of local churches, each made up of Christians.
The prime example of this concept is the Roman Catholic church, where the pope acts as the universal overseer.
Structure:
- Universal oversight
- Universal treasury
- Universal work

Brotherhood concept

Local churches operate under the oversight of a conference. The conference only has oversight over churches in that conference.
A good example of this concept is the Southern Methodist Conference.
Structure:
- Brotherhood oversight
- Brotherhood treasury
- Brotherhood work
The conference has power to move and replace preachers, as well as pass teaching material down to local churches.

Local concept

Members belong to local churches, with no organization above. Local churches have full autonomy.
Structure:
- Local oversight – Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5
- Local treasury – I Corinthians 16:1
- Local work – Philippians 4:15-16; II Corinthians 11:8; I Corinthians 9:14
Churches of Christ are an example of this concept, where Jesus is the head.
This is the only organization approved in the Bible.

Brotherhood + local concept

Local churches join a convention. The convention maintains a very loose control over member churches.
A good example would be the Southern Baptist Convention.
- They claim:
  - Local oversight
  - Local treasury
  - Local work
- They also have:
  - Brotherhood oversight
  - Brotherhood treasury
  - Brotherhood work
    - Buckner Children’s Home
    - Baptist Hour radio program
Another example would be “Churches of Christ” (those that subscribe to institutionalism)
- They claim:
  - Local oversight
  - Local treasury
  - Local work
- They also have:
  - Brotherhood oversight
  - Brotherhood treasury
  - Brotherhood work
    - Herald of Truth
    - Bole’s Children’s Home

Christian Attitudes, Part 7

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Review of last week
- Points of law – murder
- Adultery
- Divorce
- Taking of oaths
On your honor (Matthew 5:33-37)
- Be known for telling the truth.
  - Ephesians 4:25 – speak truth with your neighbor
  - Precludes the need to swear
  - Oaths proliferated – Matthew 23:16-22
    - These oaths were both unnecessary and nonsensical. Avoid these!
  - Prescribed oaths – Exodus 22:10-11
    - If required, we can certainly take an oath, but we should not do it lightly. God expects us to pay our vows, so make them sparingly. Jesus was not forbidding all oaths but was trying to prevent needless swearing. Always tell the truth, regardless of whether an oath is involved.
  - Ecclesiastes 5:2-5
Getting even (Matthew 5:38-42)
- Exodus 21:23-25
- Deuteronomy 19:18-21 – The judge decides on the punishment – not the offended party!
- Leviticus 19:18
- Romans 12:19
- Romans 2:1-2
- Avenge insults? John 18:22-23
- Compliance to a fault
  - As much as possible, comply with the ruling authorities.
- I Thessalonians 5:15; Proverbs 20:22
Love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)
- Romans 12:14-21

Gossip

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

What is gossip?

Romans 1:29-30; II Corinthians 12:20; I timothy 3:11; 5:13; II Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3
“whispering; secret detraction” – Strong
“secret slanders” – Vincent
Consider:
- II Timothy 4:14-15; I Corinthians 1:10-11; Galatians 2:11-14; III John 1:9-10
- Not all bad reports of others are necessarily gossip.
The sharing of personal or negative information about someone else, either true or false, without righteous intent.
Be careful about adding phrases to a report to try to pretend it is not gossip.

What’s so dangerous about gossip?

It severs our relationship with God.
- James 1:26
- Matthew 12:36
It is an attractive sin.
- Proverbs 18:8
It hurts relationships.
- Jeremiah 9:4; Proverbs 16:28; 17:9; 25:9-10; 26:20
It becomes something that you can’t fix.
- James 3:5

How do we stop gossiping?

Apply the muzzle.
- Psalms 39:1; Proverbs 11:13; 21:23; James 1:19
Stop listening to gossip.
- Proverbs 21:19
Change your thinking about others.
- Matthew 12:34

Why are fathers specified?

Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4

What about women?

I Timothy 3:11; 5:11, 13; Titus 2:3

Put on the New Self, Part 8

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Put on … good speech (continued)
- Keep your goal in mind: positive change
  - Colossians 4:5-6
  - Ephesians 4:29
  - Our goal is to edify others.
  - II Corinthians 2:4; 7:8-9 – Helpful words sometimes hurt at first.
  - Proverbs 25:12; Ecclesiastes 12:11 – A wise person should present themselves in a wise way that the listener will be likely to respond well to. The listener should be patient and look for good wisdom in what the other is saying. Compare the message to the Bible!
Put on … kindness
- Introduction
  - Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:8, 12-13
- Kindness is a decision, not just a reaction.
  - Luke 6:31 – Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
  - Luke 6:32-35 – We should be kind because that’s how we decide to be. God is kind to us because that’s how He decides to be. God is not reacting with kindness because we were kind to Him first!
  - II Timothy 2:24-25
- Kindness identifies me as a child of God.
  - Kindness originates with God.
    - I John 4:8
    - I Corinthians 13:4
    - Ephesians 2:4-7; Psalm 136
  - Luke 6:35
  - II Corinthians 6:3-6 – “commending ourselves as servants of God”
  - Galatians 3:22-23 – Kindness is one part of the fruit of the spirit.
- Kindness brings people closer to God.
  - Romans 2:4 – The kindness of God leads us to repentance.
  - Proverbs 31:26 – This kind of woman gives her family a spiritual boost.
  - II Chronicles 10:7
  - Acts 9:36-42 – Tabitha’s kindness made a profound impact on others! Would her words not have had a great impact on people because of her kindness? (Proverbs 3:3-4)
  - God loves us! Our job is to reflect that love to the world. Part of how we do that is kindness.

Bible 101: Figurative Language

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

John 16:25
The Bible is 100% true, but not 100% literal.
The Bible contains lots of figurative language.
- I Peter 5:8
- Deuteronomy 1:28
- Isaiah 66:1
- John 6:48
- John 8:12
- John 10:9
- John 15:5
- Matthew 13:3-8
Figurative language in the Bible makes the message more vivid, powerful, and memorable.

When should we take a word or phrase figuratively?

When it is said to be figurative

John 2:18-21
Galatians 4:24
Ephesians 6:17 – “sword of the spirit”
Isaiah 9:2

When a literal understanding contradicts another passage

Mark 10:5 – Literally “all” the people? Luke 7:29

When it matches a pattern of figurative language in other passages.

John 6:27 – “do not work for food”
I John 3:18 – “do not love with word or tongue”

When a literal understanding contradicts known facts or common sense.

John 3:3, 5 – being “born again” (compare I Peter 1:23)

When should we NOT take a word or phrase figuratively?

When a literal understanding simply contradicts our beliefs.

This is intellectually dishonest!

If we miss a figure, we miss the meaning

John 10:11
John 11:11-14
Matthew 16:6-12
Matthew 26:26-29 – Partaking of Jesus’ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. Missing this figure results in doctrines like transubstantiation.

Conclusion

The Bible means what it means!
There are lots of figures of speech in the Bible, and we need to do our best to accurately and objectively understand them.

Christian Attitudes, Part 6

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Beatitudes, continued
- Roots of murder (Matthew 5:21-26), continued
  - Attitudes
  - Progression: anger, contempt, hatred
    - Murder’s mileposts
    - I John 3:15
    - Stop the progression at anger. Don’t let it go on!
  - Practical advice
    - Worship versus anger
    - Ephesians 4:26
- Adultery and the law (Matthew 5:27-30)
  - Where does adultery begin?
    - Why is adultery bad? Genesis 2:18-24
      - Woman was God’s gift to man – a companion. Adultery is dealing treacherously with that gift. It snubs both the woman and God.
    - Don’t go there
    - Work not to go there
  - Divorce (Matthew 5:31-42)
    - Important statement? Matthew 19:3-9
    - Very close to adultery
    - Can cause adultery
- On your honor (Matthew 5:33-37)
  - Be known for telling the truth
    - Ephesians 4:25
    - Precludes need to swear
    - Oaths proliferated

Lessons from Jesus: Luke 13:22-25

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I John 2:4

Jesus is exclusive

Luke 13:22-30
Matthew 7:13-14 – “Are there just a few who will be saved?”
- Jesus does not sugarcoat the answer!
This is going to be horrible!
- Luke 13:25, 28
- Matthew 13:40, 49-50 – There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Lots of people thing they’re with Jesus, but they’re not.
- Luke 13:26
- Luke 8:19-21
There’s something we can do about it.
- Luke 13:24
- Luke 6:46

Jesus will not be bullied

Luke 13:31-33 – This is possibly an invention of the Pharisees. Either way, Jesus was not to be rushed in His work.
John 19:9-12
Luke 11:43-46 – Jesus said this out of love: They needed to repent!
Caveats: Romans 12:18; 13:1; Matthew 5:39

Jesus’ heart is broken by sin

Luke 13:34
I Kings 18:4
Luke 13:35

Put on the New Self, Part 7

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Put on … purity (continued)
- Make no provision for the flesh (continued)
  - Speech
    - Genesis 39:7, 10; Proverbs 2:16; 5:3; 7:5, 21
    - Temptation and sin usually involve inappropriate communication.
    - Cross-reference: David’s sermon from April 26, 2019: Building Loyalty to my Spouse
  - Dress
    - Luke 17:1; I Timothy 2:9-10; I Peter 3:3-4
    - Proverbs 7:10
    - A few resources Christians may find helpful:
Put on … good speech (continued)
- Develop better attitudes
  - I Peter 3:8-9
  - Colossians 3:8-10; Ephesians 4:15, 22-25; 5:4

The Promised Land

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua 3-5

Remember God’s blessings

Joshua 4:1-7, 23 – God instructed the Israelites to build a memorial to help them to remember how He delivered them.
I Corinthians 11:23-26

They had

We have

12 stone memorial, etc.

The Lord’s Supper

High priests

Jesus, the Great High Priest

Sacrifices of animals

Sacrifice of the Son of God

Old Covenant

New Covenant

Hebrews 11:32-40 - Great things happened in the past, but now we can see the full picture.

Teach your kids

Joshua 4:6, 21-22 – Parents were to teach their children what the memorials meant!
We tend to forget the past!
“Don’t forget your raising.”
Judges 2:6-13 – The generations after Joshua turned to idolatry.
As parents, we must know about God ourselves.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – You can’t teach what you don’t know!
As parents, we must teach our kids about God.
- Psalms 78:1-8
- Ephesians 6:4
As parents, we must live faithfully ourselves.
- II Timothy 2:15 – Be a worked approved by God.

Rejoice in God’s promises

Joshua 4:19-20
Joshua 5:9 – God named the place Gilgal. It was an important place for many future events.
God delivered Israel to their Promised Land, and He will deliver us to ours! We’ll be in our Gilgal one day.
II Peter 3:9-13

Christian Attitudes, Part 5

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Review of last week
- Beatitudes
  - Purity of heart
  - Peacemakers
Beatitudes, continued
- Persecution – rejoice (Matthew 5:10-12), continued
  - We have to display evidence of our faith in our life.
  - Persecution generally causes God’s message to spread, even if some people initially shrink with fear. Those who persecute eventually come to naught.
  - Heaven is the ultimate reward for withstanding persecution.
- Salt and light – remember who you are! (Matthew 5:13-16)
  - Salt of the earth
    - Salt enhances flavor and is necessary for life.
  - Light on a hill
    - When you are a light in the darkness, people will see you.
    - Light NOT under a bushel.
      - I Thessalonians 1:6-7
      - I Timothy 4:12
      - Titus 2:7-8
- Righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:17-20)
  - Followed the form
    - Not just as written
    - Falsely interpreted – Matthew 15:2-20
    - Neglected foundations of the law
- Roots of murder (Matthew 5:21-26)
  - Attitudes
  - Practical advice
    - Worship vs. anger
    - Ephesians 4:26
  - Progression: anger, contempt, hatred
    - Murder’s mileposts
    - I John 3:15

I Will Be Their God

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The basic, root structure of our relationship with God

Leviticus 26:12
Genesis 17:7-9 – This relationship was part of the covenant with Abraham.
Leviticus 20:26; 26:12 – God’s desire for a relationship with His people
Jeremiah 24:7; 31:33 – what God continues to want from His people
Revelation 21:3 – In the end, God ultimately desires the same relationship as in the beginning.

Relationship

It takes two. Each participant has roles and responsibilities.
God’s part: I will be their God.
Our part: They shall be my people.

God’s promises

God has always honored His responsibilities.
- Genesis 2 – Adam and Eve
- Genesis 6:13-8:29
- Leviticus 20:24
- John 6:40
- John 6:35
God has always honored His responsibilities by providing instruction on how to gain the provisions He promised.
- Genesis 2:16-17
- Genesis 6
- Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:4
- God tells us how to maintain our relationships with Him.
- I Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 33:27 – God is eternal and unchanging.
God has always honored His responsibilities by giving His very best.
- God made the ultimate sacrifice for us when He gave His only begotten Son to die for us.
- James 3:16
- Hebrews 10:8-16

But do we honor our responsibility of “being His people?”

John 14:15 – Abide in His love.
Matthew 22:36-37 – the greatest commandment
Romans 8:14 – We are the sons of God.
We must love God’s instruction, the truth of His Word.
- Truth sets us free. John 8:32
- Malachi 2:8 – Do not depart from the truth of God’s message.
- Romans 1:28-32
- Hebrews 4:12-13
We must give God our best!
- God expects our best. Malachi 1:7-8, 12-13
- We must give the sacrifice of worship, praise, ourselves (Hebrews 13:15-16), and in our very living (Romans 12:1-2).
- We cannot expect to receive God’s blessings if we are not participating in the relationship.
- Matthew 6:33
- We must give our best by teaching our children to love and serve God. Deuteronomy 6:4-12
- III John 1:4

“I will be their God and they will be my people.”

God is always the same. His expectations have never changed.

Put on the New Self, Part 6

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Put on … good speech
- James 3:1-12 – Our words are incredibly important!
  - Speech is responsible for regulating our relationships, forming our reputation, doing a lot of a Christian’s work, and revealing our character.
- Think! Then speak.
  - Proverbs 10:19 – Much speaking makes it easier to sin.
  - Proverbs 15:1-2 – Speaking gently helps to turn away wrath.
  - Proverbs 15:28
  - Proverbs 25:11-12 – Good speech is very valuable to those who hear it.
  - Proverbs 29:20 – Don’t be hasty in your words!
  - James 1:16-22
    - v18 – We are a kind of firstfruits of God’s creation. We are the most precious of His creation and as such, should be sacrificed to Him.
- Develop better attitudes.
  - Matthew 12:33-37 – If you say lots of rude, mean, or untrue things, it indicates a problem with your heart. Your speech reflects what is in your heart.

The Purpose of Life

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

If our purpose in life is to go to heaven, that is focusing on us instead of God and we won’t make it.

Glorify God

Psalms 86:12
Matthew 5:16
Romans 15:6, 9
I Corinthians 6:20
I Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 3:21
I Peter 2:12
I Peter 4:16
I Corinthians 6:19
It is plain that God’s people live to glorify Him. Those who have the purpose to glorify G od will receive the prize. Philippians 3:13-14

How does one glorify God?

By keeping one’s life pure.
- I Timothy 5:22
- James 1:27
- Ephesians 5:25-27
By keeping the plan of salvation pure.
- Romans 10:17
- Romans 5:1
- Acts 17:30
- Acts 10:10
- Acts 22:16
- Colossians 1:13
By keeping his worship pure.
- Ephesians 5:19 – singing
- I Corinthians 11:27 – Lord’s Supper
- I Timothy 2:8 – prayer
- Acts 20:7 – teaching the Word
- I Corinthians 16:2 – taking up a collection to support the work of the church
By keeping functions of local church pure.
- I Corinthians 14:23 – Assemble to worship and edify.
- I Corinthians 11:23-29 – Partake of the Lord’s Supper.
- I Corinthians 9:14 – Support the preaching of the gospel.
- Acts 6:1-6 – Relieve needy saints.
- I Corinthians 5:1-9 – Discipline unruly members.
By keeping local church structure pure.
- Philippians 1:1 – Saints, elders, and deacons.
- Acts 14:23 – Elders ordained in every church.
- A church should strive to develop qualified elders.
By keeping the gospel pure.
- Romans 1:16
- Matthew 15:8-9
- II John 1:9

Conclusion

Am I so living as to glorify God?

Christian Attitudes, Part 4

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Review of last week
- Secular application?
- Those who hunger and thirst
- The merciful
Beatitudes, continued
- Pure in heart – filled (Matthew 5:8)
  - II Timothy 2:22
  - Titus 1:15 – If you are pure in heart, everything around you is pure.
  - Acts 15:9
  - I Peter 1:22-23
  - I Corinthians 5:7 – A little impurity cause the whole to be impure.
- Peacemakers – sons of God (Matthew 5:9)
  - What kind of peace? Peace with God.
  - Acts 8:1-5
  - Colossians 1:19-20 – Jesus’ blood brought peace to the world by allowing us to be reconciled to God.
  - James 3:17-18 – Description of the peace between God and man.
  - Isaiah 52:7
  - Romans 10:15 – Those who spread the gospel help men to find peace with God.
- Persecuted – rejoice (Matthew 5:10-12)
  - Romans 8:35-39 – We are the only thing that can separate us from God. We should consider ourselves already dead for Christ, just as soldiers going in to physical battle must consider themselves already dead.
  - Reactions – Acts 9:22-25; 22:25-29; Matthew 10:22-23
    - Paul wasn’t asking for persecution, but he was not afraid of it. It also was not wrong for Paul to escape persecution when he could. We must endure persecution, but that does not mean we have to stand and take it if there’s a way out.
  - Desire it? – I Timothy 2:1-4
  - Why rejoice? John 15:20
    - Persecution will eventually find us, just as it found Jesus.

Put on the New Self, Part 5

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Put on … purity (continued)

Romans 13:12-14
I Corinthians 5:1 – We need to admit how much of a temptation and problem this is, even among religious people.

Sex is a gift from God!

The Bible not only warns against sex and sensuality outside of marriage but exalts them within marriage (Genesis 2:24; Proverbs 5:15-20; Song of Solomon; I Corinthians 7:2-5; Hebrews 13:4). Will a marriage be everything that God intends without a sexual relationship?
I Corinthians 6:16
What happens if we raise our kids to think that all sex is dirty or undesirable?

Let us behave properly

Actions
- Proverbs 5:1-8
- Proverbs 7:6-10, 21-23
- We need to listen to God’s wisdom!
Purity starts in the mind.
- Matthew 5:27-28; 15:19; Exodus 20:17

Make no provision for the flesh

Eyes
- II Samuel 11:2 – David should have gotten off the roof!
- Acts 13:22 – It’s not only habitually wicked, dirty men who commit sexual sin. David was a man after God’s own heart!
Speech
- Genesis 39:7, 10; Proverbs 2:16; 5:3; 7:5, 21

The Lion’s Tales

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Introduction

I Peter 5:8
John 8:44
The devil lies to deceive us!

“You are all there is.”

(Pressure to think that believing in God doesn’t make sense.)
Proverbs 1:20-29
Psalms 139:13
Romans 1:18-20 – This is an example of the design argument for the existence of God. The design we see implies the existence of a designer. If a bionic arm is obviously designed, how much more so a human arm?
Psalm 139:14
II Timothy 1:12
Many important scientists were Christians, including Galileo Galilei, Johannes Keppler, Isaac Newton, and Michael Faraday. Science and religion are not irreconcilable.

“You are what matters most.”

(Center life around humans instead of God.)
Matthew 22:34-40
Matthew 16:24
Genesis 3:1-6 – Satan appealed to Eve’s desires. It is literally the oldest trick in the book!

“You can do whatever you want.”

(Sow confusion about right and wrong, truth and error.)
Isaiah 5:20-21
Romans 1:25
God exists. He is above man, and He makes the rules.
Romans 1:29
Acts 4:12 – Jesus is the way. There is no other religion that leads to heaven.
Genesis 1:27 – God creates us male and female. It is not man’s choice, as transgender rights advocates would have us believe.

Conclusion

I Peter 5:8-10