A Disciple’s Influence

Text: Matthew 5:13-16 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described the character of those who would be His disciples. In our text, He made it clear that His disciples would have an impact on the world around them. He used three analogies – the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and […]

The Problem with Ecumenism

Text: Ephesians 4:3-6 In a recent lesson, we talked about what would destroy a congregation. One of the things we discussed was a lack of unity. When a congregation is divided, it cannot stand. Yet it is possible to “overcorrect” on the problem of division and go beyond God’s will for our unity. That is […]

The Example of Those Who Fell in the Wilderness

Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 Paul began this section by reminding the brethren of parallels between them and the Israelites (v. 1-4). Yet “with most of them God was not well-pleased,” and they died in the wilderness (v. 5). “Now these things happened as examples for us…” (v. 6). Let us consider what their example teaches […]

One Body, Many Members

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 In our text, Paul described the church as a body made up of different parts that all function together. Recognizing this should lead us to value our brethren. It should also lead us to recognize our own value in the church. So we are going to talk about what Paul said […]

Living for Christ

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was an act of love. This love should motivate us to live for Him. But what does it mean to live for Christ? It is more than just belief in Him or an appreciation for what He has done. These things should affect our behavior. So […]

Peace on Earth

Text: Luke 2:8-14 For many in the religious world, the Christmas holiday is a time to focus on the birth of Jesus. The Bible is silent about Christians celebrating this, but it was a praiseworthy event when it happened. In our text, angels praised God after Jesus’ birth. In their praise, they talked about peace on […]

A Famine in the Land

Text: Amos 8:11-14 God has given us His word to reveal His will and guide us through this life. This is an incredible blessing! Yet too often, His word is neglected and ignored – mostly by the world at large, but we can do this too. What happens when we neglect the word of God? […]