How the Church Grew in Ephesus

Text: Acts 19:20 When Paul came to Ephesus, he quickly converted twelve men (Acts 19:1-7). In three years (Acts 20:31), the gospel grew mightily (Acts 19:20) and the church went from just twelve men to “a considerable number” (Acts 19:26). There are challenges that come with being part of a smaller congregation. But we can […]

Precious in the Sight of God

Text: Psalm 116:15 As we grow, it is important that we learn to see things the way God does – value what He values. Some things that we value are worthless (Isaiah 44:9). We must realize this and be willing to sacrifice them to follow the Lord (Philippians 3:8). We need to see what is […]

Houses in Which to Eat

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 More churches (even among brethren) are hosting meals as a function of the church. As with every question, we must strive to determine if such activities are authorized. In order to do this, let us examine what Paul had to say to the church in Corinth. Paul’s Question to the Corinthians […]

The Church and Benevolence

Text: Acts 11:27-30 When tragedies affect Christians in other parts of the world, there is often a desire among churches to help. This desire is good, but we also need to be sure that we do all things by the authority of Christ (Colossians 3:17). So in this lesson, we will consider what the New […]

The Church and its Money

Text: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Each first day of the week we take up a collection. This money is then used by the church. The method of collecting funds in our text is the only way we find that is authorized in the New Testament. However, instead of focusing on that point in this lesson, we’re […]

The Church Gathered Together

Togetherness is a characteristic seen in the Lord’s church throughout the book of Acts. In this lesson, we will consider these examples of the church gathering together and see what we can learn from them. Together on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) The day of Pentecost would be the day the church of Christ […]

Descriptions of the Church

Text: Matthew 16:18 Looking at the metaphors used to describe the Lord’s church in the New Testament helps us understand certain things about the church. Body (Ephesians 1:22-23) Follows the direction of the head It is expected to grow (Ephesians 4:11-16) – focus here on spiritual growth (v. 13-14) Made up of all different kinds […]