All Scripture is Inspired by God

Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 The Process of Inspiration God revealed His message to man (Hebrews 1:1-2) Work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-13) — avenue of prophecy (2 Peter 1:20-21), guidance of apostles (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13) Characteristics of the Inspired Word True (Psalm 119:160) — because God is always true (Titus 1:2) Timeless […]

To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain

Text: Philippians 1:21-24 To Live is Christ Similar point in Galatians 2:20 We must be crucified with Christ (Romans 6:3-6) Fruitful labor (Philippians 1:22) Help others (Philippians 1:24) Live worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27) To Die is Gain Nothing wrong with enjoying the blessings of this life (Ecclesiastes 11:8) — but keep things in […]

Who Will Go To Heaven?

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Judgment Belongs to the Lord He will judge perfectly (Psalm 19:9) He will judge righteously (Psalm 19:9) He will judge fairly (Acts 10:34-35) He will judge according to His divine standard (John 12:48) Not All Will Be Saved (Matthew 7:13-14) Who Will Be Lost? Those who do not know God (2 […]

Having a Zeal for God

Text: Acts 22:3 What Is Zeal? “Eagerness & ardent interest in pursuit of something” (Merriam Webster) If we are zealous for something — we will make it a priority, it will affect our actions, we will speak about it, we will hold fast our convictions Zeal Alone is Not Enough Zeal for God was one […]

Studying the Bible

Text: 2 Timothy 2:15 Preparing to Study (Ezra 7:10) Remember that the Bible is from God (2 Timothy 3:16) Being from God, it is infallible (Psalm 19:7; Proverbs 30:5) It is our standard (Matthew 28:20) We will be judged by it (John 12:48) Whatever it teaches, we must accept (John 2:5) We need humility (James […]

Radical, Liberal, Institutional

Most of the time we use these terms negatively. Yet in a sense, these terms can also be used to describe the good that God expects of us. Radical The Bible cautions us against radical ideas (Deuteronomy 5:32; Proverbs 24:21) — But… We are to be far different than the norms of the world (Romans […]

Untimely Deaths in the Book of Acts

Judas (Acts 1:15-20) Judas’ death recorded earlier (Matthew 27:3-5), but discussed here His death fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (Acts 1:20; Psalm 69:25; 109:8) He was a disciple (Acts 1:17) — Christians can betray Christ just as Judas did (Hebrews 6:6) Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) Follows accounts of great benevolence by Christians in Jerusalem (Acts […]