Tell Us Plainly

Text: John 10:22-27 This Was Not a Sincere Request of Those Genuinely Seeking Truth The Jews asked Jesus to tell them plainly if He was the Christ (v. 24) — yet this request had already been granted (v. 25) Same thing happens today — on various subjects, man wants a plain answer; God has already […]

Be Filled with the Spirit

Text: Ephesians 5:18 This is a Command Therefore, this does not mean that God miraculously fills us with the Spirit — we can obey this command How do we become filled with the Spirit? … By letting the word of Christ richly dwell within us (compare Ephesians 5:18-6:9 with Colossians 3:16-4:1) What is this verse […]

Blessings and Burdens of Spiritual Independence

Text: 2 Peter 1:3 Through the provisions He has given, God has made it so that each of us can faithfully serve Him, regardless of what others might choose to do. This is not to say that we should not work together, or that we cannot help one another, but rather that we must take […]

Lessons from Three Prayers

Text: Luke 11:1 Disciples to Jesus: “Teach us to pray.” Here we’ll notice three prayers that each emphasize a different element of our prayers. This is not a comprehensive list of how to pray or what to pray for, but highlights some examples for our learning. The Model Prayer (Matthew 6:7-13) — Pray for Needs […]

Rightly Dividing the Word

Text: 2 Timothy 2:15 Clear Distinction Between Old & New Laws Many people blur the lines between the OT & NT – yet the Bible presents a clear distinction between the two New & better covenant was coming (Jeremiah 31:31-34) – old was obsolete (Hebrews 8:13) Old law was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14) […]

Reporting Back to Antioch

Text: Acts 14:27 Background of Paul & Barnabas’ Report to Antioch Antioch sent them on their way (Acts 13:3) They had just returned from their preaching trip (Acts 14:26) They gathered the church, not just the elders or a few individuals (Acts 14:27) Benefits of Preaching Reports Preachers are kept accountable — ensuring they are […]

Why the Interest in Judgment Day Predictions?

Text: Matthew 24:36 They Want to Know What God Knows This is how the first sin was committed — Eve wanted to have knowledge that was exclusive to God (Genesis 3:1-6) We need to be content with what God has revealed (Deuteronomy 29:29) God has given us everything pertaining to life & godliness (2 Peter […]