Text: 1 Timothy 1:5 Why do we preach and teach the gospel? It is about more than just fulfilling a command or following the New Testament pattern. We are to preach and teach with a purpose. Paul told Timothy about “the goal of our instruction.” Love Agape – active love; putting the interests of others […]
October 13, 2014
“Christ Did Not Send Me to Baptize”
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:17 One of the notable points of disagreement we have with the religious world is over baptism. We teach that baptism is necessary for salvation. In general, the “Christian” religious world rejects this. Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 1:17 is often used to say that baptism is not necessary. We need to understand […]
June 2, 2014
What Titus Was Told To Do
Text: Titus 1-3 In the brief letter to the young evangelist Titus, Paul told him to do certain things. Examining these instructions will teach us some things about preaching, the church, the truth, and more. So let us briefly examine seven things that Titus was told to do. Appoint Elders (1:5) God’s plan for the local […]
January 20, 2014
A Snake in the Fire
Text: Acts 28:1-10 After the shipwreck on the way to Rome, Paul and the others ended up on the island of Malta. They were there just three months, but Luke’s account of their stay provides us with some important lessons about miracles, assumptions, and the preaching of the gospel. All of this began with Paul […]
December 9, 2013
The Fields Are White for Harvest
Text: John 4:35-42 The first half of this chapter is devoted to Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. After this, Jesus told His disciples that the fields were “white for harvest.” These two discussions are connected – the first discussion led to the great harvest Jesus talked about. Let us notice some […]
December 2, 2013
Avoid Foolish Controversies
Text: Titus 3:9 There always have been, and always will be, controversies over matters of religion and what the Bible teaches. Some people want to avoid controversy altogether – Christians cannot do this (Jude 3). Others are too quick to get involved in controversy – we must not do this either (Titus 3:9). As controversies […]
October 21, 2013
Sound the Alarm
Text: Hosea 5:8 Much of the preaching that is done today avoids the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Instead, it emphasizes what is positive, feel-good, and motivational. It is this way because that is what people want (2 Timothy 4:3). There is a general dislike, even among some of our brethren, of preaching that […]
