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 […]

Caring for the Widows

Text: Acts 6:1-7 Why the Widows? Earlier the poor in general were helped (Acts 4:32-35) — here the widows specifically were served (Acts 6:1), implying ongoing care that was provided them The church was to provide ongoing care & support to certain widows (1 Timothy 5:3,9-10) Why not other widows? … They had others to […]

How God is Able to Establish You

Text: Romans 16:25-27 God is able to establish us through His word. Here, Paul describes the word of God in several different ways, showing how it is able to establish us The Gospel “Good news” — the message is beneficial to us Man is enslaved to sin (John 8:24; Hebrews 2:15) — the gospel announces […]

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Text: Matthew 4:23 The Announcement Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23) This had been planned for a long time (Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 2:2-4) The Kingdom at Hand The establishment of the kingdom was close (Matthew 3:2; 4:17) If we are still waiting for the kingdom, as some claim, then was Jesus […]

How God Speaks to Us Today

Hebrews 1:1-2 He Speaks to Us through His Son Jesus is the spokesman for God (John 18:37) Son of God — through Him, we see the Father (John 1:18; 14:8-9) Creator — “through whom… He made the world” (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17) Deity “radiance of His glory… exact representation of His nature” (Colossians 2:9) Redeemer “made purification […]

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Text: John 14:16-17,26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15 Who is the Holy Spirit? Not some mystical force or influence He is a person – Jesus used He, not it to refer to the Spirit (14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7,8,13,14,15) Who is Jesus Talking To? – The Apostles What Would the Holy Spirit Do? Provide help/comfort (14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) — How? […]

Washing the Disciples’ Feet

Text: John 13:1-17 Jesus Knew His Place (v. 3) God was His Father All things had been given to Him He had come from God He was going back to God Knowing His Place, He Washed the Disciples’ Feet (v. 4-5) Jesus should have been the one being served But He humbled Himself, took the […]