Simplicity of God’s Plan

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:3 Revelation Understandable (Ephesians 3:4) Concise (John 21:25) Complete (Jude 3) Salvation Problem of sin (Isaiah 59:2) God’s grace (Titus 2:11) Our faithful obedience (Romans 5:1; James 2:24) Evangelism Message (2 Timothy 4:2) Individual work (1 Peter 3:15) Collective work (1 Timothy 3:15)

Problems with Premillennialism

Premillennialism says: Jesus Failed – Colossians 2:9 The Church was an Afterthought – Ephesians 3:10-11 The Church & Kingdom are Distinct from Each Other – Matthew 16:18-19 Prophecies went Unfulfilled – Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Symbolic Language is Literal – Revelation 20:4-6 The Kingdom is Physical in Nature – John 18:36 We Are Looking Forward to a […]

The New Testament Church

Jesus Built One Church – Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23 Universal Church & Local Church Universal church – all the saved (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23) Local church – Christians (members of the universal church) coming together in local groups (Hebrews 10:25) Some Degree of Uniformity among Local Churches – 2 Timothy 1:13; 1 Corinthians 4:17 What […]

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Text: Daniel 2:31-45 Citizenship – kingdoms rise and fall (Philippians 3:20) Prophecy – God’s kingdom would be established in the days of the Roman kings (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Colossians 1:13) Kingdom – not a physical kingdom (John 18:36); the kingdom is the church (Matthew 16:18-19) Eternal Kingdom – God’s kingdom would never be destroyed (1 […]

Let Not the Church be Charged

Text: 1 Timothy 5:16 What God has Charged the Church to Do: Evangelism – 1 Timothy 3:15 Edification – Ephesians 4:11-16 Benevolence – Acts 4:32-35; 11:27-30 What Men Charge the Church with (examples): Expanded benevolence (to include non-Christians) Recreation Common Meals Education Daycare Most Things are not Bad in Themselves –

Simple Passages that People Misunderstand

Text: Ephesians 3:4 Matthew 16:18 – there is one church Ephesians 2:8-9 – what salvation by grace means James 2:24 – we are not saved by faith alone Mark 16:16 – belief and baptism are necessary for salvation 1 Peter 3:21 – baptism saves

What is the New Testament?

Different views: The Product of Men – John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10ff A Product of the Church – Catholic idea; church can therefore alter/amend it A Series of “Love Letters” – merely an expression of God’s love A General Guide – openness to different ideas/interpretations; mindset behind “unity in diversity” Our Law Today – Hebrews […]