How the Church Grew in Ephesus

Text: Acts 19:20 When Paul came to Ephesus, he quickly converted twelve men (Acts 19:1-7). In three years (Acts 20:31), the gospel grew mightily (Acts 19:20) and the church went from just twelve men to “a considerable number” (Acts 19:26). There are challenges that come with being part of a smaller congregation. But we can […]

The Childhood of Jesus

Text: Luke 2:40 Many wonder what the childhood of Jesus was like. The Bible says little about it, though other writings claim to contain accounts of His childhood. His childhood was important because it was a necessary part of God’s scheme of redemption (Hebrews 2:14-15; 10:5). But it is also significant that the Bible says […]

Why People Do Not Receive Jesus

Text: John 1:11 When Jesus came and preached to the Jews, many would not receive Him. Why? The gospel of John records several events showing reasons why people rejected Jesus. Many do not receive Jesus for the same reasons today. Let us notice a few of these. They Love Darkness (John 3:19-21) Jesus is the […]

New Year’s Resolutions: Start, Stop, Improve

When people make New Year’s resolutions, they often start with these words – start exercising, stop smoking, improve spending habits, etc. It is good to improve all areas of our lives. But it is particularly important to improve our spiritual lives. In that regard, let us consider some resolutions for the new year. Start… Start Your Life in […]

Five Ways to Test Your Faith

Text: 2 Corinthians 13:5 Christians need to “test” themselves to be sure they are “in the faith.” How can we determine if we are being as faithful as we ought to be? This lesson will examine five questions to ask ourselves about our faith. Are You Obedient to the Faith? For many in the religious […]

A Right Way and a Wrong Way to Learn

Text: Proverbs 1:5 Most people understand the importance of learning, though not everyone goes about learning in the same way. There is a right and wrong way to learn. In this lesson, we will consider what the Scriptures teach about learning – particularly learning that is of a religious nature and pertains to spiritual things. […]

“How Can a Young Man Keep His Way Pure?”

Text: Psalm 119:9-16 Keep God’s Word (v. 9) Wrong places to look for this answer – oneself (Jeremiah 10:23); peers (Exodus 23:2); parents (Ezekiel 18:14) We must look to the word of God Seek God Wholeheartedly (v. 10) We must not divide our allegiance between God & anyone/anything else (Matthew 6:24) Whatever we do must […]