Text: Ephesians 5:18 Being “under the influence” typically refers to the use of alcohol. In our text, Paul mentioned alcohol, but he also mentioned another influence that can affect our behavior – the Spirit. Paul contrasted them because they both affect our behavior, but in different ways. Alcohol influences us toward the direction of “debauchery” (NIV, […]
February 19, 2024
The Spirit as a Pledge
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 In this passage, Paul talked about God giving the Holy Spirit to us “as a pledge.” We might wonder what this means. What is a pledge? Why did God do this? How is the Spirit given? It is helpful to understand what Paul meant here. This was said to provide us […]
October 9, 2023
Big Words in the Bible (Part 3): Sanctification
Text: Romans 6:16-22 In this series, we are looking at some big words in the Bible. All of them are “big” in terms of importance; but for some of them, we may be unsure of what they mean. In this third lesson, we will be looking at the word sanctification. Jesus’ death on the cross enabled us […]
September 18, 2023
Unity of the Spirit
Text: Ephesians 4:3-6 Paul instructed the church in Ephesus to be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit.” He then went on to explain the basis for this unity. Our unity must be based upon this same foundation. Paul mentioned seven “ones” that provided the foundation for unity. If we want to know how […]
October 10, 2022
Answering Basic Questions (Part 10): Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Text: 1 Peter 3:15 In our text, Peter explained that each Christian needs to be ready to give an answer for what we believe. Giving a defense for the HOPE within us requires an ability to articulate the basics of our faith. In this series, we are going to discuss some basic questions that may […]
November 15, 2021
Making the Most of Your Time
Text: Ephesians 5:15-21 In our culture, people are constantly busy with obligations and responsibilities. Some of these are placed upon us, others are self-imposed. This has led to a huge interest in time management and productivity. These can be helpful IF our priorities are right. Paul gave the Ephesians instructions about how to make the most of […]
August 23, 2021
The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 3)
Text: Galatians 5:22-23 In these verses, Paul talked about the fruit of the Spirit. Several character traits are listed. They are the natural product of the Spirit’s influence on our lives. This affects our conduct as we “walk by the Spirit” (v. 16) and our decisions as we are “led by the Spirit” (v. 18). The […]
