The Church as a Self-Edifying Body

Text: Ephesians 4:11-16 There are several ways that the church is described in the New Testament. One way is in our text – the church is a self-edifying body What does this mean? Why did the Lord give this role to the church? How is this role carried out? What Does This Mean? Body – this […]

Is the Church a Cult?

Text: Acts 24:14 When Paul stood before Felix, he was accused of being “a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). He acknowledged that he served God “according to the Way which they call a sect” (Acts 24:14). Calling the church a “sect” was meant to disparage/discredit Paul and His message. The term “cult” is […]

Christ’s Plan for His Church

Text: Ephesians 3:8-11 The church was not established as an afterthought. It was not a “backup plan” because Jesus “failed” to set up His kingdom. The revelation of the mystery of God was to be “made known through the church.” Paul described the church as the body and bride of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23-24). That […]

Appointing and Working with Elders

Text: Acts 20:28 Once men have developed to the point that they are qualified to be elders, what comes next? Elders must be appointed. Then the congregation must work under their oversight. How does this work? And what about a congregation without qualified men to serve as elders? The Appointment of Elders The preacher’s role […]

John’s Letter to Gaius

Text: 3 John The letter of 3 John is addressed to a man named Gaius. There are at least three men named Gaius in the New Testament – Gaius of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:14), Gaius of Derbe (Acts 20:4), and Gaius of Macedonia (Acts 19:29). We do not know if this Gaius was one of […]

The Lord’s Words to Peter

Text: John 21:15-23 In this passage, Jesus spoke directly to Peter about his responsibility and his future. Even though this was specifically given to this apostle, there are lessons for us to learn from it. “Do You Love Me?” Jesus asked this question three times in a row (John 21:15-17) – He was demanding a […]

What to Call the Preacher

Text: 2 Timothy 1:10-11 This lesson will examine two things: (1) what the Bible calls those who preach the gospel and (2) what the religious world calls those who preach. Why is this important? Names mean something – they are used for a reason; they help describe the work (or the perceived work). This is […]