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 […]
June 9, 2014
Everything is Controversial
Jude 3 Jude says we must “contend earnestly for the faith.” Why? It is because “the faith” is controversial. While many want to shy away from controversy, we cannot avoid it – not just because of our obligation, but because of reality. Everything is controversial to someone. In this lesson we will consider why this […]
June 2, 2014
What Titus Was Told To Do
Text: Titus 1-3 In the brief letter to the young evangelist Titus, Paul told him to do certain things. Examining these instructions will teach us some things about preaching, the church, the truth, and more. So let us briefly examine seven things that Titus was told to do. Appoint Elders (1:5) God’s plan for the local […]
April 14, 2014
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 […]
March 31, 2014
Statements of John the Baptist
Text: Matthew 3 The OT prophesied of John and his role of preparing the way for Christ (Isaiah 40:3). As he preached in the wilderness (Matthew 3:1), what did he say? This lesson will examine what Matthew records and see what lessons we can learn. “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand” (Matthew […]
March 3, 2014
Reasons to Rejoice
Text: Philippians 4:4 Why does Paul tell the brethren in Philippi to rejoice? It is easy to be distracted by the negative things in this life (Job 14:1), which are a threat to our spiritual wellbeing (Luke 8:14). We may suffer pain, endure hardship and loss, be persecuted, etc. We may not always be happy, […]
January 20, 2014
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 […]
