In this new series, we're taking a deep dive into understanding our salvation. While it may seem like a basic topic, it's fundamental that every Christian has a thorough understanding of their salvation. Sadly, for many of us, our knowledge is shallow.
In part three of this series, we'll examine the sinfulness of man.
In this new series, we're taking a deep dive into understanding our salvation. While it may seem like a basic topic, it's fundamental that every Christian has a thorough understanding of their salvation. Sadly, for many of us, our knowledge is shallow.
Too many Christians label themselves as "New Testament Christians." This notion isn't just misguided—it's scripturally unsound and potentially dangerous. The law of God provides insight into the mind of God.
In part two of this series, we'll explore the significance of God's law.
In this new series, we're taking a deep dive into understanding our salvation. While it may seem like a basic topic, it's fundamental that every Christian has a thorough understanding of their salvation. Sadly, for many of us, our knowledge is shallow.
When discussing salvation, we often focus on you (the person, the sinner). This is a mistake. We must start with who God is and what He expects.
In part one of this series, we focus on the Holiness of God.
The world eagerly seeks to influence and shape young people. It’s all too willing to take on this task, molding your children in its image. Sadly, we can become so caught up in life's hustle that we inadvertently let this happen. But our kids need Jesus. They need to learn Scripture and witness the Truth being taught by God-inspired men and women.
In this lesson, we urge our congregation to step up and lead our Sunday school classes.
Our kids are back in school. For many families, this means focusing on school activities and academic performance. While these things are valuable and important, it's crucial that we continue guiding our kids towards their King and His kingdom.
In this lesson, we encourage all our awesome students to aim for straight "F"s on their report card. We explain what we mean by that in the sermon.
In the modern church, we often value our political party affiliation more than our family. We align more with our cultural associations than our heavenly orientation. This means we're closer to people like us than to those being saved with us. We hate our opponent's party more than the sin in our own lives. It’s all-consuming because American politics is corrosive.
For the last two weeks, we have been studying the first-century church in Acts 2. These radical inaugural Christians cut out everyone in their lives who were wrong about Jesus. So what did they do? Did they campaign for new governments or secretly plan a revolution? That's not what we read in Acts 2:42-47.
In this lesson, we implore you to look to scripture and realign with your people, your King, and His Kingdom.
The denominational world has stripped baptism of its significance, making it almost irrelevant.
Today, people often say, "All you gotta do is believe" or "Call on the name of the Lord" to be saved. These are Biblical concepts, but modern interpretations have stripped them of their original meaning.
The Bible makes it clear: baptism is not just an outward sign of an inward grace. In Acts 2, baptism is a public identification with the public denunciation of Jesus. The establishment denounced Jesus publicly. On the day of Pentecost, the 3,000 people who were baptized were publicly immersed into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What the enemies made public, the followers of Jesus also publicized.
In this week's lesson, we explore why baptism is essential to salvation.
Sometimes words evolve and change their meaning over time, even to the point of adopting the exact opposite meaning. This phenomenon can also apply to Biblical concepts. The Bible may contain statements or phrases that, through frequent repetition by mankind, lose their original meaning.
In this week's lesson, we delve into Acts 2:21, which states, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." It is absolutely crucial to correctly understand this scripture so that we can faithfully surrender to God's plan for salvation.
If you’re a faithful Christian, you listen to the scriptures read in church every Sunday. But do you truly hear them? Are you really listening?
As we continue our study of Acts 2, we see the Apostle Peter revealing familiar scriptures to an audience of faithful Jews. His message wasn't out of left field. It didn't come from nowhere. His message was God focused, Bible based, and Christ centered - just like ours should be.
We often make excuses for why we are not qualified to lead or serve. In Acts 2:14-36, the apostle Peter boldly declares before thousands that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. While it's true that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, his confidence is not surprising. It is built on important experiences with Jesus. In this lesson, we examine four encounters between Peter and Jesus to understand how Peter was able to stand with such confidence.
John Bloom writes, “Jesus, the "founder and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), once marveled at the faith he found in a man. And it's the only instance that the gospels record such a response from Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). Who was this man? A rabbi? No. A disciple? Nope. A Roman soldier.”
In this lesson, we discuss the significance of both the centurion's faith and Jesus' response.
In Acts 2:1-4, the Holy Spirit fills the twelve apostles on the day of Pentecost. However, the Spirit's influence doesn't end there. As 1 Corinthians 6:19 states, our bodies are temples because they house the Holy Spirit. In this lesson, we explore how an old festival becomes a new holiday - one that is still relevant in your life today.
God, in His infinite wisdom and love, created mothers with a purpose of paramount significance.
They are not simply bearers of life, but also nurturers, guides, and the very embodiment of selfless love. The responsibilities that mothers shoulder extend far beyond the worldly expectations placed on them. Their influence reverberates through generations.
As we come together to celebrate Mother's Day, we turn to scripture for deeper insight into the greater mission that God has handed to mothers.
In Acts 2:1-4, the Holy Spirit fills the twelve apostles on the day of Pentecost. However, the Spirit's influence doesn't end there. As 1 Corinthians 6:19 states, our bodies are temples because they house the Holy Spirit. In this lesson, we'll explore the responsibilities that come with being filled with the Spirit of God.
In John 13, we read of Jesus washing the feet of the apostles. In His final moments with them, He fills a basin with water, wraps a towel around His waist, and stoops to wash twelve pairs of dirty feet. This profoundly moving moment depicts the Creator of the universe washing the feet He once formed in the womb. In today's lesson, we discuss how we can follow this example and serve God in humility and love.
By the world's standards, Jesus did not appear as a king when He was crucified on a cross. In every perceivable way, Rome was in charge. The world's political and military superpower was used to kill a pesky prophet from Nazareth. But on Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death, and ascended to reign with God forever. In this lesson, we look to the empty tomb to remind us who is truly in charge.
During the week of Passover, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. He didn't arrive on an armored stallion or accompanied by a legion of heavenly angels. His message wasn't one of liberation or conquest, but rather of peace, and he delivered it while riding a borrowed donkey. This brings us to the man who lent Jesus the donkey. In this lesson, we learn that everyone has something to contribute to the Kingdom.
Luke only wrote two books of the Bible. He was one man (Luke) writing to another man (Theophilus), but his testimony accounts for 30% of the New Testament. In this new series, we explore what it takes to become a great church.
In part 7, we explore lessons that every great church can learn from the fall of Judas.
Luke only wrote two books of the Bible. He was one man (Luke) writing to another man (Theophilus), but his testimony accounts for 30% of the New Testament. In this new series, we explore what it takes to become a great church.
In part 6, we learn that great churches habitually worship and constantly pray.
Luke only wrote two books of the Bible. He was one man (Luke) writing to another man (Theophilus), but his testimony accounts for 30% of the New Testament. In this new series, we explore what it takes to become a great church.
In part 3, we learn that great churches surrender to the reign of Jesus.