Jeremiah had a ministry of over 40 years to a people in accelerated spiritual declension. What strengthens a man to faithfulness against that backdrop? Specifically, how did God's call contribute?
Seduction to immorality can come through both sensual social connections and the influence of exegetically precise, Christ-exalting preachers, whose total influence of their leadership is contrary to their preaching.
God's people can be guilty before God of idolatry by participating in even morally neutral accessories directly associated with blended worship.
What is the "rock" upon which Christ builds His church? Peter? Christ himself?
Assurance of the believer's security in Christ is strengthened by the Scripture's description of a certain glorification.
The ongoing battle with the flesh is one of the greatest sources of insecurity for a sensitive believer. How does the ministry of the Spirit grant an assurance to a child of God of his security in the Lord?
Romans 8 starts with No Condemnation and ends with No Separation from the love of God. What are the forces that militate against the believer's security? What does it mean to be condemned or not condemned?
Why is reading the Scripture an essential ingredient for growth in the life of every believer? What are some disciplines in pursuit of the highest ideals of reading the Scripture?
The recipients of the gospel are a contradiction to human wisdom. God's calling is contrary to man's expectations, destroys man's pretensions, and points all men to boasting only in Christ.
What happens when demons encounter Jesus face to face? They see themselves as in direct opposition to him. They reveal who they believe him to be. They indicate they are anticipating judgment for their rebellion. They know he has authority over them. In spite of their testimony many in that community would still rather live with the effects of demons than surrender to the authority of Jesus.
A diversity of gifts and gifted individuals functioning in a unity of the faith and purpose for the church reflects the diversity in the Godhead and glorifies God.
How can Abraham e said to be justified by faith in Romans 4 but Justified by works in James 2?
How does the Exodus of the children of Israel witness to key truths regarding the doctrine of redemption? What potential danger is there in not keeping this doctrine central?
Jeroboam introduced new worship patterns in Israel that led generations into sin. The characteristics noted in multiple cases parallel movements in the worship music of our day. Much of the style of the new but sinful music of our day is modeled after ungodly styles of this world and is designed to appeal to the appetites of the unregenerate and the sin nature that still resides even in the people of God. In the end, the image people have of God in their imaginations ends up far removed from the...
Sacred music that makes a positive spiritual impact begins with content that is saturated with the words of Christ, has a life-changing purpose, and ends with an offering to the Lord. What is done to the Lord should reflect His holiness and not the appetites and values of unregenerate men.
Why be discerning about style, accessories, aura, and associations surrounding music; as opposed to just the text? Many leaders of churches, Christian institutions, and homes have decided that wrestling with these matters isn't warranted. That is not the position of our church. This is the first message of a mini-series attempting to explore this theme in the Scripture.
What is a greater display of power; healing from paralysis or forgiving sins? What kind of man can claim the power to forgive sins?
Some true disciples followed Jesus into a ship that ended up engulfed in a fierce storm that caused them to fear for their lives. The Lord probed their profession of faith against the expressions of their fear.
Jesus urged would-be disciples to count the cost and make the Lord the first priority.
A leper, a Roman military officer, and a Jewish woman all were to one degree or another outcasts. When Jesus did a miracle on behalf of these individuals he demonstrated he was able and willing to deliver and clean up the socially and religiously outcast, the physically needy, and those dirty with their sin.
Why 10 miracles? Why these 10? Does Matthew just jot down rambling memories as they come to him or is there purpose and structure? We attempt to answer these questions as we overview Matthew chapters 8 and 9.
What is the point of the wiseman and the foolish man? The true citizens of Christ's kingdom are marked by hearing and doing the words of Jesus.
Many church affiliated individuals die mistaken about their eternal destiny. Many will say, Lord, Lord. They get the identity of Jesus correct. Many will say "We've ministered in your name." Yet, many identified in those ways still end up hearing Jesus say "depart from me."
Destruction or Life: every man woman and child is on one of these two paths. Contrary to popular opinion and to the teaching of false prophets the vast majority of men and women alive today are on the path that leads to eternal destruction.
Practicing righteousness in relationships involves avoid judgmentalism while at the same time still practicing discrimination about who, where, and how we minister. This is not an easy task for anyone. Where do we turn for help?
In the first five verses of Matthew 7, Jesus strongly rebukes a "judgmentalism" that exaggerates another person's issues while giving ourselves the best "benefit of the doubt." Then without any words of transition, in v.6 Jesus calls on his followers to make judgment calls about who we minister to. So, while the rebuke of judgmentalism stands and is needed, it doesn't forbid all practice of judging. "Dogs" in Bible times weren't domesticated but were a disdainful, scavenging, and often violent a...
The exhortation to Judge Not has been misinterpreted and even abused to the end of promoting an easy tolerance of sin and compromise. However, the sin of judgmentalism is real and an ongoing struggle for all of us. How does Jesus describe it and what should we do about it?
One way that slavery to material and physical possessions displays itself is by worrying over the absence of resources. Jesus exhorts first to "stop worrying" and then exhorts "don't ever worry again." It is not ever ok for the people of God to be pulled apart mentally and emotionally by worrying over physical provisions of all sorts.
The Lord exposed the lengths a sinful heart will go to disguise its lies.
Athletic-type discipline is required to win the prize of usefulness in reaching others with the gospel of Christ.
