Divine Inspiration of the New Testament

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Paul encourages the Thessalonians that they accepted the gospel not as a human message, but as the divinely inspired Word of God that works within them. The Biblical definition of inspiration is that it is God-initiated, as He reveals the content and Himself to human messengers who communicate His truth and messages without error or fault. The writers of the New Testament attested that their message was from God and their apostleship was based on God uniquely equipping them to preach His Truth. The implication of divine inspiration is that God's Word is the ultimate authority and basis for how we should live our lives.

I am the Light of the World

Jim Leffel

John 8:12-33

Jesus said the truth sets people free, yet we live in a culture that avoids the topic of truth and often prefers enslavement to addictions over freedom. Leffel contrasts worldly wisdom against godly wisdom to demonstrate the many areas in which God desires to bring healing and redemption.

The Claims & Case for Christ (Part 1)

Jim Leffel

Acts 4:2

Four things must be considered when evaluating the claims Jesus made: 1) Jesus claimed to be God in human form; 2) Jesus made unique claims; 3) Jesus claimed to be the Messiah; and 4) Jesus' claims are uniquely verifiable. Jesus' claims are reliable and can be trusted. They are all backed by evidence that can be a foundation for a life of faith. There are many possibilities for why Jesus made these claims but the most reasonable explanation is that he really is the promised Savior of humanity. It is important to examine the evidence and not be neutral.\r\n

The Logic of Grace

Dennis McCallum

Deuteronomy 30:3-5

God's grace has three components: faith, hope, and love. This faith is dependent upon God's self-authentication through fulfilled prophecies like the regathering of Israel, and it is also personal in the sense that people choose individually to start a relationship with God. God also extends hope to people through the promise of eternal life in heaven, and this hope provides Christians with joy in this life. Finally, love is the motivation for sharing God's grace with people who do not know Him and serving others in the church. These three components provide a firm foundation for the Christian life and reasons to learn more about Christ for those who are investigating the Christian faith.

Introduction: The Word Made Flesh

Jim Leffel

John 1:1-14

God reveals himself through the person of Jesus. John explains who Jesus is, the life he offers, and what it looks like to believe. As John speaks in a way that is understandable to his audience, he reveals that God is infinite and personal. To become a child of God requires not only believing but also receiving His grace. He meets our deepest needs by offering us life (eternity) and light (truth).

Learning to Live

Scott Risley

Proverbs 1:1-7

This introduction to the book of Proverbs describes the author, King Solomon, how he gained his wisdom, and compiled the book. Wisdom is described as ?how to live life well and skillfully.? King Solomon begins his book by describing the benefits of reading Proverbs and dictates what attitudes are needed in order to gain wisdom. These attitudes are: 1) have a humble listening posture, 2) seek to learn how to interpret the proverb, and 3) cultivate a fear or reverence for the Lord.

The Inspired Word

Jim Leffel

2 Timothy 3:16-4:4

The Bible uniquely claims to be the inspired Word of God, holding the answers to some of our biggest questions. Only, why should we trust the Bible to speak objective truth? Why should we believe it is God's Word? We examine why the Bible is a trustworthy source, and why it truly is unique.

Protection, Direction, Perfection

Ryan Lowery

Psalms 1:1-3

Navigating life can be difficult and overwhelming. In God's written word, we have the ultimate source of wisdom to guide us. In studying the Bible, God offers us protection from pitfalls in life, direction for how to devote our time and effort, and His perfecting power that brings change in our character.

Putting on the New You

Scott Risley

Ephesians 4:20-28

When we accept Christ's gift of salvation, we become new creatures. Our minds will be transformed as we learn to believe in our new identities, which are rooted in Christ. Since we are secure in him, we are able to focus on and love other people.