Thank God For His Grace!

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul begins his letter to the Corinthian church not by immediately addressing all the serious moral problems in the church but by thanking God for the grace given to believers despite their sinfulness. He reminds them of four aspects of God's grace: permanent 'saint' status, spiritual gifts to effectively represent Christ, eternal security, and open access to Christ at any time. Becoming a Christian is not about our own works but a willingness to accept what God has done for us. Deep moral change occurs as a result of understanding our new identity in Christ rather than by instruction or willpower.

Life Without God

Scott Risley

Romans 1:18-21

The existence of God is evident to all of His creation, although we may actively make the decision to ignore Him. Without God, we have no reference point for morality and seek increasing highs to fill the void. Thankfully, accepting Christ breaks this cycle and gives our lives meaning and fulfillment. Our old selves have died and we are new in Christ Jesus.

Praying in Jesus' Name

Ruth W

James 4:3

Three principles are given for asking for something in Jesus' name: 1) ask on the basis of Jesus' worthiness, not your own worthiness; 2) ask as God's servant for His ends, not to use God for your ends; and 3) ask according to God's revealed Word, not according to your own wisdom.

Loving God with All Your Mind

J.P. Moreland

Ecclesiastes 1

J.P. Moreland exposits Ecclesiastes 1, drawing out the worldview present in Solomon's writing. This Scripture reflects a worldview common in our culture today, naturalism, or the belief that there is no God or divine being. Moreland explains the discrepancies and implications in this worldview and how we can use that today as we try and share our faith with others.

The Word in Attitudes and Actions

Jim Leffel

Romans 12:10

When we try to hear from God through His Word it's important that we are open to His input in our lives. Often people come to God with their minds already made up. We are called not just to be readers of the Word, but doers of the Word.

Different Interpretations of Creation

Ryan Lowery

Genesis 1-2

Many are skeptical of the creation account found in the Bible because it can appear to contradict science. A variety of different approaches have been advanced with significant strengths and weaknesses. Even though we can't be sure which interpretation is the right one, it is possible to harmonize Scripture with scientific observation. More importantly, the primary purpose of the creation account is to assure us that there is a God who created us, loves us, and has a will for our lives.

Teaching from the Psalms

Lee Campbell

Psalms 131:1-3

The Psalms featured in the Bible are rich and complex. To better understand them, we must take a closer look at Hebrew poetry, its imagery, and its parallelism. With this background, we can study and analyze a particular psalm. This includes praying and meditating on the passage, reading it several times, noting its features, preparing a summary, and identifying key truths. Finally, we can prepare to teach the Psalm by translating it, which brings forth application.

Ministry of the Word

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 4:12

The central priority of the local church should be the ministry of the Word. All members must be taught about the importance of knowing and understanding God's Word. Churches that move away from prioritizing God's Word struggle to accomplish God's purposes. Throughout scripture, we see God prioritizing this principle.

The Discipling Church

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 5:13-14

Scripture makes it clear that God's desire is to see every member of His church grow into maturity. This can be accomplished through successful discipleship relationships. To be a strong disciple-maker a large focus should be on character qualities and a focus on the inner life. God's Word is crucial for this to occur. It is in God's Word where we can motivate others towards God's goals with true conviction. In the Word lies the power for true character change.