Understand the Bible? Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D.

Christ is the head of the church, and this church exists for His purposes, not to be what people think it should be. It exists to make learners who will grow in Christ and build up the body of the church. VF-2269 Colossians 1:17-18 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pasto...

Continuing the excursion on angels, it is clear that there are many references to angels through the Scriptures. The elect, un-fallen angels that remain holy and dedicated to God carry out His will, deliver messages, and give guidance and help to humans as His representatives. The evil, fallen angels report to the god of this world, satan, and bring twisted messages designed to derail us from the...

As background to the teaching Paul had to do to counter the false doctrine of angel worship, we can look to the Scriptures, especially the Pentateuch, to make sure we understand the nature and role of angels. There are different categories of sometimes seen and sometimes unseen created beings who carry out assignments from God, and some references to "the angel of the Lord" are actually a manifest...

Digging into the original language in Colossians 1:16, we see Christ is the basis for creation, He is the instrument of creation, and the purpose of creation goes back to Him. He could not have been created if He was the Creator, which puts Him above all angels. We are part of the creation, and God's plan for us is to praise Him. Colossians 1:16 VF-2266 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMeliss...

Studying the use of the Greek word prototokos, being translated "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15, we see that it is impossible to conclude that Jesus is a created being. Rather, He is the first of His kind, firstborn of all creation to be raised up from the dead. He set the pattern for those who follow Him by faith, which means we will follow after Him in that same way! Colossians 1:15-16 VF-2265 Wa...

The first half of Colossians 1:15 declares that Christ is the image or "icon" of the invisible God.   The heretical idea that Christ was merely like God and not of the same substance crept into the early church, and even today some believe Christ is only a created being. Paul makes it clear to the Colossians: Christ is the likeness and incarnate revelation of God to humankind. Colossians 1:15 VF-2...

In Christ we have salvation and forgiveness of our sins because He paid the ransom, the price that had to be paid to set us free from bondage. Colossians 1:14 VF-2263 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leav...

Doing some detective work outside the text of Colossians 1:13 where "the kingdom of his dear Son" is referenced, we can better understand what that should mean in its magnitude for us. Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a...

We are born in a state of darkness, and we live in a dark age, but God has rescued us from the imminent danger of the power of darkness. Through our faith in Christ, God moves us out of that domain into His kingdom. VF-2261 Colossians 1:12-13 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a messag...

The Father qualified us to partake in the inheritance of the saints in the Light, which is Christ. By His past action, our status has been changed from earthly citizenship to heavenly citizenship and co-heirs with Christ. This is something we should be excited and thankful about! VF-2260   Colossians 1:12 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Fait...

Most people want to know God's personal, private will for their lives, but understanding the will of God begins with looking at what He has revealed in the Bible as His general will for all of His children.   VF-2259 Colossians 1:1, Colossians 1:9, Colossians 4:12 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030...

To set up his corrective letter, Paul reminds the Colossians that their pastor Epaphras was a faithful minister of Christ and that he had preached to them the truth of the gospel. The gospel has been pointing to Christ since the Old Testament, and it is the only message with the transformative power from God to change us. When we focus on Christ, faith, love and hope come forth as the fruit of hea...

As with all of Paul's corrective letters, Colossians starts with salutation and prayer of thanksgiving. This prayer comes in the form of a chiasmus, with a message of faith, love, and hope at the core. VF-2257 Colossians 1:1-14 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Sc...

Examining the Greek grammar behind Paul's use of the dative phrase "in Christ" shows us that it's not just a phrase, but something with depth and substance that can help us to grow spiritually. VF-2256 Colossians 1:1-2 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You...

The historic patterns of settlement and wars by various peoples in Asia Minor helps us to understand how heretical doctrines out of paganism got into the Colossian church.   Paul wrote this letter to saints, faithful ones and brothers in Christ.   Sainthood is not what Catholic traditions have made it: all who are chosen to be set apart by God are Saints. VF-2255 Colossians 1:2 Watch, Listen and L...

An introduction to the book of Colossians, including the history of Colossae and background for the letter. Paul, an ambassador in chains by the will of God, had a purpose for writing the letter to the Colossians, and that purpose is still relevant to us today . Colossians 1:1   VF-2254 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendal...

A study of the biblical mothers that aren't referred to too often and their love and care for their children; Eve, Sarah, Bathsheba, Manoah's wife, Hannah, Jochebed, Mrs. Zebedee, Mary, and Elizabeth.   VF-1820    Proverbs 1:8-9, Proverbs 6:20-23, Proverbs 10:1; Matthew 20:20-23; Luke 1:16-18, Luke 1:24-25 We are to celebrate the ones that have loved and taken care of us Watch, Listen and Learn 24...

Hannah is an example to all of God's children of how to act in a dark time.   In her barrenness she made a vow to God, and she kept it instead of making excuses.   She earnestly prayed to the Lord and faithed to see Him answer her prayer.   Our prayers are heard by the Lord; keep praying for the future of this ministry and those things that will bring Him glory.   Our prayers have an effect, and G...

A Mother's Day message showing three mothers (Hannah, Bath-sheba and Rahab) who weren't perfect but brought up good children in the Lord. The greater lesson is on forgiveness, which is made possible by the love of God to take us right where we're at no matter who we are or what our past was like. Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center...

God's motherly love shines through in a bleak passage directed against the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees. Knowing what the word of God said, they were unable to apply it to themselves or hear the call of God. God is still calling, as a mother hen, to bring comfort to the comfortless that will run to the voice of the sayer. VF-2080 Matthew 23:37 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaSco...

This is a Mother's Day message lifting up those who might not have been in a celebratory mood.   The downcast soul of Psalms 42 & 43 is addressed.   The causes include absence from God's presence, the self and outside forces as enemies, memories of a better day, being overwhelmed by life, and feeling forgotten by God.   The cure is to "Put Hope! in God for yet will I praise Him!" Watch, Listen and...

Many mothers in the Bible show us the lengths a mother will go to in order to protect her child. When the decree went out to kill all the male children and things seemed at their darkest, Jochebed had the faith to place Moses in the river and trusted that God would protect her son. God honored her faith and Moses survived to become the deliverer of his people out of Egypt. VF-2132 Exodus 1 Watch,...

A Mother's Day message for those mothers and children (Rachel's and Ephraim's) needing comfort in their sorrows, God comforts them with promises of joy, worship, answer to prayer, protection, return, guidance, redemption and provision. VF-1872 Jeremiah 31 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com   Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to...

Several mothers in the Bible give us the picture of the motherly comfort of God. A barren woman named Hannah prayed to God for a child, and her prayers actually changed the future of the children of Israel. Mary, the mother of Jesus, trusted God in the unknown, in what she could not see, foreknow, or foretell about her son. These parents are an inspiration to every person, regardless of gender. Th...

After the devastating Los Angeles fires, we must be even more vigilant to protect our calling.   That starts with being aware of the devil's methods with us.   They are subtle, and designed to fill us with fear, doubt, and everything that is the antithesis of faith.   The only hope we have is to put on the whole armor of God and be ready for the enemy from head to toe.   If we focus on building ou...