Ben Church of Christ

This first part of a series looks at the coming of the Only Begotten Son of God. And going into the final days and hours and what he endured leading to Calvary.

We sing Victory in Jesus - what is this victory? Is it really that great of a win? We must know our competition in order to stand against. Once understood, our faith and God-give power will leave us standing in the end.

Same-ole same-ole day after day, monotonous, boring, lifeless. It is interesting how we can easily loose motivation. We gain some encouragement as we revisit the price(s) paid and the blessing(s) we have as Children of the Almighty.

Who doesn't want to have victory? To win? To succeed? Christ shared the key to achiving such, and it is not something that seems "strong" enough to have that big a part. So just how "big" is this faith thing?

The term Gospel means Good News. This is a term that we are accustomed to hearing, and the lessons we read can possibly loose some value over time. We refresh our memory of exactly what this Good News is as it was proclaimed to the early Church.

Not only are followers of Christ promised LIFE, but a life with abundance. We consider what this offers, where abundance can be found as well as where abundance cannot be found.

We consider the importance of understanding all information shared, sometimes from different writers at different times, in order to gain the full understanding of what is expected of man.

We consider the purpose of it all. Even the wisest among us struggled until he found what it is all about. We consider the depth of this little word "Life" and recall the things that should come first.

Preaching is a subject in several places, and the responsibilities that accompany this work is just as importance.

Matthew 7:1 is a most often quoted verse. And I suggest it is a verse perhaps most taken out of context. Are Christians taught not to pass judgment? We consider what Christ (and others) taught on this subject.

Satan knows his Bible? He knows it well enough to misquote or to take verses out of context. We consider how this method can be just as effective/deceptive with us.

We consider a phrase leading into the verse that talks about judgment in 2 Corinthians. This simple phrase of being pleasing to God is such a good summary of what is expected.

The book of James can be considered conflicting to other writings, but it is in perfect harmony. We consider the views of some today while also aligning it with the rest of God's word.

What awaits for the faithful to God? After consider the one side last time, we consider other this week. While there are some glimpses of what awaits, we want to focus on two related things that, to me, have more meaning that streets of gold and pearly gates.

All have sinned. What are the elements of forgiveness where we can once again stand pure before our creator? Does our Bible give some concept of how God view's man - especially when he is not winning the occassional battle of the flesh?

Of the two outcomes of judgment, today we consider hell. We consider who is in charge/control what are some of the descritptions, who will go and just how long could it last?

What is the motivation to live a good life? Will there be levels of reward where one party just makes it through those pearly gates yet another might be seated at the right hand of God?

It is appointed to man to die, and then comes a time of judment from our creator. We begin a study on the possible outcomes of judgment and the role that man has in the time we have in preparing for that Great Day.

Cain's decisions of life that led to his murdering his brother has patterns that shed light on the process of sin.

This week, we look at an example from the Southern Kingdom of Judah some 680 years before the coming of Christ. A king was the best at what he did - all be it that it was all AGAINST God. After one warning and another and another, God finally pulled the trigger and the King was taken captive. But the lesson only starts at that point.

Even when documentation was an enourmous task, writing and reading of words was important. And coming into the first century, this continued. And today, it is words that we go to to know the way to our Father.

We continue to see the powers of un-belief try to overtake the faith of Christians. A simple look at what exists should be enough to convince even the greatest skeptic. We remind ourselves of some of God's creation, some of what was revealed long before science understood, profiding evidence to build a solid faith in our Creator.

Are signs of the Bible being met as we speak? Are we given hints and when the Earth ends and judgment comes? We consider signs that were shared with a closer look at what is taught - and what is not taught in those passages.

The different between the old law and new law is literally the difference between life and death. We remind ourselves of the stark contrast and the blessings/freedoms we have through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant.

This study looks at the book of Revelation. In understanding some basic facts, we can better understand the meaning behind some of the symbols and language.