Early Church Practice, Today! (NTRF.org)

How was Roman slavery different from American slavery in the 1800s? Both were "chattel" slavery. In real estate lingo, chattels are moveable items a seller takes with him—such as livestock. The word "chattel" comes from the French word for cows (you can hear it in the related word, "cattle"). All enslaved people in the Roman Empire were considered "chattel," meaning they were legally categorized a...

Today, we'll look at considerations for both the appointment and the discipline of leaders (the sad fact is that sometimes elders go bad).

First London Baptist Confession (1644): "… every Church has power.... to choose … Pastors … the due maintenance of the officers … should be the free and voluntary communication of the Church, that according to Christ's ordinance, they that preach the Gospel, should live on the Gospel …"

Paul dealt with four types of widows: older widows without children, older widows with children, younger widows, and wanton widows.

Our Christian maturity—that is, our growth in Christlikeness—is cultivated as we come to know the heart of Christ, and it is revealed in the way we relate to others, especially in how we view and respond to their sins, failures, and offenses. This sermon unfolds how Christ deals with us in our weakness and failure, and how, in turn, we are called to deal with one another in love, patience, mercy,...

When two rams butt heads, little lambs get trampled. Doctrinal controversies within a church are always taxing. Such are times that try men's souls. Those with a weak conscience are often offended and discouraged. Those caught in the cross fire say things like, "What does it really matter, anyway? Can't we all just get along? Doctrine divides, but Christ unites. I don't ask them about their, belie...

Some of the deepest wounds believers carry were not inflicted by the world; they were inflicted by the church. This happens because we are more judgmental and critical of one another's failures, rather than empathetic and helpful. I have been both a victim and a culprit of these wounds. This sermon examines how Jesus deals with His own people in their weakness, failure, and sin — and calls us to d...

This paragraph has application primarily for church leaders. What is that application? Church leaders must: • Warn the brothers about deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons • Have nothing to do with myths • Must themselves be trained in the words of faith and good doctrine. • Toil and strive for the gospel, as God is potentially the Savior of all people. What is the application here for Chr...

A major source of bad doctrine is demons! W are engaged in spiritual warfare. The ancient Egyptians who built the pyramids were just a few hundred years removed from Noah's flood, yet they had already departed wholesale into polygamy, and the doctrine of demons. Demonic influence is still happening today: NIV Ephesians 6:12 … our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, aga...

Introduction: In How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, it is stated that the epistles are "occasional" documents, written in response to some local situation (usually a problem occasion). As a result, the theology found in the epistles is "task" theology—theology tasked with solving a particular problem in order to drive an application. Structure: Many commentators feel that today's paragraph (...

The Abomination of Desolation, the 1290 Days, and the 1335 Days

AD 70 and the Arrival of the Kingdom of Christ

Jesus was called "a friend of sinners." Would sinners say the same about us? Are we becoming more Christ-like or more like the Pharisees? This message explores the radical heart of Christ — full of grace, rich in truth.

The audio contains an addendum I added giving reasons why the passage can not apply to Antiochus

Daniel 11:1-37b. Historical events covered were Persia, Greece, Alexander's four successor generals. The "wilfull king" Herod the Great was partially covered. All of this is the first part of Daniel's Fourth and Last Vision.

Topics: Greece (Alexander the Great and his Successor 4 Horns) against Persia, the Seleucid (Greek) little horn Antioch IV Epiphanes (r.175-164), his persecution of the Jews and desecration of the Temple and the abomination of desolation, the pollution of Israel and the Temple for 2300 mornings and evenings, and the first Hanukkah ("dedication") and the cleansing of the Temple.

Learn how Daniel predicted the rise of both Alexander the Great and Antiochus Epiphanes. Upon editing the attached .mp3, I noticed four errors I made in this presentation: 1) Elam was an ancient country two to three thousand years ago. I meant to say 2000-3000 BC, not two or three thousand years before our current time. Elam's actual dates are c. 2700-539. It was absorbed into Persia by Cyrus the...

Learn How Daniel predicted the events of the inter-testament period.

All About Deacons: Job Description, Appointment, Qualification, and Women Deacons

In past weeks we've been examining the qualifications for elder (1Ti 3:1-7). In this lesson, we'll consider 1) who decides which men serve as elders, 2) how many elders a church should have, and 3) their job description.

Have you ever felt like God is distant, your prayers are unheard, or your struggles are hidden from Him? In our weariness, we are tempted to believe God has forgotten us. But what if the answer to our deepest discouragement isn't a change in our circumstances, but a clearer vision of God Himself? This message challenges us to lift our eyes from our problems to behold the immeasurable, incomparable...