Jeff Stevens

This is how we will perfect our faith, through prayer, love and the desire for our hearts to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father. A study in 1 Thessalonians 3 that helps us to understand how to define faith and love in the context of the Word of God!

This passage shows Paul's love for believers and his desire to disciple them well. We can take many great examples from Paul's words on how we are to walk as Christians, together. Discipleship is an intentional act of caring for fellow believers. It includes listening, guiding, correcting, teaching, loving, praying with and praying for our friends. Join us as we discuss why Paul sent Timothy to Th...

When we believe that the Word of God has come to us in power and in the Holy Spirit. When we believe it is the truth, we begin to grow so firm in faith that no amount of persecution can ever break our joy. And no acts of deception can ever destroy our hope. And we will find that we will be boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming with those who we share the faith with. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-19

What was Paul's idea of ministry? 1 Thessalonians 2 is a fantastic lesson for any believer or church body. There are 9 specific attributes that Paul will address as he explains his own ministry to these believers. Doing ministry well is an appropriate response to our God as we, "walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory." 

No church, on this side of heaven, is going to be perfect. But the report that Paul reviewed from Timothy is that the Thessalonian Church, that Paul has previously planted, is about as perfect as a church can be. As we go through the entire first chapter in one session, we learn the elements of a Perfect Church! Every modern church should read this chapter, listen to this message, and apply these...

Wrapping up Colossians, there is a lot to be learned about the circle of believers that Paul had around him. From each of his friends, we learn about grace, love, reconciliation, forgiveness, partnership and fellowship. We can see reliability in the letter to the Colossians based on the people that Paul names as  well. This letter teaches believers so much about their faith walk and about the...

Green Beret Warrant Officer Tom Dillard shares Biblical truths about what we learn about suffering through our own experiences. After sharing his testimony, Tom teaches us 3 things we learn about suffering from the Bible. 1) Suffering is something everyone will face; 2) Suffering creates character; 3) Suffering teaches us to rely on God. These truths remind us that our God is not a God of sufferin...

Paul's prayer is never selfish. He is always praying for others or asking for prayer for his ministry. In this lesson we learn to pray for God to open doors for us so that we can share the mystery of Christ. Through Paul's prayers and instructions we find useful tools to reach unbelievers in a Godly and deliberate way.

God's design for the family is consistent throughout the Bible. But through Colossians 3, we see a comprehensive plan for a Biblical family. Our families best honor and glorify God when they are intentionally established and built on the principles developed throughout this chapter. 

When we focus on heaven, when we look to our Creator, it becomes easier to realize the attributes that we should put on as believers. We are called to lives that look like the attributes that Christ exhibited during His ministry. These are attributes of the new creation that we are in Him. Everything we say and everything we do should come directly from an intimate, thankful, loving heart and in t...

When we fix our eyes on Heaven, we put to death the things of this earth. Paul's call for believers to walk, act, talk and live differently than the world is not just a call to follow rules. It is a call to freedom from our former lives. Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. He is your life, and His desire is to see you with Him in glory when He returns....

Finishing the second chapter of Colossians has us hearing Paul remind believers that we are not disqualified, by the false practices and philosophies of the world. Paul has expressed his struggle to keep believers on track. We need to be reminded who Jesus Christ is and what we are set aside for. We live not for ourselves any longer, we live and are alive in Christ Jesus.

This is good news! What an amazing study that shows us Christ's victory over sin and death. We have been buried in baptism and raised in faith! He is our victory! And in Him we find our joy and our hope!

When life gets really messy and just does not seem to be going our way, are we still thankful? It is very easy to be thankful during the easy times. We need to be reminded that God has us right where he wants us. He is developing us , deepening our roots, building us up and establishing our faith, for His glory! Let this message from Paul, in Colossians, be a reminder to be thankful for the work t...

As believers, as members of a family, as members of this church body, we should strive for maintaining a firm foundation of truth. We should rejoice in the good order and firmness of faith that we have in Christ. And our hearts should be encouraged, knit together in love, understanding God’s mystery in Jesus Christ. He is our hope. He is our Joy.

Paul's ministry for the Christian Church comes with persecution and afflictions that he bears because of Christ. Through his trials, he will toil in Christ's strength. He shows that church ministry has three very specific purposes that we can follow. Those are: Proclaiming Christ; Warning the church; and Teaching with wisdom. Join us as we finish Colossians 1 and discuss church ministry.

It is imperative that we know who God is. It is imperative that we call upon the right Jesus. Because of whom he is, he elicits a response of faithfulness and obedience. God did not just send a prophet or worker. You are not an afterthought. The Creator of heaven and earth loved you so much that He came for you Himself! Join us as we discuss who Jesus Christ is, as Paul reveals His nature in Colos...

Paul's prayer for the Colossians develops the concepts of faith in the truth of the Gospel, love for one another as believers and the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. We bear good fruit and increase in the knowledge of God realizing that we are qualified, delivered, redeemed and forgiven. This is who we are in Christ Jesus. This is why we are always thankful to God the Father. And it is more...

On a number of occasions, Paul refers to believers as "saints." A simple translation into Greek would have you realize that Paul is calling believers "holy." But what does this mean? From the perspective of Paul, who was the Jew of Jews, what weight does this word carry? Join us as we explore the implications of being a saint. We will learn what it means to be a saint and what response it should e...

This episode is the introduction to the expositional study of the letter from the Apostle Paul to Collosae. This rich theological letter will discuss the preeminence of Christ while challenging church heresy. This brilliantly inspired letter will strengthen us as it leads us to thanksgiving. It will challenge us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and bear good fruit as we increase in the knowl...

This study is that last study in Paul's letter to Philippi. Paul has taught us in a way that should reinvigorate your joy. This amazing letter about a faithful church that is sharing the truth of the Gospel. This church is careful about theology and careful about false teachers. They lived in a world that was against them, yet they thrived in love for one another. We have learned a lot from this c...

We find our joy in truth, honor, justice, purity, things that are lovely and commendable and excellence. We find joy in peace and praise of God and His saving grace. We find joy in learning from the Word of God and application of what we learn through fellowship and sacrificial service. We find God's peace is manifested in our joy, gentleness and prayer. 

Realizing that, as believers, we are not of this world, changes the way that we interact with it. It changes the way we look at those we emulate. It changes the way that we address the church. Most importantly, it changes the perspective we have of our upcoming existence as citizens of Heaven. Our Creator did not just make a plan to heal you or make you better. Before the foundation of time, His p...

Holding true to what we have attained, is pressing on toward the goal, from a secure place of knowing that you were called by the Father and safe in His justification. Forget what lies behind, press on, when the race is complete, you will be made perfect, you will be glorified! We find our joy in HIS resurrection!

Feel like you are not doing enough to be saved? Well, good news! You can't do enough anyway. Our lesson this week has Paul ridiculing the legalists and teaching that even though he was a perfect and righteous Jew, he counts it all as loss. We can set aside all of the fears, doubt, inadequacies and stumbling blocks that get in the way of realizing the power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ! He s...