Pine Tree Church of Christ's Podcast

This lesson focuses on 1 Thessalonians Ch. 1. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are co-authors writing to a church that they love dearly. In this chapter we see the impact that this young church was having on other churches both locally and globally. They turned from idols to God. They are imitators (being discipled) and examples (discipling others). They were leaving a "Jesus Sized Footprint." 

Today we being a new series on the letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. At the end of each chapter in the first letter, Paul references the "Parousia" (coming of Christ). The major theme in the letter is that Christ is coming again. What does it mean to live in anticipation that Jesus is coming? During this lesson we will spend some time going backwards, back to the origins of this church...

Luke 4:1-13. This is our third and final week exploring the "Temptation in the Wilderness" text. Philip Yancey once referred to it as the "Throw-down in the Desert." In this lesson, we explore how to resist temptation the way that Jesus did. Relying on sheer willpower doesn't seem to work very well, does it? I want to learn to immerse myself into a disciplined spiritual li...

Matt. 4:1-11. This week we focus on the three temptations in the wilderness and how they compare to the way the devil tempts us today.

Temptation in the Wilderness. Luke 4:1-13. 

Rev. 3:14-22 - The letter to the church in Laodicea 

Rev. 3:7-13 - the letter to the church in Philadelphia 

Rev. 3:1-6 - the letter to the church in Sardis NIV “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore,...

Rev. 2:18-29 - the letter to the church in Thyatira

Acts 4:1-21

Rev. 2:12-17 - Letter to the church in Pergamum. The strength in the church in Ephesus is the weakness in Pergamum. Just like the ref says before a fight, "obey my commands at all times, protect yourself at all times." 

Revelation 2:8-11. This is the letter to the church in Smyrna. What do learn from the letter to this church?

Rev. 2:1-7. This week we focus on what we can learn from the letter to the church in Ephesus. 

This is the first lesson in a series on the first few chapters of the Book of Revelation. Chapter one is the focus for this sermon. What do we do with Revelation? Why is it in our Bibles? How do we read it in a responsible way? How is Jesus presented? 

This sermon can be considered a "bonus" lesson in the D2 series, wrapping it all up. Matt. 13 is the main text, specifically the parable of the sower/soils. There are a few things to pay close attention to in this chapter when it comes to discipleship.  First, notice the crowds that flock to Jesus. Just because you're in the crowd does not mean that you are committed to Christ. Ther...

This week one of our elders, Leonard Riley, brings the message on Ch. 7 of our D2 book.

Week 6 of our D2 (squared) series. What are the "greatest" passages in Scripture? Matt. 22:34-40 & 28:17-20 gives you an answer. The "greatest commands" and the "great commission." In short, 1. Love God, 2. Love Others, 3. Make Disciples. How can we develop a plan to grow Spiritually based on those three things?  Well, for one thing, we are expected to live these...

Gal. 5:16-25. If you are a disciple of Jesus, you are called to be a disciple maker. One of the most effective ways to make disciples is to be an ever-increasing, ever-growing, ever-maturing disciple yourself. But how do you know if you're maturing in Christ? Are you possessing the Fruit if the Spirit in INCREASING MEASURE? 

Senior Sunday 2021. Ch. 4 of our D2 study - what do you want Jesus for?

Matthew 28:16-20 is known as "The Great Commission." Most missionaries use this as their motivating passage for mission. We allude to it often, but do we ever slow down enough to hear the text afresh? What is the difference between making converts or making disciples? How do we define disciple, discipleship, discipling, spiritual maturity, and spiritual formation? 

There are two irrefutable truths for all humans: 1. we are always being discipled by someone or something, 2. we are always discipling someone. Most of the time we are unaware of this, even though it is true. Jesus was very intentional about living out these two truths, and we can be too. 

Today we start a new series called D2 (D Squared) based on a book by Phil McKinney II. The main text for this first sermon is Hebrews 5:11-14. As Americans, we love our fast food! Why do settle for fast food so often, even though we know its less-than-quality food and not very healthy for us? The American church often approaches our faith development and church affiliation with the same fast food...

Easter Sunday 2021. Main text = John 20:1-18. The resurrected Jesus takes Mary through a process. Jesus often takes people through a process. This tells me that God cares about the process that I go through. What does it mean to be faithful to the process? Or, what does it mean to be faithful during the process? 

Exodus 20:17 - the 10th commandment. Today we wrap up our series on the ten commandments. What is coveting? Why should we not do it? Do you even know if you covet or not? According to Paul, what is the antithesis? According to Jesus, why would there be no need to covet?