The Life and Times of the Early Church

A verse-by-verse study of Romans 4:1-25.  Paul offers an example that illustrates his teaching that salvation comes by God’s grace through faith, and he doesn’t mess around—he picks the most prestigious of all the patriarchs for his example. He chooses the very first father of the faith, father Abraham. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Romans 3:21-31.  The third chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans explains where humanity stands with God, and it is not a pretty picture. All have sinned, and all will be without excuse on judgment day. But despite the grim facts, all is not lost. Beginning in v21, Paul describes a way out of our predicament—a path the prophets spoke of and the law pointed to.  May the L...

A verse-by-verse study of Romans 3:5-20.  In his presentation of the Gospel, Paul has met strong opposition to his declaration that both Jews and Gentiles are unrighteous. False teachers have been twisting his teaching about salvation being the result of faith alone. Paul calls David, Solomon, and Isaiah as witnesses and challenges his opponents with an avalanche of Scripture quotes that support h...

A verse-by-verse study of Romans 2:17—3:4.  In chapter 2, Paul turns from the Gentiles’ rejection of God to the plight of the Jews. After confronting the Jewish attitude of exemption and exclusion in vv1-16, in verses 17-29 Paul explains that true Jewishness is not about geneology and circumcision. True Jewishness is inward.   May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Romans 2:1-16.  In chapter 1, Paul explained why and how the Gentiles had drifted from God.  In chapter 2, Paul turns from the Gentiles’ rejection of God to the plight of the Jews, who Paul says are just as guilty as the Gentiles, but for a different reason.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Romans 1:18-32.  Paul explains how and why all of us—Jew and Gentile alike—are hopelessly estranged from God. He first describes how the Gentiles drifted away from God, and the picture he paints is not pretty.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Romans 1:1-17.  In this lesson we will look at the background of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome and his opening declaration: the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.     May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 12:14—13:14.  Paul brings his letter to a close with a request and some parting exhortations.    May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 11:22—12:13.  Paul confronts the false teachers with their own rhetoric and defends the Gospel they are attacking.    May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 11:1-21.  Paul describes the men who are misleading the church as deceitful workmen who are disguising themselves as apostles of Christ and servants of righteousness. And we should not be surprised by this, Paul says, because even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 10:1-18.  In chapter 10, Paul turns from speaking to the church as a whole to addressing false teachers who had infiltrated the church and were attempting to undermine the Gospel.  The ambassador of reconciliation now becomes a warrior for Christ.    May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 8:16—9:15.  Chapters 8 and 9 of the letter provide the Bible’s clearest teachings on God’s principles for giving and the blessings that follow.  (Part 2 of 2)   May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 8:1-15.  Chapters 8 and 9 of the letter provide the Bible’s clearest teachings on God’s principles for giving and the blessings that follow.  (Part 1 of 2)  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 6:14—7:16.  Paul explains the role godly sorrow plays in salvation and appeals to the Corinthians to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 6:1-13.  Paul pleads with Christians in Corinth to “ not receive the grace of God in vain. ”  Which is another way of saying, “ Don’t accept God’s gift of love, mercy and kindness and then ignore it. ”  Are we ever guilty of that?  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.  Paul explains what it means to “live in Christ” and how Jesus has not only reconciled us with God—he has invited us to participate in his ministry of reconciliation. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 4:16—5:10.  Paul discusses some implications of our future resurrection and he points to a day when we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.   May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

Grace and peace! Episode 89 of The Life and Times of the Early Church is up on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc.  A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 4:1-15.  Paul moves from the general experience of all Christians to his own particular experiences, and he talks about how Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel.  May the Lord bless your study of His W...

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 3:1-18.  Paul explains what doing ministry under the New Covenant looks like and compares himself (a minister of the New Covenant) with Moses (a minister of the Old Covenant).  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

Grace and peace! Episode 87 of The Life and Times of the Early Church is up on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc.  A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 2:5-17.  An explanation and an example of how Satan thinks and reasons in planning his attacks on Christians and how the power of forgiveness disarms him.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 1:12—2:4.  Paul begins his defense of his ministry by answering three complaints his opponents commonly made: the letters he wrote were obscure , he was fickle , and he had a domineering attitude . May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

Grace and peace! Episode 85 of The Life and Times of the Early Church is up on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc.  An introduction to Second Corinthians and a verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 1:1-11.  Paul’s opening words prepare the church for the key issues he will address in the letter. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 16:1-24.  Paul brings his letter to the church to a close with some parting exhortations and an example of what love in action looks like in the Corinthian setting. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 15:44-58.  Paul brings his teaching on the resurrection to a close by revealing a mystery—he has explained what happens to the dead when Jesus returns, but there will be many Christians who are still alive when that event takes place.  What happens to them?  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 15:35-43.  Paul has made his case for the reality of the resurrection in the first part of chapter 15. In verses 35-43, his teaching shifts from the fact of the resurrection to the nature of the resurrection body. What will it be like?  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!