The Life and Times of the Early Church

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 7:8-40. Paul teaches God’s plan for marital relationships by addressing numerous situations that Christians might find themselves in. He talks about those who are widowed and those who are divorced.  He talks about those who are engaged to be married and those who have never been married. He talks about marriages between two believers and marriages between a...

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 6:12—7:7. Paul segues back into the broad area of sexual ethics, and he explains why sexual immorality is a particularly dangerous sin. He then teaches on sexual ethics in the marriage relationship. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 5:1—6:11. Paul’s response to two reports he has heard about events in Corinth: the first is about a case of incest and the second is about believers filing lawsuits against other believers. He also incidentally mentions a sin that is vigorously debated in our day and has led many to condemn the Apostle Paul and the Bible as homophobic. May the Lord bless you...

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 4:1-21. Paul addresses a challenge the Corinthians were facing that Christians today must face: the human tendency to blend the teachings of the Bible with other wisdom sources we respect. Today we call it syncretism— the amalgamation of different religions, cultures or schools of thought.  Paul offers the Corinthians (and us) an alternative.  May the Lord b...

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 2:12—3:23. Paul introduces the main point of his argument: The key to understanding God’s wisdom lies with the Holy Spirit. He then develops this point by contrasting two different pairs of people: he compares Christians with non-Christians, and spiritual Christians with worldly Christians. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 1:18—2:11.  Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God and divides humanity into two camps: those who are in the process of perishing and those who are in the process of being saved .   May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

An introduction to First Corinthians and a verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 1:1-17. Paul’s opening words appeal for unity and communicate some of the key issues he will address in the letter. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 19:17-41.  The botched exorcism by the seven sons of Sceva creates chaos in Ephesus. Some residents turn to the Lord, while others become enraged because Paul’s ministry is disrupting the local trade market and the sales of magical wares. The confrontation culminates in a riot. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 18:18—19:16.   An account of how the church in Ephesus was planted. The city is filled with magicians and pagan worship, and this passage highlights an incident between seven wannabe exorcists and a man filled with numerous demons. The encounter does not end well for the seven sons of Sceva.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13—3:18.   Paul brings his second letter to the Thessalonians to a close with some words of comfort, a command, and a prayer. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12.   Paul explains numerous aspects of the Second Coming of Christ. He contrasts two future events (the rebellion and the coming of the man of lawlessness ) with two present realities (the mystery of lawlessness and the restraining of the Antichrist ). This “restraining” will continue, Paul says, until the restrainer moves out of the way to allow the...

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.   Paul explains why the coming of Christ is still in the future. Jesus’s return will be preceded by two events: a great apostasy and the arrival of the Antichrist. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.   Paul opens his second letter to the Thessalonians with instruction on practicing the spiritual discipline of thankfulness . Today it is popularly known as cultivating “ the attitude of gratitude. ”  What does that mean and how can we experience it? May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Thessalonians 5:19-28.   Paul brings his first letter to the Thessalonians to a close with instruction on how to decide which teachings they should accept as from God and which they should reject. Sound familiar? Our world today is fillied with those who claim to have a word from God. Which of these people do we listen to and which do we ignore?  May the Lord bless your...

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 5:16-18.   Paul provides a summary of God’s will for all Christians in 3 brief phrases: “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. ”  Is it possible to maintain this kind of attitude in the midst of life’s hurts and heartaches? God says it is, and He tells us how. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 5:12-15.   Paul describes how churches are complex entities that include a great variety of personalities. He talks about the relationship of leaders and followers, those who are weak in the faith and those who are strong, the optimists and the pessimists, and the cynical and the gullible. These people must learn not only how to coexist, but how to love one...

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 5:1-11.   The Christians in Thessalonica, like many Christians today, wanted to know when the rapture would occur, and Paul says the main thing they need to know about when it will happen is that it will come like a thief in the night. Paul uses this metaphor to stress that the coming of Christ will be sudden, and for many, totally unexpected .  May the Lor...

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.   Paul answers a question the new Christians in Thessalonica had about the end times. Specifically, they wanted to know what happens to Christians who die before Jesus returns. In this passage Paul explains the timing of the Day of the Lord and how to prepare for it. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 4:9-12.   In chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians we come to the heart of the letter—instruction on the kind of life that pleases God. In verses 9-12, Paul teaches on the nature of “philadelphia,” brotherly and sisterly love, and describes what it looks like in our everyday life. He then shares four behaviors Christians should practice continually. May the Lord ble...

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 4:1-8.   Chapter 4 brings us to the heart of the letter—instruction on the kind of life that pleases God. And instead of supplying a detailed list of do’s and don’ts, Paul offers examples of holy living, and he starts with one of the most explosive topics on the planet: sex . May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 3:1-13.   Paul explains why all Christians will be persecuted and how God can use our hurts and heartaches to shape us into the person He created us to be. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 2:1-20. Paul moves into the body of his letter by explaining how the love he has for the people in Thessalonica reflects the love God has for them, and he praises the growth of the church and the effect the Gospel was having in their community and the world around them.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.  An introduction of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians and a study of the first chapter. Paul praises the new Christians of Thessalonica for their faith, hope, and love and gives thanks to God for them. The church has become known throughout the region for sharing the gospel in both word and deed. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 17:22—18:18. We will look at Paul’s ministry in Corinth and his sermon on Mars Hill that introduces the philosophers of Athens to “the unknown God.” May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 17:1-21. An account of Paul’s ministry in the cities of Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. He is violently assaulted in the first city, well-received in the second, and ridiculed in the third for his belief in the resurrection of the dead. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!