Tomball Bible Church

After outlining an Elders character (Titus 1:5-9), Paul shifts his instruction to Titus to what must be rebuked in the Cretan churches, namely, legalism. Self-righteousness is not a new issue. Just as Titus needed to raise up leaders who would guard sound doctrine in the 1st century, so do we in the 21st. The main threat to the modern church is not the worldly culture outside of us. It is the pern...

Local churches must have leaders to coordinate their labor, set an example for the congregation, and preserve the doctrinal tenets of the faith. They serve as under-shepherds to the Great-Shepherd, Jesus Christ and they must be able to say, as Paul does, “Follow me as I follow Christ”. The church planting work in Crete was not considered complete until qualified men were publicly entrusted with th...

In the introduction of Paul’s letter to Titus, Paul describes the primary purpose of writing this pastoral letter. He does this for the sake of the Church to deepen godly knowledge which would result in godly living. Faith. Knowledge. Godliness. These three terms provide the pattern of maturity that is necessary for growth as believers. Along with this purpose, Paul provides one of the most theolo...

All of us have an innate drive to belong. No one, no matter the background, personality type, or culture, is designed for isolation. The group(s) with whom we belong shape our thinking, beliefs, and behaviors. Just as God has provided an identity in Christ for individuals, He has also provided a group for these individuals. The Church is not just any group of people. The Church is a community of G...

It comes as no surprise that money has a significant impact on our identity. Both wanting wealth or having wealth can hold sway over what we think about, how we view ourselves, or how we compare ourselves with others. For many of us, we define ourselves by what we do or do not have. This definition falls short of the identity which is ours in Christ. Paul instructed Timothy with a godly view of we...

The last 30 years have seen a monumental shift in our culture regarding sexuality and gender. This has been a shift away from a biblical understanding of our identity as originally created by God. But in truth, what is unfolding in our culture is the outcome of longstanding philosophies that are opposed to God’s Word. Biblical guidance is necessary for individuals and families to understand how we...

Your identity (who you are) is defined by God, not by you.  If you are a Christian, your identity is In Christ, and you are defined by God as “a chosen, adopted child of God; sinful, but declared innocent, holy and blameless; radically and irrevocably loved by God.”  Work is not your identity.  To think your identity is in your work is both contrary to Scripture, and is emotionally unhealthy.  Whi...

Our passage this week focuses on the first events recorded in the gospel of Luke after the birth of Christ. From the parents’ perspective, they were expecting to dedicate Jesus to the Lord according to the Law. Yet what occurred was far more significant than they could ever know. Two prophetic words would be declared about Him that Jesus would become the light of the world, our redemption, for the...

We have our heading as a church. The direction for us is clearly defined in Ephesians 4:11-16. TBC must equip the saints for the work of ministry. Come and hear what we believe are the central areas of equipping for the year ahead as well as why now is the time for the Church to be grounded in what truly defines us.

The advent of Christ was all part of God's plan from the beginning to show His love for us to rescue us from our sins through the death and resurrection of His Son. We were guilty, yet God chose to intervene and sacrifice the Innocent One in our place. This is the sacrificial love of God that remains steadfast for all who are in Christ. This is the love we have received and is the very kind o...

The promise of Jesus in John 16 is that he is our peace. It’s a humbling thought that the God of the universe, who is holy, righteous, and just, would be willing to lay down his life for us. We are broken – not holy, not righteous-- and have corrupted justice to meet our own desires. But God, in his rich mercy Paul writes of in Ephesians 2, became man and dwelt among us. Jesus willingly laid down...

God promised to send a Savior who would shine the light of hope and salvation and bring victory over His enemies. The light and victory of the Messiah are the basis of joy in Isaiah 9:1-7. Joy should be a hallmark of God’s people in every generation because Jesus is our true source of Joy as our Light, our Victor, and our Savior! Our challenge? Keeping Jesus as our sole focus to sustain our joy as...

As we head into the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, we need a biblical and intentional mindset. Most, if not all of us, will gather with loved ones and friends, which include those we very much want to see as well as those who can be quite a challenge to be around. The upcoming holiday gatherings are potential platforms for the gospel to be shared and lived. Whether we make the most of these pl...

The term Advent means “coming.” The prophet Micah foretold a future hope for the people of God in the advent of the Messiah, who would come from the town of Bethlehem. Matthew tells us in his Gospel that this hope is fulfilled in the birth Jesus Christ. As a church we stand firm on the prophecies fulfilled in Christ and the present hope they bring us. We also remain hopeful for the future Advent o...

Paul concludes 2 Corinthians with final instructions and a benediction blessing for the church. This benediction contains the three great words of the gospel: grace, love, and fellowship. The greatness of these words is found in their source, our Three-in-One God. These three words not only reveal God to us but define both our experience and our mission in Christ. May we, as a result of the grace...

What godly concerns should be carried by believers for one another? This is an important question. The question itself forces us to move beyond ourselves to consider others. Paul clearly lays out the godly concerns he has for the Corinthians and models the concern of Christ for His people. This week’s message will answer the question of what concerns we should carry and provide a specific call to...

Suffering and hardship for the sake of Christ build a greater dependence on the Lord within us. It is through these difficulties that we also experience God’s peace and the power to endure by faith. We also gain a deeper insight and understanding into the suffering Christ endured for us through His death on the cross. Paul boasted in his sufferings because of these outcomes which serve to remind u...

 Alarmed at the influence of false teachers in the Corinthian church (whom Paul called “false apostles, deceitful workmen, and servants of Satan”), Paul addressed the problem head-on.  The false apostles had been boasting about themselves, slandering Paul, and being abusive to the Corinthian believers.  Paul, against his better wishes, decided to speak in the same language as the false apostles, i...

When is it ok to be jealous!? Only when we are jealous to keep Jesus as the love of our lives for ourselves and for others. In our passage, Paul wrote with divine jealousy wanting only one thing for the Corinthian church, sincere and pure devotion to Jesus. This devotion was being distorted and corrupted from false influences within the church; influences tied to Satan himself. When a church holds...

Our boast in who we are and what we do is shaped by who Jesus is and what He has uniquely done for us. The problem for us is that our enemy and our sinful hearts lead us to boast in ourselves rather than Christ. This, in turn, leads us on the unsatisfying chase of a self-satisfied life rather than a Spirit-led pursuit of Jesus and His calling on our lives. Keep Jesus and His work for you the boast...

Manipulation and deceit should find no home at Tomball Bible Church or in our hearts. These “carnal weapons” were what Paul’s opponents in the churches of Corinth used in their false, underhanded ways. When we resort to deceit, coercion, and manipulation, we no longer represent Christ but rather a twisted, graceless, and spiritually void image of ourselves. This is not the way of Christ. Rather, w...

Giving generously should be a cheerful part of our lives as Christians. We have been given eternity by God through faith in Jesus Christ. This indescribable gift of life in Christ is to be reflected in every aspect of our lives. 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 teaches us why we should give decidedly and cheerfully because of four overflowing outcomes of godly generosity.

How we steward resources as a local church really, really matters. Our stewardship is a direct reflection of our desire to honor and worship the Lord as well as to demonstrate fiscal integrity in the sight of people inside and outside the Church. All of us are accountable to steward God’s gifts with faithfulness and integrity. 2 Cor. 8:16-24 provides Paul’s example and biblical guidance in aiming...

Summary: Generosity is a mark of a Christ-centered church. Over the next three weeks we will explore the central NT teaching (2 Cor. 8-9) on the expression of generosity in and through the local church. Our generosity is directly tied to our gratitude for the gospel work of Jesus.  2 Corinthians 8:1-15

When we sin, God the Holy Spirit brings His correction to us through the Scriptures—sometimes as we read our Bible and sometimes as other believers speak into our lives. We, then, are faced with a choice—we can, in our self-focus, chose to respond with worldly sorrow, which leads to death … or we can respond with godly sorrow, which leads to repentance. And repentance, which is to turn from our si...