Pastor's Bible Study

The gospel is good news because Jesus bought me! That is such a grand statement. We sing the song "Victory In Jesus." The lyrics say...he sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood. The idea of Jesus buying me is the doctrine of redemption. We should truly rejoice when we consider just how far reaching Jesus' redemption of us goes: 1) He paid our ransom price with His blood, 2) He bought us...

Our greatest need is the need of salvation from sin, the effects of sin, and the penalty of sin. It is a need that we cannot meet in our own strength, goodness, self-effort, or self-righteousness. Left to ourselves we're done for, hopeless lost and without a relationship with God. But praise God that because of His love for us, He has implemented a plan whereby we can be saved from our sin by His...

When we repent of our sins and disobedience, good result can come forth. When Jonah repented, he saw some amazing results: 1) A second chance to obey and fulfill God's call on his life 2) A spiritual change in his life 3) A willingness and desire to sacrifice in order to fulfill God's call 4) Salvation among the Ninevites

The thing that moves us to a repentance like that of Jonah is an understanding of our resemblance like Jonah. But here's the good news: if we repent like Jonah, we put ourselves in a place to see results like Jonah. What did Jonah's process of repentance look like? 1) The preparation of repentance. God prepared Jonah to repent using multiple perils like a storm, affliction, a big fish, etc. 2) The...

We have a tendency to go our own way and do our own thing in disobedience to God. And amazingly, it's possible to be at peace with ourselves while in disobedience to God. However, it is a false peace that is produced by our lack of concern for God's will and way. This is what happened to Jonah. He ran away from God in disobedience and yet found himself sleeping peacefully on ship in the midst of a...

We're all familiar with Jonah's story, but do we understand that we resemble Jonah more than we may want to. God called him to preach to a people that was different than him. He didn't want to. Instead of going the way God directed him, he went his own way. How often are we exactly that same? We resemble Jonah in many ways when it comes to sharing the gospel with those to whom God has called us to...

How can we stand against apostates? How can we protect our church? Or, how can a church right their ship? Jude gives us four exhortations: 1) Remember God's Word, 2) Build Up Your Christian Life, 3) Exercise Spiritual Discernment, and 4) Commit To Jesus.

The characteristics of an apostate that Jude shares shows us why apostates are so dangerous to churches and believers, especially the immature, uncommitted, apathetic, and young in Christ. Apostates are like "hidden rocks" (reefs) that sink ships. They can do great damage to a church.

Jude's little letter is a call to arms. As you read Jude, you will readily sense the military tone of the book. Jude, in essence, says that when it comes to "the faith" (that system of doctrine that was handed down from Jesus to the Apostles to the early churches) we must do everything we can to fight for it, i.e. to keep it pure, untwisted, etc. Jude says that false doctrine and false teachings w...

If we're going to be a disciple (follower) of Jesus, we must daily deny ourselves and take up our cross (i.e. being hated by the world, being surrendered to God, and being "spent", i.e. a living sacrifice). Following is not a haphazard, sporadic, every now and then choice. It is a regular, consistent, frequent, daily choice. It is a choice a disciple makes faithfully. It is a discipline.

What we see in the Great Commission is the mandate to make disciples (i.e. see people saved, baptized, and brought into the church where they can be taught to observe all things - beliefs, practices, ministries, etc.). If we have a mandate to teach, then the flip side must also be true. We have a mandate to learn. A disciple is a learner. And to learn we must have some discipline.  In Lk 2:46-47 J...

The one thing most of us lack when it comes to sharing the gospel is boldness. The early church and church leaders shared with boldness. It is what they were known for. How do we get boldness? Spend time with Jesus and pray for it. Take a listen to this lesson where we are encouraged to share Jesus boldly.

The disciplines of silence and solitude go hand in hand together, and when practiced help us to actually be more effective in other disciplines like prayer, bible intake, fasting, worship, etc.

When it comes to time we wish for more, but there isn’t more. It just comes down to how we use what we’ve been given, hence the exhortation from Paul to make the most of our time. This lesson is going to focus on time in the context of spiritual disciplines. Time is required in order to participate in any spiritual discipline. Because this is true, we must make the most of the time afforded to us....

Giving and acts of generosity allow us to look like Jesus because when we give financially we do some of the very things Jesus did: give, love, sacrifice, and serve. In this lesson we look at 8 principles for giving financially. In end, Jesus only asks us to give what He is already willing to give us. Take a listen to this lesson and be encouraged to steward well and look like Jesus.  

Jesus didn’t say “if you fast” but “when you fast.” Implied in Christ’s teaching is that we would fast and should fast. It's not a matter of if but when.  Charles Stanley said, "Fasting is the abstinence of anything that hinders our communion with God. In particular, fasting is the abstinence of food for the purpose of seeking God in prayer." It is this spiritual discipline that goes hand in hand...

When we serve with a smile, God smiles. Serving is expected and results in growth, glory, gratefulness, and godlness.

Praying is one thing. Being disciplined in our praying, that is another. We can grow in our consistency and fervor in our praying over time just like we can physically grow in our strength and stamina over time, if we are disciplined. This lesson looks to answer questions like: Why pray? How do we develop discipline? And, what is our motivation?

The bible is a fruit bearing tree from which we eat when we listen to it, read it, and study it. We increase our harvest from God's Word when we memorize it, meditate upon it, and apply it to our lives.

The Christian life isn’t just about knowing a certain set of doctrines. It is more than knowing. It is believing. But it is more than believing. The Christian life is also about doing. It is doing what we believe. But to truly do what we believe is going to require some discipline, disciplines, habits, spiritual activities to be engaged in. If we never engage in spiritual activity, then we’re just...

Self-control is the last quality of the Fruit of the Spirit listed by Paul, but there can be no doubt about its importance to Christian living. Can we truly be in a place of pleasing God if we're not living in a way that we exercise self-control? We are to live controlled lives; lives in balance and in the boundaries of God's Word, will, and desire. Self-control in the physical realm may happen by...

The world may view meekness as weakness in a person's make-up, but in reality, meekness is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is a quality we very much need on display in God's people. We especially need it as we increase in power and authority. It is meekness that keeps us from being abusive or overbearing with our authority.

Faith is the intrinsic link in the Christian experience. Faith is not optional. It is a must. Without it we can’t be saved; we can’t serve; we can’t please God; we have no joy. The basis of our faith, as it relates to our Christian experience, embraces two objects: 1) Faith in the faithfulness of God, and 2) Faith in the faithful sayings of God (i.e. His Word). God is faithful to us in all things....

In 2 Tim. 3:1-4 Paul gives us the key to cherishing good. He contrasts those who love themselves, their money and pleasure with those who are lovers of God (philotheos). It is this love for God that keeps everything in proper perspective.  Loving what is good is the outflow of loving God. Since God is clearly the source of good, how can a man begin to become good like God is?  1) DISCOVER what God...

We can never truly extend kindness to others until we realize and know just how much kindness we've received from God. Kindness is His nature. He is good and kind to the just and the unjust. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance. The Greek word "chrestotes" is translated “good,” “kindness,” “gentleness.” Kindness (gentleness) is the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all whi...