A Fresh Way of Appropriating the Bible's Truths

Ryan Weingartner

How do we interpret and appropriate biblical truths in our lives and ministry? We can do this through understanding the relationship between imperatives and indicatives in the Biblical text, and through understanding the themes of substitution, our new identity, and eternal life.

Spiritual Decline and Recovery

Brian Adams

Hosea 6:1-14:9

Spiritual decline is a common thing in the life of a Christian. Through studying God's interactions with Ephraim in the book of Hosea we see that there are three key elements in this: 1) partial sanctification, 2) incomplete separation, and 3) unconscious deterioration. However God doesn't just leave us in this state, when we turn back towards Him, He provides the remedy and ultimately provides blessing!

Salvation and Transformation - The Scriptures in the Lives of Leaders and Their People

Lee Davis

Romans 12:1-2

The scriptures lead us to Christ. It is in the scriptures that Jesus Christ is revealed. If people want to be effective leaders for Christ, they must be devoted to God's Word. God's Word can offer grace and correction daily. Time spent in His Word can lead to character transformation. We see this transformation from the Word in the life of Timothy.

Recovering From the Fall

Dennis McCallum

Genesis 3:7-19

The effects of the fall on a individual human can be substantially (but not completely) reversed through gradual spiritual growth. The theological alienation humans experience is reversed through turning back to God and beginning a relationship with Him. Psychological alienation is healed by no longer propping self up as a god but instead putting self under God's leadership. Sociological alienation is reversed by moving away from a self-centered relationship and towards a God-centered relationship. Ecological alienation is healed as humans take a stewardship perspective of God's Earth.

Short Sayings of Jesus

Gary DeLashmutt

Ephesians 5:18-21

During the Feast of Booths, a festival to connect God's past provision of water and future provision of the Messiah, Jesus claims to be the Messiah and that he can quench our spiritual thirst with the Holy Spirit. We can drink the "living water" of Jesus in 2 ways: 1) entrust ourselves to Jesus; 2) be continually filled by the Holy Spirit.

Regret or Godly Sorrow

Ryan Lowery

2 Corinthians 7:2-11

Paul demonstrates good, Godly correction, and shows how Godly sorrow leads to real change. We are called to represent God well in our culture, and that involves taking the risk of speaking the truth in love to others. We must be willing to direct others toward truth, and we must be willing to accept correction in our own lives.

Releasing the Power of God

Ryan Lowery

2 Corinthians 3:18-4:18

Paul has seen church after church be distracted by false teachers and turn against him, just like the church in Corinth. How is he able to persevere despite apparent failure after failure? He relies on God's power. We must be willing to fail at following God, because that is how God will teach us to rely on Him, and that is how we will grow.

Patience (Part 2) - Patience with Sin

Ajith Fernando

Romans 13:1

Patience is an often sought-after virtue, but it is not achieved in the Christian life without trials. As we encounter sin, we are faced with an opportunity to be refined. Even in times when we have been greatly hurt by others, we can forgive by the power of Christ and learn to endure patiently, without having to take vengeance on our own shoulders. This fruit of patience brings relief and freedom into our lives.

A Fresh Way of Appropriating the Bible's Truths

Ryan Weingartner

Romans 5:2-5

Learning to appropriate biblical truth is crucial to growing with God. The three truths that are foundational to understand are: substitution, identity, and eternal. All three are needed for spiritual growth. There are many negative symptoms that come when one or more of these truths are lacking. It is wise to start off by memorizing scripture with these truths and to talk to God about them in your prayer life.