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Faith Has Always Been the Way to God

Ryan Lowery

Isaiah 29:13

What is faith? Is it performing rituals without thought? Is it based only on intellectual understanding? Or is it doing good deeds and checking a box off? It's none of those things! Biblical faith is based on God's truth and is action orientated with us willing to act based on God's truth with complete dependence on Him. Rituals do not make use righteous. When we serve others or step out in love without any glory to ourselves it is our faith that receives righteousness.

Keywords

{"passage": "Romans 4:1-25","passageabreviated": "Rom 4:1-25","passagetiny": "Rom 4:1-25","teacher": "Ryan Lowery","teachingDate": "10/11...

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Two Strange Parables of Faith

Jim Leffel

Hebrews 11:6

The apostles' request for increased faith leads Jesus to address faith and explain that it is not the strength of your belief, but where you place your trust. Jesus also teaches our attitude of faith needs to be one of humility; a child with a father, or a bond-servant with a master.

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 17:1-10","passageabreviated": "Luke 17:1-10","passagetiny": "Luke 17:1-10","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "10/...

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Do You Wish To Get Well?

Gary DeLashmutt

John 5:1-9

Jesus heals a paralyzed man at the well of Bethesda in Jerusalem, but not without first asking the man if he wished to get well. A closer examination of their conversation yields insight into Christ's ability to meet our spiritual as well as our material needs, how much we can be affected by our circumstances, and the real healing and restoration that God wishes to provide for us through the work of the Cross. We are able to experience true restoration only when we let go of our "survival strategies" and turn towards God, affirming in our hearts what He says is true of Himself and ourselves.

Keywords

{"passage": "John 5:1-9","passageabreviated": "John 5:1-9","passagetiny": "John 5:1-9","teacher": "Gary DeLashmutt","teachingDate": "10/0...

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Jesus Confronts His Enemy

Dennis McCallum

1 Corinthians 15:45

The three temptations of Jesus are recorded: to be autonomous from God by turning stones into bread, to prematurely claim his rightful rulership by worshiping Satan, and for Jesus to leap from the temple to be prematurely recognized for who He is. Jesus uses Scripture to resist and refute Satan's words, demonstrating the need for every believer to know the Bible deeply and well enough to use it in spiritual warfare. The believer is encouraged to know Satan's tactics and aim for persistence in winning battles that Satan will repeatedly bring into his or her life.

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 4:1-14","passageabreviated": "Luke 4:1-14","passagetiny": "Luke 4:1-14","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teachingDate": "0...

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The King Arrives!

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 2:1-12

An introduction of Jesus to the world and an analysis of the surrounding historical detail and circumstances during the birth of Christ. King Herod, who was aware of Jesus' birth, commanded a group of Magi to tell him where the Messiah was so he could go and worship Him, though his plan was to kill Him. This is compared to pseudo-seeking the truth about God, defined as stating that one is seeking the truth but in practice ignoring the evidence that is presented. The Magi, who were not Jews at all, came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, demonstrating God's power to work through any means to reach real seekers of the truth about Jesus.

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 2:1-52","passageabreviated": "Luke 2:1-52","passagetiny": "Luke 2:1-52","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teachingDate": "0...

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Responding to God

Conrad Hilario

Luke 1:1-38

Mary is presented as an example of faith as God reveals his plan to bring Jesus into the world through her. Three ways to respond to God's will are discussed: 1) resisting, 2) performing, and 3) being available to God. Mary recognizes her part and God's part and makes herself available to God while depending on Him to carry out His plan.

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 1:1-38","passageabreviated": "Luke 1:1-38","passagetiny": "Luke 1:1-38","teacher": "Conrad Hilario","teachingDate": "08...

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The Prologue

Dennis McCallum

Luke 1:1-38

An introduction to the Book of Luke, including its historical reliability and the case for Luke's authorship. When the angel Gabriel visits the virgin Mary to tell her she will bear the Messiah, Mary chooses to respond in faith and gratitude, despite the risk of legal prosecution and her husband's rejection of her testimony. Mary decides to present herself to God as a willing participant in his plan. This passage illustrates humans' ability and decision to willingly participate in God's Will for their lives or reject God's Will through refusal, failure to decide, or passivity.

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 1:1-38","passageabreviated": "Luke 1:1-38","passagetiny": "Luke 1:1-38","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teachingDate": "0...

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Confronting Half-Heartedness

Conrad Hilario

Malachi 1:6-13

The priests were accepting sacrifices of blind, crippled, and diseased animals to place on God's altar. They didn't see that they were going through their priestly motions instead of worshipping God with all of their heart. They were self-deceived and did not see their sin until confronted with God's just anger.

Keywords

{"passage": "Malachi 1:6-13","passageabreviated": "Mal 1:6-13","passagetiny": "Mal 1:6-13","teacher": "Conrad Hilario","teachingDate": "0...

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Live with the End in View

Jim Leffel

Luke 12:35-40

Looking at three short parables in Luke 12, three main practices stand out as being critical to living in faith and hope in the time until Christ's return: 1.) Living in readiness to meet the King, taking part in the work of the Kingdom today; 2.) waiting patiently, but not idly; and 3.) being alert to the opportunities God brings for us, fighting distractions.

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 12:35-40","passageabreviated": "Luke 12:35-40","passagetiny": "Luke 12:35-40","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "...

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