The Conversion of the Thessalonians

Mike Sullivan

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

What led the people of Thessalonica to become followers of Jesus? The messengers (Paul, Timothy, Silas and others) were dedicated, worked as a team and used evidence when they talked about God and Jesus. God pursued them and provided power and conviction. And the recipients were open to hearing the message and making their own decision. They were then motivated to share the gospel with others.

Using Your Freedom to Love - Part 2

Conrad Hilario

1 Corinthians 9:1-22

The Apostle Paul explains to the Corinthians how he makes the message of Christ relevant to both Jews and Gentiles in the different cultures he encounters. In the same way, Christians today should not seek to change culture, nor create their own Christian sub-culture, but rather find ways to show how the gospel message is compatible with culture in many ways while being careful not to adopt anti-biblical cultural values.

Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

Mike Sullivan

Ephesians 2:8-9

The main message of the Bible is clear. The main message is about salvation through Jesus Christ. Why do Christians sometimes give off mixed messages about what is the main message? The answer comes from when people lose focus on what the main thing is in the Bible. This teaching covers how to keep the main thing the main thing.

Jesus Hides in Plain Sight

Ryan Lowery

Psalms 118:22-26

Jesus' teachings have not left any comfortable middle ground for those listening; his claims are so explicit that they are polarizing. The Festival of Booths was designed to represent the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the coming of the Messiah. Jesus gets up to preach at this festival and claims he is the fulfillment of the prophecy about the Christ. As a result, the religious leaders rejected him, the disciples came to him, and Nicodemus sought to understand the truth.

Pentecost

Ben Foust

Psalms 16:8-11

The promised Holy Spirit arrives in style. Peter delivers the first major speech in Acts, laying out a scriptural argument for Jesus as the Christ, and an invitation to repent and receive the Holy Spirit and three thousand people respond in faith! The Holy Spirit empowers our speech when we open our mouths in the name of Christ.

Two Wisdoms, Or the Way of Humility

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 11:25-30

The Bible discusses the idea of two different types of wisdom. One if the wisdom of the World and the other is the wisdom of God. These two different types of wisdom often collide with one another. One offers true purpose and deep relationships whereas the other leaves people feeling empty.

Shining Light in a Dark Place

Conrad Hilario

Acts 18:1-18

In this introduction to the book of 1 Corinthians, we learn that God can meet us where we are, even in the murkiest of places. Those who know Him are called to shine as beacons of light, holding out the abundant grace of God in a dark world.

Paul in Corinth

Chris Risley

Acts 18:2-18

In this introduction to 1 Corinthians, we'll take a look at the history of Corinth and Paul's time there teaching the word of God.

3 Responses to Jesus

Ryan Lowery

Romans 5:8-10

There were many expectations that people had for who Jesus should be. Jesus preached that the solution to a broken relationship with God is not a behavior change but a transformed heart: this polarized the crowds listening to his teachings. When we are desperate, we turn to prayer as a last resort. We can try to bargain with God to get what we want. The Pharisees were indignant that Jesus was not meeting their expectations. Jesus taught that spiritual matters are far more important than the physical: they will last into eternity. \r\n