Family Worship – Preparation
Sometimes knowing that you should do something is not enough. When it comes to family discipleship most parents feel extremely inadequate. We know that we should, but where do we even begin? Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of…
The First Witnesses (John 20:11-20)
After Peter and John leave Mary lingers at the tomb overcome with grief. Many people have sought a supernatural explanation for a lot of what goes on in this passage. It has been speculated that there was some spiritual blindness that kept Mary from recognizing Jesus and the angels and that Jesus had some ethereal body that Mary could not touch. However, this is probably not the case. Tremendous grief Mary was overcome with grief at the death of Christ.…
Family Worship – Necessity
Last week we looked at how to have personal devotions. Over the next few weeks we are going to be looking at family devotions. This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in…
The Resurrection (John 20:1-10)
After observing the Sabbath, Jesus’ friends now come to the tomb to grieve. The women find the stone rolled away and run back to tell the disciples. James and John run to the tomb to see what is going on. John uses this narrative to encourage people to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. A huge mistake From a human perspective John makes a huge mistake. The first witnesses to the resurrection are women. Not only that, but the woman…
How to Have Devotions
With the coming New Year, many Christians will make a resolution to read their Bible every day. Others know that they need to grow in their faith, but they do not know how. In this lesson we will be examining how to have a meaningful devotional time. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the…
The Offer of Peace (Luke 2:1-16)
In Luke we read of the angels announcing Christ’s birth. In verse 14 we find their exaltation of God for His wondrous work. This verse is translated many different ways, so we will be looking at the original Greek to understand fully their message. In heaven, glory to God The first and main part of the angels’ message is that God should be glorified. They add the phrase “in the highest place” or “in heaven” meaning that what God has…
Do You Believe? (John 19:31-37)
If Jesus has finished the work of our salvation then all we must do is believe in Him. This is the whole point of John’s Gospel. He wants us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. John’s family connections Jesus and John are first cousins; their mothers are sisters. John also takes Mary into his home and cares for her for the last years of her life. John has had a first row seat to Jesus’…
Evangelism Training (Part 12) VIDEO
Today we watched this video about equipping people to share the Gospel.
It Is Finished (John 19:25-30)
Jesus’ last words on the cross give us one of the most clear understandings of God’s interaction with man. “It is finished” summarizes the whole of the Bible and shows us how man is made right with God. The Old Covenant From the beginning of time God had an arrangement with man: keep His Law and receive blessings and life; break His Law and receive cursings and death. This covenant was codified on Mt. Sinai and is commonly referred to…
Evangelism Training (Part 11)
How do you turn the conversation to spiritual things? The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can…
God Keeps His Promises (John 19:17-42)
Throughout our lives we can be plagued with fears and doubts. Does God love me? Will He come through in time? In this passage of Scripture we find many things that will boost our faith. Every tongue confesses Jesus God has promised that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Here we can see the beginning of this fulfillment. Not only does Pilate identify Jesus as King, but he writes it in multiple languages…
Evangelism Training (Part 10)
How do you turn the conversation to spiritual things? And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book…