Robert Smelser
-
Simply Baptism
Through many of Paul’s writings, he encourages us to be filled with the Spirit and grace. In Titus 3:3-8 speaks to the state we were once in before God interceded for us in kindness. He calls us to good deeds that reflect the qualities of our Savior after being washed in the renewal of the… Continue reading
-
Born of Water and Spirit
In John 3, Nicodemus seeks out Jesus in the evening and begins speaking with Him about the teachings of God. The discussion turns toward the idea of being born again, a process Jesus says people must go through to be part of God’s kingdom – a process Jesus describes as involving water and the spirit.… Continue reading
-
Maintaining Focus & Enthusiasm
We sometimes take time to ourselves where we have experiences that give us enthusiasm, that give us energy. We might call it “recharging our batteries.” How do we maintain this kind of focus and enthusiasm in our spiritual lives – tuning out the noise and distractions of the physical world? Am I excited about being… Continue reading
-
Our Bodily Resurrection
In I Corinthians 15, Paul covers the concept of the resurrection in detail. While the Corinthian Christians seem to have faith in Christ’s bodily resurrection, they have problems with the concept of our own physical resurrection. Paul discusses the hope and power of the resurrection as well as the implications involved in denying the resurrection.… Continue reading
-
The Power of the Resurrection
I Corinthians 15 centers around the idea of resurrection – not only of Christ but of ourselves as well. The saints at Corinth do not deny that Jesus is bodily raised from the dead. What they have a problem with is our own bodily resurrection. In the first few verses, Paul establishes three facts about… Continue reading
-
Faith, Hope & Expectations
Do you get what you want, or do you get what you deserve? How many times have we heard the expression, “I knew that was going to happen!” We have other frustration statements we use, and many of these express an expected negativity in our lives. What makes a difference between good and bad expectations?… Continue reading
-
A Nation of Priests
This morning’s lesson focused on the grace God has shown us and the hope we have in that. Building upon this, Peter, in I Peter 2, asks his audience to put away all carnal qualities and form themselves as living stones built upon the foundation of Christ. He calls them and us a royal priesthood,… Continue reading
-
Hope in Grace
Verses 3-12 of I Peter 1 consist of four large sentences that build up to his thoughts that will continue through the rest of the chapter and into the next. He begins by blessing God for the hope of the resurrection and the gift of salvation. He claims this hope is a motivation for rejoicing… Continue reading
-
Approaching Worship
Say you received an invitation to a State of the Union address. Would you be excited? Would you tell your friends? Would you be curious as to why you were chosen? How would you prepare to go? Would you accept the invitation? This lesson is actually about our worship together, our act of giving reverence… Continue reading
-
Building Bridges in Teaching
A couple of weeks ago, we looked at the importance of how we say what we say. When teaching God’s truth, doing so patiently and in love are essential ingredients to our ministry, and we examined many scriptures that talk about the attitude we should possess when sharing God’s word with others. In II Corinthians… Continue reading
Simply Gospel 