Robert Smelser
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Facts, Commands, and Promises
How do we typically share the gospel? Often, we share the good news, emphasizing the commands of the New Testament. We assume someone knows the fact of Jesus’ life and death and the promises surrounding the message. However, the commands cannot be truly obeyed without a good understanding of the facts and the promises surrounding… Continue reading
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Sin & the Solution
What does the term “Christian” mean to you? The idea of being a Christian can range from merely being a good person to being a believer in God to identifying oneself with Christ. This consideration is not a new one. Back in the first century, there were many people who were becoming the first Christians,… Continue reading
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A Proper Mindset
On the way in this morning, most of us were asked, “What time is it?” We all answered in different ways, but the real answer is this: It is time to worship God. This serves as an illustration to a point made back in our studies on Corinth on how we are products of our… Continue reading
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Sermon on the Mount Part 5: The Conclusion
Based on Jesus’ teaching, I have to be willing to check myself on a daily basis to see if I’m in line with what Christ expects of us, and I have to be willing to make changes in those places I am outside of His word. Remember the Beatitudes and the concept of being poor… Continue reading
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Sermon on the Mount Part 4: Seen of Men
In this sermon, Jesus is trying to impress on his listeners what it really meant to be followers of God. It is more than following stoic rights and rituals – there is a certain attitude and state of mind God’s followers should have. So far, we’ve studied characteristics of true disciples: being poor in spirit, peacemakers,… Continue reading
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Sermon on the Mount Part 3: Focus on the Heart
In the first lesson, we looked at what it means to be “poor of spirit” – to be empty of self and full of Christ. Prior to that, we examined Jesus’ meaning in saying that He came to “fulfill the law.” He summed up and accomplished all that the Old Testament pointed to. From here,… Continue reading
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Sermon on the Mount Part 2: Fulfilling the Law
Jesus makes statements that we might consider to me “mission statements” throughout His ministry, and one of those in in Matthew 5:17 – to fulfill the law and accomplish all it is meant to do. This heeding to the law and prophets is repeated in Matthew 7:12, and these two statements bookend the main body… Continue reading
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Sermon on the Mount Part 1: Spiritual Poverty
Think about these question: What kind of things make you happy? Similarly, what does it take to make you happy? For the next few lessons, we are going to be looking at the Sermon on the Mount, sometimes referred to as the Christian Manifesto or God’s Guide to Life. The three chapters (Matthew 5-7) that… Continue reading
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Attitudes & Outlooks
Our decisions, the way we conduct ourselves around others, and how our relationships work are determined by our attitude and outlook on life. Our attitude also affects our spiritual lives, and, in this lesson, we are going to look at some attitudes and what God would have us be. Attitudes and Outlooks The pessimist expects… Continue reading
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The Second Coming
Can you imagine seeing someone you know do the incredible things that Jesus did during His ministry? Can you imagine seeing this friend put to death only to rise up again in three days? Can you imagine seeing this friend lift off the ground and ascend into the clouds? This is what the apostles witnesses,… Continue reading
Simply Gospel 