Fundamentals
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An Overconfident Church
Quite a while ago, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Smile, America. God loves you,” and I wondered how we could say that with all that is wrong and sinful about our society? We consider ourselves a Christian nation – one favored by God – much like the nation of Israel felt confident about Continue reading
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Mercy & Us
In our last lesson, we considered the Pharisees in light of Matthew 9:13 – Jesus instructing the Pharisees to learn of God’s desire for mercy and justice. We looked at the roots of the Pharisee movement, where they had good motives, and where they went wrong. We concluded that we must speak where the Bible Continue reading
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Of Christ or a Group?
Is the Restoration Movement over? Is it completed, or is it a dynamic process that has to continue? Restoration – separate from the historical movement – as an ideal has to continue, and it is beneficial to look back at that time period to help us see how we should pursue this ideal. To restore Continue reading
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Experiencing Faith
We learn in different ways and means: listening, seeing, and experiencing, and it comes as not surprise that experience is the best teacher. When it comes to our relationships with God, are we observers or participants? True faithfulness is only achievable through experience. Observers of Faith King Agrippa: Acts 26:24-29. Paul challenges King Agrippa to Continue reading
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Tears In Heaven
In 1991, Eric Clapton wrote and recorded “Tears in Heaven,” expressing grief for the then-recent death of his 4-year-old son, Conor. Now, it is probably one of the songs he is best known for, and I want to take two statements and one question posed by the song to guide us in a quick lesson Continue reading
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The Value of a Soul
How do you place value on something? Something of great value might be unique or rare, or it might have some great personal meaning or attachment even though few others might see the sentimental value of that object. What is truly valuable? The problem is that we know the cost of everything, but we understand Continue reading
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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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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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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 