Simply Gospel

May my steps be worship. May my thoughts be praise.

  • Strengthening Faith

    When we lose something, we usually recognize it is lost. Where are my car keys? Where is my wallet? (Where is my voice? I lost my voice!) When we lose these things, we try to retrace our steps and find the last place we left the object. How does this apply to our faith? Our faith is not something that we just suddenly misplace. Rather it is something that can slowly fade away, and we may not be able to pinpoint an exact moment when faith is lost. Strengthening Faith Trying to avoid losing our faith, we’re going to look… Continue reading

  • Being a Good Samaritan

    In this lesson, we’re going to look at the story of the Good Samaritan. In our Old Testament stories, we’re seeing that lack of concern for others was a huge issue both the northern and southern kingdoms had, and, in Jesus’ time, this was no different. Who Is My Neighbor? In Luke 10, Jesus is questioned, “Who is my neighbor?” Who am I to act neighborly toward? Who is included in my kindness and my caring? In response to this, Jesus tells a story that we are very familiar with regarding a man assaulted on the Jericho road – an… Continue reading

  • Instruments & Worship

    Beginning in Ephesians 5, we’re going to look at our song service and the use of instrumental music in our worship to God. In Ephesians 5:19, Paul instructs the congregation to speak to one another, singing and making melody in the heart. Also, in Colossians 3:16, our song service is described as a time when teaching and admonishing is taking place. Parallels With Psalms While these verses are similar, Paul uses deliberate wording that is similar to the Psalms when songs of praise are described therein. Psalm 33:2, for example, states to sing praises unto Him with a harp. Psalm… Continue reading

  • Christ’s Identity

    In this lesson, we are going to look at the identity of Jesus – not His historical existence but rather His role in our faith. Different world religions will say Jesus was a good man, possibly a prophet of God, definitely a martyr. Even within self-designated Christian groups, many will question Jesus’ deity and identify Him as a created being – possibly an angel. In this lesson we are going to look what others wrote about Jesus, what Jesus said about Himself, and how people reacted to and behaved around Jesus. Other Biblical Views of Jesus In John 1:1-18, we… Continue reading

  • 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 themselves even though God was greatly displeased with them. The danger is that we can fall into this same overconfidence in this nation and in the church. Overconfidence in the Northern Kingdom In Amos 2:6, God lists off some of Israel’s transgressions. He accuses them… Continue reading

  • 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 speaks, remaining silent where it is silent, but we must not become unmerciful and self-righteous in our efforts. Because Jesus emphasized mercy with the Pharisees, we are going to look at the concept of mercy and how it affects us. Mercy and compassion are not… Continue reading

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  • Where Did the Pharisees Go Wrong?

    Twice, in Matthew 9 & 12, Jesus specifically instructs the scribes and Pharisees to understand what it means to understand God’s desire for mercy over sacrifice. In this lesson, we are going to look at the Pharisees and see where we can identify ourselves with them – both good points and trouble areas. In Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew quotes Hosea in telling the Pharisees to seek mercy more than their acts in context of them criticizing His eating with sinners. Again, in Matthew 12:1-7, Jesus references this passages, reproving the Pharisees for not learning what they should have. What Happened to… Continue reading

  • Amen Statements of Jesus

    What would you think if someone began his prayer by saying “amen” before commencing with the rest of the prayer? How do we use this term “amen?” It is transliterated from Hebrew, meaning, “It shall be so,” and it is typically in response to or at the end of a statement. Jesus, however, used it differently in his teachings, drawing anticipatory attention to what is about to be said. In this lesson, we are going to take a look at some of these instances where Jesus proclaimed, “Amen,” before teaching. Let It Be So Motivation – Matthew 6:2. Where “verily”… Continue reading

  • How Much of a Christian Do I Have to Be?

    In our last study, we looked at how the universal church is made up of individuals converted to Christ rather than made up of individual congregations. We are not converted to the church. We are converted to Christ. How does this apply to membership retention? Again, if we have individuals converted to the church rather than to Christ, the commitment is not as large. If I am truly converted to Christ, what does that demand of me? How much of a Christian do I have to be if I am of the Lord’s? Far too many times, we have members… Continue reading

  • 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 New Testament Christianity and emulate what we see in the scriptures is an ongoing effort that every congregation and every generation is responsible for – not looking to what other churches are doing but looking to what Christians of the first century were doing. Rethinking… Continue reading