Simply Gospel

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

  • The Fall of Satan

    There are a lot of questions and a lot of speculation regarding the origin and role of Satan. There are two passages we’ll being with. I John 3:7-8 identifies Satan as a sinner from the beginning, and Hebrews 2:14 describes him as one with power of death. Each step in the fall of Satan is a step toward Christ’s goal to defeat evil. When entering into this study, some of what we will be drawing out of scriptures will be speculation. The Bible does not give us every detail about our adversary, but there are lessons to learn from an… Continue reading

  • 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 act on his knowledge and convert to Christianity. Agrippa recognizes Paul’s commitment to Christ, and he acknowledges that Paul’s example is convincing, but he is unwilling to take the step toward faithfulness. We can sit in services and recognize Christ’s sacrifice, but sitting there does… Continue reading

  • Heaven In View

    During the beginnings of church history, Christians lived in risk of their own lives. Many instances in Acts record Christians being specifically threatened and the general risk that followed those who spoke of Christ. One such persecutor was Saul, and, when he was converted, God said that he would suffer many things for His sake (Acts 9:16). What gave individuals like Paul the strength to endure despite the challenges they would meet? Heaven and Our Motivation This World Is Not Our Home. II Corinthians 5:1-10 explains our faith is our motivator. We have faith that we will one day be… Continue reading

  • Spiritual Attitudes

    Some say life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react. How we react to what happens is directly influenced by our attitudes. This lesson is going to look at various attitudes we might have and how they affect our spiritual lives. Our Spiritual Attitudes What Is Your Attitude Toward the Lost? In Luke 18:9 begins a familiar parable about humility, but, in this, we also see a disdainful attitude by the Pharisee toward others who aren’t as righteous as he perceives himself. (See also Romans 12:3.) Ourselves, we need to be careful how we think of… Continue reading

  • 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 about the place the Bible calls Heaven. Life in Heaven Would You Know My Name? In I Corinthians 15:51-53 (as well as many preceding verses), Paul emphasizes how we will be changed when the resurrection comes. Our natures will be altered, and we will take… 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 little of value. As a result, we hold to wasteful things while throwing away those things that mean the most. In Luke 12:13, a man comes to Jesus, demanding his brother split an inheritance with him. Jesus turns and warns this man of covetous and… Continue reading

  • An Encouragement Like Philemon

    Can you think of individuals that have had a positive impact on your life? Perhaps they had a big influence on your major decisions, a source of inspiration, or, perhaps, they were simply a source of encourage on a regular basis. People can impact others in so many different ways. Philemon is an example of an individual who could have been seen as a positive influence, and we’re going to take some time in the book of Philemon and examine the effect Philemon had on others. Philemon – An Example of Encouragement The congregation that Philemon belongs to is the… Continue reading

  • Another Perspective

    I can’t tell you how many times I heard myself and peers being told to “get some perspective” while I was growing up. Most of the time, the person making this statement wants you to try to see the bigger picture, to obtain a wider view of events and make more informed decisions based on that wider perspective. However, the best view in the world is meaningless if the perspective is coming from the wrong angle. A couple of years ago, two men at the congregation I used to worship at requested to speak with me privately. I obliged, and… Continue reading

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  • Godly Fathers

    Nothing in our lives can be more rewarding and more terrifying than being a parent. Psalm 107:13 speaks of the comparable compassion a physical father has and the compassion our spiritual Father has. Hebrews additionally draws a comparison between earthly fathers and God. The relationship fathers have with their children is to mirror and will affect the relationship their children will develop with their heavenly Father. Today’s society places little value on the father and healthy fatherhood, and many men do not take their roles as fathers seriously. The majority of men in prison are individuals who are, by all… Continue reading

  • The Bible & Sexual Conduct

    Sexual purity is emphasized in the Bible. Even Song of Solomon, a book centered on the beauty of the marriage relationship, emphasizes the importance of purity. However, sexual purity is not valued by much of our society and media. As Christians, we fail if we are merely telling our young people each other, “Don’t commit fornication,” and go no further in discussing these matters openly and honestly – looking to the good points as well as the bad. Three reasons are often given for ignoring the Bible’s plan for couples. It is accepted more and more by society. Everyone else… Continue reading