Eastside church of Christ

The Hebrew writer addressed the problem of those who would “go on sinning willfully” (Hebrews 10:26). These were Christians who were forgiven of their sins. Yet in our text, the Hebrew writer made three indictments against them. He was not just indicting them of sin, but of three things they were doing because they continued in sin.

In this psalm, the psalmist praised God for His mercy. He invites us to “consider the lovingkindnesses [mercy] of the Lord” (v. 43), and gives examples. It is good for us to consider these. There are lessons for us to learn in these examples.

After giving the parable of the sower, Jesus said that some WOULD NOT understand. It was not that they COULD NOT, but they refused to see and hear. This meant they would miss out on the healing the Lord offered. The primary application was about being healed of their sin. Yet there are other ways that God offers help and healing, but many ignore or reject this. In this lesson, we will consider some emotional, mental, or behavioral problems that develop when we forget God and His word. IMPORTANT: These conditions do not automatically indicate one's lack of faith or their disobedience, nor is it always wrong to treat them with various pharmaceutical drugs. Instead, the point is that we need to make sure we are spiritually healthy FIRST and not skip that step.

After giving the parable of the sower, Jesus said that some WOULD NOT understand. It was not that they COULD NOT, but they refused to see and hear. This meant they would miss out on the healing the Lord offered. The primary application was about being healed of their sin. Yet there are other ways that God offers help and healing, but many ignore or reject this. In this lesson, we will consider some emotional, mental, or behavioral problems that develop when we forget God and His word. IMPORTANT: These conditions do not automatically indicate one's lack of faith or their disobedience, nor is it always wrong to treat them with various pharmaceutical drugs. Instead, the point is that we need to make sure we are spiritually healthy FIRST and not skip that step.

In our text, Paul reminded these brethren of something he had already warned them about. Some were “enemies of the cross of Christ.” Obviously, this was destructive for these individuals. Yet their influence was also dangerous for the faithful brethren in Philippi. The same warning is necessary for us today. If we are not careful, we can become “enemies of the cross,” and the transition is not as abrupt as we might expect.

Those who are opposed to the truth will naturally be opposed to those who speak the truth. Jesus came “to testify to the truth” (John 18:37) and was crucified for it. He warned that we will receive the same kind of treatment. We also see this throughout the book of Acts. We are going to look at the accusations made against truth teachers in Acts. This will hopefully help us prepare for potential accusations that will be made against us today.

Those who are opposed to the truth will naturally be opposed to those who speak the truth. Jesus came “to testify to the truth” (John 18:37) and was crucified for it. He warned that we will receive the same kind of treatment. We also see this throughout the book of Acts. We are going to look at the accusations made against truth teachers in Acts. This will hopefully help us prepare for potential accusations that will be made against us today.

Those who are opposed to the truth will naturally be opposed to those who speak the truth. Jesus came “to testify to the truth” (John 18:37) and was crucified for it. He warned that we will receive the same kind of treatment. We also see this throughout the book of Acts. We are going to look at the accusations made against truth teachers in Acts. This will hopefully help us prepare for potential accusations that will be made against us today.

The parable of the lost sheep is one of the more well-known parables of Jesus. It teaches us of God's love for us, even if/when we wander away from Him. It also shows us what our attitude should be with those who wander off and are restored. It is good to be reminded of parables like this one, and also to make the proper application(s).

Secrets are always intriguing. Some are harmless, but others can destroy us when we pursue them. Some in Thyatira were in danger of being destroyed by pursuing “Satan's so-called deep secrets” (NIV). We need to understand the situation and why it was dangerous in order to protect ourselves today.

Solomon said the day of one's death is better than one's birth. Why? He knew that life here was vanity, but we have something better awaiting us (Ecclesiastes 12:7-8, 13-14). The Bible uses several expressions for death (euphemisms). A euphemism is a milder word or phrase used in place of a stronger one (ex: “passed away”). The euphemisms for death in the Bible can teach us some lessons. We should “take it to heart.”

We live in a world that is difficult, discouraging, unfair, and wicked. It has always been this way. Yet when we put our trust in God and follow His way, we can endure these trials and enjoy His promises. God's people needed to be reminded of this in our text. They thought God had abandoned and forgotten them. In this lesson, we are going to see what situation God's people were in and what they were promised, then see what application we can make for us today.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the wise man spoke of the futility of life “under the sun.” One of the reasons he saw this as futile was that he would leave the fruit of his labor to someone else. The one receiving it could squander it or act foolishly with it. This caused the wise man to despair. This raises the question: What should happen with our wealth and/or possessions when we die? Are there principles and instructions in God's word that will help us? Yes, and we will consider some points here.

At the start of a new year, we focus a lot on GOALS we want to reach in the future (health, work, relationships, etc.). All of these may be good, but we must never lose sight of what should be our PRIMARY goal – “the resurrection” (Philippians 3:11). In our text, Paul described three things he was doing to attain his goal. We need to do the same.

Enoch lived his life in such a way that God was with Him. The ones who go to heaven are those who do the will of God.

The goal of our preaching is a “good conscience.” Our conscience is designed to help guide us to do what is right. Whether or not it does this depends on how it is trained. To accomplish this goal, we need to understand more about the conscience. There are at least six different types of conscience addressed in the New Testament. We will consider them here.

You may be questioning the title. After all, there was no Christmas in the first-century church. Yet the observance of Christmas is widespread today. Is that compatible with what we read about the early church? And does it matter? The commonly held view of Christmas is that it is a celebration of the birth of Christ. We are going to take the commonly held view of Christmas and see if it fits into the New Testament.

The term “legalism” has a strong negative connotation for many. It is not found in the Bible, but it has been coined to describe a certain approach to the Bible. Legalism is associated with the idea of strictness, narrow-mindedness, and being judgmental. Yet there is more to legalism than the popular concept.

Jesus told Pilate He came to “testify to the truth” (John 18:37). Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). This may not have been a sincere inquiry, but it is a vitally important question. God is the ultimate source of truth (Hebrews 6:18), and truth is found in His word (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). It is critical that we understand that truth is contained in the Scriptures. Yet simply acknowledging this is not enough. There are certain things we must DO with truth.

God's people are to practice contentment. Like Paul, we need to practice this in every circumstance. However, we need to understand what contentment is. Many claim contentment but are really immature, disobedient, cowardly, lazy, or apathetic instead. In this lesson, we are going to consider what the Bible says about contentment – what it is and is not.

Jesus taught His disciples about the need to forgive those who sin against them. Yet it is not always easy to do this, especially when the sin is habitual – seven times a day (Luke 17:4) or seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). However, as the Lord's disciples, we must be willing to forgive others as He has forgiven us. What does this forgiveness look like?

Paul began this chapter by telling Timothy of his role in making disciples (v. 2). He mentioned three “occupations” that illustrated Timothy's work as a preacher. Two of these were directly related to the work of making disciples (soldier and farmer). In a related passage, Paul mentioned another related “occupation” – a shepherd (1 Corinthians 9:7). The work of making disciples is ongoing. We do it by doing the work of the farmer, the shepherd, and the soldier.

God created the world, and it operates according to the rules He established. This includes times of “seedtime and harvest” (Genesis 8:22). The outcome of the harvest depends (in part) on what was planted, when it was planted, and how it was done. This illustration of sowing and reaping is used throughout the Bible. As we consider some passages that describe sowing and reaping, we learn about what we are to do, what we are to avoid, and what the consequences are of our choices.

The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the togetherness of brethren in the early church. Shortly after the church was established, the first Christians were meeting and eating together. Many churches today host “fellowship meals” – meals hosted by a congregation and conducted as part of the church's work. But was Luke describing a church-sponsored meal? If not, are these meals at least authorized?

It is good and necessary to revisit certain topics from time to time. We do not want to “drift away” from what we have learned previously (Hebrews 2:1). Some topics are so foundational that they affect what we believe, teach, and practice (individually and collectively). The topic of bible authority is one of these foundational topics. We will take another look at it here, perhaps in a different way to help reinforce the concept for us.

James said we will be “judged by the law of liberty” or “the law that gives freedom” (NIV). This should affect how we “speak” and “act.” So what does this mean? What is the “law of liberty”? How does recognizing this affect our lives? And how does this impact our view of others?

In this chapter, the rulers of God's people were condemned, yet the false prophets tolerated it because they were comfortable, and they attacked anyone who jeopardized the current arrangement. In the same way today, false teachers are content when they have their livelihood, but when this is threatened, they “declare holy war.” This same mentality exists among various groups today – more than just false teachers/prophets. They are concerned with their livelihood, wealth, status, etc. When that is threatened, they will invoke God, the Bible, a sense of morality, etc. as a defense for their “right” to have what does not rightfully belong to them.

In this short epistle, Jude warned about false teaching, reminded us of examples of God's judgment, and explained how to combat false teachers.

This is the final lesson in our series on Gideon. He was a hero of faith (Hebrews 11:32) who helped deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Yet he certainly had his faults. In this lesson, we will see how he was an illustration of the wise man's warning: “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). For all of the good things Gideon did, he later allowed himself to be puffed up with pride, which led him to do things he should not have done. This is a warning for us because we can do the same.

When the time came to go to battle against the Midianites, Gideon assembled a large army. Yet God dramatically reduced his number in order to teach him (and us) a lesson. Despite the smaller number, Gideon's army of 300 defeated the Midianites because God was with them. The lesson from this is that we need to trust in God, not the number of people on our side.

The Israelites were being oppressed by the Midianites (Judges 6:1-7). God sent an angel to call Gideon to deliver them (Judges 6:12-16). He questioned God and doubted his ability to carry out this task, but he went. He was a hero of faith (Hebrews 11:32). Through his leadership, God would deliver Israel. Yet something had to be done first. He had to deal with the problem that caused all of the trouble – idolatry.

Gideon lived during a time when the Midianites oppressed the Israelites. The people cried out to God, and an angel called Gideon to deliver them. Gideon believed God had abandoned them, and that he was the last one who should be called upon to deliver the people. Yet he was persuaded to answer the call. Gideon was a hero of faith (Hebrews 11:32), but he was not a perfect man. His example can inspire us to do great things for the Lord, while also serving as a cautionary tale showing how easy it is for God's people to sin and lose faith.

Throughout the New Testament, our efforts in the cause of Christ are likened to our involvement in a military conflict (cf. 1 Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6:11). Jude also used this type of language in our text: “Contend earnestly for the faith.” What does this mean? How do we do this? And why is this necessary?

People talk a lot about developing good habits (eating, exercise, etc.). This can be incredibly helpful. It is also beneficial in our spiritual lives, helping us grow to spiritual maturity. To be effective, we need to be intentional about these habits and willing to put in the effort to develop them. These are also things that each of us can do but that no one can do for us. So we are going to consider some spiritual disciplines – regular practices that help our spiritual development.

Genesis 4 tells us about Cain and Abel – two brothers, the sons of Adam and Eve, and one killed the other. Abel is an example of one who faithfully obeyed God (Hebrews 11:4). Cain is an example of one who chose to do what was evil instead (1 John 3:12). But what should Cain have done? He could have chosen to do right, or make correction after his initial sin. There were several steps that led Cain away “from the presence of the Lord” (Genesis 4:16). How could this departure have been stopped? And what lessons can we learn from this today?

We have a regular practice in the assembly of taking up a collection on the first day of the week. From time to time, it is good to evaluate WHY we do this and HOW we are doing it. Is this still a practice that the church needs to be doing today? As individuals, are we giving in a way that pleases God?

God addressed the worship that was being offered to Him, saying, “Where is My honor?” (Malachi 1:6). They had not dishonored God by ceasing to worship Him, but they may as well have (Malachi 1:10). Instead, they were worshipping in a way that did not honor Him. We need to learn from their mistakes so we can offer worship to God that honors Him.

Some passages in the Bible repeat a phrase to emphasize a thought in order to help us remember it. Why is this necessary? We may hear something and understand it but immediately think of an excuse for not doing it, then dismiss it. Yet by repeating the instruction, it sends a signal that we really do need to take this seriously. In this lesson, we are going to notice a few examples of this in the New Testament.

James warned Christians about “friendship with the world.” He used very strong language, saying that one who “wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Knowing this danger, it is vitally important that we know what this means. In this lesson, we are going to discuss what friendship with the world looks like, and what our relationship with the world ought to be.

God is great, and the creator of all things. Yet He still cares for us and gives strength to those who wait for Him.

Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus spoke to His apostles and promised to send the Holy Spirit. He would “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” This would have a direct impact on the apostles' teaching, and it should with ours as well.

There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this seventh and final lesson, we are going to talk about treasures in heaven.

There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this sixth lesson, we are going to talk about the value of a proven faith.

There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this fourth lesson, we are going to talk about real spirituality as opposed to “lukewarm” religion.

There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this fourth lesson, we are going to talk about the great gain of godliness.

There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this third lesson, we are going to talk about what Jesus described as the pearl of great value.

There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this second lesson, we are going to consider the need to buy the truth.

There are many investments that one can make (stocks, real estate, collectibles, cryptocurrency, etc.). All of these have to do with financial growth and security in this life. Yet there are certain investments we are to make that are spiritual in nature, and these are most important. In this series, we are going to discuss some of these investments we are to make. In this first lesson, we are going to consider the value of the soul.

As Paul closed his letter to the church in Ephesus, he admonished them to be “strong in the Lord” (v. 10). This was necessary because of the challenges and opposition they faced (v. 11-12). This was done by putting on “the full armor of God” (v. 11, 13), which would enable them to “stand firm” (v. 11, 13-14). We face challenges and opposition to our faith today just as they did then. The way we can deal with it is the same – “put on the full armor of God.” What does this mean? How do we do it? Let us consider the passage.

We have been abundantly blessed by God. In our text, Paul emphasized certain blessings we have as Christians. He said, “All things belong to you.” What does that mean? To answer that, we need to look at what he said and what is in the context.

When Paul addressed the ones gathered on Mars Hill, he taught them about the “unknown God” (Acts 17:23). In his lesson, he explained what God was declaring to them. This is also what God is declaring to us. In this lesson, we are going to examine what God is declaring to all men.