Heritage Bible Church

3 Critical Elements Unveiling Your Faith 1 - Faith & Works In Action (14-17) 2 - Faith Without Works (18-20) 3 - Faith, Works, & Justification (21-26, next time)

Books for Week 11: Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy

Paul identified the church in Thessalonica as a model church. The testimony of their faithfulness was spreading throughout the region and encouraged other suffering churches. However, even this model church was not immune from the devastating pain of loss. Even though they knew that the resurrection was true, in the moment of grief, some members of the church were shaken. Paul wrote these words to remind those who had lost loved ones that they could find comfort in the certainty of their hope. Hope in Christ's return is the source of Christian comfort. The death of loved ones is a tragically common part of life. Death is inevitable in a fallen world. Whether because of a sudden disaster like a car crash, the gradual encroachment of cancer, or slow decay of age, death comes to us all. When death invades your life, where will you find comfort in the midst of grief? The answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. Our passage presents two promises that fix our hope on the return of Christ so that we can be comforted in times of loss. 1 - The Promise of the Resurrection that Fixes Our Hope (13-16) a - Grounded in the Gospel (14) b - Realized by Christ's Return (15-16) 2 - The Promise of Reunion that Focuses Our Hope (17-18) a - Reunion with One Another b - Reunion with Christ

Books for Week 10: Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians

For Paul, Departure Time is imminent. In my tangled thinking, two acronyms came to mind to outline our text. 1 - AARP: An Apostolic Retirement Plan (6-9) 2 - BOGO: Bad Ones, Good Ones (10-22)

Books for Week 9: Mathew Mark Luke John Acts

As we are on final approach to landing this letter, we encounter a watershed passage about the power and authority and importance of God's word. Joined to it is the perfect three-word summary of what Paul wanted Timothy to do: Preach The Word. 1 - Continue In The Sacred Writings (3:14-15) 2 - Be Equipped And Equipping (3:16-17) 3 - Preach The Word (4:1-5)

Books for Week 8: Zephaniah Haggi Zechariah Malachi

This text doesn't require searching out golden nuggets of doctrine. It's better suited to an overview and letting it have the intended effect of helping us keep our guard up. Our passage begins with a conjunction, so you can't grasp its command without recalling what it connects to: 2 Timothy 2:24-26: The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. There are people who believe they are Christians, but they don't really understand the gospel. They have not humbled themselves before the Lord. They contend for their own way, their own comfort, and for their own version of what it means to be a Christian. As Paul clearly wrote, they are in opposition, they need repentance and they need the knowledge of the truth. They profess to know Christ and to be part of His church, but they are unwittingly in the snare of the devil. Wow! That's strong! 1 - The Warning (1) 2 - 19 Ways To Harm A Church (2-5) 3 - Bad Examples (6-9) 4 - What You Need To Know (10-13)

Books for Week 7: Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk

YHWH – The self-existent creator 1 - YHWH – tsabaoth – the LORD of hosts - sovereign control over everything 2 - YHWH – yireh – the LORD who provides 3 - YHWH – rophe – the LORD our healer 4 - YHWH – nissi – the LORD our standard 5 - YHWH – meqaddishkem – the LORD who sanctifies us 6 - YHWH – shalom – The LORD who gives us inner peace 7 - YHWH – roiy – the LORD is our shepherd, provider, caregiver 8 - YHWH – tsikenu – the LORD our righteousness 9 - YHWH – shammah – the LORD our companion 10 - YHWH – qanna – the Lord is Jealous

Books for Week 6: Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos

Jesus' parable of the dragnet (Matthew 13:47-50) relates to our passage. The analogy is that just as the net pulls up many fish, the gospel message draws many people to it. The net gathered all types of fish, some worthwhile and some not good. Likewise the gospel attracts many people who neither repent nor desire to follow Christ, but they hang around "in the net." Just as the fish could not be sorted until the net was pulled ashore, so false believers masquerading as true Christians will not be fully exposed until the end of the age. A day of reckoning will come in which God will separate the true believers from mere pretenders, and those found to be false will be cast into hell. As we have done several times lately, it's easy to title this based on the commands in the passage: Flee, Pursue, Refuse. 1 - Two Kinds Of Vessels (20-21) 2 - Three Commands (22-23) a - Flee (22a) b - Pursue (22b) c - Refuse (23) 3 - Five Honorable Traits (24-26)

Books for Week 5: Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations

We are into a section of God's word that has, in practice in most churches and tragically across entire denominations, been forgotten or ignored in our generation. It has become the norm to think that in order for the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ to grow, we have to be innovative in what we do. Many seminaries have been telling students to figure out what the felt needs of people are, and to build a ministry around meeting those needs. That pragmatic mindset tragically ignores the fact that God's word tells us what our real need is, and it is not what most people "feel." The truth is that it doesn't matter what I feel. What matters is that I understand my need to be reconciled to God from whom I am alienated by sin. This portion of God's word, indeed the whole book of 2 Timothy, is not hard to understand. It's not esoteric. It's not abstract. It is bold and direct, and it tells us what God wants from His Church and its leaders. Church is not meant to entertain, and it's not meant primarily to address unbelievers. It is for the people of God to worship Him in spirit and in truth, so they are equipped to take the gospel to the world. As we have been seeing paragraph by paragraph, there are direct and clear commands we must heed. In our passage, there are four more imperatives which help frame it for us. If you ever wonder what is required to be approved to God, you need wonder no more. The answer is in our passage, which is built around the four imperatives. 1 - Remind (14) 2 - Be Diligent (15) 3 - Avoid (16-18) 4 - Abstain (19)

Books for Week 4: Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs

Our current chapter began with the famous instruction to pass along the sound doctrine Paul had given to Timothy, to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Immediately after saying that, Paul reminded Timothy that there is always opposition to the message of the gospel, and that he needed to be ready to face the opposition and not be surprised or disheartened by it: 2 Timothy 2:3: Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. As we put our boat in the water today at verse 8, we come to three examples to bolster the understanding that to be a Christian includes facing hardship and it is worth it. It is the example of Jesus, it is the reason Paul suffered hardship, and it is all for the good of all who believe in Jesus Christ. This is a reminder of Your Trustworthy Savior. 1 - Remember Jesus Christ (8-10) 2 - What To Remember (11-13) A - If we died with Him B - If we endure C - If we deny Him D - If we are faithless

Books for Week 3: 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra

There are four commands which frame the plan of God for spreading the gospel from each spiritual generation to the next. Embedded with one of the commands are three illustrations. 1 - Be Strong (1) 2 - Entrust (2) 3 - Suffer Hardship (3-6) 4 - Understand (7)

Books for Week 2: Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel NOTE: All handouts are attached to this sermon in PDF format.

The people who comprise a local church doing what this passage says is what will make a church great in God's eyes. One command is the umbrella: Have this attitude. 1 - Because it is Jesus' example (5-8) 2 - Because it is the path to exaltation (9-11)

Books for Week 1: Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy NOTE: All handouts are attached to this sermon in PDF format.

3 Features of Law Illuminating Prejudice's Effect 1 - The Law of the King (8) 2 - The Law of the Transgressor (9-11) 3 - The Law of Liberty (12-13)

Level II Leadership Training Introduction Books for Week 2: Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

The gospel of John was written "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His Name." Jesus' teaching throughout this book gives insight into who He is and what it means to have saving faith. Today's passage is from the Good Shepherd to encourage and comfort His sheep and draw those who have not yet come into His fold by hearing His Voice. 1 - My Sheep 2 - Hear My Voice 3 - I Know Them 4 - They Follow Me 5 - I Give Them Eternal Life

Our passage is a Gospel Ministry Primer. From what Paul wrote to Timothy, we can observe and apply principles which Paul practiced, which he wanted Timothy to follow, and which God intends for us to follow as well. 1 - Know Whom You Have Believed (12) 2 - Preach What You Have Received (13) 3 - Guard The Treasure Entrusted (14) 4 - Expect Some To Disappoint (15) 5 - Rejoice That Some Encourage (16-18)

3 Baffling Covenant Features to Illumine You Genesis 27:1-46 1. An Insidious Plan (1-29) 2. An Imprecatory Procedure (30-40) 3. An International Plot (41-46)

3 Facets Revealing A Godly Woman's Character 1 - Martha's Focus (Luke 10:38, 40-41) 2 - Mary's Faith (Luke 10:39, 42) 3 - Mary's Future (Matthew 26:6-13)

2 Components of Sovereignty Exhibited in Your Life Genesis 26:1-35 1. Man's Ostentation (1-11;18-23) 2. God's Orchestration (12-17;24-35) Reading for Next Week - Genesis 27

We know the Bible is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. We know it is meant to equip us for every good work. Those words will come up later in our study of 2 Timothy. If we're honest, we also understand how it can be a struggle to make the connection from the inspired and living and sharper-than-any-two edged-sword words on the page to our own lives. It's especially tough when you face opposition from those you try to serve, or when you pour your heart into some ministry and people are apathetic, or they become critical rather than thankful. It's also harder for the younger and less experienced when the sledding gets tough. All those factors were coming together and teaming up against Timothy during his labors in the church at Ephesus. Maybe you're weary. Maybe you have been or are now dealing with a physical illness. Maybe your plans failed to pan out. Maybe you were betrayed by someone. Maybe you have been sinned against in some other way. Maybe it's been a long time since you've seen someone turn to Christ or show real evidence of growing in Him. Maybe you've been bereaved, and getting over your grief and loss is like trying to let go of fly paper. Maybe it's all making you anxious. Maybe you're worried. If any of those things or other discouragements describe you today, this is the place to be and this passage is the one to apply. Maybe you need to be rekindled. 1 - Maybe You Are Needing A Reminder (6-7) 2 - Maybe You Are Ashamed (8) 3 - Maybe You Are Afraid Of Suffering (8) 4 - Maybe You Are Forgetting God's Power (9-11)

Habakkuk 1-3 1. Habakkuk's first complaint (1:1-4) 2. God's first response (1:5-11) 3. Habakkuk's second complaint (1:12-2:1) 4. God's second response (2:2-20) 5. Habakkuk's petition to and praise of God & Conclusion (3:1-19) Reading for Next Week - Genesis 26

Today we begin the final communication we have from the pen of Paul. We want to see it in its historical context so we can apply it to the fullest extent. Paul's and Timothy's relationship is a shining example of how we need to connect with one another. Unlike Paul's confident hope of release during his first imprisonment, this time he expected to be executed soon. He was in a cold cell (4:13), in chains (2:9), and with no hope of deliverance (4:6). He had been abandoned by virtually all those close to him for fear of persecution. He wrote to Timothy, urging him to hurry to Rome for one last visit (4:9, 21). We don't know if Timothy made it to Rome before Paul's execution. Paul wrote 2 Timothy, the last of his inspired letters, shortly before his martyrdom (c. A.D. 67). Out of his terrible circumstances with no hope for earthly deliverance, the Apostle Paul wrote this pithy and powerful letter to remind Timothy and us of what is most important for us to do as the Church, the bride of Christ. It begins with a brief recounting of the marvelous friendship and partnership between Paul and Timothy. True Gospel Partnership is 1 - Always Anchored In God's Purposes (1) 2 - Always Affectionate In Relationships (2) 3 - Always Thankful In Prayer (3) 4 - Always Longing For Fellowship (4) 5 - Always Appreciating Faithfulness (5)

Complete the historical inerrancy issue and review sufficiency crisis

3 Elements of Life that Reveal to You God's Sovereign Plan Genesis 25:1-34 1. Providence in Provision (1-11) 2. Purpose of Promise (12-18) 3. Progression of Progeny (19-34) Reading for Next Week - Habakkuk