Podcasts about general epistles

Stan took us through the final episode of the Cross to Crown series on General Epistles and Revelation. The three pillars of endurance. One being suffering in the book of Hebrews, James, and 1 Peter that through physical trials, God's grace preserves, refines, and establishes the believer. The second one is Truth on 2 Peter, Jude, 1-3 John; guarding the truth and active love protects the flock against deception. The last pillar is Hope, shared in the book of Revelation. Trust the victory. history ends in the Kingdom of Christ, guaranteeing the ultimate restoration of creation.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the General Epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our bible study into the general epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study into the general epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the general epistles

James through JudePastor Joseph PjechaFaith Alliance Church

By Don Ward - We continue our study into the general epistles.

The book of Jude calls believers to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, emphasizing that spiritual vigilance is essential to resist the drift of ungodliness and apostasy. It warns of various forms of moral and doctrinal corruption—unbelief, rebellion, immorality, self-will, and the misuse of grace—using historical examples like the rebellious angels, the destroyed unbelievers in Egypt, and the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah to underscore the certainty of divine judgment. The passage affirms the security of the believer, grounded in God's power to preserve and present His people faultless before His glory through Christ's righteousness. Ultimately, it calls for steadfast commitment to sound doctrine, holy living, and faithful stewardship of the faith, culminating in worship and adoration of the only wise God, whose eternal glory and dominion are the foundation of the believer's hope.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the general epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study into the general epistles.

The sermon centers on the urgent call to spiritual growth and steadfast faith, rooted in the apostle Peter's final exhortation to believers. It emphasizes that true spiritual maturity is not automatic but requires deliberate, diligent effort to 'add to your faith' through consistent engagement with Scripture, remembrance of foundational truths, and active pursuit of Christ. The passage underscores God's patience in delaying Christ's return not as slackness, but as an expression of mercy, desiring that all come to repentance and salvation. It affirms the divine inspiration and enduring authority of Scripture, warning against spiritual complacency and the danger of being swayed by scoffers who ignore God's promises. Ultimately, the message calls believers to live with holy anticipation, striving to be found blameless and at peace when Christ returns, ever mindful of their responsibility to remain faithful in a world that mocks the gospel.

The sermon presents a theological and practical exploration of the books of James and 1 Peter, emphasizing that genuine faith is inseparable from action, transformation, and perseverance. James, written by Jesus' half-brother who became a believer after the resurrection, calls believers to live out their faith through humility, self-control, and ethical conduct, using vivid imagery to illustrate the power of the tongue, the danger of partiality, and the necessity of works as evidence of true salvation. The message underscores that saving faith is sanctifying, separating, serving, and sacrificial, producing visible change in a believer's life. Transitioning to 1 Peter, the sermon highlights the author's role as a persecuted yet faithful leader who urges believers to endure suffering with hope, holiness, and submission, grounded in the example of Christ and the promise of an eternal inheritance. Peter's exhortations to humility, perseverance, and spiritual vigilance are framed within the context of God's sovereign purpose, where trials refine faith and prepare believers for future glory, ultimately calling the church to live as a holy, chosen people with both privilege and responsibility in the world.

By Don Ward - We continue our study into the general epistles.

The sermon provides a concise overview of the general epistles, focusing on Hebrews and introducing James, emphasizing their theological significance and practical application. Hebrews, written to Jewish believers facing persecution and spiritual complacency, declares the supremacy of Christ over all aspects of the Old Testament system—angels, Moses, the priesthood, and the covenant—presenting Jesus as the ultimate high priest and the fulfillment of divine promises. The author, though unknown, is likely Paul, and the book's purpose is to rekindle faith, encourage perseverance through trials, and exhort believers to fix their eyes on Jesus as the source of strength and salvation. James, in contrast, addresses the necessity of genuine faith that manifests in righteous living, clarifying that faith without works is dead not as a means of salvation but as evidence of its authenticity, thereby harmonizing with Pauline doctrine. Together, these epistles underscore the importance of a living, active faith that withstands trials, reflects godly wisdom, and is rooted in Christ's supremacy.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the General Epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the General Epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the general epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the General Epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study of the General Epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our bible study of the General Epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our bible study of the General Epistles.

By Don Ward - We continue our study into the General Epistles

By Don Ward - We are starting a new bible study series on the General Epistles.

Welcome to Day 2679 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2679 – New Testament Orientation – “The Church, Salvation, and Eschatology: God's Unfolding Plan”Putnam Church Message – 07/20/2025Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 12: “The Church, Salvation, and Eschatology: God's Unfolding Plan” Last week, we explored "The General Letters of the New Testament:” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT) 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[a] a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.”[b]This week is the 12th and final message in our New Testament Orientation Series, and we will learn: The Church, Salvation, and Eschatology: God's Unfolding Plan” Ephesians 2:13-14 (NLT) "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united us both into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us."Opening PrayerOur Loving and Sovereign God, as we reach the culmination of our journey through Your New Testament, we pause to reflect on the grand tapestry of Your plan for Your Church, for our salvation, and the culmination of all things. We pray that You would open our eyes to see these profound truths with the clarity and anticipation of the early believers. May we grasp the depth of Your reconciliation, the wonder of Your salvation, and the glorious hope of Your coming kingdom. Empower us, by Your Spirit, to live as Your unified people, eagerly awaiting the Day of Christ. Amen.Introduction: The Final Unveiling of God's Purpose We've journeyed from the Jewish roots of the Gospels, through the explosive growth in Acts, and explored the profound theology of Paul's letters and the General Epistles. Today, we bring it all together by considering three essential topics that define the conclusion of God's unfolding story: the Church, the nature of Salvation, and Eschatology—the doctrine of last things.Our core verses from Ephesians 2:13-14 serve as a magnificent summary of the radical new reality Jesus inaugurated: "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united us both into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us." This passage speaks of a profound reconciliation, not just between humanity and God, but between the two great divisions of humanity: Jew and Gentile. This reconciliation defines the very nature of the Church.For the early...

While books on a New Testament theology of mission abound, most of them focus on tried-and-true Scripture passages from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles while ignoring the contribution of the General Epistles. Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of James (William Carey, 2025) addresses this gap in missiological and biblical scholarship. Eighteen scholars and practitioners from a variety of nations and cultural backgrounds give a global perspective to James's call to action among the poor. Their writing aims to inspire the church toward holistic engagement with the world as “doers of the word, not hearers only.” Reading James Missiologically is part of a series that includes Reading Hebrews Missiologically, Reading 1 Peter Missiologically, soon-to-be-released Reading Revelation Missiologically and other projected volumes. Dave Broucek is a lifelong student of and participant in the global mission of the church. He values research into the lesser-understood aspects of mission (singular) and missions (plural) as well as scholarship that addresses the big questions of mission theory and practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

While books on a New Testament theology of mission abound, most of them focus on tried-and-true Scripture passages from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles while ignoring the contribution of the General Epistles. Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of James (William Carey, 2025) addresses this gap in missiological and biblical scholarship. Eighteen scholars and practitioners from a variety of nations and cultural backgrounds give a global perspective to James's call to action among the poor. Their writing aims to inspire the church toward holistic engagement with the world as “doers of the word, not hearers only.” Reading James Missiologically is part of a series that includes Reading Hebrews Missiologically, Reading 1 Peter Missiologically, soon-to-be-released Reading Revelation Missiologically and other projected volumes. Dave Broucek is a lifelong student of and participant in the global mission of the church. He values research into the lesser-understood aspects of mission (singular) and missions (plural) as well as scholarship that addresses the big questions of mission theory and practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While books on a New Testament theology of mission abound, most of them focus on tried-and-true Scripture passages from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles while ignoring the contribution of the General Epistles. Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of James (William Carey, 2025) addresses this gap in missiological and biblical scholarship. Eighteen scholars and practitioners from a variety of nations and cultural backgrounds give a global perspective to James's call to action among the poor. Their writing aims to inspire the church toward holistic engagement with the world as “doers of the word, not hearers only.” Reading James Missiologically is part of a series that includes Reading Hebrews Missiologically, Reading 1 Peter Missiologically, soon-to-be-released Reading Revelation Missiologically and other projected volumes. Dave Broucek is a lifelong student of and participant in the global mission of the church. He values research into the lesser-understood aspects of mission (singular) and missions (plural) as well as scholarship that addresses the big questions of mission theory and practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

While books on a New Testament theology of mission abound, most of them focus on tried-and-true Scripture passages from the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles while ignoring the contribution of the General Epistles. Reading James Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of James (William Carey, 2025) addresses this gap in missiological and biblical scholarship. Eighteen scholars and practitioners from a variety of nations and cultural backgrounds give a global perspective to James's call to action among the poor. Their writing aims to inspire the church toward holistic engagement with the world as “doers of the word, not hearers only.” Reading James Missiologically is part of a series that includes Reading Hebrews Missiologically, Reading 1 Peter Missiologically, soon-to-be-released Reading Revelation Missiologically and other projected volumes. Dave Broucek is a lifelong student of and participant in the global mission of the church. He values research into the lesser-understood aspects of mission (singular) and missions (plural) as well as scholarship that addresses the big questions of mission theory and practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

We talked with Ryan Meyer about how to study the general epistles and Revelation. Revelation brings several interpretive challenges, such as symbolism and prophecy. We discuss this and more on this episode of Theologically Driven.

This is part 4 of our Springbrook Seminar on New Testament Survey, covering the General Epistles.

Steve Swartz, Selected Scriptures. From the "Millennium: New Testament Witnesses" series.More sermons available online at www.gbcob.org.

Steve Swartz, Selected Scriptures. From the "Millennium: New Testament Witnesses" series.More sermons available online at www.gbcob.org.

Steve Swartz, Selected Scriptures. From the Millennium: New Testament Witnesses series. More sermons available online at www.steadfastinthefaith.org.

Steve Swartz, Selected Scriptures. From the Millennium: New Testament Witnesses series. More sermons available online at www.steadfastinthefaith.org.

Welcome to episode 170!  We continue our summer series on biblical genres.  Today, we will discuss the General Epistles.  You can also find these episodes on Spring Baptist Church's YouTube channel.  Here is a link to this week's episode.Overview of the BooksThe epistle to the Hebrews eloquently expounds on the supremacy of Christ and the superiority of the new covenant, exhorting believers to hold fast to their faith and persevere in the face of suffering.  James, the brother of Jesus, emphasizes the practical outworking of faith through good works, wisdom, and the taming of the tongue. In 1 Peter, the apostle encourages believers facing persecution, reminding them of their living hope in Christ and their calling to holy living.  2 Peter warns against false teachers and emphasizes the reliability of Scripture, while also looking forward to the promise of Christ's return. The three epistles of John address issues of love, obedience, and discerning truth from error, urging believers to walk in the light and remain steadfast in the teachings of Christ.  Jude, the final General Epistle, exhorts the church to contend for the faith and reject those who pervert the grace of God. Significance and ImpactThe General Epistles hold immense significance for Christians as they provide invaluable wisdom and guidance for navigating the complexities of the Christian life. These letters remind us of the enduring hope we have in Christ, even in the midst of trials and persecutions, and challenge us to remain steadfast in our faith. The emphasis on recognizing and rejecting false teachings equips us to discern truth from error, safeguarding the purity of the gospel message. The call to holy living, love, and good works encourages us to let our faith bear tangible fruit in our daily lives. Moreover, the General Epistles underscore the importance of spiritual maturity, perseverance, and the transformative power of God's Word in shaping our characters and conforming us to the image of Christ. Practical ApplicationsAs we study the General Epistles, we can draw numerous practical lessons for our spiritual journey. The teachings on perseverance and endurance challenge us to remain steadfast in our faith, even in the face of trials, temptations, and opposition, trusting in God's sovereign plan and the hope we have in Christ.  The emphasis on discernment and identifying false teachings equips us to navigate the complexities of our modern world, holding fast to the truth of Scripture and rejecting ideologies that contradict the gospel. Furthermore, the call to love, good works, and holy living inspires us to let our faith manifest in tangible ways, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel through our actions, speech, and attitudes. 

This is part 15 of the Read the Bible For Yourself. In previous episodes, we've looked at Paul's church epistles and pastoral epistles. Today we move into the third section of epistles in the New Testament--the general epistles. Instead of surveying each of the eight general epistles, we'll just focus on two: Hebrews and 1 John. We'll ask about author, audience, occasion, purpose, and mode for each. Going through these two will hopefully provide you with helpful examples to enable you to read these epistles more fruitfully on your own. Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts https://youtu.be/alXkHkkhn_w —— Links —— See other episodes in Read the Bible For Yourself Other classes are available here, including How We Got the Bible, which explores the manuscript transmission and translation of the Bible Get the transcript of this episode Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here —— Notes —— The General Epistles Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude Some consider Hebrews to be Pauline, but even if Paul wrote it, it's not to a church or a pastor, so it still fits as a general epistle 2 John and 3 John are technical to specific individuals and thus not general epistles Hebrews Authorship Evidence for Paul Associated with Timothy and Rome (Heb 13:23-24) Pauline themes Evidence against Paul Non-Pauline themes Ancient uncertainty (Origen, Eusebius, etc.) Non-standard opening Not an eyewitness (Heb 2:3) Daniel Wallace suggested Barnabas with help from Apollos. Audience As title indicates, the audience was Jewish. Persecuted (Heb 10:32-36) Occasion Became aware of some falling away from faith (Heb 3:6; 4:14; 6:4-6; 10:23, 26-27) Concern that they will return to Judaism Purpose Convince Jewish Christians to endure in the faith instead of falling away (presumably back into Judaism) Mode Show that Jesus is better Ch 1: Jesus as God's promised Messiah is better than the angels who gave the Law. Ch 2:  Jesus' salvation is better b/c he is human. Ch 3:  Jesus is better than Moses. Ch 7: Jesus' priesthood is better than Aaron's. Ch 8:  Jesus' covenant is better than the old covenant b/c it has better promises. Ch 9:  Jesus' heavenly priestly service is better than the priests serving at the temple on earth. Ch 10:  Jesus' sacrifice is better than animal sacrifices. Ch 11: The unshakable Mt. Zion covenant is better than the covenant at Mt. Sinai. Overall rhetorical effect to ask, “Why in the world would Christ-followers want to downgrade to Judaism after they've tasted something so much better?” 1 John Authorship No author in the document itself (1 John 1:1) Early Christians refer to this letter as written by John Irenaeus (a.d. 180) attributed the Gospel of John and 1 John to “John, the disciple of the Lord”[1] Later Christians agreed, including Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and the Muratorian Canon Eusebius says, “But of John's writings, in addition to the Gospel, the first of the letters is unambiguously accepted [as genuine] both by people today and by the ancients” (H.E. 3.24.17)[2] Definitely the same John who wrote the Gospel of John (John the Apostle) Same vocabulary and writing style Audience Christians that John is worried about Occasion: concern over rogue Christians “They went out from us, but they did not belong to us” (1 John 2:19). They are trying to deceive the regular Christians (2:26; 3:7). Many false prophets have gone out (4:1). They are denying that Jesus is the Christ (2:22). They may have been teaching that sin is ok (3:7-10). Purpose Equip Christians to discern and resist false teachings Encourage them to Live righteously Believe correctly about Jesus Love one another Mode Christology “Confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” (4:2) “Testify that the Father has sent his son as the savior of the world” (4:14). “Confess that Jesus is the son of God” (4:15) “Believes that Jesus is the Christ” (5:1) “Believes that Jesus is the son of God” (5:5) “Believes in the son of God” (5:10) “Life is in his son” (5:11) “Believe in the name of the son of God” (5:13) Behavior (1 John 3:7-10) “It is unlikely that John has in mind absolute sinless perfection, since earlier he has denounced those who say they are without sin (1:8, 10). Rather, John has in mind the blatant sinning to which those who have left the community have fallen prey (2:19). In view of the letter as a whole, such sinning probably involves denial of Christ's human nature (4:2-3; theological lapse), flaunting of God's (or Christ's) commands (2:4; ethical lapse), failure to love (4:20; relational lapse), or some combination of these grave errors.”[3] Many appeals to live righteously (1 John 1:.5-6; 2:1-6; 3:4-10, 23-24; 5:18) Live differently than the world (1 John 2:15-17; 3:1, 13; 4:4-6; 5:4-5, 19) Love your brother/sister in Christ (1 John 2:10-11; 3:11, 14-18; 4:7-12, 16-21; 5:1-3) Review General epistles are for Christians in general rather than a specific church or person. In order to understand the general epistles, it's helpful to figure out authorship, audience, occasion, purpose, and mode. Authorship is explicit for James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude, but takes some work to figure out for Hebrews and 1-3 John. Hebrews was probably not written by Paul but by someone who spent time with him like Priscilla, Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. Audience and occasion are often intertwined and determinable by gleaning bits of historical information from the epistles themselves. As you read, ask yourself, "Who was the original audience?" and "What was going on with them?" To discern the purpose, ask, "What is the author's main goal in this epistle?" Mode is answering the question, "How does the author go about achieving his purpose?" Once you've figured out the author, audience, occasion, purpose, and mode, understanding the rest of the epistle's particulars is much easier. [1] Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.16.5, 8. ANF translation. [2] Eusebius, 148. [3] Yarbrough, Robert. “1 John” in Hebrews to Revelation, vol 4 of ZIBBCNT, ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 176-212.

The General Epistles are a collection of New Testament letters addressed to the ancient church, yet their messages bear timeless significance. Today, R.C. Sproul articulates why these letters are so vital to our Christian growth. Get the 'Dust to Glory' Special Edition DVD and Digital Study Guide for Your Gift of Any Amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3139/dust-to-glory Don't forget to make RenewingYourMind.org your home for daily in-depth Bible study and Christian resources. A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts