What Is Your Purpose in Life? To begin the New Year, Derek McCammon presents a very practical lesson regarding the true purpose of each Christian’s life on January 1st, 2006. Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: For thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure they are and were created.” Using the examples of Moses and Abraham, Derek teaches by using Old Testament examples showing god is more interested in timing than in time. God inhabits eternity.
Overview of the Old Testament - Part 1. The lesson on January 8, 2006 begins a series which will be reviewing the Old Testament. 2 Timothy 3:16, will be used as the basis for the importance of all scripture and as Derek stresses, “All scripture is for our learning and it’s profitable to deal with the WORD OF GOD on a daily basis.” We learn, that each of us is going to be used and from a spiritual perspective, the options are to be used by either Satan or by God.
Old Testament Study - Part 2. The Old Testament series continues on January 22, 2006 with part 2 in the series. The goal of this series is to provide a look at some of the peaks in scripture to motivate you to study more and learn all those Old Testament stories. The word of God is important. There are two things that will last forever, change and the word of God. For example, in Luke 16:19-33, we are told the story of a rich man and poor man named Lazarus. When the rich man died and went to hell, he saw Lazarus across a great gulf in Abraham’s bosom.
Old Testament Study - Part 3. The lesson on January 29, 2006 continues the Old Testament Study with part 3 in the series. The calling of a nation. Abram was the individual called to form a separate group out of mankind that was dedicated to serving God.
Old Testament Study - Part 4. The lesson on February 5, 2006 continues the lesson on the Old Testament review. Genesis covers a lot of history with scripture that covers the faith of Abraham and the foretelling of the promises the are founded in Israel’s hope. Sound doctrine is important and something we need to be attentive to. Doctrine is progressive and what we find in Genesis is important to the promises to Israel. Our doctrine that we are to adhere to is the Mystery given in Ephesians by the apostle Paul.
The Love of Christ. The lesson on February 12, 2006 is given by William Champion, who recently suffered a stroke which affected his speech and the ability to communicate. In retelling his story, he relates the experience to the call of a Christian to glory in the love of Christ. As we are reminded in Ephesians 3:19 (KJV) “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Contrary to the love of Christ, were reminded of the lust of the flesh.
Old Testament Study - Part 5. The lesson on February 26, 2006 continues the series with part 5 on the Old Testament study . This lesson covers the "Torah" which is the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The author of these books is Moses. There has been some higher criticism on the author not being Moses but the internal evidence proves the authorship.
Finish The Course. The lesson on March 5th took into account 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” The lesson focused in on the statement “I have finished my course” which is what Paul was boasting.
Old Testament Study - Part 6. The lesson on March 12, 2006 continues the series on the Old Testament study and finishes the review with the first five books called the Torah. Genesis covers a lot of time and we learned that Moses was a type of Christ it that he was a deliverer. Exodus is in three sections. Chapters 1 thru 18 deals with redemption. Chapters 9 thru 24 covers sanctification while 25 thru 40 involves redemption. The law was given to Israel and demonstrates how Holy God is and shows that man is sinful.
Old Testament Study - Part 7. The lesson on March 19, 2006 continues in the review of the Old Testament books. Last week finished the first five books in the Bible called the Torah.
Old Testament Study - Part 8. This lesson on March 26, 2006 continues with the books 1 & 2 Samuel and covers Eli, Samuel, Saul, and David. Acts 13:14-23 is the scripture reading which is the Apostle Paul preaching in the Synagog during the period when he was appealing to the nation of Israel. This history lesson reminds them of all the highlights “The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.
Old Testament Study - Part 9. The promise of Christ through the throne of David. Part 9 of the Old Testament review touched on King David this week and the “Davidic Covenant”. As was said in 2 Samuel 7:8 (KJV) “Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:” We find David an important link in the line of our Savior. In Luke 1:30-33, we saw an angel tell Mary “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Passover - Part One. The lesson on April 9th, 2006 begins a two part series on the Passover in celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter. Palm Sunday is a celebration of Jesus entrance into Jerusalem. The Passover is one of seven festivals or feasts established for Israel in Leviticus 23:4 (KJV) “These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.” The first was the Passover, then the Feasts of Unleavened Bread, next was the First Fruits.
Passover - Part Two. The gospel of unbelief is perpetuated by the news media on two holidays in the Christian faith - Christmas and Easter. Articles often come out explaining away those events in scripture, or offering up alternative explanation of certain events that happened. The bashing of Christianity is a product of sin. “ We’ve seen the enemy, and it is us!” We don’t want God in our lives unless it’s something that we want to do. The obedience we find in Christ is to the will of the Father is an example of how we should deny ourselves.
Old Testament Study - Part 10. There is a great need that you have. The need is to know Christ. E .W. Bullinger wrote a pamphlet called the “Christians Greatest Need” and it tells the very important aspect of knowing Him. The word of God is given to us in a complete form and we are encouraged to study to be approved unto God. The bible contains basic instructions before leaving earth.
Old Testament Study - Part 11. We see that the golden age of Israel was presented to us in the time of David and Solomon. The Egyptians were waning and the Assyrians and Babylonians were not prominent yet so this was the prime time for Israel. The wisest man on earth, Solomon, had been made King and the glory of Jehovah was in the temple. David was a solder and a gatherer but he wasn’t allowed to build the temple. That job was given to Solomon and it was impressive but we see that Solomon, in the end, did not keep the Lord’s commandments.
Great Cloud of Witnesses - The lesson on May 7, 2006 covers Hebrews chapter 11 & part of 12 and is a recap of the heroes of faith we are covering in the Old Testament study. Hebrews 12:1 states “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” It’s a reminder that the walk we have as Christians is a patient race. The people listed in the passages demonstrated their faith by committing to their calling...
Mother’s Day - God promised a saviour to mankind through the seed of woman when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. Adam called her Eve because she was the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). It took several years from that point in time to deliver the baby Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Mother’s play a very important role in the family unit.
Old Testament Study - Part 12. The study of history can be dry at times especially when you go back 6000 years to Adam. But this history is important for our learning and spiritual growth. All scripture is for our learning in that we find doctrine, reproof, corrections, and instructions in righteousness in the history found in scripture. This lesson comes to the old testament prophets (major and minor). First, there is a recap from what has transpired up to this point, from Abraham to the exile of Israel which is at the end of the Kings from 500-490 BC.
Memorial Day. The lesson on May 28, 2006 covered the concept of Memorial Day in America. The holiday was set aside to honor those that have died for our country to protect the freedoms we have every day. The holiday marks the time when pools open up for the summer and school is out for the summer break. It’s celebrated on the last Monday in May which gives Americans a three day weekend to kick off the summer vacation... but is that what Memorial Day is all about? This lesson shared a handout America's War statistics of statistics for all of the American Wars.
Old Testament Study - Part 13. The lesson on June 4, 2006 continues the Old Testament Series with Part 13. The Word of God is a book of human history that has more veracity in it than any other book today. Yet, it has come under attack by man as to it authenticity and has been labeled a book of myth, fables, and legends. God’s Word is more important to the life of a Christian than eating bread and drinking water. We are to be built up in our faith, and to avoid the Old Testament because we don’t know of the history, or it’s too confusing.
Old Testament Study - Part 14. The lesson on June 11, 2006 focuses on the post-exile prophets and looks at the books Ezra, Nehemiah, Ester, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. These books wrap up the Old Testament and require you to learn them by reading them over and over. In order to be prepared to share the Word of God, you need to have scripture hidden in your heart. Several Companion Bible appendices are mentioned that work as good study aides on these topics ( Appx. 50, Appx. 53, and Appx. 58).
Father’s Day. We live in a homogenized society today. The land of the free and the home of the brave has been turned into the land of whoever and the home of “stay as long as you want”. America is in a sad state of affairs today as the Christian foundation has eroded in our families and therefore our Nation. There is no declaration of what’s right and absolute. There is an attack on the family in this homogenized society when what we have nationally and spiritually has been diluted to exclude God.
Old Testament Study - Part 15. The passage in 2 Chronicles 36:14-21 is the last page in the Hebrew canon and covers the period 70 years before the post-exile to that little bit of time between the pre-exile and exile. This passage is the last page of the Hebrew bible (It is not Malachi as it is for us in the Old Testament.) We learn from this passage that there was no remedy for the Nation of Israel. The Babylonians were brought by God to wipe out His people.
Independence Day. The lesson on July 2, 2006 celebrates Independence Day in America which is the 230th anniversary of this country declaring independence from the British crown. The Declaration has five parts and is summarized with these last words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” The 56 men that signed this document did just that. There are not men of this caliber today because people have a different mindset from today’s world.
The Declassification of Biblical Truth - The lesson on July 9, 2006 speaks to the secret things of God and how they are selectively revealed by God at the proper time. The verse in Deuteronomy 29:29a (KJV) says “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever...” This scripture tells us that God keeps secrets but when he reveals them to us, they belong to us and our descendants forever.
Old Testament Study - Part 16. There seems to be a pattern with Christians that approach reading scripture like a combination salad, that they don’t rightly divide. We’ve been asked to study to be approved unto God and that means to learn how to read scripture like a seven course meal with every course in it’s order. The reason we have been studying the Old Testament is to ensure that we learn how to rightly divide. To learn why God chose Abraham to become a nation that He would deal with exclusively throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament as well.
Old Testament Study - Part 17. The passage in Luke 3:1-6 is a typical passage that most of Christianity today is familiar with from a traditionalist point of view. However, if you were to take the same group of Christians to the book of Ephesians and read chapter one through three and really study the differences between the truths that are there vs. what you find in the Gospels, most of the group would try to keep what is in the Gospels vs. what Paul tells us we have in Christ. This is why Christians are totally ignorant with the truths that belong to us.
The Cross of Christ - The passage in Philippians (KJV) 3:17-19 tells us “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” There are many facets to the statement “enemies of the cross of Christ” that can apply to us today.
Old Testament Study - Part 18. The Old Testament to a new believer in Christ can be awkward to read and can be cumbersome at first. Derek shares the story of how he felt as a young Christian boy getting inspired to grow by reading scripture... but when he got past Genesis 1:1, it became a burden. The reason we have taken time out to look at the Old Testament is to encourage you as a Christian to understand the issues in the New Testament because most of the Gospels and books written during the Acts period deal with truths from the Old Testament.
Old Testament Study - Part 19 (final of the series). It seems by the mainstream denominations, they constantly teach on the practical things in life. They tend to bring those things out of the Gospels and books of the Acts period, when what we have in The Mystery provides us truths that bring it all together. When we leave the Acts period we get into the Pauline epistles that provides a distinct delineation from the promises made to Israel and the promises made to the members of the body of Christ.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 1. The lesson on August 27, 2006 begins a series on the twofold purpose of The Mystery. This study will show you that there is a great need for you to understand scripture. The ignorance of scripture has to be removed in order to have a proper relationship with God. The problem with churches now a days is they focus on the ignorance within you by providing varying groups that focuses on the problem instead of replacing the focus on Christ. Those are called Seeker classes or churches.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 2. The lesson addresses the question “what am I supposed to do?”. The calling of The Mystery is addressed to the gentiles for the sake of Christ and the focus for Christians should be on what they need to do in this calling. When we begin to look at what God has called us to do, we need to focus on obedience to the dispensational differences in The Mystery. Ephesians 4:1 says to walk worthy in your spiritual calling.
The Manifold Wisdom of God - Ephesians 3:9-11 tells of the revelation of The Mystery in such a way that the truth is being used as a showcase to the principalities and powers to show them the wisdom of God. As said in Ephesians 3:10 “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”. Why should God take the time to show His wisdom to this group of heavenly beings? The lesson on September 10, 2006 focuses on answering this question.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 3. The lesson last time discussed our need to be obedient to our calling. That’s why in Ephesians 4:1 (KJV) says “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord , beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” . This reference has impact on your behavior in the world today. Noah was an example of someone who had that obedience in his walk and he demonstrated it by completing his task given to him by God. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is figure out if this body of truth called The Mystery is your calling.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 4. The body of truth called “The Mystery” is really our great commission for the believers of this age. Much like the commission given to the disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, our commission is given in Ephesians 3:9. This is what God has given us with this particular fellowship which is part of a particular administration. Christ Jesus is the fullness of God and we a made a part of His calling in Christ. The Jew has nothing today that makes him distinctive in God’s eyes. There are two things that make this truth distinctively to you (2U).
The Three Spheres of Blessing. - The lesson on October 1, 2006 studied the three spheres of blessing found in scripture. It’s important that students of right division understand the particular calling for each body of believers and the blessings that are unique to each group. The three spheres are 1) on Earth, 2) the Heavens, and 3) the Heavenlies (super heavens). The Earth entails what was promised to Abraham and his decedents with the Nation of Israel.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 5. There are two aspects of this study of the twofold purpose of The Mystery, that which you do and that which God does. We are to compare the things that differ which is a primary function of right division. Ephesians 3:10 talks of God’s intent, which will always be accomplished and we see it will be accomplished in your life, as the song says “God will take care of you”. The Christian’s greatest need is to know that from God’s perspective.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 6. Our calling is so specific but when you share it with other Christians, they tend to deny what has been revealed to us. The lesson on October 15, 2006 teaches on the fact that God reveals some things to us, and He also doesn’t reveal things to us . There are some things that God’s revealed to us in specific times yet there are other things that won’t be revealed until the Revelation. Edwin Hubble started a mission to place a telescope in space on a satellite.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 7. From the beginning of time, God had hidden the Mystery in Himself. God is outside of time but since He is the creator of all things, He hid this body of truth before creation of the Earth and before the beginning of the ages.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 8. God does ultimately get the glory for everything He has created. There will even be a time when Christ turns everything over to the Godhead. So many times we are caught up in where we are and what we are doing but it is just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. We all have our problems but God is there to be with us so we don’t face them alone and He is there for us until the end. You may faint but God will never fail. In the study of scripture we see the eternity of God.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 9. What was the twofold purpose that God revealed the Mystery? The first reason was to reveal it to mankind as it says in Ephesians 3:9 (KJV) “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”.
The Twofold Purpose of The Mystery - Part 10 (final). This is the final lesson in the series given on November 12, 2006 pertaining to the twofold purpose of The Mystery as identified in Ephesians 3:9, and Colossians 1:25-26. The Mystery is the specific truth given to the Christian today to follow with faith obedience. The Apostle Paul says in Eph. 3:8 that he was given this ministry so he might then give it to all Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
A Psalms of Thanksgiving. The lesson on November 19, 2006 takes a break from an audio series and gives a topical lesson on Psalms 100 to celebrate Thanksgiving which comes on the third Thursday in November each year. Psalms 100 (KJV) says: 1. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4.
Timothy Study - Part 1. The lesson on November 26, 2006 starts a new series by taking a look at the books of Timothy in the New Testament that the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy. Paul wrote these after he declared in Ephesians that he was given the calling to make all saints see what is the fellowship of The Mystery. Paul then took his brother in Christ, Timothy and gave us an example of how to do this type of ministry. Timothy is a character in scripture that faced issues just like other Christians do today.
Timothy Study - Part 2. The lesson on December 3, 2006 continues the series on Timothy with part two in the series. We find the Apostle Paul appealing to Timothy regarding proper doctrine. Doctrine develops the walk of a Christian. What was the doctrine that was followed in Ephesus?
The True Meaning of Christmas. It seems Christmas comes around earlier every year if we follow the retail establishment as to when they place their holiday decorations up in the stores. It seems this year they didn’t even wait until after Thanksgiving to bring out the jolly decorations to get us in a buying mood early. Why it went from Halloween to Christmas in one night (which is why we love Thanksgiving because they don’t know how to market family time for being thankful).
The Christmas Story - Part 1 . The lesson on December 17, 2006 covers the scriptures in Luke 2:1-7 which tells of the event where Christ was born. It says in Luke 2:3-5 (KJV) “And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Christmas Story - Part 2. The lesson on December 24, 2006 continues the Christmas story with part two of the lesson given on the 17th. Derek McCammon tells us a story about how Read Luke 23:34!he saw a bumper sticker that said “Born okay... the first time!” Don’t they realize how perfect they aren’t! There has only been one person born okay the first time and that is Christ Jesus. Mankind does not get it. Jesus Christ was sent to die for you and me so we may be born again and receive the new man which is without sin. God took on the form of a man to redeem mankind.
New Year's Message - Our Hope - The lesson on December 31, 2006 brings a message of hope for New Years 2007. The lesson starts with a nostalgic look at the year of 2006. If you are honest with yourself, you would admit to feelings of regret for something you did or didn’t do. By reminiscing, you find yourself with a focus on the past and not the present. The past cannot be changed. A football coach once said “Well, yesterday is history, and tomorrow is a mystery, but today is in the present and that is what we are going to deal with”.
