The lesson on January 4, 2009 starts a new series in the book of Romans. Romans is such an important book that the Apostle Paul wrote. Many books have been written about this book because of its importance. In the canon, Romans follows the Gospels and the Acts because it is so important that has so many great themes in it. Romans talks about the wrath of God, the Gospel of God, it talks bout Sin and Sins, and takes us back to the covenant with Abraham at Sinai, then to back to Adam. When it takes us back to Adam, it brings us forth to the one man who destroyed sin.
The lesson on January 11, 2009 continues the Romans Study with part 2. Part 1 covered the background of the book the Apostle Paul wrote and scripture references in Acts chapter 15, and 20 were provided showing the timing of when Romans was written. It is important to point out that what Paul wrote in Romans is not to us, but it is written for us. Romans is the first big doctrinal book in the Canon of scripture. The second big doctrinal book that applies to this period of the Acts is Thessalonians.
The Hope of the Resurrection - Part 1. When a loved one dies, it can be a devastating event in the life of a person. Death is part of life since we are all going to experience death, either from those around us that are friends, or even worse, those that are family. But when you are a Christian, and you know that person that died is a Christian, it is a joyous occasion when death happens because they have the promise of being resurrected and living eternally with the Lord. In John 11:1-45, we see Jesus raise Lazarus from the grave.
The Hope of the Resurrection - Part 2 . The lesson on January 25, 2009 continued the lesson on the hope of the resurrection and started with a modified handout from the previous week. The emphasis on this lesson was the unique attributes that can be identified from each resurrection that is found in the New Testament. The first resurrection discussed was the resurrection of Christ, which is the most important one of all! Without Christ’s resurrection, we would have no hope.
The third lesson in the Romans study was given on February 1, 2009 and covered the first eleven verses in chapter 2. Before the study dived into chapter two, there is a 10 minute commentary on the Boy Scouts of America and the homosexual issue in the country today. Christians have become desensitized to what is called wrong by God. There is moral relativism, value clarification and the like that is taking the place of scripture in defining what is good.
A good week is a Godly week. A week where you put your trust in Him and focus on what He wants you to do. God has a plan for you and you need to focus on what His purposes are. The challenge in life is to keep the perspective of your walk with God in good times and bad. When we loose that perspective, we loose the peace of God. The peace of God is like brownies. Brownies don’t just come...
Praise and Worship. The lesson on February 15, 2009 was given by guest teacher Leland Maples from the LOOPS Ministry based out of Odessa, Texas. Leland gives a quick update on Odessa before jumping into the lesson on praise and worship. There are changes taking place in modern evangelical churches today with regards to praise and worship. Praise appears 248 times in the bible. Worship appears 108 times. There is a bible study principal regarding the aspect of “first mention” and Leland thought it would be good to look up in scripture where these words were first used.
Handling the Word of God Accurately . The lesson on February 22, 2009 was focused on the spirit of Right Division which comes from 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Although some things today appear to be outrageous, how can the Christian take a position on any issue that claims to be out of the Bible or received from God? How do we ensure that we do the right thing right?
The lesson on March 1, 2009 started with the scripture reading of Romans 4:1-8. Romans is a unique book and fundamental on doctrine. Charles Welch who wrote the books entitled “Alphabetical Analysis”, commented in volume 4 on page 115 that “Perhaps no one book in the whole of the Scriptures may be considered to have a greater claim upon all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, than the epistle to the Romans.
The lesson on March 8, 2009 covers chapter 5 of Romans which culminates what Paul was teaching in chapter 4 that our sins have been done away with in Christ and through Christ, God can see us as acceptable because when God looks at us, He sees Christ’s righteousness. Romans 5:8-11, it says “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
The lesson on March 15, 2009 started chapter six of Romans and the scripture reading was in verses 1-13. There is a famous quote by Benjamin Franklin that goes “Of a certainty, death and taxes will always be with us.” Will Rogers added a change to Ben’s quote, he said “You know, the only difference between death and taxes is that death remains the same when Congress meets.” Death has a consequence. Scripture says in Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”. That statement ought to grip us with a fear that shakes us down to the bone...
From Christianity to Christ. The lesson on March 22, 2009 was given by Dr. Sterling Lacy as the guest speaker and his lesson was entitled “My 50 Year Journey from Christianity to Christ”. Dr. Lacy started with Matthew 23:23 where we learned about the practice of religious activity instead of a proper relationship to God. The emphasis of this lesson is to put a proper foundation with Christ in your life before you pursue all the religious acts that God does ask of us.
The lesson on March 29, 2009 covers Romans 7:15-18 and continues the Romans Study audio series with this eighth lesson. There is a warfare waging and we are right in the middle of it. The scripture reading today was a tongue twister but it shows the struggle that Paul was going through in this warfare. God has given us the solution to the battle and we find it in the bible. All we have to do is yield ourselves to the word of God and appropriate in our lives and we win the battle!
The Crucifixion of Christ - On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. Scripture reveals that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the Jews greeted him with waving palm branches, and by covering his path with palm branches. Immediately following this great time of celebration in the ministry of Jesus, he begins his journey to the cross. You will find the scriptures regarding Palm Sunday in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19.
They Don't Get It - The Resurrection. They Don’t Get It. The lesson on April 12, 2009 celebrated the resurrection of Christ. But we learn, even though God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and was raised for our benefit to have eternal life, the world is full of people who don’t get it. The word Easter is in scripture in Acts 12:4 (Easter = pascha) and there it is speaking about the Passover. The Passover in the life of the Jew involved a ceremony with a lamb that was slain.
The 9th lesson in this series was given on April 19, 2009 and covers Chapter 8 of Romans with the scripture reading in verses 1-4, and 38,39. What God has done though Christ goes beyond the cross and the resurrection, it involves your life and the practical relationship with Him as savior and that is where the rubber meets the road. We all have difficulty with this because there is a desire to serve God and please Him, but we fall flat on our face. Why? We have a character flaw called sin and it is part of the flesh that we have in our old nature.
The lesson on April 26, 2009 was the tenth lesson in the Romans Study and started with the scripture reading of Romans 9:1-5. This is an exciting lesson because it deals with a dispensational change. We have learned that Romans is divided into three sections. Chapters 1-8 finished the first section where we learned of he righteousness of God is satisfied in Christ Jesus. Chapters 9-11 are dispensational and we see that quickly in verse 4, where Paul is speaking about Israel having the advantage.
The scripture reading was in Romans 10:1-4 and was given on May 3 , 2009 and is part 11 of the Romans Study. Romans Chapter 9 thru Romans Chapter 11 is the dispensational section of Romans. In part 10, we looked at dispensational change and made it clear we need to pay attention when those occur. In Romans, Paul is preaching the Gospel of Grace. Today we are in a Dispensation of Grace which is different than Paul’s Gospel.
Mothers Day 2009 - The lesson on May 10, 2009 celebrated Mothers Day and started with the scripture reading in Psalms 113. You may think that the passage in Psalms 113 is a strange one to celebrate Mothers Day but it starts with a “hallelujah” and ends with a “hallelujah” which means Praise Ye the Lord. Even though we want to recognize Mothers today, it’s even more important to give God the praise in what He has done for us. That’s what is going on in Psalms 113.
The lesson on May 17, 2009 continues the study in Romans and starts with a discussion on Paul’s Gospel. The important distinction regarding Paul’s Gospel is that all the previous Gospel’s were only given to the Jews. Paul’s Gospel is unique because it was given to the Jew first, and then to the Gentiles. If you were a Jew during this time, you would have to ask yourself what was Paul preaching here because the inclusion of the Gentiles was something new. Paul was adept at explaining the Gospel out of the scriptures and was taking time to explain it to them.
Right Division - Jew and Gentile. Following the lesson on May 24th, this lesson picks up the scriptures that Leland Maples covered with the bewares in Philippians and Colossians but takes them to a comparison between the Jew and Gentile.
The lesson on June 7, 2009 picks up the Romans Study with part 13 and reads the scripture in Romans 11:25-32. God does have a purpose and He has always had one throughout the ages. When we go through Romans we find that God was dealing with Israel and they were classified the apple of His eye, His people. Paul writes that in Romans 11:1-2b “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
The lesson on June 14 started the practical section of Romans. Romans can be divided into three sections. As we have learned, chapters 1-8 teaches on doctrinal issues, chapters 9-11 are dispensational, and chapters 12-16 focus on practical living. Romans 12:3-8 was the scripture reading as the lesson started teaching the practical aspect from Romans. When you become a Christian, life isn’t a bowl full of cherries. You don’t win the lottery, you don’t make every green light, you don’t close every deal, your loved ones don’t get healed, and you may go broke.
Father’s Day. The lesson on June 21, 2009 was given on Father’s Day and the scripture reading was in Matthew 7:21-29. The only time you like to get older is when you are a kid. If you less than ten years old, you are so excited to get older so you think in fractions. When asked how old you are, you answer 4 and 1/2. You’re never 36 and 1/2. When you get into your teens, they can’t hold you back... When asked how old you are, you answer “I’m going to be sixteen.” Then the great day of you life occurs when you turn 21. Even the word sounds like a ceremony. Then you turn 30.
The Twelve Apostles .The lesson on June 28, 2009 studied the twelve apostles that Jesus choose to his disciples during his earthly ministry to the Jews. We find in Matthew 10:2-7 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas , and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Independence Day - The lesson on July 5, 2009 took a break from the Romans study to celebrate Independence Day in America. Psalms 11:1-7 was the scripture reading and most people are familiar with verse 3 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This is a sobering passage from scripture when applied to America this fear is not a new. I’m sure many generations past have shared this concern. So why bring it up? When bad things happen we begin to lose our faith in God.
The Beginning of the End. Leland Maples was the guest teacher on July 12, 2009 and he started by saying he wanted to talk to us because if he taught and preached, it would be lost since we are far beyond help. The topic “The Beginning of the End” is not about prophecy in the Bible, but rather, it is about the United States of America. The scripture reading was Ecclesiastes 1:9-12 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new?
The scripture reading was Romans 13:1-7 during the lesson on July 19, 2009 where the Romans Study picked back up with part 15 in the series. Derek opens the lesson with an article on the fallacy of living with the regrets of yesterday and burden of tomorrow. Today is a gift from God and that is why the call it the present. Psalms 138: tells us that the word of God is even more important than His name.
Romans 14:1-12 opened up the 16th lesson in Romans and we find chapter 14 begins with “receive”. The subject of this chapter runs all the way through Romans 15:7. There is a phrase that is contributed to Augustine, some have said it came from Wesley, but the quote goes something like this: “In essentials, unity. In nonessentials (of the Christian faith ), liberty. And in all other things, charity (or love).” Because there are some things that are essential (fundamental) to the Christian faith...
The first lesson in August was the 17th lesson in the Romans Study and the scripture reading was in Romans 15:1-13. The lesson on August 2, 2009 in Romans is winding down this study and in chapter 15 and we are reminded that Romans is considered the constitution of the Christian faith. Many believe that it is the most important book in the New Testament, if not the entire bible. We have learned there were problems in Rome between Jew and Gentile, but when we get to chapter 15, we find the problem is between who is strong and who is weak in the faith.
The lesson on August 9, 2009 opened up with chapter 16 of Romans . We are reminded that Romans was written in Corinth while Paul was on his third missionary journey. There are three books in the New Testament that are critical when dealing with doctrine . These are Romans, 1 Thessalonians, and Ephesians. Some really think that Romans is the most important. Chapter 16 starts with a saint called Phebe who was chosen to be the postal carrier for this letter of greeting to the saints in Rome.
The scripture reading on August 16, 2009 lesson was in Romans 16:17-20, 25-27 and it is the beginning of the end of this series in Romans. Romans 16:17-20, 25-27 says “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men.
The lesson on August 23, 2009 started with the scripture reading in Romans 16:24-27 and is ending the Romans Study that has gone on for 19 lessons. This is the third lesson on closing chapter 16 of Romans. The lesson opens with a recap of the prophecy stated in verse 20, which was first declared in Genesis 3:15. Derek shows that the Gentile is being blessed through Abraham and references Romans 15:27 where Paul said “It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are.
The final lesson in the Romans Study was given on August 30, 2009. The lesson serves as a springboard into a study of the mysteries of the prison epistles where there are 12 references, 10 of those are in Ephesians and Colossians, and two are in Timothy and they all have a bearing on our private mail. But before we go there, this lesson finishes off the Romans Study by looking more into Paul’s Gospel. In review, we learn that God began to deal with man in the garden with Adam. Sin overtook man in the garden so God started dealing with mankind and sin overtook mankind.
Make Full Proof of Thy Ministry. The lesson on September 6, 2009 involved the scripture reading in 2 Timothy 4:1-8 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
The lesson on September 13, 2009 started a new study on the "Mysteries in the Prison Epistles" and the scripture reading was in Hebrews 1:1-4 KJV. "1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."
The lesson on September 20, 2009 was the second lesson in the "Mysteries of the Prison Epistles" and the scripture reading was in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 KJV. "4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."
The lesson on September 27, 2009 was the third lesson in the "Mysteries in the Prison Epistles" and the scripture reading was in Ephesians 1:3-14 KJV. "3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
The lesson on October 11, 2009 was the fourth lesson on the "Mysteries in the Prison Epistles" and the scripture reading was in Ephesians 3:6-12 (KJV). "6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
The lessson on October 18, 2009 was the fifth lesson on the "Mysteries of the Prison Epistles" and the scripture reading was in Ephesians 5:30-33 KJV. "30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Mike Penny of the Open Bible Trust toured through America and visited Northside Bible Church on October 21-23, 2009 to give a seminar on Numbers in the New Testament. There were 6 sessions given over a three day period. Session 1 introduces the topic and studies the three divisions in the New Testament. These are the Gospel Period, The Acts Period, and the Post Acts Period. The lesson then looks at events statistically through these periods to see what had changed. Session 1 begins the analysis looking at the words Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Israel, and Israelite.
Mike Penny of the Open Bible Trust toured through America and visited Northside Bible Church on October 21-23, 2009 to give a seminar on Numbers in the New Testament. There were 6 sessions given over a three day period. Session 2 covers the words Hebrew, Hebrews, Jew, Jewish, Jerusalem, Covenants, Priest(s), Fast(s), Fasted, Fasting, and Heal(ed) or Healing.
Mike Penny of the Open Bible Trust toured through America and visited Northside Bible Church on October 21-23, 2009 to give a seminar on Numbers in the New Testament. There were 6 sessions given over a three day period. Session 4 covers the words Circumcise, Circumcision, Law, and finishes by asking the question "What was going on in the Acts Period?"
Mike Penny of the Open Bible Trust toured through America and visited Northside Bible Church on October 21-23, 2009 to give a seminar on Numbers in the New Testament. There were 6 sessions given over a three day period. Session 3 covers the words Healed, Healing, Evil Spirits, Demons, Sexual Immorality, and Sabbath.
Mike Penny of the Open Bible Trust toured through America and visited Northside Bible Church on October 21-23, 2009 to give a seminar on Numbers in the New Testament. There were 6 sessions given over a three day period. Session 5 answers the question "What was going on in the Acts Period?" and covers the words Baptism, Baptize, and finishes with Covenant(s).
Mike Penny of the Open Bible Trust toured through America and visited Northside Bible Church on October 21-23, 2009 to give a seminar on Numbers in the New Testament. There were 6 sessions given over a three day period. Session 6 covers the words Leaders, and the Return of Christ.
The lesson on October 25, 2009 was the sixth in the study entitled the "Mysteries in the Prison Epistles". The scripture reading was in Ephesians 6:18-20 KJV. "18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
The lesson on November 8, 2009 was the seventh on the study in the "Mysteries of the Prison Epistles" and the scripture reading was in Colossians 2:1-8 KJV. "2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
The lesson on November 15, 2009 is the eighth in the study on the "Mysteries in the Prison Epistles". The scripture reading was in Colossians 4:2-6 KJV. "2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
The lesson on November 22, 2009 was the ninth in the study "Mysteries in the Prison Epistles". The scripture reading was in 1 Timothy 3:16 KJV. "16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
The lesson on November 29, 2009 was the tenth and final lesson on the study "Mysteries in the Prison Epistles". The scripture reading was in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 KJV. "8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
The lesson on December 6, 2009 started a series on the biblical characters involved in the Christmas story. The first individuals looked at are Zacharias and Elizabeth. The title of this lesson would be "The Beginning of the End" makes you stop and think: is there really an end? In Matthew 24:3-6 KJV the Lord is asked by his disciples... "3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The lesson on December 13, 2009 continued the study on the characters of Christmas. This lesson covers Luke 1:26-31KJV "26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
The lesson on December 20, 2009 is the final lesson of the Characters of Christmas study and this lesson is entitled "The End of the Beginning". The scripture reading was in Matthew 1:18-25 KJV and this lesson covers the birth of Christ. "18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
