Christians have faith in God but our faith has logical, valid reasons for us to believe.

Zero Transitional Fossils

If evolution is true, there should be multiple millions upon millions of transitional fossils…yet there is a roaring silence of evidence. Today, the only fossils we find are either existing specie or those that have gone extinct. Have you ever heard of the Cambrian Explosion? Why is it called an “explosion?” It’s because most of the present species that exist today or have ever existed are found in what is known as the Cambrian layer or explosion. This layer is consistent with creation of life as described in Genesis where all of life suddenly appeared, as if an explosion of life occurred (and it did!). You cannot find any transitional evidence in fossils of plants evolving from one plant into another, so evolution has no observable evidence from the fossil record.

Carbon Dating Flaws

There is strong evidence that fossil dating is not accurate. Carbon dating is only good through about 6,000 years and so it is not a reliable method to date matter into millions of years. All living organisms—like trees, plants, people, and animals— absorb carbon-14 into their tissue. When they die, the carbon-14 starts to change into other atoms over time. Scientists can estimate how long the organism has been dead by counting the remaining carbon-14 atoms…but….we have a huge problem with this. Cataclysmic events or great heat and pressures (underground) can speed up the release of carbon-14 atoms or…extreme cold or oceanic depths can slow the carbon-14 release way down. And carbon-14 can easily be absorbed by surrounding matter as to further complicate dating. That’s why carbon dating rocks does not work out well. It’s meant to test former living things. Some rocks from Hawaiian eruptions tested several thousands of years old, yet it was only within the past two decades that these rocks had formed.

Evolution’s Tree of Life

Evolution teaches that we all descended from one original source, although the Bible says God make each creature after their own kind (Gen 1). It’s very interesting that geological features are consistent with a worldwide flood as described in Genesis (causing rapid fossilization, i.e. the Cambrian Explosion). The oldest known plant is the Gingko Biloba, dated to around 270 million years ago, yet it is exactly the same today as it was some “270 million years ago,” although, once again, carbon dating methods cannot be trusted. You cannot find any transitional evidence in fossils of plants or creatures evolving from one species into another. Trying to find the “missing link” is ridiculous when the entire chain is missing! Monkeys have not evolved one bit since arriving on the earth! They remain exactly the same. It’s the same for opossums, crocodiles, and even cockroaches which are classified as being from the dinosaur age. The so-called evolution Tree of Life has the T-Rex on the same branch as the chicken!! So, fish, to reptiles, to mammals and to birds….monkeys…to man….has absolutely zero fossil evidence to support any transitions from any specie to another. Zero!

Fake Fossils

Since evolutionists can’t come up with evidence to support evolution due to the missing fossil evidence, they tried something else. The “discovery” of Piltdown Man turned out to be the biggest hoaxes in the history of paleoanthropology. For one thing, the jaw and skull fragments belonged to two different species. The jaw’s teeth revealed someone had filed them down to make them appear more like human teeth. And all of the bones had been stained to make them look old. It was actually called a scientific crime. Piltdown Man was found to be a modern ape that had been bleached and artificially weathered to look like a 500,000-year-old jawbone, so they actually built a whole model out of a jawbone!

Nebraska “Man” and Lucy

Then there was Nebraska Man which snowballed out of control after the 1920s announcement but it turned out to be from a pig’s tooth. Once again, they built a model out of one tooth! Then, there is “Lucy,” the renowned fossil skeleton claimed to be one of the world’s earliest known human ancestors, which was recovered in Hadar, Ethiopia, in 1974, but the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History refuses to show her. Several investigators, including Richard Leakey, have now concluded that two or perhaps three species’ bones and bone fragments have been wrongly combined in Lucy so they’re not all human bones. She was not a human ancestor. She was a form of extinct ape.

Missing Links

The chance for finding transitional monkey-to-man fossils is exceedingly high given their time frame of hundreds of million years. Sample evidence for fossils should grow exponentially with greater periods of time, but they haven’t. Charles Dawson, staunch supporter of Darwin, was responsible for at least 38 fake finds during his amateur fossil-hunting career according to the Telegraph (Great Britain), so fossil evidence is missing and what they do have, they’ve created fake evidence to support a theory that cannot be proved, tested or observed (via the Scientific Method). Their only alternative is to create fake evidence.

Archeological Evidence

Archaeology is a science. It is the scientific study of material remains that authenticates the remains of human activities, civilizations, and life. The mountainous collection of artifacts show indisputable evidence that the Bible is true and what was recorded actually happened in the places and times that the Bible states that they did. Let’s look at one example: Judges 16:29-30 tells about Samson’s end (die with the Philistines). Could one man really pull down an entire temple (Samson?)? Two Philistine temples have been uncovered by archaeologists. One at Tel Qasile, in northern Tel Aviv, and one in Tel Miqne, ancient Ekron, 21 miles south of Tel Aviv. Both temples share a unique design—the roof was supported by two central pillars! The pillars were made of wood and rested on stone support bases. One appeared to have collapsed from the center!!!!

Archeological Findings

Well over 50,000 digs at 30,000 different locations have been excavated and these finds continue to provide substantial support of the Bible’s written record. Some of the finds include Belshazzar, King Darius, and King Cyrus’ is mentioned by name. The Hittites, once thought to be mythological empires, have been found to have existed after all. King David’s reign was found recorded on ancient Egyptian inscriptions. There is evidence of the Regal House of Nebuchadnezzar. A stone tablet bearing Pontius Pilate’s name. A piece of broken pottery at Masada had an inscription that read, “Herod the Great King of the Jews” and dated to the time that he was ruling in 19 B.C. which fit’s the time period mentioned in the Bible (Luke 1:5, Matthew 2).

The bones of Caiaphas the high priest were found in Peace Forest, just south of Jerusalem in an ossuary with the name Caiaphas on it. They dated to be around 2,000 years old, just when the Jewish historian Josephus mentioned Josephus Caiaphas, a high priest who served around A.D. 18-36. A seal with the inscription “Belonging to Abdi servant of Hoshea” was found in Israel and dated to the 8th century B.C. Hosea was the very last King of Israel before the Assyrians invaded and conquered the nation. The inscription of the seal matches the date of Hosea’s reign from 731-722 B.C. which fits perfectly with that which is recorded in the Old Testament.

A team of archaeologists headed by Dr. Avraham Biran, working in the Upper Galilee region, found written references to “The House of David” in both the Hebrew and Aramaic languages. Dr. Biran commented that, “This is the earliest archaeological mention of King David.” ……. These inscriptions also mention part of the Royal lineage of Israel and other Jewish Kings mentioned in the Old Testament and in the exact order that they are mentioned in 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles. In the 1970 the Elba Archive was discovered in Northern Syria. Contained in this archive is a listing of the patriarch’s accounts of places that they lived. An ancient column that is credited to Solomon mentions Mizoram (Hebrew name for Egypt) and the words in Hebrew of death, water, Edom, Yahweh, and Solomon. Interestingly, this column was found near the Red Sea where tradition has it was the place where Israel crossed over at.

Bible Manuscripts

New Testament manuscripts are amazingly abundant. In fact, there are over 25,000 New Testament manuscripts of which 5,000 of these dated from the first century. There are about 6,000 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and over 9,000 manuscripts in various other ancient languages. One of the greatest supportive facts is that the evidence verifies the dating of Matthew’s Gospel as far back as A.D. 60. Most scholars agree that Mark wrote the first Gospel and places the composition of Mark to within 20 years of the events that took place and were recorded in his Gospel.

Regarding the Old Testament, the nearly 6,000 Dead Sea Scrolls are so close in agreement, contextually, that there is only 0.01% in differences and the main differences are only in the differentiation of vowels. All together there are so many manuscripts that it is impossible to ignore its historical and evidential veracity.

Summary

There is one reason most people don’t believe in God or the Bible. They suppress that knowledge (Rom 1:20-25). Same reasons a thief won’t try to find a police officer. We know God exists and the Bible is true, but it takes the Holy Spirit for unbelievers to finally get it. We cannot brag or boast about knowing God and they don’t. It is only by God’s good grace we were saved, and not of our own intellect (Eph 2:8-9). God opened our eyes, so we pray for those who believe to be bolder in their witness and pray for the lost that a person from God shares the Word of God and the Spirit of God can birth a child of God. We have absolute, concrete evidence and reasons for believing. But even that was not of our own doing (John 15:16).

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: The Importance of the Creation vs Evolution Discussion.

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What is the Gospel of the Hebrews? Is it one to read or one to avoiding, being heretical?

A New Gospel?

One wise mentor, and retired pastor who is now with the Lord once said, “If it is new, it’s not from God; if it’s from God, it’s not new,” and I think he’s right. Every year it seems we find a new source of “truth” or another gospel. All of these were gospels of heresy as it turns out. And, do we really need another gospel? Is there anything wrong with the one we have now? Why do we need “another”gospel? We know that these “other” gospels like the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary and the Gospel of Philip have been shown to be false. They are heretical. That is, if they are not from God, so we don’t need a new gospel. These are clearly from Satan and they teach satanic things like Gnosticism, Arianism, and such. Same with the Gospel of the Hebrews as we shall see.

Rejected by the Church

The Gospel of the Hebrews is not and will never be accepted by the church and for good reason. This gospel is an ancient, now lost work that apparently contained stories about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The problem arises when it conflicts with the Bible. Several of the early church fathers briefly quoted the Gospel of the Hebrews, but we do not have any copies of the book itself today to examine. There are no full or even partial manuscripts. Another work generally comes up in any discussion about the Gospel of the Hebrews and that is the Gospel of the Nazarenes, though it is possible, this was another name for the Gospel of the Hebrews. This book was never even considered to be included in the Bible, or canonized, at any time or at any council ever; this “gospel” has been rejected in the past and is today. At least what remains of the Gospel of the Hebrews.

Biblical Heresy

Some of the distinctive features from the Gospel of the Hebrews include the belief that the Holy Spirit is Jesus’ Divine Mother. Fragments 2 and 3 of the Gospel of the Hebrews identify Jesus as the son of the Holy Spirit. The very same idea is found in the Egyptian Coptic, and the Epistle of James, which are just as heretical as the Gospel of the Hebrews. This should convince believers that the Gospel of the Hebrews does not come from God and is not inspired. If it is inspired at all, it is of satanic inspiration. Like God the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible, Satan is the author of these false gospels, including the Gospel of the Hebrews.

Insufficient Evidence

In actuality, the Gospel of the Hebrews is an ancient, non-canonical gospel that is now completely lost, surviving only through brief quotations and mentions by early Church Fathers. There are no manuscripts to examine to find doctrinal beliefs. It is surely and purely conjecture. It is subjective “truth,” but not like the Word of God, the Bible, which is objective truth. All we have today comes only from a few fragments preserved in quotations by the early Church Fathers, so even this is a second hand source. It would be difficult to preach a gospel message with only quotations from the early church fathers, preserved in fragments. And these are quotes from the early church fathers, not from Scripture! Any man-made source is not of God. This Hebrew Gospel apparently doesn’t know the real Jesus (the Holy Spirit is Jesus’ divine mother), and eternal life only comes through knowing the Son and the Father. Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). The Gospel of the Hebrews does not know the true and living Son of God and if you don’t have the Father, you don’t have the Son (1 John 2:23).

Rightly Rejected

The Council of Nicaea, with Arius depicted as defeated by the council, written by Michael Damaskinos, 1591.

I am so thankful that the very earliest church fathers or leaders ultimately rejected the Gospel of the Hebrews. Christians can be confident that, under the sovereign guidance of the Holy Spirit, the early church made the right decision to turn this book away. Today, there are no “lost books” of the Bible, and all the books that are in the Bible are the books God intended to be in the Bible. The four gospels we possess accurately recount the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who achieved victory over death and paid the price for our sin so that we might live forever with Him. That’s the gospel. Scholars determined that the surviving fragments and descriptions of the Gospel of the Hebrews point to a secondary, independent, second-century Jewish-Christian composition rather than a first-century apostolic eyewitness account.

Heresy

The Gospel of the Hebrews was never accepted into the New Testament canon because it contained heretical teachings. Early church leaders like Origen explicitly questioned its authenticity and reliability, treating it as a non-authoritative outside writing. The vast majority of its text was not found in canonical gospels, such as a passage where Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “my mother”, which aligned with specific second-century Jewish-Christian theological communities rather than orthodox catholic (or universal) Christianity. Clear enough? It’s heresy. Don’t read it or waste your money. In fact, have nothing to do with those who oppose the true gospel.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: What Are the Differences Between the Real Gospel and False Gospels?

Here are 5 simple ways that you can empower your Sunday school teachers and students in your church.

Being Thankful

On occasions I like to single out those who serve in the church and sometimes do so during the sermon so that our church knows that we’ve been so blessed in this church to have 3 rock-solid adult Sunday school teachers, but also our Children’s Sunday school teachers have no equal either. I think it is proper and fitting to thank them personally and publically. I thank them after they’ve worked on and delivered another biblical lesson that we all needed. I have learned so much from them and I am not hesitant to tell them that. Being a pastor certainly doesn’t mean I have all the answers or know more than anyone else there. Iron sharpens iron and that’s good, because rust never sleeps. I think we take so many of our teachers and those who serve in the church for granted. We expect them to be there every Sunday. We expect air conditioning or heating when we get there and working plumbing and so on, when often some church member has fixed what was needed before worship services.

Recognizing Their Service

One of our church elders is an outstanding example. This man is there well before anyone else and he’s busy getting things ready for worship services, and usually, he’s the last one out the door. We often don’t give them a second thought at church that during the week our teachers have been diligently studying the Word to be prepared for their lesson for the purpose of building up and teaching the Body of Christ, the church. Be thankful. Thank them privately and in public. They deserve it and I believe it pleases them, but also pleases God. We are given an imperative command to “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7).

Acknowledge Their Labor

I think it is human to want to feel appreciated. Sunday school teachers need to be recognized for their laboring in the Word for the Body of Christ. For the most part, it is one of the most thankless jobs in the church that there is. Few of them ever receive any kind of special recognition, so if you are a Sunday school teacher, let me thank you publically right now. I thank God for you. If you are a student or a pastor, remember to thank them publically and give them the recognition that they deserve. Acknowledge their labor of love before others because their job is not easy, even at the early grade levels of Sunday school. It’s just as hard as or even harder than teaching adult Sunday school classes in some cases. Importantly, children’s Sunday school may be the greatest window of opportunity to share Christ because most believers were saved before adulthood. Send them a thank you card just to let them know you appreciate all that they do and that you were thinking of them. Teachers are under a greater responsibility than most in the church which is why James wrote that “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:10). Pray for your Sunday school teacher and thank them for all of their hours spent preparing the lessons. This will truly empower them.

Include Classes in Services

I remember seeing a Sunday school youth group give a Christmas skit just before the sermon, which was also a message about Jesus’ birth, and I thought, how appropriate. Not only did the Christmas skit fit into the pastor’s sermon, it made the kids in the Sunday school class so happy. To occasionally involve your children’s (or adult…why not?) Sunday school class in services gives them the public recognition for being in that class that they need, but also gives encouragement to their teachers that everyone is part of this church.

Put Them on Mission

I remember once when I was a young Sunday school teacher of a young children’s class (3rd/4th grade combined) we went to the local city park and picked up trash. That’s all they talked about the rest of the day (to their parents, grandparents, and such). It was a lesson on “tending the Garden” or stewardship of the earth. Other parents and their children at the park saw what was happening and joined in. That was a powerful witness of how the church cares about the community; to the unsaved parents at the part, but also to their children that God cares for His creation. It acted as a drawing card for those who are un-churched and un-reached by the gospel more than almost anything we’ve ever done as a church. God used children to draw people to the gospel! It was amazing how the parents responded and even though their children who were not in any church, joined in with the other children. Some of those students in that class of mine still remember that day, even though they are now parents themselves. We once held a Sunday school adult class in the park, and it was worth it too, but that’s for another time. That park excursion really had a powerful evangelistic effect on the local community, on the children of the class, and on the teacher too. They were obeying the great commission, without even knowing it (Matt 28:18-20). Both children and adults can invite people to their class or church services. That’s one simple way to be on mission for Christ.

Summary

We do need Sunday school teachers and we should remind them of that fact. Their labor for the Lord will not go unrewarded someday by Christ, but we must reward them today by publically thanking them for their service to the church and the children and adults; we must recognize them on special days or on days of no occasion; we must include them in church activities and in Sunday services. They must be thanked privately and publically before others, and prayed over, because they are essential to the church to be able to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). That sentence was the last sentence written before the Apostle Peter was crucified (upside down, likely). His last words were emphasizing the imperative we’ve all been given, and that is to “grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.” Sunday schools can do that!

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Why Every Adult and Child Needs Sundsay School and VBS

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

It’s hard enough to pray for adults, but it’s our duty to teach our children how to pray, showing them the necessity and power in prayer.

Talking to God

Essentially, talking to your parents to ask them for help is not much different than asking God for help. The main difference is, God always gives us what is best. Parents can and will make mistakes, but tell your children and grandchildren that prayer is just talking to God. Even though talking to God is like talking a parent, it is with a deep, abiding, holy, reverential respect and fear of God that we pray to. Parents don’t want their children to hold back on their problems, but rather come to them. It is the same with God. He doesn’t want us to go it alone, child or adult. Jesus says to all ages, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

A Safe Zone

I used to play tag as a kid and we always had a “safe zone” or some object that if we were touching it, we were safe. Might be a tree or might be a rock. One way that makes it easier for children to come to parents with their problems is that they won’t be criticized or chastised for their problems, especially if it’s a problem they caused. There needs to be a “Safe Zone” where children can come to their parents when they’ve really blown it and know their parents won’t blow up! We pray to God in the same way when we’ve blown it big time, right? If children and grandchildren know they won’t be yelled at, their more likely to come to you with their problems. It is even more so for the children of God, at any age, coming to God the Father for help and for forgiveness. We must tell our children and remind ourselves that His mercies are new every day (Lam 3:22-23), so He is always a “Safe Base.”

Your Example

Parents and caregivers are commanded by God to teach their children about the laws and statues of God and what God has done for them in the past (Deut 6:7-9). In similar fashion, I believe teaching them to pray is also important. Do your children and grandchildren see you pray in public before a meal or at home? Have they ever “caught” you on your knees? Do they know you pray regularly? Children are watching…constantly. And they can’t hear what you’re saying if your actions are drowning out your words. That’s because more is caught than taught. They will do what you do more than what you say. If prayer is critically important to you, it will send them the message to them that it must be important to God. Maybe that will cause them to pray more often. That is the hope, anyway. Make sure to remind the children about all the answered prayers in your life and in others to show that God does hear and God does answer prayer…always, but in His way and in His time, which are always best for us (Rom 8:28). Tell them that is God’s promise.

A Prayer Closet

Just as we are told, we must tell our children to find a quiet place to pray so they’ll be interrupted fewer times. The best prayer time is solo-prayer; that is, praying in private where you can open up your heart without hindrance and pour it all out upon God’s broad lap. He can take it…when we cannot.

Praying Scripture

Martin Luther used to pray through the Ten Commandments in asking for forgiveness. Exodus 15, Psalm 103 are wonderful Scriptures where you can literally pray them back to God. I believe He is pleased with this, so when you don’t know what to pray, tell your children that you just find some great Bible verses or chapters and pray them back to God. For example, Psalm 103 and 51 are for forgiveness. And tell them to pray out loud in their “prayer closet.” God doesn’t want the prayers and praise of our thoughts, but from our own lips (Heb 13:15).

A Prayer Journal

I write down prayer requests from church members, family & friends.

For me, personally, it’s easier for me to stay on course in prayer if I have a prayer journal. It’s simply a small notebook where I put people’s prayer requests down, so I have a good place to begin praying. We pray for forgiveness, for parents, children, our church, the lost, and so on. If they do start a prayer journal, then ask them to put someone on the list that doesn’t treat them well because even Jesus asked God to forgive others, even though they didn’t really know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). They should do it because God has done it for us and forgiven us of our sins, even though we didn’t deserve it (Rom 5:6-10).

In Jesus’ Name

It should be made clear to children that we have no access to God the Father except through Jesus Christ. He alone is able to access the heavenly Mercy Seat. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are praying in His Name and by His authority to enter into the Holy of Holies. Only Jesus can give us direct one-on-one access to God the Father (John 6:44). Tell children and grandchildren that when we pray in Jesus’ Name, it is by His authority and for His glory that we use His Holy Name. Any credit to any prayer that is answered must always go to Jesus and for His glory alone. It’s not that prayer warriors are not important, but the One who answers prayer that is. The Father loves to give Jesus more glory and by praying in His Name, we put Him above all principalities and powers (and even parents!). The more His name is glorified by answered prayer, the more God is likely to answer that prayer. Tell children the “why” we pray in His Name. It is not just an automatic no-feeling ending to our prayers like, “the end.” It is prayer that God will hear and will answer because the Father wants the Son to be glorified.

Conclusion

If we don’t teach chldren the way to pray and the importance of prayer, then they’ll try to overcome their problems on their own or rely on others and not God. Most of all, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Teaching Children About Prayer: 8 Tips for Parents

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

If you read today is bad news and as if things are getting worse now than ever before, so why are believer’s not stressed about things?

Times of Trouble

It seems that every generation talks about this being as bad as they can ever remember, but if you know the truth about wars, death, disease, and rising crime and poverty rates, maybe it is getting worse. The facts seem to prove this out, but it doesn’t take long before you watch the news that it seems the whole world is falling apart. It seems to grow worse and worse each year. What we see today is more lucid, awful debauchery on TV than has ever been seen before. I refer it as “Slime Time TV” because it is. Morality is replaced by immorality, sexual or otherwise, and it’s glorified. If we think things are getting better, we haven’t opened our eyes to the fact that the world is getting more and more dangerous to live in, but there are some who have peace amidst the storms. They don’t seem troubled by all the troubling times. They have a peace about them (John 14:27). A calm, restive peace in the storm. Maybe they know that what’s over their head is under His feet.

The Second Coming

If you read about the days of Noah and the days we’re living in, I don’t see a lot of different. People ate, drank and were merry, up until the unexpected flood of God’s judgment came upon them unaware. Noah warned the people for over a century, that God commands men and women everywhere to repent, for no one knows “on what day your Lord is coming” (Matt 24:42b). That will happen again as Jesus said “that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into” (Matt 24:43). Jesus said, “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matt 24:36), so we must warm people that today is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2; Heb 3) since Christ could even come today before people trust in Him. Then, tragically, it’s game over…too late.

Days of Noah

We know that God sees and knows everything that’s going on and sees all the corruption and evil going on in the world today, but this is nothing new. In Noah’s day, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). Notice that all they thought about “was only evil continually.” That sounds like what you see on TV! It’s only evil…continually! Jesus said that as it was in the days of Noah (Matt 24:37-39), so it will be in the days leading up to Jesus’ return where “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence” (Gen 6:11). Then, as it is today, “God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Gen 6:12). Human nature doesn’t change…and if it does change, it only grows worse!

The Peace of God

The world knows no peace. All they know is “today.” Today they might have peace about things, but tomorrow, it’s all gone because suddenly they’re facing a divorce, financial troubles, health issues, or something else. Things are allowed to rob their peace, but not so with believers…at least it should not be so with Christians. Where does this peace come from that the world doesn’t have? It’s not from believers! It’s supernatural. The Apostle Paul writes that “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1) because we have trusted in Christ. The Christian’s peace is on the top shelf where no circumstances can reach it.

At Peace With God

This is the peace of God, not our own peace, so it is permanent…that is, if we realize it. We have peace with God because we’ve made peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord. No one can have the peace of God until they’ve made peace with God through Jesus Christ. There is simply no other way to having the peace of God. Incidentally, what or who can ever separate us from our Lord and our God and His eternal, immutable love (Rom 8:37-39)? The obvious answer from Romans 8 (from God!) is nothing or no one can ever prevent us from entering into the joy and presence of the Lord someday. That’s because the condemnation has been lifted in Christ Jesus to the glory of God (Rom 8:1).

Don’t Stress

What is the worst thing that could happen to us? We could die by an accident or by disease or whatever…but then, we are with Jesus. We can’t think, “Oh no, now I’m dying and I have to be in Jesus’ presence.” No, we ought to rejoice knowing that the best is coming and the worst is for our good (Rom 8:28). Whatever happens has God’s seal of approval for He knows that through trials, troubles and afflictions we grow more into the image of Christ. And sometimes these adversities bring people to their knees and where they reach the end of their rope…only to find God had been waiting there for them all the time. God’s velvet vice has brought many to saving faith by destroying their pride, humbling them, and making them come to an end of themselves. Only when they’ve emptied themselves, can God till them. God cannot fix what is first not broken.

Conclusion

Hopefully you have peace even in the times we live in. We trust God to know He is still on His throne…still sovereign and all things will work out for our very best.  Above all, I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Why World War Three and the Threat of Wars Should Not Worry Christians

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

D o you have more fruits of the Spirit or fruits of the flesh? Take this Bible study to inventory your own gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Do you have more fruits of the Spirit or fruits of the flesh? When we speak about the fruits of the Spirit, we mean fruits the Holy Spirit produces in us. Jesus said we can do nothing of ourselves (John 15:5), so all the godly fruit we bear is born essentially of the Holy Spirit.

If someone claims to be a believer but have abundantly more fruits of the flesh than fruits of the Spirit, they may be a new convert; however every true believer will have love, joy, peace, patience, and have a gentle spirit. This of course is because “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (vs 24) and the old fleshly fruits no longer dominate the life of the believer like, “idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions…” – Gal 5:20).

Which of these fruits of the Spirit is most important?

Did the Apostle Paul list the fruits in order of importance?

Why does Paul insist that “against such things there is no law?”

Which fruits to you bear the most in your life?

Which are the least fruits you bear?

Which “fruits of the flesh” do you struggle with?

What does it mean to “crucify the flesh?”

Describe what the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s “love” looks like.

Then, one at a time, describe, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Every Christian should be bearing at least some fruit of the Spirit…

Fruits of the Flesh

Galatians 5:19-21 “The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

What do you say to someone one claims to be a believer and “is living in sexual immorality, sensuality, idolatry” and so on?

How do you tell those who have a false sense of security that “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God?”

When we inventory our life and examine ourselves to see if we’re in the faith, write out the fruits that you display most.

Are there more fruits of the Spirit or the fruits of the flesh?

What are the fruits of the flesh that you still bear even though you’re a child of God?

Does Paul list the worst fruits of the flesh first, for example, sexual immorality?

Can a believer still display some of these carnal fruits?

What’s the most fruit in your fruit basket of life?

Walking in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-17 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

If you or someone you know claims to be walking with Christ, they won’t be gratifying or fulfilling the desires of the flesh because “the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit” and there would be a conviction from the Holy Spirit when they are gratifying the flesh….right?

If there’s no conviction from walking in the flesh, does that person have the Holy Spirit abiding in them?

Why does Paul use the world “walk” as in the Spirit?

What physical evidence is there of a person’s having the Holy Spirit?

What is evidence that someone doesn’t have the Spirit of God?

What fruits of the flesh that you still battle with?

Evidence of the Spirit

Eph 5:18-21 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Here are evidences of the Spirit of God dwelling in a person. They are being thankful to God for everything He’s done for us, most of all the Lord Jesus Christ’s life for us (John 3:16) but they are also having joy and express it in songs and hymns to God and we address one another in the same way. Instead of being drunk with wine, we ought to “be filled with the Spirit” and those fruits of the Spirit will be made manifest to all who know you.

What does it mean to be “filled with the Spirit?”

Does this mean we can get “more” of the Holy Spirit than we already have?

Why should we be expressing thanks to God on a continual basis?

What is it that you are most thankful for?

How can everyone in the church submit to one another?

Walking in the Flesh

Ephesians 5:3-5 “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

I see plenty of the fruits of the flesh in television; the print media, on the Internet and in the way people live and talk.

Sexual immorality is again placed first in the order of their severity, but this also means there won’t be any course or crude or dirty jokes that are filthy. No believer in Christ lives in such a way as this.

If they do, then it’s possible they may have “no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God,” unless they repent. Also, see Gal 5:21.

What does Paul mean that sexual immorality should “not even be named among you?”

Have you seen these fruits of the flesh in people you know?

Have you seen these fruits of the flesh in the media?

What does “crude joking” mean?

Why is it “out of place?”

Does what comes out of our mouth reveal what’s in our heart (Matt 15:11-20)?

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: What Does Bearing Fruit or Being a Fruitful Christian Mean? A Bible Study

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How does God try to tell us things today? Are there more ways than Scripture that God uses to speak to us?

Through His Word

The greatest and most powerful way God speaks to us today and tells us what we need to know is through the Bible. The more you read the Bible, the more you know what God is telling you. We don’t have to search for His will. It’s found in the 66 books of the Bible. If you use the Bible as the standard of what you think, then you will more easily know what God is telling you or trying to tell you. It’s not hard. Just trust and obey what is in the written Word. Most of things in this life are not really “gray areas” at all. They are black and white, like abstaining from sexual immorallity (1 Thess 4:3-7). The main things are the plain things in Scripture, and the main things are the plain things. These things we know are God speaking to us. He speaks through His Word. That is the clearest and most accurate way God speaks to us and tells us what we need to know.

Through His Church

God often uses the people in the church to tell us what we need to know or to try and tell us something. Jesus gave a model for telling our brothers and sisters what they need to know if they are living in sin (Matt 18:15-20). He often uses believers to come along side of us and point out sinful ways that we might be involved in (Luke 17:3; Gal 6:1; James 5:19-20). God uses people and His Word to communicate what we need to hear. He tells us things through people who believe and not through those who do not have the Spirit of God. Listening to and taking worldly counsel is like building your house on sand.

Contrary to His Word?

I have often heard people say that God “spoke to them” but it was contrary to what the Scriptures say. God will never, ever speak to us by His Spirit and ask us to do something that is contrary to biblical doctrine. For example, one man I was counseling once told me that God spoke to him that he is to divorce his wife. I asked him if his wife was committing adultery. He said no. I told him that God hates divorce and except for adultery, there should be no divorce because he didn’t have biblical grounds for it. Why would God “speak” to him and tell him that He wanted him to divorce his wife when the Bible clearly teaches that this would be sin? If you feel that God speaks to you, and I don’t mean in an audible voice you can hear, and you believe that He is telling you to do something that the Bible is against, don’t believe it! That’s a lie. It’s likely the Enemy or from your own selfish desires.

“Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” – 1 Kings 19:11-12

It Glorifies God

We know that it is always God’s will that His name be glorified. If you believe God is telling you to do something and it will result in His being glorified, it could well be that God is speaking to you. A good example is found in Psalm 145:11-12 where it says “They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men God’s mighty deeds and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.” If you are endeavoring to do something for God’s glory, then it is very like God trying to tell you something.

God Does Speak to Us

One of the most overlooked things that believers do is to be seeking the will of God and wanting Him to speak to them but what they don’t realize is that God has already spoken to them and it is in His Word, the Bible. God’s Word is alive, active, living, and penetrates the stony, human heart and makes the simple wise. Why do we seek to hear God in a quiet, still voice when he boldly and plainly speaks to us in His Word. If you’re not reading the Bible regularly, then don’t expect God to speak to you in a voice because you are not even hearing Him speak to you in the Scriptures.

Exodus 33:11 – “Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”

Seek Godly Counsel

Sometimes, you need another set of ears from a close and trusted Christian friend, counselor or pastor to see if what you believe God is speaking to you is the Enemy or is God Himself. The Bible says “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Prov 11:14). The Christian life is not intended to be a solo act but one in which we are connected to other believes and be in community and fellowship so that we can gain wisdom through their experience. If you really want to know if it’s God’s voice or not, bounce it off of a couple of Christians and see what they think. It surely can’t hurt.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: 10 Great Examples of When God Spoke and Speaks

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Problems are allowed by God for our good, so here’s how to navigate life’s storms when you find yourself in one.

Common to All

There isn’t anything that has happened to you that hasn’t already happened to someone else. There is nothing new under the sun, so whatever you are going through right now, is probably something someone has already passed through. Many of us face great disappointments, but one man said, “Let disappointment be His appointment.” I see his point in that. We may not be able to fix our problems…so perhaps our problems are there to fix us. Whatever happens to us, good or bad, God allows them to happen and we have His promise that it will all turn out for our very best (Rom 8:28).

Strength in the Struggle

One example of trials and troubles helping is the persistently strong southern winds in Kansas. Dodge City, Kansas is listed as the windiest city in the nation (not Chicago), but these strong winds do not destroy the trees; instead, they force them to grow stronger branches and trunks, sending their taproots even deeper into the soil. With the trees being strengthened, having deeper roots acting as critical anchors, they were more easily able to avoid severe damage during intense storms and even tornadoes (where we get our share!). The constant stress on the trees makes them less susceptible to suffering wind damage. Get this: the wind helps the tree prepare for the wind. Trials prepare us to face more trials. And how not to fall when the winds come.

Which is Your Storm?

God may allow a storm in your life for several different reasons, and even reasons we don’t know. For example, here are four storms that are intended for our good. Remember, God allows all things to happen for our good (Rom 8:28). All things have God’s stamp of approval on it, so here are four of the more common storms God may send or allow us to enter into.

Storms of Correction: Sent to redirect us and grab our attention over personal sin issues.

Storms of Reflection: Designed to cause us to pause, look inward, and evaluate our lives.

Storms of Direction: Used by God to guide people toward their true calling or mission, similar to the storm encountered by Jonah.

Storms of Perfection: Intended to build perseverance, test faith, and strengthen an individual’s spiritual dependency on God.

Clearly, there are more reasons than these, but we need to learn to trust God, even in the storm. The word trust, used in Psalm 37:3, means “to lean upon, roll oneself over onto, or feel safe and secure without panic” which reminds me of Matthew 11:28-30 where Jesus invites all to roll it all over onto His broad shoulders. His yoke is the one that bears the weight you cannot bear alone.

The Benefits of Affliction

The Psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). [Never seen any bumper sticker with that on it!] How is that good? It was good so that he/we “might learn your statues.” The lesson is, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67). That’s what afflictions, trials and troubles do. God “does not afflict” the Devil’s children but His very own whom He loves (Heb 12:6). “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline” (Heb 12:7), so you should feel loved when disciplined. Children are alive today because their parents loved them enough to keep them from playing in the street.

Comforting Others

When we see our brother or sister in a storm, we should be there to offer them help. Hasn’t someone done that for us? The reasons we go through things are so that we can understand and sympathize with others when they’re going through what we went through. God “who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2nd Cor 1:4). So how does God comfort us and others in their affliction? He uses others as a means to reach His ends; chiefly comforting the hurting and grieving. The point is, He can use us as a means to give comfort to a grieving spouse or parent. God works through the hands of His saints, if only we would allow Him too.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…

Deep Valleys and Dark Shadows

David wrote in the well-known Psalm 23 that “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (23:4a). This is interesting, because shadows can’t kill. Let me ask you, “Would you rather get hit by the shadow of a Mack Truck or the truck itself?” I wonder if the disciples who were in two different storms on the Sea of Galilee may have quoted Isaiah 43:12 which says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” If only they realized this about Jesus: what’s over their head is under His feet!

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Bible Verses About Trials: 20 Scriptures on Tribulations

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Does the church today resemble the church in the 1st century?

Devoted to Doctrine – Acts 2:42a

The first century church was focused on one of the most important things the church should be doing, and that is, “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42a). You might ask, was the apostle’s teaching or some translations call it, doctrine (both are right)? First of all, it wasn’t really the apostle’s doctrine but what Jesus had passed on to them. The apostle’s doctrine was Jesus’ doctrines, which He had taught them for over 3 years. These “doctrines” would be the very things Jesus commanded His disciples and the very same things He commanded them to teach others (Matt 28:19-20).

The early church taught what Jesus taught through the apostles who were taught by our Lord. If any church hopes to grow, they must teach the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and that is found in the Bible. The early church was devoted to Scriptures and so should our churches be today.

Does the apostles’ doctrine the same thing as Scripture?

What does it mean to be “devoted” to “the apostles’ teaching?”

Is it more beneficial to study alone or in small groups like in a Sunday school or Bible study?

“the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers”

Fellowship and Prayer – Acts 2:42b

Since the church was devoted to the teachings of Jesus Christ, they would naturally continue in “the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42b). You learn more from one another than from being alone, so fellowship is so important. You can’t break bread alone. The breaking of bread could be a reference to eating together and fellowshipping at a meal, but Luke seems to separate fellowship with the breaking of bread, so this could refer to the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Either way, they were people of prayer, and prayer helped the early church to seek God’s will, and part of God’s will for His children is that we have fellowship with Him, but also with one another as the Body of Christ. And again, the church today must be devoted to the Scriptures as was the 1st Century Church.

What do you think Luke meant when referring to “the breaking of bread?”

How does fellowship help the church?

What do you think the atmosphere was like at some of these “fellowships?”

Sharing All Things – Acts 2:44-45

“and they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need”

One man told me that he attended a Christian conference for pastors in Romania, and it was the strangest feeling. Here he was half way across the globe, and yet, he felt right at home among a people he had never met nor had little in common with…but they really did have something in common; God was their Father. They were brothers in Christ, and so it was in the early church, as it says, “all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need” (Acts 2:44-45).

If a need came up, someone covered it. That’s what individual members of Christ’s Body do. We have all things in common (i.e. John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Rom 10:9-13) and so we share with one another, even if it’s sharing in their sufferings for being persecuted. Today we can distribute proceeds for missionary work.

Have you ever met someone and almost known immediately if they are a Christian?

What signs made you reach that conclusion?

Were there things that made the church appealing to those outside of the church (Acts 2:43)?

Breaking Bread Daily – Acts 2:46

The church was apparently eager to worship in the early days because it says, they were “day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46). The 1st Century church was so zealous for God that they met together daily, likely to fellowship, eat, but most of all, to learn from the Scriptures and from the apostles. That meant there was daily worship and then breaking bread in one another’s home, or having a meal together, so being together gave them “glad and generous hearts.”

Does worship and fellowship (like with meals) make a difference in their lives?

In what ways is gladness connected to worship and meals?

Why does it say the received their food with glad and generous hearts?

How can someone that receives have a generous heart?

Praising God – Acts 2:47a

Toward the end of Acts chapter two, it says of the church, “praising God and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47a), so part of the passion of the 1st century church was that they were praising God and possibly, by living godly lives, they had favor with “all the people.” It helps their witness if Christians live a life above reproach. Finding favor with all the people doesn’t mean that all the people put their trust in Jesus Christ and the teaching of the gospel. It means that the unsaved were astonished by how the believer’s acted among one another and among those not in the church. That was nothing like they had ever experienced in the world, and so the people found favor in their actions.

Even under severe persecution, the church still praised God, like Job’s statement, “Even though He slay me, yet will I praise Him” (Job 13:15). God is highly pleased when we suffer unjustly, like for our faith, and yet praise Him even while it’s happening. When you give God praise, even during times of trouble, He sees you worshiping Him and trusting Him…even while things are going bad. You don’t praise that which you don’t trust, right? So the early church trusted the sovereignty of God, no matter what was going on around them.

How can we learn to praise God even in the storms of life?

Does the Christian community still retain some of these 1st century attributes, and if so, which ones?

Why did others favor the early church?

God Grows the Church – Acts 2:47b

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching …”

As we wrap up our study about the primitive church, we see that the church was a passionate one because they studied and were “devoted to the apostles’ doctrine.” They fellowshipped together, they shared what they had, and had all things in common. Even among those outside of the church favored them, at least to an extent.

Now what happened when the church did all of this and was zealous for God, studied God’s Word, and shared their possessions and praised Him and prayed to Him? God responded by adding “to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b). God added to the church because the church had a solid foundational teaching of the apostle’s doctrine, which was really Jesus’ doctrine that He commanded the disciples to teach others (Matt 28:19-20).

We know the Word of God has effectual power to change lives and to save souls (Isaiah 55:11; Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18; Heb 4:12), so the early church did what they were told to do and God gave the increase or grew the church. Jesus said He would build His church (Matt 16:18), not that you and I will build it (epic fail!), but Jesus is pleased to use men and women like us as a means to reach His ends, chiefly, that God gives the increase and grows His church. These are the keys to church growth. Not some program and agenda, but just being biblical.

Which of these elements are missing from your church listed in Acts 2:42-47?

Can you do anything about the missing elements?

Why did God bring growth to the early church?

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: How Did the Early Church Differ From the Church Today?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Church is not a grand museum. Where saints are polished, framed, and shown. It is a workshop of redemption. Where Christ is shaping hearts of stone.

The Church Is Not a Museum
Theresa Burley

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Mt 11:28

They say the Church is full of sinners,
As though we’ve hidden this somehow.
But every heart that enters through her doors
Is well acquainted with that now.
The Church was never built to showcase
The trophies of the strong and wise.
It stands as witness to the mercy
That lifts the fallen and the blind.

Some come with wounds that time has deepened,
Some carry burdens none can see.
Some wrestle doubts and old temptations,
Some long to find what they might be.
The pews are filled with fellow travelers,
Not those who claim to have arrived.
For faith is not the boast of perfect men,
But broken souls made new by Christ.

The world expects an instant change,
A life transformed without a fight.
Yet even those redeemed by mercy
Must learn to walk within the light.
And though the heart is made a new creation,
Old habits seldom disappear.
For God is patient with His children,
And works through many growing years.

“The Lord…is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance..” 2 Pet 3:9

No one condemns a crowded hospital
Because it shelters sick and weak.
Nor mocks the hands of skilled physicians
Who help the wounded stand and speak.
Yet many judge the Church for harboring
The very people Christ came for.
As though all healing should be finished
The moment one walks through the door.

And if you look, you’ll find me with them,
Not at the front with those who lead.
But standing humbly among the others,
A soul still conscious of its need.
For I have known the weight of failure,
And I have felt redemption’s call.
The difference grace has made within me
Is not that now I never fall.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 Jn 1:9

The difference is I know the Savior
Who lifts me up and bids me stand.
Who does not cast away the sinner,
But draws him closer by His hand.
The Church exists because of Jesus,
Not because her people shine.
Her hope has never been perfection,
But grace sufficient for all time.

The Church is not a grand museum
Where saints are polished, framed, and shown.
It is a workshop of redemption
Where Christ is shaping hearts of stone.
So if you see unfinished people,
You’re seeing exactly what should be.
For grace is found among the broken,
Not in the myth of purity.

Author’s Bio: Theresa Burley writes about faith the way she has lived it—not as someone who has all the answers, but as a traveler still walking the road. Her poetry is shaped by seasons of joy, loss, questions, hope, and the quiet ways she has seen God’s faithfulness through them all. She lives in Kansas, where she enjoys time with family, creative pursuits, and finding reminders of grace in everyday life.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: What is the Role of the Church?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.