​

​

(11/24/2019) - "Hot or Cold" - Lesson 5 from The Early Church (Vol. 5)

This lesson is from Laodicea, one of the seven churches in Revelation (Rev. 3:14-22).

Many interpret the hot and cold as hot being for God, cold being against - but at least those are strong firm positions, unlike lukewarm , which is very wishy-washy.  But both hold and cold are good - in different ways.  Lukewarm is still wishy-washy.

​

We will be discussing  more specifically what it means to be a church that is hot, cold and lukewarm.  And how does this translate to individual church members?  How can we, as individuals, be more hot or more cold?  How do we avoid being lukewarm?

​

Memory verse (Colossians 3:12): Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience

​

(09/22/2019) - "The Mark of the Beast" - Lesson 4 from The Early Church (Vol. 5)

This lesson is from Ephesus, one of the seven churches in Revelation (Rev. 2:1-7).

Although not emphasized in the video, the "mark" in this case is the outward acceptance of the pagan beliefs that dominated the city.  Ephesus was the center of Artemus worship and apparently became the center of emperor worship under Domitian (81-96).  From our perspective, the issue becomes how do we testify to God's truth in a society that is dominated by secular values (even among Christians!).

​

Thought experiment: You live in NYC and have recently become a Christian.  You know a relatively small number of relatively new Christians.  Everybody else in NYC is something other than Christian, all go along with the prevailing culture, and consider Christians to be second class.  The city is full of bad stuff - views, behaviors, etc. - and you are convinced that Christ is the answer.  What do you do?  How do you feel?  Where do you start?

​

(09/15/2019) - "Where Satan Lives" - Lesson 3 from The Early Church (Vol. 5)

This lesson is from Pergamum, one of the seven churches in Revelation. 

Here is what John had to say about Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17)

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.  13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’"

-

Much of this lesson focuses on what John meant when he says that Satan has his throne in Pergamum.  There are a lot of possibilities and perhaps they all apply.  RVL's interpretation of that a "white stone" is different from any other I have read.

Nicolaitans?  From Zondervan Bible Dictionary: The Nicolaitans were judged by the author of Revelation to be most dangerous, because the result of their teaching would have conformed Christianity to the world rather than have Christianity change the world.

Notes about Pergamum:

• Site of the first temple built to the Caesar cult (Caesar is divine).

• Huge library, rivaling Alexandria.

• Snake cult (Asclepius) was very important.

​

(06/09/2019 and 06/16/2019) - "City of the Great King - parts 1 (the Temple) & 2 (Jerusalem)"

These lessons are a little different in that the focus is on the city of Jerusalem.  There is considerable use of the 1:50 scale model of the city and temple around the time of Jesus.  There is a bit less focus on the faith lessons, but I found the background material involving the temple specifically and the city generally to be interesting and informative.

Memory verses:

06/09 1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

06/16 Psalm 143:1-2, 8 (this is a biggie!) -

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.

8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

​

(06/02/2019) - "Gates of Hell"

This lesson is going to offer up a major challenge to us.  I don't want to spoil it, but consider the following. How have we, as individual Christians and as a body of Christians, been dealing with the changes in our culture over the last several decades and today?  We have been defensive, haven't we?  We've touched on this before, but as I understand it, the recent book, The Benedict Option, calls for a strategic retreat into our own Christian strongholds.  I hear many say that culture is defeating biblical values and biblical truth and we simply have to learn to deal with it.  Is this what the Bible teaches?  Well, you can guess the answer, but come on Sunday and see the whole lesson.  Give some thought to the following  two questions: How is contemporary American culture waging war on the Bible?  What can and should we be doing about this, both as individual Christians and as a church?

The key verse to ponder on is this (Matthew 16:18 ESV): And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Consider what this verse is saying about the relationship between Christ's church and hell (Satan).  Confession: I have always focused on what is probably the least important part of this verse.

Memory verse (1 Tim. 4:9-10 ESV)

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

 

(05/26/2019) - "Piercing the Darkness"

There is going to be a lot to discuss.  This lesson covers a lot of territory.  Regarding feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000, have you ever attached any significance to the fact that there we twelve and seven baskets of leftovers picked up?  Me neither.  And then there is the Gerasene demoniac.  We all know that Jesus told him to go back to his family and tell everyone what the Lord had done for him.  Were you aware that he was an incredibly successful missionary?  It is right there in the Bible, but we've probably never made the connection.  One of the lessons to take away from this: we should seek evil out and confront it; we should not wait for evil to come to us. 

Memory verse(s)?  A little long, but valuable to remember when confronting evil:

Ephesians 6:10-12 (ESV):

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Years ago, Karen and I heard Rev. E.V. Hill preach on the full armor of God (our local crisis pregnancy center got great speakers for its annual fundraising dinner).  Anyway, he was using the KJV or the NKJV, and his repetition of the "fiery darts of the wicked one" (v. 16) has stuck with me all these years even though the translations I prefer are different.

​

​

(05/19/2019) - "When Storms Come"

This is Lesson 1 from Volume 4 - "Death and Resurrection of the Messiah."  It used to be that when "storms" came into our lives, they were of a personal nature - relationship difficulties, financial setbacks, legal issues, etc.  Of course, these storms still exist and can blow our lives off course.  But in addition, we have external factors that possibly did not exist before - the primary example being an active hostility to the Christianity being displayed in the public square.  The Sea of Galilee is the example and basis for this lesson.  Anyone who thinks the violence of a storm on such a "small" body of water should think again. 

The main area of discussion this week will be on how we should respond to the storms in our lives when they arise.  Some draw closer to Christ, some draw away.  I think we can all guess what our response should be!

This week's memory verse is a good one to have and you probably already know it.  Kind of.  I have found that being able to quote a verse with confidence is of great value.  We can call up the verse when we have a personal need and we can call it up when it might be of benefit to another.  For this week: Luke 10:27 (ESV):

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

​

(04/28/2019) - "Misguided Faith"

Lesson 7 talks primarily about the Crusades.  I would quibble that he left out some of the context in which the Crusades occurred, but the message is sound - you don't spread the Christian faith, and you don't act in Jesus' name by using methods that Jesus would never condone.  It is easy to try to justify - or at least excuse - the extremes of the Crusades on the actions of Muslims leading up to and during the Crusades.  But does non-Christian behavior on the part of non-Christians justify non-Christian behavior on the part of Christians? So how do we deal with evil in the world?  How do we respond to attacks and oppression and discrimination - things we are seeing in America today.  Our memory verse tells us in a broad sense, but we are stuck with working out the details.

Memory verse (Romans 12:17-19 ESV)

 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

​

(04/14/2019) - "The Language of Culture"

Lesson 6 focuses on how Jesus used language that various of his listeners could relate to.  And not just language, but events.  Knowing this and knowing more about the culture of Jesus' day can help us better understand what Jesus said.  And understanding our own culture can help us better communicate Jesus' message to our own contemporaries.  And though no mentioned in the video, Paul made it a point to speak to people in terms that they could relate to and understand.  Check out I Corinthians 9:19-22.

Here is a teaser.  Have you ever heard of the city of Sepphoris?  I never had, yet it was a large city being built up just three miles from Nazareth beginning shortly after Herod's death - namely in Jesus' time.  This entire lesson is presented from the ruins of the theater in Sepphoris.

​

Memory verse (2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV):

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

 

(04/07/2019) - "The Rabbi"

This lesson is done from Gamla.  How many of us were previously familiar with Gamla?  This is our fifth lesson and Gamla has been mentioned in three of them.  Why? Because it was the home base of the Zealots.  Did you know that the symbol for the Zealots was a palm branch?  What does that tell us about the Triumphal Entry?

But this lesson does not focus on any particular event or specific teaching, but rather on simply on Jesus as teacher or rabbi.  We learn quite about about the function of the synagogue in Jesus' time. The following verse, while mentioned in our Discovery Guide, is not the "official" memory verse.  But it is the verse of our other LIFE group and one that really applies to Jesus' teachings.  Everyone knows "the truth will set you free" part, but the key is that the truth comes from Jesus' teaching.

​

(John 8:31b-32 ESV)

(Jesus speaking) “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

​

03/31/2019 - "No Greater Love"

The lesson begins on the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus is thought to have delivered the Sermon of the Mount.  And, in fact, the lesson begins with the Beatitudes and ends more broadly with the Sermon on the Mount.  RVL considers the Sermon on the Mount to be God's "battle plan" from moving from the Torah to the NT concept of the "Kingdom of God."  Jesus is beginning to establish just what the meaning of the new covenant is.  But in between, a visit to the ruins of the city of Korazin allows for a discourse on Jewish marriage customs in Jesus' time and how understanding them can help us better understand a number of NT references, such as our suggested Scripture memorization for this lesson:

​

(John 14:1-3 ESV)

(Jesus speaking) "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

​

03/24/2019 - "Trip Report"

Dick will first be telling us about his trip to the Holy Land.  If we want, we can put off this week's video until next week.

​

03/17/2019 - "The Time Had Fully Come"

The focus of this lesson is on the Dead Sea Scrolls and Essene community at Qumran.  We might consider the most important aspect of the Dead Sea Scrolls to be their confirmation of the accuracy of the Old Testament as we have it today.  But the scrolls also tell us much about the Essene community, their beliefs, and how those beliefs indicate that the Jewish community had been prepared for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose "Time Had Fully Come."

The video lesson says little about the discovery of the scrolls.  The Discovery Guide (which hopefully we will have this week) provides more information.  But for those who want to learn more about the Scrolls, here are a couple links. 25 Fascinating Facts is a nice, quick summary.  For more detail, The Dead Sea Scrolls from the Encyclopedia Britannica has it all.

​

Suggested Scripture memorization (Luke 11: 35-36 NIV)

(Jesus speaking) "See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

​

Evangelism (completed - for now - August 2019):

"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," (1 Peter 3:15)

​

In short, we all need to be prepared to be able to present the essentials of the gospel message.  Most Christians are unable to present the basics of the gospel message off the top of their heads.  So how can we present it when opportunities arise?  One easy way is to simply have a tract on our person that we can pull out and read from or reference.  But it would be a lot better if we simply have the basics down cold.

​

There are many ways to actually present the gospel.  FBC encouraged us all to learn the "Three Circles" approach through our LIFE groups.  Some people actually left our church over that!

 

Dwight Moody was once approached by a lady who told him that she didn't like the way in which he presented the gospel.  Moody replied that he wasn't too keen on it himself and asked the lady how she presented the gospel.  "I don't" she answered.  Moody then said that e thought his method to be better.  Indeed there is no perfect way to present the gospel.  There isn't even total agreement as to what the essential components of the message are.  But there is no doubt as to what the best method is: it is the one you are willing to use.

​

Now by remarkable coincidence, I have put together all sorts of resources on evangelism.  Here is the entry page from which you can access all the resources: Evangelism.  Feel free to go ahead and check out these pages.  Soon we will spend one Sunday going over some of the gospel presentation methods and discuss some of the pros and cons. 

​