06 What Does It Mean to ‘Work Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling’? (Philippians 2:12–13)

Oct 18, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Philippians

Philippians 2:12-13 is one of Paul’s most famous statements and it’s one we forget to place in the context of the letter. At first reading, it looks like Paul is highlighting a paradox of YOU work out your salvation because GOD is working in you. But in context, I think Paul is still concerned that the Philippians are living their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel (1:27) and are motivated to do so for the right reasons.

05 The Mind of Christ: Learning True Greatness (Philippians 2:5–11)

Oct 11, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Philippians

Philippians 2:5-11 is traditionally associated with the doctrine of the Trinity. However, I think the context suggests that Paul’s main point is not to teach the doctrine of the Trinity. From an interpretative standpoint, I believe the context suggests that Paul intends to teach something about unity and our attitude towards other believers, and he uses Christ as an example to make that point. If we also learn something about the Trinity, that is icing on the cake.

04 Standing Firm and Staying United (Philippians 1:27-2:4)

Oct 4, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Philippians

Philippians 1:27 begins a new section in which Paul urges his readers to live a life worthy of the gospel. Living such a life does not mean that you will live a perfect life. Rather if we actually believe the gospel is true, we now see the world differently and, we begin to view some things as right, proper and good, and begin to view other things as wrong, selfish and evil. And we choose accordingly.

03 To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain: How Paul Views Suffering and Ministry (Philippians 1:12-26)

Sep 27, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Philippians

What are we to make of Paul’s joy that selfishly ambitious teachers are proclaiming the gospel? And, what can we learn from his famous statement “to live is Christ, to die is gain”?

02 Why Paul Didn’t Pray for Comfort And What He Asked for Instead (Philippians 1:9-11)

Sep 20, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Philippians

Paul’s opening prayer in Philippians reflect what he hopes and confidently expects God to do in the lives of his readers and it introduces the main theme of his letter. From this short prayer, we can learn what we ought to most want for ourselves and for each other.

01 Introduction to Philippians (Philippians 1:1-8)

Sep 13, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Introductions, Philippians

Paul’s message in Philippians is essentially the same as Moses in Deuteronomy 30:19-20: Choose life by loving the lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him. He opens the letter expressing his gratitude — not because the Philippians have sent him financial support. But rather he is grateful that the gospel was so important to the Philippians that they wanted to support it.

2 Peter Bible Study Resources

Sep 6, 2017 | 02 Library, Peter, Resources by Book

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Peter’s second epistle.

1 Thessalonians Bible Study Resources

Aug 30, 2017 | 02 Library, Resources by Book, Thessalonians

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians.

Acts 16 Why did Paul baptize a household?

Aug 23, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Acts

In Acts 16, when Luke reports on the conversion of two locals, he tells us that Paul baptized their entire households. Why would Paul baptize an entire household?

10 The the Danger of Small Compromises (Nehemiah 13)

Aug 2, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Nehemiah

Years later, Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem to find the people have broken all their vows. His reaction is ruthless — to make a point.

Philippians: Choose Life

Aug 1, 2017 | 03 Series, Favorites, New Testament, Philippians

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is filled with expressions of praise, joy and confidence, despite the fact that Paul wrote the letter while he was in prison. The Philippian church, unlike many other churches Paul wrote to, was not facing any particular problem or controversy. Instead their challenges were the kind that plague many churches today. We can learn from Paul how to rejoice and persevere in the mundane, ordinary difficulties of life.

09 From Rubble to Rejoicing: How Nehemiah Celebrates God’s Restoring Work (Nehemiah 12)

Jul 26, 2017 | 01 Podcasts, Nehemiah

The history told in Nehemiah is a historic witness to the restoring work of God in people’s lives. Now in chapter 12, at the what should be the end of the story, Nehemiah is once again going to make a circuit of the city. But this time instead of a single rider on a single horse as we saw in chapter 2, he is part of a parade circling the city on top of the rebuilt walls, singing the praises of God.

Where to next?