In February we're going to start studying 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus in the Sunday morning Bible class I teach. Tonight I've been working on the study guides. When I write a study guide, I divide them up a lesson per chapter. At the top of the page in each lesson I list a key verse in the chapter that states one of the main points.
After I finished 2 Timothy, I noticed a pattern in the verses I had chosen. 2 Timothy 1:13, 2:15, 3:16, and 4:2.
What are we to do?
"Retain the standard of sound words" (1:13). Hold fast the pattern and live by it, no matter what the cost.
How do we do this?
"Be diligent (study, KJV) to present yourself approved to God...accurately handling the word of truth" (2:15). Study the word. That is our standard. We cannot retain the standard if we are not familiar with it.
Why should we do this?
"All Scripture is inspired by God" (3:16). Why bother following the Bible and not some other standard? Because the Bible is the only book that is from God. Nothing can compare with it.
What should we do with it?
"Preach the word" (4:2). Do not hide the truth. Do not insert your opinions or those of others. Simply preach the pure, unadulterated word of God.
These instructions were written to the evangelist Timothy. But all Christians can learn from this. Hold to, practice, study, preach and teach the word because it is in fact from God. The more we work at these things, the more we will please Him.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
New Website
About a month ago I started working on a new website to post sermon outlines and ideas. I went back and posted most of my sermon outlines from the last few years. Eventually I'm going to make my own template for it, but I'm using a free template for now. The content is there though, so you can check it out.
DIY Sermon Outlines
I will not be posting full outlines, only the main points and passages. You are free to use any of the outlines, but you will have to fill them out yourself and make them your own. (Hence the reason for the name.)
I hope you might find this new site helpful in some way.
DIY Sermon Outlines
I will not be posting full outlines, only the main points and passages. You are free to use any of the outlines, but you will have to fill them out yourself and make them your own. (Hence the reason for the name.)
I hope you might find this new site helpful in some way.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
His Name is John
Luke records that an angel appeared to Zacharias, a priest serving in the temple. The angel told Zacharias, "your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John" (Luke 1:13). The angel went on to tell Zacharias that this child would grow up and be the forerunner of the Messiah, as prophesied by Malachi (Luke 1:17; Malachi 4:5-6). Zacharias did not immediately believe the angel, so he was struck with silence until the time the child was born (Luke 1:20).
After the child was born, their neighbors and relatives gathered to rejoice over the birth (Luke 1:57-58). The question came up about what to name the child. The friends and family suggested naming him Zacharias, after his father (Luke 1:59). Elizabeth said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John" (Luke 1:60). The others, however, could not see any reason to name the child John, and essentially questioned Elizabeth's decision (Luke 1:61).
Then they asked Zacharias. Since he still could not speak, he wrote, "His name is John" (Luke 1:63). Luke then records, "at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God" (Luke 1:64).
Zacharias' statement was worded in a way to show that this was already determined. Not, 'he will be called John,' but 'he is John.' Before and while others were discussing possible names, the child's name was John. Why? That was God's will. No suggestion from anyone else could change what God said.
This must be our attitude in all things relating to our service to God and response to His word. When God's word instructs us to do something, we should determine that that is what we will do, even before the situation arrives that requires us to act and regardless of what others think.
Right is right. Sin is sin. No amount of deliberation will change that. "His name is John." That is what God determined. That is the way it is.
After the child was born, their neighbors and relatives gathered to rejoice over the birth (Luke 1:57-58). The question came up about what to name the child. The friends and family suggested naming him Zacharias, after his father (Luke 1:59). Elizabeth said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John" (Luke 1:60). The others, however, could not see any reason to name the child John, and essentially questioned Elizabeth's decision (Luke 1:61).
Then they asked Zacharias. Since he still could not speak, he wrote, "His name is John" (Luke 1:63). Luke then records, "at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God" (Luke 1:64).
Zacharias' statement was worded in a way to show that this was already determined. Not, 'he will be called John,' but 'he is John.' Before and while others were discussing possible names, the child's name was John. Why? That was God's will. No suggestion from anyone else could change what God said.
This must be our attitude in all things relating to our service to God and response to His word. When God's word instructs us to do something, we should determine that that is what we will do, even before the situation arrives that requires us to act and regardless of what others think.
Right is right. Sin is sin. No amount of deliberation will change that. "His name is John." That is what God determined. That is the way it is.
Monday, January 7, 2008
BOTC - January 2008
The new issue of Banner of the Cross is now online and contains the following articles:
Emphasizing Jesus Christ by Andy Sochor
The Establishment of the Kingdom by Andy Sochor
Banner of the Cross
Emphasizing Jesus Christ by Andy Sochor
The Establishment of the Kingdom by Andy Sochor
Banner of the Cross
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
PBT - January 2008
The January issue of Plain Bible Teaching is now online with the following articles:
Another Jesus by Andy Sochor
Put On the Full Armor of God by Andy Sochor
Measures of a Sound Church by Andy Sochor
Non-Denominationalism by Andy Sochor
You can read the new articles by clicking on the link below. I hope you may find the new material helpful to you.
Plain Bible Teaching
Another Jesus by Andy Sochor
Put On the Full Armor of God by Andy Sochor
Measures of a Sound Church by Andy Sochor
Non-Denominationalism by Andy Sochor
You can read the new articles by clicking on the link below. I hope you may find the new material helpful to you.
Plain Bible Teaching
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Unless You Believe
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).
Belief in Christ is essential for salvation. But the belief that Jesus mentions here is more than just a belief that he existed, came to earth, died for our sins, rose again from the dead, and ascended back into heaven. Yes, we must believe those things about Jesus. But if that is the extent of our belief, we will die in our sins.
If you read this verse in your Bible, where Jesus says, "unless you believe that I am He," the word "He" is probably in italics, differentiating it from the rest of the words. The reason for this is that the word was added by the translators. It is not in the original text. What Jesus actually said is, "unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins." This clearly points back to Moses' conversation with God when God called Himself the "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). This is also not the only time Jesus used this phrase in this way (John 8:58).
So what Jesus is actually teaching here is that unless we believe that He is God, we will die in our sins. That means we must recognize Him as our God and humbly submit to His will in faithful obedience (Hebrews 5:9). If we truly believe in Christ, that He is "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16), we will do what He has instructed us to do.
"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), and a dead faith will ultimately result in us dying in our sins.
Belief in Christ is essential for salvation. But the belief that Jesus mentions here is more than just a belief that he existed, came to earth, died for our sins, rose again from the dead, and ascended back into heaven. Yes, we must believe those things about Jesus. But if that is the extent of our belief, we will die in our sins.
If you read this verse in your Bible, where Jesus says, "unless you believe that I am He," the word "He" is probably in italics, differentiating it from the rest of the words. The reason for this is that the word was added by the translators. It is not in the original text. What Jesus actually said is, "unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins." This clearly points back to Moses' conversation with God when God called Himself the "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). This is also not the only time Jesus used this phrase in this way (John 8:58).
So what Jesus is actually teaching here is that unless we believe that He is God, we will die in our sins. That means we must recognize Him as our God and humbly submit to His will in faithful obedience (Hebrews 5:9). If we truly believe in Christ, that He is "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16), we will do what He has instructed us to do.
"Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), and a dead faith will ultimately result in us dying in our sins.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Rest for the Weary
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This is the great invitation offered by Jesus. He offers the invitation and makes the promise to those who will come: "you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29).
However, we must work in order to receive rest. We must take on His yoke. As a yoke is placed upon the oxen so they do the work their master guides them to do, we must do the work Christ has given us to do. Work precedes rest. And so we must see to it that we are working the "works of God" (John 6:28) so we do not miss out on the promised rest. The Hebrew writer warned, "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:11).
Jesus never promised a life of ease and comfort here and now. The promised rest comes after death (Revelation 14:13). We need to continue working as He would have us to and guard against becoming complacent. If we give up at the end and instead of entering into His rest, we "come short of it" (Hebrews 4:1), we will miss out just the same as those who never tried.
"Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:11) and "let us not grow weary while doing good" (Galatians 6:9).
However, we must work in order to receive rest. We must take on His yoke. As a yoke is placed upon the oxen so they do the work their master guides them to do, we must do the work Christ has given us to do. Work precedes rest. And so we must see to it that we are working the "works of God" (John 6:28) so we do not miss out on the promised rest. The Hebrew writer warned, "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:11).
Jesus never promised a life of ease and comfort here and now. The promised rest comes after death (Revelation 14:13). We need to continue working as He would have us to and guard against becoming complacent. If we give up at the end and instead of entering into His rest, we "come short of it" (Hebrews 4:1), we will miss out just the same as those who never tried.
"Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest" (Hebrews 4:11) and "let us not grow weary while doing good" (Galatians 6:9).
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