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What is the Blessing of Faith?

Jeff Gordon

Galatians 3:23-4:7

Many Christians fall into a legalistic paradigm, where they believe that they earn God's blessings by living faithfully. While a good life of blessings can be reached by living a faithful life, submission to this linear arrangement actually adds pressure and guarantees failure. The blessing of faith, as opposed to legalism, is a growing relationship with God through faith. In light of this, we should live as children of God, developing closeness with our Father in heaven.

Keywords

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Light Comes Into Darkness

Dennis McCallum

John 9:1-41

Jesus sees a blind man and heals his ailment on the Sabbath. As the healed man is taken before the Pharisees, Jesus uses this miracle as a demonstration to combat the Pharisees legalistic perspective. The Pharisees were self-righteous and thought they were put together, whereas the blind man was totally blind and admitted his need for Jesus. The purpose of Jesus' work on the cross was to open the eyes of the spiritually blind when they ask for his forgiveness. However, many are like the Pharisees and suspect they are not in need of assistance.

Keywords

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Where Is Your Hope?

Jim Leffel

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

According to the Bible, Satan has a role in hindering our unity and therefore our witness to the watching world. The triumph of God's grace is the basis for which we have hope for all things, including good relationships. The prize of the Christian life is not personal glory, but the joy of ministering to others.

Keywords

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The Woman Caught in Adultery

Conrad Hilario

John 8:2-11

A woman, who was caught in adultery, is brought to Jesus in the temple courts. Jesus is confronted with how to handle her sin, which is punishable by death in the Old Testament. Through their interaction, Jesus reveals the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and shows immense grace and love toward the woman. We see how grace and love are the true motivators for life transformation.

Keywords

{"passage": "John 8:2-11","passageabreviated": "John 8:2-11","passagetiny": "John 8:2-11","teacher": "Conrad Hilario","teachingDate": "05...

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The Woman Caught in Adultery

Dennis McCallum

John 8:1-11

This instance in Jesus' ministry has not been found in earlier manuscripts, calling into question the validity of this part of John and why it is in Scripture. The best manuscripts for the Book of John are from the 4th century, but don't include this interaction. However, other early witnesses corroborate what we see in this chapter of John, including: the Didascalia; Apostolic Constitutions; Papias; Didymus the Blind; Ambrose; and Jerome. When the Pharisees brought this woman before Jesus for punishment according to the Old Testament Law, they were trying to trick Jesus so they would have grounds to accuse him. Jesus does not condemn the woman, but uses this as an illustration of his grace to contrast the legalistic and hypocritical attitudes of the Pharisees. His call to the woman is similar to us, that because of the forgiveness he offers, we should live under his grace and live a life of love as opposed to sin. Even when we do sin, we have the freedom to move forward under his grace.

Keywords

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Nothing but the Gospel

Doug Patch

Galatians 1:6-10

In the book of Galatians, Paul vehemently opposes false teaching that adds works to the message of the gospel. Essentially, the gospel says that Jesus' death on the cross paid for our sins, and that if we want forgiven, we can ask him for it. Christians can increase their trust in God's grace by remembering that His Spirit will transform their hearts and seeking to apply His gifts to their lives.

Keywords

{"passage": "Galatians 1:6-10","passageabreviated": "Gal 1:6-10","passagetiny": "Gal 1:6-10","teacher": "Doug Patch","teachingDate": "05/...

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Who Does God Think He Is?

Ryan Lowery

Luke 20:9-19

Many fail to see how God could have the right to judge. To answer these objections, Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard to illustrate God's perspective on the human condition. God is the creator of all things, and has given us the purpose of love. Though God has sent ambassadors, including His own son, we have killed them. While God has the right to destroy us, He has extended us an offer of merciful forgiveness. We should acknowledge God's right to lead us, proclaim the truth boldly like Christ, and remember that we are God's adopted children.

Keywords

{"passage": "Luke 20:9-19","passageabreviated": "Luke 20:9-19","passagetiny": "Luke 20:9-19","teacher": "Ryan Lowery","teachingDate": "04...

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Two Toxic Mentalities

Scott Risley

John 5:1-26

Two toxic mentalities are revealed through Jesus' miracle of healing a lame man: the victim mentality and the religious mentality. These mentalities are incompatible with real faith and keep people from believing. Jesus asks two questions as he interacts with the lame man and the Jewish leaders: 1) Do you want to get well; and 2) Are you willing to believe?

Keywords

{"passage": "John 5:1-26","passageabreviated": "John 5:1-26","passagetiny": "John 5:1-26","teacher": "Scott Risley","teachingDate": "04/1...

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Healing at Bethesda

Conrad Hilario

John 5:1-24

On the Sabbath, by the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, Jesus seeks out a man who had been invalid for 38 years and heals him. Through this interaction, we see Jesus is exposing the flaws and hypocrisy of religious thinking. He is showing that all people are in need of God's grace and He is the way to that grace.

Keywords

{"passage": "John 5:1-24","passageabreviated": "John 5:1-24","passagetiny": "John 5:1-24","teacher": "Conrad Hilario","teachingDate": "04...

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