How lost are the lost? That is a question often asked today. The Bible speaks of the world at large as lost and destined for God’s judgment. But modern minds are inclined to reconsider the dire circumstances described in Scripture. After all, most people, regardless of religious affiliation, seem to be generally decent, with some […]
The first missionary journey (Acts 13, 14) was so successful that a church conference had to be called to handle the growth (15:1-35). Thanks to Peter’s testimony, Paul’s report, and James’ use of Amos 9:10, 11, the second missionary journey accelerated the success of the gospel (Acts 16-18). The new missionary team of Paul and […]
Biblical faith is dynamic and life-changing. More than mere intellectual assent, it requires trusting God, placing our confidence in him, and following him obediently. A friend of mine, Ned Campbell, organized a four-week Bible study called “I Believe” to challenge our church to think more deeply about what we believe and why we believe it. […]
Use one or both of these questions to introduce the lesson: 1. What is your favorite ethnic food? How did you first discover it? What are some other products of a foreign culture (literature, clothing, entertainment, etc.) that have crossed borders into our culture? 2. What does it mean when someone says, “The world is […]
God likes things to grow: families (Genesis 1:28), gardens (v. 29), nations (11:8, 9), and churches (Acts 5:14). In fact, God expects his church to grow (Matthew 13:31, 32) and it is unnatural if she does not grow (vv. 8, 23). If “well begun is half done,” then the church is off to a great […]
