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Category: Faith & Life

Series

Great for Small Groups!

Is Speaking in Tongues Biblical?

Is speaking in tongues biblical? If you were raised in a Pentecostal church, your answer is “yes”! If you were raised in a cessationist church, your answer is “no”! In this lesson we’ll see what the Bible has to say.

Is it a Sin to Watch an R Rated Movie?

Many people blur the lines on what they choose to watch vs. what they know they should watch. Today, we’ll talk about the question: “Is it a Sin to Watch an R Rated Movie?”. Let’s take a look and see what the Bible says about it.

Is it a Sin to Gamble?

Gambling can seem all fun and games on the surface…but there’s more to it than that. Today we address the question: “Is it a sin to gamble?” What does the Bible say about it?

Is it a Sin to Smoke Tobacco or Marijuana?

Is smoking sinful? Is the answer different between tobacco and marijuana? Sometimes questions like these have an easy answer, but other times it might seem like more of a ‘gray area’…

Is it a Sin to Drink Alcohol?

“Is it a sin?” is a question many Christians find asking themselves on a day to day basis. Sometimes, the answer is clear and easy. But other times, it might seem to be a little more of a ‘gray area’. We’re going to apply that question to some commonly debated habits. Today’s topic: Alcohol.

What Does God Really Think About Women?

Today we’ll answer the question, “What does God really think about women?” The biblical answer is clear: God loves women and from the beginning has worked to bless them.

If God Is Good, Why Does Evil Exist?

Skeptics and scoffers love to stump Christians with this question: if God is good, why does evil exist? But if we take a look at the Bible, we can not only make sense of this difficult question, but find an answer that can change our eternity.

Is the Bible Just Another Book?

Why do so many churches and Christians make such a big deal of the Bible? Isn’t it just an out-dated, irrelevant piece of ancient literature? Shouldn’t we keep it on the shelf and use more modern books to teach us how to live? These are the questions we’ll explore today.

Is There Only One True Church?

Several religions claim to be the one true church or the exclusive path to heaven. But what does the Bible say? Is there only one true church? And if not, do all roads lead to heaven?

How Good is Good Enough?

Almost every world religion offers a pathway to heaven through good works and personal efforts. But Christianity is different.

Resurrection Sunday (Mark 16)

The resurrection is the climax of Mark’s gospel. It is the climax of every gospel. Gospel means “Good News”. Without the resurrection, there is no good news.

What Is the Story of the New Testament?

The New Testament tells us the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the spread of Christianity. In order to help you understand the New Testament, we’ve put together this overview of its message.

Harnessing Your Grief

Grief was not a part of Eden and it won’t be a part of Heaven. It is a result of the fall, but there is a good side.

How Do I Read the Bible?

Bible reading is one of the basic habits that every Christian should have, but how do you do it? Here are some practical tips for newcomers.

What Is the Structure of the Bible?

The Bible is composed of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. It’s not organized by date, but rather by genre – like a library.

Harnessing Your Fear to Build Your Faith

Resilience is harnessing difficult emotions to build your faith. Today we talk about how to harness fear and anxiety, and we’ll look at the incredible story of King Jehoshaphat. Here was a guy who turned to God in his darkest moment and ended up experiencing his biggest blessing.

Where Did We Get the Bible?

The Bible has been around for thousands of years, carefully translated and maintained for the benefit of people today. But where did we get it, and how do we know it’s trustworthy?

Resilience and the Power of Emotions

The key to resilience isn’t stuffing your emotions, it’s harnessing them. Feelings aren’t sinful. They are signposts to draw us toward greater dependence on God.

The Advent of Joy

Joy is a decision to elevate God’s promises over our problems. Trust what God says more than what we see.

God’s Grace: Prevenient vs. Irresistible

Calvinists and Arminians agree that humans are saved by God’s grace alone. Does God apply grace in advance to allow people the capacity to follow him? Or does God apply grace to those who are chosen, in order to actually bring about their salvation?

The Advent of Peace

Christmas brings to mind the theme of peace, but ironically it’s one of the most stressful times of year! In today’s lesson we’ll explore the concept of peace (“Shalom” in Hebrew) and where it comes from in the Bible.

The Advent of Hope

The first candle of Advent represents hope: the expectation of a Messiah, a savior figure who would someday rescue Israel.

Watch for Jesus (Mark 13:28-37)

In Mark 13:28-37 Jesus finishes his Olivet discourse and his discussion of the End Times. He never gives an answer to the timing of the End, but he does give insight into how we should live in light of it.

Divine Election: Conditional or Unconditional?

The word “election” refers to the process of choosing. The Bible teaches that God chooses those who believe. But is God’s choice unconditional, based only on his own will? Or is God’s choice conditional, based on some quality or action of the person who is saved?

Signs of the End (Mark 13:14-27)

In Mark 13:14-27 Jesus talks about the Antichrist, the tribulation, and even the rapture. It begins to answer the ageless question: What will the End look like?

Human Nature: Inability or Free Will?

The two theological systems known as Calvinism and Arminianism disagree about many things. Their greatest agreement comes in their understanding of the human condition. The difference between the two approaches has to do with how God acts to remedy the human problem.

How To Spot a Spiritual Fraud (Mark 12:38-44)

Jesus raises negative and positive examples that illustrate the nature of genuine, life-transforming faith. Religious leaders demonstrated a surface religion that failed to honor God. A poor widow showed a deep, authentic faith that sacrificed to honor God.

Son of David (Mark 12:35-37)

In Mark 12:35-37 it’s Jesus’ turn to ask the questions, and he begins with a question about the Messiah. It causes us to ask a question of our own: do we have Jesus right?

What is Systematic Theology?

Systematic theology is a discipline within Christian theology that seeks to organize and present the beliefs and doctrines of the Christian faith in a systematic and coherent way.

The Meaning of “Strength” in Hebrew

What does it mean to love God “with all of your strength”? The Hebrew word “Me’od” in the famous Shema prayer (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) will give us some insight.

The Meaning of “Soul” in Hebrew

In the Bible, a “soul” isn’t something you have; it’s something you are. To love God with all of your “Nephesh” is to go beyond a superficial faith and make a “soul-level” commitment.

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