The Blessing of Faith Without Sight (John 20:24-31)
When Jesus first appeared to the disciples, Thomas was gone. He now returns to find the disciples excited because they say Jesus has risen from the dead and appeared to them. Thomas’ Skepticism Thomas is extremely skeptical of the disciples’ claims; for this reason he is sometimes called “Doubting Thomas.” Before we ridicule him we need to consider that his reaction is the normal reaction for most human beings. The claim that a dead man by his own power chose…
Family Worship – Preparation (Part 2)
We pick up this week where we left off last week. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God…
Condemnation and Forgiveness (John 20:19-23)
Jesus meets with the disciples after His resurrection. Joy and Peace When Jesus came into the room and they were assured of His resurrection the disciples were filled with joy. Jesus greeted them with the standard Jewish greeting of the time, an extension of peace. When we believe in Jesus’ resurrection our lives are filled with joy and peace. Sent out with the Gospel in the power of the Spirit Just as Jesus was sent into the world to save…
Family Worship – Preparation
Sometimes knowing that you should do something is not enough. When it comes to family discipleship most parents feel extremely inadequate. We know that we should, but where do we even begin? Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of…
The First Witnesses (John 20:11-20)
After Peter and John leave Mary lingers at the tomb overcome with grief. Many people have sought a supernatural explanation for a lot of what goes on in this passage. It has been speculated that there was some spiritual blindness that kept Mary from recognizing Jesus and the angels and that Jesus had some ethereal body that Mary could not touch. However, this is probably not the case. Tremendous grief Mary was overcome with grief at the death of Christ.…
Family Worship – Necessity
Last week we looked at how to have personal devotions. Over the next few weeks we are going to be looking at family devotions. This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in…
The Resurrection (John 20:1-10)
After observing the Sabbath, Jesus’ friends now come to the tomb to grieve. The women find the stone rolled away and run back to tell the disciples. James and John run to the tomb to see what is going on. John uses this narrative to encourage people to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. A huge mistake From a human perspective John makes a huge mistake. The first witnesses to the resurrection are women. Not only that, but the woman…
How to Have Devotions
With the coming New Year, many Christians will make a resolution to read their Bible every day. Others know that they need to grow in their faith, but they do not know how. In this lesson we will be examining how to have a meaningful devotional time. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the…
The Offer of Peace (Luke 2:1-16)
In Luke we read of the angels announcing Christ’s birth. In verse 14 we find their exaltation of God for His wondrous work. This verse is translated many different ways, so we will be looking at the original Greek to understand fully their message. In heaven, glory to God The first and main part of the angels’ message is that God should be glorified. They add the phrase “in the highest place” or “in heaven” meaning that what God has…
Do You Believe? (John 19:31-37)
If Jesus has finished the work of our salvation then all we must do is believe in Him. This is the whole point of John’s Gospel. He wants us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. John’s family connections Jesus and John are first cousins; their mothers are sisters. John also takes Mary into his home and cares for her for the last years of her life. John has had a first row seat to Jesus’…
Evangelism Training (Part 12) VIDEO
Today we watched this video about equipping people to share the Gospel.
It Is Finished (John 19:25-30)
Jesus’ last words on the cross give us one of the most clear understandings of God’s interaction with man. “It is finished” summarizes the whole of the Bible and shows us how man is made right with God. The Old Covenant From the beginning of time God had an arrangement with man: keep His Law and receive blessings and life; break His Law and receive cursings and death. This covenant was codified on Mt. Sinai and is commonly referred to…