We begin this series by considering the background of the church in Corinth, and why Paul wrote this letter. The more we understand the culture of ancient Corinth, the better we can appreciate how counter-cultural Paul's admonitions were! In this message we also tackle the first problem addressed by Paul in this letter: disunity in the church. Although […]
Introduction and Disunity in the Church (1 Corinthians 1:1-13) View Lesson
Jude is an extremely important book as it deals with evil men sneaking into the church and leading people astray. This doesn’t just happen in "those other churches”! As he addresses this, Jude exhorts us to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Embracing this challenge can transform […]
Jesus and the apostles spoke frequently about Satan and his active role in the world and the church. Why is it that so few teach what they taught? In this lesson we take a deep dive into the role and tactics of Satan, our enemy who seeks to destroy God's people. Understanding what the scriptures […]
In the defeat of the Midianites, we learn that Balaam, a casualty of the battle, was the one responsible for teaching the Midianites to entice the Israelite men into immorality and idolatry. Jesus will refer to that episode in addressing false teachers in the church. After the battle, the Lord gives instruction for purification by […]
Few Old Testament prophecies are as stunning as Psalm 22. Written by David over a thousand years before Jesus' crucifixion, it describes His passion in remarkable detail. Early Christian writer Justin Martyr made the case that the entire psalm is about Jesus. For Christians, this psalm can open our eyes to the suffering Christ, whose example we […]
The offerings and festivals of the old covenant provide rich foreshadowings of what would later be revealed through Jesus. They continue to offer practical insights for us today, even though we no longer are bound to observe the Law of Moses. We also consider what the Law said regarding oaths and swearing, which Jesus expanded […]
Moses, told he is about to die, expresses concern for the people he will leave behind. He does not want them to be “like sheep having no shepherd”. In reply, the Lord instructs him to lay hands on Joshua, who will become his successor. Early Christians saw great significance in Joshua (in Greek = Jesus) […]
The Lord commands Moses to take a second census, confirming that nearly all the men from the first census died in the desert before they reached the Promised Land. We wrestle with the sobering fact that only a few will be saved, and how we reconcile that with the nature of God, who is full […]
The Second Census and the Sons of Korah (Numbers 26) View Lesson
After Midianite women lead Israel’s men into sexual immorality and idolatry, the Lord brings a plague in which 24,000 die. Paul points to this story as a warning for Christians, regarding the dangers of sexual immorality. In this lesson we take a hard look at this sin, and what it will take for us to […]
Sexual Immorality and the Zeal of Phinehas (Numbers 25) View Lesson
The wicked king of Moab asks Balaam to curse Israel. Instead, Balaam speaks four prophecies to bless God's people and foretell the coming of the Son of God. Balaam's prophecies, rarely referenced today, were used by the early Church to bring nonbelievers to repentance and faith in Christ. May we learn to do the same! […]