As a church, most of our teaching is expository, meaning we go through a text in the Bible, normally a whole book, and examine it chapter by chapter and verse by verse. The lessons below are different. For these, we start with a topic and look throughout the Bible to see what God has revealed to us through His Scriptures about it. In addition to these topical lessons, we have also tagged the key topics that are discussed in our expository lessons. To find lessons (either topical or expository) that address a specific topic, click here.
Image credit: 1 Chronicles 4:39 © Annie Vallotton
This lesson tackles a foundational and often misunderstood teaching of the Kingdom of God revealed in many of Jesus' parables, including the parable of the wheat and the tares (weeds). God will ultimately separate the good and the evil at the last day. This lesson addresses our responsibility as individual Christians to strive to be
The prophet Jeremiah compares God and His people to a potter and clay. With great purpose, care, and patience, God will use even pagan kings to discipline, shape, mold, and prepare God's people - that they may devote themselves wholly to Him and be made useful for His purposes. This lesson was given by our
There are many tremendous lessons to learn from the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). This sermon looks at two of them: 1) Joseph's high standard of purity and 2) his ability (through years of mistreatment) to see God's hand work good out of evil, to save the lives of many people. We are called to imitate
A defining mark of men and women we find in the Bible is their understanding of God's faithfulness. Those who grasped this attribute of God lived in a way that brought God great honor and accomplished His purposes. Those who did not grasp God's faithfulness turned to sin and failed to accomplish God's will.
This lesson highlights wisdom from Solomon (who the Bible calls the wisest man on earth) to give wisdom to the young, as well as to the old and wise. What are the benefits of wisdom? How do we get it? Are there blessings that come from fearing God? How do the people we spend our time
This talk was given in September of 2014. The message was taken from a study series entitled "A Lifestyle of Compassion." What is the single greatest obstacle to helping those in need? This lesson examines the obstacles in our lives that keep us from being compassionate and serving those in need, with a primary
Did Jesus rise from the dead, or didn't he? The Christian faith hangs on this question. What did Jesus have to say about the resurrection? What importance did the apostles place on the resurrection? What proof do we have that Jesus' resurrection took place? We tackle these questions in this lesson, which can be useful
What did Jesus mean that we must be born of water and the Spirit? This lesson from David Bercot provides insight into how the early Church understood baptism. Teaching Notes Teaching notes not available for this lesson. For more teaching from David Bercot, visit thehistoricfaith.com
What the Early Christians Believed About Baptism (David Bercot) View Lesson
Were Jesus' teachings on nonresistance, love for one's enemies, and peacemaking meant to be taken seriously? This lesson reviews the radical convictions of the Restoration Movement (mid-1800s) regarding these teachings, and sadly, how they were lost over time as the church began to incorporate the popular thinking of its day. Many Restoration Movement churches, including
The Legacy of Nonresistance in Churches of Christ View Lesson
The Legacy of Nonresistance in Churches of Christ View Lesson
On March 28, 2014, Anchor-Cross Publishing and Followers of the Way sponsored a debate on the subject of just war, bringing leading thinkers together to discuss the issue in historic Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston. Speaking of behalf of just war were Dr. Peter Kreeft (professor of philosophy at Boston College) and Dr. J. Daryl