JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF - We have the apostolic mission - the taking of the gospel into the whole world. And for this we have ongoing provision - John 15:16 - “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” We have the content of our mission to the world in the abiding fruit of the Apostles’ record. But that’s not all. We are also promised the resources needed as we carry that message into a hostile world. Every Christian takes the same message in the same power.

THE CHRISTIAN SALT AND LIGHT COMPANY - Notice that Jesus saw obedience as the only way to last in the Christian life. He makes clear, in the story of the two houses on the two foundations, that obedience needs to be seen not only as a list of do’s and don’ts, but as the foundation for a lasting, impacting, kingdom life. Thrills won't hold people up when the storms of life strike. Jesus said obedience would not only keep people holy, it would keep them on their feet.

JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF - Sometimes life’s circumstances look to us to be either undirected or misdirected. Events seem random and lacking divine shape. God's love never ends. This is the place to stand as you are being asked to listen to the Word when it seems to limit and correct. This is the place to stand when the Father’s pruning seems difficult and diminishing. And this is the place to abide when the promise of deep inner joy seems distant and out of reach. The love of Jesus is an almighty love. It never gives up. It never runs out.

DANIEL - It’s a mistake to think that spiritual battles are all faced in the early years of Christian experience. The Christian life has to be lived well over the years - not just in revivalistic spurts. Young people don’t face all the temptations. It’s an eighty year old Daniel who gets thrown to the lions for his faith and worship. And Daniel is as good an example in old age as he was in his youth.

JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF - It’s been a little while, but we’re continuing our study of the sermon of Jesus to His disciples immediately on the heels of the troubling events of chapter 13. In that chapter Jesus again stressed the nearness of His departure from His disciples and in this teaching we'll look at how even in such trying times a spiritual peace produced by the Holy Spirit would be theirs.

DANIEL - In this teaching we're going to look at the nature of the pressure that was being applied to Daniel and his friends. The issue for Daniel, Shadrach, Mechach and Abed-nego was a religious issue. The issue, as Daniel records the account, was the issue of Who they worshiped, and how they worshiped. They were trying to remain true to the God of their youth, the God who was their creator. And the pressure was on them to embrace foreign religions, new religions.

JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF - We are in the early stages of studying the longest conversation/sermon John records of Jesus alone with His disciples. This “discipleship sermon” runs from John fourteen through to the end of John sixteen. The crowds aren’t mentioned here. Jesus knows He’s in the last 24 hours of His earthly life. And there are certain things His followers must remember. Last words are usually very important words.

DANIEL - As you study the life of Daniel, you will see three traits of character that form the foundation of his commitment to the LORD. These are the motives that fuel the decisions. You have to think right before you can do right.

JOHN: THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF - Expect great things when you take the name of Jesus into this dark world. God will do whatever the church needs to be glorified through the exaltation of Jesus Christ - the way, the truth, and the life.

DANIEL - Daniel was wise enough to know that he was not going to leave his commitment to the Lord vulnerable to a spur-of-the-moment decision. He had understanding, not only of what the king was up to, but what he himself was going to do in response.