Addiction

Why do we crave the very things that destroy us? You want things you shouldn't have — things that hurt your body and your soul — and the question is why. In this study of James 1, Dr. Toby Holt traces the anatomy of temptation to its real source. The problem is not chiefly outside us; it is the disordered desire within. "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'... but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:13-14). James then charts the deadly progression: "when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" (v. 15).

For anyone caught in a vice, Dr. Holt shows why willpower alone never breaks the cycle: the pull is internal, and every counterfeit pleasure promises life while delivering death. Yet "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (v. 17) — real satisfaction is found not in the idol but in the God who gives, and the remedy is the implanted word received and obeyed, not merely admired.

Questions this study answers:

1. Where does temptation actually come from? Not from God, and not merely from circumstances. James says we are tempted when drawn away by our own desires — the root of addiction is disordered desire within the heart.

2. How does a small compromise become a life-dominating sin? James describes a progression: desire conceives, gives birth to sin, and sin fully grown brings forth death. What begins as a craving matures into bondage and destruction.

3. What breaks the cycle? Not sheer willpower against an internal pull, but the good gifts of God received in place of the idol, and the implanted word obeyed — being a doer, not merely a hearer.

"Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin." — James 1:14-15 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This study is part of New Geneva Theological Seminary's teaching on addiction, temptation, and freedom in Christ. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Is it okay to ask God "why"?

In this bonus study from Job 10, Dr. Toby Holt asks a question every hurting believer has felt: is it allowed to bring God our raw, grief-filled "why"? Job, the most righteous man on earth, tells God plainly that he loathes his life and wants to know why God is contending with him. God is big enough to receive our honest laments — asking "why" in our pain does not mean God loves us less. Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, David, and Paul all cried out the same way. Bringing our questions to God is an act of faith.

Questions this study answers:

1. Is it wrong to ask God "why" when we suffer? No. Job, the most righteous man on earth, asked God why — and so did Moses, Elijah, and David. God welcomes our honest cries.

2. Does asking "why" mean our faith is weak? Not at all. Bringing our pain to God is itself an act of trust. It turns toward Him rather than away from Him.

3. Is God indifferent to our pain? No. God is not cold or distant. He receives the laments of His people and draws near to the brokenhearted.

"I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me.'" — Job 10:2 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

What does Jesus do with the guilty?

She was guilty, and no one — not even she — denied it. In this study of John 8:1-11, Dr. Toby Holt frames the scene around what he calls the "divine dilemma": God is good, but you are not; God is just, but you are guilty — so how can a holy Judge forgive sinners without ceasing to be just? The scribes and Pharisees drag a woman caught in adultery before Jesus as a trap, demanding a verdict. But Jesus turns the trap: "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." One by one, convicted in conscience, they leave — the oldest first — until only Jesus and the woman remain. For anyone weighed down by guilt and the weight of what they've done, this is the heart of the gospel. Jesus says, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." Dr. Holt is careful that grace does not sweep sin under the rug: justice was still rendered — not on the guilty, but on the sinless Christ. "I do not condemn you," Jesus says in effect, "but I will be condemned for you." The verdict every addict fears is answered not with stones, but with a Savior who bore the sentence — and then sends His forgiven one out free: go, and sin no more.

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the "divine dilemma"? That God is holy and just and must deal with sin, yet we are all guilty. The dilemma is how a just Judge can forgive sinners without abandoning justice — "he who justifies the wicked" is otherwise an abomination (Proverbs 17:15).

2. How did Jesus escape the Pharisees' trap? He neither denied the law of Moses nor enforced it their way. "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" exposed that the accusers were unfit to condemn — and their consciences drove them away.

3. How can God forgive the guilty and remain just? Because justice was poured out — on Christ, not on the sinner. "Neither do I condemn you" is possible because Jesus was condemned in our place, and the forgiven are sent out to "sin no more."

"Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." — John 8:11 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This study is part of New Geneva Theological Seminary's teaching on addiction, temptation, and freedom in Christ. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Does what you do with your life really matter to God? Standing beneath a sky of tens of thousands of stars, King David marveled at the heavens and asked, "What is man that You are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4). In this study of Psalm 8, Dr. Toby Holt sets the scale: God is not a little greater than us but infinitely greater — and yet this towering God stoops to care for creatures as small as us. He made us in His own image, crowned mankind "with glory and honor," and gave us dominion over His works. The God who paints the stars cares for you "in spite of who you are and what you've done."

That is why your choices matter. Dr. Holt shows that because you bear God's image and were made for dignity and dominion, your life is not your own to waste. The God who made you with such honor cares deeply what you do with the days He has given — and for anyone tempted to throw that dignity away on a vice, Psalm 8 is a summons back to who you really are: known, valued, and made for more.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why would so great a God care about my choices? Because He made you in His image and crowned you with glory and honor. Your life carries God-given dignity, so what you do with it is not trivial to the One who made you.

2. Does God still care for me after what I've done? Yes. David marvels that God is mindful of us at all; His care rests on His character, not our record. He cares for you in spite of who you are and what you've done.

3. How should this shape the way I live? If you are made in God's image and valued by Him, you were made for more than the vices that degrade you. Your dignity in Christ calls you to steward your life rather than waste it.

"You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor." — Psalm 8:5 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This study is part of New Geneva Theological Seminary's teaching on addiction, temptation, and freedom in Christ. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

The Gospel is not toothless.

The Gospel is not weak or defenseless.

As Spurgeon said – it is like a ‘lion.’

What do you do with a lion?

You set it loose.

In today’s text, we’ll see an example of this from Acts 17.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What opposition did Paul and the apostles face?

B) What was the true (spiritual) source of that opposition?

C) What effect does the good news have upon a fallen world?

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

Goliath was a monster.

This man was a giant, a beast; the Devil’s own proxy.

But God had His own champion.

He sent a shepherd from Bethlehem to crush the monster’s head.

Does that remind you of anybody else?

In today’s study of 1 Samuel 17, we’ll see the Gospel in OT clothing.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) In what ways was Goliath a proxy for the serpent?

B) What other types or shadows are in this chapter?

C) How do Gen. 3, Rev. 13, and 1 Samuel 17 connect?

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

You can take this to the bank:

As a Christian, your future is brighter than you can imagine.

But for now?

For now, we face hardships and heartache.

For now, we live in ‘this present darkness.’

That’s the tension of the Christian life, isn’t it?

We live in the ‘already,’ but the ‘not yet.’

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why does all of nature ‘groan?’ What is the cause?

B) How can we be sure of a brighter tomorrow?

C) How do we find strength to endure to the end?

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

Is worship difficult for you?

For many people, it is.

For many, it seems difficult or unnatural.

Now, why would ‘worship’ be difficult?

Well, we’re not used to glorifying someone other than ourselves.

So, how do we fix this?

It begins with the study of God himself.

It begins with an appreciation of His character.

The more we understand God, the more natural worship becomes.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What sort of worship was taking place in 2 Chronicles 7?

B) What happened the moment the Temple was dedicated?

C) How can we grow in our love and commitment to worship?

Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt

The Bible is full of promises.

Some were made by God, and some were made by men.

Man’s promises are notoriously flimsy (and often broken).

Conversely, the promises of God are iron clad.

In today’s study, we’ll consider one of those promises up close.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What does the term ‘covenant’ mean?

B) What promise did God make to Israel after the Exodus?

C) What promises has He made to you and I as believers?

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

God looks after His children.

There are so many examples of this.

Manna from heaven.

Water from rock.

In today’s text, God will use ravens to bring Elijah food.

Then, He will then use Elijah to bring a widow hope.

The God who provided for them will look after you.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What is the context of 1 Kings 17?

B) Why was Elijah hiding from Ahab and Jezebel?

C) What can we learn from the Widow of Zarephath?

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt