Apologetics

What will the redeemed see and do before the throne of God?

In this sermon on Revelation 7:9-17, Dr. Toby Holt connects Palm Sunday and Passover with John's vision of an innumerable multitude from every nation standing before God and the Lamb. He explains why salvation belongs to God, how Christ's blood makes sinners white, and why heaven's greatest joy is God's presence with His people.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. How does Revelation 7 fulfill the imagery of Palm Sunday?

2. Who are the people in the great multitude wearing white robes?

3. What does it mean to be saved from God by God?

Revelation 7 assures believers that Jesus wins, His redeemed will dwell before the throne, and God will wipe away every tear.

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.

Can anyone stay neutral about Jesus?

No one is truly neutral about Jesus. In John 15:18-27, Jesus warns His followers that the world will hate them as it hated Him. Dr. Toby Holt explains why there is no spiritual middle ground. Because they belong to Christ, the disciples no longer belong to the world, which will treat them as it treated their Master. Holt takes apart the idea that people are born neutral "free agents"; the Bible says we are by nature turned from God until He changes our hearts. But Jesus promises the Helper, who testifies of Him.

Questions this study answers:

1. Is anyone spiritually neutral? No. The Bible teaches we are naturally turned from God until He changes us. Everyone is on one side or the other.

2. Why does the world resist the gospel? Because believers are fundamentally different, and that difference provokes hostility. Jesus said the world hated Him first.

3. What hope is there for those who face hostility? Jesus sends the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who bears witness to Christ and strengthens His people to stand.

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." — John 15:18 (NKJV)

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.

Can a skeptic become a follower of Jesus?

In John 1, Nathanael scoffs, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" — until he meets Jesus. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Christ meets honest doubters and turns them into devoted disciples.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why was Nathanael skeptical? He doubted that the Messiah could come from lowly Nazareth. His was an honest, reasoned doubt, not mere stubbornness.

2. How did Jesus win him over? By showing He already knew Nathanael — revealing a knowledge only God could have. The skeptic was convinced.

3. What does this show us? That Jesus welcomes honest questions and reveals Himself to those who come. Doubt is not the end of the road to faith.

"Nathanael answered and said to Him, 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'" — John 1:49 (NKJV)

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.

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

God doesn’t need us to do anything.

However, He invites us to do a great deal!

Specifically He gives us jobs of great importance.

How then should we respond?

That will be the focus of today’s study in Matthew 10.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What is the harvest field, and who are the laborers?

B) Why did Christ tell His apostles not to rely on their provisions?

C) What jobs and responsibilities do you and I have this year?

Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt