Apologetics

In Matthew 26, Jesus sat down. His betrayer joined Him.

In today’s study, Jesus sat down for what we call the ‘Last Supper,’ with His betrayer seated just a few feet away. Our Lord had come to celebrate the Passover with His disciples, knowing this would be their last opportunity to do so. But He also knew the heart (and pending actions) of a man named Judas Iscariot. In today’s study, we’ll consider the high stakes of Matthew 26.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why did Judas betray Christ? What was his purpose and reward?

B) What doctrines did Jesus emphasize during the ‘Last Supper?’

C) What was about to happen next? What did Jesus expect to occur?

www.fpcgulfport.org

Jesus was walking into a trap. Several traps, actually.

When Jesus entered the Temple in Matthew 21, the Pharisees, Sadducees and others planned to ask Him questions that might trap or make our Lord look bad before others. They wanted to destroy or hurt His credibility. In today’s study, we’ll see how Jesus responded.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What was the irony about the questions that Jesus was facing?

B) What was the point of Christ’s parable about the wedding feast?

C) What happened to the improperly dressed ‘wedding guest?’

Web: www.fpcgulfport.org

In Matthew 21, Jesus was angry.

Now, how could this be? What could possibly make gentle, loving, patient Jesus so upset? What could cause Him to flip tables and to make a scene? In today’s study, we’ll consider both the circumstances and reasons for Christ’s anger.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Who were the money-changers in the temple? What were they doing?

B) How does this event relate to the time Jesus cursed a fig tree?

C) What does it mean for God’s temple to be a ‘house of prayer?’

Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Revelation is the last book in the Bible.

However, the entire Bible is a revelation from God – and so is every molecule in the created realm. Every ounce of creation tells us something about the Creator. In today’s study, we’ll talk about the benefits of God’s revelation, and the consequences for ignoring what He has said.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why do people plug their ears to God’s Word?

B) If a society ignores God, who will they turn to instead?

C) What about our universities – if they reject divine revelation, what’s left?

Show Notes / Timestamps

00:02   Welcome (This Is Radio 3:16)

00:50   Chapter 1: Where Does Knowledge Come From

05:43   Chapter 2: Our Need For Something Better

13:54   Chapter 3: Garbage In, Garbage Out

20:59   Chapter 4: Divine Revelation

25:00   Broadcast End

Keywords: Epistemology, Special Revelation, Divine Revelation

Web: www.fpcgulfport.org

Jesus, Moses, and Elijah met on the mountaintop. One’s face radiated with divine light. The others did not.

Moses and Elijah were no slouches – these were titans of Jewish history, the very embodiment of the law and the prophets. And yet, when standing next to Jesus, they paled. It was Christ alone that the Father referred to, saying “This is my Son, listen to Him” in Matthew 17.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What was the ‘transfiguration,’ and why did Jesus undergo it?

B) Why did Moses and Elijah appear, and what did they talk about?

C) What was Peter’s mistake, and what forgiveness did he receive?

Site: www.fpcgulfport.org

Are there levels of reward (or punishment) in eternity?

In Dante’s Inferno, the poet described Hell as having ‘nine circles.’ Each circle corresponded with a different sin and degree of punishment. But is this a Biblical understanding? Does the Bible teach that different sins merit different punishments in Hell? And what does it say about ‘rewards’ in Heaven?

Questions That We’ll Address:

1) If our works don’t save us, then what eternal affect can they have (if any)?

2) When Jesus referred to ‘treasures in Heaven,’ what was He talking about?

3) Why did Jesus say that the people of Capernaum would face a more tolerable judgment than the people of Sodom (who were poster-children for God’s wrath)?

00:02   Welcome (This Is Radio 3:16)

01:03   Chapter 1: Introduction

06:00   Chapter 2: Different Sins, Different Punishment

13:07   Chapter 3: Earthly Deeds, Eternal Rewards

19:53   Chapter 4: Closing Thoughts

24:22   Closing / Outro

25:00   Broadcast End

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Web: R316.org

This was a very wicked region.

In the time of Christ, Caesarea Philippi was the ‘red light district.’ It was filled with pagan people doing pagan things. And yet, this is where Jesus took His disciples in Matthew 16. Why? That will be the focus of today’s study.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why did Jesus travel to the region known as Hell’s gates?

B) What did He teach His disciples when they got there?

C) Why did Jesus say “on this rock I will build my church?”

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

It is the most famous sermon ever preached.

In Matthew 5, Jesus starts the ‘Sermon On The Mount’ with a series of blessings (or beatitudes). What were these blessings all about? And how were they received by hurting, downtrodden people who were used to the legalism of the Pharisees?

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) How do the blessings of Matthew 5 contrast to the woes of Matthew 23?

B) Who was Christ’s audience for this particular sermon?

C) What does it mean to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in the world around us?

www.fpcgulfport.org

Does God ‘change’ His mind?

It seems unlikely. Why would a perfect, all knowing God change His mind? On the other hand, there are several verses that suggest He does. In Jonah 3, the Bible said God ‘relented’ from destroying Nineveh. In 1 Samuel, God himself said He ‘regretted’ making Saul king. If God doesn’t change His mind, then why do these verses make it sound like He does? Is there an answer?

Questions That We’ll Address:

1) Is God’s nature subject to change, growth, or development?

2) Can God ever ‘regret’ His own choices, or ‘repent’ from His prior actions?

3) What is ‘anthropomorphic’ language? How does that term apply to this topic?

Site: www.r316.org

How big do you think the church really is?

It depends on how you define it.

In Matthew 7, Jesus warned that there were many professing believers who did not know Him. In Christ’s own day, there were hundreds of thousands of Israelites who claimed to know God, but who were in danger of severe judgment. The same may be true in our day (2023). The ‘true’ church may be a small fraction of what it appears. And historically, the Bible has two words to describe this group of believers: THE REMNANT.

Questions That We’ll Address:

1) How big is the church? What do the statistics and numbers tell us?

2) What is the difference between the ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’ churches?

3) Are we living in the days of a ‘remnant?’ How can we know?

Radio 3:16 Website: www.r316.org

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