Avenue T Church of Christ Sermon & Bible Class Podcast

On Sunday morning, March 22, 2026, Cole Tuck delivered a bold and timely sermon addressing the intense online reactions to his previous lesson on baptism. Rather than avoiding criticism, he leaned into it, examining some of the most common objections people raise and comparing them directly with Scripture.

With clarity and conviction, the lesson dismantled popular arguments such as the thief on the cross, “faith only” salvation, baptism as a work, and extreme hypothetical scenarios. Each was carefully evaluated in context, revealing that many objections stem from misunderstanding Scripture rather than engaging with it.

At its core, the message was simple yet powerful: when we let the Bible speak for itself, the role of baptism in salvation is clear, consistent, and essential, not as a human work, but as a faithful response to God’s grace. 

On Sunday morning, March 22, 2026, Cole Tuck led the class into Romans 13, shifting deeper into the practical application section of the book. After laying a theological foundation in chapters 1–11 and a rapid-fire call to Christian living in chapter 12, Paul now addresses a challenging and often uncomfortable topic: the Christian’s relationship to government authority.

The lesson emphasized that while human governments are imperfect and sometimes deeply flawed, they still serve a God-ordained role in maintaining order and restraining evil. Without authority, society would collapse into chaos. Christians are called to submit, respect, and honor governing authorities, not only out of fear of consequences but for the sake of conscience and obedience to God.

At the same time, the class explored an important balance: submission does not mean blind approval. Believers can lawfully exercise their rights, speak truth, and advocate for change, while still maintaining a posture of respect. Ultimately, the goal is to live in such a way that our conduct supports the gospel rather than discredits it, being model citizens unless obedience to God requires otherwise.

Why does suffering exist? Why would a loving God allow pain and hardship in the world?

In this sermon titled “Suffering Like Jesus,” Cole Tuck explores what the Bible teaches about suffering and how Christians are called to respond when life becomes difficult.  Jesus Himself experienced suffering, not only to bring salvation to the world but also to show believers how to endure hardship with faith, patience, and trust in God. Scripture reveals that trials can strengthen our faith, develop endurance, and even influence others who are watching how we respond.

When Christians suffer faithfully, their lives become a powerful testimony to the truth of the gospel.

This sermon examines:

Even in the hardest moments of life, God can use suffering for a greater purpose.

📖 Key Scriptures:

If this message encourages you, please like, subscribe, and share so more people can hear the gospel.

On Sunday, March 15, 2026, Cole Tuck continued our Bible class study through the book of Epistle to the Romans, focusing on Romans 12:14–21.

In this passage, the apostle Paul explains how Christians should respond to persecution, conflict, and hostility. Rather than seeking revenge, believers are called to bless those who persecute them, pursue peace with others, and overcome evil with good.

This class explores:

These teachings reflect the example and commands of Jesus Christ, who showed love even toward those who opposed Him.

📖 Join us as we continue studying Romans and learning how the gospel transforms the way we live every day.

On Sunday, March 8, 2026, Cole Tuck presented a powerful sermon examining what Scripture teaches about baptism and why it matters so deeply for every believer. In a world where many different ideas exist about baptism, the lesson focused on going back to the Bible itself. Scripture teaches that baptism is more than a religious ceremony involving water—it is an appeal to God for a clean conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21).

Through baptism, believers are:

Baptism represents leaving the old life behind and beginning a new life with Christ. It is a step of faith, obedience, and trust in the saving power of Jesus.

The message also addressed common questions about baptism and reminded us that God does not expect perfection before we come to Him. Instead, He invites us to come to Him and allow Him to transform our lives.

If you have ever wondered about the purpose and importance of baptism, this sermon is a wonderful study straight from Scripture.

▶  If this sermon encouraged you, please like the video and share it with someone who might be interested in studying the Bible.

#Baptism #BibleTeaching #ChristianFaith #NewLifeInChrist #Acts238 #WalkInTheLight

On Sunday morning, March 8, 2026, Cole Tuck led our Bible class through Romans 12:9–13, where Paul shifts from the deep doctrinal teaching of Romans 1–11 to the practical way Christians are called to live every day.

Paul presents a rapid-fire list of virtues that describe a transformed life:

The class discussed how genuine Christian love is not just outward politeness or rule-keeping—it is a heart changed by God’s grace.

One key point was learning to hate sin the way God hates it, even the “small” sins we often excuse, things like gossip, pride, laziness, or impatience. When we remember the true cost of sin, the sacrifice of Jesus, it changes how we see it.

We also talked about practical ways to grow in this transformed life:

Christian devotion is not limited to a building or a schedule. It’s a life of joyful hope, constant prayer, and generous love toward others.

📖 Romans 12 reminds us that faith in Christ is meant to reshape every part of how we live.

If you missed the class, you can watch the full lesson on our YouTube channel.

#BibleStudy #Romans12 #ChristianLiving #SincereLove #FaithInAction #ChurchFamily #Hospitality #ServeTheLord

On Sunday morning, March 1, 2026, Cole Tuck continued his sermon series examining the difficult and often misunderstood subject of Christians and violence. Building on the previous week's lesson, he reminded the congregation that followers of Christ are called to live lives characterized by peace, gentleness, and restraint rather than retaliation.

While the world often equates strength with power, aggression, and dominance, Scripture reveals a very different definition of strength. The Christian calling to turn the other cheek, love enemies, and repay evil with good can appear weak from a worldly perspective. Yet the Bible teaches that true strength is found in self-control, humility, and faithfulness to God even in the face of suffering.

Drawing from passages such as Psalm 73 and Proverbs 16:32, the sermon explored the temptation believers may feel when they see the apparent success of the wicked. From a human viewpoint, those who pursue power, wealth, and personal freedom without moral restraint seem to prosper. However, Scripture reminds us that what appears to be victory in the world is often spiritual defeat.

Cole emphasized that restraining anger, refusing retaliation, and walking away from conflict require far greater strength than responding with violence. Anyone can lash out in anger, but mastering one’s spirit and submitting to God’s will requires discipline, faith, and courage.

Through biblical examples such as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the lesson demonstrated that faithful obedience does not always mean fighting back. Instead, courage is often displayed through steadfast trust in God even when suffering may follow.

Christians are not weak, nor are they losing in the game of life. Rather, they are engaged in a different kind of battle, one that is not fought with physical weapons but with spiritual faithfulness. True victory is not measured by worldly success but by remaining faithful to Christ.

The sermon encouraged believers to reject the world’s definition of strength and instead pursue the kind of strength that God values: self-control, humility, courage, and unwavering obedience.

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, Cole Tuck led the morning Bible class through the concluding verses of Romans chapter 11 and the opening of chapter 12. The lesson emphasized the unity of all people under God’s mercy and the call for Christians to respond to that mercy with transformed lives.

Paul’s message in Romans makes it clear that both Jews and Gentiles are equally in need of God’s grace. No group can claim superiority because all have been “shut up in disobedience” so that God may extend mercy to everyone. This powerful truth removes pride and reminds believers that salvation comes only through the mercy of God.

Paul concludes the doctrinal foundation of the book with a doxology praising the depth of God’s wisdom and knowledge. God’s plan, bringing Jews and Gentiles together through Christ, demonstrates a wisdom far beyond human understanding.

With this foundation laid, Romans 12 marks a turning point from teaching to application. Because of God’s mercy, believers are called to present themselves as living sacrifices, offering their entire lives to God daily. Christianity is not a one-time decision but a continual act of surrender. Paul further urges believers not to conform to the patterns of the world but to be transformed by renewing their minds so that their lives reflect the will and character of God.

The class emphasized that true worship is not limited to a moment or event but is expressed in a life continually dedicated to God

In a world saturated with violence, from global wars claiming over 240,000 lives in 2025 (including major conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Palestine, and Myanmar), to tens of thousands of murders and millions of assaults annually in the U.S., and staggering abortion numbers, this sermon confronts how Christians should respond biblically. Cole begins by affirming that God hates violence, especially against the innocent, because every person bears His image (Psalm 11:5; Proverbs 6:16-17). He explores key questions through Scripture: Governments may use violence to punish evil (Romans 13:1-4), but Christians must submit to authorities without rebellion (Romans 13; Titus 3), even under unjust rule, following Jesus' example.

Vengeance belongs to God alone (Romans 12:17-21), so personal retaliation or vigilante justice is forbidden. Self-defense is permitted when life is genuinely threatened (Exodus 22:2-3; Luke 22:36), but not to protect mere property. Military service is not inherently sinful if conducted ethically and subordinating to Christ's commands. Ultimately, Christians fight spiritual battles with good, peace, gentleness, and the gospel, not physical force, overcoming evil as light overcomes darkness (Ephesians 6:12).

In Romans 11, Paul addresses the complex relationship between Jews and Gentiles in God's redemptive plan, emphasizing that Israel's partial hardening and rejection of Jesus as Messiah is not permanent or final. Far from abandoning His people, God has used this stumbling to extend salvation to the Gentiles, provoking Israel to jealousy and ultimately aiming for their restoration. Through the powerful olive tree metaphor, Paul illustrates that believing Gentiles have been grafted into the holy root (the promises to Abraham and the patriarchs), while unbelieving natural branches (many Jews) have been broken off due to unbelief, not bloodline or ethnicity. This warns Gentiles against arrogance: standing by faith alone keeps us secure, but unbelief can lead to being cut off. Yet hope abounds, God can easily graft Israel back in through faith, and a mystery unfolds: a partial hardening persists until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, leading to "all Israel" (those true to God's covenant through faith in Christ) being saved. The chapter culminates in awe at God's merciful wisdom: He has shut up all in disobedience to show mercy to all, leaving no room for pride on any side. Salvation is by grace through faith for everyone, Jew or Gentile, highlighting God's irrevocable gifts, kindness, and severity.

This class builds theological foundations (explanation of grace, election, and God's plan) before transitioning to practical living in chapter 12, reminding us that no one earns their place; we are all recipients of undeserved mercy.