Bible Study

What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle? In Matthew 10:1-23, Jesus chooses twelve ordinary men, gives them His authority, and sends them out. Dr. Toby Holt explains what set the apostles apart and what Jesus warned them to expect. Moved with compassion for crowds like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus called twelve unlikely men — fishermen, a tax collector, even Judas. Holt distinguishes a disciple, who patterns his life after his teacher, from an apostle, uniquely sent with the sender's authority. Jesus sent them first to Israel and warned they would be "sheep among wolves," facing rejection. Those who endure to the end will be saved.

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle? A disciple follows and imitates his teacher — true of every believer. An apostle was specially sent with Christ's own authority, a unique office.

2. What warnings did Jesus give? That they would be like sheep among wolves, facing rejection, arrest, even betrayal by family. He told them to be wise and to endure.

3. What were the apostles sent to do? To preach, heal, and call people to repentance with Christ's authority, beginning with Israel — carrying His message as His representatives.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." — Matthew 10:16 (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.

Whose faith amazed Jesus?

A Roman soldier's. In Matthew 8:5-13, a Gentile centurion shows greater faith than anyone in Israel, and Jesus marvels. Dr. Toby Holt explains what real faith looks like.

A Roman officer came on behalf of his paralyzed servant. He did not ask Jesus to come — he simply said, "Speak a word, and my servant will be healed." As a man under authority who commanded soldiers, he recognized Jesus' authority over sickness itself. Jesus marveled, saying He had not found such faith even in Israel. Holt notes the warning: many outsiders will feast in the kingdom while some who assumed they belonged are shut out.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Jesus marvel at the centurion's faith? Because this Gentile trusted Jesus' word alone, without needing a sign. His simple confidence stood out above all Israel.

2. What was unusual about his request? He said there was no need for Jesus to come to his home; a word would be enough. He understood Jesus' authority was greater than any distance.

3. What warning did Jesus give? That many outsiders would share in the kingdom while some who presumed on their heritage would be left out. Faith, not background, saves.

"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" — Matthew 8:10 (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.

How did Jesus stand up to temptation?

With Scripture. In Matthew 4:1-11, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where the devil tempts Him three times. Dr. Toby Holt shows how Jesus, the second Adam, stood where the first Adam fell. After forty days without food, Jesus faced three temptations: to satisfy His hunger, to prove Himself by a spectacular leap, and to seize the world's kingdoms by worshiping Satan. Each time He answered, "It is written." Where Adam fell in a lush garden, Jesus stood firm in a harsh desert. The devil even twisted Scripture, but Jesus used it rightly.

Questions this study answers:

1. What was each temptation aimed at? The first appealed to bodily appetite, the second to pride, the third to the desire for power — targeting the whole range of human weakness.

2. Why did Jesus answer with Scripture every time? Because God's Word is the believer's true weapon against temptation. Jesus modeled how to resist the devil by standing on what is written.

3. How does this connect to Adam in Genesis 3? Adam fell in a perfect garden, but Jesus, the second Adam, overcame in a barren wilderness — succeeding where the first man failed, for our sake.

"Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" — Matthew 4:10 (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.

Why was the sinless Jesus baptized?

In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus comes to be baptized by John — though He had no sin to wash away. Dr. Toby Holt explains what Jesus meant by "fulfilling all righteousness." John objected, knowing Jesus needed no repentance, but Jesus insisted it was proper "to fulfill all righteousness." Holt explains our salvation needs both Christ's death and His perfect life: forgiveness makes us "not guilty," but we also need righteousness to stand before God — the obedient life of Christ, credited to us. As Jesus rose from the water, the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father spoke — a clear picture of the Trinity.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin? Not to repent, but to "fulfill all righteousness" and identify with the people He came to save. It marked the start of His public ministry.

2. What does "fulfill all righteousness" mean? It points to Christ's perfect obedience, credited to believers. We are saved not only by His death for our sins but by His righteous life counted as ours.

3. How does the baptism show the Trinity? At one moment the Son was baptized, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven — three persons, one God. "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" — Matthew 3:17 (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.

What does the name "Emmanuel" mean?

"God with us." In Matthew 1:18-25, an angel tells Joseph that Mary's child will be Emmanuel — God come to dwell with His people. Dr. Toby Holt explains the comfort packed into that name.

Mary was found with child by the Holy Spirit while only engaged to Joseph. He planned to end it quietly until an angel explained the child was from God, giving two names: "Jesus," the Lord saves, "for He will save His people from their sins"; and "Emmanuel," "God with us."

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the difference between God being "for" us and "with" us? A God who is only "for" us helps from a distance; a God who is "with" us draws near and shares our life. Emmanuel means God came to be with His people.

2. What did the angel tell Joseph? That Mary's child was from the Holy Spirit and must be named Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins — turning scandal into salvation.

3. What comfort does "God with us" give the hurting? It assures us we are never alone. The God who came as a baby promises to be with His people always, even in their deepest pain. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us.'" — Matthew 1:23 (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.

Why was God silent for 400 years?

In this opening study of Matthew 1:1-17, Dr. Toby Holt explains the roughly 400 silent years between the Old and New Testaments — and why Matthew begins with a long family tree.

After Malachi, God sent no new word for about four centuries — the calm before the storm. Empires rose and fell, from the Greeks under Alexander to the Romans. Then Matthew, a former tax collector, opens his Gospel by tracing Jesus' line back through David and Abraham, proving He is the promised King. He even includes four Gentile women, a hint that this Savior is for all nations.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was God silent for over 400 years? After Malachi, God had said all that was needed until Christ. Holt calls the silence the hush before God's greatest act.

2. What makes Matthew's Gospel different? Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience and opens with Jesus' royal family tree, showing He is the promised son of David and Abraham.

3. Why do Matthew and Luke give different genealogies? They likely trace different lines — one royal and legal, the other more personal — and both affirm Jesus' place in David's family.

"...from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations." — Matthew 1:17 (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.

Does God actually keep His promises? In 1 Kings 8, Solomon dedicates the temple and declares that not one of God's good promises has failed. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt celebrates the God who keeps His word — including the promises He has made to you.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What is the high point of 1 Kings 8? The temple is finished, God's glory fills it, and Solomon praises the God who fulfilled every promise made to Israel.

2. What did Solomon declare about God's promises? That "not one word has failed of all His good promise." God had kept His word completely.

3. Why does this matter for us? Because the same faithful God has made promises to His people in Christ — and He will keep every one.

"Blessed be the LORD... There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses." — 1 Kings 8:56 (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.

What can we learn from how a great man died? In Deuteronomy 34, Moses climbs a mountain one last time — not to return, but to die within sight of the Promised Land. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt reflects on the death of Moses and what it teaches about faith, leadership, and God's faithfulness.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. How did Moses die? At 120, still strong, God Himself showed him the Promised Land and then took him; God alone buried him.

2. Why didn't Moses enter the land? Because of earlier disobedience — yet God still honored him and carried His people forward.

3. What does Moses' death teach us? That no leader is indispensable; God's purposes continue. And that a greater Prophet would yet arise — fulfilled in Christ. "But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face..." — Deuteronomy 34:10 (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.

What is the war being waged inside you? In 1 Peter 2:11-12, the Apostle Peter warns of a war — not against outward enemies, but within: the flesh waging war against the soul. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt explains this inner battle and how the believer is to fight it.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What "war" is Peter describing? Not a battle with external foes, but the conflict inside us — "fleshly lusts which war against the soul." The struggle is internal, even for Christians.

2. How are we to fight it? By abstaining from those fleshly desires and living honorably, leaning on God rather than our own willpower.

3. Why does it matter how we live? Because a watching world sees our conduct. Peter says our good works can lead others to glorify God. "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." — 1 Peter 2:11 (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.