Bible Study

What kind of love makes sinners into God's children?

In 1 John 3, the apostle marvels that God calls us His children. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt unfolds the astonishing love that brings believers into God's family — not as servants, but as sons and daughters.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What does it mean that God is our Father? That salvation makes us family. God has no "peons" — those He saves He adopts as beloved children.

2. Why was John so amazed? Because the gift is staggering: that rebels and sinners should be called the very children of God.

3. How does God see you now? As His own child, dearly loved — not merely ticketed for heaven, but welcomed into His household as family. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" — 1 John 3:1 (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 does the kingdom of God grow? In Matthew 13, Jesus compares the kingdom to a mustard seed — tiny at first, but destined to grow great. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt unfolds the parable and what it reveals about the church's growth.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What is the point of the mustard seed? That the kingdom begins small and unimpressive but grows into something vast — far beyond its humble start.

2. How was this fulfilled? Jesus spoke to a handful of disciples on a shoreline; today the church spans the entire globe across every nation.

3. What can the church learn? To be faithful in small beginnings and to trust God for the growth, even in times of cultural upheaval.

"...The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed... which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree." — Matthew 13:31-32 (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.

Is there hope after losing someone you love? In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul comforts grieving believers — not by denying their sorrow, but by anchoring it in hope. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt brings tender, biblical encouragement to grieving hearts.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Is it wrong for Christians to grieve? No. Grief is natural and right. But Paul says we "do not sorrow as others who have no hope." Our grief is tinged with expectation.

2. Will believers see their loved ones again? Yes. Those who have died in Christ will be raised, and believers will be reunited with them and with the Lord forever.

3. What is the basis of this hope? The death and resurrection of Jesus. Because He rose, those who belong to Him will rise too. "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus." — 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (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 much time do you really have left? In Romans 13, Paul urges believers to wake up and live, for "the night is far spent, the day is at hand." In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt calls us to treat today as short and precious, living in the light of Christ's coming.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What did Paul mean by "the night is far spent"? That the present age is passing and Christ's day is near — so believers should live with urgency and purpose.

2. What are we to cast off? "The works of darkness" — putting on instead "the armor of light," living as those who belong to the day.

3. What holds us back? Spiritual drowsiness and the pull of the night. Paul calls us to awake and number our days.

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." — Romans 13:12 (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.

Should preachers teach only the easy parts of the Bible?

No. In Acts 20:17-38, the Apostle Paul charges the Ephesian elders to preach the whole counsel of God — not just the comfortable parts. Dr. Toby Holt explains why every truth of Scripture matters. Meeting the elders one last time, Paul reminded them how he served through tears and trials, holding nothing back. He warned that "savage wolves" would come — even from within the church — twisting the truth. His answer was not less Bible, but all of it, faithfully taught.

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the "whole counsel of God"? The entire message of Scripture — every doctrine, command, and warning, not only the popular parts. Paul held none of it back.

2. Why did Paul warn about "wolves"? Because false teachers would rise, even from within the church, twisting God's Word to lead believers astray. Faithful elders must guard the flock with truth.

3. Why does Paul address "elders" rather than one leader? The church was led by a group of elders together, not a single ruler. Shared, accountable leadership helps protect the church from error.

"For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God." — Acts 20:27 (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 Jesus doing for you right now? We often remember what Jesus has done — but in John 17, we see what He continues to do: intercede for His people. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt opens the "high priestly prayer" and the comfort of having a divine Advocate.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why is John 17 called the "high priestly prayer"? Because in it Jesus prays as our great High Priest, interceding for His disciples and for all who would believe.

2. Who did Jesus pray for? His immediate disciples — and explicitly for us: "those who will believe in Me through their word."

3. How does this encourage us? Because Christ is interceding for His people even now. We have an Advocate at the Father's side seeking our good. "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word." — John 17:20 (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 makes Mary's song one of the most counter-cultural ever written? In Luke 1, a young woman responds to astonishing news with a song of praise — the Magnificat. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt explores why this humble hymn turns the world's values upside down.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What news did Mary receive? That she would bear the Messiah, conceived by the Holy Spirit — a virgin birth, fulfilling prophecy.

2. What does Mary's song celebrate? A God who exalts the lowly and humbles the proud, who fills the hungry and sends the rich away empty.

3. Why is it counter-cultural? Because it locates all greatness in God, not self — magnifying the Lord rather than human status, power, or wealth.

"And Mary said: 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.'" — Luke 1:46-47 (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.

Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Yes — and it changes everything. In Matthew 28:1-15, the tomb is found empty and the risen Jesus meets His followers. Dr. Toby Holt shows why the resurrection is the believer's greatest hope.

At dawn, two women came expecting to anoint a dead body. Instead an angel rolled back the stone as the ground shook and the guards fell like dead men. "He is not here," the angel said, "for He is risen." The women met Jesus on the road and worshiped Him. Holt notes the leaders then paid the soldiers to lie and say the body was stolen — the same way the world still explains away the empty tomb. Because Christ conquered death, all who trust Him will rise too.

Questions this study answers:

1. What happened on the first Easter morning? Women came to a sealed tomb, but an angel announced Jesus had risen, and they met the living Christ on the road. Death could not hold Him.

2. Who saw the risen Jesus? The women at the tomb were the first eyewitnesses, followed by His disciples. Their testimony, not a stolen body, is how the news spread.

3. Why does the resurrection matter for us? Because Jesus' victory over death secures ours. All who trust in Him share His resurrection life; death is beaten, but only through Him.

"He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." — Matthew 28:6 (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 really happened when Jesus died?

Far more than a Roman execution. In Matthew 27:45-56, the sky goes dark, the temple veil tears, and the earth shakes as Jesus dies. Dr. Toby Holt explains the meaning behind these signs.

From noon to three, darkness covered the land — a sign of judgment. Jesus cried, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" In that moment the Father laid the sins of His people on the Son and turned away — what the Bible calls imputation: our sin counted as His, so His righteousness could be counted as ours. When Jesus died, the temple curtain tore from top to bottom, opening the way to God. Even a hardened Roman officer confessed, "Truly this was the Son of God."

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the sky grow dark at midday? The three hours of darkness signaled God's judgment, as His wrath against sin fell on Jesus in His people's place — a divine darkness, not a natural eclipse.

2. Did the Father really turn away from the Son? At the cross the sins of God's people were charged to Jesus, and He bore the full weight of judgment in their place.

3. What hope is there in such a dark chapter? The torn curtain shows the way to God is now open, and the officer's confession shows even enemies can be forgiven.

"...Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying… 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'" — Matthew 27:46 (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 did Judas betray Jesus?

In Matthew 26:1-30, one of Jesus' own followers sells Him out for thirty pieces of silver. Dr. Toby Holt shows that even this betrayal was part of God's plan to save His people. While a devoted woman poured costly perfume on Jesus to prepare Him for burial, Judas slipped away to deal with the chief priests. At the table Judas calls Jesus only "Rabbi," teacher — never "Lord." That evening Jesus took bread and the cup and gave the Lord's Supper, explaining His blood would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins. What looked like the darkest betrayal was the path by which God brought the greatest good.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Judas betray Christ? He valued money over his Master, handing Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver. He saw Jesus as only a teacher, not as Lord.

2. What did Jesus give His followers at this meal? The Lord's Supper — bread and the cup — as signs of His body and blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins, marking a new covenant.

3. Was the betrayal outside God's control? No. Christ's death was God's plan from before the world began; God brought salvation out of the greatest evil.

"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." — Matthew 26:28 (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.