Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Dr. Jim encourages new and returning students alike to be involved in a local church, both during their time at Faith and after they leave. He shares from Scripture why the church is so important and why believers should be part of a local church.

Scripture Texts

Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 27:4

Main Points or Ideas

1. Because you have a passion for God (vv. 19-23)

• If you don’t go to church as a believer, it says a lot about your walk.
• Acts 20; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5

2. Because you have a passion for God’s people (vv. 24-25)

• John 13:34-35
• The church is the greatest accountability in our lives. We need each other!
• 1 John 3:16; 4:20-21

3. Because you have a passion to serve God (v. 24b)

• 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
• Find where you can serve and love others well.

Conclusion

The point of the church isn’t to sit and be idle. The point is to serve because of love for the people and for God, even more so unto the day of Christ’s second coming.

The tragedy of our day isn’t unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer. He who ceases to pray ceases to prosper.

Scripture Text

Hebrews 4:14-16

Main Points or Ideas

Why Pray When We Are Struggling?

1. We have a Great High Priest (v. 14)

• John 14:6
• Hebrews 11:6
• 1 John 2:1-4

2. We have a Great High Priest who CARES (v. 15)

• 1 Peter 5:6-7
• What people in pain need is LOVE, SUPPORT, and CARE. God understands and cares for our pain the best.
• Hebrews 12:1-3

3. We have a Great High Priest who can HELP (v. 16)

• 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
• We can receive mercy and find grace when we come boldly to the throne of grace, to find help in times of need.
• We can come boldly because of Jesus!

Conclusion

We are not meant to go through life on our own. We have a Great High Priest.

Believers, having been saved by Christ, are called to live like Christ through three practical ways. Jeremiah Zarama emphasizes that salvation comes with purpose - we are saved not just from sin but to display Christ's character in our daily lives.

Scripture Texts

Ephesians 4:29-32; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Main Points or Ideas

I. Let Our Words Give Grace (v. 29)

• Put off unwholesome, corrupt speech that tears others down
• Put on edifying speech that builds others up and fits the need of the moment
• Our words should serve as a source of blessing and encouragement to others
• This doesn't mean sugarcoating truth, but speaking in ways that promote loving God and loving others

II. Honor God by Speaking Graciously (v. 30)

• Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who sealed us for the day of redemption
• Our salvation serves as motivation to honor God with our words
• We must be conscious of living "coram Deo" (before the face of God) and speak graciously even when provoked
• The same Spirit that enables extraordinary forgiveness lives in every believer

III. Pursue Godliness in Character and Actions (vv. 31-32)

• Repent of sinful tendencies like bitterness, wrath, anger, and slander
• True repentance involves both asking forgiveness and turning away from sin
• Be kind to one another, empathize, and bear each other's burdens
• The Gospel of Jesus Christ serves as the basis for pursuing godliness and extending grace to others

Conclusion

If Jesus is not enough to motivate us to godly living, we do not have Jesus. Christ's love and sacrifice should compel believers to live transformed lives that reflect His character through gracious speech and godly conduct.

Different motivations drive us. Why do we do what we do?

Scripture Text

1 Corinthians 15:10-11

Main Points or Ideas

God’s grace enables us to serve Him with grit for His glory.

1. God’s Grace - V.10 “By the grace of God I am what I am…”

• Change from past to the present; regrets to new life
• God enables us to serve Him by His grace
• Faithful work must be done with gratitude because of grace

2. Serve with Grit - V.10 “...I labored even more than all of them…”

• Colossians 1; 2 Timothy 2 (soldier, athlete, and farmer)
• Ministry is hard work! It needs people who are willing and are enabled with a grace-enabling grit.
• Life is hard. Keep trusting the Lord and pressing on

3. For His Glory - VV.10-11 “yet not I, but the grace of God was with me”

• V. 11 - “whether it was I or they…”
• All for God’s glory
• Our boast isn’t in anything but Him who is able!

Conclusion

We need faithful servants, who by God’s grace, are enabled to serve Him with grit for His glory.

Dr. Jim continues his message from Titus 2 on what a godly female mentor looks like.

Scripture Text

Titus 2:4-5

Main Points or Ideas

1. Love Children

• Children are tremendous blessings
• Sacrificial love for children

2. Discreet/Sensible

• With common sense
• Strong women who are able to handle challenges

3. Pure

• She looks out for the younger women and their purity
• Morally and physically

4. Homemakers/Workers at Home

• Our culture today does not encourage homemaking
• Proverbs 31

5. Kind - Ephesians 4:32

6. Obedient to Their Own Husbands

• Something we all have to do, even unto the Lord and authorities
• Picture of submitting to a perfect God

Conclusion

Titus 2:5c “...so that the Word of God will not be blasphemed.”

We are to be special Christians, not weird.

Scripture Text

Titus 2:3-4

Main Points or Ideas

1. Reverent in behavior

• Priestlike
• Proverbs 31:30

2. Not slanderers

• Not a she-devil
• Nothing is more destructive than gossip
• James 3

3. Not given to wine

• Dependent on the Holy Spirit

4. Teachers of good things

• Formal, informal, example
• All things, even spiritually

5. Admonishing young wives to love their husbands

• Older women are to teach this trait
• Biblical actions produce biblical emotions
• Love can be learned

Conclusion

Obey right before you feel right.

Scripture Text

Ephesians 1:18

Main Points or Ideas

Eyes of Understanding = “turn on the Spiritual light”

A look at life from God’s point of view.

Three Old Testament Examples:

1. Hagar with her son - family (Genesis 21:19)

2. Balam with his donkey - direction (Numbers 22:31)

3. Elijah with the servant - spiritual protection (2 Kings 6:17)

Acts 26:18; Luke 24:45 - Salvation-related eyes of understanding

Discernment = the ability to see people and circumstances as they really are

Conclusion

We can fall short of the goal when we do not have eyes of understanding spiritually.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is profitable.

Scripture Texts

Colossians 1:5-8

Main Points or Ideas

Where we are at is not as important as being in Jesus Christ.

1. The Gospel is Truth - V. 5

• “The Word of truth”
• Romans 3:4

2. The Gospel is Good News - V. 5

• The Gospel = good news

3. The Gospel is Universal - V. 6

• As it is in all the world

4. The Gospel is Productive - V. 6

• Constantly bearing fruit, increasing

5. The Gospel Tells of Grace - V. 6

• “... the grace of God in truth”
• “Heard it and understood”

6. The Gospel is Humanly Transmitted - V. 7

• “As you also heard from Epaphras”
• Faithful servant

Conclusion

V. 8 - … has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

You’ll ask yourself, “is that real?” We live in a world where people are searching for their reality.

Scripture Text

Acts 17:24-28

Main Points or Ideas

Our reality is that LIFE IS ABOUT GOD.

1. God is the creator (V. 24a)

2. God is the Lord over creation (V. 24b)

• “If God is the creator of the entire universe, then it must follow that He is the Lord of the whole universe. No part of the world is outside of His Lordship.” - R.C. Sproul

3. God is self-existent (V. 24c)

4. God is the sustainer (V. 25)

• Every breath we have is a gift
• V. 28 - No existence is without God

Revelation 4:11; Proverbs 16:4; Colossians 1:15-17; Isaiah 6:3

2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 10:30

Conclusion

We live to please God and to be a conduit of His grace to others - Matthew 5:16

What is the greatest/most important commandment?

Scripture Text

1 John 3:1-3

Main Points or Ideas

If the Christian does not look at the love of God first, every command after loses its power.

How might our relationships change if we viewed them as loved by God?

1. The Privilege of the Love of the Father (3:1)

• John 15:13, Romans 8:32
• There is no problem in life that a clearer look at the cross doesn’t help
• It was given to us by the most powerful Being of the universe - nothing can stop God’s love

2. The Transformation of the Love of the Father (3:2-3)

• God has given us our purity, we do not create it
• Ephesians 5:14; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17
• We are not identified by others, but we are identified by Christ
• It also transforms our hope

Conclusion

God defines us by the Son’s light.