Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Dr. Keith Kobelia discusses how we live in a world where people constantly seek recognition and fame, but challenges students to be content serving faithfully even when they are not recognized, using examples of unnamed servants in Scripture.

Scripture Text

2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Main Points or Ideas

1. A Faithful Servant Serves Commendably - The first unnamed brother had praise "in the gospel throughout all the churches" - he had earned a splendid reputation for being trustworthy and reliable in ministry. We should strive to develop this kind of good reputation for faithfulness.
2. A Faithful Servant Serves Selflessly - The first brother was chosen by the churches and willing to participate even though it cost him personal resources, time, and travel expenses. He served for the glory of God and on behalf of others, not for personal accolades.
3. A Faithful Servant Serves Meaningfully - Even though his role wasn't glamorous, he had an important function in providing accountability and safeguarding Paul's testimony. Many serve sacrificially in the church without recognition but in meaningful ways.
4. A Faithful Servant Serves Zealously - The second unnamed brother was "often proved diligent in many things" and was eager and earnest in service. He was tested and proven faithful, serving diligently even when there was no prospect of recognition or advancement.
5. A Faithful Servant Serves Anonymously - These brothers served without being named, showing humble service where personal recognition was not the driving force. We need to be willing to serve even if we are not recognized.

Conclusion

We should seek faithfulness over fame, serving actively, faithfully, and humbly, even when unrecognized, contributing to the body of Christ in a selfless way that points people to Christ rather than ourselves.

Pastor Gary Walton, serving with Harvest Ministries on Guam, asks the fundamental question "What is it that you really want?" and warns about covetousness as potentially the number one danger for young adults in the next ten years.

Scripture Text

Luke 12:15; Exodus 20:17

Main Points or Ideas

1. Covetousness Affects My Focus - Covetousness sets our hearts on things of earth rather than things of heaven. We covet houses, relationships, possessions, and jobs that others have. This becomes dangerous because we can leave college with genuine desires to serve God but get caught up in having the right car, living in the right place, and accumulating conveniences, ending up living for this world instead of eternity.
2. Covetousness Affects My Relationships - All the things listed in the commandment belong to our neighbor. If we have a problem with coveting, we'll have relationship problems because we'll be thinking "Why does she have that?" or "Why does he get to do that?" This attitude strains relationships and creates barriers between us and others.
3. Covetousness Affects My Future - It starts a process that will destroy us because the desires of the heart are never satisfied. Covetousness is a reflection of our value system - we covet what we value most, and once our heart has coveted something, we're willing to sacrifice whatever we value less to get it.

Conclusion

The antidote to covetousness is contentment. We need to radically redefine what we think we need to be happy and fulfilled. The only legitimate answer to "What do I really want?" must be to be like Christ, and we should guard our hearts against becoming dissatisfied with God's plan for our lives.

Pastor David Strope emphasizes that when God says something is "good," it's really good, and focuses on the understated truth from Hebrews 13:9 that "it is good for the heart to be established by grace."

Scripture Text

Hebrews 13:7-11

Main Points or Ideas

• See the Excellence of Christ - The book of Hebrews presents Christ as infinitely superior to any human priest. He is the eternal Son of God who created all things and became flesh through the miracle of the Holy Spirit. As the God-man, He far surpasses in excellence any human priest who has ever lived.
• Remember the Purpose of Christ - Christ came not just to be the ultimate human priest, but to orient all attention to Himself. His sacrifice was once and for all, paying forever for our sins, unlike Old Testament sacrifices that were temporary promises of coming atonement. He now serves as our great High Priest in heaven, interceding for us.
• Hear the Warnings of Christ - The book of Hebrews contains many warnings about having a hardened heart of unbelief. Those who profess Christ but cease to follow Him face serious consequences. Our God is a consuming fire and it's a terrifying thing to fall into His hands. We need persistent faith to the very end of earthly life.
• Be Established by Grace - Grace is God's unmerited favor, best seen in Christ and at the cross. But grace is not just past - it's contemporary power to address our momentary weakness and need. When God gives us both the desire and ability to do what we otherwise couldn't do, that's grace working in us.

Conclusion

It is indeed good for the heart to be established by grace - to embrace Christ, praise Him, listen to Him, and support His servants, all while being sustained by His unmerited favor and power.

Greg Baker from the Church Ambassador Network challenges students to view government through a biblical lens rather than an American perspective, emphasizing that Christians are citizens of heaven, loyal to a different king and kingdom.

Scripture Text

Romans 13:1-4

Main Points or Ideas

• Government is an Institution of God - Government comes up 2,000 times in the Bible. God only made three institutions: family (first), government (around Genesis 9), and the church (eternal). If God instituted government, the church should care more about it than anyone else.
• Government's Purpose is Justice, Not Transformation - Government is a common grace gift that brings order to a world corrupted by sin. The worst form of government is anarchy. Government restrains sin daily, though when wicked it can unleash more sin than any other institution. The cross reveals that God is both just and merciful.
• Those in Government are God's Ministers - Whether they recognize it or not, all who serve in government are God's ministers. Throughout history, God has used various leaders as His instruments, often people we wouldn't pick. We serve a "grass-tops" God of order who expects us to obey and show honor to authorities regardless of whether we voted for them.
• Christ is the Perfect King - Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the only perfect ruler. He came as the ultimate example of servant leadership, laying down His life for the people rather than demanding to be served. All earthly kingdoms come and go, but only one kingdom reigns forever.

Conclusion

Christians should help government leaders see who they are in Christ and serve as the primary resource for the state, being missionaries wherever God sends them rather than just political activists.

Carl Kerby explores what he considers the best evidence for God's creation, examining amazing creatures and their design features while building toward his ultimate answer that God's Word itself is the strongest evidence.

Scripture Texts

Psalm 19:1; Genesis 1:1

Main Points or Ideas

• Amazing Creatures Display Design - Kerby showcases several incredible animals including the Moloch Horridus lizard from Australia that can collect water through grooves in its body and pump it to its mouth, Emperor penguins that survive Antarctica's extreme conditions through precise timing and community cooperation, and various other creatures that demonstrate intricate design
• The Heavens Declare God's Glory - The observable universe contains a seven followed by 22 zeros of stars, more than every grain of sand on earth, yet this vast creation pales in comparison to human design and complexity
• Humans Are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made - The human body contains 1500 miles of airways, 206 bones that heal themselves, a heart that beats 3 billion times in a lifetime, muscles that work together, and DNA so complex it could store all digital information on earth in just a few hundred pounds
• God's Word Is the Ultimate Evidence - While creation screams of God's existence and design, the best evidence that God created is His Word itself, particularly Genesis 1:1, because it provides the authoritative foundation that cannot be reinterpreted by changing human opinions

Conclusion

Though creation provides powerful evidence of God's design and power, the ultimate and best evidence for creation is Scripture itself, as it gives us the unchanging testimony from the only One who was there and knows what happened.

Using his background as an air traffic controller, Carl Kerby explains how "bottom strip" was a term used when controllers were overwhelmed - they needed to get back to the most critical aircraft first. He applies this concept to show how Genesis serves as Christianity's foundation when everything gets crazy in our culture.

Scripture Text

Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 4:14; 2 Timothy 3:16

Main Points or Ideas

• America's Spiritual Crisis - Despite being the most "Christian" nation, America faces massive problems: 1.7 million suicide attempts, 50,000 successful suicides, widespread drug abuse, and homelessness, indicating something is fundamentally wrong
• Biblical Worldview Has Been Lost - Gallup polls show less than half of evangelicals believe the Bible is God's actual Word, only 6% of professing Christians hold a biblical worldview, and shockingly, only 37% of pastors hold a biblical worldview, with youth pastors at only 12%
• The Educational Battle - Since 1983, there has been a deliberate effort in education to replace Christianity with humanism, as admitted in secular publications, creating generations that have been systematically turned away from biblical foundations
• Genesis as the Foundation - Just as air traffic controllers must return to the "bottom strip" when overwhelmed, Christians must return to Genesis when culture gets crazy. Genesis provides the foundational truth about who God is, who we are, and what happened, serving as the starting point for all other biblical truth

Conclusion

When everything in culture becomes chaotic and overwhelming, Christians must return to Genesis as the bottom strip of our faith - the foundational truth that God created everything and His Word is reliable from the very beginning.

Dr. Dennis Wilkening shares a personal story about being cut from his junior high basketball team while his twin brother made it, using this experience to illustrate the incredible privilege and impact of being chosen by God for ministry.

Scripture Text

1 Timothy 1:12

Main Points or Ideas

1. The Excitement of Being Chosen - Just as making a sports team brings excitement, privileges, and recognition, being chosen by God for ministry should fill us with excitement and gratitude. God didn't choose us as replacements or because He was forced to - He saw us, called us, selected us, and preferred us for His service
2. The Exercise That's Involved - Ministry involves hard work, training, and preparation that happens behind the scenes. Like athletes who must condition and practice before game day, pastors must engage in the difficult work of study, prayer, preparation, and spiritual discipline. God enables us for this work and gives us His strength
3. The Endurance Required - Ministry is a long season that requires conditioning and perseverance. Like the fourth quarter of a basketball game reveals who has been training, the challenges of ministry reveal our spiritual conditioning. We must remember our "why" - the eternal crown and the people we will meet in heaven who are there because of our faithful service

Conclusion

Being chosen for ministry is an incredible privilege that brings excitement, requires exercise and training, and demands endurance, but it will all be worth it when we hear "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Dr. Paul Hartog examines 1 Peter 3:15 in its broader context to show that Christian apologetics involves more than just intellectual arguments - it requires spiritual weapons of harmony, disciplined speech, and faithful suffering that demonstrate the reality of our faith.

Scripture Text

1 Peter 3:8-17

Main Points or Ideas

• Harmony and Community - The first spiritual weapon is unity within the church body, demonstrated through one-mindedness, compassion, brotherly love, tender-heartedness, and humility. This harmony becomes a powerful testimony to a fragmented world seeking authentic community
• Discipline and Speech - Christians must exercise careful control over their words, refraining from evil speech and speaking truth with proper tenor. This includes knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, especially in our age of social media where hasty responses can damage our witness
• Faithfulness in Suffering - Rather than retaliating when mistreated, Christians should respond with blessing, knowing they are called to inherit a blessing. Even if we suffer for righteousness' sake, we are blessed and should not fear threats but sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts

Conclusion

The spiritual weapons of harmony, disciplined speech, and faithful suffering often provide a stronger testimony than intellectual arguments alone, as they demonstrate the supernatural power of the gospel working through ordinary believers.

Pastor Kurt Skelly teaches from the unusual battle in 2 Chronicles 20 where musicians led the way and God fought for His people, showing that the real battle was won before the actual fighting began through proper spiritual preparation.

Scripture Text

2 Chronicles 20:1-13

Main Points or Ideas

1. Stop - When Jehoshaphat faced a coalition of three armies, he first stopped and called for a fast throughout Judah. Sometimes God forces us to stop through circumstances, and we must learn to cease our hurried activity and acknowledge our need for God rather than trying to solve everything in our own strength
2. Look - Jehoshaphat looked to God and saw the reality of His power (undefeated and ruling over all nations), the relationship God has with His people (our God, not just a distant deity), and the reliability of God's promises (referencing Solomon's temple dedication and God's covenant faithfulness)
3. Listen - In prayer, Jehoshaphat listened and came to three realizations: he contextualized the issue honestly before God, considered what was truly important (God's glory, not personal reputation), and confessed their complete insufficiency ("we have no might...neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee")

Conclusion

The pre-battle preparation of stopping, looking to God, and listening in prayer is often where the real spiritual battle is won, before we ever face the external circumstances that seem overwhelming.

Pastor Kurt Skelly explores how the well-intentioned practice of excellent customer service in churches can inadvertently create a consumer mentality that undermines genuine discipleship and spiritual growth.

Scripture Text

Romans 12:13

Main Points or Ideas

• Good Customer Service Creates Loyal Customers - While excellent service is valuable in business and initially helpful in churches, it can create unhealthy expectations where people expect to be constantly served rather than learning to serve others
• Dangers of Poor Biblical Framework - When customer service becomes the primary approach, it creates two classes of people (servers and those served), attracts transfer Christians rather than converts, and can lead to an entitlement mindset that taxes church servants while producing spiritual consumers
• Biblical Hospitality vs. Customer Service - True biblical hospitality should flow from a deeper culture of mutual service within the church body. How we treat guests should reflect how we genuinely care for one another, not be a superficial performance
• Strategies for Balance - Churches should communicate their values clearly (including expectations of service), onboard people to service quickly, orient potential members about expectations of involvement, and focus pastoral energy on developing faithful people rather than impressing visitors

Conclusion

While kindness to guests is important, churches must ensure their hospitality reflects genuine biblical community rather than creating consumers who expect to be served without learning to serve others.