Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Introduction

Dr. Jim stresses that choosing a spouse is the most crucial decision people make, second only to their relationship with God. This aligns with biblical priorities of God, family, and church. Dr. Jim aims to guide students in navigating dating with the goal of finding a lifelong partner

Scripture Texts

Proverbs 18:22; Genesis 2:20-25; Genesis 1:28; Hebrews 13:4; Mark 10:2-9; Psalm 139:13-16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Proverbs 25:19; Proverbs 22:24-25; Romans 13:14

Main Points or Ideas

• Dating is defined as an appointment or consistent pairing, with its ultimate purpose being to find a spouse. It also offers social enjoyment and personal growth opportunities.
• God's design for marriage is a permanent, one-man-one-woman union for life, instituted from creation, where sex is honorable and blessed within its bounds. Marriage is intended by God for perfecting individuals, and any problem within it can be fixed with God's help if both partners are willing to obey Him.
• While the Bible is silent on specific dating practices, it provides relevant principles for navigating this Western cultural norm.
• Relationships should ideally progress through a "pyramid" starting with friendship, then casual, special, steady dating, leading to engagement and finally marriage, emphasizing that each level relies on the success of the one beneath it.
• A healthy, God-honoring acceptance of oneself is foundational before seeking a strong dating relationship, as self-worth comes from God, not a partner. While accepting inherent traits, individuals should actively improve controllable aspects like hygiene and communication skills.
• It is crucial to date only true born-again believers, as Scripture warns against being "unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
• Key questions to evaluate a potential partner include: their active involvement in church, respect for God's Word, honesty (as trust is fundamental), and their ability to control their temper.

Conclusion

This first message in the 3-part series establishes biblical foundations for dating, focusing on its ultimate purpose of God-designed marriage. It emphasizes building relationships on character and spiritual alignment, carefully evaluating partners, and maintaining personal purity with God's guidance.

Dr. Jason Ormiston draws from Paul's final letter to Timothy to address how Christians should respond to the difficult times we live in.

Using the backdrop of civil unrest in Minneapolis and the challenges facing urban ministry, he calls believers to be part of the solution rather than being overwhelmed by the darkness around us.

Scripture Text

2 Timothy 3:1-9

Main Points or Ideas

1. Accept the Facts (verse 1) - We're living in difficult times and these are the last days. We live in a sin-cursed world where things will get worse before they get better (verse 13). Rather than being surprised by the world's chaos, we should pray for God to send revival to our cities, as He has done throughout history from Pentecost to the Great Awakenings.
2. Practice Discernment (verses 2-5) - Paul provides a list of characteristics of dangerous people and ideas we must avoid. These include lovers of self and money who teach us to prioritize wealth and self-interest, proud and arrogant people who encourage us to disregard others, and those who promote being ungrateful, heartless, slanderous, brutal, treacherous, and lovers of pleasure rather than God. We must exercise discernment like a muscle and avoid such people rather than trying to understand their perspectives.
3. Focus on the Family (verses 6-9) - False teachers target families, particularly "creeping into households" and taking advantage of vulnerable women. Using the illustration of evangelist Steve Farrar who sacrificed his successful ministry to focus on his teenage son (who became Dr. James Dobson), Ormiston emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family over career success. He also warns about false teachers in the church family, comparing them to Jannes and Jambres who opposed Moses, and calls for church discipline when necessary.

Conclusion

Christians must pray for revival, practice discernment in relationships and church membership, and prioritize both biological and spiritual families. Rather than being overwhelmed by difficult times, believers should roll up their sleeves, get on their knees, and join in reaching people for Jesus.

The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch provides an excellent pattern for soul winning that takes the pressure off the witness and demonstrates how God orchestrates evangelistic encounters.

Scripture Text

Acts 8:26-40

Main Points or Ideas

This passage reveals five key components of effective evangelism:

1. A Servant Who Was Willing - Philip immediately obeyed God's call to leave successful ministry in Samaria and go to the desert. He didn't question the direction but arose and went, demonstrating the importance of being available and obedient to God's leading.
2. A Sinner Who Was Waiting - The Ethiopian eunuch was prepared by God, having traveled to Jerusalem seeking truth, purchased Scripture, and was reading Isaiah on his return journey. He feared God, desired truth, and admitted his ignorance, showing his heart was ready for the gospel.
3. The Spirit Who Was Working - The Holy Spirit orchestrated the entire encounter, directing Philip to the specific location and timing. The Spirit separates us for the work, directs us to the right place, convicts of sin, draws hearts to God, and empowers us with boldness for witnessing.
4. The Scripture That Witnesses - Philip used the Word of God, specifically Isaiah 53, to present the gospel. Scripture is the source of wisdom and faith, and it's God's Word that does the work of God through the Spirit of God in human hearts. We don't need to argue or convince; we let Scripture do the work.
5. The Savior Who Was Wonderful - Jesus Christ is the answer to the eunuch's questions about Isaiah 53. Philip preached Jesus, His death and resurrection, and the eunuch believed and was immediately baptized as a step of obedience.

Conclusion

Dr. Ollila shows how this pattern removes pressure from witnesses because it demonstrates that God prepares hearts, the Spirit does the convicting work, and Scripture provides the power - our role is simply to be willing, obedient servants who present the truth.

Dave Marriott shares how Hudson Taylor's missionary work in China demonstrates the importance of adopting a missionary mindset that prioritizes the gospel over cultural preferences and personal comfort.

Scripture Text

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Main Points or Ideas

If we will think like missionaries, we must have three components:

1. A Missionary Goal - Paul's consuming passion was to "win" people for Christ's kingdom. The word "win" means to acquire by effort or investment. Paul wanted to leverage his resources and labor to reach as many people as possible for salvation, recognizing he wouldn't reach everyone but desiring to "save some."
2. A Missionary Strategy - Paul demonstrates flexibility and sacrifice through four examples: becoming a servant to all by giving up financial support when it might hinder the gospel; adopting Jewish customs when ministering to Jews; living like Gentiles when reaching Gentiles; and becoming like the weak in socioeconomic status to reach the poor. His strategy involved stepping outside his comfort zone and changing his approach based on his audience.
3. Missionary Boundaries - While being flexible, there are lines that cannot be crossed: we must preach the true gospel without changing or diluting it; we cannot add requirements to salvation even subtly; and we cannot sin in order to try to save people. Paul remained under Christ's authority even while adapting his methods.

Conclusion

We must cultivate relationships with lost people, use understandable language, avoid unnecessary offenses, and remove as many obstacles as possible while adopting mainstream cultural customs that our faith allows.

Sometimes God leads us in directions that seem opposite to what we expect or desire, just as He led Israel away from the direct route to the Promised Land.

Scripture Text

Exodus 13:17-22

Main Points or Ideas

Three main points about God's leadership:

• God knows what's best for his people - Even when God's direction seems wrong from our perspective, He has reasons we may not understand. God often takes us through shaping processes that may involve wilderness experiences, difficulties, or unexpected challenges. These are not punishments but part of God's plan to develop us.
• God is faithful to his people - Just as God kept His promise regarding Joseph's bones, He remains faithful during our wilderness journeys. Even when we feel forgotten or abandoned, God is working and the journey will eventually end. We may face health challenges, financial difficulties, or other trials, but God's faithfulness endures.
• God was present to guide his people - God provided visible guidance through the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Today, believers have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct them. The key question is whether we are truly following God or trying to lead Him according to our own plans.

Conclusion

Many people claim to follow God but are actually trying to lead Him, living according to their own plans while giving lip service to following Christ. True salvation means surrendering control and allowing God to lead, even through wilderness experiences.

Dr. Jim Tillotson shares how Dr. Mark Lansborough's message on Exodus 33 ("Show me your glory") deeply impacted him during a missions conference, leading to personal conviction about truly needing God versus just giving Him a nod.

Scripture Text

Exodus 33:1-18

Main Points or Ideas

• The Choice Between Nodders and Needers: God offers success without His presence vs. Moses choosing God's presence over everything else
• Five Key Differences:
• Additional Contrasts: Needers are others-focused while Nodders are self-focused; Needers are eternally focused while Nodders are earthly focused

Conclusion

Dr. Jim challenges listeners to examine whether they truly need God or are just giving Him a nod, emphasizing that eternity is too long to make the mistake of choosing success without God's presence.

Using the analogy of a father's love for his daughters, Mike Redrick explains that God wants all of us because we are purchased possessions, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Scripture Text

Acts 9:11, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Main Points or Ideas

Four Characteristics of the Man God Uses:

1. A Surrendered Man: Takes hands off his own life and places it in God's hands for God to use (illustrated by P. Cameron Scott's story)
2. A Supplicating Man: Recognizes spiritual warfare requires spiritual weapons, primarily prayer (Charles Spurgeon's church example)
3. A Spirit-Filled Man: Lives under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit, as Jesus and the disciples did (Thomas Boston story about preaching without God's anointing)
4. A Serving Man: Has a deep burden for souls, like great missionaries James Fraser, Hudson Taylor, and William Booth

Conclusion

God wants to use each believer today just as He used great men of faith in the past, but we must place ourselves in a position where God can use us by embodying these four characteristics.

Using the analogy of "Let's Make a Deal" and the fear of getting a "zonk," Dr. Marty Herron explains that God is not like Monty Hall - He wants to give us good things and has a plan for our lives.

Scripture Text

1 Corinthians 16:5-9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 5:15-18

Main Points or Idea

 Four-Part Biblical Equation for Wise Decisions:

1. Factual Evidence: Is there legitimate opportunity and proper timing?
2. Logical Cognition: Does this make sense? (Isaiah 1 - "come now, let us reason together")
3. Counsel of Others: Proverbs teaches safety in multitude of counselors
4. Faith-Filled Understanding: Sometimes God calls us to step out by faith when things aren't completely clear

Key Principles from Ephesians 5:

• Walk circumspectly (look carefully all around)
• Redeem the time (make wise use of time)
• Be filled with the Spirit to understand God's will

Conclusion

When the goal is clear, options become fewer and decisions get easier. God's will is knowable and doable by being filled with His Spirit.

Troy Manning explains the cultural challenges facing believers today, citing Carl Truman's analysis of how religious belief is now considered a psychological defect, preparing students for ministry in an increasingly hostile culture.

Scripture Text

Mark 8:34-38

Main Points or Ideas

The Cost of Discipleship

1. The Principle: Deny self and embrace suffering (verse 34)
2. Four Reasons to Choose This Path:

• Only by losing your life do you save it (everyone will lose - the question is voluntarily or involuntarily)
• Your soul is more valuable than anything in this life
• No earthly pursuit or possession is worth risking your soul
• You will experience utter shame at the judgment if you're ashamed of Christ now

Personal Application: Using his own 43-year wait for marriage as an example of trusting God's timing and plan

Conclusion

There is no neutrality with Christ - you either confess Him or deny Him. The decisions made about Jesus in this life determine what will be experienced in the next life.

Dr. Jeff Newman reflects on a video from Israel showing believers reaching out to both Israelis and Palestinians, demonstrating the counterculture heart that seeks the salvation of enemies, which exemplifies the heart of a missionary.

Scripture Text

1 Thessalonians 2:1-3:13

Main Points or Ideas

• Complete Allegiance to God and His Word: Bold, accurate proclamation of the gospel despite adversity; seeking God's approval rather than man's approval
• Sacrificial Sharing and Love for Others: Like a nursing mother caring for children; surrendering rights for others' spiritual benefit; living righteously as an example
• Focus on Spiritual Strengthening: Giving diligent effort to encourage others' spiritual growth; being willing to sacrifice personal relationships for others' spiritual good; entrusting outcomes to God
• Practical Applications: Fix attention on God's approval; willingly surrender rights; devote to righteous living worthy of emulation; choose words and actions to promote godly lifestyle; submit relationship desires to God's disciple-making purposes

Conclusion

Developing a missionary heart requires growing in allegiance to God, sacrificial love for others, and focus on spiritual strengthening, trusting God with the outcomes while being faithful in our calling.