Grasp the Bible

Welcome to episode 22 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study of the Book of 1 Thessalonians, covering chapter 2.  The series is called “A Life of Hope.”  Today, we discuss the ideal Christian worker and cover: 

• The faithful steward (vv. 1-6) 
• The gentle mother (vv. 7-8) 
• The concerned father (vv. 9-16) 
• The loving brother (vv. 17-20) 

Key takeaways: 

• When the Word of God is faithfully preached, it produces a significant, observable effect in the lives of the hearers who believe it. 
• When one is entrusted with the gospel, pleasing God (rather than pleasing others) must be the driving factor in ministry. 
• Just because the Bible makes certain claims that the world does not approve of, we have no right to change it to be more palatable. 
• A gospel messenger who stands detached from his audience has not yet been touched by the very gospel he proclaims. 

Quotable: 

When ministering to others, the power of our words can be multiplied only if the character of our lives is consistent with the gospel. 

Application: 

• Those who proclaim the gospel need to live according to its truth and live under God’s scrutiny and approval. 
• We must not be insensitive or offensive when sharing the gospel with people. But we are obliged to do so without altering the message.  In other words, while we need to speak biblical truth, we should do so with grace. 
• Paul repeatedly pointed out behavior he exhibited while with the Thessalonians to demonstrate that he walks the walk he proclaimed.  As a result, they should imitate him.  What about you?  Does your walk match your talk and why should others imitate you? 

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Welcome to episode 21 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we begin our study of the Book of 1 Thessalonians, covering chapter 1.  The series is called “A Life of Hope.”  Today, we discuss: 

• Background information 
• Greeting, prayer, and thankfulness (vv. 1-5) 
• Faithfulness in the midst of suffering (vv. 6-10) 

Key takeaways: 

• Churches must help their members understand who they are, how they are like and unlike the non-Christian world, and the hope they have for the world to come. 
• We will have a thankful attitude to the degree that we have a prayerful attitude. We will give thanks to the extent that we prayerfully consider God’s grace. 

Quotable: 

Conviction is invisible without action.  If we have a genuine conviction about something, we will act on it.  If we are fully convinced of our faith, then we will engage in good deeds as a result. 

Application: 

• Confession of faith with the mouth contradicted by a disobedient life reveals an unbelieving heart that needs regeneration in order to obey God. 
• We can expect to have no works of faith, labor of love, or endurance of hope without the gracious work of God’s Spirit in our lives. 
• Mature Christians are called to be model copies for new Christians to imitate. 

Connect with us: 

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Welcome to episode 20 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we conclude our study of the Book of Philemon, covering vv. 17-25.  The series is called “Forgiving Others When They Wrong You.”  Today, we discuss: 

• The request to welcome Onesimus (v. 17) 
• Paul’s plan to pay (vv. 18-20) 
• Paul’s future plans (vv. 21-22) 
• Paul’s fellow workers and closing (vv. 23-25) 

Key takeaways: 

• Whenever a debt is incurred, someone has to pay the price to satisfy it.  We have all sinned, but Jesus Christ gave his life to pay the debt that we owe. 
• Forgiveness always requires sacrifice on behalf of the one forgiving.   

Quotable: 

It takes more than love to solve the problem; love must pay a price. 

Application: 

• If we call ourselves Christians, we must be obedient to God’s will as expressed in the written Word. 
• Forgiving a friend is easier than forgiving an enemy.  But remember, God not only offered forgiveness while we were His enemies, but promised to make us heirs with Christ if we accepted His forgiveness. 

Connect with us: 

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Facebook:   

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

Welcome to episode 19 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study of the Book of Philemon, covering vv. 8-16.  The series is called “Forgiving Others When They Wrong You.”  Today, we discuss: 

• Paul’s authority and attitude (vv. 8-9) 
• Paul’s relationship with Onesimus (vv. 10-14) 
• The providence of God (vv. 15-16) 

Key takeaways: 

• Paul is a great picture of Christ as a mediator.  Paul is good friends of both the offender and the one offended.  Because Jesus was a man, he can mediate on our behalf as the offender.  Because Jesus was fully God, he can mediate on God’s behalf as the One offended. 
• When the hearts of people become captured by truth and compassion, social evils disappear. 
• Paul recognized God’s providence in the situation.  He saw that God can take a bad situation and turn it into something good in the lives of his children. 

Quotable: 

Just because you have the right to do something does not necessarily mean it’s right to do so. 

Application: 

• Christian leaders are to be servant leaders, not authoritarians who rule by fiat. 
• Obedience to a command may be done because of a recognition of authority, but it does not always come from a willing heart.  God wants our commitment to Him, not just compliance. 

Connect with us: 

Web site:  https://springbaptist.org 

Facebook:   

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

Welcome to episode 18 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we begin a three-week study of the Book of Philemon.  The series is called “Forgiving Others When They Wrong You.”  Today, we discuss: 

• Background information about the time in which the letter was written 
• The greeting (vv. 1-3) 
• Paul’s prayers and thankfulness for a dear friend (vv. 4-7) 

Key takeaways: 

• Christians should approach social concerns not through a political lens, but through a biblical one. 
• Christianity is about a transformation of the way we see and think about other people. When we begin to view others as those with whom life and faith are shared equally in Christ, arrogance and bigotry are finished. 
• Pastors need to be strong preachers, but they also need to be loving people-persons who cultivate life-giving relationships within their congregations and minister to personal needs. 

Quotable: 

True faith in Christ must find expression in love for his body, the church 

Application: 

• Ethical behavior for Christians should arise out of love, rather than regulation or constraint. 
• When we act in accord with the blessings we have in Christ, we grow closer to Christ. 

Connect with us: 

Web site:  https://springbaptist.org 

Facebook:   

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

Welcome to episode 17 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we conclude our study of the Book of Habakkuk.  We discuss: 

• God’s action in nature (3:8-11) 
• God’s actions in nations (3:12-15) 
• Habakkuk’s faith (3:16-19) 

Key takeaways: 

• God’s presence and power are so incredible that even the earth shakes and crumbles in His presence. 
• Just as the earth is in awe, so we should tremble in the presence of the Almighty. 
• In His time, God steps in and rescues those who are victims of this world’s ways. 
• Salvation is not found in our stuff (what has been created), but in the Creator. 
• We need to enjoy the divine Person, rather than the things we can get from Him. 
• The way to get out from under the load is to get right under the Lord. To be under the Lord is to be over the circumstances. 

Quotable: 

Inner peace does not depend on outward prosperity. 

Application: 

• Trusting God and having a close relationship with Him enables us to rest, even when the world around us is falling apart. 
• We need to take our eyes off our circumstances and put them on the One who can do something about it. 
• We must not find joy in things (what we own) but rather in a relationship with Jesus.  Don’t allow your financial situation shape your relationship with him. 

Connect with us: 

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Facebook:   

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

Welcome to episode 16 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue in our study of the Book of Habakkuk, wrapping up chapter two and starting chapter three.  We discuss: 

• Three different woe speeches (2:12-20) 
• Habakkuk’s prayer (3:1-7) 

Key takeaways: 

• Gains or achievements made by harming, oppressing, or taking advantage of others do not last.  They will eventually be brought to ruin. 
• God desires that everyone comes to know Him and works in the universe in to so that people would. 
• Those who shame God’s people will one day be brought to shame by Him. 
• Whenever a person sets his priorities on things made rather than on the Maker of things, he is guilty of idolatry. 
• Effective prayer: 
• begins with humility before God 
• continues in adoration (worship) of God 
• contains petitions (desires) that are in accord with God’s will 
• If we would see a mighty working of the Spirit of God in our time, we must get to the point where we desire and earnestly pray for His mercy. 

Quotable: 

Worship an idol, and you receive from it what human beings can accomplish; but worship the Lord God, and you receive what the creator of the ends of the earth can accomplish. 

Application: 

• Knowing God is different from knowing about God.  When we know someone, it’s about a relationship.  When we know about someone, we know data.  God wants a relationship, not a fact-based interaction. 
• We all desire to put our trust in something.  We need to be careful about what we put our trust in.  Will it be in something man created, or will it be in the One who created man? 
• We must not enter God’s presence lightly.  Even the mountains will crumble in His presence. 

Connect with us: 

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

Welcome to episode 15 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue in our study of the Book of Habakkuk, wrapping up chapter one and starting chapter two.  We discuss: 

• Habakkuk’s dilemma (1:12-17) 
• God’s second reply (2:1-5) 
• Woe to the extortioner (2:6-8) 
• Woe to the greedy and arrogant (2:9-11) 

Key takeaways: 

• Sometimes what we know about God causes more problems for us than what we don’t know.  It can be hard for us to understand why God allows certain things to happen, knowing His character. 
• When we take our concerns to God, we also need to put ourselves in a posture of listening for Him to reply. 
• Faith involves not just intellectual ascent, but also action on our part. 

Quotable: 

Entrance into the Christian life does not come from working, but from receiving.  We don’t earn salvation, we accept the free gift offered by Jesus Christ. 

Application: 

• When it seems that evil people are getting away with things, and even prospering at the hands of their victims, we must remember that God is in control, working things out that we may not see or understand. 
• Prayer is a dialog between you and God.  Too often, we behave like it’s a monologue.  We speak, but don’t take time to hear from Him.  Approach prayer with a heart expecting to hear from God and wait for Him to speak. 
• By our faith, we are made right, we are continually active in seeking God, and we understand that our works do not contribute to our salvation. 

Connect with us: 

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

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Welcome to episode 14 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we conclude our study of the Book of 2 Timothy and cover chapter 4.  The title of the message is, “The Personal Appeal.”  We discuss: 

• The need for consistent behavior (vv. 1-5) 
• The rewards for self-sacrifice (vv. 6-8) 
• Paul and his coworkers (vv. 9-13) 
• A warning about an enemy (vv. 14-15) 
• A reminder of God’s power to deliver (vv. 16-18) 
• The conclusion (vv. 19-22) 

Key takeaways: 

• Even though some will tire of the gospel message and pursue novel teachings that make them feel better, ministers are reminded to remain faithful to the teachings handed down by the apostles. 
• Ministry is challenging, but eternal rewards await those who persevere. 
• Some who begin with you in ministry may no longer be with you at some point in the future. 

Quotable: 

Live life now with eternity in mind.  In other words, remain focused on the eternal prize that Jesus will bestow and it will make the challenges of today easier to face. 

Application: 

• As with professional athletes, being a faithful Christian involves discipline, training, and hard work in order to run the race with endurance. 
• Although people will disappoint us in ministry, don’t dwell on it and get stuck.  Look for other ways God is advancing His work.  

Connect with us: 

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider. 

Welcome to episode fourteen of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we are opening up the Book of Habakkuk and covering chapter 1:1-11.  The title of the series is, “Where’s the Justice? (Why do Unrighteous People go Unpunished?).” 

We discuss: 

• Background information (author, date, recipient, purpose) 
• Habakkuk’s first complaint about violence and injustice (vv. 1-4) 
• God’s reply (vv. 5-11) 

Key takeaways: 

Every generation faces issues of injustice and human suffering and people in every generation ask why God doesn’t step in and do something about it. 

God’s plans confound Habakkuk, much like His plans do to us today. 

Just because we do not see God actively at work does not mean that He is not engaged. 

Quotable: 

It’s not so much what we don’t know about God’s character as what it is we do know that causes us problems. 

Application: 

We are people who want fairness and justice and find it problematic when it seems that God is letting evil people get away with oppressing and hurting others.  But we don’t often see or understand God’s plans for addressing these issues.  Rest assured that He knows what is happening and the best way to remedy the situations. 

Connect with us: 

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Need us to pray for you?  Submit your prayer request to https://springbaptist.org/prayer/ 

If you haven’t already done so, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast provider.