“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.”

Well, now we’re hitting some controversial scriptures! Was Paul condoning slavery? Do these exhortations still hold relevance for us today? What principle can we glean from this?

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands…”

“Husbands, love your wives…”

“Children, obey your parents…”

These are instructions that speak right to the heart of our homes. How are we to live these out - and live them out well?

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands…”

“Husbands, love your wives…”

“Children, obey your parents…”

These are instructions that speak right to the heart of our homes. How are we to live these out - and live them out well?

As we look at the present season, one of the things God has been highlighting to the elders is the story of the ten spies in Exodus 13. Two spies wanted to advance in God’s promises, while ten wanted to shrink back. The outcome for each was vastly different.How do we cultivate a “two-spy” attitude and heart? A conquering attitude? We cannot have any other attitude for the present season, or we, like the ten, will perish!

JOHNSON CITY - Steve Barr (NCMI; One Life Church, Houston) unpacks the New Testament model of church and the role of elders.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”How is it that Paul could speak of the message of Christ as something that can dwell in you? Or how could the writer of Hebrews say that the Word is ‘living and active’? (Hebrews 4:12.) Surely he is talking about more than words on a page! What exactly is he getting at?

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”

How is it that Paul could speak of the message of Christ as something that can dwell in you? Or how could the writer of Hebrews say that the Word is ‘living and active’? (Hebrews 4:12.) Surely he is talking about more than words on a page! What exactly is he getting at?

Putting on the new self and being clothed with Christ means putting off the spirit of religion!

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…”

How wonderful is this news! To be dearly loved by the Lord of all creation; the King of Kings; the God of the universe!

After having covered sinful deeds, that lead to death, in the previous few verses, Paul now turns his attention to positive deeds that bring life.

But there is still an enemy hidden in all of this: the spirit of religion. It’s time to address it!

LAKE TRAVIS - How do we ‘put on the new self’ and what does this even mean?