Keys to the Kingdom

"For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, making it bear and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55: 10-11)

In this week's lesson, we discuss a question all Christians ask at least once during their spiritual walk: Do I have to make the gospel sound good in order to be effective?

"And Jesus said to His disciples, 'Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'" (Matthew 19: 23-24)

A listener wrote to chastise us, saying: "The kingdom of God is not the same thing as the kingdom of heaven ...you should not be trying to teach the two kingdoms as being the same.” Is he correct? In this lesson, we address his challenge.

"...that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. " (Colossians 1:26-27)

Jesus told His disciples that it had been granted to them to know "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." But what does that phrase mean? Of what “mysteries” was Jesus speaking? In this 20-Minute Bible Study, we look to the Apostle Paul for an answer.

"'For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.'” (John 3:17-18)

How does salvation happen? Does it happen in the heart with a feeling? In the mind with a concept? Do you have to confess with your mouth for it to be real? Or perhaps demonstrate it’s real by being baptized? Listen to this 20-Minute Bible Study for scriptural answers to these questions.

"When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed." (Acts 14:23)

What is the ultimate purpose of fasting and prayer? Should it be approached as some sort of formula? In this 20-Minute Bible Study, we address these questions, which were recently raised by an earnest listener.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." (1 John 4:18)

Should Christians fear God? The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). But the verse above says “there is no fear in love." So which is it? Listen to this 20-Minute Bible Study to find out.

We've hit a milestone: This is the 100th episode of 20-Minute Bible Studies. A big THANK YOU to all of our longtime listeners & supporters!

For those who have been with us since the beginning, you may have noticed we continue to go deeper in our Bible studies and are not shying away from the more difficult topics. This lesson on the "outer darkness" is no exception. It is perhaps the deepest we've gone to date, and it will no doubt be controversial to many. Let us know what you think.

"You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." (Matthew 5:21-22)

A listener recently asked: "Would you please clarify Gehenna and those who will go there? I don’t want to be one. " What would your answer be? Check out this 20-Minute Bible Study to hear our answer.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

If salvation is the gift of God with no works required (Ephesians 2:8-9), why did Jesus tell His disciples they must hear His words and "act on them" like a wise man building on a proper foundation? In this 20-Minute Bible Study, we discuss an answer to this question.

"[D]o you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?" (1 Corinthians 6: 2-3)

Should Christians judge others? The Bible seems to say yes ... and also no. In this 20-Minute Bible Study, we take on this seeming contradiction.