Jesus warned His disciples ahead of time so they would not stumble, quit, or be stopped when persecution came. John 16 shows that the hatred they would face would not only come from the openly wicked world, but also from religious people who believed they were serving God while rejecting Christ and harming His followers. The word "offended" means more than having hurt feelings; it means being hindered, caused to stumble, or stopped in the way. Real faith must be grounded in the words of Jesus so it can endure when trouble, rejection, slander, misunderstanding, or persecution comes. True believers will continue in Christ because they belong to Him, abide in Him, and cannot be separated from Him, even when the world and false religion oppose them. Believers must know what Jesus said, expect tribulation, refuse to quit over hurt or opposition, and let their light shine faithfully in a world that hates the truth.

Over Philippians 1:7-11, we see the deep love and affection of Paul for the local church. How should we as Christians think and even feel about the local church? What are biblical desires and affections for the church? Here in these verses we see how Christ bears fruit through His people to love the church and sacrificially serve for one another's good being guided by the truth of His Word.

The Apostle Peter wrote an admonition and prayer that expresses my desire for you. 2 Peter 3:17–18: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. To that end, we're beginning a new sermon series today, but not a sequential study through a book of the Bible. Instead, it will be a series of studies of crucial passages which help us learn how to take what we know and apply it in the most helpful ways possible. The goal: I want you to grow in your ability to nourish your soul from the word of God. Our first passage is 1 Timothy 1:5. The previous verses give the background. + In Ephesus certain ones + Teach a different doctrine + Pay attention to spiritual poisons + Speculate rather than being faithful to Scripture Then comes a phrase that is introduced by the glorious word BUT. The but is the Greek word that connotes both a connection and contrast. The connection is that there are certain ones who are altering sound doctrine and introducing spiritually poisonous ideas. The contrast is BUT the goal of OUR instruction is LOVE. 1 Timothy 1:5: But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 - A Pure Heart 2 - A Good Conscience 3 - Unhypocritical Faith

In this message we begin our study of 1 Peter by taking a look at Peter's challenge to those who have received the gift of faith to produce the fruit of faith.

El sermón exhorta a los creyentes a equilibrar su libertad cristiana con la responsabilidad amorosa hacia aquellos de conciencia débil. Basándose en 1 Corintios 8, se enfatiza que el conocimiento sin amor genera arrogancia y puede destruir espiritualmente a otros. La enseñanza principal insta a priorizar el bienestar del hermano sobre los derechos personales, evitando ser una piedra de tropiezo. Se aplica este principio bíblico a situaciones modernas como las redes sociales y la participación en eventos culturales o religiosos no cristianos. El mensaje concluye llamando a sacrificar libertades legítimas para edificar a la comunidad y reflejar el amor de Cristo.

Class #1 in our BOLD Course on How to Study the Bible. Adapted from Capitol Hill Baptist Church's Core Seminar "The Inductive Bible Study Method (Part 1)": https://CapitolHillBaptist.org/sermon/class-1-the-inductive-bible-study-method-part-1 Description from SermonAudio:

This sermon focuses on Ezekiel 24, detailing how ancient Israel's persistent rebellion and idolatry brought about God's inescapable judgment through the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The very day King Nebuchadnezzar's army arrived outside the walls of Jerusalem, Ezekiel was informed by Yahweh and the prophet announced the alarming news to the exiles in Babylon. The text is broken down into three major themes: the historic arrival of the day of judgment, the parable of the corroded cooking pot—symbolizing a corrupt city whose deep-seated sin could not be cleansed—and the death of Ezekiel's wife, serving as a silent prophetic sign of the sudden loss of Jerusalem and its beloved temple. Throughout the message, the author connects Israel's spiritual failure to humanity's need for redemption, contrasting the destructive consequences of sin with God's ultimate grace fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who enables true and intimate knowledge of God.

This episode explores the doctrine of God's eternal and unchangeable decree, emphasizing that all events occur according to His sovereign will, rather than just His mere foresight of human actions. It refutes theological errors such as Arminianism and Molinism by affirming that God's knowledge is rooted in His own decrees, not external conditions. The episode highlights the dual outcomes of this decree: the predestination of some to everlasting life and others to eternal death, all for the manifestation of God's glory. This teaching serves to comfort believers by assuring them that salvation depends entirely on God's mercy and power, not human will. Ultimately, the episode calls for humility and trust in God's wisdom, recognizing His absolute control over history and individual destinies.

This devotional explores the Heidelberg Catechism's teaching on the Lord's Supper, clarifying that believers partake in Christ's body and blood spiritually rather than physically. It emphasizes that true faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, unites the believer with Christ, making his sacrifice personally effective for salvation. The sermon uses the analogy of marriage to illustrate that just as vows require consummation, knowledge of Christ requires a vital, spiritual union through faith. This participation provides assurance that Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believer, contrasting this truth with mere intellectual assent or physical ritualism. Ultimately, the sacrament serves as a tangible pledge of the invisible reality of salvation and eternal life found only in Christ.

The sermon emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the sole Savior and the exclusive focus of the Christian faith, rejecting any addition of works or human effort to salvation. Drawing primarily from Matthew 17:8 and the epistles of Paul, it argues that true preaching must center entirely on Christ crucified rather than legalistic demands. The text highlights that salvation is a gift of grace received through God-given faith, not earned by merit or religious performance. It further illustrates the supremacy of knowing Christ over all worldly knowledge and religious prestige, citing Paul's desire to count everything as loss for the sake of winning Christ. Ultimately, the message calls believers to fix their eyes solely on Jesus as the mediator, refuge, and object of eternal life.