Leaving Laodicea

There is a huge difference between Biblical evangelism and the stuff we see portrayed today.  Consider the following statement from John Macarthur:"We need to adjust our presentation of the gospel.  We cannot dismiss the fact that God hates sin and punishes sinners with eternal torment.  How can we begin a gospel presentation by telling people on their way to hell that God has a wonderful plan for their lives?"Ouch.  Have you ever been more concerned about not offending your lost friend than the fact they are on their way to Hell?  And, if so, what did you do about it?  What should we do about it?  Keep listening.The following is a study on Biblical Evangelism.

Twice in Paul's writings (Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11) he quotes from Habakkuk 2:4, "Now the just shall live by faith."  But in Hebrews 10:37-38 we get a fuller picture of the Habakkuk passage.  There it reads:"For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."When you look at the reasons why the Hebrews passage is expanded, you will be amazed at the precision of our God?Interested?  Want to know more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study of Hebrews 10:37-38.

Some of the most compelling passages in the book of Hebrews are found in chapter 10.  In these words the Lord tells us how we are to "draw near" to Him and how we are to "come boldly" and "enter the Holy of Holies" with Him by a "new and living way."  Consider the following:Let us draw near with a (1) true heart in (2) full assurance of faith, (3) having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and (4) our bodies washed with pure water.What could be more amazing than this?Want to know more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study of Hebrews 10:19-25.

1 John 2:5 says, "But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him." But there are just a few key questions that need to be asked.Whose love is John focused on?  Is it the love of God from man to God?  Or is it the love of God from God to man?  If the love of God means our love for God, then we are the ones who make ourselves "perfected in Him." But, if the love of God means the love from God, then God alone brings us to be "perfected in Him."The answer has to be one or the other.  Which one is it? The following is a study of 1 John 3:1-3.

When the church at Thessalonica was founded by Paul they were under significant persecution from both the Jews and the political forces.  After just three short weeks Paul was sent away to Berea and this infant church was left to stand on its own.  The most spiritually mature Believer in this small congregation had known the Lord only three weeks.  That's just 21 days.But when you read Paul's letters to this church you find him saying, again and again, "Don't you remember when I was with you I told you these things?"What things?  What could Paul teach them in 21 days?  Keep listening and be amazed.The following is a study of 1 Thessalonians.

There is a huge difference between conversion, or being converted, and regeneration.  Conversion is a turning, a turning from sin to repentance or to Christ.  And this is something that man can do on his own as a product of his own will.  Conversion alone doesn't lead to salvation.  After all, people get converted all the time."Hey, I was a Catholic but converted to a Baptist.""I was a Democrat, saw the light, and was converted to a Republican.""I was a Jew, converted to a Muslin, but then converted back again."But regeneration is totally different.  No regeneration, no salvation. Want to discover what regeneration is all about?  Keep listening.The following is a study of Conversion and Regeneration.

In Acts 27 we find a narrative account of the shipwreck of prisoner Paul as he sailed to Rome.  And in this narrative account there are at least 6 lessons that we can learn from watching Paul deal with the storms in his life.  They are:1.  Get Alone with God2.  Meditate on His Presence3.  Believe His Promises4.  Count Your Blessings5.  Encourage Others6.  Remove Excess Baggage But this is only the beginning.  Keep listening to find out more.The following is a study of Acts 27:1-38.

The personal story of Hosea ends with chapter three.  From that point on, the book is filled with warnings and prophecies that apply to the Northern Kingdom and to the United States as well.And the key charge for both is a lack of knowledge of the Holy One.  Consider this:Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land."Note:  The charge is against the inhabitants of the land, you and I, and is because of a lack of truth and understanding.Sounds like something right out of the nightly news, doesn't it?  The following is a study of Hosea 4:1-19.

Some believe the third chapter of Hosea is the greatest chapter in the Bible.  After all, it pictures how great a love the Lord has for His sinning children, for each of us, who have been found guilty of committing spiritual adultery by loving another and are now experiencing the consequences of that sin.Just look at the love of Hosea for Gomer and see the Lord's love for you:And I said to her, "You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man - so, too, will I be toward you."Ah, but there is so much more.  Keep listening.The following is a study of Hosea 3:1-5.

In the second chapter of Hosea we find accusations, warnings, promises and restoration all dealing with the sin of unfaithfulness.  That's the unfaithfulness of Gomer to Hosea and of the Northern Kingdom (the House of Israel) to the Lord.But there is also a personal warning in the text.  We can clearly see how the warnings to the Northern Kingdom could apply to the United States and that the warnings could also apply to each of us individually.  Actually, it's rather frightening.Are you interested in finding out more?  Then keep listening.The following is a study of Hosea 2:1-23.