Line Upon Line

An introductory study of Paul's letter to the Galatians, set in its chronological context just after the Jerusalem Council and before Paul's second missionary journey, that establishes the letter's central theme of justification by grace through faith against the false teaching of the Judaizers. The teaching surveys the whole letter—Paul's defense of his apostleship, his refutation of works-righteousness, and his exhortation to walk in the Spirit.

Continuing the account of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, Pastor Miles explains the four exhortations the early church gave Gentile believers—calls to righteousness and the law of love rather than the law of Moses—and then draws seven practical principles for discerning the will of God.

Teaching through Acts 15:1-18, Pastor Miles examines the first church council in Jerusalem, where Judaizers insisted Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved, and shows that justification comes by grace through faith alone, not by works. He closes by drawing comfort from Acts 15:18—"known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world"—that God is sovereign over the nations and is never taken by surprise.

A verse-by-verse teaching through James 4 and into chapter 5, showing that wars and fights among us spring from the sinful desires of our own hearts, that we have not because we ask not (or ask amiss), and that friendship with the world is spiritual adultery against a God who is jealous for us. The remedy is to humbly submit to God, draw near to Him, lay down our pride, and live patiently and prayerfully while calling wanderers back to repentance.

A verse-by-verse teaching on James 3 examining the reverence of teaching God's Word, the stricter judgment that falls on teachers, and the difficulty of taming the tongue. Pastor Miles contrasts earthly, sensual, demonic wisdom with the pure, peaceable wisdom from above, urging believers to yield their tongues to God's Spirit and live free of hypocrisy.

An opening study of the book of James, focusing on how God uses trials to expose our lack and draw us to depend on Him, while the enemy seeks to use the same trials as temptations to trust ourselves or the world. Miles works through James 1, the difference between rich and poor before God, the snare of temptation, and the call to be doers of the word with a faith that works.

A verse-by-verse study of Ephesians 6:10-18 on spiritual warfare, examining the call to be strong in the Lord, the reality and limits of Satan, and the pieces of the whole armor of God that enable believers to stand in the evil day.

Pastor Miles introduces the book of James as likely the first New Testament letter written, presenting the historical context within Acts and demonstrating James's deep correlation with Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He then reads through the entire letter and draws out the practical, life-transforming purpose of God's word, especially James's teaching on counting trials as joy.

Teaching from Acts 14:11-28, where Paul and Barnabas are mistaken for gods in Lystra. Pastor Miles explores the human tendency toward idolatry and unpacks Paul's gospel message—turning from vanities to the living God who is Creator, long-suffering, self-revealing, and loving—as the same message needed in our modern Greek-minded culture.

Teaching through the healing of the lame man at Lystra in Acts 14, Pastor Miles examines the nature of biblical healing, the church's primary commission to preach the gospel, and why we so often fail to see God move miraculously when we have so many other things to trust in besides Him.