Ep. 133 "The Year of Knowing God" - Hebrews 5:11-6:8

As Jesus finished his ministry, He gave His disciples three last assignments. This event would later come to be known as the Great Commission. It was an important moment for God’s people because Jesus delegated His authority to them so that they would spread the good news of the gospel and teach others to follow Him. In this lesson, Pastor Philip Jackson teaches about what it means to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

In our generation, people tend to think of evangelism as more like sales than discipleship. The gospel is presented as a sort of “limited-time offer” that needs to be accepted immediately.  But Jesus doesn’t take that approach. He tells the growing crowd following Him that to be His disciple was a death sentence and they should be absolutely sure if they want to follow Him. In this lesson, Pastor Philip Jackson teaches about counting the cost for our families to be disciples of Christ.

Ep. 130 "Godly Work" - Ecclesiastes 2:18-26; 3:9-13

"Under the New Law" - Colossians 2:16-23

Ep. 128 - Colossians 1:1-23

In the context of the suffering that we endure as children of God, we have a means to focus ourselves on what will bring healing. God does not simply relegate us to wait out our suffering alone. He has given us a community and a purpose to help us endure. In this passage James uses a series of rhetorical questions to give instruction about how to face the trials of life together.

The frustrating realities of dealing with personal conflict and the wages of sin wear on us. In this section, James offers us some encouragement by pointing us again toward endurance as we frame our perspective with eternity. He calls us to look at everything through the lens of eternity by seeing things in full seasons rather than being lost in the frustrations of daily work. As with anything, our lives come down to perspective. When we consider the end result, the process is more bearable. Especially the parts that are painful and overwhelming.

Find the lesson handout here.

The presence of the Holy Spirit may seem small at times, but Yodh (vv73-80) shows us how the constant companion we have in the Lord is what gives us humility, hope, and makes us a living testimony of the love of Christ to the world around us. As Levi Mattes concludes his series on Psalm 119, he shows how the plan was Jesus all along and how the scarlet thread of redemption is still vibrant today.

There is a natural conflict between the temporary world and the eternal world. James circles back to the theme of chapter 1 by speaking to those who have put their focus completely on the physical world and neglected the eternal. At the conclusion of chapter 4 he warns about those who set their minds on a plan without submitting to God. These same people are the ones who build their lives only looking out for themselves.

Find the handout for this lesson HERE.