The Greatest Father

Eph. 1:3-14

Bible Talk Outline

God is the most…

· generous Father—lavishing us with spiritual blessings (v.3)

· decisive Father—devising for us the plan of salvation (vv. 4-5a)

· pleased Father—delighting in joy and satisfaction (v. 5b)

· empowering Father—supplying us with the Holy Spirit (vv. 6-8)

· uniting Father—restoring us, and creation, to harmony (vv. 9-14)

- uniting everything, everywhere (vv. 9-10)

- uniting everyone in the Spirit (vv. 11-14)

· praised Father!—deserving of all glory (vv. 3, 6, 12b, 14b)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

◊ “The Three” (vv. 10-19)

◦ Jashobeam – mighty with 1 choice weapon

◦ Eleazar and David – mighty with 1 determined partnership

◦ The Three – mighty with 1 bold loyalty

◊ “The Thirty” (vv. 20-47)

◦ Abishai – mighty with 1 impeccable reputation (vv. 20-21)

◦ Benaih – mighty with 1 unintimidated spirit (vv. 22-25)

◦ A list: mighty with 1 kingdom goal (vv. 26-47)

Many Kingdom victories with 1 Kingdom goal!

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

The Downfall of Greed

2 Kings 5:20-27

Gehazi’s dishonesty reveals the steps greed commonly

takes toward getting what it wants, and how it ultimately fails.

1. Greed begins selfishly and secretly, in the heart

(v. 20a)

2. Greed lays selfish and secret plans (v. 20b, 24)

3. Greed hides behind lies (vv. 21-22, 25)

4. Greed preys on generosity (v. 23)

5. Greed is finally exposed (v. 26a)

6. Greed destroys trust (v. 26b) needed for godly respect

and responsibility, and in personal relationships (implied)

7. Greed results in suffering, in the future (v. 27a)

and/or in the present (v. 27b), of one person (v. 27a)

and/or others (v 27b)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

A Must-Have Talk About Must-Have Hope

Lk. 18:31-34

• Hope requires crucial conversations (v. 31a)

• Hope faces difficult realities—together (v. 31b-33a)

◦ Hope faces difficulty together (v. 31b, “we’re”)

◦ Hope faces God’s will together (v. 31c, “predictions”)

◦ Hope faces worldly powers together (v. 32a, “Romans”)

◦ Hope faces worldly rejection together (v. 32b, “mocked”)

◦ Hope faces suffering and death together (v. 33a, “flog…kill”)

• Hope claims future victory (v. 33b)

• Hope awaits future understanding (v. 34)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

Dressing Jesus' Style

Col. 3:12c-14

A Christian has “stripped off” (v. 9) the “clothing” of Col. 3:8-9, and “put on” Christ’s divine nature. So, the Church “dresses” Jesus-Style by living out…

▪ “tender-hearted mercy” of compassion toward others (v. 12c)

▪ “kindness” in gentleness toward others (v. 12d)

▪ “humility” with a lowly self-opinion (v. 12e)

▪ “gentleness” that does not dispute with others (v. 12f)

▪ “patience” that is not provoked to impatience by others (v. 12g)

▪ “make allowances” to be supportive, despite disappointment in others (v. 13a)

▪ “forgive” like God generously offers to others (v. 13b)

▪ “love,” the greatest quality

◦ from the greatest Source, God, which binds people

together (implied, v. 14a)

◦ into the greatest unity, which matures people

together (v. 14b)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

Mother Eve's Wisdom About Life

Gen. 4:1-2, 25-26

• Mother Eve was humbly amazed that LIFE IS A GIFT

“Cain” means spear, acquirer/acquired, gotten, produced (v. 1)

God gifted Eve by allowing her to co-produce another human.

• Mother Eve was deeply saddened that LIFE IS BRIEF

“Abel” means passing, breath, vapor, smoke, meaningless (v. 2)

God’s warning to Adam and Eve that sin would bring death

tragically came true.

• Mother Eve was gratefully hopeful that LIFE HAS SECOND CHANCES

“Seth” means provided, appointed, granted (v. 25). God always

desires to re-create, through forgiveness and guidance, new life

and hope!

• Grandmother Eve was surely convinced that LIFE INVOLVES LEARNING

“Enosh” means to narrow, but figuratively means teaching, to

train up, to be dedicated to learning (v. 26). God created us to be

learners in God’s world.

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Easter Leaves You Breathless!

Mark 16:1-8

Bible Talk Outline

◊ Breathless with duty – Going to the market quickly (v. 1)

◊ Breathless with anxiety – Going to the tomb early (vv. 2-3)

◊ Breathless with grief – Going into the tomb calmly (vv. 4-5a)

◊ Breathless with surprise – Going into the burial chamber investigatively (vv. 5b-6)

◊ Breathless with news – Going to the disciples excitedly (vv. 7a-8)

◊ Breathless with hope – Going to Galilee expectantly (v. 7b)

◊ Breathless with mission – Going into the world evangelistically (v. 8)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk outline

World Peace Day (Micah 4: 1-8)

◊ A Time of Waiting (v. 1a)

◊ The Temple of Worship (v. 1b)

◊ The Teaching of the Word (v. 2)

◊ A Peace from the Messiah’s Will (vv. 3-8)

1. The Messiah brings peace among the nations (vv. 3a)

2. God’s promised peace comes true (vv. 3b-4)

3. Israel’s calling is fulfilled (v. 5)

4. Israel’s painful history is healed (v. 6)

5. Israel’s weakness is replaced with strength (vv. 7a, 8)

6. Jerusalem becomes the world capital city (v. 7b-8)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Lessons Learned

Isaiah 42:18-25

A. Isaiah pleads for ancient Israel to learn the lesson that…

1. closing off your spiritual relationship with the LORD

(vv.18-20), and…

2. giving up your special calling from the LORD (v. 21), means…

3. losing the protection of the LORD (v. 22)

B. This serves as a warning to us that…

1. we need to understand this lesson (v. 23)…

2. that God can “allow” discipline (v.24a)…

3. when we deliberately disobey God (v. 24b)…

4. in order to lovingly woo us to repentance (v. 25)

Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

◊ Jesus’ unswerving mission is triumphant! (v. 28)

◊ Jesus’ careful preparation is triumphant! (vv. 29-31)

◊ The disciples’ attentive obedience is triumphant! (vv. 32-34)

◊ Jesus’ earthly ministry is triumphant! (vv. 35-37)

◊ The Psalms’ Messianic prophecies are triumphant! (v. 38)

◊ Creations’ Kingdom praises are triumphant! (vv. 39-40)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman