Does the devil think that he can win?

In Luke 4, Jesus is led out into the wilderness, where He was tempted for forty days by the devil. With that said, what did the devil think he was going to accomplish? What did the devil think was going to happen? And what was the Father's purpose in allowing His Son to undergo this?

Other Questions We'll Answer:

1) Where is God when we are tempted?
2) How can we stop giving in to temptation?
3) Has God ever tempted anyone? Why not? 

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

You and I don't know much about the world around us. For example, what's the capital of Paraguay? What's the fourth item in the periodic table? You see, we know SOME things, but not ALL things. Conversely, God knows it all. Every last fact. Every last detail. He knows everything that is, and everything that could be. And e does not learn or obtain that information successively - He knows it all simultaneously.

Join us for Week 2 of our three week series on God's attributes.

Questions That We'll Answer:
A) If God is all all knowing, then can't He prevent bad situations from happening?
B) Does God know the outcomes of choices that we almost made, but didn't?
C) Is there anything that God doesn't know, or that He has to guess at?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

When we say that God is 'omnipotent' we're saying that He is all powerful. In other words, nothing can stop Him, nothing can frustrate His purposes, and there is no authority or power that transcends His.

In today's study, we will consider God's omnipotence as part of a new 3-part series on the 'attributes' of God. Psalm 2 will be our focus.

Questions That We'll Answer:
A) If God is all powerful, then why does He allow bad things to happen?
B) What about our own power? How does our strength compare to His?
C) Is there anything that God can't do?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

In John 1, we encounter a man who did not believe what he'd heard about Jesus. In his mind, there was no way that this guy from Nazareth was the Messiah.

But you know what happened next? He met Jesus. And in that encounter, both his heart and mind were changed (in that order). Join us for today's sermon on Christ's ministry to doubters and disciples alike.

Questions That We'll Answer:
1) Is there hope for the skeptics, atheists, and agnostics in our life?
2) Why did Jesus refer to "Jacob's Ladder" in today's text?
3) Why did Jesus choose such ordinary men to be His disciples?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Everyone wants to 'finish well' - to run life's race to the very end. But many don't. Many aren't running at all. In fact, they might not even be at the track - they're too busy chowing down at the concession stand, or loading up on souvenirs.

What about you? Do you want to 'finish well?' And if so, are you acting accordingly, or are you just taking that outcome for granted? Join us for today's convicting sermon from Acts 20.

Questions That We'll Answer:
1) How can we tell if our life is on track, of off course?
2) If we're drifting or treading water these days, what can we do about it?
3) What tools has God provided to help motivate and encourage our steps?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Psalm 23 is one of the most famous passages in the entire Bible.

Now, what makes this passage so famous or familiar? Well, just look at what it says! Psalm 23 reminds hurting, broken people that we have hope - even if it feels like we're walking through the 'valley of death'. If you're hurting or anxious this week, then listen to today's passage and be encouraged.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me." - Psalm 23

Questions That We'll Answer:
1) What does it mean to be in 'the valley of the shadow of death?'
2) If God is our shepherd, then why have bad things happened to us?
3) What is the point of this Psalm? How does it point us to Christ?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Should we soften the gospel to make it easier to accept?

No. In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul declares, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." In this Reformation Sunday sermon, Dr. Toby Holt calls the church to proclaim the gospel boldly and unashamedly, without watering it down.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why was Paul "not ashamed" of the gospel? Because it is "the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." The message itself saves, so there is no reason to hide or soften it.

2. What is the danger of watering down the gospel? It robs the message of its power and leaves sinners without the truth they need. To appease people at the cost of truth is to fail them.

3. What does the Reformation remind us? That the gospel of grace, recovered by men like Luther, is worth proclaiming plainly and courageously in every age. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." — Romans 1:16 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

You've probably heard of the term 'original sin.' But is this a real thing?

When theologians talk about 'original sin,' they're saying that mankind comes into this world with a sinful nature. But others disagree, saying that man is born innocent (or at least neutral), and only later becomes sinful. Which is correct?

Join us for today's study on 'original sin' from Romans 5.

Questions That We'll Answer:
1) When a child is born, does that child start off good, bad, or neutral?
2) Does Scripture give clear evidence one way or another?
3) Why does it matter, if we all sin eventually? What's the big deal?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

In Luke 17, ten men stood on the edge of town. They were broken. They were desperate. They were LEPERS. And then the most amazing thing happened - Jesus Christ healed them. To everyone involved, this was a MIRACLE.

But what happened next? How did the ten men respond? Where did they go? And how can we apply this situation to our own hurts and trials? That will be our focus in today's  study from the Book of Luke.

Questions That We'll Answer:
1) What motivates people to turn to God? Good times or bad?
2) Jesus healed ten lepers. Only one came back. What about the other nine?
3) Is God willing and able to heal us from our own issues and difficulties?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

It has been said that 'youth is fleeting, but immaturity lasts forever.'

In churches throughout the world, there are some believers who are clearly and visibly growing in their faith and understanding of the Bible. And there are others who seem to be treading water. They make a lot of motion - but not a lot of progress. If you're still swimming in the shallows of the Christian faith, it is time to dive deeper. That will be the focus of today's sermon from Psalm 119.

Questions That We'll Answer
1) What is 'sanctification?' Why is it something that we should pursue?
2) What tools has God given us to grow in our Christian walk?
3) What happens if we don't grow? What are the signs of stagnant faith?
4) What can you do THIS WEEK to improve and to become more Christlike?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt
Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org