What The Bible Says To Know & Do

In this episode, we’re tackling a topic that hits close to home for many believers—dissatisfaction in the church. Why do people so often feel let down by their church? Is it always because something is truly wrong—or could it be that our expectations are off?

From Philippians 2:14–18, we’ll look at how Paul calls believers to handle dissatisfaction in a way that protects unity, cultivates joy, and keeps the focus where it belongs—on Christ and His purposes for the church.

Main Ideas

1. Don’t Be a Complainer (vv. 14–15)

• Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”

• The church should be marked by unity and joy, not complaint and division.

• Complaining might feel justified, but over time, it can destroy fellowship and joy in a church body.

• Before speaking out of frustration, ask:

i. Am I helping or hurting unity?

ii. Am I acting like a child of God, shining as a light in a dark world—or dimming the light of Christ’s church?

2. Remember the End Goal (v. 16)

• Our goal is not our personal satisfaction—it’s faithfulness until the day of Christ.

• Common dissatisfactions often come from personal preference rather than biblical conviction.

• If your concerns are biblical and real, bring them forward in a way that builds up, not tears down.

• Ask: Are my expectations shaped by Scripture or by comfort?

3. Count Dissatisfaction as Part of the Cost (vv. 17–18)

• Even Paul—writing from prison—could rejoice amid sacrifice and hardship.

• In the same way, we can learn to count dissatisfaction as a small cost of life in a fallen world and a broken church.

• Pray for your attitude.

• Pray for others.

• When you must express dissatisfaction, do it biblically and graciously, seeking to build up Christ’s body.

Scripture to Reflect On

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

— Philippians 2:14–15

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Until next time—grace and peace.

In this episode, we’re talking about fellowship—a word Christians love to use but rarely define. We tend to label almost any kind of social activity as “fellowship”—from golf outings to coffee meetups—but biblical fellowship is something far deeper.

True Christian fellowship isn’t just about shared interests; it’s about a shared Savior. It’s rooted in our relationship with Christ and built on the foundation of His finished work.

Main Idea: Biblical fellowship is Christians joyfully seeking Christ together.

Key Points

• Definition: Biblical fellowship takes place among believers who are united in joy, pursuing Christ side by side through His Word and prayer (Acts 2:42).

• Foundation: Christ Himself is both the means and the end of our fellowship. It’s not merely about being together—it’s about drawing near to God together through Him (Heb. 10:19–22).

• The Church’s Role: The local church isn’t meant to entertain us but to lead us into genuine fellowship. When we give ourselves to this kind of community, friendship and joy naturally follow.

Marks of True Fellowship (Hebrews 10:23–25):

1. A shared confession of faith

2. Seeking good works

3. Seeking to understand Scripture

4. Accountable to one another

5. Encouraging one another

6. Maturing spiritually

7. Keeping our eyes fixed on the hope of Christ’s return

Application:

Make your weekly gathering a priority.

Join a small group and invest in it.

Resources

Handout

Be sure to like and follow the podcast, and leave a review to help others discover the series!

In this episode of the Know and Do Podcast, we’re exploring how God designed structure and leadership for His church. From Genesis to Acts, Scripture shows that God values order—and that carries into how the church is governed today.

We’ll unpack Acts 6:2–4 and 1 Timothy 3:1–13 to answer three key questions:

1. Who leads the church?

2. What kind of people are called to lead?

3. How should we treat our leaders?

Main Points

1. Who Leads the Church

• Christ is the true head of the church (Col. 1:18).

• God calls two types of leaders: elders/pastors (spiritual oversight) and deacons (practical service).

• Elders focus on prayer and the Word; deacons meet needs and maintain unity.

2. What Kind of People Lead

• Leadership is about character, not charisma.

• 1 Timothy 3 gives clear qualifications—above reproach, self-controlled, hospitable, faithful, and spiritually mature.

• Only Jesus perfectly meets these standards, but by His grace, He equips men to lead well.

3. How We Treat Our Leaders

• The church is God’s household, “a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

• We’re called to honor, pray for, and encourage our leaders—holding them accountable with grace.

• God’s church thrives when leadership follows His design.

• Know God’s order. Do your part—pray, support, and serve faithfully.

Handout Link

In this episode of the Know and Do Podcast, we continue our journey through the doctrine of the church by looking at the foundation of healthy congregational life: right preaching. From 2 Timothy 3:16–4:5, we see why the Word of God must be central in the life of the church and what it means for preaching to be truly expository.

We’ll explore what makes preaching biblical, how to recognize when it isn’t, and what to do if you encounter poor preaching. Along the way, we’ll look at common “expositional imposters” and consider the responsibility of both pastors and church members to uphold faithful teaching.

Key Takeaways

• The nature of right preaching: exposing the truth of Scripture so God’s people may understand and apply it.

• Why expository preaching matters: Scripture is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient to equip believers for every good work.

• Who should preach: pastors/elders bear the primary responsibility for the pulpit.

• Expositional imposters: sermons that sound biblical but fail to faithfully expose the text (springboard, unfounded, exegetical-without-application, irrelevant, misfit, shortcut sermons).

• Responding to bad preaching: discern wisely, engage with love, and seek out a church where God’s Word is rightly handled.

Why This Matters

Just as we need nourishing meals for our bodies, our souls need the steady diet of God’s Word preached faithfully. Right preaching is the spiritual feast that sustains believers on the way to heaven.

Resources & Next Steps

Handout

Practice: Work through the discussion questions provided to help you “know and do.”

Stay tuned for future episodes in our Ecclesiology series. Be sure to like, follow, and leave a review to help others find the podcast. Until next time—grace and peace!

In this episode of the Know and Do Podcast, we explore the beauty and challenge of diversity in the body of Christ. While diversity is often celebrated in the world, Scripture shows us that it is not a cultural trend—it is God’s design for His people.

We’ll walk through:

• God’s Plan for Diversity – from creation to Christ’s commission, diversity has always been part of God’s purpose.

• Unity in Diversity – the gospel unites people from every background, culture, and gifting into one body.

• The End Goal – our diversity now points to the day when believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation will worship together before the throne.

Along the way, we’ll consider real-life stories of how diversity stretches the church, how Christ alone can hold us together, and how we can live as a preview of heaven’s perfect unity in diversity.

Challenge of the Week:

Seek out someone in your church who is different from you—different age, culture, background, or gifting. Share a meal or coffee, listen to their story of faith, and celebrate God’s design for His diverse body.

Link for the Handout

Why does church membership matter? 

In this episode of the Know and Do Podcast, Pastor Josh continues our series on the doctrine of the church by exploring Ephesians 4:11–16 and the importance of local church membership.

Membership is more than a name on a roll—it’s God’s design for believers to grow, serve, and be built up together in love. This lesson unpacks why the Bible assumes every Christian will be part of a local church and highlights the eternal benefits that come with belonging to Christ’s body.

Key Takeaways

Biblical Foundation: The New Testament envisions Christians committed to a local body.

Benefits of Membership: Purposeful ministry, unity, maturity, protection from false teaching, and ongoing discipleship.

Growth Together: Every member has a part to play in building up the church in love.

For this week's reflection handout with study questions and more, click here!

In this episode of the Know and Do Podcast, we begin our series on ecclesiology by examining the essential role of unity within the church. Drawing from Ephesians 4:1–6, we explore why every believer should deeply desire unity—not for its own sake, but around the truth of Christ. A divided church cannot carry out the mission Christ has given us, but a unified church can impact the world for eternity.

Key Takeaways

• Unity is built into the church’s identity in Christ. Jesus tore down the dividing wall of hostility, making us one new people in Him.

• Unity must be lived out daily. Believers are called to humility, gentleness, patience, and love as we walk together.

• Unity is centered on truth. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. We must never pursue unity at the expense of biblical fidelity.

• Unity fuels mission. Our love for one another testifies to the world about Christ, drawing others into His family.

• Unity points us toward eternity. In heaven, people from every tribe and tongue will worship Christ together—our church life today is a rehearsal for that day.

Practical Applications

This week, consider how you can actively promote unity in your local church:

• Invite someone to lunch.

• Greet someone new on Sunday and learn their name.

• Ask for or extend forgiveness.

• Show patience when wronged.

• Join a small group to grow in relationship with others.

Scripture References

Ephesians 2–4; 6:19–20

Romans 5:8

John 13:35

Jude 3

Revelation 7:9–12

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In this episode of the Know and Do podcast, we explore Article XV of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000: The Christian and the Social Order. What does it mean to live as salt and light in a broken world? How do we, as God's people, display His kingdom in a society often at odds with His truth? Pastor Josh teaches from Matthew 5:13–16 and unpacks what it means to be God’s covenant people on display for the world, society’s preservative, and agents of truth.

I. We are God’s covenant on display for society to see.

II. We are society’s preservative.  

III. We are agents of truth.

IV. We are God’s plan to show himself to the world.  

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Welcome back to the Know and Do podcast, where we challenge you to Know God deeply and Do what most glorifies Him. In this episode, we're getting into the heart of what it means to be The People of the Church.

In our series on Baptist beliefs, we've discussed systematic theology, but this time, we’re focusing not so much on systems as on people. This episode explores who makes up the church, why it matters, and how God uses His people to reflect His image and fulfill His mission.

From the very beginning, we were created for relationship—not isolation. As image-bearers of God (Genesis 1:26–27), we are social creatures, made to live in community. Just as God exists in fellowship within the Trinity, we are also meant for deep and meaningful relationships. Fellowship isn’t just a bonus of church life—it’s a core part of our design.

I. The church is a body of Christ-followers and all Christ-followers are the church (1 Corinthians 12:12—13)

What does the local church look like?

1.    Autonomous

2.    Spirit-filled

3.    Baptized

4.    Repentant lifestyles

5.    Corporate worship

6.    Observes Ordinances

II. A Christ-follower without the church is unnatural (1 Corinthians 12:14-17)

III. A Christian active in the church is positioned to be what he/she was made to be (1 Corinthians 12:18-20; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 12:49-50)

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Welcome back to the Know and Do podcast, where we urge you to know God deeply and do what most glorifies Him. In this episode, we turn our hearts and minds toward one of the most powerful truths in Scripture: God’s Kingdom. We explore Article IX of the Baptist Faith and Message (2000), which teaches that God's Kingdom encompasses both His sovereign rule over the universe and His personal reign in the lives of those who trust in Jesus Christ.

I. God’s kingdom is both all-encompassing and personal. (Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:20, Psalm 145:13, Colossians 1:15-20)

II. God’s kingdom is the primary concern of all humanity, Christians and non-Christians. (Romans 15:8-13)

III. God’s kingdom is here and now, and it is yet to come. (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

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