Beware the Dogs!

Dennis McCallum

Philippians 3:1-9

Paul exhorts the Philippians to beware the dogs, the false circumcision, who want to return believers to the shackles of the Law. Paul and Jesus reserved their harshest condemnation for those who tried to introduce legalism into the believing community. The worst thing about legalism is the negative, untrue picture it paints of God. Under legalism, God is a hard-to-please grump, who is looking to find fault in his followers. That image could not be further from the truth!

Working Out What God Has Put In

Dennis McCallum

Philippians 2:12-16

To work out your salvation with fear and trembling may at first glance sound like we must work for our salvation with fear and doubt, but that is not at all what Paul is saying here. As believers, our salvation from the penalty of sin is eternally secure. Paul is encouraging us to live out the reality of the forgiveness that God has put into us at the moment we received his forgiveness. As we live in light of that truth, we will shine like stars to a watching world.

No Partiality

Ryan Lowery

James 2:1-13

James is teaching to a Jewish Christian audience in the early years after Jesus' ministry when Christianity was only a decade old. The Jews were experiencing a major spiritual paradigm shift. in their previous faith, they tended to view people and treat people based on their success or status. James emphasizes not showing favoritism in the Body of Christ but to treat all people as equally valuable, children of God. God does not look at the outer man but at the heart

When the Church Becomes a Battlefield

Chris Hearty

John 16:24

Are not the sources of quarrels within the church due to believers not recognizing their position of neediness? We do not have because we do not ask. We allow our desires to have mastery over ourselves. This leads to adultery against God; We cheat on God by turning our affections and attention away from God and towards ourselves and the world. \r\nThe solution is to turn to God's grace, and resist the devil. Draw near to God and turn away from from the temptations of the world. And finally, humble yourself before the Lord and He will exalt you.\r\n

Watch Your Mouth

Chris Hearty

James 3:1-12

In the previous teaching, James taught that our faith is proven to a watching world by our good deeds. In this teaching, James shows that true faith is demonstrated to the world not just in our deeds but also in our words. There needs to be a compatibility between what we say and what we do.

Responding to the Message

Chris Hearty

James 1:19-27

How do we prepare the soil of our heart to welcome the God's message/ Receive the word of God by paying careful attention in order to truly understand it. Be wise listeners, who are slow to speak and slow to anger. And finally, keeping your attention fixed on the perfect law of liberty, be a purposeful doer of the Word; Put into practice what you know to be true.

Accountable

Jim Leffel

Romans 3:17-23

This passage continues Paul's theme of man being lost without God, explaining that God has a standard to which He holds all men accountable. Paul says this standard is in our hearts through our conscience, though our consciences can be flawed, and it is expressed through the Law given to the Jews. By either evaluation man falls short, but we can cry out to God, acknowledging our sinfulness, and receive His provision of forgiveness and mercy.

Self-Righteousness

James Rochford

Romans 2:1-29

Paul addresses self-righteousness and unrighteous judgment. This is hypocrisy because the Bible teaches that there are two ways to God: be perfect, or be freely forgiven. Since we are all sinners, we should not practice self-righteous judgment, thinking we are superior but should practice righteous judgment that is humble and seeks the good of others.

The Religious Mentality

Chris Risley

Romans 1:28-2:29

Paul addresses unrighteous judgment between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Such judgment is hypocritical since all have fallen short of God's perfect standard and are saved by faith alone, from first to last. This teaching has application for today, since we are not immune to judging others by our own standards and Christians do not always have the best reputation in this area.