“Into What Were You Baptized?”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Acts
What is Baptism? What necessitates it? What constitutes scriptural, and therefore proper, baptism? This is a PowerPoint outline lesson which seeks to answer these and related questions regarding baptism.
“What God Hath Joined” to Baptism
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Obedience, Salvation, Genesis, Matthew, Mark, Acts, Romans
This is not a sermon on marriage. Instead, it is an adaptation of an old Dillard Thurman chart sermon that shows the things God has joined to baptism and emphasizes "let no man separate."
Paradoxes of Jesus and His Purposes
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Obedience, Salvation, Matthew, John
A paradox is a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense, yet true. While the Bible contains many examples of such statements, this lesson focuses on those that pertain to Jesus and His purpose to save mankind.
The “One Baptism” of Ephesians 4:5
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Salvation, Ephesians
Some of the most plainly stated, and yet most often ignored, states of the New Testament have to do with "baptism." Virtually every book of the New Testament either expressly demands it, gives multiple examples of it, or at least refers to it in some positive way. And yet modern man, in his wisdom, has determined that one does not "have to" be baptized at all to be saved. The words of our Lord, "He who has believed and is baptized, shall be saved" has become "just accept Jesus as your personal Savior and you shall be saved." What a tragedy of apostasy!
Blind Sight: “Seeing” What a Blind Man “Saw”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Faith, Obedience, Repentance, Acts
Isn't it amazing how we can look right at something, and not really see it at all? I've done it hundreds of times. I'll be looking for a particular item on my desk, on a workbench in the shop, or in a toolbox in the truck- knowing it's there somewhere, looking right at it several times, and yet never seeing it. We can do the same things with "truth." It can be right before us, and yet we might never "see" it. In Acts 22, the Apostle Paul tells the story of his conversion. It becomes apparent in his account that there were several spiritual truths which had eluded his observation as long as he had sight. But once "blinded" by the presence of Jesus Christ to his prejudices, Paul then truly "saw the light" of truth. Must we too become "blind" to "see"?
Personal Work: Winning Souls to Christ
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Commitment, Faith, Obedience, Luke, John, Acts
This is not a lesson on what to teach in a personal bible study, nor the mechanics of how to go about conducting the same (though an overview is given from Acts 8). Instead, we back up and look at the motivations for personal evangelism, and targeted efforts toward the same. However, our study certainly was not comprehensive in its coverage- there are so many facets of this important work, that only a few aspects could be covered. Nonetheless, it is hoped these few will get us going and improve our efforts in teaching the gospel to our friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
“Why?”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Choices, Faith, Obedience, Repentance, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans
When our children are born, we can't hardly wait for them to walk and talk- unless of course it is a second (or third, etc.) child, because by then we've learned how precious they are when they're still and quiet! But once they begin to speak in sentences, even the short ones, it doesn't take too long for them to learn that they can pretty much exasperate us with a one-word retort repetitively uttered: "Why?" It seems to become the reply to everything we say to them. But it is not always a bad thing. "Why?" can be a step toward higher thinking, and therefore understanding, and perhaps even wisdom some day. Even we adults need to contemplate "Why?" sometimes. For instance, we know God requires certain things of us in order to be saved, but "why" must we hear, and believe, and repent, and confess, and be baptized?
Sin, and What To Do About It
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Obedience, Repentance, Acts, Romans, 1 John
This very basic lesson deals with the fundamental questions of "What is sin?" and "How do we sin?", but also addresses the more probing query of "Why do we sin?". There are really only three reasons, and these, once identified, can be positively addressed in a productive way to enable spiritual growth and maturity.
N.T. Applications of the Great Flood- What we’re suppose to learn.
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Baptism, Choices, Obedience, Repentance, Genesis, Luke, 1 Peter, 2 Peter
I, like most preachers, have done lessons dealing with what we're supposed to have learned from the biblical account of the Flood. But I noticed something about the applications I had made from this story: they were all made from the O.T. account. Then it dawned on me that the N.T. writers often made applications of this story, and I hadn't really looked at them separately. This lesson is the result of that study.
The Bondage of Iniquity
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Baptism, Church, Fidelity, Repentance, Acts
There is an account in The Acts of the Apostles which almost has a tragic ending. It is the story of Simon the Sorcerer, Acts 8:4-24. The story is one of redemption, a fall from grace, and then repentance and restoration. There are several pertinent lessons for us. One of the most obvious is that a saved person can indeed become lost again- enslaved to "the bondage of iniquity."