Religious but not Spiritual
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Salvation, Matthew
This PowerPoint lesson is a companion to "Spiritual but not Religious" (and #2, "Local Church Membership"). It, too, seeks to ask and answer several questions: "Why did both John the Baptist and Jesus come from outside "organized" religions of their day?" and, "Are there religions today that are analogous to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians of Jesus' day?" and, "How do we avoid becoming corrupted, and therefore encouraging seekers of God today to go 'outside' of religion in their efforts to be spiritual?"
“Right” but not “Radiant”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Fidelity, Acts, Ephesians, Revelation
The church at Ephesus stands unique among all of those mentioned in the New Testament. No other church can be followed through the text quite so completely. We see its beginning (Acts 18 -19), its growth and development (Ephesians), and its atrophy, warning, and prescription (Rev.2). There is simply not other church which can be so openly laid bare for examination in the Scriptures. As such, there are many lessons to be learned- we will only scratch the surface in this study. Specifically, we will attempt to understand exactly what was the "first love" which the Ephesians had left. (Some 25+ years ago, I heard Bro. Larry Bilbo describe the church at Ephesus as "Right, but not radiant"- that apt description has stuck with me from that day till this.)
The Unity Problem
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Ephesians
It should be abundantly clear that the Lord intended His people to be united- “that they may all be one…”John 17:21. To that end, He gave us a platform to accomplish that unity: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were also called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6). But if He intended for us to be united, and gave us the necessary foundation to accomplish it, why are we so divided? Check the yellow pages under “Churches” for evidence of our divisiveness.
Uniting Believers: What Will It Take?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, John, Ephesians
In last week’s article, we established that God wants His people united- and that we are not. Though we all claim to believe in the same God, the same Savior, and the same Spirit- who are all “One” by the way (John 17:11,21,23), we are divided into various denominations and sects. Given these things, how do we get back to where we’re supposed to be? How do we become again the “one body” (cf. Ephesians 4:4) God created and intended?
The Giving of Our Means: Is it really “commanded”?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians
This is not a lesson on the proper motivations for saints to contribute to a church treasury per se. It is a lesson that takes a serious and somewhat detailed look at how we in the church have presented this aspect of our faith. The primary question of the lesson, posed in the title, pertains to whether or not giving is actually commanded. My answer, based on the teaching of the N.T., is "no."
Proper Motivations
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Church, Commitment, Acts, 2 Corinthians, Hebrews
This lesson is really the conclusion of several recent sermons and articles on Unity, Self-Reliance, Grace, Liberty (Law, License, and Love with Attendance and Modesty as examples), and Giving. As a few of these mentioned improper motivations, or ways we attempt to improperly motivate one another to do the right things, I thought it best to finish-up these thoughts with a lesson outlining what should be our proper motivations for Giving, Attendance, and Modesty.
“The” Church and “This” Church
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Acts, Hebrews
Although the lesson is specific to the members of the Southside congregation regarding their attitude and involvement in "this" (and thus their) church, it could be easily adapted to fit any congregation. The basic premise is that "The" Church (in the Universal sense) belongs to Christ, but "This" Church belongs to the members, Elders, and Deacons here as stewards of the Lord. The obvious implication is that every member is thus responsibile for its success or failure.
Restoring the Fallen- Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Church, Repentance, Salvation, Galatians
This lesson has a dual purpose: 1) to use two passages from Galatians 6:1-10 (specifically, vv.6.10) to show how lifting a verse from its context lends itself to completely wrong interpretation(s), and therefore, application(s); and 2) to do a semi-expository lesson on this passage to mine its "wealth" with regard to restoring a fallen brother to faithfulness.
(Special appreciation to my long-time friend and part-time mentor, Bro. David Smitherman, for a fine article on this passage which both inspired and guided my thinking on the text and subject.)
“Excel Still More”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Growth, 1 Thessalonians
The church at Thessalonica receives some of the highest praise given any body of believers in the New Testament. In Paul's first epistle to them, he highly commended them throughout the first ten verses or so of chapter one. And yet, despite all this apparently well-deserved praise, he also urged them to "excel still more" twice in chapter four! The point of this lesson is that despite how well things are going right now here at Southside, we had better not become complacent, apathetic, lazy, or self-satisfied, but instead likewise "excel still more"!
The Pageantry of Paganism
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Church, Worship, Acts of Worship, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Corinthians
This particular PowerPoint lesson is a "re-work" of one I did several years ago. The title and premise are the same, as well as a couple passages and points, but the bulk of the sermon has been completely revised. It deals with apparent tendency of mankind to appeal to his own senses in his so-called worship and devotion to God.