Guilt Has to Be Earned!
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Repentance, Romans
"Guilt"- properly understood, is not something someone else can lay on you, or make you feel. Instead, it is something we get "the old-fashioned way": we earn it.
The Church is Not for Everyone
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Fidelity, Growth, "Distinct" Church, Acts, Romans
The gospel is for everyone- the church is made up of those who love, accept, and obey the gospel. But not everyone feels or acts this about and to the gospel. This PowerPoint lesson uses the analogy of modern baseball marketing to help make these points clear.
A Father’s Love
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Salvation, Romans
From time to time, I have the opportunity to study with a young couple who want to get married, regarding what God intended and requires marriage to be (actually, it’s mandatory if I perform the wedding). In trying to underscore the importance of true love and maturity to the relationship, I’ve often utilized statements along these lines:
Spiritual but not Religious
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Romans, 1 Corinthians
I've heard a statement with increasing frequency in the last few years: "I spiritual, just not religious." This PowerPoint lesson attempts to answer several related questions: What is meant by this statement? What has caused increasing numbers of people to feel this way? Does one have to participate in "religion" to be acceptable to God?
The Three L’s of Liberty: Law, License, & Love
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Choices, Salvation, Romans, Galatians
The biblical concept of liberty may be analogous in some ways to political or humanitarian liberty, but is also likely different from them in others. This lesson seeks to help us understand not only what "liberty" means in the N.T., but also how it is achieved, and what it requires of those who attain it.
Self-Reliance: the Enemy of Faith, Hope, and Love
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Fidelity, Growth, Obedience, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Hebrews
Faith, hope, and love are the foundations of our relationship with God, and our service to Him and one another. But was is the biggest hindrance to these three pillars of Christianity? I would suggest to you that "self-reliance" is their biggest enemy. This PowerPoint lesson will at least explain why I think so.
Our Problems with Grace
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Salvation, Romans, Titus
In the title and in this PowerPoint lesson, by "our" I mean to include: we brethren here at Southside; brethren of the Church as a whole; and all who desire heaven as our home, believe in God of the Bible, accept Jesus as His Son, and are reasonably concerned with living a Christian life. By "problem" I don't really mean the definition of grace, or even our concept of it necessarily. I do mean our difficulties with what the N.T. says about when, where, and to what extent it will be applied by God. It is hoped that this lesson will help.
Spiritual “Tunnel Vision”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Faith, Obedience, Salvation, Numbers, John, Romans, James
What is commonly called “Tunnel Vision” is more specifically “Kalnienk Vision.” The condition refers to a restriction of one’s field of vision, but with the retention of central vision; i.e. as if looking through a tunnel. Though it can have many different causes, the most common culprit is the consistent restriction of the field of vision, which causes the eyes to be “trained” to only focus on the specific area in which one is looking. For instance, if you looked through a periscope for long periods of time, or wore a welding helmet, diving mask, or something else which only allowed you to see the area or objects immediately in front of you, tunnel vision could easily occur. The result would be that you would only be able to “see” those things at which you specifically looked or directed your attention. It is a dangerous condition physically, but can be spiritually devastating.
Are You Underwhelmed, Overwhelmed, or Just Whelmed?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Baptism, Church, Commitment, Romans
Many years ago, a friend of mine and I went to another church to hear a visiting preacher they had brought in to speak for about a week’s worth of services. After the sermon and services were over, and we were back in the privacy of the car, I wryly asked, “Well, what did you think of the sermon?” I’ll never forget his matter-of-fact reply, “I was underwhelmed,” he said. I expected some sort of answer like that, which is why I waited until we were in the car to ask, but I didn’t expect that particular one! “Underwhelmed” was a word which I had never heard, but immediately added to my vocabulary because it so appropriately fit. I too had been underwhelmed by the lesson! Though nothing said was overtly unscriptural, the points being made lacked real relevancy, and were produced with a blustering passion and zeal which was therefore misguided, and thus fell flat. James and I were both underwhelmed. But this got me to thinking…