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.
“Double, Double Toil and Trouble”
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Commitment, Faith, Fidelity, 1 Peter
The title is taken from the chant of the three witches as they stir the cauldron in Act IV, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” The rest of the line is “Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.” I’m certainly not advocating Bill Shakespeare’s fictitious concept of witches and cauldrons producing problems in our lives, but do you ever feel as if you’ve received more than your share of difficulties? Or to switch metaphors, that “Murphy’s Law” was written about you? Does it seem as if anything possibly could go wrong, it does? Then perhaps this lesson will help.
“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.)
What Does One REALLY Need to Know Prior to Baptism?
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Salvation
From time to time I’m either asked, or it comes up in conversation, the question of our title. Sometimes, the question is asked in the context of a church member trying to encourage someone to become a Christian. What they really want to know is at what point one “knows enough” to be baptized. I thought we’d spend a few minutes reasoning through a few things this evening that will hopefully help to answer these questions. It is also hoped that lesson will provide a concise, but complete, rendering of "teaching points" on which those attempt to bring others to Christ can effectively focuse their efforts.
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?"
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?
Spiritual but not Religious 2- Local Church Membership
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Church, Acts
This is obviously the second half of the previous lesson, "Spiritual but not Religious." This Powerpoint lesson seeks to answer two important questions relative to the subject: 1) Does the New Testament teach the necessity of "local church membership"? and, 2) Why does God want us to be participants in local church memberships?
The “Lost” Parables of Luke 15
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Choices, Luke
This trio of parable have not be 'lost" and recently discovered. They are "lost" in the sense that they all center on something, or someone, that has been lost- a sheep, a coin, and sons. It hoped that this PowerPoint lesson will adequately explain them.
The Moral Dilemma
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Faith, Genesis
That's probably a poor title to describe this Word file outline. The lesson is taken from Genesis 1 & 2, and centers around two inter-related questions: 1) Why did God created man? and, 2) Why did God create man as He did? It is not nearly as deep and philosophical as it perhaps sounds, but does provide some well-reasoned and scripturally sound answers to these important questions.
Lessons from Malachi
Posted by Philip Strong | Categories: Apostasy, Worship, Malachi
The Israelites who have returned from a seventy-year captivity in Babylon; they've at least partially rebuilt the city and the Temple; sacrifices of worship are again being made to Jehovah. But God is greatly displeased with their offerings and worship. Why? This lessons attempts to answer that question by taking an overall look at God's last recorded prophetic word to Israel before the arrival of John the Baptist some 400+ years later- the book of Malachi. In this oracle, we will likely also see ourselves...unfortunately.