Trading Up: Earth to Heaven
It’s always important to keep an “eternal perspective” in life. As Christ-followers, we must remember that this life is only temporary. We are only passing through. Our ultimate reward is heaven, where we will trade our earthly bodies for glorified ones, our present sufferings for future glory, and our earthly dwellings for a heavenly home! In today’s […]
Step into the Light
There is a lot of metaphorical language in the Bible about “light” and “darkness.” Paul uses that language in 2 Corinthians 4 to describe the Gospel of Christ as light that came to shine in a dark world. Jesus even said about Himself, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall […]
Spreading the Fragrance
In 2 Corinthians 2:14–17, Paul compares our life in Christ to a Roman victory parade honoring a general after a successful military campaign. Such a parade in the first century A.D. would have included priests carrying censors with burning spices to fill the streets with a wonderful fragrance. In this analogy, Paul says Jesus is […]
Suffering Well
If you have ever felt so discouraged that you despaired even of life, you are not alone. That’s exactly what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1. Hardships had taken a toll on Paul, and he felt despondent. Yet he revealed his secret to “suffering well” and wrote about God’s comfort in the midst of his […]
In the Fullness of Time
God brought forth His Son, Jesus Christ, “in the fullness of time” the Bible says in Galatians 4:4-5. That means that everything about the first Christmas was planned and executed by God at just the right time. God orchestrates times and seasons to bring forth His perfect plan—even in our lives too. Perhaps God is […]
God’s View of Money & Giving
For Christians, everything about our lives should be submitted under the lordship of Jesus Christ, including our money and material possessions. All that we have comes from the hand of God, so everything we gain and everything we give should be done to honor the Lord. In today’s study, Pastor Gary teaches from the last […]
God’s View of Spiritual Gifts
God gives Believers spiritual gifts for the purpose of edifying the Church and glorifying God. But over the years, there has been great debate within God’s Church about whether or not the gifts are still operational today. In today’s teaching from 1 Corinthians 12–14, Pastor Gary briefly addresses this topic as he speaks about the […]
God’s View of Smoking (and Other Debates)
What does God think of smoking, vaping, tattooing, drinking, and piercings? And what about movies and music? There are plenty of issues today that are not clearly spelled out in the Bible for which God gives us liberty according to one’s personal conscience. Pastor Gary tackles these topics today to help us understand how to […]
God’s View of Divorce
The average divorce rates for Americans are 42 percent for first marriages, 60 percent for second marriages, and 73 percent for third marriages. Since this affects so many people (the couple, the children, the extended family and friends, etc.), it is important to understand God’s view of divorce. What does the Bible say about this […]
God’s View of Singleness & Marriage
Whether you are single or married, God has something to say to you through the Bible. There are certain guidelines and parameters for us, no matter what our marital status, concerning how we are to conduct ourselves in relationships. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul begins by addressing single adults and then moves on to discuss […]