1 Corinthians (Program #10) – Christ Crucified, the Focus of the Apostle’s Ministry

In studying the Bible, it’s critical to gain a window into the mind and the Spirit of the writer. The apostle Paul no doubt consider his words very carefully as he addressed his highly educated and philosophically trained audience in the ancient city of Corinth as he prepared his epistle to them.

The gospel contains much that could stimulate and intrigue these learned men, but instead of appealing to their great intellect through philosophy, he purposely just took the opposite approach. He spoke clear simple words of the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross even the crucified Christ as the power of God. He didn’t go on to exalt us as well as the Corinthians believers not to trust or utilized man’s wisdom, philosophy or eloquent words to present this crucified Christ to others.  Why was Paul so insistent of taking this way? And what is the message to us in our own presentation Christ to others?

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1 Corinthians (Program #7) – Christ Crucified, God’s Power and God’s Wisdom (2)

When you consider the power of God, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?   Well, this is a hard question because one can rightful name so many things. Creation, certainly creation of all the things including the universe, all the creatures even man himself may be at the top of a lot of these lists. Others might say God miraculous power and certainly God does has the power to accomplish miracles.

But I wonder how many of us would give the answer that the Bible gives?  Because when the Bible speaks of the power of God as it does in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 it mentions none of these things. Listen

1: 23 “But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

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Romans (Program #57) – Righteousness – The Power of the Gospel (1)

Our God is righteous.  He is right, He is just, He is righteous in all of His acts.  In the redeeming death of Christ, the righteousness of God was not only manifested – it was satisfied.  And now this righteousness becomes the power of the gospel.

We are going to see in the next two days that God’s righteousness is the power of the gospel and the foudation of our salvation.  This is not a common thought to think of God’s righteousness as the power of the gospel …… what we need to see is not so much the power itself in this particular session; rather, we need to see the reason the gospel is so powerful –  powerful enough to be called “the power of God unto salvation”.  The reason for the power is that the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of God.

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Romans (Program #3) – The Gospel of God

Through His incarnation, the Triune God became a man, Jesus Christ, to be among us. Through His death and resurrection, He became the life-giving Spirit to be within us.

Our life study today brings us to Romans chapter 2.  Romans is a gospel because Paul calls it that.  What does he mean by this?  If Romans is a gospel, how is it differ from the four traditional gospels? more…

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1 & 2 Kings (Program #3) – The Reign of Solomon (2)

We all remember the inspiring story of King Solomon in the Old Testament.  As the new king over Israel the Lord agrees to grant him one request.  Solomon touches the Lord’s heart by asking for wisdom in order that he could rule over Israel in a just manner.   For centuries, men have admired Solomon and long to be like him and have the wisdom that God blessed him with.  Surely his wisdom was great, but consider for a moment: how it compares to the wisdom that is our blessing as God’s New Testament called ones.  In 1 Corinthians 1:24, Paul writes “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” and in verse 30, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God: both righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”

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1 Peter (Program #1) – An Introductory Word

Of all the disciples called by the Lord Jesus in the gospels, probably the one we can most readily identify with is Peter. Simon Barjona as he was known before the Lord changed his name to Peter. In John chapter 1 was as impetuous as he was fervent and often found himself as the target of the Lord Jesus’ reprove.

Recall for example in Matthew chapter 16, Peter’s sympathetic suggestion to the Lord that He should keep Himself from the suffering of death that He knew awaited Him. “get behind Me, Satan” was the Lord’s reply. “You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.” How could Peter possibly recovered from such a stinging rebuke?

And of course it was also Peter, who denied the Lord three times during the hour of trial preceding the actual crucifixion. Yet only days later it was this same Peter who stood on the day of Pentecost and usher thousands into the kingdom with his powerful and dynamic speaking.

And not only so, in his two epistles, Peter uses language and phrases so rich and full of high and profound meaning that we can’t help but marvel at the power of God’s full salvation. That this unlearned fisherman could write such thing. Listen to his word in 1 Peter,

1:18 “Knowing that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were redeemed from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers,”

19 “But with precious blood, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ;”

Welcome to our first life-study of the book of 1 Peter.

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Ruth (Program #6) – A Concluding Word

Have you ever heard a powerful preacher who eventually was exposed in fornication or some other sin?  You knew the person was a powerful preacher, even under the power of God, he was speaking according to the power of God.  It wasn’t false. And you’re so confused how can such a one ended up in such a gross and evil sin.  But today we have the answer for you as we conclude the wonderful book of Ruth.

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