Fighting the good fight means our lives will never come to a place of total completion if we are still alive.
Additional Scripture References:
Romans 8:29
Part 19
July 31, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Paul reminds Timothy to teach his people to desire to be content with whatever God has given them.
Additional Scripture References:
Philippians 4:11, Proverbs 30:8-9, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:5-6, Exodus 21:16, 1 Timothy 1:10, Luke 7:1-10, Romans 1:30, Colossians 3:22-23, James 1:27, Proverbs 3:5
Part 18
July 24, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Patience in the process of selecting leadership in the church allows sin and good works to come to light, which, in a sense, is a large part of the selection process itself.
Additional Scripture References:
John 5:19-20, Psalm 127:1, Hebrews 1:5, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 1 Chronicles 16:24, Ephesians 4:11, Mark 10:43-45, Philippians 2:3
Part 17
July 17, 2011 • Michael McCracken
The grace of God in our lives often comes from the fear of the Lord. This fear frees us instead of paralyzing us.
Additional Scripture References:
2 Samuel 23:3-4, Psalm 111:1-10, Deuteronomy 6:1-3, Deuteronomy 10:12, Psalm 112:1, Luke 1:50, Acts 9:31, Luke 12:4-7, Romans 1:18-27
Part 16
July 10, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Scripture tells us clearly that elders, especially those who preach and teach, are deserving of double honor, which includes getting paid.
Additional Scripture References:
Hebrews 13:17, Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, 1 Peter 5:2-3, John 10:10, Ephesians 4:11-12
Part 15
July 3, 2011 • Michael McCracken
By design, family is supposed to take care of family, so when, for instance, true widows are found in the church, we are to take care of them like family.
Additional Scripture References:
Ephesians 4:2, 1 timothy 1:5, Matthew 7:3-5, Luke 15:11-32, Proverbs 14:12
Part 14
June 26, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Here we see where Paul asked Timothy to command and teach several particular things to the believers.
Additional Scripture References:
Leviticus 20:26, Matthew 12:34-37, James 1:19, James 3:1-12, Ephesians 4:29, Matthew 7:3-5, James 3:13, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 2:12, Philippians 2:15-17, COlossians 1:24, 2 Corinthians 2:4, 2 Corinthians 12:15, Romans 9:1-4, Job 31:1, Nehemiah 8:8
Part 13
June 19, 2011 • Michael McCracken
We have set our hope in a God whose ways are higher than ours, so separating truth from "myths" is crucial.
Additional Scripture References:
Proverbs 14:12, Numbers 15:17-21, Romans 9:20, Romans 11:33-36, Isaiah 66:1, 2 Timothy 3:10, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Matthew 19:29-30, Matthew 6:19-21, Philippians 1:21, Acts 17:22-31
Part 12
June 12, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Because the "doctrine of demons" is ubiquitous in our societies, we may not even recognize its teaching.
Additional Scripture References:
2 Timothy 3:3-4, 1 Corinthians 7:25-35
Part 11
May 29, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Can you lose your salvation? Here we examine dozens of texts that make this issue overwhelmingly apparent.
Additional Scripture References:
Acts 2:39-40, Ephesians 1:4-6, Romans 8:28-30, Acts 13:29, John 17:6, Romans 9:14-15, John 17:20, Ephesians 1:4-6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:5-6, Ephesians 1:5, Philippians 2:13, Isaiah 14:27, Romans 8:7-8, Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 48:11, Ephesians 1:13-14, John 17:10, John 17:13, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 51:12, John 15:11, Romans 15:13, Romans 1:25, Ephesians 1:4, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 7:5, Ephesians 2:1-4, Romans 8:37-39, John 10:28-29, Philippians 1:6, 1 John 2:19, John 10:26-27, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 3:14, Philippians 2:12, 2 Peter 1:5-10, Hebrews 6:4-9
Part 10
May 22, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Deacons are men and women of good repute who serve with an attitude of "whatever," knowing that God will come through when they are stretched.
Additional Scripture References:
Acts 6:1-3, John 1:1, Colossians 1:26-27, Colossians 4:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Galatians 6:9, James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Matthew 20:28, Luke 22:26-27, Hebrews 1:3, Philippians 2:8-11
Part 9
May 15, 2011 • Michael McCracken
As we continue to examine the qualifications of elders in Scripture, we begin to understand the importance of experience and reputation.
Additional Scripture References:
Ezekial 28:11-17, Isaiah 14:12-14, Genesis 3:1-5, Romans 12:3, Proverbs 26:12, Romans 2:21-24, Philippians 2:14-15, James 1:2, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11, Colossians 4:5-6, Romans 10:14-15, Romans 10:17, Psalm 116:15
Part 8
May 8, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Our elders and their wives (Jim and Beverly McCracken, Mike and Joanie Sedgwick) give testimony of raising children.
Part 7
May 1, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Not all men will be overseers, or elders, but all men should aspire to be qualified.
Additional Scripture References:
1 Timothy 5:17, James 5:14, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Acts 15:22, 1 Timothy 4:14, Matthew 5, 1 Chronicles 12:1-3, 1 Chronicles 12:16-17, 1 Chronicles 12:31-32, Philippians 4:8, Luke 14:12-14, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 1 Corinthians 10:23, Philippians 3:8
Part 6
April 17, 2011 • Michael McCracken
Paul instructs women in several areas and also frees them up in some, such as commanding the Church to "let the women learn."
Additional Scripture References:
John 17:16-17, Proverbs 31:25, 1 Corinthians 1:5, Titus 4:11-12, Acts 2:42, Ephesians 4:11-12, Hebrews 13:7, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 3:27, Romans 5:14, 1 Corinthans 15:22, 1 Corinthians 15:19
