Every time we study our bibles it is imperative that read with understanding concerning the source of every word. The word of God is just that, the word of God. Not Paul, not Peter, not Matthew, Mark, Luke, James or John, God. This is really a struggle for many who have not study the origin of scripture. The bible is either the word of men who have written vainly to find God, or it is the Word from God to man that contains all we will ever, in this life, need to know God, and His will for us (2 Peter 1:3). 

Fact is the the latter is true, for God wants us all to have unity of the faith (Eph. 4:1-6), and that can only be done if we learn and apply the scripture rightly to our lives (2 Tim. 3:16-17). True faith, “real faith”, comes only by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17; John 6:63). 

With these truths in mind, we must understand that each time we study, we do not have the right to “privately interpret” (2 Peter 1:19-21, cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Context is everything, and of the plethora of false teachers the preponderance of them exist because of not “rightly dividing” scripture which results in “proof texts”. . . This exactly defines most bible teachers, and preachers today, simply put it is applied to anyone who teaches doctrine based upon one scripture. All scripture must harmonize or “we”, not God, are mishandling the text, and more often than not–to our own advantage, and to our own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). As we do our study (2 Part) in this lesson, and every lesson, we need to keep this fundamental truth that we don’t. . .  

Jehonadab is coming to meet Jehu. Jehu greeted him by saying, “Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?”  Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 Then he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” What a great example that all of us can follow concerning zeal and the Lord’s kingdom. We all need to. . .

Peter teaches us that as imatators of Christ we must be willing to treat the world with a portion of godliness. He says, “not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing”  (1 Peter 3:9). Peter instructs, that we cannot reciprocate the evil treatment of others towards us with evil. Peter tells us we are different, therefore, we do not respond in kind because we have been born again to  “. . .a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. . .  (1 Pet. 1:3). Remember that the Lord is against all evil, therefore, we must, “. . . him turn away from evil and do good. . .” (1 Peter 3:11), and we must not be troubled by suffering, but understand. . .

At verse 8 of Peter’s first letter to the “sojourners and pilgrims” (2:11), Peter is not finished, and is in a teaching summary way, bringing out the importance of following and practicing everything he previously wrote up to this point. Peter says, “Finally, all of you be of one mined . . . ” , then offers five things we must that must be practice by every child of God. Those five things are. . .

So, the first thing we must always do in answering any question concerning Christ or any practice in the church is to be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), “and searched the Scriptures daily” to find out what the scriptures have to say on the subject of holidays to be practice in the LORD’s church. That means this message should be only 1:45 seconds long because that is how long it takes to say, “It’s not in there”. Of course if we are looking for reasons to explain why it will take a bit longer. What is the question? Simply put, of the many holidays practiced in the U.S. alone, do members of the LORD’s church have the right…

Question: What do Able, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah all have in common with all Christians right now? We are all…

We learned from Peter the importance of God’s children to act and live like God’s children, living your lives conducting yourselves honorably so that the world will see your good deeds and glorify God (2:12). Submit yourself to every human authority (2:13, 18), honoring all people (2:17). In the third chapter of Peter’s first letter to the pilgrims and sojourners it is the home life that is addressed. Specifically, wives to their husbands, and husbands to their wives. The theme has not changed, the emphases is still on the great power of being submissive. When the world looks on, and sees godliness being practiced in the home, souls are affected. Peter begins with just how a disobedient husband “without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives”. Likewise husbands…

One very important character attribute that every child of God must perfect—is the blessing, the talent, or the skill of encouraging one another. In this lesson that is what we will talk about and to begin let us read together 5 encouraging Psalms beginning with one of the most encouraging Psalms ever written by king David. And yes, I am glad you asked me which one—turn with me to David’s 23 Psalm…

In this study Peter places great emphasis on submission. Of the seven words translated “servant”, the word used by Peter in chapter 2 at verse 18 is from • Greek [OIKETES] and means “Household servant”. The root word is [οἶκος] implying an inhabited house. Christians are servants of the Master Jesus who used this same word saying, “No servant can serve two masters”  (Luke 16:13). Peter said Christians are – “. . . being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). There is great value in the practicing of submission, in the right place and for the glory of God. Without doubt our Savior Jesus is the greatest example that we should walk in His footsteps should be no surprise. 

What do you do the day before the Lord’s day of worship? What do you do the night before the Lord’s day of worship? What do you do along the way on the day to worship the Lord? Is your Saturday a day of fishing, golf, visiting with friends that ends in an evening titled late night movie marathon? Then are you refreshed on Sunday morning, excited, ready with your family to enter into worship? This is more often not the case for many. Hurry, get those kids ready, no you do it I am not ready, I wish I had another hour, hurry, hurry, we are going to be late! This lesson from Psalm 100 might just…