The Life and Times of the Early Church

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. Paul explains what it means to “live in Christ” and how Jesus has not only reconciled us with God—he has invited us to participate in his ministry of reconciliation.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 4:16—5:10. Paul discusses some implications of our future resurrection and he points to a day when we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

Grace and peace! Episode 89 of The Life and Times of the Early Church is up on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc. A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 4:1-15. Paul moves from the general experience of all Christians to his own particular experiences, and he talks about how Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 3:1-18. Paul explains what doing ministry under the New Covenant looks like and compares himself (a minister of the New Covenant) with Moses (a minister of the Old Covenant). May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

Grace and peace! Episode 87 of The Life and Times of the Early Church is up on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc. A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 2:5-17. An explanation and an example of how Satan thinks and reasons in planning his attacks on Christians and how the power of forgiveness disarms him. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 1:12—2:4. Paul begins his defense of his ministry by answering three complaints his opponents commonly made: the letters he wrote were obscure, he was fickle, and he had a domineering attitude.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

Grace and peace! Episode 85 of The Life and Times of the Early Church is up on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, etc. An introduction to Second Corinthians and a verse-by-verse study of 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. Paul’s opening words prepare the church for the key issues he will address in the letter.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 16:1-24. Paul brings his letter to the church to a close with some parting exhortations and an example of what love in action looks like in the Corinthian setting.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 15:44-58. Paul brings his teaching on the resurrection to a close by revealing a mystery—he has explained what happens to the dead when Jesus returns, but there will be many Christians who are still alive when that event takes place.  What happens to them? May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 15:35-43. Paul has made his case for the reality of the resurrection in the first part of chapter 15. In verses 35-43, his teaching shifts from the fact of the resurrection to the nature of the resurrection body. What will it be like? May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 15:20-34. Part two of Paul’s teaching on the resurrection.  When Jesus returns to earth, God’s people, both living and dead, will be transformed and receive new, eternal bodies. But this is just the beginning, Paul says. Christ will destroy all opposition to his reign in the universe—both human and demonic. Then death itself will be destroyed.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 15:1-19. Part one of Paul’s teaching on the resurrection. The Corinthians accepted the fact that Jesus had been ressurrected from the dead—they just didn’t see how that would be possible for the rest of us.So Paul begins with a subject he and they are in complete agreement about: Christ was raised from the dead. Then from that fact he builds his case for the resurrection of believers.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40. Paul returns to his teaching on spiritual gifts and their place in worship. His focus is on on gift in particular:  glossolalia—what we often refer to as “speaking in tongues.” He explains how the gift can be used to strengthen and encourage others and the dangers of abusing the gift. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 14:1-25. In this passage, which follows Paul’s teaching on the nature of love in chapter 13, he says that the single goal of the church should be to pursue love, which is expressed in the language of “building up” the church. He then explains the importance of using the gift of speaking in tongues in a way that strengthens and encourages others. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. 1 Corinthians 13 is well-known but often misunderstood, so we are slowing down in order to get the full meaning of what God is teaching us here about the nature of love. In today’s lesson we will consider how to apply this passage to our everyday lives.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. Paul’s teaching on the nature of love is one of the Bible’s most familiar passages. It is also one of the Bible’s most misunderstood teachings. In this lesson we will look at God’s definition of love—what love is and what it is not.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Paul develops an extended metaphor of the church as the body of Christ in which he alternates between the themes of unity and diversity and interdependence. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Paul begins an extended teaching on the subject of the use and abuse of spiritual gifts in public worship.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.Paul explains how the stories of Israel’s failures in the wilderness serve as examples and warnings to people today when we observe the Lord’s Supper. He explains the meaning of the ceremony and how to participate in it in a way that blesses us and honors the Lord. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.In this passage, Paul addresses the marital relationship in terms of self-respect, respect for God, and a mutual and reciprocal respect between husband and wife.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 10:1—11:1.Paul uses the story of Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness to illustrate how God took care of his ancient people, and then he reveals the point of the history lesson: the things that happened to Israel serve a purpose for us. They warn us against lusting after evil things and remind us that history need not repeat itself. Here’s the promise—God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape… May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 9:1-27.Paul summarizes his ministry by saying,  “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel…”What might that look like in today’s world? May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.Paul addresses an issue that on the surface may appear to have little to do with us today—eating food that has been offered to idols. Given how obscure a problem this is in our own culture it is tempting to breeze through this part, but if we look beneath the surface to the deeper truths Paul is teaching, we find several invaluable principles that can help us navigate through the gray areas of Christian living—the decisions we must regularly make that are not specifically addressed in the Scriptures.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 7:8-40.Paul teaches God’s plan for marital relationships by addressing numerous situations that Christians might find themselves in. He talks about those who are widowed and those who are divorced.  He talks about those who are engaged to be married and those who have never been married. He talks about marriages between two believers and marriages between a believer and a non-believer. All of us will find ourselves somewhere in the mix.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 6:12—7:7.Paul segues back into the broad area of sexual ethics, and he explains why sexual immorality is a particularly dangerous sin. He then teaches on sexual ethics in the marriage relationship.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 5:1—6:11.Paul’s response to two reports he has heard about events in Corinth: the first is about a case of incest and the second is about believers filing lawsuits against other believers. He also incidentally mentions a sin that is vigorously debated in our day and has led many to condemn the Apostle Paul and the Bible as homophobic.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 4:1-21.Paul addresses a challenge the Corinthians were facing that Christians today must face: the human tendency to blend the teachings of the Bible with other wisdom sources we respect. Today we call it syncretism—the amalgamation of different religions, cultures or schools of thought. Paul offers the Corinthians (and us) an alternative. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 2:12—3:23.Paul introduces the main point of his argument: The key to understanding God’s wisdom lies with the Holy Spirit. He then develops this point by contrasting two different pairs of people: he compares Christians with non-Christians, and spiritual Christians with worldly Christians.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 1:18—2:11. Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God and divides humanity into two camps: those who are in the process of perishing and those who are in the process of being saved.  May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

An introduction to First Corinthians and a verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 1:1-17. Paul’s opening words appeal for unity and communicate some of the key issues he will address in the letter.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 19:17-41. The botched exorcism by the seven sons of Sceva creates chaos in Ephesus. Some residents turn to the Lord, while others become enraged because Paul’s ministry is disrupting the local trade market and the sales of magical wares. The confrontation culminates in a riot.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 18:18—19:16.  An account of how the church in Ephesus was planted. The city is filled with magicians and pagan worship, and this passage highlights an incident between seven wannabe exorcists and a man filled with numerous demons. The encounter does not end well for the seven sons of Sceva. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13—3:18.  Paul brings his second letter to the Thessalonians to a close with some words of comfort, a command, and a prayer.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12.  Paul explains numerous aspects of the Second Coming of Christ. He contrasts two future events (the rebellion and the coming of the man of lawlessness) with two present realities (the mystery of lawlessness and the restraining of the Antichrist). This “restraining” will continue, Paul says, until the restrainer moves out of the way to allow the final events to unfold.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.  Paul explains why the coming of Christ is still in the future. Jesus’s return will be preceded by two events: a great apostasy and the arrival of the Antichrist.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.  Paul opens his second letter to the Thessalonians with instruction on practicing the spiritual discipline of thankfulness. Today it is popularly known as cultivating “the attitude of gratitude.”  What does that mean and how can we experience it?May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Thessalonians 5:19-28.  Paul brings his first letter to the Thessalonians to a close with instruction on how to decide which teachings they should accept as from God and which they should reject. Sound familiar? Our world today is fillied with those who claim to have a word from God. Which of these people do we listen to and which do we ignore? May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Paul provides a summary of God’s will for all Christians in 3 brief phrases: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” Is it possible to maintain this kind of attitude in the midst of life’s hurts and heartaches? God says it is, and He tells us how.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 5:12-15.  Paul describes how churches are complex entities that include a great variety of personalities. He talks about the relationship of leaders and followers, those who are weak in the faith and those who are strong, the optimists and the pessimists, and the cynical and the gullible. These people must learn not only how to coexist, but how to love one another.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 5:1-11.  The Christians in Thessalonica, like many Christians today, wanted to know when the rapture would occur, and Paul says the main thing they need to know about when it will happen is that it will come like a thief in the night. Paul uses this metaphor to stress that the coming of Christ will be sudden, and for many, totally unexpected. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.  Paul answers a question the new Christians in Thessalonica had about the end times. Specifically, they wanted to know what happens to Christians who die before Jesus returns. In this passage Paul explains the timing of the Day of the Lord and how to prepare for it.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 4:9-12.  In chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians we come to the heart of the letter—instruction on the kind of life that pleases God. In verses 9-12, Paul teaches on the nature of “philadelphia,” brotherly and sisterly love, and describes what it looks like in our everyday life. He then shares four behaviors Christians should practice continually.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 4:1-8.  Chapter 4 brings us to the heart of the letter—instruction on the kind of life that pleases God. And instead of supplying a detailed list of do’s and don’ts, Paul offers examples of holy living, and he starts with one of the most explosive topics on the planet: sex.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 3:1-13.  Paul explains why all Christians will be persecuted and how God can use our hurts and heartaches to shape us into the person He created us to be.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1Thessalonians 2:1-20. Paul moves into the body of his letter by explaining how the love he has for the people in Thessalonica reflects the love God has for them, and he praises the growth of the church and the effect the Gospel was having in their community and the world around them. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. An introduction of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians and a study of the first chapter. Paul praises the new Christians of Thessalonica for their faith, hope, and love and gives thanks to God for them. The church has become known throughout the region for sharing the gospel in both word and deed.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 17:22—18:18. We will look at Paul’s ministry in Corinth and his sermon on Mars Hill that introduces the philosophers of Athens to “the unknown God.” May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 17:1-21. An account of Paul’s ministry in the cities of Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. He is violently assaulted in the first city, well-received in the second, and ridiculed in the third for his belief in the resurrection of the dead.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 15:36—16:40. An account of the beginning of Paul’s second missionary journey which will bring the Gospel to Europe. His first stop is the city of Phillipi, where he has great success but is also arrested and almost beaten to death for preaching the Gospel.May the Lord bless your study of His Word!

A verse-by-verse study of Acts 15:1-35. An account of the meeting in Jerusalem to decide how to incorporate Gentile believers into the Lord’s churches—a decision that had far reaching implications for the advance of Christiainity. May the Lord bless your study of His Word!