Jill reviews the symbols of the Holy Spirit—fire, wind, oil, water, the dove—and then turns to the final symbol, the cloud, to teach that believers are meant to live in the ongoing, present tense fullness of the Spirit.
Jill reads from Galatians, where Paul explains that every believer carries two natures—the old flesh and the new Spirit given life—and whichever one we “feed” will shape our behavior.
Jesus said it was better that He leave earth so the Holy Spirit could come. He was one body amongst the people, but the Spirit would come to live inside of us.
Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 shows that the church is not a building, but a community of people transformed by Jesus and devoted to learning, fellowship, worship, and shared life.
In Acts 10, Cornelius is portrayed as a genuinely seeking soul, and God responds by sending Peter. This illustrates the pattern that when someone truly seeks God...
Peter teaches that God calls believers to live holy lives, and Stuart explains that one of the strongest ways to resist temptation is to cultivate a deep desire to please God above all else.
Peter teaches that trials and temptations are not merely lures toward sin but tests that reveal and strengthen genuine faith. Stuart urges believers to understand temptation seriously...
In Luke 4, Stuart highlights the last temptation of Christ, noting how Satan tests Him with power, provision, and protection, and how Jesus answers each challenge...
Laodicea, Hierapolis and Colossae were situated within a few miles of each other in the Lycus Valley, due east of Ephesus. Laodicea, which was famous for its wealth, medical expertise...
Philadelphia (“Brotherly Love”) was a border city situated on a major highway where Mysia, Lydia and Phrygia met. It was “the gateway from one continent to another” (Barclay).
Sardis had a great reputation both commercially and militarily. Unfortunately, the city rested on its reputation, became careless and self-indulgent, and, on two occasions, was overthrown.
Thyatira was the least important of the seven cities but its church received the longest letter. This may have been because while outwardly the church was prospering...
Pergamum was never able to compete with Ephesus and Smyrna as a trade center, but after it was willed over to Rome by its dying king, it became the capital of Asia...
Smyrna called itself “the glory of Asia.” Situated 35 miles north of Ephesus, its great rival, it is still a flourishing city; although now it is called Izmir.
The church in Ephesus had many advantages. Planted in “the metropolis of Asia,” led and taught by outstanding leaders, it had flourished. But Christ pointed out their lack of love.
The thing that sets Christian motivation apart from other motivational factors is the uniqueness of the Christian’s relationship with Christ. This is no more clearly exhibited than in the love relationship.
In times when people talk a lot about burnout, it is good to remember the sentiments expressed in the old hymn “Let Me Burn Out for Thee, Dear Lord.” Paul’s life and teaching illustrate his attitude with great clarity.
In his book "The Knowledge of the Holy," A.W. Tozer said, “The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate...
Those who have participated in team activities know the value of team spirit. The French call it, "esprit de corps," meaning “spirit of the body”—an expression that transfers easily to the church, the body of Christ.
Peter Ustinov said, “Charity is more common than compassion because charity is tax deductible while compassion is merely time consuming.” His skeptical observation points out the importance of proper Christian motivation.
Give some people a uniform and they will be motivated. Give others a title and the same thing happens. Take others into your confidence and they will be encouraged to perform better. It all has to do with a sense of privilege.
The church is called the body of Christ, and, like all bodies, it has vital signs by which its health can be measured. Healthy bodies are made up of healthy members. So let’s talk about membership.
The group of new believers in Jerusalem learned that initial commitment to Christ led to ongoing commitment to the fellowship of believers—the church. They devoted themselves to a variety of things, including the fellowship.
The Greek work for stewardship is "oikonomia," which is the root word for economy. Originally it meant “managing a household” or handling resources belonging to another.
A.W. Tozer said, “Worship is the missing jewel of the evangelical church.” This was not the case of the early church. We need to study the subject with care because God is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.
The church in Jerusalem began to impact the city in a dramatic way. Even though persecution resulted, the enthusiasm was not diminished—it was dispersed. So began the growth of the church worldwide.
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