Holiness or rules and Laws. (Colossians 2 & 3) Colossians 2:12 This refers to Christian baptism. When you go under the water you are dying to everything, your old life, your sins, etc. Verse 13 Paul is speaking to Christian’s believers here. He is making a sharp contrast between their pre-Christian past and their present...
A Life Worth Following (1 Cor 11:1) 1 Cor 4:16 This is a great statement, but do we really want to follow just a man, even if it is Paul? 1 Cor 11:1 As we think about this statement from Paul it seems to spark a lot more questions. First, what makes Paul’s life compelling...
All in for the Gospel (1 Cor 9:19) 1 Cor 9:19 In the previous context here in chapter 9 Paul has been defending his apostleship. Verse 19 He seems to be using language that would suggest that he had been accused of trying to please the masses. At the same time, he seems to be...
The war in our mind Pt II 2023 (2 Cor 10 & Psalm 23) Cor 10:1-5 Paul recognized this as spiritual warfare and not just a disagreement. First, we must use the right kind of weapons. In order to fight spiritual battles, we need spiritual weapons. Second, these lies or thoughts have been lifted...
Opportune Prayer (Eph 6:18) Eph 6: 18 in the NLT and the YLT It says to pray at all times in the first phrase. Which sounds like I am supposed to prayer every second of the day. But how would that be possible? To understand this verse, we need to start by looking at the...
Government Submission (Romans 13:1-2) Romans 13:1 Historical context Paul wrote the book of Romans in AD 57, 57 years after Christ. The Romans were still ruling over the land of Israel. Nero is the Roman emperor at this time. And we know from history that Nero was one of the most brutal emperors. Many...
Lost Roles (Ephesians 4:11-13) Verse 11 The verse begins with a list of the various offices in the church. These are not elected offices, but ones given by God. These leaders are a gift from God to the church. These five types of leaders are in some circles referred to as the “five-fold ministry.” Some...
All in for the Gospel (1 Cor 9:19) 1 Cor 9:19 In the previous context here in chapter 9 Paul has been defending his apostleship. Verse 19 He seems to be using language that would suggest that he had been accused of trying to please the masses. At the same time, he seems to...
Learning to be Content Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any...
We tend to see hardship and suffering as negative and fight against them. But Paul saw them as positive and essential to the Gospel message. In this message pastor Tim looks at 2 Corinthians 8:7-12 where Paul tells us that our suffering, hardships and persecutions are all part of the Gospel message. Rather then fighting...
Tired and weary?? Eph 5:14 I Felt like the breast plate of righteousness was the answer to our heaviness and tiredness. Verse 14 In the Greek the verb to “to put on” is repeated in this clause, the NIV assumes that. So it would read and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, The enemy...
Sorry for poor audio quality Covid-19 The Curse, the Mercy, and the Response The Curse • This is a question I have been hearing both from believers and non-believers. o “Why would a loving God allow this to happen?” o To briefly answer this question, we must go back to Genesis 1 & 2 •...
Pastor Tim Mengler continues in the series Winning the War for Your Mind this week dealing with temptations. • 1 Cor 10:13 There is nothing unusual about our temptations. • Why is this important? Because the enemy tries to convince us no one else has this problem. o Use this verse, don’t condone the sin;...
Winning the War for Your Mind (2 Cor 10:1-5) Verse 3 Paul realizes that this is spiritual warfare. This is a spiritual issue, not a worldly one. Verse 4 The implication is that Paul sees their criticism of him being rooted in a demonic stronghold. • The word stronghold refers to a place where an...
In Philippians chapter 4 Paul says that he has learned to be content in every situation. I think that’s a great lesson for us all to learn. Let’s look at this passage and ask who were his teachers and what was the curriculum to see if we too can learn to be content? Learning to...
A Life Worth Following Part 2 1 Cor 11:1; 2 Cor 1:8-9 • From this statement, Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ, we saw three key issues. o First, the quality of Paul’s life, the worthiness to be followed. o Second, there is an invitation. “Follow me” A deliberate invitation. o...
Paul tell us in this verse to follow him as he follows Christ. But what made Paul’s life worth following? A Life Worth Following (1 Cor 11:1) 1 Cor 11:1 Is my life worth following? Context: Paul is addressing the entire Corinthian Church. He is not writing to an individual believer. Three key issues here:...
Today I look a passage in 1 Cor 9 where Paul says he as been all things to all people to reach them for the Gospel. Paul entered into the world of people who had never heard the name Jesus before in order to bring the Gospel message. The call remains the same for us...
A brief introduction to the Holy Spirit and the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Living in the Spirit: Being Filled (Ehp 5:15 and Acts 8) Eph 5:18 The verb here in the NIV as “be filled” is a present passive imperative in the Greek. o There are three components to this grammar...
