Straight From The Heart
Aired Teaching # Scripture Description Listen
12/20/2024 SAM930 I Thessalonians 1:6-10 Turning, serving, and waiting- The Thessalonian church turned away from idols to God and remained turned. Some people try to take Jesus and weave him into their old ways. We should be continually serving and "waiting up" for Christ's return. Not serving and settling.
12/19/2024 SAM930 I Thessalonians 1:6-10 God's plan for the church- God's plan for the church is not for the outside world to wonder what is going on inside the church. Paul said the church at Thessalonica was an example to all other churches because they were so effectively reaching the outside world. What was their secret?
12/18/2024 SAM929 I Thessalonians 1:1-6 Is your life an example?- When Paul thought about the Thessalonian believers, he gave thanks for their good example of a maturing Christian life. They had faith that works, love that labors, and hope that holds on. What do other Christians think of when they look at your life?
12/17/2024 SAM929 I Thessalonians 1:1-6 Paul's prophetic letters- Paul's letters to the Thessalonians are full of encouraging words to a young church that was growing in faith. Every chapter of this first letter ends with a reminder of the imminent return of Christ. It is no coincidence that the return of Christ is the most universal subject of the new testament.
12/16/2024 SPM642 Romans 16:10-27 Finishing on a high note- Writing his final words to the Romans, Paul reminds the church that God will triumph over our ultimate enemy Satan. Therefore, he encourages us to remain faithful and obedient to God's word without letting sin mix into our lives.
12/13/2024 SPM642 Romans 16:10-27 Greeting and exhorting- Paul concludes his greetings to the church in Rome and offers a final exhortation and warning. Paul begs the church to be watchful for those who cause division and avoid them, "For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly."
12/12/2024 SPM641 Romans 15:8-16:10 A fellow worker- The final words of Paul's letter to the Romans are dedicated to 35 fellow laborers in Christ. Paul was an apostle with a unique calling, but he knew he could never fulfill God's will for his life without so many other saints faithfully serving alongside him.
12/11/2024 SPM641 Romans 15:8-16:10 Man plans, God directs- Paul had plans to visit Rome, but he knew God had other responsibilities that first required his attention. Paul begged the church in Rome for their prayers that he might be protected on his journey. Are we faithful to pray for our leaders in the faith?
12/10/2024 SPM641 Romans 15:8-16:10 Apostle to the Gentiles- Paul was confident in his calling to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentile world. How could he not faithfully deliver the good news to those who were unaware when God showed such great grace toward him?
12/9/2024 SPM640 Romans 14:6-15:7 Obedience that pleases God- God is loving and patient with us. In the same way, we are called to be patient with those who are younger in the faith. We can obey God with the wrong attitude.
12/6/2024 SPM640 Romans 14:6-15:7 Let us not judge- We can be quick to judge others. Paul reminds us that ultimately God is our judge, and we should be concerned with our own behavior before Him. Instead of judging, we need to make sure we are not causing our brother's and sister's in Christ to stumble.
12/5/2024 SPM639 Romans 13:6-14:5 Put on Christ- Our Christian experience should primarily be about the things we do, not what we don't do. Paul begins a discourse on Christian liberties. When it comes to the essential truths of the Christian faith there should be unity.
12/4/2024 SPM639 Romans 13:6-14:5 Spiritual reform- Are we more concerned about government reform or spiritual reform? Evan Roberts said these 4 things will lead to revival: Repent of known sin and make every wrong done to man right, put away every doubtful habit, respond to the Holy Spirit promptly, and confess Christ publicly.
12/3/2024 SPM638 Romans 12:9-13:5 The Christian and government- Sometimes the world of politics feels inescapable. It can dominate our attention and conversations daily. What does the bible say about the role of government, and our responsibility as Christian citizens toward the ruling authorities?
12/2/2024 SPM638 Romans 12:9-13:5 Actions and reactions- Paul continues to exhort us in what practical Christian living looks like with 20 commandments that should shape our behavior. These commandments hold Christians responsible for their actions and reactions toward others.
11/29/2024 SPM637 Romans 12:1-8 Serving God with spiritual gifts- The body of Christ is composed of "many members in one body." Every part contributes to the whole. What spiritual gifts has the Lord entrusted you with?
11/28/2024 SPM637 Romans 12:1-8 A living sacrifice- Is Jesus the Lord over your physical body? Is your faith just fire insurance? The things you allow to influence your mind and your thoughts will determine how you use your body.
11/27/2024 SPM636 Romans 11 Our glorious future- What is the millennium and what does it have to do with Israel? Is the future of Israel and the church somehow tied together? God has shown mercy to the entire world through the disobedience of Israel.
11/26/2024 SPM636 Romans 11 God's plan for Israel- Is God finished with His ancient people? This is a very important question to answer. What you do with Israel will determine the way you interpret a significant portion of the Bible.
11/25/2024 SPM635 Romans 10 Faith comes by hearing- The nation of Israel is without excuse for rejecting Jesus. The seed of the gospel was planted in various old testament passages like Isaiah 53. The power is in the word, not the delivery.
11/22/2024 SPM635 Romans 10 Paul's prayer for Israel- Paul remembered the emptiness of trying to honor God with a life of religious works. His heart broke for his fellow Jews who had not yet come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Are we burdened to pray for unsaved friends and family?
11/21/2024 SPM634 Romans 9 Accepting God's sovereignty- Are some people's lives destined for destruction while others are saved? God's plan doesn't always seem fair. Do we even have a right to question how God operates?
11/20/2024 SPM634 Romans 9 What about Israel?- After describing in chapter 8 the great assurance we have as followers of Jesus, Paul now begins to show that God will remain faithful to the promises He has given to the nation of Israel.
11/19/2024 SPM633 Romans 8:28-39 What do we say to these things?- Election and predestination. These are big words with big implications. If people are predestined are altar calls necessary? How do you know if you are one of the elect? Can you lose your salvation?
11/18/2024 SPM633 Romans 8:28-39 All things work together- If we love God, we can know that He is at work in our lives. Even when it's difficult to see. God's sovereignty and man's responsibility can be tough ideas to wrap your mind around.
11/15/2024 SPM632 Romans 8:17-27 Longing for redemption- Creation groans and waits for the day it will be delivered from the curse of sin. Likewise, we long for the day of redemption for our bodies. We can bring the burden of our earthly weaknesses to the Lord as we wait.
11/14/2024 SPM632 Romans 8:17-27 Persevering through suffering- We can count on facing trials in one form or another in this life, but Paul reminds us that the hope of glory to come far outweighs our present suffering.
11/13/2024 SPM631 Romans 8:1-16 Children of God- What does it mean to be a child of God? For starters, Paul said, "the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you." Not only that, but we will "be glorified together" with Him one day.
11/12/2024 SPM631 Romans 8:1-16 The law of the Spirit- If we are born again by the Spirit of God we no longer "walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." What does that look like? How does someone know if they are born again?
11/11/2024 SPM630 Romans 7 Dead men don't wrestle- Paul acknowledges that a very real part of the Christian walk is the inward battle between flesh and Spirit. This wrestling is the very evidence of the new birth.
11/8/2024 SPM630 Romans 7 Dead to the law- If we are no longer bound by the requirements of the law does that mean it is without purpose? The law helps make us aware of our sin nature which is contrary to the law.
11/7/2024 SPM629 Romans 6 Slave of sin or God?- We all serve a master. The world says that freedom is to live in sin and satisfy the desires of our flesh. The Bible says the life of sin is bondage, and true freedom is found in living as a slave to God.
11/6/2024 SPM629 Romans 6 Wrestling with sin- There is a wrestling between flesh and spirit in the Christian life. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus we now have the power to resist our tendency toward sin and yield to the life giving power of the Spirit.
11/5/2024 SPM629 Romans 6 Dead to sin- God is gracious and forgiving when we fail, but that does not give Christians a license to live in sin? God is calling us to a new quality of life, and to live out the fact that we are no longer slaves to sin.
11/4/2024 SPM628 Romans 5 Death in Adam, Life in Christ- Bad news: sin entered the world through Adam, the first man. Good news: through the obedience of one man, Jesus Christ, all can be saved from the curse of sin and death.