Sam Somesan: Recent Episodes
Samuel Somesan
Stephen engages in apologetics for the Christian faith and is falsely accused at trial. No servant is greater than the Master, and all must prepare to suffer in the footsteps of Jesus. Though the world hates the cause of Christ, we must reflect the glory of Christ to them by participating whole-heartedly in the Temple where the Word is proclaimed and the people are enjoyed.
In contrast to the acceptable sacrifice of Barnabas, Ananias and Saphira offer an unacceptable sacrifice by lying to God while attempting boost their image before men. Peter confronts both individuals regarding their sins, seeing that Satan is attempting to disrupt the koinonia of the church. God though Peter guards and keeps His temple pure from hypocrites by miraculously killing Ananias and Saphira. Reverential awe and fear God reverberates through the church and community at large on account of this incident.
The believers in the church are inwardly united at the heart level, internally united in generosity within the body, and externally united in their proclamation of the resurrected Jesus. Their radical community fulfills the OT expectations for Israel’s behavior and establishes a new, true temple while also appealing to the ethical ideals of the Greek philosophical world. Good leadership and encouraging new characters are present, and the church is, therefore, flourishing despite the difficulties faced.
In the Peter’s portico pronouncement, Peter confronts the audience with the problem of their sin, offers the solution of faith in the person and work in Christ, calls for a repentant response. This results remittance of sins, spiritual refreshment, future restoration, and reading Scripture Christocentrically.
Luke gives an account of the first healing in the Last Days Temple continuing to fulfill the prophecy spoken of in Joel. Peter heals a lame man in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth showing that Jesus is the one who saves and heals and that Jesus is still reigning from Heaven. The lame man provides a beautiful picture of what the Gospel is and what it looks like for a lost wretch to be transformed by God into a new creation. The collision of the Last Days Temple with the old temple shows that Jesus is building up His Church starting in Jerusalem and extending towards the ends of the earth.
Luke provides his first summary statement in Acts where he describes the church as faithfully engaging in the Word, the Lord’s Supper, fellowship, prayer, Spirit-movement, crazy generosity, and intense community for the praise of God which attracts more and more people to the power of Jesus on display in His new temple of people.
In this passage, Peter finishes his sermon by arguing that Jesus, the ascended one, has been enthroned as Lord and Christ. Despite being guilty sinners, there is forgiveness and a lavishing of spiritual gifts to be found in Jesus. Any who would come is welcome, and none will be cast out.
Peter goes on offense in describing the person and work of Jesus. Peter describes Jesus as a fully incarnated man attested to by God’s signs and wonders. Peter describes Jesus as one crucified and killed by God’s sovereign plan and man’s evil will. Peter describes Jesus as the Greater David who overcame the power of death (and the realm of the dead) in a way no one else could. This Jesus stands ready to forgive the guilt of all who crucified Him if they will believe and repent toward His person and work on their behalf.
Combining the temple backgrounds of Sinai and Babel, Luke reveals that with the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, the eschatological temple has come down from Heaven. This end times temple is made not of stones but of people. This people forms a new humanity under King Jesus that is unified while maintaining its distinctives to God’s glory. God’s judgement of the nations is precisely the means by which His salvation will occur, and people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will worship the King forevermore.
From the humble beginnings of a small group which obediently waits the direction of their King, God will build His Kingdom. God is sovereign over everything and victorious over those who oppose Him. He destroys all that oppose His anointed and His Kingdom. Under the providential selection of God, the eleven select Matthais to complete the twelve once again. Thus, the tribal heads of Israel are reconstituted in preparation for the restoration of Israel by the establishment of True Israel at Pentecost.
Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to empower His people to proclaim the Good News throughout the world. Christ’s ascension is the seal of authenticity of his ministry on earth. He is still working in heaven as Prophet, Priest, and King. Just as He went up into heaven, so also, He will return again to judge the living and the dead.
In the prologue to the book of Acts, Luke portrays it such that Jesus is about to continue acting and teaching after His ascension, through the apostolic foundation. The bodily resurrection and promise of the Spirit indicate that the Kingdom is indeed at hand and will usher forth to the nations from Jerusalem. Everything is on schedule according to the plan of God.
Hear Dr. Nate Meece speak on the role of the mind and intellect in the life of the Christian!
Listen to Jim Fain discuss the differences between Biblical counseling and secular psychology
Listen to Justin Williams share about missions and his experiences on the mission field!
Listen to Pastor Tony provide practical evangelism training to begin our Gospel proclamation unit
In this episode, we explore how Christ alters our perspective of what true greatness is.
In this sermon delivered at Landmark Baptist Church, we see how Christ fulfills the Old Testament through 2 Corinthians 1:19-22.
This lesson takes a deeper, biblical-theological look at hospitality based on the pattern of Romans 15.
Pastoral Ministry and Teaching unit lesson 2 with Pastor Jym + a time of worship at the Koinonia x LifePoint kickoff event.
Discussion of chapters 13-16 with an update on missions and a call to worship from John 17.
The Kindness and Severity of God Part 1: In this episode, we take a brief survey of the Old and New Testament background for the "Day of the Lord" and explore some of its practical implications for the Christian life.
During this week, Pastor Tony stopped in to share about the upcoming Columbia evangelism mission trip (!!!) Regarding 2 Peter, we see Peter's description of the false teachers' behavior (part 1).
Peter discusses false teachers who have abandoned the faith. Using various Old Testament examples, Peter highlights the principle that there is certain judgement coming for the wicked and certain salvation coming for the righteous.
In a final act of faithfulness, Peter reminds readers of the Scriptural certainty of Jesus' return as confirmed by Peter's Transfiguration experience.
During this episode, we hear from 2 Peter regarding qualities which characterize the life of a Christian and can subsequently provide assurance of our salvation.
How do we truly know God? In this lesson, Peter shows us that a relationship with God is accomplished by His power that gives us promises which allow us to partake in the divine nature.
In this time, we share our (updated) vision for the future of Koinonia. Thank you for your continued support and love for one another!
Paul concludes his epistle to the Romans with a great number of greetings. By placing himself in the company of many faithful Christians, Paul establishes his unity with them. From women to slaves to Jews to Gentiles to free to acquaintances to closest companions, the Gospel brings people together knit in love who greet each other warmly. Paul wants to ensure that this Roman church, like all churches, strongly avoids false teachers who are smooth talking agents of Satan. Victory over the lies is assured as we stand in Jesus’ grace. With the greeting of his companions, Paul closes in praise to God. God is the one who will keep His people through the power of the Gospel of Jesus. The light of the truth shines most clearly in this final period of human history as all nations come to faith in Christ. With a plan as wise as this, we glorify this all-wise God, and we can only come before Him because of Christ, our hope in life and death.
Continuing a discussion on unity, Paul insists that the strong put others first. Following the example of Christ, we learn from Scripture the hope we have which gives us endurance to bear with and welcome one another for the glory of God. Because the division likely happened along ethnic lines, it is critical to see that Christ has served both Jew and Gentile in fulfillment of Scripture. While Paul recognizes that they know how to handle this, Paul reminds them since he is God’s chosen vessel to build the gentile church. Having established churches in the major eastern Mediterranean cities, Paul desires to go further west preaching the Gospel among the unreached. On his way westward, Paul intends to fellowship with the Roman church, but he must first deliver the collection of funds from gentiles to the Jewish church of Jerusalem. Accordingly, Paul sought prayers for safety, acceptance of the gift by the church, and ability to come to the Roman church for spiritual refreshment as he prepared for westward expansion of the Gospel.
In matters of conscience and opinion within the Christian faith, we must welcome and not quarrel with one another. The stronger brother must not despise the weaker, nor the weaker judge the stronger. The Lord stands as judge of all and can persevere His people. Whether therefore we eat, drink, observe days or abstain from doing so, we must do all to the honor of the Lord with thankfulness to Him. Because of the death and resurrection of Christ, everything about our life and death belongs to Him and is not for our own glory. Each person must stand on His own before God. Turning particularly to the strong, we must be sure that our actions do not cause severe, eternal stumbling to the weaker brother. While we may be correct in our position, if the weak cannot engage with a clean conscience, it is sin for them. Liberty is good, but if it (like legalism) becomes what is most important, we have missed the point. A right relationship with God, right relationships with others, and right relationship within ourselves is what defines the kingdom, pleases God through Christ, and wins the hearts of our fellow Christians. We must not, then, shove our convictions on others to their harm, but rather, we must be satisfactorily convinced that our behavior is proper between us and God.
As an expression of love, Christians should submit to government because God appoints them to execute His judgements of morality within the human political sphere. While they should look kindly upon what is good, God has equipped them to exact punishment on those who do evil in society. For sake of God and conscience, we must pay what is owed and respect those in authority. One debt that never expires, however, is love for each other. If we perfect our love for God and neighbor, we will fulfill mosaic (and therefore civil) law precisely in the way we should. As we draw ever nearer to the end of this age and the concomitant return of Christ, we must live as those who belong to the next age, not the present one. Practically, that manifests as avoiding the drunken party lifestyle, sexual immorality, and social sins. Generally, instead of giving into our mortal/fleshly desires, we must look more and more like the Jesus to whom we already belong.
The Christian life is intended to be one of worship to God. As we grow in grace with our transformed mind, we learn to discern more clearly how God would have us to live. First, God would have us to live humbly in community with other believers. Each of us having an accurate assessment of ourselves, we contribute our respective gifts to the body functioning cohesively. Second, Christians love. Treating one another as family, we pursue the end God has for us with intensity, joy, patience, prayerfulness, and hospitality. When we endure persecution, Christians actively return goodness. We identify with our family and live harmoniously with them by remaining humbled through our deeds and associations. Righteous choices, peaceable responses, lack of vengeful behaviors, and actionable kindness instead may result in the conviction of our adversary. Summarily, Christians finally win because goodness is the ultimate defeater of evil.
God has not rejected national Israel. While today there is a remnant chosen by grace as there has always been, someday there will be more. When national Israel rejected the Gospel, this caused the Gospel to go forward more fully to the Gentiles which is in turn designed to make the Jews jealous to salvation. Gentiles have nothing to be prideful about. Rather, we should be in awe that we were included into God’s covenantal people group. To be included, all men must have continued belief in Christ. National Israel will one day see reintegration into the tree of the people of God, a massive end-time salvation. God will always be faithful to His promises, and while each group had their time of unbelief, God used the other’s belief/unbelief to bring salvation to the other. Thus, God is to be greatly praised for His wisdom in saving both Jews and Gentiles. The story began with God, was orchestrated by God, and will find its completion in Him. Give Him His due glory!
Gentiles who did not seek God have received righteousness unlike the Jews because the Jews sought God by works of the law and not by faith in Christ. While their legalistic efforts may be zealous, they missed that Jesus is the culmination of that law. God has made His revelation in Christ accessible. Man must simply respond by believing and professing the Gospel. Since belief/profession is the path to salvation, this is open to anyone who asks God for it. If we are to ask, then we must know that the Gospel exists which God has made to be heard by the preachers He has sent, yet the Gospel proclamation of these preachers, though definitely heard, has gone unheeded by Israel. Because of God’s prior revelation to Israel, they understood that God would enter into relationship with other peoples if they did not obey. The issue does not stem from God’s unfaithfulness to Israel, but rather their blatant unfaithfulness to Him.
Paul is deeply sorrowed by the unbelief of his Jewish brothers who had received such great revelation from God. This calls into question if God’s promises will finally be true for national Israel since they have not believed the Gospel. Paul, in turn, argues that salvation was never about race, but grace (Wright). If it is not about race nor any intrinsic human factor, then it can only be based on God’s sovereign choice. Appealing to Scripture first, Paul shows that God has the right to dispense mercy to salvation and hardening to those already in damnation as He sees fit. While Paul does not answer directly how humans are still morally culpable, Paul appeals to God’s being Creator as another reason why He can create for mercy or destruction. God has designed it such that his temporary withholding of destruction on the ungodly makes his wrath, power, and grace shine more brightly in contrast. These vessels of mercy—individuals predestined to salvation, called from Jew and Gentile nations—will together become His remnant, the Church.
The Christian is free from condemnation, law, and the power of sin due to the freeing power of Christ mediated to us by the Spirit orchestrated by the Father. Whereas in the flesh we were destined for death, the new mind and deeds of the Spirit has charted a course of eternal life. In this eternal life, we have become children of God, united with Christ, ready to receive our inheritance from God. While suffering persists today, creation itself longs for total redemption as we also do. This hope is coming, yet today our weakness is strengthened as the Spirit intercedes and the Father governs according to His Will. The Father accomplishes the will of love He sets on us as He causes us to become conformed to His Son in eternal glory. We are fully loved, and no spiritual courtroom proceedings, sufferings, or any other conceivable situation of life destroy our hope by separating us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Christians, by virtue of their dying with Christ, are set free from the law. The law produces sinful desires leading to death. The only way to break this captivity to sin through the law is by the Spirit, previewing chapter 8. The law is not sinful, but sin becomes more defined and powerful with the coming of the law. The law does offer a path to life, which sin uses the law to trick people into works righteousness when all it could ever do was point us to Christ. When someone attempts to do what the law says, they suddenly find that sin is not merely an external force, but actually resides in them, in their flesh. The mental faculty which wants to do the law is overpowered by a stronger internal faculty—sin. Thus, we have no power to defeat sin and are condemned to die. When we receive AND subsequently depend on Christ, only then can the power of sin be broken.
Paul emphatically denies that we should sin in order to bring more grace. Instead, Paul argues that by virtue of our forensic union with Christ, we have died to the sin which characterized our corporate identification in Adam. Living in and waiting for the resurrection hope, Christ inaugurated the age to come where life to the glory of God has conquered sin and death. Reckoning this to be spiritually true, we must not let sin dominate our mortal, physical existence. As grace reigns in this inaugurated age to come, we see that our enslavement to sin leading to death has been transferred to righteousness leading to life. Having transformed desires, we now obey God as slaves to righteousness causing ever increasing holiness. Once free from obeying God, we have been set free to the slavery of God. Where Adam’s and our sin led to death, Jesus’ accomplishment independent of us is now offered as a free gift to us. This gift promises the ransom necessary to bring us to a new Master and life eternal.
Now that we have been justified by faith, we can also take hope of the glorious future we have in Christ. Whenever we fall into suffering times, our hope grows as we are transformed. This hope is sure because of the love of God which we experience in both a subjective way and an objective way. This objective demonstration of God’s love by dying on the cross justifies, reconciles, and causes us to rejoice in God. The basis of this hope is that, while every individual human is born in corporate solidarity with Adam, humans can receive the free gift of God to be found in union with Christ. When Adam acted on behalf of humanity in the Garden, his disobedience resulted in death, judgement, condemnation, and positional placement as sinners. Not only are humans corporately regarded as sinners because of Adam’s representative action, but they also confirm this by sinning and experiencing death as a result of inheriting Adam’s sinful nature. When Christ, the second Adam, acted on behalf of His people on the Cross, his obedience resulted in a free gift of life, grace, justification, and positional placement as righteous. The law shows that humans sin against explicit commands of God like Adam, but God’s grace overcomes it and gives eternal life in Christ.
Seeking to demonstrate his third chapter claims to be true, Paul argues that Abraham was justified not by works but by faith. Forgiveness then is not a debt of God’s to be paid but purely of His grace. The external rite of circumcision also does not save since Abraham was declared righteous prior to being circumcised. As such, Abraham is Father of both the circumcised and uncircumcised that have faith. The promise made to Abraham cannot be on the basis of law lest faith become meaningless, and the promise fail entirely since no one can keep the law. The promise instead depends on faith, and as such, Abraham is Father of both the one with and without the law that have faith. Abraham continued to demonstrate this faith in God keeping His covenant even when it was impossible from a human perspective. This faith-based justification is not just for Abraham, but rather, it is now for us too who will be justified by faith alone in the work of God through Jesus Christ both on the cross and in His resurrection.
Continuing the thought of chapter two, Paul shows that while the Jews do have genuine advantages by nature of their Jewishness, they were not faithful to God. God is, however, faithful nevertheless which means that he can and must judge Jewish sin as He does gentile sin. Paul shows that the Old Testament supports his claims regarding human depravity. From not desiring God to hurtful speech and act against fellow humans, every individual is guilty before God and cannot work his way to God by the law. God provided a new covenant of salvation for all mankind through faith in Jesus and His substitutionary death. This death was necessary for God to be just while also redeeming mankind. Since God is the author and accomplisher, no one can celebrate human achievement, but must rather humbly come to one God through one mediator in one faith. Instead of diminishing it, faith in Christ actually allows the law to be more fulfilled than ever before.
The sinner appearing as highly moral, who hypocritically does the same sins as the sinner who appears highly immoral, is still subject to God’s judgement. It does not matter who you are—Jew or Gentile—God sees your righteousness or unrighteousness as it flows from your faith or lack thereof and will judge accordingly. While Jews have the written law to be judged by, Gentiles also have a sense of law written on their hearts which is enforced by the power of the conscience. The written Law has no value if you do not keep the Law. Circumcision has no value if you do not keep the law. External conformity does no good since God sees and judges the heart. Because of this, our standing before God and His subsequent judgement is not based on externals but on the purity of our hearts, and pure heart is only possible by God’s Holy Spirit changing us entirely.
Paul was specifically and specially called to carry the Gospel about Jesus to the nations which was Paul’s eager duty. He longed to strengthen and be strengthened by people God had called to salvation which he had never met. Paul shows us that the point of this epistle is the good news of the Gospel, but that good news must start with the bad news. That bad news is that mankind loves sin more than God, and God let man choose his own way. Mankind’s way involves idolatry which results in grave sexual and social sins. Though these sins result in eternal death, man proceeds ahead and encourages society at large to move in an anti-God direction.
In this challenging lesson, we addressed what it means for children to obey their parents while also providing some practical ideas for how parents can avoid frustrating their children.
The Intimate Marriage: The Role of Nudity and Nakedness (both physical and emotional/spiritual) within the confines of the marital relationship
Using an approach based on the liberty we have in Christ, this lesson challenges what precisely are appropriate entertainment standards for a Christian in context of Paul's ethical lists in Colossians chapter 3.
If Paul has describing Christians by Who they desire, in this lesson, we see how he describes Christians by who they are. Instead of Paul just saying that we have been given a new set of desires, he makes sure to let us know that we are entirely different in our very essence. We are not who we once were. Instead of talking about our Holy Affections, in this lesson, we discuss our Holy Identify.
When our affections are set on God—not merely on the gifts that come from God—pursuing that relational happiness is not selfish or mercenary because it is the final and highest stage of what it means to enter relationship with him.
True religion is found only in true relationship with Christ. True relationship with Christ possesses real love and joy. “True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections.”
Not Mysticism, but Christ!
In this lesson, you will hear how esoteric, mystical experiences are in no way spiritually superior to genuine, heart level obedience. Those who attempt to use visionary experiences, false pretenses of humility, heavenly intermediaries apart from Christ, etc. as a way to show a spiritual superiority demonstrate that they have lost connection with the only true source of spiritual growth, fullness, and satisfaction--Christ!
Not Legalism, But Christ
Legalism, which is any action done with the intension of meriting God’s grace, (which is also not to be confused with legitimate, heartfelt, holy obedience) is never the solution to stopping our flesh. Codifying man-made rules in addition to God's immutable law is never the solution.
It is only the power of Christ changing the heart which produces true worship. Sola Scriptura!
Full Forgiveness in Christ: You, God, and Satan
God has wiped the ledger of our spiritual debt clean and nailed it to the cross. What you can't forget, God can't remember!
Athens or Jerusalem? The Academy or the Church? Christ or Human Philosophy? In this passage, we expound upon and apply Paul's strong warning to be on guard against deficient human philosophy and tradition. Instead, we call all to be faithful to the All Sufficient Wisdom of God, the Logos, the God-man, Jesus Christ.
As Memorial Day occurred on the our usual meeting day, this lesson was dedicated to assessing the Biblical position regarding war. If war is never morally permissible, how could we celebrate Memorial Day in good conscience? This episode thus argues that war can indeed be justifiable from both historical precedent and the role of the God's institution of government in society. Finally, the episode concluded with a discussion of Just War Theory as articulated by Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.
During this episode we cover the very first word of the book -- Paul. Despite the book's claims to have been written by Paul, scholars often disagree with that claim. So can we trust the book of Colossians? Could Paul have actually written Colossians? We answer that question affirmatively as we begin our journey to exploring the wonders of this book.
At the end of this Epistle, John is showing us what conclusions we may draw from our self-analysis
Test #11: Do you bear the fruit of the Spirit -- Belief in Christ and love that does not fear?
When we will to pray — and our will and desires in prayer merge and match with God’s sovereign will — our prayers becomes the means by which God is stirred and aroused to act in the affairs of men.
The tests of our faith are designed to reveal to our minds the truth about our spiritual condition; this knowledge is, in turn, designed to quiet our anxious hearts. While we (our heart/conscience) may find us overwhelmingly guilty, our God—who knows us better than we do—is a greater and higher judge than our hearts, yet He does not condemn, but rather forgives us because of Christ.
The children of Satan are murderous, hateful, and indifferent. The Children of God love by 1) being moved at the heart (emotional) level, 2) taking legitimate actions to lay down their life and resources, and 3) doing this with an honest/straightforward/pure motive for those in need.
Do you possess a purifying hope? In this lesson, we define what hope is and how our future hope impacts Christian conduct today. Blessings!
Do you love the world system and its things? In this lesson, we discuss why true believers cannot love the world: because of who we are, because of what the world does, and because of where it is going.
Breaking from the classic flow of the book of 1 John, we discussed how John is reassuring his readers that he is not doubting their Christian faith. Just because we are not completely sanctified does not mean we are not justified. In other words, just because you aren’t mature in your faith does not mean you aren’t in the faith. Blessings!
Love is an old, old commandment in the Jewish and Christian faith, but it took on new, fresh meaning with the coming of Christ. Listen to find out how love (and hate) are tests of genuine faith!
Test #3: Do you submit to the commandments of God like Christ did?
In this lesson, we discussed the three components of assurance, the idea of abiding in Christ, and what it means to submit to the directives of God in the same fashion as our blessed Lord and Savior.
Test #2: Do you agree with God about your sin? In this lesson, we understand what it means to confess our sin before Him, and how gracious God is to appoint us such a successful divine defense attorney.
In this especially sobering lesson, we discussed the state of the church as a whole and what needs to be done in response. It is my prayer that this lesson blesses your heart as it has burdened mine.
Truth #1: Psychological felt need (emptiness, desperation) is necessary, but not sufficient for the reception of eternal life. Christianity is not primarily psychological, but rather volitional.
Truth #2: The only being who is intrinsically and naturally good is God; thus, preaching law is necessary to preach before grace, as only those who recognize their inherent guilt are able to recognize the graciousness of the Gospel.
Truth #3: If you do not embrace that “est in regno Dei…non est mihi” (God is on the Throne, not me), if you do not die to yourself, you cannot be saved. Submitting to the Lordship of Christ is not a secondary happening, but rather occurs when you place genuine faith in Him.
Do you walk in the light or in the darkness? Do you live in accordance with the revealed word of God? I pray that this first test is a challenge to your heart and an apt place to inaugurate the Tests of the Faith subsection in the Getting the Gospel Right series.
In this episode, our lesson consisted of a highly back and forth style in which reasons that many lack assurance/doubt their relationship with God were discussed. Though each prayer group contributed their own personal experiences, seven reasons were directly asserted in the lesson:
Reason #1 People Lack Assurance: Some lack assurance because they have been under preaching that elevates God’s Holy Standards.
Reason #2 People Lack Assurance: Some Lack assurance because they cannot accept forgiveness.
Reason #3 People Lack Assurance: Some lack assurance because they do not understand the gospel and the plan of salvation.
Reason #4 People Lack Assurance: Some people may lack assurance because they can’t remember an exact moment of salvation.
Reason #5 People Lack Assurance: Some people may feel the pull of the flesh so strongly and see so few qualities of the New Man that they wonder if they are indeed a New Creature.
Reason #6 People Lack Assurance: Some people lack assurance because they do not sense God’s presence during the tough storms of life.
Reason #7 People Lack Assurance: If you do not walk in step with the Holy Spirit, you may lack assurance.
In this especially sobering lesson, we discussed the state of the church as a whole and what needs to be done in response. It is my prayer that this lesson blesses your heart as it has burdened mine.
Truth #1: Psychological felt need (emptiness, desperation) is necessary, but not sufficient for the reception of eternal life. Christianity is not primarily psychological, but rather volitional.
Truth #2: The only being who is intrinsically and naturally good is God; thus, preaching law is necessary to preach before grace, as only those who recognize their inherent guilt are able to recognize the graciousness of the Gospel.
Truth #3: If you do not embrace that “est in regno Dei…non est mihi” (God is on the Throne, not me), if you do not die to yourself, you cannot be saved. Submitting to the Lordship of Christ is not a secondary happening, but rather occurs when you place genuine faith in Him.
In this episode, you will hear the story of an old saint and missionary with OMS who has lived a life sold out for Christ. Truly, Valetta Crumley is "Not a Fan."
Though originally taught in Koinonia, the same address was delivered in sermon form to the congregation at Landmark.
"In this episode, we begin our exploration of Jesus' strong interaction with Nicodemus in John 3. Rather than exchanging pleasantries with the high ranking pharisee, Jesus challenged him that he needed a birth which he could contribute nothing to. Nicodemus needed to be born from above."
Truth #1: There are two types of faith and belief presented throughout Scripture. One that saves; one that damns.
Truth #2: Salvation is entirely a work of God. The only thing we contribute to our salvation is the sin that made it necessary.
Truth #3: The smug pride of Legalism, which attempts to garner merit before God by our good works, prevents one from salvation.
In this Lesson, we learn many truths from the story of Zacchaeus, principally the heart-level changes exhibited upon receiving his salvation.
Truth #1: God LOVES a cheerful giver. God LOVES those who cheerfully repent, because we are giving ourselves to Him.
Truth #2: Love birds seem ridiculous until you’re one of them. (Fans think its crazy, followers are madly in love).
Truth #3: Ask not what the kingdom can do for you, but what you can do for the kingdom.
Blessings!
In this interlude to our series, Nathan delivered an address regarding numerous covenants throughout the Bible. This topic is especially important for developing a framework from which to interpret Scripture. Blessings!
Truth #1: The attitude you come to the table with determines the taste of the food.
Truth #2: Unbelief produces blindness even when there is evidence for it.
Truth #3: You don’t need a theological background to worship GOD. The Spirit opens one’s eyes to produce worship.
Jesus' message was consistently the same with whomever He came into contact. Though the style changed dramatically person to person, the core elements are always present (that He is more than just a good guy, but truly the Son of GOD, and the understanding that faith results in good works). Join us as we dive into the interaction between a loving Savior and the Woman at the Well.
Recently, Koinonia College Ministries was invited to discuss various questions on "Fully Devoted with Alexis Wagoner." In this interview, you will hear a description of what genuine faith is, how to have a relationship with Christ, and prayer in context of a believers daily life. Be sure to check out her radio program as well!
In this episode, we conclude our look into Jesus' interaction with Nicodemus. We see Jesus address the Condition of Unbelief, the Correction of Unbelief, the Condemnation of Unbelief, and finally the Cause of Unbelief. This section of Scripture is especially challenging as it reveals just how sinful man naturally is, and how much we desperately need our eyes opened to be capable of believing. Blessings!
In this episode, we begin our exploration of Jesus' strong interaction with Nicodemus in John 3. Rather than exchanging pleasantries with the high ranking pharisee, Jesus challenged him that he needed a birth which he could contribute nothing to. Nicodemus needed to be born from above.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ is perhaps one of the most controversial topics in the Christian realm. Can someone be genuinely regenerated while still living a life rejecting the Lordship of Christ? This lesson serves as an introduction to a new subsection of this series, which will be investigating what Jesus has to say about His Gospel. It is our hope that through this, a rather revolutionary challenge to ascertain what genuine, salvific faith really is before our Lord.
Have you ever met someone who claims to be a Christian, yet their life just doesn't match their professed faith? In this lesson, we look at James challenging the sincerity of some individuals' faith. If there was ever a needed time for a distinction between dead, non-saving faith and living, saving faith, Christianity today is in dire need.
We are redeemed, born-again, given a new nature...even PERFECT(!!!) in the eyes of God. Yet, we still find ourselves dealing with sin in our lives on a daily basis. This lesson deals with reconciling the strong statements of Bible regarding the holiness of the Saints and the role of sin in the life of the redeemed. Simul Justus et Peccator!
In this episode, we discussed the idea of progressive sanctification. The discussion briefly addresses why it is an impossible paradox to be a regenerate individual while living a life of sin. In brief, it's about the Direction, not Perfection, in the Christian life. Grace to you all!
Nothing is more glorious than the truth that, as we hold onto the faith and God, God is truly holding on to us and our faith in Him. Though this doctrine has been called by two names (eternal security and perseverance of the saints), they both highlight this same truth from different angles. It is my hope that this security in Christ can comfort you and further your ability to truly know God and who He is!
The crucial doctrine which fueled the reformation (and much of Pauline thought) is that it is faith alone which saves! Though we know that saving faith is never alone (without/devoid of good works), faith in the work of Christ on the cross is what saves. This lesson probes the connection between faith and justification and why confusing justification with sanctification is such detrimental error. I sincerely hope that this lesson which focuses more on doctrine can also lead you to greater love and appreciation for the wisdom and work of GOD in the glorious Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we have engaged in a study of human depravity, we have simultaneously backed man into a tricky situation. Man is stuck in a position where he is an evil wrongdoer, yet God can not let sin slide. He in no wise will clear the guilty. This shorter lesson explores the situation in which man finds himself.
In this episode, we address the summary of Paul's/God's condemnation of man in Romans 3. The main text is laid out in courtroom style as God takes man to court. By listing off indictments from the Word of God itself, Paul finishes his airtight argument showing that all are indeed guilty before God and fall vastly short of the glory of God.
In the first lesson in our new series (Getting the Gospel Right), a foundation was built primarily out of 1 Cor. 15 regarding the facts of the Gospel. It is essential to have a foundational understanding of the Gospel truths before diving deeper in this matter. These facts are not merely dry re-statements of what many have heard their whole lives, but rather a visit upon the best truths mankind has ever encountered. From Doctrine to Deed and from Profession to Practice, may God's Word encourage you! Blessings!
Last Monday, guest speaker (Nathan Housman) delivered a lesson with a foundational primer regarding why exactly the gospel is needed. In teaching this matter, Housman paved the way for our next extensive series--Getting the Gospel Right. This series will begin with a basic understanding of the gospel message, followed by a deeper investigation into certain elements of salvation and the Gospel message. This will allow us to continue into the beautiful tests of the faith outlined throughout Scripture. Blessings!
In our final lesson from the marriage and singleness series, we finished in 1 Cor. 7:29-40 by discussing the final 4 reasons Paul outlines as reasons to exercise the gift of singleness (if you have it!). As always, blessings from the Koinonia family!
Continuing in 1 Cor. 7, we discussed reasons for divorce and singleness (along with other topics) as outlined in verses from V8 through V28.
After spending weeks studying the role of men and women in marriage, we began to investigate the marriage relationship as a whole. This led us to 1 Cor. 7:1-7, where we began this topic. This lesson followed Paul's logic and addressed marriage, celibacy, sexuality, and much more.
In our final lesson on the men's role in marriage (here at Koinonia), we provided the actual context of the passage (1 Cor. 13) prior to applying it to love in the marital relationship in our discussion groups. The first couple minutes are simply the conversation beforehand and can be skipped if you wish.