Twin City Bible Church: Recent Episodes
There are only two categories of human beings - those called a 'natural man' and those called a 'spiritual man. The natural man is devoid of the Holy Spirit and thus spiritually dead- the spiritual man possesses the Holy Spirit and is spiritually alive.
True Christians are trophies of God's grace, they outsiders compared to the world, and pilgrims looking for heaven.
Wisely handling questions from unbelievers starts with trusting the authority of God's Word - an important principle in pre-suppositional apologetics.
All Christians - including husbands and fathers - should seek to live their lives according to spiritual priorities.
The Good News of the gospel includes facts about who Christ is and what Christ did. The required response to this truth is saving faith.
Christians have a wonderful opportunity during times of suffering and persecution to proclaim gospel truth.
To live effectively for Christ in this fallen world, true Christians need to remember who they are.
The Holy Spirit is one of the three divine members of the Triune God. He is God in every sense, just as the Father and Son are.
The crowd that 'praised' Jesus when He entered Jerusalem had a totally wrong understanding of Jesus and His mission.
Habakkuk was a godly man who had serious concerns about the sin amongst his fellow Israelites, and who was perplexed over God's seeming indifference.
Moses presents three realities related to God's eternality, His judgment on sin, and our need for His grace.
One of the most beautiful treatments of love in all of literature challenges believers to be like Christ in every circumstance.
We should pray in a certain manner. And we should remember to make certain important requests.
Agape love is the opposite of all forms of selfishness and self-seeking. And Jesus is the greatest example for us to follow.
True believers have the great privilege of talking to God in prayer. And we are to do that throughout the day as we go about our lives.
All sin produces guilt before God, and the answer to guilt is forgiveness through repentance. Motivated by God's forgiveness of us, we must forgive all who offend or hurt us.
The unknown author of Psalm 119 closes this wonderful presentation of the glories of God's Word with a humble declaration of his spiritual needs.
Christians are to never retaliate when sinned against. Instead, we are to do good to those who oppose or attack us.
Every member of the church has the responsibility to minister to other members who struggle with sin, discouragement, and weakness.
It is crucial that members of the church understand and respect the role elders have in the church. And it is also crucial that church members promote peace in the body.
As adopted children, Christians have the great privilege of calling God their Father. And our Heavenly Father is perfectly loving, gracious, kind, generous, and just.
True believers have nothing to fear about the future due to our union with Christ and our possession of eternal life.
To be spiritually prepared for whatever might come in the future, God's people need to be spiritually vigilant and spiritually equipped.
True believers have been rescued from the domain of darkness and placed in the domain of light.
Believers are thankful to God for His faithfulness, His condescension, and His purposes.
Scripture clearly warns of God's wrath being poured out on a rebellious and wicked world - wrath that will get progressively worse during the future 7-yr Tribulation period.
God will show Gideon-and all His true servants-that weakness is the way, an opportunity for dependence on God and a display of His power.
The timing of the future intervention of the Lord in history is uncertain, but the devastation coming upon unbelievers is inevitable.
Three major views on the timing of the rapture are discussed. But some cautions are given about overemphasizing this topic.
Christians look forward to the future rapture, when all followers of Christ will be reunited and will meet Jesus in the air.
On the path facing the age-old problem-why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer-Asaph points to three sure signs when his faith slipped-the trial of faith, the turmoil of faith, and the triumph of faith.
At the Rapture, God will resurrect the bodies of all true believers who have died. Therefore, there is no need for Christians to grieve like those who don't have this promise from God.
Love of other Christians is one of the evidences of salvation. It must be expressed in practical ways, and is an element of our witness to the world.
True believers have a glorious promise from God that can give much encouragement in times of trial and difficulty and grief.
We do not receive signs from God, nor does He speak to us to give guidance so that we know His sovereign will ahead of time. The Lord does, however, give us direction and wisdom through His Word, the Scriptures.
The Psalmist walks a challenging path of despair, yet clings to hope found in God's Word.
Christians must never settle for the status quo in their walk with Christ, but must always be seeking to grow in their spiritual maturity.
Believers today can learn from the psalmist the right attitude to have, plus how to pray, during times of difficulty and trial.
All Christians should be committed to regular prayer. But ministers especially must pray for God's blessing on their ministry for it to be effective.
The good news about the Thessalonian believers comforted Paul's heart, revived his soul, and put joy in his prayers. Christians today can still move from anxiety to joy when they prioritize the needs of others above their own.
Christian pilgrims face many trials on their journey, including affliction, persecution, and alienation. This section of Psalm 119 teaches believers how to face these trials biblically.
A faithful pastor's great burden is the stability of the faith of his people - which means faith that survives both trials and temptations.
Church leaders must be examples of love for fellowshipping with God's people, and love for ministering to God's people.
Christians must oppose all forms of prejudice and hatred, including antisemitism. The Apostle Paul loved his fellow Jews, but he did need to confront their rejection of the truth.
The psalmist knows his weakness, so he petitions God for help in several ways. We are just as weak and need God's help just as much.
In this instruction to slaves and masters, we find timeless principles by which to evaluate our own priorities and passions. Fathers should lead out in this personal evaluation.
A minister is thankful when believers endure trials. And all true believers do persevere in faith, no matter the circumstances.
To become a Christian is the same as accepting and submitting to the word of God. When people love the truth, ministers are happy and grateful.
True believers desire to live holy lives in submission to Christ and His Word.- In this way we bring glory to the Lord and live lives worthy of our calling to salvation.
We learn the two parts to the Pilgrim's tune-the Pilgrim's Prayer and the Pilgrim's Pressure.
The Word of God gives strength and direction in our pursuit of living pure lives in an impure world.
Using the metaphor of a nursing mother, the passage emphasizes that gospel ministry should be marked by tender care and loving sacrifice.
Biblical spiritual leadership requires avoiding sinful heart motivations that result in manipulating people, indulging self, and craving attention.
Jesus prayed that the Father would protect the 11 faithful disciples in some important categories.
As Jesus begins His intercession for the 11 faithful disciples, He voices why it was a restricted prayer, a confident prayer, and a necessary prayer.
Jesus prays for the 11 disciples because they were genuine believers. In His prayer for them, Jesus articulated the evidences of their genuine faith.
Christ commends the small and suffering Church in Philadelphia for its faith and obedience and encourages them with the promises of His coming.
In praying for Himself, Jesus affirms the delegated authority He has from the Father, and the singular message He preached.
We must persevere in our commitment to Jesus, for He is the final and supreme source of Revelation.
Joseph is told by an angel that the Messiah, Jesus, will be miraculously conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit.
In the message to the church at Thyatira, Jesus admonishes this corrupt church for tolerating the sinful influence of a -Jezebel-, and exhorts faithful Christians to hold on.
As they work our their salvation, Christians must avoid being characterized a certain way. At the same time, they must embrace their true identity and live accordingly.
God completely disregards worldly standards when it comes to calling sinners to Himself and giving them a new identity and a new purpose for living.
Jesus Himself commended the church at Smyrna for their faithfulness during times of great persecution.
We need saving faith to have peace WITH God- we need sustaining faith to experience the peace OF God.
Paul said 'one thing' had his undivided attention- pressing on to grow in his knowledge of Christ, to grow in fellowship with Christ, and thereby to be increasingly conformed to Christ, to grow in his sanctification. Here, Paul calls every believer to this 'one thing' and gives pastoral advice for that pursuit.
The Glory of God's Word is manifest in three ways, to stir up courage and help one continue in every good work.
Jesus' atoning death is effective for cleansing and saving even the most vile of sinners.
Jesus died on the cross, in the place of His followers, to accomplish our reconciliation to God, and our redemption from bondage to sin. It also was a conquest-Jesus defeated sin, Satan, and death.
When Jesus died on the cross, He did so as a substitution in the place of His followers to pay for their sin. This also accomplished propitiation-the appeasement of God's wrath.
The unity of the members of the Triune God demands a particular redemption-Jesus died to atone for the sins of the elect.
The majesty of Christ is displayed in what the Incarnation represented-the Son who was rich becoming poor so that His people could be rich.
Jesus encourages His followers with the promise of clarity in understanding truth, and the promise of intimacy with a loving Heavenly Father.
No matter the situation of sorrow or grief we might face, God's people can have hope and joy.
In our story of suffering, vitally tied to God's story of salvation, we learn of an ordinary family and are confronted by three facts about the suffering they faced.
An overview of Revelation, plus a walk-through of chapter one and the vision of Christ.
The Apostle Paul presents three non-negotiable characteristics of a faithful shepherd in the Lord's church.
The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the Bible, which insures its infallibility, inerrancy, authority, sufficiency, and effectiveness.
Based on principles in the book The Generosity Project -by Tony Payne and Geoff Robson-, Pastor Hardy addresses the need at Twin City Bible Church for above-and-beyond giving in order to resolve the need for more-education and worship space.
The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts the world that its views on sin, righteousness, and judgment are wrong.
Jesus provides the insights into persecution that will enable His followers to persevere and not 'stumble.'
In the book of Jude, Christians are exhorted to contend for the faith by remembering God's judgment, remaining in God's love, and rescuing God's people.
On any matter not directly encouraged or forbidden in Scripture, we are to make decisions based upon the convictions of our conscience. This includes the decision to accept or refuse a vaccination of any kind.
John writes to help Christians know that they have eternal life, by explaining how real Christians believe in Jesus Christ, obey His Word, and love His people.
Mt. Sinai represents an approach to acceptance by God based upon human merit and performance- Mt. Zion represents acceptance by God based upon His grace. What mountain do you live on-
In Matthew 5-13-16, Jesus teaches His disciples what a life of evangelism looks like with two word pictures- Salt and Light.
In a much neglected book in the Bible, Peter reminds Christians of foundational truths, warns against false teachers, and instructs about the future.
We are partners with the Holy Spirit in evangelism, which is our mission in this world. We are responsible for 'casting the gospel net'-and the Holy Spirit is responsible for opening the hearts of God's elect to believe.
Jesus warns His followers that the world will hate Christians because it hates Him. And to hate Him is to hate God.
James is a letter that puts our theology to the test by examining our faith, wisdom, humility, and patience in the midst of suffering.
Our relationship with Christ is not something moralistic or legalistic or mechanical-it is one characterized by love and by joy.
This letter to a community of believing Jews still encourages Christians today with its message of the superiority of Christ.
In 4 short verses, the Bible summaries how a family can know God's blessing on their home and relationships.
The shortest of Paul's letters, where he shows how Philemon and Onesimus can be reconciled, through forgiveness.
In two verses, the Apostle Paul provides a short summary of Christianity. This includes a summary of both Christian belief and Christian living.
In this short letter from Paul to Titus, we find the timeless example of the Great Commission in action.
The 2nd Commandment demands that we refrain from making any literal or virtual images that are intended to represent deity, or that are aids to worship.
The Church cannot fail because it is connected to Christ, it is protected by Christ, and it is elected in Christ.
In a letter to his young disciple, Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a handbook for what the church should be and do.
Paul writes to the Thessalonians to comfort them in their affliction, to correct their eschatology, and to command them to live a disciplined life as they hope for Christ's Return.
Young men are encouraged in this poem to look for a wife who fears the Lord-this is at the heart of what it means to be an 'excellent woman.'
David answers the perennial question-What is Man--by explaining God's greater glory and man's lesser glory.
To a church that was very young, Paul corrects some wrong thinking about the Lord's return. He also encourages Christians to live in light of the Lord's return.
True Christians bear fruit by abiding in Christ. And that fruit is proof of being saved, as well as evidence of spiritual growth.
In the book of Colossians, Paul teaches us that Christ is sufficient for the Christian life of sanctification.
Paul unpacks for the Philippians-and all Christians since-what a Gospel-Driven life looks like.
The Apostle Paul's ministry priorities should be ours-especially as churches start opening back up after a year of COVID.
Jesus provides four insights into what the crucifixion, and all its intending events, meant to Him- joy, vindication, victory, and love.
Only in Christ and in His Word can we find true inner peace-the peace OF God. And this depends on first having peace WITH God.
Scattered among the sections of Paul's defense of his apostleship are several powerful and helpful passages related to how we are to live our Christian lives.
We are commanded to pray- but we also believe in God's sovereignty over all things. Can this tension be resolved-
The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of God's Word. It is therefore inerrant, and the final authority for all true Christians.
Paul's letter to a church facing many problems provides important counsel for churches today as well.
In this study, we survey the book of Romans and understand God's righteousness-needed, provided, reigning, defended, and manifested.
The Holy Spirit indwells all believers from the moment of their conversion. So no matter what situation we face, we never face it alone.
In the familiar parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector, Jesus warns of the danger of trusting a spun web of self-righteousness, and instead describes who will go to heaven.
In this passage, Paul gives us two prerequisites to faithful evangelism- -1- our prayer life and -2- our way of life.
In the Gospel of John, we see seven signs that demonstrate Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
These two verses make it clear that there is no contradiction between the Bible's teaching on love and grace, and the Bible's teaching on law and obedience. In fact, true followers of Christ will obey God's Word.
The proclamation of the gospel, by a Gentile physician, gives an amazing overview of Jesus' earthly life and ministry. Included is a clear explanation of what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus.
We get the support we need for our mission through praying 'in Jesus' name.' But what does that actually mean-
This is an overview of the entire book, including a discussion of whether Mark 16-9-20 was written by Mark.
We preach a 'has done' message when we proclaim the gospel-it's the news about what Jesus has done. And the proclamation of that message is the 'greater work' Jesus said all His followers could do.
The Gospel of Matthew explains how Jesus is the Promised Messiah King of the Old Testament and why He must come again to establish His Kingdom.
Jesus teaches us that the commitment to following Him is costly, primary, unwavering, and appropriate.