Emmanuel Tuscaloosa Midweek: Recent Episodes
Michael Crosswhite
A time to grow in the knowledge of God by exploring topics helpful for Bible study such as Theology, Apologetics, and many other things.
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 | Our lives are meant to glorify Christ trusting that God will judge justly, sustain his people through suffering, and save all who believe the apostles' gospel.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 | Paul calls the church to pursue peace through faithful relationships, worship, and trust in God's sanctifying work until Christ returns.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 | Paul teaches that Christ's return is one unified event in which He gathers His people and judges the world, urging believers to live as children of the light who confidently await salvation from God's final wrath rather than fear the coming judgment.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | This passage is interpreted differently by dispensational and reformed traditions, with the former seeing it as a pre-tribulation rapture before Christ's final return and the latter understanding it as the one public, final return of Christ that brings both the resurrection of believers and final judgment.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 | Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to please God by growing in holiness through sexual purity, brotherly love, and quiet, responsible living, demonstrating a life transformed by the Holy Spirit and distinct from the world.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 | Paul explains that his concern for the Thessalonians' perseverance led him to send Timothy to strengthen and encourage their faith so they would stand blameless before Christ at His return.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 | Paul defends the integrity of his ministry by showing that despite suffering, opposition, and accusations he preached as one accountable to God, and the transformed lives of the Thessalonians proved the gospel he proclaimed was genuine.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 | Paul reassures the Thessalonians that their salvation is genuine by pointing to the Spirit-produced evidence of faith, love, endurance, joy in suffering, and a transformed life that spread the gospel throughout the region.
A study of the New Testament | Michael Crosswhite
The Church on Mission (Acts 1-18) // The mission of Jesus is for his church to teach, to train, to equip and to send, in order to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
The Areopagus (Acts 17:16-34) // Paul’s ministry in Athens confronts human idolatry and philosophy with the truth that the one true Creator now commands all people everywhere to repent through the risen Christ.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
Turning the World Upside Down (Acts 17:1-15) // Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica and Berea shows that the gospel of the risen King advances through faithful proclamation, provoking both opposition and belief as people respond differently to the truth of Scripture.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Philippi (Acts 16:11-40) // God builds His church in Philippi through the gospel despite spiritual opposition, suffering, and Roman hostility.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Paul and Silas (Acts 15:36-16:10) // God advances His mission by grace through wise yet flexible servants, using even disagreements, strategic decisions, and closed doors to strengthen the church and direct the gospel where He wills.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35) // The church resolves that salvation is by grace through faith alone, not by the Mosaic law, while encouraging unity and holiness among believers.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 5:13-20 // James calls the church to restore spiritually weak believers through confession and prayer, leading to renewal and forgiveness.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 5:7-12 // Because the Lord’s return is imminent, believers must patiently endure suffering with active hope, steadfast hearts, gracious unity, and truthful speech, trusting in God’s coming justice and mercy.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
James 4:13-5:6 // Pride creates a divided, self-reliant heart, but true wisdom lives in humble dependence on God.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 4:1-12 // James teaches that conflicts within the church arise from believers’ sinful desires and he calls them to humble repentance, wholehearted submission to God, and renewed love for others.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 3:13-18 // James teaches that true wisdom is proven by humble, peaceable, and righteous conduct that produces unity in the church, while so-called wisdom driven by jealousy and selfish ambition reveals itself as earthly and destructive.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 3:1-12 // The tongue reveals our spiritual maturity and carries great power for corruption, but can only be truly tamed by God’s transforming Spirit.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
James 2:14-26 // James argues that saving faith is shown to be real by obedient works, not mere words, and thus does not contradict Paul’s teaching on grace.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 2:1-13 // Favoritism in the church exposes divided loyalty to Christ, violates God’s law of love, and invites judgment instead of the mercy that marks those truly changed by grace.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 1:19-27 // True Christian maturity is marked by restrained anger and humble receptivity to God’s implanted word, which must be actively obeyed and visibly expressed in transformed speech, compassionate action, moral purity, and persevering faith rather than mere hearing or religious appearance.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 1:13-18 // Trials strengthen faith but also reveal inward desires that lead to temptation, so believers must resist sin, trust God’s unchanging goodness, and endure as those given new life by his grace.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
James 1:9-12 // James addresses both poverty and wealth as trials that test believers’ loyalty by forcing them to measure their worth by God rather than worldly status.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
James 1:1-8 // James greets the restored people of God and urges them to face trials with faith, seeking wisdom that cures divided loyalties and produces steadfast devotion.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Introduction to James // The book of James is a pastoral letter meant for broad use, offering practical instruction for everyday Christian living.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Christmas traditions such as December 25, the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, and the Magi are best explained not as borrowings from paganism but as developments rooted in early Christian theological reasoning, all ultimately pointing to Christ’s incarnation drawing both Jews and Gentiles to worship the true King.
Christmas Special // Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
Galatians 5:25-6:18 // Paul demonstrates that life in the Spirit means living as the new creation and practicing Spirit-guided life within the church.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Galatians 5:7-26 // Paul urges the Galatians to reject every distortion of the gospel and to live in true freedom by walking in the Spirit, whose power produces love and Christlike character.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Galatians 4:21–5:6 // Paul contrasts Hagar and Sarah to show that law leads to slavery but faith in God’s promise brings true freedom—life in the Spirit expressed through love.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
FEAST (Faithfully Examining and Applying Scripture Together) is a monthly lunchtime Bible study designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture. Each session focuses on exploring the biblical text together, equipping you to study God’s Word more effectively and faithfully in your own time at home.
Galatians 4:8-20 // Paul appeals to the Galatians not to return to law-keeping, warning that doing so reenslaves them to worldly powers and turns them from the grace of Christ.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Galations, Pt. 5 // God sent His Son to free us from law’s slavery and make us His heirs by grace.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Galatians, Pt. 4 // Paul shows that the law brings a curse, but Christ bore it so that all who believe share Abraham’s blessing by faith.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Feast is a monthly Bible study during the lunch hour. The general focus is on exploring the text to grow in understanding to help our own Bible study at home.
Galatians, Pt. 3 // All who believe by faith, whether Jew or Gentile, share in the blessing promised to Abraham.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Galatians, Pt. 2 // Paul shows that justification comes by faith in Christ alone, not by the law, defending this truth in Jerusalem and even confronting Peter to preserve the gospel.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Galatians, Pt. 1 // Paul defends the divine origin of his mission, signaling that questions of authority lie at the heart of this letter.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Through Many Tribulations // God’s kingdom advances through sovereign grace and bold proclamation, bringing conversions, opposition, and the strengthening of churches.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
To the Jew First, and Then to the Gentile // Paul and Barnabas preached Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s story, leading Gentiles to believe and Jews to oppose.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Unstoppable Mission // The Spirit-led mission from Antioch begins a bold, unstoppable advance of the gospel, overcoming opposition and advancing into the Gentile world.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Glory, Growth, and God Who Reigns // Luke highlights God’s sovereign rule, the spread of His word, and the contrast between those who glorify God and those who oppose Him.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
The Church in Antioch // God began forming one church of Jew and Gentile alike, showing that true identity is found in Christ, not in ethnicity or tradition.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
The Jews Need Convincing // Peter is challenged by some Jewish believers regarding his association with Cornelius and his family.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
The Gospel to the Gentiles // God saves by grace through the gospel, without partiality, and the church must follow His lead.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Peter’s Ministry // The healing of Aeneas and raising of Tabitha reveal Christ’s continued work through His servants to bring hope where life is broken.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
From Persecutor to Proclaimer // Saul’s conversion was an immediate commissioning, as he boldly joined the church he once persecuted and began proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God, showing the gospel’s power to transform and reconcile.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Saul of Tarsus // Once a fierce persecutor of Christians, Saul was transformed by a vision of Christ and called to spread the gospel.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
A night of thanksgiving through singing and testimonies of the Lord’s provision for EBC.
The Ethiopian Eunuch // Philip shares Jesus with a seeking Ethiopian eunuch, who believes, is baptized, and marks the gospel’s spread beyond Israel.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Simon the Magician // The false faith of Simon the Magician contrasts with the Samaritans' true conversion after Philip preached the gospel, affirming the gospel's power and inclusion.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
...In All Judea and Samaria // Stephen’s martyrdom sparks persecution that spreads the gospel beyond Jerusalem, affirming Christ’s authority and challenging the temple’s centrality.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Stephen’s Speech // Stephen condemns Israel’s rejection of God’s messengers, challenges the temple’s centrality, and asserts Christ’s ultimate authority.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Deacons // Deacons are needed in the church to provide logistical and material support so that the elders can concentrate their effort on the Word of God and prayer.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
The Leadership of the New Israel // The temple leaders’ opposition to God now stands in sharp contrast to the apostles.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Peter's First Sermon, Pt. 3 // Peter presents an apologetic argument for calling on the name of Jesus as God’s true Messiah.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Peter's First Sermon, Pt. 2 // Peter explains that Jesus' crucifixion was part of God's sovereign plan, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and providing salvation, despite being the result of human sin.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Peter’s First Sermon, Pt. 1 // Peter is empoweredto speak confidently and prophetically, addressing a diverse and potentially hostile audience with clarity and conviction.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Pentecost // The Church begins it's mission to fill the earth with the message of Christ's kingdom and making disciples from every nation.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
Replacing Judas // The apostles seek to replace Judas to restore the symbolic number twelve, representing the leadership of a renewed Israel under the Messiah, and affirming Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy and authority over salvation history.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
The Acts of the Resurrected Christ // Jesus' ministry continues through His disciples spreading the gospel around the world and establishing God's kingdom.
A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite
The Great Commission // The Great Commission becomes the means God uses to accomplish the global praise of His name.
The Aftermath // In the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ resurrection, people began to get glimpses of what Jesus’ new creation would bring.
Passion Week, Pt. 11 // Aligning the gospel accounts of the resurrection to examine perceived contradictions between the the accounts.
Passion Week, Pt. 9 // In the third and final act of Good Friday, Jesus is flogged and crucified. The darkness that covered the land during Jesus’ crucifixion is a sign that he was bearing the judgment of God for the sins of the world.
Passion Week, Pt. 8 // The second act of Good Friday is the Roman trial of Jesus where he receives a “not guilty” verdict from Pilate and Herod Antipas. The crowd insists on Jesus’ execution and Pilate, more afraid of the people than Jesus, gave into their will.
Passion Week, Pt. 7 // Early Friday morning, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by authorities. Following his arrest, Jesus has an informal hearing before Annas where Peter denies Jesus three times.
Passion Week, Pt. 6 // Early on Friday, Jesus addresses Peter and prays for the Father's will to prevail over his own.
Passion Week, Pt. 5 // On Thursday of Holy Week, the disciples gather with Jesus for the passover meal. Thursday reminds Christians that our calling of discipleship comes with responsibilities of service and love to others, including our enemies.
Passion Week, Pt. 4 // On the Wednesday of Holy Week, the Sanhedrin gathered to discuss what they were going to do with Jesus.
Passion Week, Pt. 3 // On Tuesday, the religious leaders seek to trap Jesus with four questions.
Passion Week, Pt. 2 // On Monday, Jesus uses the fig tree and the temple cleansing to symbolize Israel’s inner barrenness.
Passion Week, Pt. 1 // The events of Sunday lit the fuse for the events of Jesus’ passion week.
The Last Days and the End of the Judaic Age, Pt. 7 // The parables in Matthew 25 emphasize the significance of readiness through long-term preparation, maximizing opportunities in service to the Lord, and demonstrating compassion towards others, particularly Jesus' disciples.
The Last Days and the End of the Judaic Age, Pt. 6 // In Matthew 24:36-44, Jesus signifies final judgment and urges spiritual readiness for his return.
The Last Days and the End of the Judaic Age, Pt. 5 // In Matthew 24:32-36, Jesus predicts Jerusalem's destruction and discusses his second coming.
The Last Days and the End of the Judaic Age, Pt. 4 // In Matthew 24, Jesus warns of the desolation to come and a sign to flee Judea.
The Last Days and the End of the Judaic Age, Pt. 2 // In Matthew 24:4-14, Jesus cautions against premature excitement and speculation in the time prior to the destruction of the temple.
The Last Days and the End of the Judaic Age, Pt. 1 // The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 addresses the destruction of Jerusalem's temple, setting it apart from Christ's second coming and marking the transition from the Judaic Age to the Church Age.
Jesus's Parables, Pt. 3 // Jesus's parables emphasize that genuine conversion is marked by joy and enduring faith demonstrated through gospel fruitfulness.
Jesus's Parables, Pt. 2 // Understanding the parable of the Good Samaritan requires grasping its cultural context and defining mercy and neighborliness.
Jesus's Parables, Pt. 1 // God rejoices over the sinner who repents and warns the judgemental who are grumbling over repentance.
Jesus's Teaching // Jesus emphasized teaching through parables to reveal truth to the open-minded and obscure it from the resistant.
Two Ways to Live // The proclamation of Jesus' resurrection presents two choices with eternal consequences: to persist in rebellion or to embrace submission to Christ's rule.
Jesus, the Risen Ruler and Savior // As both God and man, Jesus is uniquely qualified to judge, offering forgiveness and salvation to believers.
God Sent Jesus to Die for Us // Jesus' death is a substitutionary sacrifice, paying the penalty for humanity's rebellion against God.
God's Justice // Human rebellion brings divine judgment through death and eternal separation from God for those who overlook the consequences of sin.
Our Rebellion Against God // Humanity's rebellion against God's authority and the consequences of sin.
God the Good Ruler and Creator // The message of the Gospel focuses on the one, true, and living God who is the ruler of all things.
Jesus' Ministry and Jewish Leadership // Jesus is approached at night by a Jewish leader.
A New King Is Born // Jesus' birth accounts portray Jesus as a unique king with a transcendent kingdom in humble circumstances.
The Messiah // The Messiah's virgin birth fulfills Old Testament prophecies of a new creation, God's presence, and salvation from sin.
The Herald // The parallel foretelling of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit's role in fulfilling prophecy and heralding the gospel.
The Son of God, Pt. 2 // In John's gospel, Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man, bridging divinity and humanity to fulfill God's promises and restore the relationship between God and man.
The Son of God, Pt. 1 // In the New Testament, Jesus is seen as both the son of David and the son of God, fulfilling Old Testament promises and covenants.
The King of the Jews // The Old Testament's promises are fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who, as the son of David and Abraham, is revealed as the promised Messiah and Lord ushering in a new era of divine kingship.
The Romans, Pt. 2 // Herod's rise to power was marked by ruthless actions such as executing Zealots and manipulating the Jewish Sanhedrin, along with his Hellenization policy and tumultuous personal life.
The Zealots // The Zealots were a Jewish sect with a strong commitment to liberty, opposition to foreign rule, strict religious observance, and a belief in a future Jewish salvation, often resorting to violent actions including terrorism, and influencing certain segments of the Jewish population.
The Essenes // The Essenes were known for communal living, beliefs in predestination, an emphasis on Scripture study, and fearlessness in the face of death.
The Hasmonean Dynasty // The Hasmoneans, Maccabean rebels against Greek rule, fought for power, while the Pharisees opposed Hellenism, championing the Torah through the Synagogue, and seeking influence despite lacking direct power.
The Maccabees // The Hasmonean Dynasty emerged in response to Antiochus IV's oppressive measures, led by the Maccabees, to restore true worship, culminating in the rededication of the Temple.
The Seleucids// After Alexander's death, Ptolemy and Seleucus emerged as successors. The Ptolemies Hellenized conquered lands, including Palestine, leading to tensions with orthodox Jews. Antiochus Epiphanes later tried to force Greek culture on Judea, sparking conflict.
The spread of Hellenism and the translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, known as the Septuagint, facilitated the global accessibility of Jewish culture and faith, influencing the Mediterranean world and aiding the spread of the gospel.
Malachi // Malachi addresses the Israelites' problems of intermarriage, impure sacrifices, corrupt priests, and the belief that God approves of evil, emphasizing the impending day of judgment and the separation of true believers. The prophecy ends with the anticipation of Elijah's coming as a sign of the day of the Lord.
Rebuilding the Temple // Understanding biblical prophecy is challenging due to the complexities of interpreting terminology and timing, particularly regarding Jerusalem and Mt. Zion, which represent hope and restoration, and the distinction between the Messiah's ministry's inauguration and fulfillment.
Rebuilding the Temple // Zechariah calls for repentance and envisions God's plans for restoration, including the completion of the temple and the role of anointed priest and king.
Rebuilding the Temple // Jewish exiles rebuilt the temple under Joshua and Zerubbabel, facing opposition from Samaritans, but with encouragement from Haggai, they resumed construction and focused on the temple's purpose to house Yahweh's glory.
Getting Out of Exile // The Lord used Cyrus to authorize and facilitate the return of his people and the rebuilding of his city and temple
Ezekiel's Temple // Ezekiel’s vision of an end-times temple is describing the presence of God, of a quality that is right now experienced only in heaven, descending to occupy all of the earth.
Restoring the Role of the Congregation // The proposed EBC bylaw changes restore the congregation’s role in guarding the gospel through receiving and disciplining members and calling and submitting to leaders.
Restoring the Role of Deacons // The proposed EBC bylaw changes restore the office of deacon to the role of servants who care for the temporal needs of the church and its members.
Restoring the Role of Elders // The proposed EBC bylaw changes restore the office of elder to its biblical function by recognizing elders’ plurality, responsibilities, and qualifications.
Elders in Church History // A scriptural understanding of a plurality of elders in the local church is reflected in the early church and in Baptist history.
The Formation of Elders // The role of a plurality of elders in the early church came from a long standing tradition in Israel's history.
Who Are Elders and What Do They Do? // New Testament churches were led by a group of qualified men who held the office of elder/overseer/pastor with the duties of doctrine, discipline, direction, and distinction.
The End Times // An explanation of premillenial, postmillennial, and amillennial views.
Dispensationalism // According to dispensationalism, the Bible should be understood as distinct eras in which the unfolding purpose of God and his relationship with mankind are revealed.
Daniel Part II // Nebuchadnezzar's dream describes the course of history from the Babylonian captivity to the inauguration of the messianic kingdom of God.
Daniel // The book of Daniel spans the entire exile; chapter 9 deals with the prophecy of seventy sevens which sets the timeframe from the proclamation to rebuild in Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed prince.
Old Testament Prophecy // The fulfillment of Israel’s prophetic hope as portrayed in the Old Testament, is found in Jesus Christ in the believing remnant that follow him.
Jeremiah Part 3 // Jeremiah 32-33 provides more illustration and clarity on the nature of the new covenant.
Jeremiah Part 2 // Jeremiah tells the people that exile in Babylon is the will of the Lord.
Jeremiah // Jeremiah was called to speak of the uprooting and destruction of nations, including Judah, and their eventual rebuilding and replanting.
Habakkuk // Habakkuk prophesied to Judah during a time when injustice abounded as God prepared to send them to exile in Babylon.
Nahum // Nahum comes onto the scene following the exile of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to Assryia upon which God was bringing judgment.
Interpreting the Prophets // The context, fulfillment, and application of Jeremiah 29-31 are considered to avoid the pitfalls of incorrectly interpreting Old Testament prophecies.
Micah // Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah and despite the headlong plunge of Judah into disaster in the footsteps of Israel, someday God would remember his people for good.
Impact of Soteriology + Q&R // What a person, church, or denomination believes about salvation has a direct relationship on the evangelism they practice.
Evangelism // Evangelism is a necessary work of communication in which Christians make themselves mouthpieces for God’s news of mercy to sinners by presenting Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, and summoning the hearer(s) to conversion.
Glorification // Believers look forward to our final salvation which will come in the form of a bodily resurrection of the dead when Christ returns.
Perseverance // Perseverance is the continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart, is continued and brought to completion.
Justification and Sanctification // Justification is the one-time act that removes the guilt of sin; sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our lives.
Conversion // Conversion is a change that is rooted in the work of regeneration, and that is effected in the conscious life of the sinner by the Spirit of God.
God's Effectual Calling // The effectual or internal call is God's sovereign, creative, irrestible voice that creates faith in order for people to be justified.
God's Regenerating Work // Mankind's spiritually dead condition in sin, Christ's completed atoning work on the cross, and the necessity of union with Christ by faith mean that God alone must do the work of giving new spiritual life to people if they are to be saved.
Christ as Last Adam and Covenant Head // Jesus Christ is the last Adam, the Son of God, and the head of new creation.
The Atonement // Christ's substitutionary atonement on the cross made propitiation for the sins of God's people.
Jesus Christ: Human and Divine // Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man in one person.
Inherited Corruption // The inner corruption of mankind is the source of all sins, extends to every aspect of our nature, and renders us incapable of manufacturing our own righteousness.
Original Sin // Our sin and rebellion against God come about by inherited guilt and corruption, rendering us totally lacking spiritual good in our natures and choices.
We apply biblical ecclesiology by practicing healthy church membership, pursuing unity, submitting to the word of God, recognizing the leadership of a plurality of elders which is enabled by the service of deacons, and by practicing church discipline.
Baptists believe in the authority of the Bible, regenerate church membership, believer's baptism, congregational rule, and local church autonomy and champion religious liberty.
Discontentment in and with the church can lead to complaining and discord and can ignore the Lord's ongoing work in his people.
True corporate worship is trinitarian in nature, displays our God-glorifying unity, edifies the body of Christ, and serves as a foretaste of heaven.
Church discipline is intended to bring about repentance and represent the gospel to the surrounding community.
The congregation as a whole has the final authority discipline, membership and doctrine.
Elders function as leaders within the church, exercising spiritual oversight primarily through the ministry of preachng and teaching.
Scripture shows two goals of God in the church: to display his mercy and to unite people in Christ.
The national renewal of Judah under Josiah was short-lived as the nation plunged back into evil following his death.
Hezekiah's recovery in Isaiah 38 provides the context for discussing God's immutability.
In Isaiah 14, a Babylonian myth is repurposed to show the downfall of the king of Babylon.
The end of Isaiah depicts God's kingdom as a restored city whose citizens have been restored to the people of God once again.
The latter section of Isaiah is predictive of the future as Yahweh comforts the captives, reminds them of their sins and his deliverance, and anticipates the coming of a Suffering Servant.
Isaiah criticizes Israel's leaders for trusting in foreign powers but offers a message of hope and peace for the future.
Through Hosea, the Lord rebukes Israel and Judah for their unfaithfulness and calls them to repentance.
Judah clings to the conquering Assyrians rather than Yahweh as the northern kingdom falls.
The geopolitical situation involving Israel, Judah, Syria, and Assyria coincides with Isaiah's prophecy regarding the birth of a child.
Uzziah's successes In Judah lead to his demise, while the house of Jehu comes to an end in the northern kingdom.
Amos prophesies during the reigns of Uzziah and Jerboam II, denouncing the wickedness of Israel and her neighbors.
Amaziah's reign in Judah is marked by conflict with Israel and less than wholehearted devotion to Yahweh.
The southern kingdom and the line of David survive the wickedness of Athaliah through Joash, but Judah's religious stability is tenuous.