The Text Ruth 3:10-18 (CSB) 10 Then he said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not pursued younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am....
The Text Romans 14:13–23 (CSB) 13 Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. 15 For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love....
The Text Romans 14:1–12 (CSB) 1 Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him....
The Text Ruth 3:1-9 (CSB) 1 Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of? 2 Now isn’t Boaz our relative? Haven’t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking....
The Text Romans 13:11–14 (CSB) 11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy....
The Text Romans 13:8–10 (CSB) 8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law....
The Text 14 At mealtime Boaz told her, “Come over here and have some bread and dip it in the vinegar sauce.” So she sat beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain. She ate and was satisfied and had some left over. 15 When she got up to gather grain, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her even gather grain among the bundles, and don’t humiliate her....
The Text Romans 13:1–7 (CSB) 1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad....
The Text Romans 12:9–21 (CSB) 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality....
The Introduction Ephesians 2:8-10 (CSB) For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. The Text Ruth 2:7-13 (CSB) 7 She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?...
The Text Romans 12:3-8 (CSB) 3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another....
The Text Romans 12:2 (CSB) Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. The Introduction I come into Romans 12 with much fear and trepidation. What do I mean by that? I am being quite careful on how to present the rest of Romans. I begun Romans 12:1 with Calvin’s Three Uses of the Law and that for the people of God, the law of God is use not to condemn his people or even a massive impossible checklist for you to never finish in order to be righteous with God....
The Text Ruth 2:1-6 (CSB) 1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters....
The Text Romans 12:1 (CSB) Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. The Introduction We have spent the the first eleven chapters of Romans extolling and magnifying and praising our great God and gone to the greatest details–within our finite wisdom and understanding–on how Christ has saved his people from their sins....
The Text Romans 11:33–36 (CSB) 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things....
The Text Ruth 1:16-22 (CSB) 16 But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me....
The Text Romans 11:25-32 (CSB) 25 I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob....
The Text Romans 11:16-24 (CSB) 16 Now if the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root of the cultivated olive tree, 18 do not boast that you are better than those branches....
The Text Ruth 1:8-15 (CSB) 8 Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the LORD show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. 9 May the LORD grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly. 10 They said to her, “We insist on returning with you to your people....
The Text Romans 11:11–32 (CSB) 11 I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their transgression brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness bring! 13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles....
The Text Romans 11:1–10 (CSB) 1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars....
The Text Ruth 1:1-7 (CSB) 1 During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech (God his King), and his wife’s name was Naomi (pleasant). The names of his two sons were Mahlon (sickness) and Chilion (wasting)....
The Text Romans 10:14–21 (CSB) 14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 16 But not all obeyed the gospel....
The Text Romans 10:1–13 (CSB) 1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation. 2 I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes,...
Matthew 1:5–6a (CSB) Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David. The Introduction There is no doubt in anybody’s mind that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is God, was born Jewish and is very much Jewish. He was born to Mary and Joseph–which we can tell by the Christ genealogies in both Matthew 1 & Luke 3 that Jesus is double the son of King David....
Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! The Text Romans 9:23–33 (CSB) 23 And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory on objects of mercy that he prepared beforehand for glory— 24 on us, the ones he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?...
Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! The Text Romans 9:14–23 (CSB) 14 What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! 15 For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion....
Lamentations 3:22–23 (CSB) Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! The Text Romans 9:1–13 (CSB) 1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood....
The Introduction Romans 8:38–39 (CSB) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In these days, we have Christians contending that their faith would be unshaken if the resurrection never took place....
The Text Romans 8:37 (CSB) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. All of the questions, pushbacks, and opposition that Paul was facing with teaching this one particular truth of God as a through but simple exposition of Christ’s own words when He said: John 10:28–30 (CSB) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand....
The Introduction Romans 8:36 (CSB) As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. So what if a little “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”1 comes our way? God promises suffering for his saints. There is no way around it. Just in case you are at odds with the rest of the authors of the Bible and only want the “red letter edition”, let us consider the words of Christ himself:...
The Introduction Romans 8:35 (CSB) Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? I am not here to try to define for you what each of these circumstances means. I am 43 years old who lives in the Bible Belt of the United States and have been a believer for a quarter of my life....
The Introduction Romans 8:34 (CSB) Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Let’s try to find a verse that sums up the whole Bible concerning the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and you will have your choice of a few verses: John 3:16 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life....
The Introduction Romans 8:33 (CSB) Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. This world and its inhabitants, princes, rulers, and principalities crouching, and ready to pounce and devour your heart and soul. They are not always going to do it with outright accusations, but they might resort to that. “Look at your life! Look at all the mistakes you’ve made! You can’t even stay married....
The Introduction Romans 8:32 (CSB) He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? I could sit here and blast you with God’s holy words about God alone provides for us, and we need nothing. Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. It is more than “I don’t want” like we are monks in Timbuktu living off the land but rather, because God adopted us, we are co-heirs with the One who has inherited all things....
The Introduction And here is love: Romans 8:31 (CSB) What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? The love of God cannot be simply defined by the merest of affections and words that we might share with one another. Is our relationship to our spouse, children, family, coworkers, or neighbor compare to one’s relationship with God? Although our relationships should be held in the light of God’s relationship with us, it is preposterous to think that anybody we know would compare to God is perfect in all things especially when it comes to love....
The Introduction And here is love: Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. Our God We look up all of Romans 8:30 as a chain that begins and ends with God. To that end, predestination and glorification are things that our minds cannot fully fathom. But we rest assure that every single person predestined is called is justified is glorified....
The Introduction Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. This is the steadfast chain of salvation that links us to God forever and ever. Predestination is God’s mere thoughts, affections, will, and decisions towards us. From eternity past, God thought of us specifically and was mindful of us intentionally. Calling is the voice of God that actively makes us alive in our dead and sinful state....
The Introduction For no other reason other than God in his sovereign grace elects one man out of everybody else and gives this one man a promise: Genesis 12:1–3 (CSB) The LORD said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing....
The Introduction And here is love: Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. So if there was nothing in us to attract, sway, or convinced God to love us and save us, what did God see in us before He saved us? There is a war in our world to determine the value of a human’s life....
The Text Romans 8:30 (CSB) And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. The Introduction We have now established that God loved us not just for the sake of love by itself. It is a warm and sentiment notion to be sure but when it comes to God, it is not just simply His love as though he can be reduced to one feeling....
The Introduction We are in Genesis 12. Let me set the stage: every word of this Bible is inspired–literally breathed out by God–so every word here holds weight. When we talk about the Christian faith, teachers will point to certain important passages to speak about the foundations of our faith and religion. We will then talk about covenants or the promises of God. And just to be crystal clear, when God promises anything, it is an unbreakable promise–meaning, God has or will fulfill it because He is unable to break a promise or tell a lie....
The Text Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. The Introduction When we carefully walked through verse 29 of Romans 8, we saw that there was more than a few questions that rose to the top, namely: What did God saw in us? We now know that he didn’t see anything good, righteousness or lovely....
The Introduction This entire series has been trying to pit the world’s definition of love versus God’s definition of love. And perhaps up until this moment, we have never taken that to actual task. What I mean by that is that comparatively speaking, if I speak of God’s love, we can still find something like that in on earth. For example, the laughter of a tiny infant to their parents’ goo-goo and gah-gah sounds....
The Introduction How did we get here? What I mean by that is how is setting the stage to do his will and his good pleasure in his people who are not yet his people. Well, logic dictates, he must start with a person. Now, because we have seen a couple of genealogies (Genesis 5) and we have heard the proclamation of the gospel (Genesis 3:15) and for most of us, this is not the first time hearing this story, we know that through one bloodline starting with Adam through Noah through a man name Terah....
The Text Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. The Introduction When we speak of Romans 8, most Christians rightfully cling to the verse 1: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. But Romans 8:1 is not the very first line of this epistle from Paul to the church in Rome....
The Introduction So we have firmly established that God did not look into the future and see that I was good enough to be saved. I did not make the right decision to be saved or do a bunch of “good” works to be saved. We now know that from eternally past, God looked upon me and saw my wickedness, my evilness, my sins, and trespasses and graciously, sovereignly, completely, and mightily decided to save me if for no other reason other than for His glory....
The Text Romans 8:29 (CSB) For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. The Support There are many verses that can be used to aptly say what verse twenty-nine so succinctly and definitely says here. I can think of two passages: 1 Peter 1:20-21 (CSB) He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you....
The Text Romans 8:28 (CSB) 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Our God Herein lies love: all things work together for good for those who love God. Within our world, one might dare to ask, “What about those who don’t love God? What about my friend or neighbor or co-worker who is basically a good guy or gal?...
The Text Romans 8:27 (CSB) And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. The Support Where do you see God in the text? What does the text say about God? Our God This is a fantastic God What compares to the knowledge of God when He alone reveals all truth and science to us?...
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 11 The Gospel Tongue Download audio The Introduction Colossians 2:4-10 (CSB) I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable. For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ. So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 8:26 Who Defines Us in the Midst of Our Weakness? Download audio The Introduction When coming to the full acknowledgment of the pain and anguish of sin that he seems to never be able to overcome, Paul cries the same incredible prayer in the same spirit as the tax collector in the synagogue: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?...
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 10 The Gospel Certainty: The Lineage of God Download audio The Introduction Genealogies are important. But not in the way you might think. It might help to know where we came from, who are our ancestors, or what’s in our DNA But our lineage ain’t worth anything if we are not saved by God. Let us examine the passage and get into it....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 8:18-25 Who Defines Us? Download audio The Introduction The last time we were in Romans, we examined that if we are in Christ, who will bear witness for us in the sight of God. But it has been a long time since we have been in Romans. To catch us up, lets go all the way back: Romans 7: Who will save me from this body of death?...
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 9:18-29 The Gospel Certainty: The Glory of God Download audio The Introduction Thoughts on Bible Study vs. Sermon. Prep is the same. Execution is different. more questions We are here at the end of the story of Noah. We are completing his life here in Genesis. We have seen him be spared and saved by the grace of God alone, declared righteous, blameless, and one who walked with God....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 9:8-17 The Gospel Certainty: The Redemption of God Download audio The Introduction It is one thing to wrap our minds around the continuous work of God in redemption. It is whole other thing to sit and think and meditate on the permeance of God’s work in redemption. What I mean is this: when we dwell on the promises of God especially when it comes to God saving us, I think things like salvation, adoption, calling, and even election can be understood simply–whether we believe it or not....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 9:1-7 The Gospel Certainty: The Love of God Download audio The Introduction There is no doubt that God is personal and he responds personally to us as individuals. He cares for us, speaks to us, answers are prayers and provides for us. God certainly acts very intimately and personally. But throughout the Bible, what we see is a consistent God–the only God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 8:15-22 The Gospel Certainty: The Promise of God Download audio The Introduction Lamentations 3:19–26 (CSB) 19 Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. 20 I continually remember them and have become depressed. 21 Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 8:1-14 The Gospel Certainty: The Restoration of God Download audio The Introduction The salvation of God can explained in a myriad of ways. Now, we know that God saves his people from their sins. That is Matthew 1:21. But the salvation does not stop there. In the eradication of sin upon the earth, God has not just made a neutral ground for all believers....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 7:11-24 The Gospel Certainty: The Will of God Download audio The Introduction Make no mistake: everybody who has a opinion of God is a theologian. The question remains are you a good or bad theologian. “God doesn’t exist.” - that’s a bad theologian. God does exist, he has made his eternal power obvious and divine nature obvious–or as the Apostle Paul puts it, “have been clearly seen” since the beginning of creation but you choose to suppress the truth so you can go your own way and not respond to the gospel commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 7:1–10 The Gospel Certainty: The Salvation of God Download audio The Introduction When you read Genesis 4 and 5, you might be tempted to follow the section headings within the chapters–The Line of Cain, The Line of Seth, so on and so forth. While extremely helpful, don’t assume the section headings are inerrant and infallible–even our chapter and verse numbers were thought up by humans as a helpful way to remember the “address” of a particular passage in Scripture....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 6:10-22 The Gospel Certainty: The Holiness of God Download audio The Introduction In Genesis 1 & 2, God created the heavens and the earth, we were introduced to the omnipotence, omniscient, and omnipresent of God. And please don’t be put off by these big fancy words. omnipotence - all powerful; Almighty omniscient - all knowing and all wise omnipresent - everywhere and in every moment of time In Genesis 3, in light of temptation, evil, our sin, we saw the grace, the mercy, the salvation, and the righteousness of God....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 6:8-9 The Gospel Certainty: The Grace of God Download audio The Introduction Genesis chapters 3 through the beginning of 6 starts to unveil and unravel the destructive nearly unceasing power of sin and corruptness. Our wickedness and transgression against the Holy God was not without the most severe consequences. To call it, “consequences”, is an understatement. The best phrase I have heard said, “the breaking of the cosmos”....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 6:1-7 The Gospel Certainty: The Wickedness of Man Download audio The Introduction Hamartiology (ha mar tee ology). Incredibly huge word. If I would take a guess, I would say that maybe just a few people in here today has ever heard this word before–fewer still have even used it in a sentence. Hamartiology (ha mar tee ology) is simply “the study of sin....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 5 The Gospel Plan Download audio The Text Genesis 5 (CSB) This is the document containing the family records of Adam. On the day that God created man, he made him in the likeness of God; 2 he created them male and female. When they were created, he blessed them and called them mankind. 3 Adam was 130 years old when he fathered a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 4 The Gospel Meeting Download audio The Text Genesis 4 (CSB) The man was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the LORD’s help.” 2 She also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 3:14-24 The Gospel Proclaimed Download audio The Text Genesis 3:14-24 (CSB) So the LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman,...
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 3:1-13 The Gospel Needed Download audio The Text Genesis 3:1-13 (CSB) Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 2:4-25 Our Forever Righteousness Download audio The Text Genesis 2:4-25 (CSB) These are the records of the heavens and the earth, concerning their creation. At the time that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, no shrub of the field had yet grown on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 2:1-3 Our Forever Rest Download audio The Text Genesis 2:1-3 (CSB) So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 1:26-31 Our Forever Image Download audio The Text Genesis 1:26-31 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image;...
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 1:20-25 Our Forever Creator Download audio The Text Genesis 1:20-25 (CSB) Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 1:14-19 Our Forever Light Download audio The Text Genesis 1:14-19 (CSB) Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 1:6-13 Our Forever Home Download audio The Text Genesis 1:6-13 (CSB) Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse “sky.” Evening came and then morning: the second day....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 1:1-5 Our Forever Wisdom Download audio The Text Genesis 1:1-5 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light....
The Audio Listen to Study: Genesis 1:1 Our Forever Love Download audio The Text John 1:1-2 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Support You would think that when you about to study Genesis, that the first study you are about to do is something about Creation....
Introduction Why Genesis? The pat answer is that it is beginning of everything that God has done. Everything we read from Exodus on, including and especially in the Gospels, can be traced right back to the first instance in Genesis. The real answer is that this is a sincere challenge and I want to walk through it. Here just the very small list of resources on Genesis that I have found most helpful....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 8:14-17 Who Bears Witness For Us? Download audio The Text Romans 8:14–17 (CSB) 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 8:12-13 What Do I Do When I Sin? Download audio The Introduction If Jesus was obedient, even unto death on the cross, to become our sin by the power of the Holy Spirit, how do you think we are suppose to be killing off sin? In other words, if the mighty men of David had to continue slaying giants in the land, what do you think the brothers and sisters are Christ are called to do with their sin?...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 8:5-11 How Can I Walk This Path? Download audio The Text Romans 8:5–11 (CSB) 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 8:1-4 No Condemnation in Christ Jesus Download audio The Introduction Now, by the sacrifice of Christ all the sins of the Church are entirely put away. He, the sinless Lamb of God, took them up and bore them away into a land of oblivion, whence even the Divine mind fails to recall them. Octavius Winslow, No Condemnation in Christ Jesus....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 7:14-25 Then, God Saves Us From Our Sin Download audio The Introduction The chaptering of Romans is a little bit off. I am not saying I could have done a better job–I definitely could not. But Romans 6-7:7 seems to be grouped together and I taught it as so: Romans 6:1-14 God Kills Our Sin Romans 6:15-23 God Buries Our Sin Romans 7:1-6 God Rips Our Sin From Us We see what God is willing to do to save each of his children....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 7:7-13 First, God Reveals Our Sin Download audio I think one of the most remarkable things that God, through his word, teaches us two things: and/both either/or I noticed that so many debates on social media are people desperate to find a one side to contend for and be on the winning side. Speaking about the Bible: lets talk about drinking alcohol....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 7:1-6 God Rips Our Sin From Us Download audio Licentiousness - I am not going to use this word too often because mostly I cannot say it well enough to use it often. Paul, under the lordship, guidance, inspired, command of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, battles legalism in Romans chapters 2 to 4. And if you think Paul is too hard on legalism, he is simply taking his cues from the ministry of Christ in the gospel....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 6:15–23 God Buries Our Sin Download audio The Introduction So, you are reading and studying Romans. You are convicted and comforted by the fact that you could have not done anything good enough to be saved by God. You convicted and comforted in the fact that God in his grace must save you to him. You cannot boast in other than God....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 6:1-14 God Kills Our Sin Download audio Follow me here. I am reading Romans in this way: Chapter 1 - split in three different ways: 1-15: Introduction and Greetings 16-17: The righteous shall live by faith 18-32: The depravity of mankind Then proceeding into chapters 2, 3 and 4 can be summarized in this way: you are not saved in the way you think you are...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 5:12–21 God Reigns, Not Us Download audio The Introduction In a Bible Study series as this, it is always really helpful to remind us where we have been studying in order to see where we are going. Romans is not the exception. Romans 1 - The gospel is the power of God in salvation but we have all suppress the truth of God and therefore live in that sin...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 5:6–11 God Loves, Not Us Download audio The Text Romans 5:6–11 (CSB) 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 5:1-5 God Sanctifies, Not Us Download audio The Text Romans 5:1–5 (CSB) 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 4:13-25 God Fulfills His Promises, Not Us Download audio The Text Romans 4:13–25 (CSB) 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified,...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 4:6-12 God Justifies, Not Us Download audio The Text Romans 4:6–12 (CSB) 6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the person the Lord will never charge with sin....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 3:27-4:5 No One May Boast Download audio The Text Romans 3:27–4:5 (CSB) 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only?...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 3:9–26 No One Does Good Download audio The Text Romans 3:9–26 (CSB) 9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 3:1-8 All Goodness and Glory Belongs to God Download audio The Text Romans 3:1–8 (CSB) 1 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted with the very words of God. 3 What then? If some were unfaithful, will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 2:17-29 Everything Belongs to God Download audio The Text Romans 2:17–29 (CSB) 17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 2:1-16 All Righteousness Belongs to God Download audio The Text Romans 2:1–16 (CSB) 1 Therefore, every one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 1:26-32 All Wrath Belongs to God Download audio The Text Romans 1:26–32 (CSB) 26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 1:18-25 God Alone is God Download audio The Text Romans 1:18–25 (CSB) 18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 1:16-17 God Alone Saves His People Download audio The Text Romans 1:16–17 (CSB) 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 1:13-15 God Alone is Sovereign Download audio The Text Romans 1:13–15 (CSB) 13 Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles....
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 1:8-12 God Alone Reigns Download audio The Text Romans 1:8–12 (CSB) 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. 9 God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you,...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 1:1-7 God Alone Fulfills His Promises Download audio The Text Romans 1:1–7 (CSB) 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh...
The Audio Listen to Study: Romans 1:1 God Alone Saves Download audio The Text Romans 1:1 (CSB) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God The Support The Damascus Road Acts 9:1-25 (CSB) Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem....
Updated: January 9, 2022 - Fixed formatting, links, images, and order of preference. -Ed. Here just the very small list of resources on Romans that I have found most helpful. It Goes Without Say The Holy Bible Many times, many teachers, preachers, and small group leaders (myself included) will “cut straight to the chase” and engage the commentary instead of engaging the Word of God. Remember, the commentaries are not without error—they are the observations of the author....