Introduction: The website of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association offers the following answer answer to the question, Did God really forsake Jesus when He was dying on the cross?: Jesus’ cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) has puzzled many. Jesus is actually quoting the opening line of Psalm 22 … Continue reading Mark 15:33-34 – Jesus Was Not Separated From the Father on the Cross (Teaching Outline)
Luke 2:8-20 – Jesus Christ Is God’s Gift to Us (Teaching Outline)
Introduction: If your family is like my family, you all enjoy giving and receiving presents at Christmas time. I really see no problem with celebrating Jesus' birth by enjoying giving to others as a way to emulate His love and to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed … Continue reading Luke 2:8-20 – Jesus Christ Is God’s Gift to Us (Teaching Outline)
1 Samuel 15:22-23 – To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice (Teaching Outline)
Note: Begin reading the passage at verse 1 in order to grasp the immediate context. Introduction: A mother is said to have once told this story about her little boy: My son, Michael, was four years old the night I found him sobbing uncontrollably in the hallway. Concerned, I knelt next to him and drew him … Continue reading 1 Samuel 15:22-23 – To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice (Teaching Outline)
Psalm 19 – Rightly Responding to the Revelation of God (Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Theologians often make a distinction between General Revelation (the revelation of God through creation) and Special Revelation (the revelation of God through the Scriptures). As we will see today, this distinction is a Biblical one and is rooted in passages such as Psalm 19. As we examine the psalm, we will see 1) that … Continue reading Psalm 19 – Rightly Responding to the Revelation of God (Teaching Outline)
Psalm 95 – A Call to Worship (Teaching Outline)
Note: The LXX says that David wrote this Psalm, and the author of Hebrews confirms this fact when he cites a portion of the psalm and attributes it to David (4:7). We will look at this passage from Hebrews later in our examination of the psalm. I have added transliterations for any Hebrew words. Introduction: C.S. … Continue reading Psalm 95 – A Call to Worship (Teaching Outline)
God’s Great and Gracious Love – John 3:16 Part 2 (Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Just as I pointed out last week, even so this week I want to observe how important it is to begin reading the text at verse 1 in order to refresh our minds concerning the context leading up to this verse. As the text is read, observe again that the word for (γάρ, gár) at the beginning of verse 16 tells us that this … Continue reading God’s Great and Gracious Love – John 3:16 Part 2 (Teaching Outline)
God’s Great and Gracious Love – John 3:16 Part 1 (Teaching Outline)
Note: As we prepare to examine this text, I just want to point out that there is some legitimate disagreement as to whether or not Jesus is still speaking in verse 16. Although red letter editions of the Bible typically continue with red print through verse 21, I think it highly likely that the Apostle John … Continue reading God’s Great and Gracious Love – John 3:16 Part 1 (Teaching Outline)
Psalm 15 – Who Can Have Unhindered Fellowship with the LORD? (Teaching Outline)
Introduction: Charles Spurgeon refers to the opening verse of this psalm as “the great question. Asked by idle curiosity, despair, godly fear, earnest enquirer, soul troubled by falls of others, holy faith” (Treasury of David, e-Sword). Such are examples of the many motivations that lead people to ask such a question. Yet, no matter what motivates a person … Continue reading Psalm 15 – Who Can Have Unhindered Fellowship with the LORD? (Teaching Outline)
The Doctrine of Conversion: Understanding Faith and Repentance (Teaching Outline)
Introduction: For some time now there has been a misunderstanding of the doctrine of conversion among many who would call themselves Evangelical Christians. For example, there have been attempts to redefine either faith or repentance, or both. There have also been attempts to separate repentance from faith and even to say that repentance has nothing … Continue reading The Doctrine of Conversion: Understanding Faith and Repentance (Teaching Outline)
Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-11 Teaching Outline)
Introduction: It is quite common today to hear people say things like, “I don't believe in any one religion, but I am a very spiritual person.” People are simply perplexed about what spirituality really is or isn't, yet they want to appear to be “spiritual.” They don't understand what that really means, but this only aids … Continue reading Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-11 Teaching Outline)