Latest Lessons
Here are the most recent items added.
November, 2025
Christ's Authority Over Demons and the End of Possession
Luke 4:41 shows demons recognizing Jesus as the Son of God to highlight His divine authority during a unique, temporary period of redemptive history, where their forced confessions magnified Christ's power—an authority now affirmed not by demons but by the church after His victory at the cross.
November, 2025
Two Genealogies, One Messiah
Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 give two different genealogies that, rather than contradicting, serve distinct purposes—Matthew proving Jesus' legal Messianic line for Jews and Luke tracing His human lineage to Adam for all humanity, together forming a unified testimony to His identity as the promised Messiah.
November, 2025
Spirit Baptism
This article explains why debates about "baptism with the Holy Spirit" persist between Restorationists and Pentecostals, arguing that clearer biblical interpretation and a fuller view of the Spirit's ongoing work can bridge the divide.
November, 2025
John the Baptist and Jesus
Luke 3:10-14 shows that John's ethical call to repentance prepared people for Jesus, whose later call demanded total allegiance—revealing that true repentance begins with moral change but culminates in complete surrender to Christ.
November, 2025
The Political Landscape of Jesus' Time
Luke 3:1 roots the beginning of John's ministry in real history by naming the political powers of the time, highlighting both the Gospel's factual grounding and the contrast between earthly rulers and God's coming kingdom.
November, 2025
Mary's Heart
Luke's description of Mary "treasuring" and pondering events in her heart shows her as a model of reflective faith, quietly holding onto God's mysteries until their meaning was revealed.
November, 2025
What's Possible with God
Gabriel's words to Mary affirm that nothing is impossible with God, reminding believers that His limitless power can accomplish what seems humanly impossible and calls us to trust Him in every circumstance.
November, 2025
Why the Right Side?
Luke's note that the angel appeared on the right side of the altar signifies divine favor, drawing on Temple symbolism and biblical tradition to show that Zechariah's prayer—and Israel's—had been graciously heard.
November, 2025
Alcohol and the Bible
Luke 1:15 shows that John the Baptist's abstinence from wine was a special calling, demonstrating that Scripture warns against drunkenness but does not command universal abstinence, leaving believers to exercise wisdom, love, and self-control in matters of alcohol.
November, 2025
Introduction to the Gospel of Luke
Luke's Gospel, written by the Gentile physician and historian Luke, presents Jesus as the compassionate Savior of all people, offering a carefully researched, Spirit-guided account that emphasizes mercy, prayer, the Spirit's work, and the universal reach of the gospel.
November, 2025
The Argument for the Long Ending of Mark
Mark 16:14-19 is best understood as a canonically valid passage whose promised signs applied to the apostolic mission for confirming the gospel, not as miracles guaranteed for all believers in every age.
November, 2025
The Temptation in the Garden
Mark 14:38 shows Jesus warning His disciples to watch and pray so they would not abandon Him in the coming crisis, teaching that even sincere hearts fail without spiritual vigilance and dependence on God.
November, 2025
Forbidden Wine
Mark 15:23 shows Jesus refusing narcotic wine so He could fully bear the suffering of the cross with complete awareness, speak clearly, and offer Himself as the true High Priest without compromise.
November, 2025
The Final Cup
Mark 14:25 shows Jesus promising that He will share the cup again only in the future kingdom, turning the Last Supper into both a remembrance of His sacrifice and a hopeful anticipation of the final banquet believers will enjoy with Him.
November, 2025
Be Careful What You Ask For
Mark 10:38 reminds us that like James and John, we often ask for things we don't truly understand, and Scripture shows that God may grant or deny such requests for our good—teaching us to pray boldly yet humbly, always submitting our desires to His wiser will.
November, 2025
Faith and Prayer
Mark 11:22-24 teaches that while the Apostles would exercise miracle-confirming, mountain-moving faith, all believers are called to pray with confident trust in God's power—always aligned with His will, His glory, and pure motives.
November, 2025
Prayer and Power
Mark 9:29 teaches that victory over spiritual evil depends not on technique but on humble dependence expressed through prayer, highlighting the shift from apostolic exorcisms to the believer's call today to resist Satan through faith, holiness, and reliance on Christ.
November, 2025
Holiness Beyond the Rules
Mark 7 shows Jesus exposing man-made religion by teaching that true defilement comes from the heart—not from food or rituals—anticipating the New Covenant freedom later revealed while affirming that holiness is an inner, not external, reality.
November, 2025
The Fall of Herod
Mark 6:17-18 shows John the Baptist courageously condemning Herod's unlawful marriage, teaching that leaders who ignore God's moral boundaries invite public ruin, while righteousness—though costly—remains essential for integrity and accountability.
November, 2025
Mary
Scripture shows Mary as a humble, faithful mother of Jesus—not a perpetual virgin—and the New Testament's natural reading affirms that Jesus had siblings, revealing that the Catholic doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity rests on later tradition rather than biblical evidence.
November, 2025
Why Demons Begged Jesus for Permission
Mark 5:8-12 shows that while demons may oppress in God's permissive will, they are utterly subject to Jesus' authority—forced to obey His command and revealing both their destructive nature and Christ's absolute dominion.
November, 2025
Warts and All
Reflecting on the struggles we face and the importance of not letting them define us, this excerpt delves into the transformative power of faith and self-acceptance, drawing parallels to the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-34.
November, 2025
Why Jesus Taught in Parables
Mark 4:10-12 shows that Jesus used parables to reveal truth to those with receptive hearts while allowing the hard-hearted to remain unchanged, making parables both an invitation for seekers and a judgment on unbelief.
November, 2025
What is the Unforgivable Sin?
Mark 3:28-29 warns that the unforgivable sin is the deliberate, persistent rejection of the Holy Spirit's witness to Jesus—a hardened refusal of the very grace that brings forgiveness.
November, 2025
Healing on the Sabbath
Mark 3:1-6 shows that Jesus' Sabbath healing exposed the Pharisees' human traditions as legalistic distortions, teaching that doing good and showing mercy is always lawful in God's eyes.
November, 2025
Evil Spirits
Mark 1 shows that demons were real spiritual beings defeated by Jesus' authority, and while Christians debate whether possession continues today, Scripture's emphasis remains that believers stand secure because victory belongs to Christ.
November, 2025
How the Cross Forgives Sins Across Time
Mark 1:4 shows that John's baptism brought forgiveness because Christ's atoning sacrifice works across time, granting grace to those who repented before the cross just as it does to believers who look back to it today.
November, 2025
Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Mark, written by John Mark from Peter's eyewitness teaching, presents Jesus as the powerful Servant-King through a fast-paced, action-focused narrative aimed at Roman readers, emphasizing His authority, compassion, and sacrificial mission.
November, 2025
Forsaken for Our Sake
Matthew 27:46 reveals that Jesus experienced real abandonment on the cross as He bore our sin and its judgment, showing that His deepest suffering was the separation He endured so that we could be forever accepted by God.
November, 2025
I Am Barabbas
Matthew 27:15-26 uses the release of guilty Barabbas and the condemnation of innocent Jesus as a vivid picture of substitutionary grace, showing that Christ took the sinner's place so the guilty could go free.
November, 2025
The Three Servants in Today's Church
Matthew 25:14-29 teaches that true discipleship is revealed through faithful action, showing that while God gives different gifts to each person, He expects every believer to use them for His kingdom—because in the kingdom, doing nothing is itself unfaithfulness.
November, 2025
Judas
Scripture presents Judas not as a misunderstood figure but as one who willfully betrayed Jesus, reminding us that proximity to Christ without true loyalty leads to tragic and just condemnation.
November, 2025
Jesus Describes the Destruction of Jerusalem
Matthew 24:34 is best understood as Jesus predicting that the generation of His own day would witness the prophesied events—fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70—using the symbolic judgment language common to Old Testament prophecy.
November, 2025
Chosen, Not Just Called
Matthew 22:14 teaches that while God's invitation to His kingdom is extended to many, only those who respond with genuine transformation—symbolized by the proper wedding garment—are truly chosen.
November, 2025
A Mother's Bold Request
Matthew 20:20-22 reveals a sincere but misguided request for honor that Jesus redirects by teaching that true greatness in His kingdom comes not through status or family ties, but through humility, suffering, and servanthood.
November, 2025
Desecrating the Court of the Gentiles
Matthew 21:12-13 shows Jesus cleansing the Temple to expose not only corruption but the deeper hypocrisy of turning the Gentiles' only worship space into a marketplace, revealing that true worship must protect access to God for all people.
November, 2025
Eye of a Needle?
Matthew 19:23-26 uses intentional hyperbole to show that those who trust in wealth cannot enter God's kingdom by their own power, but that salvation—impossible for humans—is entirely possible through God's grace.
November, 2025
Does Jesus Require Forced Celibacy?
Matthew 19:12 teaches celibacy as a voluntary calling, not a requirement, and—together with Paul's guidance in I Corinthians 7—shows that Scripture never mandates lifelong celibacy or dissolving second marriages as a path to repentance.
November, 2025
Traditionalist View Error in the MDR Debate
This critique argues that the traditionalist Church of Christ view on remarriage misapplies Matthew 19:9 by treating remarriage as continuous adultery, imposing legalistic burdens Scripture never commands, and ignoring the New Testament's emphasis on grace and remaining in one's present situation.
November, 2025
What About the 99?
Matthew 18:12-13 teaches that God's greater joy over a returning sinner doesn't diminish the faithful, but highlights the urgency and celebration of rescuing the lost.
November, 2025
Jesus' Impatience
Matthew 17:14-18 shows Jesus rebuking the pervasive unbelief of the father, disciples, and crowd, yet still compassionately delivering the boy—teaching that true spiritual power flows from sincere faith and disciplined dependence on God.
November, 2025
Who Do the People Say I Am?
Matthew 16:13-14 shows that while the people recognized Jesus as a powerful, prophetic figure like Elijah or Jeremiah, their partial expectations fell short of the full truth Peter would soon confess—that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
November, 2025
No Neutral Ground
Matthew 12:30-32 warns that rejecting the Holy Spirit's witness to Christ—persistently and willfully—is the one unforgivable sin, showing that true allegiance to Jesus cannot be passive or hardened against God's truth.
November, 2025
The Gospel is Lord of MDR
Matthew 12 shows that Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, prioritizes mercy over legalism—a principle that challenges modern debates like Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage to be shaped by the gospel's redemptive grace rather than rigid human rules.
November, 2025
The New Wine of Christ
Matthew 9:14-17 shows that Jesus didn't come to patch up old religion but to bring a completely new, grace-filled life that cannot be contained by old mindsets or legalistic traditions.
November, 2025
Casting Out Demons, Then and Now
Matthew 8:28-34 highlights Jesus' absolute authority over demonic powers and frames today's debate over exorcism as a question of whether such miracles were temporary signs for the apostolic age or ongoing practices empowered by the Spirit.
November, 2025
Kingdom Living is Not the New Law
The Sermon on the Mount isn't a new rulebook, but a call to heart-level transformation that only God's grace—not human compliance—can produce.
November, 2025
Jesus and the Temptations
Matthew 4:1-11 shows Jesus overcoming Satan's temptations by fully trusting God's Word and refusing every shortcut that would pull Him away from His mission.
November, 2025
Even Jesus Had Problem People in His Family
Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1 shows that God works through imperfect people and broken family histories to bring redemption and hope to our own.
November, 2025
Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew, the author of the Gospel of Matthew, carefully arranges Jesus' teachings into sections, reflecting his organized and detail-oriented nature, making it easier for believers to remember and apply Jesus' words in daily life.
November, 2025
Introduction to AI Journey Through the Bible
An invitation to join a groundbreaking exploration of the life and teachings of Jesus through a collaboration of human insight and artificial intelligence, uncovering fresh perspectives and timeless truths rooted in Scripture.
November, 2025
From Conviction and Communion to Joy
The New Testament illustrates a transformative journey in the Christian life, from recognizing sin to embracing grace, deepening knowledge of God, and ultimately experiencing lasting joy, all interconnected in a Spirit-led progression towards celebration and communion with God.
November, 2025
5 Views on the Role of Baptism
This article provides a comprehensive overview of five major views on baptism, highlighting the biblical arguments for each, such as the Sacramental/Regenerative View emphasizing baptism's link to forgiveness and new birth through key passages like Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:3-4.
October, 2025
The Vision of the New Temple and Temple Worship
In this final lesson Mike reviews Ezekiel's final vision of a renewed Temple which includes God's promise of His return to dwell among His people.
October, 2025
Restoration, Renewal and the Prophecy of Gog and Magog
This lesson will focus on Edom's destruction and the promise of Israel's full restoration as a type for the climatic victory of the church at the end of time.
September, 2025
A Modern 'Pilate' Moment
The assassination of Charlie Kirk in 2025 sparked a cultural and spiritual conversation, drawing parallels to the cosmic confrontation of Jesus' trial in John 18–19 and urging society to look beyond the crime to a deeper conflict of our time.
September, 2025
Oracles Against the Nations and the Shepherds of Israel
In this lesson we see Ezekiel's message shifting to judgments on foreign powers and a renewed call on shepherds who will faithfully serve God's people.
September, 2025
Oracles of Judgment and the Fall of Jerusalem
Chapters 12-24 of Ezekiel sees the prophet confront Judah's spiritual rebellion with a series of signs, oracles, and parables leading to the time of Jerusalem's fall.
September, 2025
The Power of the Men's Breakfast
Men's breakfasts provide a transformative space for Christian men to share experiences, confess struggles, and form bonds of accountability, shaping them into better leaders and servants of Christ through honest conversation and shared prayer.
September, 2025
Symbolic Oracles of Judgment and the Departure of God's Glory
This lesson will review both Ezekiel's warnings of impending judgment for the unrepentant sin of idolatry and the fulfillment of this prophecy as God removes His miraculous presence from the Temple in Jerusalem.
September, 2025
Introduction and Inaugural Vision
The first lesson deals with Ezekiel's amazing visions and initial message to the exiles from God.
September, 2025
Ezekiel for Beginners
The Book of Ezekiel focuses on the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people beginning in 597 BC. Ezekiel, a priest, is used by God to provide encouragement with his preaching and visions which nourish the faith of the captives.
August, 2025
Taylor & Travis
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement highlights the universal longing for genuine love, showing that even superstars desire the joy of building lasting relationships beyond the constant scrutiny of fame.
August, 2025
The Book of Lamentations
This final lesson focuses on the book of Lamentations which is a collection of five poetic laments that express Jeremiah's sorrow over the fall of the city of Jerusalem and the punishment of the Jewish nation.
August, 2025
Jeremiah'S Final Years and Flight to Egypt
This lesson looks at the conditions and actions of the people of Judah and their faithful prophet Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
August, 2025
Faith and the Limits of Human Inquiry
Understanding the limits of empirical knowledge, this article delves into the importance of faith in transcending beyond what can be observed, inviting readers to explore the concept of knowledge that goes beyond the senses.
August, 2025
The New Covenant
In this lesson we will see two amazing realities presented side by side separated only by time: Judgment in the final destruction of Jerusalem, and hope in the form of the New Covenant ushered in by the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
August, 2025
Confronting False Prophets
In this lesson we see Jeremiah transmit God's indictment against the false prophets and leaders who led Israel away.
August, 2025
Why People Leave the Church
In this lesson, Mike presents recent national statistics revealing why many major denominational groups are declining. He then examines how these trends have affected the Choctaw congregation since 1991 and offers practical strategies to help reverse this widespread pattern.
August, 2025
Why Death?
This article delves into the contrasting perspectives on death for believers and non-believers, highlighting the impact of sin and the promise of salvation through faith in Christ.
July, 2025
The Potter's House, Judah'S Broken Covenant, and the Fate of Its Kings
In this lesson we see Jeremiah's continued warnings of God's impending judgment on unrepentant Judah and the sad ending of its last rulers.
July, 2025
The True Demands of the Law
Approach the Sermon on the Mount through a grace-driven lens to understand Kingdom living, breaking free from a compliance mindset that reduces it to a checklist of behaviors, as seen in the Jewish approach to the Law of Moses, and embrace a transformed heart dependent on grace for true righteousness.
July, 2025
Temple Sermon and the People'S Rejection
This lesson focuses on Jeremiah's bold rebuke of those who thought that the physical presence of the Temple in Jerusalem would protest them despite Jeremiah's warnings of God's imminent punishment due to their disobedience.
July, 2025
The 3 Temptations of Jesus
In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan strategically tempts Jesus in the wilderness, aiming to lead Him astray from His divine mission by exploiting legitimate needs or roles, a profound insight into the spiritual battle faced by Jesus.
July, 2025
Jesus' Ancestors
Explore the diverse and intriguing genealogy of Jesus, from patriarchs to prostitutes, kings to idolaters, and Gentiles to Jews, showcasing God's redemptive plan through a lineage filled with both the faithful and the fallen.
July, 2025
Israel's Unfaithfulness and God'S Judgment
In this lesson we explore the familiar theme of Israel's unfaithfulness witnessed by their gross idolatry, God's sure judgment and call for repentance as well as His abundant mercy available for those who repent.
July, 2025
The Benefits of Worshipping God
Understanding the purpose and benefits of worship in the life of a believer is essential to deepening knowledge of God and experiencing joy in His presence.
July, 2025
Jeremiah's Call and Mission
In this lesson we will focus on Jeremiah's calling into ministry, God's assurance that He will provide for the task Jeremiah will be given to carry out and the prophetic role in encouraging people to trust and obey God, even in difficult circumstances.
July, 2025
Introduction to Jeremiah / Lamentations
In this opening lesson, we will examine the prophet Jeremiah's background as well as his call to ministry and the historical, political, and thematic elements of his time. There will also be some introductory material about Jeremiah's companion book of Lamentations.
July, 2025
Jeremiah / Lamentations for Beginners
The books of Jeremiah and Lamentations provide a powerful account of God's justice, judgment, and faithfulness in the face of persistent rebellion. Jeremiah delivers a sobering message of impending destruction due to Judah's sin while also offering hope through a promise of a New Covenant. Lamentations, written after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, is a poetic expression of grief over the city's destruction while affirming God's enduring mercy and hope of restoration.
June, 2025
The Endurance of Love
In this final lesson, Solomon reminds us that true love endures not only because of passion but also because the couple have cultivated other important qualities that must be present if a marriage is to both flourish and endure.
June, 2025
Training for Eternity
In this sermon Mike reviews what parents need to do to instill multigenerational faithfulness in their children.
June, 2025
The Cost of Compromise
Abraham's negotiation with God in Genesis 18:22-33 reveals the impact of righteous individuals in delaying divine judgment and highlights the crucial role of believers in influencing society, as seen through the narrative of Sodom and Lot's family.
June, 2025
The Celebration of Marriage
This lesson focuses on the beauty of the marital covenant and the blessed joy of intimacy in marriage.
June, 2025
Love in Bloom
In this lesson we examine more closely the excitement of love's pursuit, the guardrails the God has provided for this phase and some practical advice for those at every point of love's journey.
June, 2025
The Foundation of Love
In this first lesson Mike reviews the unique aspects of Hebrew poetry, provides a critical introduction to this work and begins to explain and develop the twin themes of respect and restraint contained in the first two chapters of Solomon's ode to human love.
June, 2025
Song of Solomon for Beginners
Aside from being a beautiful example of the unique style of Hebrew poetry, Song of Solomon also provides the reader with the Bible’s most powerful declaration of God’s blessings on physical love and affection in marriage.
May, 2025
Wisdom Against Foolishness and for Christlikeness
The final lesson in the series reviews one last failing that wisdom guards us from and explores the affinity shared by all those who seek the knowledge of Christ with the wisdom of Solomon.
May, 2025
The Beehive
In Montreal, a city once known as "the city of a hundred steeples," a call for spiritual revival echoes through the empty buildings, urging residents to seek meaning beyond the hustle of modern life.
May, 2025
Wisdom for Relationships, Wealth and Contentment
In this lesson Mike focuses on the many proverbs that instruct us concerning those things that have the power to make our lives joyful or bitter, all depending how we approach relationships and wealth.
May, 2025
The Miracle Cure
Comparing Christianity to the miracle drug penicillin, this article explains how sin is the rot that affects human beings and how Jesus Christ offers a 100% guarantee cure for eternal life.
May, 2025
Wisdom for Speech, Words, and Work
Mike provides practical lessons from Proverbs to guide each of us in the every day challenge of living our best lives for Christ.
May, 2025
And the Award Goes To...
This article reflects on the challenges artists and performers face in balancing fame and spiritual fulfillment.
May, 2025
Hebrew Poetry and a Life of Righteousness and Fear of the Lord
In this lesson, Mike reviews the elements peculiar to Hebrew poetry (the format for this book) and explains the two main themes found in chapters 10-18 of Solomon's collection of proverbs.
May, 2025
Every Person's Prayer
Facing the fear of suffering and death, believers find solace in the unwavering love of God that transcends all challenges, as expressed in Romans 8:38-39.
May, 2025
Praying in the Spirit
Delve into the profound essence of the soul and its emanations.
May, 2025
The Call and Personification of Wisdom
This first look at the text reveals how Solomon personifies "wisdom" as a women calling out for attention and rewards given to those who carefully respond.
April, 2025
Aspiring to Spiritual Greatness
In this sermon, Mike explores how true spiritual greatness is achieved not through worldly success, but by cultivating deep humility before God, with Moses' journey as a powerful example of the path to glory in God's kingdom.
April, 2025
General Introduction to Proverbs
This first lesson on the book of Proverbs will examine various types of ancient wisdom literature as well as the contribution of Proverbs to the writers of the New Testament and finish with info as to the author, date and presentation of these records through the centuries.
April, 2025
Proverbs for Beginners
In this series Mike will not only review this inspired example of ancient wisdom literature but also demonstrate its importance and relevance to the New Testament writings and today's believers as well.
