As a church, most of our teaching is expository, meaning we go through a text in the Bible, normally a whole book, and examine it chapter by chapter and verse by verse. The lessons below are different. For these, we start with a topic and look throughout the Bible to see what God has revealed to us through His Scriptures about it. In addition to these topical lessons, we have also tagged the key topics that are discussed in our expository lessons. To find lessons (either topical or expository) that address a specific topic, click here.
Image credit: 1 Chronicles 4:39 © Annie Vallotton
This foundational lesson could transform your understanding of faith and the way you live the Christian life. We take a deep dive into what the Scriptures teach on this, using examples from men and women of faith who have gone before. From these, we distill four essential characteristics of the kind of faith we must
Most Christians today view the fear of God as either an inferior motivation, or (worse) an Old Testament concept that was entirely superseded by the love of God under the new covenant. In this sobering message, we challenge those misconceptions. Jesus and the apostles held up a healthy fear of God as still incredibly important
In Luke 11, Jesus' disciples ask Him to teach them to pray. Why? They certainly had been taught to pray as Jews. Could it be that they saw Jesus praying in a very different way? This lesson, based on insights from an early Christian teacher, helps us consider the meaning of "the Lord's prayer" and
One of the best things any Christian can do is build a habit of reading the Scriptures daily. In this lesson we lay out the reasons why this is so important for us, and then provide a framework to make it simple. The notes include a practical daily plan to read through the entire Bible
In Luke’s account of Jesus' birth to Mary, a virgin, we see the fulfillment of ancient prophecies that few Christians today fully appreciate. A better understanding of these things can strengthen our faith and equip us to persuade skeptics. In this story we also encounter Mary's profound humility and trust in God. She is an
In this second lesson on the Holy Spirit, we consider what it means that the Spirit lives in Christ's followers during our short lifetimes, "a deposit" of our future glory. With examples from both the Old and New Testaments, we see how the Holy Spirit seeks to lead God's people, including the church today. We
Few Christians would deny the existence of the Holy Spirit! But what does it mean to believe in the Holy Spirit? Who is He? What is His nature and personality? And what is His role in our lives? In this first of two lessons, we explore what the Scriptures say about the Holy Spirit and
When we pray for one another as Christians, what do we pray for? This lesson examines two prayers of Paul for the church in Ephesus, that we might imitate his example and receive blessings that our heavenly Father desires to give. Teaching Notes Paul's Prayers for the Ephesians - Lesson Notes
While many Christians focus much more on the life and writings of Paul than on those of Peter, we respectfully challenge that approach. There is much we can learn from Peter, the first among the twelve apostles. This lesson highlights eight practical lessons from the fisherman, including humility, the fear of God, evangelism, effective teaching,
How do we respond when people we love make bad decisions? Do we become angry? Anxious? Give in to despair? In this short lesson, we confront a profound truth: God is not controlling or coercive. Instead, out of His great love and respect, He gives each of us freedom to make our own decisions. Grasping