Picture a branch. If that branch is on the ground, it's dead. A severed branch bears no fruit. However, if that same branch is connected to a tree or vine, it's alive. In John 15, Jesus says that the same is true of us. Specifically, He tells us to 'abide' in Him (as a branch on a vine). But what does the word 'abide' really mean? That will be the …

Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do? In John 14, Jesus promised that the 'Holy Spirit' would appear after His departure. "I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth." - John 14:16 Beyond this, Jesus said that the Spirit would be of great blessing to His disciples. So…

Fear overwhelmed the disciples. Huddled in the Upper Room, Jesus had talked about His coming death, the presence of a betrayer, and of the dark days to follow. It was no wonder the men were shaken. But, sensing their anxiety, Jesus gathered them close, saying "let not your heart be troubled." Dark days would soon give way to hope and victory. If yo…

Unthinkable. In John 13, the Creator washed the feet of people that He created. And moments later, one went out to betray Him. The Lord Supper was filled with shocking moments like these. We'll consider two of them in today's study of John 13:1-17. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

God's voice boomed from Heaven. Did the people listen and obey? No. They dismissed it as mere 'thunder.' Many say they're waiting for proof of God and His plan, asking for a clearer revelation from on high. Yet when He answers, guess what? They ignore Him. What about you? This will be the focus of today's study in John 12. See omnystudio.com/listen…

Jesus wept on Palm Sunday. While others shouted 'hosanna' and laid down palm branches, Jesus wept. But why? Because He knew something the others did not. In today's study, we'll consider what that was. Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby Holt Text: John 12:12-19 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

Motives matter. For example, some people pursued Christ with good, positive intentions. But others (like Judas Iscariot) had selfish or wicked motives. What are your own motives in coming to Christ? Is it for His glory and interests, or for yours? That will be the focus of today's study in John 12. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio…

He let him die. That's what the people were thinking. Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, and rather than go to him, He let him die. But that's not what happened, was it? Instead, Jesus allowed a difficult situation in order to bring about a miraculous outcome. We will consider that outcome in today's study of John 11. Questions That We'll Answer: A…

What makes a 'good' shepherd? He doesn't run when the wolves come. In John 10, Jesus faced all sorts of 'wolves.' From Pharisees, to Romans, to the Devil himself, Jesus was always in grave danger. But so were His sheep! And so, instead of running, Jesus faced the evils of this world on their behalf. Then, He drank down the cup of God's wrath on Cal…

She was guilty. No doubt about it. As the woman stood before Jesus, no one defended her actions - not even her. She was guilty. So what would Jesus do? That's what they all wondered. The Pharisees had set this whole encounter up to trap Jesus. How would He deal with her sin and her guilt? Would He condemn her and risk the wrath of Rome? Would He fr…

Some things are hard to believe. Others are hard to accept. At the start of John 6, thousands pursued Jesus. By the end, few remained. What happened to the rest? The short answer: they heard Jesus talk, and they didn't like what He said. They could not accept His difficult teachings, and so they left. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What drew peopl…

It was late. The people were hungry. Thousands had followed Jesus out of desperation. They were sick, hurting, and now starving. And as Jesus looked out at the crowds, He had compassion. In today's study, we'll see how He responded. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did the people follow Jesus? B) Why didn't they bring food? C) What sign did Jesu…

"Do you want to be made well?" That was Christ's question of the sick man. It is also Christ's question of you. Do you want to be made well? And what do you want to be made well from? This will be the focus of today's sermon from John 5. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What was Christ's objective? B) Why did He enter the 'Sheep Gate?' C) Who did He…

Surprising. Shocking. Scandalous. Jews and Samaritans were NOT supposed to interact. Their mutual hatred went back generations. And yet, here Jesus was, not only talking with this woman in John 4 - but asking her for water. What was this encounter all about? Questions That We'll Answer: A) What was the history of the Samaritans? Who were they? B) W…

To Nicodemus, it seemed like crazy talk. But to Jesus, this was serious business. If God's people are to be saved, we must first be 'born again.' So what does that term mean? And how does it happen? In today's study, we'll dive into the critical topic of regeneration. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Who was Nicodemus, and why did he go to Jesus? B)…

It wasn't just a miracle - it was a sign. In John 2, Jesus attended a wedding. And at this wedding He performed His first recorded miracle (turning water into wine). So, what was this miracle really about? As we'll see, it pointed forward to the cross - even if no one knew it at the time. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did Jesus tell Mary that…

John the Baptist had one job. John came to prepare people to meet Jesus. Specifically, he would 'make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah had foretold. But the people wouldn't listen. John would be a voice crying in the wilderness. He would be misunderstood, and eventually killed. And the same would happen to the Messiah. Questions…

Christianity: rooted in history, backed by eyewitnesses. In John 1, the author skips the greetings and goes straight to the heart of the matter: he and others saw, heard, and observed the Messiah. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," he declared. In today's study, we'll consider the historical facts that support our faith. Questions That …

Jericho had massive walls. It didn't matter. There are no walls that can deter God's Wrath. And there is no army that can stop those who serve Him. In Joshua 6, we will study both points in one of the most famous (and faith-building) passages in Scripture. Questions That We'll Answer: A) How big was Jericho's outer wall? Did it have an inner wall a…

No. Other. Name. As he felt the Sanhedrin's angry gaze, Peter stood firm. There's no other name, there's no other door, there's no other way by which fallen sinners can be reconciled to God. Not two. Not ten. Just one, Peter declared. Jesus Christ is the singular means of salvation. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What are the implications of this …

The world is trying to remake you in its image. Will you let it? In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that the world is intent on creating worldly people. That's what it does. It wants to conform you and I to its own priorities. However, Paul tells Christians that we are NOT to be conformed - instead, we are to be transformed through …

Genesis started in a GARDEN. It ended in a COFFIN. In Genesis 1, things were looking great. God had created the world, and said that all He had created was good. But soon, things got dark. Following mankind's first sin (in Genesis 3), a roller coaster of depravity followed. In Genesis 4, Cain killed his brother, and things didn't improve through th…

They meant it for evil. But God used it for good. In Genesis 45, Joseph's brothers stood before him - brothers that had once sold him off to slave traders, and then told their father that he was dead. They had acted wickedly! And in a 'twist of fate,' their lives were now in his hands. But was it really a 'twist of fate?' Was their encounter just a…

In Genesis 40, Joseph was in prison. Now, he did not deserve to be there. He'd done nothing wrong. And he must have wondered what part his shackles played in God's plans. Hadn't God given him a dream of a great and glorious future? Well, in today's text, two other men would have dreams - and their interpretation would play a huge role in Joseph's s…

Joseph's story started poorly. Within moments of being introduced in Scripture, Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. And not long after, he found himself in prison. So, where was God when calamity struck? That will be the focus of today's study in Genesis 37. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did Joseph's brothers hate him so much? B) Wh…

In Genesis 32, Jacob was preparing for a fight. Jacob was no stranger to conflict, but this time was different. In Genesis 32, as darkness closed in, he prepared for a confrontation with his brother Esau. However, the figure who grabbed him that night was not who he expected. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Who was it that Jacob wrestled with in Ge…

In Genesis 28, Jacob dreamed of a ladder. The ladder reached all the way from Heaven to Earth. So, what was this dream all about? For centuries, no one knew. For centuries, it remained a mystery. But then, in the first chapter of John, the answer was finally provided. Join us as we consider 'Jacob's Ladder' in today's study of Genesis. Questions Th…

Jacob must have been one rotten kid! In spite of God's clear direction, and although his other son was a numskull, Isaac did not want Jacob to receive his blessing. If it were up to Isaac, it would be Esau who would carry the family line forward. Jacob was not an option. However, God's decree would not be thwarted, would it? That will be the focus …

Meet Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. These men, hailed as the 'patriarchs' of the Old Testament, helped shape the entire narrative of our faith.They were also sinners. Big, big sinners. In today's sermon, we'll see that the patriarchs needed God's grace every bit as much as we do. And God gave it to them! His providential care is seen in every part of Genes…

In Genesis 22, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son. Why? For many, this event is one of the most confusing in all of Scripture - why would God tell Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? What was His purpose? And then, why would He tell Abraham to stay his knife? In today's study, we will study this difficult and heartrending event. Questions That We'll Ans…

Sodom and Gomorrah are the poster children for God's wrath. In Genesis 19, we come across a cautionary tale to a world hellbent on offending a holy God. Specifically, Genesis 19 describes the destruction of these two cities. The destruction was horrific. It was severe. And yet, in Matthew 10, Jesus says that an even worse judgment will befall those…

In Genesis 18 made a promise so outrageous that Sarah laughed. The promises that He has made you are even bigger. God has promised to save and sanctify you, to wipe away all your tears, and to dwell with you in Paradise for eternity. Now those are promises! But how can we be sure they apply to us (and that they will be fulfilled)? That will be the …

God made Abraham mind-boggling promises. And Abraham believed Him. In Genesis 12, Abraham was introduced with little fanfare. He was a man from a pagan family and a pagan background. And yet, God was going to make this nobody a series of incredible promises - promises that Abraham believed in, and then acted accordingly. Questions That We'll Answer…

God told the people to go outward. Instead, they went upward. "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth" God told the people. But they said no - in their minds, it was safer and smarter to stay in one place. And so, they built a formidable 'tower' in Genesis 11. In today's study we'll read about that tower (and God's response). Questions That We'l…

The wrong question: how did all the animals fit in the ark? The most crucial question of Genesis 6 is NOT about the animals. Not at all. Rather, it is this: why was an ark needed in the first place? In other words, why was God willing to flood the entire globe, only six chapters after creating it? Seems drastic. So why did God do it, and what does …

That didn't take long, did it? You might have thought Genesis 4 couldn't go worse than Genesis 3 - that mankind would have learned its lesson. Surely man would do better! Surely he'd turn away from sin! However, before Genesis 4 was over, a blood soaked corpse proved otherwise. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did Cain kill his brother? And what…

One sin. That's all it took. In our day, sin is treated casually - as a marketing device (think 'Sin City'), and rarely as a spiritual anchor. But one sin is all it took for man to be thrown out of the garden, and for chaos to sweep the created realm. This tells us two things: 1) sin must be really bad, and 2) God must be really holy. Questions Tha…

There is a God, and you are not Him. The starting point for all correct theology or philosophy is found in Genesis 1, which declares God's existence and transcendence over that which He has made. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why do people argue for 'evolution' or the 'big bang' instead? …

Witnesses, proof, evidences - it was all there. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most heavily reported, historically verified events of antiquity. And that's a good thing, since the fate and future of billions hangs in the balance. Today, we'll consider the implications of the empty tomb. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why were the a…

On the day the people were looking for a perfect lamb for their Passover celebration, the 'lamb of God' approached. It wasn't a coincidence. In today's study, we will consider the events of Palm Sunday through an unusual set of eyes - those of John the Baptist. Why did John call Jesus the 'lamb of God?' Why didn't anyone else see Him that way? Ques…

You won't find 'utopia' in a warzone. So many people misunderstand their reality. They think that this world is their home, irrespective of how little time they'll spend here. They think this world is great, irrespective of the landmines going off around them. Conversely, the Bible says that this world is filled with trials and hardships. And so, o…

What makes 'love' greater than faith or hope? In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul said "now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." So, why is 'love' superior? Well, for starters, it is the only one of those three words that applies to God. God does not have 'faith.' God does not hope. But HE DOES LOVE - in fact, HE IS LOVE!…

The desert is home to some of the Bible's most fascinating stories. In Acts 8, there was a caravan traveling in the desert of Judea. At its head was a pagan eunuch - someone well outside of the covenant community, but not outside of God's plan of salvation. And in order to reach this man, God sent an evangelist into the wasteland. His name was Phil…

Rebellion. Rejection. Disdain. The nations have long rejected God's rule in favor of their own. But why? What causes the nations to rage against God, and to plot so many vain things? In today's sermon, we'll consider mankind's ongoing rebellion and God's response. Questions That We'll Answer: A) How do nations, leaders, and political parties foment…

God does not have any 'peons' in Heaven. He has family. Your salvation accomplishes so much more than just 'punching your ticket' to Heaven. Rather, it includes this wonderful outcome: you are treated as family when you get there! God has no peons in Heaven, but He does have sons and daughters. "Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto …

Mustard seeds are small. But they don't stay that way! In Matthew 13, Jesus shared the parable of the 'mustard seed' in describing the kingdom's growth. Mustard seed start small. But in time, they grow upward and outward. Now, who did Jesus share this parable with? He shared it with a smattering of disciples on the shoreline. They were few. But fas…

If you have lost someone that you love, it is natural to grieve. With that said, GRIEF is NOT the same as DESPAIR. In 1 Thessalonians 4, the Apostle Paul makes this distinction. Specifically, he says that although it is OK to lament the loss of a loved one, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope. Reunions are coming. And because of that, our 'g…

How much time do you have left? In Romans 13, the Apostle Paul answered that question this way - not much. Specifically, Paul said that "the night is far spent, the day is at hand." Paul wanted his readers to understand the value of today. He wanted them to live as if their time was both short and precious. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What othe…

How much of God's Word should we preach? To the Apostle Paul, the answer was ALL OF IT. And that's what he told the Ephesian elders in Acts 10. He told them that he had not refrained from preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God, and he expected them to do the same. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did Paul invite the Ephesian elders to m…

As Christians, we often remember the things that Jesus has done. With that said, have you ever wondered: what is He doing right now? Among other things, Jesus is interceding on behalf of His people. You have a divine advocate that is (even now) seeking your welfare! And that should be an encouragement during these difficult days. Questions That We'…