Testimony and Reflections Season 6

Jesse grew up in a Pentecostal church but later in his teens started to drift away with the prospects of a career in hockey. One simple conversation became the catalyst for him to consider his life’s path and begin a journey to discover the truth of God’s word.

Key Verse:

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:11-13)

The Laying on of Hands

This may seem like a strange topic for an essential Bible study, but hopefully everything will become clear as we dig into the Scriptures.

Key Verse:

Hebrews 6:1-2  “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”

Outline:

  1. Introduction
    1. Why would we consider this as an essential study? From our first podcast “Defining Essential Bible Studies” and Hebrews 6:2
    2. Letting the Bible leads us in our studies
  2. Four aspects to laying on of hands
    1. Blessing
      1. the first instance with Jacob and his grandsons (Gen. 48:14)
      2. Jesus on the children (Matt. 19:13-15)
    2. Sacrifice and association
      1. The day of atonement (Lev. 16:21)
      2. The people and the Levites (Num. 8:10,12)
    3. Commissioning
      1. Moses to Joshua (Num. 27:18,23; Deut. 34:9)
      2. The Apostles on Stephen (Acts 6:6)
      3. The Antioch Ecclesia on Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:3)
    4. Healing and miraculous Holy Spirit gifts
      1. Healing by Jesus (Luke 4:40) and the Apostles (Acts 28:8)
      2. Transfer of the Holy Spirit gifts by Apostles (Acts 8:17-19; 19:6)
      3. Timothy (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6)
  3. Which one is Heb. 6:2 referring to?
  4. The purpose of the Holy Spirit gifts
  5. Conclusion

Overcoming Anxiety

Worry, anxiety and depression touch our lives in one way or another. It can have a crippling effect on our walk of faith. What advice did Jesus have for overcoming it? Where can we turn for help? The Bible has a lot to say about mental health matters. Joel Suntz and Tim Young begin with the basics of anxiety from a Biblical perspective. Joel then provides three ways to overcome it—developing faith, praying and helping others. Simple things that are hard to do.

Key verse:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25

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The Helper, The Holy Spirit

In our last study, we ended with the question “Is the Holy Spirit a person?” A series of passages in the Gospel of John chapters fourteen to sixteen would seem to indicate that this is true. Jay and Tim dig a little deeper, discovering Old Testament parallels that reveal who Jesus is referring to when he mentions sending “The Helper, the Holy Spirit…”

Key verse:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

Outline:

  1. Introduction
  2. The Gender of the Holy Spirit
    1. Neuter in Greek, feminine in Hebrew, male in Latin – Does it matter? We have to be careful with grammar in other languages.
    2. The spirit is used in many ways – but why in some passages is it personified like it can be lied to (Acts 5:3), resisted (Acts 7:51) or grieved (Eph. 4:30)?
    3. There is a Spirit of God the Father and a Spirit of the Son but there is one passage in particular where the Spirit is personified in the masculine gender separately from the Father and Son.
  3. The Helper of John 14-16
    1. The Parakletos (par-ak’-lay-tos) in John 14-16, The Helper (ESV, NKJV, NASB), Comforter (KJV), Advocate (NIV, NET, NLT) (14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 13)
    2. The angels = ministering spirits (Heb. 1:13-14)
    3. Old Testament comparisons (Ex. 23:20-22; Isa. 63:9-11)
    4. Jesus and the angels (1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 1:1-2)
    5. Angels and Spirit in the Acts (Acts 8:26, 29)
  4. Conclusion

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The Father, Son and Holy Spirit

In our continuing studies on the Spirit, Jay Mayock is back to talk with me about the relationship between God the Father, his Son the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This is popularly known as the Trinity but since that word is not in the Bible we are going to need a little help from some historical creeds to get a definition. From there we open our Bibles, comparing the creeds to what the Scriptures teach us about the Godhead.

Key verse:

“There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Outline:

  1. Introduction
    1. Jewish belief – One God – Monotheism
    2. The popular belief of Christianity – The Trinity
  2. The Trinity defined by the Creeds
    1. Apostle’s Creed (Old Roman)
    2. Nicene Creed
    3. The Trinity would be a radical new teaching for Jews. Where is it taught in the Bible? (Acts 2:22)
  3. The Spirit in relation to the Father and Son
    1. One Spirit… One Lord… One God and Father (Eph. 4:4-6 cp. 1 Cor. 8:6-7).
    2. The Spirit sanctifies (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 1 Cor. 6:11) = The word of truth sanctifies (John 17:17; Eph. 5:26)
    3. Thus, the Spirit is important in baptism (Matt. 28:19)
    4. The Spirit of God and Christ in us (Rom. 8:9-11; Gal. 4:6)
  4. Cliff hanger – But what about the passages where the Spirit is personified as the Helper?

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The Mind of the Spirit

The mind of the Spirit is something that must develop inside of us according to Paul in Romans 8. For our guest, Ben Brinkerhoff, this was something he had to learn through the experiences of life. Join Tim and Ben as they talk about his discoveries in how to set the mind on the things of the Spirit and ultimately have the Spirit of God dwelling in you.

Key verse: “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

The Sabbath (Part 2)

In this second part of our study on the Sabbath we consider the stance behind a Christian denomination like the Seventh Day Adventists who continue to practice a Sabbath Day. Ted Hodge joins with Tim Young to discuss their regulations and give five reasons why believers in Christ are no longer required to keep a Sabbath day of rest.

Key verse: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Outline:

  1. Introduction
  2. The Seventh Day Adventists
    1. Ellen White
    2. Their regulations for Sabbath observance
  3. Five reasons we do not keep the Sabbath day
    1. No command by Christ or Apostles to keep it
    2. We are told not to judge in these matters (Colossians 2:16-17). The Sabbath is a shadow.
    3. The New Testament is now by grace and faith not Law (Galatians 3, 4 & 5)
    4. The Sabbath principle is now our whole life (Galatians 2:19-21, Col. 3:17,22-24)
    5. Every day is for worship / Example of first day of the week (Acts 2:46-47, Matt. 28:1 cp. Acts 20:7)
  4. Summary

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The Sabbath (Part 1)

In this episode of the Essential Bible Studies Podcast, hosts Tim Young and Ted Hodge embark on an enlightening exploration of the Sabbath day. They delve into its significance as reflected through four major biblical epochs: the Genesis times, the Mosaic Law period, the post-Christ era, and the anticipated future in the Kingdom Age. The intricate weaving of the Sabbath principle within these periods unfolds as they analyze its transformation from a day of physical rest to an era of spiritual rest in Christ.

Key verse:

“For whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:10)

Outline:

  1. Introduction
    1. What is the Sabbath? Should we be keeping it now?
    2. How do we determine the answer to such a question?
    3. Epochs of time – what changes over time and what remains the same?
  2. First Epoch – The Beginning
    1. The Sabbath at Creation (Genesis 2:2-3, 15)
    2. After the fall of man (Genesis 3:17-19)
    3. The Rest of Genesis
  3. Second Epoch – Law of Moses
    1. The Law a shadow of things to come (Heb 8:5; 10:11)
    2. Details of the Sabbath Laws (Exodus 31:13-18)
    3. The Principle of the Sabbath (Isaiah 58:13)
  4. Third Epoch – Law of Christ
    1. The rest that Jesus give (Matthew 11:28-30)
    2. Jesus’ contention over the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-12)
  5. Fourth Epoch – The Kingdom of God
    1. Observance in the Kingdom (Ezekiel 44:24; 46:1-3)
    2. The future Sabbath rest of God (Hebrews 4:8-11 )
  6. Summary

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The Ages of the Spirit

In this episode of the Essential Bible Studies Podcast, hosts Jay Mayock and Tim Young take a big picture look at the work of the Holy Spirit through the ages of time. There have been some hallmark epochs were the miracles, signs and wonders were off the charts. What does this mean in how the Holy Spirit works today?

Key Verse:

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

Outline:

  1. Introduction
    1. Hebrews 6:4-6 What does it mean by powers of the world to come?
    2. Why does Peter in Acts 2:16-21 quote Joel 2:28-31 on the day of Pentecost?
  2. Ages of Miracles
    1. Moses and the Exodus
    2. Elijah and Elisha
    3. Jesus and the Apostles
    4. Periods of drought (Mic. 3:5-8)
    5. What sort of period are we in now?
  3. The Cessation of First Century Gifts
    1. 1 Cor. 12-14
      1. The types of gifts (ch. 12) contrast with love (ch. 13)
      2. Defining “that which is perfect” (13:10 cp. 14:20)
    2. Ephesians 4
      1. The gifts (v. 11)
      2. Their purpose (v. 12)
    3. When they would cease (v. 13), the perfect man
  4. Conclusion – The Holy Spirit is still active but the gifts of miracles have ceased.

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Saved!

In this episode of the Essential Bible Studies Podcast, co-hosts Tim Young and Rob Alexander embark on a comprehensive exploration of the concept of salvation. The discourse is spurred by an intriguing short online video questioning the necessity of baptism in the process of salvation and leads the hosts to tackle the popular belief, ‘once saved, always saved’. Overall, the episode aims to provide listeners with an amplified understanding of the salvation process, emphasizing that it is a journey rather than a singular life-transforming occurrence.

The hosts examine relevant biblical verses to articulate a broader understanding of salvation as having a past, present and future aspect. They initially study passages depicting salvation as a past event in 2 Timothy 1:9 and Titus 3:4-5, which emphasizes Jesus Christ’s role in saving us. The talk then delves into verses that present salvation as an ongoing process, including 1 Corinthians 1:18 and Corinthians 15:2. Finally, there is discussion on salvation as a future event through Matthew 10:22 and 1 Timothy 4:16, where the concepts of endurance and ultimate salvation for faithful followers are revealed.

So what do you need for salvation? First, Bible passages are reviewed stressing that salvation is God’s loving gift, independent of our actions (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 10:9,13). Next, The hosts explore the critical role of faith and the need to believe in Jesus Christ’s resurrection for salvation, shining a spotlight on Romans 10:9-13. The hosts also touch upon the importance of active listening to the word of God and acting upon it, showcasing the integral bond between obedience and eternal salvation, referencing Hebrews 5:8-9. The episode concludes, emphasizing both God’s and our roles in salvation through a compelling discussion baptism and works (1 Peter 3:21; Philippians 2:12-13). The hosts urge listeners to wholly appreciate the intricate yet rewarding means of God’s salvation.

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