Cincinnati Church

9-10. These verses emphasize the ungodliness of the creeps (v. 4) who had gotten into the church(es) who “...despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities” (v. 8). c/w 2PE 2:10-12. A. dominion: The power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority; lordship, sovereignty; rule, sway; control, influence. B. dignity: 1. The quality of being worthy or honourable; worthiness, worth, nobleness, excellence. 2. Honourable or high estate, position...

A. The doctrine of redemption is critical to an understanding of God’s salvation of sinners from their sins and from sin’s penalties. 1. redemption: Deliverance from sin and its consequences by the atonement of Jesus Christ. a. This redemption is the free act of God by His will and grace. ROM 3:24; 1CO 1:30. b. The legal cost of this redemption was the blood of Christ. EPH 1:7; COL 1:23. c. This is an eternal redemptio...

4. This verse explains the need for believers to “...earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (v. 3). There was already a particularly toxic class that had crept in unawares. A. creep: fig. (of persons and things). a. To advance or come on slowly, stealthily, or by imperceptible degrees; to insinuate oneself into; to come in or up unobserved; to steal insensibly upon or over.  1. This denotes an active and del...

A. God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle for worship and access to Himself. David later desired a more fitting house of God, which was built by Solomon (the temple). ACT 7:44-47. 1. David had prayed earnestly concerning such a project. PSA 132:1-5. 2. But David was a bloody man of war. 1CH 22:7-10. 3. God is not accessed by the bloody acts of sinners against sinners. B. Solomon’s temple was a magnified version of the tabernacle and included some features not fo...

VIII. Continual problems and pressures can become a source of depression, and in some cases can bring functional, healthy living to a halt. A. However, continual problems and pressures do not universally cause debilitating depression. They are not inevitable cause-effect relationships. B. Some rely on coping mechanisms like avoidance, denial or escapism. But these mechanisms have limitations and may actually add guilt to the equation. JOB 9:25-28. ...

Introduction: This short epistle of Jude is one of the most sobering books of Scripture. Jude addresses current things that Jesus and other apostles said would happen among the saints. It shows that the church is susceptible to unwary infiltration by the ungodly. It also reveals outstanding characteristics of such as these, who have no part in the eternal kingdom of God, yet for various reasons slip into the church. Jude exposes them for what they are and depicts their final end. Appropriate countermeasu...

I. The “word of the LORD” had just come to Abram in a vision. GEN 15:1. A. The “word of the LORD” is plainly identified as the Person speaking to him in v. 5 and Who had brought him out of Ur in v. 7. B. Having heard this Person speak, the Holy Spirit records that Abram “believed in the LORD...” (v. 6), that is, Jehovah God, the self-existing One. PSA 83:16-18. C. For Abram, therefore, “the Word was God” (JOH 1:1) the Creator of all. JOH 1:2-3. ...

Introduction: This third epistle of John, like the second, is not general but particular, both being written to individuals. It is to Gaius whom John commends throughout. It contrasts the ill-reported-of Diotrephes with the well-reported-of Demetrius. An unnamed church, of which Gaius seems to have been a member, was being troubled by a proud, ambitious man who assumed excess authority and dispensed with anyone who might be a challenge to himself. It is one of only two epistles that does not conclude wit...

IV. As a pastor, I try to be careful to not make clinical diagnoses beyond obvious cases (e.g. “Not only your nagging hangover headaches but perhaps even your depression might be tied to your alcohol overconsumption since alcohol is a known depressant.”), nor take hard-line binary approaches to treatment protocols that might include a special therapy, prescription drug or OTC medication. This is not to say that I might not make some cursory observations based upon years of...

I. In GEN 14, Abraham’s nephew, Lot, had been taken captive during a campaign by a confederation of kings that overcame and plundered Sodom. vs. 1-12. A. Abraham raised up a small army of 318 men from his own household and cleaned up on those kings, recovering Lot. vs. 13-16. B. Curiously, this was a case of a righteous man’s war against forces of darkness which even wrought salvation for Sodomites. c/w 1CO 6:9-11. II. After returning from ...

1. John refers to himself as “elder.” Some have therefore concluded that this was not the Apostle John but Peter also refers to himself as “elder.” 1PE 5:1. A. “...unto the elect lady...” This term is rarely used in Scripture in single or plural form. JDG 5:29; EST 1:18; ISA 47:5, 7; 2JO 1:1, 5. (1) lady: A mistress in relation to servants or slaves; the female head of a household. (2) The maiden/mistress relationship is compared to our re...

I. depression: a. The condition of being depressed in spirits; dejection. b. Psychol. Freq. a sign of psychiatric disorder or a component of various psychoses, with symptoms of misery, anguish, or guilt accompanied by headache, insomnia, etc. II. Preliminary thoughts. A. Depression is a reality of life that even great men and women of God might go through. B. Depression may be a short-term or long-term problem but need not be permanent. C. Depression...

I. This narration followed Christ's instruction to His disciples to be faithful in material things but not make idols of them. LUK 16:1-13. A. That provoked the Pharisees who justified their covetousness. LUK 16:14-15. B. It was a baseless conceit of the Jews that riches equated with eternal favor. 1PE 1:18. C. This account was designed to cast down that vain imagination. D. Even Christ's disciples were affected by such false notions as equat...

I. Roman Catholicism holds that living persons can secure the help of departed saints in heaven to obtain favor of God. This is referred to in general as the intercession of saints (saints in heaven can intercede for others). It is fleshed out as: A. The invocation of saints (the practice of persons requesting saints in heaven to intercede for them). This belief is also held by the Eastern Orthodox Church, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental O...

I. This passage follows the announcement of the eventual but certain salvation of God and the revelation of His righteousness. ISA 56:1-2. II. Consider especially the promise to the eunuchs. A. Under the O.T., a eunuch could not be admitted into the congregational service of God's house nor admitted to the priesthood. LEV 21:20; DEU 23:1. 1. He could produce no family, no fruit. In a culture that looked for Messiah to come through ...

IX. “...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (EPH 6:17). A. Our attention is finally turned to the lone offensive piece of Christian armour: the sword of the Spirit, the Scripture. 1. The focus of Paul’s words is on the defensive nature of Christian warfare: “...that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day...” (v. 13). 2. It is a maxim that the best defense is a good offense. A weapon of offense ...

VIII. “And take the helmet of salvation...” (EPH 6:17). A. This is another piece of armour God Himself as Messiah puts on. ISA 59:17. B. helmet: A defensive cover for the head; a piece of armour, usually made of, or strengthened with metal; which covers the head wholly or in part. C. The helmet protects the head, which implies guarding our thoughts. 1. If our thoughts are rooted in ignorance, we are liable to oppose Christ instead ...

VII. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (EPH 6:16). A. shield: In ancient and medieval warfare, and still in that of uncivilized peoples, an article of defensive armour carried in the hand or attached by a strap to the left arm of a soldier, as a protection from the weapons of the enemy. Sometimes applied spec. to an article of this kind larger than the BUCKLER, which was...

VI. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (EPH 6:15). ct/w ROM 3:15-17. A. Our attention is now turned to the first portion of Christian armour that covers an active part of the body in forwarding the warfare: the feet. 1. With truth and righteousness going before, the saint is directed to the gospel. 2. The feet are to be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Truth and righteousness...

I. This study warns against some of Satan’s subtle tactics to deceive men into the bondage of false religion. A. There is valid light. PSA 119:105; JOH 1:9; 8:12; 2CO 4:4. B. There is valid lightness. MAT 11:30. C. There is valid depth. LUK 6:48; 1CO 2:10; ROM 11:33. D. Satan has deceptive counterfeits of these principles which gain many souls. II. Beware the deceptions of false light. A. Satan is transformed into an angel of light,...

V. “...and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” EPH 6:14. A. breastplate: A piece of armour for protecting the breast. B. righteousness: Justice, uprightness, rectitude; conformity of life to the requirements of the divine or moral law; virtue, integrity. C. That which protects the breast also protects the heart. 1. The heart of man is subject to emotional affectation and is a deceiver, and so is a poor determiner o...

I. Christians must fight an ongoing battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. A. Paul prescribes proper equipment for this battle. EPH 6:10-18; 1TH 5:8. B. All of the equipment is needed. The partially equipped warrior is likely to be overcome. 1. The lack of a defensive piece provides a target for the enemy to exploit. 2. Not having a true sword, or not being convinced that the true sword is true, leaves one...

12. Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. A. Neither is there salvation in any other: i. Salvation is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. a. Jesus Christ by Himself purged our sins (Heb 1:3). b. God the Father gave Christ power over all flesh to give eternal life to ...

M. Train self-motivation, that they should be diligent and dutiful without oversight. PRO 6:6-8; PHIL 2:12. N. Train independence, that they should not follow the herd of swine off the cliff, and that they should work toward freedom to form their own lives as adults. ROM 12:2; 1CO 15:33; GEN 2:24. O. Train enthusiasm, to live godly with great zeal and spirit. ECC 9:10; ROM 12:11; COL 3:22-24. P. Train discipline, that the...

(Acts 16:22-40) A. Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten and cast in stocks into prison at Philippi without trial. Paul later described this as being “...shamefully entreated...” (1TH 2:2). 1. Though their treatment was shameful, they had no reason to be ashamed for it. 1PE 4:16. 2. True Christianity may well mean such suffering. PHIL 1:29; 2TI 3:12. B. Instead of fretting about their treatment, Paul and Silas prayed and praised God....