Christian pragmatism reduces ethics to results — the end justifies the means. Rich traces this error from secular teleological systems (utilitarianism, situationism, Ayn Rand's egoism) into the church itself, where seeker-sensitive ministry and personal excuse-making share the same root: a goal pursued without regard for what God actually commands. Uzzah, Saul, and Pilate each illustrate the point. Good intentions and desired outcomes never override obedience.

Free grace theology then comes under examination. Rich explains how the non-lordship position severs repentance from saving faith, and how in practice this licenses the false convert to remain in unrepentant sin while dismissing biblical confrontation as legalism.

The final and most searching topic is sovereign constraints — the tendency to treat addictions, disorders, and psychological conditions as though they override the Christian's ability to obey God. Rich draws a firm line: struggles shaped by repeated sinful choices are moral problems requiring repentance, not diseases requiring only treatment. No constraint, however powerful, is sovereign. God is.

For every Christian engaged in the hard work of sanctification, this lesson is a reminder: you are not helpless, and you are not hopeless.

Dave Rich finishes the fundamentalist ethic from the previous lesson, drawing a clear line between biblical separation and the error of letting the world define the church's ethic in opposition to it. He then addresses scrupulosity — moralism with an emotional edge. For those prone to a hypervigilant conscience, Rich offers a grounding corrective from 1 John, Psalm 103, and Hebrews: God is greater than your heart, your guilt is addressed in Christ, and you have an advocate when you sin.

From there, the lesson crosses to the other ditch. Christian universalism, traced through James Rellie and its modern expressions, removes any ethical stakes entirely. Licentiousness treats the gospel as a license to sin — a position Rich addresses plainly: if that is your view of salvation, you are not saved. The lesson closes with the opening of Christian pragmatism and the seeker-friendly movement's "end justifies the means" approach to church ministry.

A clarifying lesson for anyone thinking carefully about where Christian ethics goes off course.

Rich walks through four distinct expressions of this error. Pelagianism, the most extreme, denies grace entirely, insisting that human beings are inherently capable of meeting God's standard on their own — a direct assault on the gospel. Legalism, defined narrowly here, adds works as a condition for justification, making it equally damning. Moralism stops short of heresy but displaces the gospel from its rightful center, making ethical obedience the heart of the Christian faith rather than union with Christ. And fundamentalism, rightly understood in its historical roots, can drift into boundary-making for its own sake — creating rules where Scripture gives none.

Throughout, Rich keeps the gospel firmly in view. Obedience is real, required, and pleasing to God — but only in those who are already justified by grace through faith in Christ alone. The righteous deeds of a believer are not filthy rags. They matter. They please God. But they are the fruit of union with Christ, never the ground of standing before him.

A clarifying and gospel-anchored lesson for anyone who wants to think carefully about how Christians relate to the law.

Working through what he calls the constitution, commission, and confession of the church, Anderson shows why Paul found these three things urgent enough to put in writing. The church's constitution — the household and governing body of the living God — matters because God alone determines how it is built, ordered, and inhabited. Its commission, drawn from the striking image of a pillar and buttress, calls the church both to hold the truth high and to actively resist the side loads of distortion and false teaching. And its great confession, likely a well-known hymn of the early church, makes clear that the mystery of godliness is not a doctrine but a person — Jesus Christ, manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, taken up in glory.

Anderson closes with a practical challenge: does our individual conduct in the church reflect the transformative truth we confess? The good news is that faithful obedience to these commands doesn't rest on our own strength — it rests on the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead.

In this wide-ranging Q&A, Jim Osman fields questions from the congregation on some of theology's most searching topics. He opens with an extended treatment of Christ's two natures—fully God, fully man in one person—carefully distinguishing between what his divine nature and his human nature could experience, including temptation, exhaustion, and limited knowledge. From there he tackles the origin of the soul, laying out the case for a middle position between strict traducianism and strict creationism. The discussion turns to so-called generational or bloodline curses, where Jim draws a sharp distinction between the biblical truth that sin patterns pass through families and the charismatic error that demonic curses require special renunciation. He also weighs in on how God does and does not speak today, pressing back on the claim that nudges and impressions qualify as divine revelation comparable to Scripture.

Throughout, Jim models careful, pastoral reasoning—direct, often funny, and always tethered to the text. Whether you came with questions or not, this episode will sharpen how you think about some of the most foundational questions in the Christian life.

Conflicting absolutism says Rahab did the right thing — but still sinned and needed forgiveness. Graded absolutism says her higher duty to protect life suspended the lesser duty to tell the truth, and she bears no guilt. Non-conflicting absolutism says the conflict was never real to begin with — either she sinned by choosing to lie, or what she did wasn't truly a lie by proper definition.

Each view carries genuine strengths and serious dangers. Can absolutes remain absolute if they can be set aside? Can redefining sin become a way to excuse it? And when Nazis are at the door, what does faithfulness to God actually look like?

Rich closes with a vital reminder: hard cases make bad law. The goal of Christian ethics isn't finding the perfect framework for the rare impossible moment — it's a life of steady obedience, pursued with love for Christ and a well-formed conscience grounded in Scripture.

In this episode, Dave Rich opens a multi-part series on apparent moral conflict — those moments when two God-given duties seem to pull in opposite directions. Drawing from a wide sweep of biblical accounts — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, Rahab, the Hebrew midwives, Abraham and Isaac, and many more — Dave lays out the three major Christian ethical frameworks used to address these conflicts: Conflicting Absolutism, Graded Absolutism, and Non-Conflicting Absolutism.

Rather than simply telling listeners what to think, Dave walks through the real strengths and serious problems of each approach, giving particular attention to Conflicting Absolutism. He applies these frameworks to the three friends in the furnace and a relatable modern scenario to show how each position actually works in practice.

This episode is essential for anyone who has ever faced a moral hard case and wondered whether God's commands can truly conflict — or whether the answer is found in understanding them more deeply. Solid, honest, and carefully reasoned, it's an invitation to wrestle well with what the whole Bible says.

Rich walks through six major theological approaches to the law, from Marcionism's complete rejection to views that embrace nearly all Old Testament regulations. He examines New Testament passages that seem contradictory—some declaring the law a burden not to be imposed on believers, others affirming its holiness and value. The answer lies in understanding covenant discontinuity while recognizing the law's ongoing revelatory purpose.

Christians aren't bound by Mosaic stipulations, but the entire Old Testament remains valuable for ethical wisdom when read through the lens of the New Covenant. This teaching equips believers to handle Scripture accurately, avoid both legalism and lawlessness, and apply timeless biblical principles to modern life.

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Rich emphasizes the inseparable connection between Christian ethics and sanctification, showing that both righteous deeds and godly character flow from the Holy Spirit's work in believers. The teaching reveals that pursuing Christian ethics requires understanding sanctification as God's ongoing work—never reaching perfection in this life, yet always moving toward Christlikeness. Dave challenges believers to recognize that cultivating biblical virtues and avoiding destructive vices is fundamentally the Spirit's work accomplished through surrendered, obedient effort. This comprehensive approach to Christian ethics demonstrates the centrality of the gospel in ethical living.

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This biblical virtue appears in over 300 verses commanding believers to fear God while rejecting the fear of man or circumstances. The Fear of God leads to life, produces humility, and turns believers away from evil. Rich explores the profound connection between this virtue and anxiety, showing that worry reveals misplaced fear and denigrates God's providence.

Therefore, believers must cultivate The Fear of God as the soul of wisdom, casting all anxiety on him who cares for them. This teaching illuminates how proper fear of God eliminates improper fear of everything else, grounding Christian living in eternal perspective rather than temporal concerns.

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Questions Asked

• What is the current state of The Gospel Coalition?
• What do you think about Al Mohler, Mark Dever, and Ligon Duncan's return to Shepherd's Conference?
• What issues within evangelicalism today should we be on guard against, especially for our children?
• How do you have a conversation with an unbeliever about God's sovereignty and evangelism?
• How important is a church prayer chain?
• What is the Seven Mountain Mandate and its connection to Turning Point USA?
• Are you a Christian nationalist?
• What resources would you recommend about how we got our Bible and why certain books were included in the canon?
• What is your position on female pastors in the church?
• How do you argue with people who are King James Version (KJV) only?
• Are there different shades of false teachers, and what about believers who fall into sexual sin like Steve Lawson?
• What camp would Solomon fall into - believer or unbeliever?
• What's the difference between Paul's response to the Judaizers in Galatians versus those who preached the gospel with false motives in Philippians?

Virtue ethics complements deontological commands and teleological purposes in comprehensive Christian ethics. Believers imitate Christ as the perfect exemplar, bearing God's image through godly attributes that produce righteous actions, for a good tree bears good fruit.

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Believers cannot make God more glorious, yet they glorify Him by reflecting His character as image bearers. The glory of God manifests through twenty biblical activities, including living with purpose, confessing sins, praying expectantly, and proclaiming the gospel. Christian ethics remains both deontological—adhering to God's commands—and teleological—pursuing the glory of God as the ultimate purpose. Whether eating, drinking, or whatever believers do, all should aim toward the glory of God, fulfilling the Reformation principle of Soli Deo Gloria.

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While love is indeed central to Christian ethics, it cannot stand alone without God's revealed law to define it. Rich shows how situationism prioritizes neighbor love while neglecting the primary command to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.

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The presentation demonstrates that Christian ethics incorporates elements of deontology and teleology but grounds both in God's personal authority revealed through Scripture. Believers are called not merely to follow rules or pursue favorable outcomes, but to obey God's commands while cultivating right motivations and godly character. Through examining various philosophical systems—from Kantian categorical imperatives to utilitarian calculus—Rich shows how every secular attempt to establish ethics without God collapses under the weight of its own inconsistency. True Christian ethics recognizes that God's commands carry inherent authority, that our purposes must align with His glory, and that developing Christ-like character matters eternally.

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These secular philosophies attempt to deny objective moral truth by claiming ethical statements have no factual content. However, such systems collapse under scrutiny, revealing themselves as expressions of preference designed to suppress God's truth. Rich emphasizes that the debate between voluntarism and essentialism is resolved only through recognizing God's immutable character, while noncognitive approaches demonstrate the futility of ethics apart from divine revelation. The teaching underscores that all moral obligation resolves into conformity to God's will, as revealed in Scripture—our only reliable source for understanding what is truly good.

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Through careful grammatical analysis of the Greek preposition "ek" (meaning "out of" or "away from"), the sermon demonstrates that Christ's promise indicates removal from the time period itself rather than mere protection through it. This pretribulational rapture understanding aligns with the doctrine of imminence and provides hope for faithful believers across all generations. The message emphasizes that faithfulness to Christ's word determines one's response to this promised deliverance, making the pretribulational rapture both a theological position and a call to steadfast obedience.

Questions Include:

1. What has happened in your life since you were here in 2022? Bring us up to speed.
2. A couple of weeks ago, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. What are your thoughts on the sentiment that "if you go to church this Sunday and your church doesn't mention Charlie Kirk, find a new church"?
3. You talk about Islam being a threat to the church or to America today. You think it's the most significant threat we face? Why? How long has that been the case, and what started that?
4. Is there anything particular in American civil life in the last 50 years that you think has accelerated that drift? The election of any one specific person, for instance?
5. Wokism, DEI—it seems that with Trump 2.0, that is on the retreat. Do you agree with that assessment or not?
6. My last question: White guys like me are not allowed to say the word nigger or nigga. How do you suggest that we as Christians handle this so that we can get past this, get over this, get beyond it?
7. Some people say that the Crusades were evil. What's your response to that?
8. What resources can we use to educate ourselves on cultural Marxism and how it's infiltrating the church?

The eternal kingdom reveals nations bringing treasures into New Jerusalem, demonstrating how faithful stewards participate in God's ultimate plan. This prophetic vision transforms how faithful stewards approach finances today in a world marked by both poverty and excess. Understanding this eternal perspective helps faithful stewards live with joyful anticipation, knowing God reigns forever and believers reign with Him in the coming kingdom where all things are restored according to His perfect design.

Questions asked during the session:

1. Why do you no longer use the term "clear thinking charismatic"?
2. Have charismatic churches invited you to speak since your stance changed?
3. Is it harder now for “open but cautious” continuationists to resist error?
4. How should the church respond to the rise of fundamentalism and Christian nationalism?
5. What is the difference between continuationism and cessationism?
6. Can God still perform miracles or heal today?
7. Are there any charismatic preachers you respect for their exposition of Scripture?
8. How do you evangelize someone who responded to an “easy-believism” gospel?
9. What are your thoughts on Chip and Joanna Gaines affirming a same-sex couple as a family?
10. What is your perspective on the visible church today?
11. Can Jesus appear to Muslims in dreams and lead them to faith?
12. How do you interpret Acts 2:17 in light of cessationism?
13. What is your response to reports of dreams or visions in modern missions?
14. Is there an opportunity to disciple young men drawn to Christian nationalism?
15. Is Christian nationalism growing beyond the post-millennial crowd?
16. What church planting methodologies are being used outside the U.S.?

Questions from this session include: 

1. How and when did the Lord save you?
2. Did you grow up in a Christian home?
3. Are you charismatic?
4. What were your early theological and spiritual influences?
5. Where did you experience biblical counseling for the first time?
6. What is your wife’s name and how did you meet?
7. How many children do you have and what are they doing now?
8. What churches have you been involved with over the years?
9. Why did you decide to pursue seminary training?
10. Why did you choose Talbot School of Theology?
11. What led you from Oregon to Illinois?
12. How did you end up coming to Kootenai Community Church?
13. Are you currently enrolled in another program?
14. What is biblical counseling?
15. What does ACBC certification involve?
16. How is biblical counseling different from secular or Christian-integrated counseling models?
17. What kind of counseling do you do? (e.g., marriage, financial, individual)
18. Is this counseling available to the public or just church members?
19. What are your hobbies and non-ministry interests?
20. What five books (besides the Bible) have most influenced and shaped you?
21. What book are you currently reading?
22. What book are you planning to read next?
23. How do you distinguish or balance between evangelism and helping with soul issues?
24. Who are your personal faith heroes?

Questions Asked

1. In Jude 6, what habitation did the angels leave, and where did they go?
2. In Jude 7, who are the “they” that committed the same sin as Sodom and Gomorrah?
3. What about the view that fallen angels cohabited with humans (Nephilim)?
4. Who are the “sons of God” in Genesis 6?
5. In Job 1, who are the “sons of God” who came before the Lord?
6. What sacrifices will occur in the future temple during the Tribulation?
7. Who are the Levites today, and how will they be identified for temple service?
8. What will time be like for us in the Millennium in glorified bodies?
9. Will we need to sleep in a glorified body?
10. Why is there a Millennial Kingdom—why not move straight to the new heavens and earth?
11. If heaven is perfect, why would God bring anything from this corrupted creation?
12. What kind of body will we have in the new creation—is it the same as now?
13. Did Adam and Eve have glorified bodies before the fall?
14. Will the new creation have seasons or cycles (like falling leaves)?
15. Will there be marriage or procreation in the eternal state?
16. Will we judge angels, and what does that mean?
17. What happens to infants who die? How will they exist in the eternal state?

• Q1: Did you get a chance to witness to the Russians or others during your space flights?
• Q2: Did going to space change your relationship with God or affect your faith?
• Q3: (From the back of the room, summarized as a general question about applying wisdom in a fallen world, possibly in government or vocational settings.) Can Christians effectively live out wisdom in corrupt or difficult environments?

List of Questions:

1. How do you reconcile the statement that God delights in executing justice with the teaching of Scripture that God does not delight in the death of the wicked?
2. Any other questions regarding that [God’s justice and mercy]?
3. What state will babies who die be in during the Millennial Kingdom or the eternal state in the new heavens and new earth?
4. Do you know of a Scripture passage that specifically addresses the state of babies in heaven?
5. Is heaven a place of time, given the reference to a tree bearing different fruit every month in the New Creation?
6. Could artificial intelligence be the mark of the beast because of the technology’s capabilities?
7. Why don’t we sing songs written by people who apostatize or heretics, yet our church holds some teachings of Martin Luther, who later had issues with anti-Semitism?
8. Why don’t we sing those songs [by heretical groups] even though we disagree with some of their teachings?
9. Where do you think the line is in personally listening to Bethel music at home?
10. What principles do you apply to reading books—not just for yourself but keeping them in your library, buying them, recommending them wholeheartedly, or recommending them with caution?
11. What is the difference between celebrating observances like Lent and Advent and other cultural or religious observances?
12. What is the difference between those who say Christ died only for the sins of the elect, and yet people prior to their salvation are under the wrath of God, though their sins have been laid upon Christ?
13. Were you asking a question specifically about the difference between the sufficiency of the atonement and the application of the atonement?
14. How do we decide which church we should attend apart from just basing their teachings on the Word of God?

The Six Signposts Out of Darkness

1. Escape Is Possible
   David begins by asserting that forgiveness and freedom from sin are attainable. Quoting verses 1-2, he emphasizes the blessedness of a forgiven life. Forgiveness is rooted in God's mercy, made possible through Christ's atoning sacrifice. True happiness is found when sins are forgiven and peace with God is restored.
2. Guilt Is Wretched
   The burden of unconfessed sin is heavy. Drawing from verses 3-4, David describes how guilt affects the body and soul. Like King David, who endured God's heavy hand before confessing, guilt is a painful but necessary nudge back to God.
3. Confession Is Essential
   Verse 5 reveals the power of confession. To escape sin's misery, one must voluntarily and humbly acknowledge it before God. Confession brings release, as seen in the parable of the prodigal son and echoed in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us."
4. God Is Near
   Verses 6-7 remind us that God is always present, ready to rescue and preserve those who call on Him. Despite fear or shame, we are assured that He will not cast us away but will surround us with songs of deliverance.
5. Resistance Is Foolish
   Verses 8-10 caution against stubbornness, likening it to the irrationality of a mule that requires forceful guidance. The path of wisdom is marked by prompt repentance and trust in God’s loving-kindness, avoiding the needless suffering caused by resistance.

Questions and Answers

1. Salvation Testimony: How did you come to know the Lord? What are the details of that, and tell us that story?
2. Southern California Transition: What was your dad doing in Southern California?
3. Theological and Spiritual Influences: Who were your early theological and spiritual influences?
4. Theological Convictions: Have you always had your current theological convictions, and how would you characterize them?
5. Family Introduction: Tell us a little bit about your family. What is your wife’s name, and how did you meet?
6. Educational Background: Can you share the steps you went through in your education and the degrees you earned?
7. Biblical Counseling Definition: Can you define biblical counseling?
8. Difference in Counseling Approaches: How is biblical counseling different from other forms of counseling?
9. Hobbies and Non-Ministry Interests: What are your hobbies and interests outside of ministry?
10. Influential Books: What five books have most influenced and shaped you?
11. ...and more.

1. Did the prophecy concerning Damascus in Isaiah 17 happen in Sennacherib's time or is there something yet future?
2. Question about Zipporah being upset with Moses about circumcision and casting bloody foreskins at his feet (Exodus 4:25)
3. Over 30 years of ministry, where has Pastor Jim's mind been changed?
4. What about languages/tribes that have been lost before hearing the gospel - how will they be represented in heaven if "every tongue and tribe" will be there?
5. What happens to babies who die before reaching an age of understanding?
   1. Article: What Happens to Infants Who Die? The OT Answers
   2. Article: What Happens to Infants Who Die? The NT Answers
6. Regarding Exodus 20 and visiting sins of fathers on children - how does this align with individual accountability?
7. For tribes that have never heard the gospel, does the judgment based on knowledge principle apply to adults and children?
8. How does the Doctrine of Sovereign Election align with children being imputed Christ's righteousness?
9. Since faith is a gift of God, is there any reason babies cannot be given the gift of faith?
10. Can 1 John 2:2 about Christ being the propitiation for "sins of the whole world" be correctly understood just by reading 1 John, or does one need cross-references from other Scripture?

Application Questions:

• What kind of a theologian are you?
• What does your walk say?
• Does your obedience speak of a delight in your dependence on the Spirit?
• If not, what is preventing this?

Application Questions

• Will you imitate Jesus’ example and not give up the proclamation of the good news when our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and unbelieving church attendees do not respond?
• Will you be faithful to proclaim the gospel as proclaimed in Scripture?
• Will you be thankful that God has graciously chosen to remove the scales of unbelief from our minds and hearts?
• Will you have compassion for the unbelievers around us who are lost in unbelief?

Application Questions

• Will you believe that Jesus is who He said He was?
• Will you trust God and find your hope solely in Jesus’ righteous life and sacrificial death?
• Will you study the Old and New Testaments and take the Scriptures at face value?
• Will you honestly wrestle with the hard questions?
• When you find the truth, will you change?
• Will you proclaim it to a lost and dying world without shying away from the difficulties?

Application Questions

1. How highly do you regard the importance of church unity? What are you doing to demonstrate this?
2. What is currently threatening the unity of our body, and how are you guarding against this threat?
3. Will you commit to protecting the unity of the body by choosing to submit joyfully to the authority of Jesus through the elders and their exposition of the Scriptures, even if you disagree in areas of preference and application?
4. Will you commit to reading the Gospels frequently and contemplating how Jesus exemplifies humility?
5. Will you humble your heart by cultivating a consistent prayer life where you confess your sins and where you pray for the needs of others above your own?
6. Will you ask God to give you a genuine love for other believers and help you build up your love muscle by serving others regularly?

Applications

1. What are the ways in which you are currently suffering or have suffered in the past?
2. How do these sufferings compare to the sufferings that Christ experienced in His life?
3. Discuss your sufferings with other believers, and rather than complaining, talk about the ways in which sufferings enhanced your sanctification.
4. When you encounter new suffering, immediately pray that God would help you endure like Jesus and follow His example for bearing up righteously.
5. Refuse to accuse God of injustice and rather remember that suffering is a sign of His love toward you as sons/daughters.
6. Read the Gospels regularly and remind yourself that Jesus lived a fully authentic human life more like your own than you could ever imagine.

Application Questions

• Have you meditated on the reality that Jesus experienced the fullness of human frailty?
• When you experience times of trial or testing, do you see them as God’s gift to you as a means to draw you closer to Himself through Christ?
• Do you believe that Jesus can have genuine compassion for you in your trials?
• Do you fight temptation with Scripture? What is preventing you from doing so?
• Do you trust God enough to allow His timing to reign in your circumstances?
• Are you tempted to take matters into your own hands rather than trusting in God to provide during times of difficulty?

Application Questions

• When you hear God’s Word, do you have a firm resolve to obey it?
• Are you aware of the Spirit at work within you to strengthen you to obey God’s Word consistently?
• Are you waiting expectantly for the next step in God’s plan to bring righteousness to earth through His kingdom?
• How well do you know the Old Testament? What is your plan for becoming more familiar with it?
• When was the last time you consciously decided to walk in obedience to God? How did you discern when and how to act?
• In what ways are you living your life dependent upon the Spirit? In what ways can you grow in your relationship and dependence upon Him?

Application Questions

• In what areas of your life are you encountering injustice? How are you responding?
• What encouragement can you gain from meditating on how Jesus the Messiah encountered the opposition He faced?
• Why do you think justice is important to the Spirit of God?
• When you grow weary, do you find strength in the gospel?
• Are you struggling with despair or depression? Will you bring your burdens to a Suffering Servant who knows how to minister to you in your weakness?
• Will you recommit yourself to the mission of Jesus – the proclamation of His glorious gospel of salvation?

Application Questions:

• When you sin, do you look to the grace of God our Savior through the gift of the Son by the Spirit?
• Have you meditated on your personal relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit?
• Is your theology of the baby Jesus big enough to include His role as the Davidic Messiah?
• If you are joined with Christ through salvation, does your prayer life reflect the priority of establishing His kingdom?
• Do you read the Old Testament and, specifically, the prophets regularly? If not, why?
• Are you united by faith with Jesus and therefore able to access the power of the Spirit in His life?
• This Christmas season, will you commit to slowing down and refreshing yourself anew with time with God as you ponder the magnificence of the Incarnation?

Where do you find the motivation to fight sin and pursue holiness?

• Do you contemplate the future reality of the kingdom and how the saints will rule with Christ?
• Does your pursuit of holiness reflect a desire to see the Son of Man coming in glory?
• Do you embrace suffering and allow it to complete God’s work in your sanctification?
• Do you contemplate your spiritual and physical unity with Christ often enough?
• What sins are you battling? Are you waging war with inferior tactics?
• Do you overestimate the power of Satan? If so, how?
• Do you meditate on the victory of Christ as you pray for victory over sin?
• As you return home today and work this week, what areas of weakness are the most in need of the power of the Spirit?
• How are you filling your mind and heart with Christ as you battle sin?
• Will you commit to praying fervently for God the Father to fill you with His Spirit and aid you in your sanctification?

The ten reasons, supported by scripture, are:

1. Brings glory to Jesus (John 17:1-5)
2. Grows our relationship with the Father (John 14:31, 17:23-24)
3. Deepens our relationship with the Son (John 14:8-9)
4. Encourages daily dependence on the Spirit (Luke 2:40, Hebrews 5:7-8)
5. Stretches our minds to understand difficult doctrine (Titus 3:4-8)
6. Foundational for church unity (Ephesians 4:1-3, 13)
7. Challenges growth in marriage and parenting (Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-21, 6:4)
8. Essential for proclaiming the gospel (John 17:18)
9. Fuels the fight against sin (Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Peter 2:21-23, Romans 8:3)
10. Improves Bible reading

With thoughtful interrogation of Paul’s epistolary prayers, Pranaitis reveals how Paul's prayer priorities emphasize the urgency and fidelity of intercessory prayers, which are meant for individual edification and communal strengthening. Throughout his discourse, examples from Philippians showcase how Paul’s prayers were intrinsically tied to his theological objectives, aiming to foster collective resilience and unity among early Christians.

Moreover, the sermon goes beyond mere biblical recounting to address contemporary applications, urging modern believers to embody Paul’s commitments through persistent and dedicated prayer habits. Simon's call to recognize prayer as a foundational practice that transforms personal faith and enhances collective religious life highlights this approach. By revisiting and revitalizing Paul's prayer priorities, the sermon encourages a reflective and proactive engagement with one's faith, community, and the broader ecclesiastical body.

Suggested Resources

• The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Preaching the Word) by James Johnston
• A Commentary on the Psalms: 3 Volume Set (Kregel Exegetical Library) by Allen Ross
• The Treasury of David (3 Volume Set) by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• Psalms Two Volume Set: Evangelical Theological Commentary (EBTC) by James M. Hamilton Jr.

Suggested Resources

• The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Preaching the Word) by James Johnston
• A Commentary on the Psalms: 3 Volume Set (Kregel Exegetical Library) by Allen Ross
• The Treasury of David (3 Volume Set) by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• Psalms Two Volume Set: Evangelical Theological Commentary (EBTC) by James M. Hamilton Jr.

Suggested Resources

• The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Preaching the Word) by James Johnston
• A Commentary on the Psalms: 3 Volume Set (Kregel Exegetical Library) by Allen Ross
• The Treasury of David (3 Volume Set) by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• Psalms Two Volume Set: Evangelical Theological Commentary (EBTC) by James M. Hamilton Jr.

Suggested Resources

• The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Preaching the Word) by James Johnston
• A Commentary on the Psalms: 3 Volume Set (Kregel Exegetical Library) by Allen Ross
• The Treasury of David (3 Volume Set) by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• Psalms Two Volume Set: Evangelical Theological Commentary (EBTC) by James M. Hamilton Jr.

Suggested Resources

• The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Preaching the Word) by James Johnston
• A Commentary on the Psalms: 3 Volume Set (Kregel Exegetical Library) by Allen Ross
• The Treasury of David (3 Volume Set) by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• Psalms Two Volume Set: Evangelical Theological Commentary (EBTC) by James M. Hamilton Jr.

Suggested Resources

• The Psalms: Rejoice, the Lord is King (Preaching the Word) by James Johnston
• A Commentary on the Psalms: 3 Volume Set (Kregel Exegetical Library) by Allen Ross
• The Treasury of David (3 Volume Set) by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• Psalms Two Volume Set: Evangelical Theological Commentary (EBTC) by James M. Hamilton Jr.

1. Serve with integrity
2. Think eschatologically
3. Practice mutuality

1. Change what you can.
2. Obey where you must.
3. Serve with integrity.

11. A husband’s authority is illustrative.
12. A husband’s authority is evangelistic.
13 A husband’s authority is stabilizing.
14. A husband’s authority is attractive.

6. A husband’s authority is sacrificial.
7. A husband’s authority is protective.
8. A husband’s authority is life-giving.
9. A husband’s authority is convicting.
10. A husband’s authority is sanctifying.

     5. A husband's authority is loving, part 2

3. A husband’s authority is reflective.
4. A husband’s authority is primary.
5. A husband’s authority is loving.

2. A husband's authority is covenantal.

1. A husband’s authority is unavoidable.

5. A wife’s submission is respectful.
6. A wife’s submission is difficult.
7. A wife’s submission is beautiful.

 
      4. A wife’s submission is comprehensive.

1. A wife’s submission is voluntary.
2. A wife’s submission is specific.
3. A wife’s submission is devotional.

• Question Ten: Where do I find the strength to obey?

• Question Nine: Is the filling of the Spirit visible?

• Question Eight: Can the Spirit’s filling leak out?

A look at “three selfs” which obstruct the work of the Spirit in the life of a believer.

• Question Four: How is the filling different from the Spirit’s other ministries to the believer?
• Question Five: Who does the filling?
• Question Six: What is the content of the filling?
• Question Seven: How do I fulfill this command?

• Question Three: What is the filing of the Spirit?

• Question One: Why is this study important?
• Question Two: Why warn about wine?

During the next eight weeks we are going to explore these topics and more as we seek to construct a Biblical theology of work through a serious study of the Scriptures.