A Home Church Ministry
When Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem to provide his defense, Paul chooses to defend Christ rather than himself. He makes no mention of the Jewish charges being brought against him. He does not try to justify his ministry. He chooses to defend Christ by recounting the narrative of his conversion to demonstrate …
Romans 5:2 (CSB) We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. I want to keep this short and speak to the person who is longing to enter the presence of God, but who feels dry and …
There are two very difficult lessons that I have learned in ministry: the first tells me that the state of "personal conviction" is a very dangerous thing and must not be entered in too lightly, and the second tells me that those who avoid personal convictions will sink into a state of “personal apathy” and …
1 John 2:28–3:10 (CSB) — 28 So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of him. …
Continue reading "Theological Reflections: 1st John 2:28 – 3:10"
Philippians 2:5-18 (CSB) Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, …
Continue reading "The Incarnate Glory of Christ: Philippians 2:5-18"
https://soundcloud.com/david-istre/the-ministry-of-love-acts-61-15 INTRODUCTION Acts 6:1– 8:3 are an important transition in Luke’s account of the Apostles as he begins to turn from the early beginnings of the Church in Jerusalem to its maturing, growth, and spread throughout the known world. The significance of these chapters can be seen in the fact that the longest speech …
Titus 3:4–5 (CSB) — 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a supernatural experience that cannot be accomplished …
This is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister. This introduces us to the concept that conduct exposes certain spiritual realities, and prepares us for John’s discourse on the supreme spiritual …
Continue reading "The Children of God vs. The Children of the Devil: 1st John 3:10"
Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God. John unapologetically repeats his assertion that the nature of God is the foundation of Christian life and experience. We display the nature of …
https://soundcloud.com/david-istre/acts-5-1-42 Ananias and Sapphira Sermon on Acts 5:1-42 Introduction Acts 4:32 (CSB) — 32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. Attention to what authentic Christian community looks like: …
