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Benjamin Lee <- Back Navigating the school year Benjamin Lee August 16, 2026 Navigating the school year Benjamin Lee 00:00 / 37:50 Download Outline File Download Presention File LEARN, RESOLVE, INFLUENCE, light, IDENTITY, Faith Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now Have any questions? Ask Us!

Brayden Schlabach <- Back Attitudes Matter Brayden Schlabach August 2, 2026 Attitudes Matter Brayden Schlabach 00:00 / 27:59 Download Outline File Download Presention File heart, pride, hypocrisy, self-righteousness, lack of mercy, attitude, Christian attitude, remember, renew, respond Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now Have any questions? Ask Us!

Many Christians can quote Bible verses. They know familiar passages by heart and have heard countless sermons throughout their lives. But there is an important distinction that often gets overlooked: Knowing the Bible is not the same as understanding the Bible. That difference matters. One of the most common mistakes people make is building an entire belief on a single verse without considering its context or how it fits into the rest of Scripture. God's Word was never intended to be read as a collection of isolated quotes. It is one unified story with one Author and one purpose. The more we understand that story, the better we understand God Himself. Reading vs. Understanding In Acts 8, Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip didn't ask whether he was reading Scripture. He asked a much deeper question: "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30) The eunuch's response was honest: "How can I, unless someone guides me?" That exchange reminds us that reading Scripture and understanding Scripture are not always the same thing. Think about an instruction manual. Reading a few paragraphs doesn't suddenly qualify someone to repair an engine or assemble a complicated piece of equipment. In the same way, memorizing a handful of verses doesn't automatically produce a complete understanding of God's Word. We need to study carefully, examine context, and learn how each passage fits within the larger message of Scripture. Paul encouraged Timothy to do exactly that: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God... rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) To "rightly divide" God's Word means to handle it accurately—to keep it straight instead of twisting it to fit our own ideas. The Bible Is a Library, Not Just a Book Many Christians know the Bible contains 66 books, but far fewer understand how those books fit together. Questions like these reveal why structure matters: Why do we still study the Old Testament? Why doesn't Jesus appear until the New Testament? Who were the prophets? Why are some books history while others are poetry or letters? The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblia, meaning "the books." Rather than being one book written at one time, the Bible is a collection of inspired writings produced over many centuries by many different human authors. Yet despite its diversity, it tells one consistent story because its ultimate Author is God. What Is a Testament? Before we can understand the Bible's structure, we need to understand what a testament actually is. A testament is another word for a covenant—a binding agreement between two parties. We still use covenants today, even if we don't always call them that. Marriage is a covenant. Contracts are covenants. Even a "Last Will and Testament" is a legal agreement that takes effect under certain conditions. The Bible contains several covenants, but two form the backbone of the entire biblical story. The Old Testament centers on God's covenant with Israel through Moses. The New Testament centers on the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. Understanding these two covenants helps explain why the Bible is divided into two major sections. Understanding the Old Testament The Old Testament contains 39 books written over about 1,100 years of history, from around 1500 BC to 400 BC. Although it was written by more than thirty different men—including Moses, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, Ezra, and many prophets—its message remains remarkably unified because "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). The books are not arranged chronologically. Instead, they are organized by category: Law – God's covenant and instructions for Israel. History – The story of Israel from entering Canaan through the return from exile. Wisdom and Poetry – Practical wisdom, worship, and reflections on life. Major Prophets – Longer prophetic books calling God's people back to faithfulness. Minor Prophets – Shorter prophetic books with the same authority and purpose. The terms Major and Minor refer only to the length of the books—not their importance. Understanding the New Testament The New Testament contains 27 books and records events from the birth of Jesus through the end of the first century. Like the Old Testament, its books are grouped by type rather than chronology. Its five major sections include: The Gospels – The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Acts – The beginning and growth of the early church. Paul's Epistles – Letters written to churches and individuals about Christian doctrine and living. General Epistles – Letters written by other inspired writers to Christians. Revelation – A prophetic message encouraging believers to remain faithful. The word epistle simply means letter. Chapters and Verses Weren't in the Original Bible Many people are surprised to learn that the original biblical writings did not contain chapter numbers or verse numbers. Those were added centuries later to make Scripture easier to reference and study. Likewise, the books were grouped into categories to help readers locate material more easily. These organizational tools are incredibly helpful, but we should never mistake them for part of the inspired text itself. They serve us best when they help us see the Bible more clearly—not when they cause us to treat each verse as though it stands alone. Seeing the Big Picture The Bible is far more than a collection of ancient religious writings. From Genesis to Revelation, it tells one grand story: God's plan to redeem humanity through Jesus Christ. Every book contributes something to that story. Every covenant moves it forward. Every passage gains deeper meaning when we understand where it fits in the whole. Knowing the Bible means recognizing its words. Understanding the Bible means recognizing its message. As we grow in our understanding of Scripture's structure, context, and purpose, we become better equipped to handle God's Word accurately and to appreciate the incredible unity found across all sixty-six books. The Bible isn't just a book to read—it is God's unfolding story of redemption, and every page points us toward Him.

Introduction As I’ve learned more about the Catholic Church and even the Eastern Orthodox Church, I’ve noticed the heavy emphasis on traditions. When denominations start speaking of their ancient traditions, it often appeals to the masses. There is something attractive about being connected to something old, historical, and longstanding. However, something being ancient and a tradition does not make it right. God’s Word is the standard. That is what I wish to demonstrate—to protect our faith and to pull some from the fire. Paul warned the saints in Colossae and elsewhere not to be deceived. “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men... rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:1-8). The question is not, “How old is this tradition?” The question is, “Does it come from God?” Traditions What Is Tradition? Tradition is what has been handed down for the next generation to believe and practice. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. Teachings and practices are meant to be passed down. Tradition is necessary and unavoidable. No one is without tradition of some kind, including those who claim to dislike tradition. However, we must be very careful in our thinking about tradition. There are at least three categories we need to distinguish. 1. Truth Some traditions are truth. These are teachings revealed by God and passed down from generation to generation. Truth is meant to be preserved and transmitted. Consider the instructions of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, where parents were commanded to diligently teach God's word to their children. This is tradition in the best sense of the word. When Paul spoke of traditions in the New Testament, he often referred to revealed truth. Paul's Traditions Were Inspired Truth In 1 Corinthians 11:2, Paul commended the brethren because they were holding firmly to the traditions he delivered to them. Why? Because: Paul spoke by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). What he taught were the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 14:37). What he taught in every church was God's word (1 Corinthians 4:16-17). Likewise, in 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15 and 3:6, Paul urged saints to stand firm in the traditions they had received. Notice what those traditions were: The Thessalonians received God's word (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Paul reasoned from the Scriptures with them (Acts 17:1-3). They were called through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Their faith rested upon truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). These were not human traditions. These were divine traditions. They came from God through inspired men. Those traditions are to be believed, obeyed, and preserved. 2. Error Unfortunately, traditions can also be wrong. Erroneous traditions can be handed down just as easily as truth. Consider the position of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church highly respects the Bible, but it does not view Scripture as the complete and final standard by itself. The Orthodox Church teaches that the Bible is central and that “everything in the Church must be Biblical,” yet it also teaches that the Bible receives its proper interpretation and significance only within the life of the Church. Scripture is viewed as one expression of revelation within a broader body of traditions. The problem is that this contradicts Scripture. Consider: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Jude 3 Galatians 1:8-9 The Bible presents itself as sufficient and complete. Furthermore, Jesus condemned traditions that contradicted God's word. In Matthew 15:1-9, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because their traditions invalidated the commandment of God. That same danger exists today. Infant Baptism as an Example One example is infant baptism. Some argue that the households mentioned in Acts 16:30-34 must have included infants. Yet the text never says that. That is not Scripture. It is an unnecessary inference being elevated into doctrine. Notice Paul's instruction: “Believe in the Lord Jesus…” Infants cannot do that. We cannot claim that a tradition is given by the Spirit if that tradition negates what the Spirit Himself has revealed. When a tradition contradicts Scripture, Scripture must win every time. 3. Choice Many traditions are neither right nor wrong. They fall into the realm of judgment and choice. For example, the specific time a congregation assembles for worship. Acts 20:7 authorizes worship on the first day of the week. The specific hour is not specified. Morning worship does not violate God's word. Evening worship does not violate God's word. These are matters of judgment. They are traditions of choice rather than truth or error. A Necessary Distinction Let me be clear. The traditions Paul spoke about in the New Testament are truth and must be practiced. Traditions that are error and contrary to the Holy Spirit's revelation must be abandoned. No tradition, regardless of its age, has the authority to override what God has revealed. When man-made traditions are elevated to the level of Scripture, it is only a matter of time before tradition itself swallows Scripture. What About Traces of the Church Throughout History? One reason many people flock to certain churches is because of their age. They are ancient. The argument often sounds like this: “If something is ancient, it can't be wrong.” “We can trace our church back to Christ.” “Churches of Christ cannot do that.” “Your heritage comes from Alexander Campbell and the Restoration Movement.” These arguments sound persuasive on the surface. But do they hold up? Pattern Versus Succession The issue is not succession. Succession is the belief that church authority and legitimacy are transmitted through an unbroken line of leaders extending back to the apostles. But the real issue is this: Does a church follow the apostolic pattern revealed in Scripture? Authority rests in God's revealed word, not in a historical chain of succession. Paul emphasized the importance of following a pattern. 2 Timothy 1:13 Acts 2:42 The standard is the apostolic doctrine. Not a lineage. Not a headquarters. Not a historical chain. A pattern. Josiah: A Powerful Example Consider the days of Josiah. In 2 Kings 23:22-23, the Passover was restored. The text tells us it had not been observed like that since the days of the Judges. Think about that. We're talking approximately 500-700 years. For centuries, God's people had drifted away from the pattern. Yet when the Book of the Law was discovered, they could return to God's instructions. The authority was not in uninterrupted practice. The authority was in what God had written. The same thing happened during the Restoration Movement. People went back to Scripture and began examining the New Testament pattern. A new church was not created. Rather, God's pattern was observed. Ancient Doesn't Mean Accurate Jesus warned about man-made traditions in Matthew 15:1-9. Traditions often gain credibility simply because they are old. People think: “We've always done it this way.” “This church is ancient.” “Millions believe it.” Yet error does not become truth through age. The question is not: “Which church is oldest historically?” The question is: “Which church follows the doctrine of Christ?” (2 John 9) The Example of Jeroboam Israel repeatedly drifted from God's pattern. Jeroboam is a classic example. In 1 Kings 12:28-33 he created an alternative worship system. Think about what he introduced: Alternative worship locations. New feast days. A new priesthood. A more convenient religion. Today we might call that: Innovation. Modernization. Contemporary worship. Keeping things fresh. Yet God did not authorize any of it. Jeroboam's religion was ancient by Josiah's day. But it was still wrong. Age did not make it true. Popularity did not make it true. Tradition did not make it true. The Standard Has Always Been God's Word By Josiah's day, people had abandoned God's pattern. Yet God still expected them to return to it. Why? Because the standard never changed. Consider these passages: John 17:17 “Your word is truth.” Colossians 3:17 “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.” 2 John 9 “Abide in the doctrine of Christ.” Jude 3 “The faith once for all delivered.” The authority has always been God's revealed word. Not history. Not popularity. Not emotions. Not tradition. Conclusion What kind of foundation are we standing on? Some have been shaken and disturbed by arguments about tradition, church history, and succession. Yet we must remember this: A church is not sound because it is old. A church is not sound because it is large. A church is not sound because it is emotional. A church is not sound because it can claim an ancient lineage. Rather: A church is sound because it abides in the apostles' doctrine. The question has never been, “How old is it?” The question has always been: “Does it follow the pattern God revealed?” That was true in Josiah's day. That was true in the first century. And it is still true today.

Introduction Who are God’s chosen people? It depends on who you ask. Many politicians say the modern nation of Israel is still God’s chosen people. Many religious leaders teach that God still has a special covenant with the Jewish Nation today. If true, it has enormous ramifications on salvation, the church, etc. To bring this into clarity, we begin with Abraham’s story, Genesis 12:1-3. “God promised never again to cleanse by flood, God chose another way – separating from the world a faithful family in order to bring into the world an eternal answer to wickedness, a dying savior.” The Nation Promise (Genesis 12:2) God promised Abraham that a great nation would come from him, Genesis 12:2. Specifically Israel. “This nation would be great in number and also in significance. How? It would be the nation to carry the Messianic line.” As we will see, Paul is going to argue that the ultimate great nation of Abraham is the community of the faithful, whether circumcised or not, Romans 4:9-12; Galatians 3:7-9. It would not be through Lot or Ishamel. Isaac was the child of promise, Genesis 17:16-21. Isaac would have Jacob who would have 12 sons that became the 12 tribes of Israel. They would become a great nation in Egypt, Genesis 46:2-4. God chose Israel, established a covenant and gave Laws to them, Exodus 19:4-6; Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 7:6. The Land Promise (Genesis 12:1) A land would be given to the offspring of Abraham. It’s not initially specified but is in Genesis 13:15. That would be the land of Canaan or the Promised Land. Instructions were given of how to live in this land, Deuteronomy 27:1-4; 28:1-3,15. This promise was fulfilled, Joshua 21:43-45. The Blessing Promise (Genesis 12:3; 22:18) Let’s break this verse down into two sections. Verse 3a, "Bless and curse," was personal to Abraham. This was made personally to Abraham, not a future nation; Genesis 20:1-8. Verse 3b, "All families of the earth shall be blessed..." ultimately points to Jesus as Savior. The Nation Promise and Land Promise were never the end of the story. Moses spoke of another prophet all needed to heed: Jesus, Deuteronomy 18:15-18. Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, Matthew 1:1. He would save His people from their sins, Matthew 1:21. He didn’t come merely to save Israel, but the world, John 3:16. Peter preached this and taught Deuteronomy 18:15-18 was fulfilled in Christ, Acts 3:18-19. He quotes from Genesis 12:3 demonstrating this was fulfilled in Jesus. Jews first entered the kingdom of God. Then Gentiles, Acts 2:41; Acts 10. In Acts 13, Paul emphasized "The Promise" pointing to Jesus fulfilling Genesis 12:3. Acts 13:17: God had CHOSEN ISRAEL. The NATION PROMISE was fulfilled. Acts 13:19: The LAND PROMISE was fulfilled. Acts 13:20-23: "According to promise" God brought a Savior Jesus. Acts 13:24-26: Paul recognized his audience as being physical descendants of Abraham who feared God! Yet they ignored the prophets and Jesus and killed him, Acts 13:27-30. He was resurrected, Acts 17:31-32. Paul preached the good news of the "Promise." The good news is Jesus, Galatians 3:8-9. Acts 13:33: This promise (Blessing Promise) has been fulfilled. Acts 13:38-39: Through Jesus is where forgiveness of sins is found. The chosen of God in the New Covenant today are those who belong to Christ, 1 Peter 2:9; Galatians 3:6-9; Galatians 3:29; Colossians 3:12. Is the Jewish Nation God's Chosen People Today? No. Consider Romans 9:1-8. The current state of Israel does not have a divine status in the New Covenant. We are NOT commanded by God from scripture to support the current state of Israel. Supporting the current state of Israel may or may not politically wise. That’s politics. More important than politics is that God’s chosen people today are not identified by physical descent from Abraham but rather identified by faith in Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:24-27. What does this mean for Israel in the first century and beyond, Romans 9:1-6; 10:1-4? In the first century, Paul’s desire was that they would be saved. Those outside of Christ are not saved. But there is hope for Israel if they believe in Jesus, Romans 11:23. What this doesn’t mean: Hatred toward any Jewish person, James 2:11. Conclusion God’s chosen people today are NOT those who are physical descendants of Abraham (Israel), but those who have faith in Jesus to be the Son of God. This means anyone in this room—Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, young or old—can become part of God’s chosen people through Jesus. A Christian's allegiance is NOT to ANY nation (Israel/America) but must be to King Jesus, Israel 6:16.