Showing results by author "James King" in All Categories

There is an inseparable link between our faith and how we live our lives. In his letter to his coworker, Titus, Paul gives us practical instruction on godly living as well as qualifications for Church leaders. While Paul paints a picture of what a healthy Church looks like, he also emphasizes the Gospel as the source of godliness: "...he saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness but according to his own mercy...."

Songs of Solomon emphasizes the holiness and beauty of marriage through the story of a bridegroom who is in love with his bride. It can also been seen as an illustration of Christ’s love for the Church. Listen to this love poem and get a taste of how marriage paints a perfect picture of the Gospel.

Idolatry, rebellion, disobedience, pride. Second Kings illustrates the collapse of a divided nation that turned its back on God. This, however, does not change the fact that God is faithful. Like any good father, he does not allow his children's sinfulness to carry on without discipline.

If you could ask God for anything in the world, knowing it would be given to you, what would you ask for? Solomon asked for wisdom. For many, this sounds like a silly request, but Solomon knew wisdom was everything he needed in order to successfully carry out the assignment God gave him. In this book, we can learn the importance of habitually looking to God, the giver of all good things.

This letter was written by Paul while he was imprisoned Rome. The apostle was experiencing persecution for his faith, but this was no surprise to him, nor was it stealing his hope. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). He was writing this letter to encourage Timothy, his coworker, to be strong in the Lord in spite of suffering. He called on him to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, as we should all strive to be ourselves.

In the beginning of all beginnings, the artist of all artists simply spoke, and all of creation unfolded before him. Satisfied with his work, God said, "It is good." Not long after, the first human beings faced a serious choice when tempted to shake off their Creator’s leadership so as to be his equal. Out of great love, God then chose the Israelites as a nation to be witnesses of his existence. Listen to Genesis, and experience the hope that remains in the midst of creation, fall, and re-creation.

The church has always been in danger of “secret agents” who gain entry into the Christian community and thwart the gospel, consequently leading believers astray. We see this in Jude’s letter as he tackles the same issues Peter did in his second letter.

Like many of us, the Thessalonians need to be reminded of the reality of Christ’s second coming. In this book, Paul encourages believers to look forward to the second coming as the final accomplishment of God’s promise to save his people. In light of the Thessalonians’ false sense of security, Paul only addresses the timing of the second coming by saying, “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thes. 5:2)

Giving practical advice for showing hospitality and having a charitable heart toward others, the Apostle John focuses on living life in a way that displays one's love for God. Another vital aspect of this book is John's warnings about false teachers. These individuals "have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 7).

David is dead and Solomon takes the throne. First Kings begins with a united kingdom and ends with division. This is a story of a monarchy’s breakdown but it is also a story of God’s tireless desire to maintain a relationship with His people.

As Christians we often face opposition while doing kingdom work. It is sometimes easy for us to forget about God's sovereignty and become discouraged. The prophet Haggai challenges God's people to trust in God's power as they face local opposition while building the Temple. He encourages them to repent and look to God for strength. Listen to Haggai as he draws attention to common struggles we face today.

God is faithful and always keeps his promises. In 1 Chronicles, God's promise to David is fulfilled when David becomes king over all of Israel. The genealogies in this book remind us that every one of God's children plays a role in his redemption plan. We can rest assured that we are each playing a vital role in this plan as well.

Hebrews is about persevering in the faith. Written concerning the Jewish Christians, this letter serves as a reminder that Christ is superior to priests, angels, and the old covenant laws. His sacrifice is once for all unlike the sacrificial system.

The gospel does not discriminate. We see this in Paul’s letter to Philemon as he asks him to take back his runaway slave, Onesimus, not as a slave but rather as a beloved brother in Christ. Onesimus ran away from his master, Philemon, and escaped to Rome. On his journey, he ran into the apostle Paul and became a Christian. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, it becomes evident that the gospel can transform lives and also unite two unexpected people as brothers.

In this popular Old Testament book, we learn that God will unleash judgment on a rebellious Israel but also that he will redeem his people with deep compassion. The prophet Isaiah encourages the Israelites to repent from their sinful ways and to live a life of obedience to the Lord.

The prophet Hosea has much to say about the sinfulness of Israel, but he also has much to say about the faithfulness of God. As the Israelites worship other gods and move further away from their Creator, God's judgment comes upon them. After judgment, however, God displays acts of mercy as he acts tenderly to his people, like a loving parent would. Listen to Hosea as he reminds Israel of God's faithfulness and speaks prophesies concerning the redemption to come in latter days.

After finding out that the Corinthian church was filled with pride and committing sexual immorality, Paul teaches believers about the dangers of abusing freedom. The real problem is that the believers have a misunderstanding of grace. The Corinthian church was basing its faith on cheap grace. Cheap grace is grace without the cross, grace without repentance, and grace without cost. Listen to Paul as he tells believers about Christ who has given us grace as forgiveness for our sins but also as power to flee from our old ways.

Imagine a diverse group of people joining together to build a wall. Follow Nehemiah as he leads the building of a wall and teaches the Israelites what it means to live a life of obedience and love for God. This will not be an easy feat but it will be a fruitful one.

Timothy has been described as the Apostle Paul's spiritual son. Paul invested in the life of the young man and instructed him in the ways of Christian thought. These epistles demonstrate Paul's mentoring of Timothy and in the process provide insight for all who would take the time to join in the instruction.

The epistles of John deal with what it means to be a Christian and how Christianity should be lived out in the lives of those who believe, and it encourages those who support the faith. Jude encourages believers to stand firm. Listeners will enjoy encouragement directly from scriptures.