Healing and community outreach by Agape Ministry organization.

Category: Bible Study

Cheerful group of friends enjoying a toast with orange juice at a cozy dinner gathering. 0

Bible Study / Exegetical Study / Expository Study

 by 

The Christian Response to False Teachers

In this short letter, John begins with a traditional greeting, but this time, he uses his title, “The elder.” His recipient is the church, by which he refers to as “the lady.” This would be a respectful term that uses the typical feminine reference of the church as in the “bride of Christ.” No specific church is named, so it should be assumed per the context of the letter, there was but only a single recipient, so no further name would be needed. John’s purpose of the letter was to protect the faithful from the false teachers that would abuse their hospitality to deceive others and increase their personal gain.

Historic mountain village with church and red-tiled roofs overlooking a lush valley and distant mountains. 0

Bible Study / Exegetical Study / Expository Study

 by 

Do Not Be Like the World

In this short section of John’s letter, with few words, he teaches a significant lesson. The bottom line is that Christians shall not love the world, for it is passing away. It is such a simple statement, but it has a great depth found in the language that is used. While John often speaks of love, this is the one time that love is used in a negative manner.

Bright sparks and flames from a controlled firework display celebrating faith and community at Agape Ministry. 0

Bible Study / Exegetical Study

 by 

Faith, More Valuable Than Gold

The epistle’s recipients are not known for sure, with some arguing Jewish converts, and others arguing for gentiles. However, it can be concluded that the recipients were first-century Christians who were experiencing a situation that was causing them to have concerns—perhaps the persecution under Nero. The author, historically believed to be Peter, wanted to reassure the readers of their salvation and to encourage them to persevere through their trials.

Ancient Jerusalem skyline with golden-domed church and historic stone buildings at sunset. 0

Bible Study / Expository Study

 by 

Worry Not, Jesus is Lord!

We know that the Lord will win over all His enemies, so perhaps the Lord has given the secular world to their own debased thinking. In the absurdity of post-modern thought, the Truth will come out. It is an opportunity to bring people back to the Truth that God has revealed to us. So how shall we then live?

Reinforcing steel bars during construction at a job site for community development and infrastructure project. 0

Expository Study

 by 

Scripture is the Truth, and Our Foundation

By listening to the present rhetoric of politics, culture, and education, Christianity is backward and in great danger of extinction. According to the world, Christianity’s only hope is to modernize by assimilating to the present day’s standards. The church should no longer teach the “mythical stories” of the Bible, and the moral teachings of Scripture should be updated to accept the cultural direction of the day. The teachings that disagree with science should be cast into the garbage, and perhaps then, the church may survive.

Frustrated man experiencing stress, holding his head with glasses and watch, sitting on sofa. 0

Expository Study

 by 

The Heavy Burden of Anxiety

If you are reading this, then I am certain you will affirm this statement. You have experience anxiety or worry over an event or the future. We all experience this–some more than others, but it is a reality just as we need air to breathe, food to eat, and sleep. The difference is that anxiety produces an uneasy, heavy, and dark cloud cast upon our very souls. The latter could be the greatest part of a Thanksgiving meal–scented candles burning a pleasing aroma while eating their meal until their fill and then doze off in a post-dinner nap. While one is essential to life, the other is most despised, yet it seems so interwoven to our very existence.