The Church

Spiritual Gifts – Part 1

October 11, 2012

As we come to the twelfth chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul begins to deal with the matter of speaking in tongues. There are a lot of people who do not like this subject. This is true in my own confession; many Reformed churches are against it. That is because they are concerned that if individuals claim to be able to speak under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, what they say should carry the full authority of God because the Holy Spirit is God.

Spiritual Gifts – Part 2

October 12, 2012

Spiritual Gifts1 Corinthians 12:1-31Theme: Our role in the body of Christ.This week’s lessons challenge us to know our spiritual gifts and to use them in the Church.

Spiritual Gifts – Part 3

October 13, 2012

Is there a particular number of spiritual gifts? That question is difficult to answer. Paul gives two lists here in chapter 12. The first one identifies nine gifts (vv. 7-11). Then in 1 Cor. 12:27-30, Paul identifies another set of nine gifts, but here the list is different. Some of the gifts from his first list are repeated in the second, but others are new. There are three other passages in the New Testament that also list gifts in a formal manner.

Spiritual Gifts – Part 4

October 14, 2012

We’re studying Paul’s analogy between a human body and the Church. The illustration of the human body makes some obvious points. The first one is that all of these parts have different functions. The eye sees, but it does not walk. The foot walks, but it does not handle. The hand handles, but it does not think. All parts of the body have different functions, and so do we.

Spiritual Gifts – Part 5

October 15, 2012

There are three applications that I want to make from 1 Corinthians 12. The first is, be content with what you have been given. If you are not content, you are telling God that you know better than he. Therefore, be content with whatever God has given you, because God gave it to you and he knows best.

Church Discipline – Part One

December 28, 2012

We have come in our study of 1 Corinthians to a section that deals with Christian discipline. This is a hard subject for churches to face. And yet, as we come to such passages, we need to deal with them. We are faced with two problems in this matter of Christian discipline in our time. One is the disposition to take it too lightly, and the other is the disposition to overdo it, both of which unfortunately occur in some Christian circles. We need God’s wisdom in each case.

Church Discipline – Part Two

December 31, 2012

In addition to what we have here in 1 Corinthians, there are other texts that deal with church discipline. One of the key texts is Matthew 18:15-17. There we find what Jesus Christ said about how to deal with a fellow believer who is living in sin. He said that the first thing to do is go to him with admonishing words. If he won’t hear you – that is, if he won’t acknowledge the offense, turn from it, repent of it, and seek reconciliation – then take two or three witnesses back to confront him with the events.

Church Discipline – Part Three

January 1, 2013

Yesterday we started looking at the shameful sin that was occuring in the Corinthian church. As we continue to examine this situation in today’s lesson, the second thing we notice is the fact that this sinful relationship was public. It wasn’t even something that had happened in a quiet way, which perhaps, therefore, could be dealt with in a quiet way. There is a good principle here. If a wrong can be made right quietly without broadcasting it abroad, that is certainly the procedure to be followed

Church Discipline – Part Four

January 2, 2013

Why does Paul insist that the Corinthian church expel this unrepentant person? The first reason is for the good of the individual involved. We find that hard to understand because our ideas of discipline are so lax. We think the worst possible thing we could do to somebody is embarrass them, or put them on the spot, or make a judgment that perhaps they are doing something wrong. But Paul says that isn’t true. Where there is open and flagrant sin, the sin must be confronted, and this must be done for the good of the individual involved.

Church Discipline – Part Five

January 3, 2013

Spiritual Gifts — Part One

March 1, 2013

Spiritual Gifts — Part Two

March 4, 2013

Spiritual Gifts — Part Three

March 5, 2013

Spiritual Gifts — Part Four

March 6, 2013

Spiritual Gifts — Part Five

March 7, 2013

The Book of Psalms

Monday: Zion, City of Our God

January 7, 2019

Theme: Citizens of Zion
In this week’s lessons we look at the nature of the church, which is itself a picture of the eternal City of Zion, of which every Christian is a citizen.
Scripture: Psalm 87:1-7

The Book of Psalms

Tuesday: Zion, City of Our God

January 8, 2019

Theme: The Church on Earth and the Church in Heaven
In this week’s lessons we look at the nature of the church, which is itself a picture of the eternal City of Zion, of which every Christian is a citizen.
Scripture: Psalm 87:1-7

The Book of Psalms

Wednesday: Zion, City of Our God

January 9, 2019

Theme: True Spiritual Brotherhood
In this week’s lessons we look at the nature of the church, which is itself a picture of the eternal City of Zion, of which every Christian is a citizen.
Scripture: Psalm 87:1-7

The Book of Psalms

Thursday: Zion, City of Our God

January 10, 2019

Theme: Born in Zion
In this week’s lessons we look at the nature of the church, which is itself a picture of the eternal City of Zion, of which every Christian is a citizen.
Scripture: Psalm 87:1-7
Two things are said of those who will be brought to the worship of God in the days the psalmist envisions.

The Book of Psalms

Friday: Zion, City of Our God

January 11, 2019

Theme: Fountains of Blessing
In this week’s lessons we look at the nature of the church, which is itself a picture of the eternal City of Zion, of which every Christian is a citizen.
Scripture: Psalm 87:1-7

The Book of Psalms

Monday: The Secular Church

July 6, 2020

Theme: When the Church Becomes Like the World
In this week’s lessons, we see how the church can fall into becoming like the world, and so lose sight of thinking and acting the way God has laid out in Scripture.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The Book of Psalms

Tuesday: The Secular Church

July 7, 2020

Theme: The World’s Wisdom
In this week’s lessons, we see how the church can fall into becoming like the world, and so lose sight of thinking and acting the way God has laid out in Scripture.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The Book of Psalms

Wednesday: The Secular Church

July 8, 2020

Theme: Results of Abandoning Biblical Authority
In this week’s lessons, we see how the church can fall into becoming like the world, and so lose sight of thinking and acting the way God has laid out in Scripture.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The Book of Psalms

Thursday: The Secular Church

July 9, 2020

Theme: The World’s Theology and Agenda
In this week’s lessons, we see how the church can fall into becoming like the world, and so lose sight of thinking and acting the way God has laid out in Scripture.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Yesterday we considered the first aspect of a secular church. Today we look at the second and third items.

The Book of Psalms

Friday: The Secular Church

July 10, 2020

Theme: The World’s Methods
In this week’s lessons, we see how the church can fall into becoming like the world, and so lose sight of thinking and acting the way God has laid out in Scripture.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Having looked at the world’s wisdom, the world’s theology, and the world’s agenda, we conclude our study with one more way in which the church can look like the world.

The Book of 1 Timothy

Monday: Pillar of God’s Truth

February 1, 2021

Theme: The Church as Pillar and Foundation
In this week’s lessons, we learn what it means that the church is the pillar and foundation of God’s truth, and how we are to live as a result.
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

The Book of 1 Timothy

Tuesday: Pillar of God’s Truth

February 2, 2021

Theme: Pointing the World to the Truth
In this week’s lessons, we learn what it means that the church is the pillar and foundation of God’s truth, and how we are to live as a result.
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

The Book of 1 Timothy

Wednesday: Pillar of God’s Truth

February 3, 2021

Theme: A Loss of a Foundation
In this week’s lessons, we learn what it means that the church is the pillar and foundation of God’s truth, and how we are to live as a result.
Scripture:1 Timothy 3:14-16

The Book of 1 Timothy

Thursday: Pillar of God’s Truth

February 4, 2021

Theme: Making the Truth Known
In this week’s lessons, we learn what it means that the church is the pillar and foundation of God’s truth, and how we are to live as a result.
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

The Book of 1 Timothy

Friday: Pillar of God’s Truth

February 5, 2021

Theme: When the Heavenly Realms See the Church
In this week’s lessons, we learn what it means that the church is the pillar and foundation of God’s truth, and how we are to live as a result.
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:14-16

A Model Church

Monday: The Apostles Teaching

February 27, 2023

In this chapter we need to look at some of the things that are said about this model church. The key verse is verse 42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

A Model Church

Tuesday: A Bible-Studying Church

February 28, 2023

How is it possible for us to focus on the apostolic teaching? The answer is obvious. These men gave us the New Testament. This is the deposit of their teaching. When it came time to collect the books that were to become our New Testament, the criterion by which that was done was whether they came from the apostles or bore the apostolic blessing. Moreover, the fact that we have our New Testament is a fulfillment of what Jesus Christ said He would do through these apostles. In order for us to copy the New Testament church at this point, as we should, we are to study the book these men have left us. It is in the New Testament that the authentic teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be found.

A Model Church

Wednesday: Devoted to Fellowship

March 1, 2023

As we saw in yesterday’s study, an evangelical, Spirit-filled, Bible-oriented church should offer many ways for people to get to know the Bible, but primarily through preaching. The second thing we need is fellowship. Not only did they devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, the early church also devoted itself to fellowship at many levels.

A Model Church

Thursday: A Worshiping Church

March 2, 2023

But if we are followers of Jesus Christ, if we have learned from Him, then we know that “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15), and that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The standard set before us is the standard not of being served, but of serving. So our obligation is to use what we have for others, which is what the early church did. It is one measure of a Christian’s sanctification and maturity.

A Model Church

Friday: A Witnessing Church

March 3, 2023

There is one other characteristic of the church mentioned in this paragraph. It was a witnessing or evangelizing church. That is why we find as we get to the end of the paragraph that the Lord added “to their number daily those who [were] being saved” (v. 47). This does not say specifically that they were out witnessing. But we know that the way God reaches people is through the spoken word and that when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, what happened is that those who received the Spirit immediately began to speak about Jesus.

Subscribe to the Think & Act Biblically Devotional

About the Alliance

The Alliance is a coalition of believers who hold to the historic creeds and confessions of the Reformed faith and proclaim biblical doctrine in order to foster a Reformed awakening in today’s Church.

Follow Us

Canadian Donors

Canadian Committee of The Bible Study Hour
PO Box 24087, RPO Josephine
North Bay, ON, P1B 0C7