65.5K
Downloads
577
Episodes
Four Points Church in Acworth, Georgia.
Episodes
Sunday Feb 26, 2023
Sunday Feb 26, 2023
God’s chosen Messiah being crucified on a criminal’s cross is the greatest scandal in the history of the universe. Such a scandal cannot be understood or believed by the natural mind. That is why in 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul tells the church that when it comes to hearing and responding to the gospel, there are only two groups of people. Some find it to be useless—those who are perishing. And to some, the gospel is the power of God—those who are being saved.
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
After addressing the church of Corinth with a warm greeting, Paul now directs his attention to a major problem that exists within the church. The warmth of his welcome is over, and his stern rebuke will now be heard. As a rope becomes unraveled when its cords are disunited, so the church in Corinth is on the verge of unraveling because of disunity. Paul addresses this now, and the other things he brings up in the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians all stem from this topic. Therefore, it is best to view this section as somewhat of an introduction to the first part of the letter (1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21).
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
Though the church of Corinth has some major issues that must be addressed, Paul begins his letter with some encouraging words. To center the entire letter of 1 Corinthians upon the gospel, Paul’s first words to the Corinthians are not rebukes but reminders. Paul wants the Corinthians to know that despite the messiness of their church, God’s grace hasn’t changed. These believers are being sanctified and sustained by Jesus for the glory of God.
Sunday Feb 05, 2023
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
Sunday Jan 22, 2023
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Sunday Jan 01, 2023
Laodicea is one of the most ancient cities in the Lycus valley. Archeological evidence can accurately prove that people lived in the city more than a thousand years before the writing of Revelation. Historical records show previous names of the city as Rhoas and then Diospolis (which means City of Zeus). The name Laodicea did not come into use until the 3rd century BC when Seleucid king Antiochus II renamed the city after his wife Laodice. The provenance of Laodicea—its origins, importance, and history—helped it to remain a free city even when it was annexed into the Roman Empire in 133 BC. As a free city, Laodicea enjoyed electing its magistrates, running its government, and minting its own coins apart from Roman control. These luxuries help us understand why the city refused Roman funds to help rebuild after a devastating earthquake occurred in AD 60-61. Laodicea did not want to be in Rome’s debt, preferring to remain as free and independent as possible.
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Philadelphia was located about thirty miles inward from Smyrna and the Aegean Sea, sitting on high ground on the south side of the Cogamis River. Its fertile land is well-suited for growing grapes, leading to an economy based mostly on agriculture and some industry. Because of this vine-growing ability, worship of the Greek god Dionysus—the god of wine— was a major pagan cult. Philadelphia had a strategic location at the intersection of several trade routes, making it a very prosperous city and earning it the name “the gateway to the East.” Unfortunately, its location also made it susceptible to earthquakes, and in AD 17, an earthquake destroyed the city of Philadelphia, along with several other cities. The Roman Empire played a huge role in the rebuilding of the city of Philadelphia, solidifying the city's devotion to the imperial cult. Just like in the city of Smyrna, those citizens who refused to worship the Roman emperor drew the persecution of the Roman devotees. Yet the Christians of the church at Philadelphia kept God’s Word and did not deny the name of Jesus (v. 8). This is a church that remains faithful to Christ in the face of multiple types of opposition.