Below are outlines, background studies, articles, sermon videos, and other resources related to Bible study and church ministry.
Introductions, Background Studies, and Outlines of Books of the Bible
Bible Study Resources
- Setting the Record Straight on Old Testament Dates
- Five Views on Genesis 1
- Timing of Events Related to the Book of Ezra
- Historical Evidence for the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
- Comparing Genesis 1 with Ancient Near Eastern Creation Myths
- The Book of Psalms and an Overview of Hebrew Poetry
- Suffering in 1 Peter and the Cultural Background of Early Christianity
- An Exposition of the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:1-10)
- Who are the two witnesses of Revelation 11?
- Is Revelation 3:20 a Gospel invitation to a lost person or an invitation to a believer?
- The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18
Outlines of Books of the Bible
- Ezra
- Obadiah
- Habakkuk
- John
- Galatians
- Philippians
- 1 Thessalonians
- 1 Peter
- 1 John
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
Church Pastor and Leader Advice
- Basic Dos and Don’ts to Be a More Welcoming Church
- The Passion Pastors Must Have for Purity
- The Manners in Ministry that Matter
- Gospel First and Politics Second
- A Fresh Start for an Old Friend
- Confronting a Lost Leader
- 25 Tips for Facilitating a Small Group
- Essential Tools for Weekly Sermon Preparation
- Connecting with the Three Unchurched Groups in Our Culture
- Discipleship Basics
- Seven Basic (but often neglected) Steps for Effectively Communicating with Volunteers
- Four Keys that Unlock an Effective Staff During a Crisis
- Two Ways to Keep Volunteers Serving at Your Church
- Six Benefits of a Unified Budget
- Character Is Our Marketing
- Four Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln
- Two Often Forgotten Essentials for Mission Statements
- Three Simple Ways to Maintain an Online Ministry
- Three Ways to Graciously Welcome Guests Before Even Talking to Them
- Giving God’s Money to God’s Work
- Several Free but Often Forgotten Marketing Tools for Churches
- Ministering to New Members: An Example from 1 Thessalonians 3:1-8
Articles on Giving
- How Church People Are Smart with Money
- How Grace Is Sufficient for Giving
- Giving Even When We Think We Don’t Have Much
- How Churches Should Ask for Money
- Why We Give God Everything
- How Giving Can Touch Others
Articles from Malachi
- 1. The Love We Know (Mal 1:2)
- 2. Godly Praise (Mal 1:5)
- 3. Giving God the Best (Mal 1:6)
- 4. The Way We Are Right with God (Mal 1:6-11)
- 5. Temple Priests in Today’s Church (Mal 2:5-7)
- 6. Spouse Selection (Mal 2:6-10)
- 7. Marriage Dedication (Mal 2:13-16)
- 8. God’s Messengers (Mal 3:1)
- 9. Godly Gift Giving (Mal 3:6-12)
- 10. The Size of the Tithe (Mal 3:10)
- 11. The Blessing of a Tithe (Mal 3:10-12)
- 12. Why Do Evil People Prosper? (Mal 3:13-15)
- 13. What Do Evil People Have Prepared for Them in the Future? (Mal 4:1)
- 14. How Do We Overcome Evil in This World? (Mal 3:16-18; 4:2-6)
- 15. Vacation in Heaven (Mal 4:2)
Articles from the Gospel of John
- 1. Pointing to the Light (John 1:4–5, 6–9)
- 2. Meeting a Need (John 2:3–8)
- 3. Time To Be Born Again (John 3:5–8)
- 4. The Exclamation Point of John’s Gospel (John 3:15-21)
- 5. A Savior for Everyone (John 4:13–14)
- 6. The Harvest from the Gospel (John 4:35–38)
- 7. God’s Creative Solutions (John 5:8, 9)
- 8. A Defining Miracle (John 6:2–11)
- 9. The Strong Grip of Jesus (John 6:35–40)
- 10. Stone Throwing Lessons (John 8:6–11)
- 11. How Behavior Validates Belief (John 8:31, 51, 55)
- 12. Consequences for Christians (John 9:6–7, 11)
Articles from Romans
- God’s Picture (Rom 5:1-2)
- God’s Justice (Rom 6:22–23)
- God’s Fruit (Rom 7:4–5)
- God’s Provision (Rom 8:1–4)
- God’s Help (Rom 8:26–27)
- God Works for Good (Rom 8:28)
- God’s Security (Rom 8:35, 38–39)
- God’s Transformation (Rom 12:2)
- We Need to Weep (Rom 12:15b)
Articles from 1 Corinthians
- 1. Free and Guaranteed (1 Cor 4:1-9)
- 2. Imperfect People Following a Perfect God (1 Cor 2:1-5)
- 3. Keeping God’s Temple Clean (1 Cor 3:16-17)
- 4. Change Shows Change (1 Cor 6:9-11)
- 5. Love for Others Guides Our Actions (1 Cor 8:8-13)
- 6. Stretching and Connecting with Others (1 Cor 9:19-22)
- 7. Enduring Temptation (1 Cor 10:13)
- 8. Accommodating Others Shows Love (1 Cor 10:31-11:1)
- 9. Learning and Using Your Spiritual Gift (1 Cor 12:7, 11, 25-26)
- 10. The Christian’s Secret Sauce (1 Cor 13:4-7)
- 11. The Resurrection Remodel (1 Cor 15:51-52)
- 12. Striving in Ministry (1 Cor 15:58)
Articles from 2 Corinthians
- Suffering for Others (2 Cor 1:3-4)
- The Buck Stops with God (2 Cor 1:21, 22)
- The Necessity of Forgiveness (2 Cor 2:10-11)
- The Smell of a Christian (2 Cor 2:14-16)
- Ministry In and Through Affliction (2 Cor 4:8-12) [this article will appear in War Cry magazine at a later date]
- Gospel Change (2 Cor 5:17, 21)
- An Ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20)
- Partner Prerequisites (2 Cor 6:14-18)
- Growth through Sorrow (2 Cor 7:10)
- The Trust of Giving (2 Cor 9:6-8)
- The Battle Within (2 Cor 10:3-5)
- The Test (2 Cor 13:5)
Articles from Galatians
- 1. The Source of Paul’s Story (Gal 1:11-12)
- 2. Showing the Source of Your Story (Gal 1:13-24)
- 3. Eager to Help the Poor (Gal 2:1-2, 7-10)
- 4. Treating Everyone the Same (Gal 2:11-13)
- 5. Faithful Faith (Gal 3:6, 9)
- 6. God Keeps His Promises (Gal 3:23-25; cf. Gen 3:15; 12:1-3)
- 7. Refusing to Drift (Gal 4:16-20)
- 8. God Keeps His Promises (Gal 4:24-31)
- 9. Freedom Through Service (Gal 5:13-15)
- 10. We That Are Spiritual (Gal 6:1-2, 10)
- 11. Love for the Liberated Life (Gal 6:15-17)
Articles from Philippians
- The Job of a Christian (Phil 2:14–16)
- Ministry When the Minister Is Absent (Phil 2:12)
- Working Out Salvation (Phil 2:12)
- Divine Motivation (Phil 3:13)
- The Joy of a Christian (Phil 2:17–18)
- Family Feud in Philippi (Phil 4:2–3)
- Our Anxiety Prescription (Phil 4:8–9)
- Concentration Determination (Phil 4:8–9)
- Contentment Achievement (Phil 4:11–13, 19)
Articles from Hebrews
- There’s No One Better (Heb 1:1–4)
- Jesus Helps Us (Heb 2:14–18)
- No To-Do List (Heb 4:9–10)
- God’s Word Always Knows (Heb 4:12–13)
- He Accepts Us Because He Knows Us (Heb 4:14–16)
- The Forever Intercessor (Heb 7:22–25)
- Why the New Covenant Is Better than the Old Covenant (Heb 8:6, 13)
- Why We Need Each Other (Heb 10:23–25)
- The Linchpin of Christianity (Heb 11:1, 6)
- How to Focus on Jesus (Heb 12:1–2)
- Strength for Contentment (Heb 13:6–8)
- Ready for Anything (Heb 13:20–21)
Easter Articles
- Overcoming Betrayal (John 18-19) [this article is scheduled for publication in War Cry magazine]
- No Surprised at the Cross (Pss 22)
- A God that Serves His People? (Isa 53:5, 9-12)
Verse-by-verse Sermon Series
- Reverent Wrestlings (Habakkuk)
- A U-Turn Toward God (Malachi) [forthcoming]
- Restoring Hope by Returning Home (Ezra) [forthcoming]
- Signs of Life (John)
- Gospel Groundwork (Galatians)
- Comfort About the Coming (1 Thessalonians) [forthcoming]
- Sustenance for Saints (1 Peter)
- Postcards from God (2 John, Philemon, Jude, Obadiah, 3 John)
Theology Sermon Series
- In the Beginning We Believe (Anthropology) [forthcoming]
- Those Among Us (Angelology)
- Trespasses of Humanity (Hamartiology)