Below are outlines, background studies, articles, sermon videos, and other resources related to Bible study and church ministry.
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
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
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)
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 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)
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)