Bartimaeus Baptist Temple

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple

This podcasts consists of messages from our pastors, Sunday school lessons, and other special events that take place during our weekly services.

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  1. 6월 23일

    Message by Larry Thacker Jr from June 21: With One Voice

    One survey has identified as many as 50,000 distinct Christian groups who in some way distinguish themselves from others. This number is disheartening to those who feel that we should all be one. That is after all what Jesus Himself prayed (John 17:11.) That particular study named even small congregations of people, and accepted their self-identification as Christian, so the number of groups with significantly divergent theology is probably only in the hundreds. But isn't two to many? Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 that divisions will exist, differentiating faithful from the fake. He was speaking to a single congregation, but the principle holds. Heresies began developing even as the church was in its infancy. But not every issue is worth fighting over. Truth remains truth whatever we believe about it, but some things matter more than others. Much of what has divided us across the centuries should be set aside in favor of working together for the glory of God. Jesus said that we would be known as His disciples by our love for each other (John 13:35.) What would happen if we did that? What would happen if we also loved even our enemies in the way that Jesus did? In Romans Chapter 14, Paul addresses some specific issues that were points of contention between the Jewish and gentile believers to which he was writing. He speaks particularly to those who have come to an understanding that their freedom in Christ meant they didn't need to observe the dietary restrictions found in the Jewish law or observe the various feasts. He admonishes them to be respectful of those who had not yet come to that understanding. He says to all that we have only one judge, one master, and each of us is accountable to Him for our own faith. If we use our freedom in a way that causes weaker members to stumble, we are not acting out of love but out of selfishness. In Chapter 15, he concludes this admonition with a call to unity and a reminder that we all find our hope in Jesus. For this episode we will consider Romans 15:1-6.

    32분
  2. 6월 6일

    Message by Larry Thacker Jr from May 31: The Law of Love

    We are continuing our study with Romans 13:8-14. Paul has provided teaching and instruction on everything from the basics of Christian theology to its application in our daily lives, and he is not finished yet. It may seem overwhelming, but in this passage he makes it simple, though in application it is anything but. He wraps it all up this way. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does not work evil against a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. Romans 13:8-10 Legacy Standard Bible Jesus Himself said something very similar when he was asked which was the greatest commandment in the law. “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 LSB Everything God has said and done is rooted in love. All of the things against which He has warned us are contrary to love. Love put Jesus on a cross. Love raised Him from the dead! Accept no imitations. The law of love is perfect. The law of love involves sacrifice and is contrary to selfishness. If only we could all learn what true love is, both to give and to receive.

    28분
  3. 5월 18일

    Message by Larry Thacker Jr from May 17: “Don’t Be Evil

    This week's study takes us through Roman 12:14-21. Paul continues teaching us what a living sacrifice looks like. Now we've come to some of the harder parts, especially that stuff about blessing people who mistreat us and doing good to our enemies. But if we look to Jesus as our example, we see that these are the things He did. He called out sin, especially hypocrisy, but he also uttered these famous words at His crucifixion, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Verse 21 reads, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.". What does it mean to be overcome by evil. Sometimes it surely seems to prevail. Were the martyrs overcome by evil? Was Jesus overcome by evil when He died on that cross? Quite the opposite. In that sacrificial act He overcame evil with good forever. It isn't going quietly, but it must go. Until that day comes, we must contend with it. To be overcome by evil is to be drawn into it. Instead of standing against it and choosing good, we become participants in it. This passage seems to be telling us how to approach relationships with all people, not just those in the church. It humanizes our enemies and reminds us that we all start from the same place. Jesus Himself warned us that our message would not be widely accepted, but it becomes real when accompanied by behavior like this, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” What's with that last part? The imagery doesn't seem to match the spirit of the message. Paul is quoting from Proverbs 25:21-22. It is likely a reference to an Egyptian custom of carrying hot coals on one's head as a sign of contrition. The hope is that in doing good to our enemies, we draw them to a place of repentance. We invite them to become part of God's family.

    38분

소개

This podcasts consists of messages from our pastors, Sunday school lessons, and other special events that take place during our weekly services.