W. A. Criswell, Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you if you belong to Him (John 14:1-4). Church of Philadelphia. Bible students can enroll, study and take tests at bcc.hwacollege.org. There is no cost or obligationever. James 2:23. William Gurnall, Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. If you are not already enrolled in the On-Line Bible Study, but would like to be, there are openings available. C. S. Lewis, For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. They are not those who seek after earthly glory, like Shebna, but they are faithful in their responsibilities to the Most High God, like Eliakimand like Jesus Christ. One reason for these articles is to help us prepare to rule with Jesus Christ, our Husband and King. Using a concordance, one can search out key words related to any one of these doctrines. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed. Jonah repented and called on the Lord and was delivered. Or is it things below? But how about a book titledThe Righteous Father? Theyre building a palace for me over there. What the Bible says about One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus humanity was His prayer life. They are the spiritual food we need in order to grow spiritually (John 6:55-59, 63 and 1 Peter 2:2). 1 Corinthians 15:58. By grouping all the scriptures together that use the same word we gain a deeper understanding of what each aspect of spiritual fruit entails and how specifically we need to change. Services normally begin at 12:30 PM, except on a few select dates. Temptation. A fascinating study would be to read through the gospels with particular focus on Jesus Christ and His reactions under different circumstances. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. Our free 12-lesson Bible Study Course is designed to walk you through the basic lessons of the Bible. But what is the biblical view of humility. .". This is God's word. The Greatest Questions. With that in mind, the sermon on the mount, for example, takes on a deeper perspective. Our God has given us a most valuable treasure chest filled with priceless treasurethe words of eternal life! | Philadelphia Church of God Bible Correspondence Course Website Launches on 27th PCG Anniversary Herbert W. Armstrong College site allows users to study lessons, take tests online. We have a much better chance of putting the knowledge we gain in class to practical use if we prayerfully study and review what God teaches us each and every week through His instructorsthe ministry. Old Testament Basics New Testament Basics Mining God's Word Navigate the Christian Life Sharing My Faith Making Disciples Living Joyfully Maintaining Purity Practicing My Faith In My Workplace Keeping a Spiritual Journal Early Christianity (Until A.D. 590) Ancient Greece and Rome Before Nicea After Nicea The Apostles' Creed The Church of Philadelphia. M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World, 1893, I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside. That its the same old routine day in and day out? J. Vernon McGee, The Lord your God cares. Thats nothing compared to the treasure youll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Many Bibles have a concordance at the back. We know that Abraham wasnt perfect. Hensley said that the site will also prevent stagnation, which can result in enrollees quitting the course. ), the king of Pergamum. Yet Christ admonishes Philadelphia just as He does the other churches: Overcome! The evidence shows that the Philadelphia group lacks the spiritual strength of the beginning of the Ephesian group. As we study and learn to think like God, as we put into action Gods way of life, were able to handle strong meat and continue growing (Hebrews 5:13-14) until we attain the very character of God! Make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else! Bible helps that focus exclusively on the meanings of words are known as wordbooks or word studies. The Bible speaks a great deal about virtue, those excellencies of character that imitate the holy and righteous character of Jesus Christ. You dont have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. Because of volume we may not be able to promptly reply to submissions using the form below. Through study of Gods Word, we gain wisdom that helps us avoid sin and the misery that accompanies it. These can be used to get an overview of a particular book, but the commentary provided can sometimes be misguided because the authors do not have the framework of Gods overall plan for man as revealed to His Church. Many schools today are educating students in how to livethe wrong way! As Peter wrote, we look for a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Those same words are each used in many other places in the New Testament. It has also served the community through its unceasing volunteer efforts, living up to the city's nickname . "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. No one can shut that open door, though we can certainly ignore it and neglect so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3). We continue looking at the seven messages in Revelation 2-3. from Jesus to the churches of Asia. Revelation 3:7, however, is clear that the key of David belongs, not to the church, but to the One who is holy and true, Jesus Christ. This church may picture the modern missionary era of church history. We need to consider this in terms of our recent lives in the church. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. You know the storyJonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year (Deuteronomy 11:11-12). He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. We have the promises of God to help us in difficult days, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Actually, the church of Philadelphia has arisen already, and it is Eastern Lightning that everyone has heard aboutit is The Church of Almighty God. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Another example would be to study the words used to describe love in 1 Corinthians 13. Consider highlighting these in your Bible and/or linking them together by writing the next reference in your Bible margin. We tend to think of the Philadelphians as being without fault because Christ does not make a pointed and detailed listing of their sins. Living in right standing with God? The letter to the church at Philadelphia is the one to which most current church members relate. After the pcgs information services department completed the mammoth task of rolling out a new contact management system, Cedar, in May, programmers, graphic designers and writers continued the online Bible course project in earnest. [The Lord] loves, and cares, and sympathizes, and understands, and seeks, and saves, and forgives, and helps, and encourages, and walks by our side taking care of us in life when we cant take care of ourselves. Connections are available beginning at 6:45 PM. Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body. The non-conclusion of 3 John exposes that the attack on God's Church didn't end in the first century. Nevertheless, in todays world, Bible helps can be usefulprimarily in matters of translation and as time-saving tools. In January 1990 Gerald Flurry and John Amos broke away from the Worldwide Church of God and began a new church called "The Philadelphia Church of God." They have pointed out many of the drastic changes Worldwide is going through, and claims to want to return to the faith of Herbert Armstrong, whom they look upon as "Elijah." E. M. Bounds, All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Useful knowledge will always humble us and prepare us to be in Gods Family. Inside was $4,000! Goodbye trials and troubles. It was not uncommon in the Old Testament for the word of the Lord to come to Gods prophets again and again. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere up there in the heavens. The key of David Bible study is like one of the four tires of a car that youre driving down the road to the Kingdom of God. Many countries coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an island of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city. The magazines name illustrates that the material within is intended for royalty! With that background, Paul exhorted believers not to make the same choices the Israelites madenot to provoke God's discipline by willfully sinning. 1. When you look at Herbert W. Armstrongs work, its like a pyramid, pcg Pastor General Gerald Flurry said. You are welcome to join us for worship (10 AM) and a period of Bible study (11:30 AM). Bible study is one of those assignments! Moreover, God expects parents to teach their children His way of life just as He has taught us (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) and to be able to answer their questions. He was from a priestly family, and he undoubtedly looked forward to serving God in Jerusalems temple. Obviously, studying the life of Jesus Christ is the best example. Even if they get their lessons in the mail, we hope they will take tests online to be scored immediately so they can get on with the course.. The Passover is a memorial of the crucifixion of Christ. Is it Christ? Unlike the other letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, correction is not to be found. The apostle Paul addressed that question in 1 Corinthians 10:11"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition." J. C. Ryle, I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure. (Part 5). Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. Two of the seven churches have nothing condemning them in the letter because they are the regenerate church. Individually, we may only have a little "power," but if we are faithful with what we have been given, God is pleased, knowing we will also be faithful with great power. What mistakes did they make that we can avoid? The truth is hidden in His Word (John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 2:11), and only those with His Spirit can understand. He spoke of looking forward to these things. and [looking] for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13-14). It is billeted as an outreach program, . It was named as the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. It surely evoked deep introspection among the believers in that ancient city and, we trust, a repentant spirit. The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing. by King Attallus of Pergamum, whose nickname was Philadelphus, which means "lover of a brother." That in turn enables the Church to have more of an impact in doing Gods Work! When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. Righteous doesnt mean sinless, of course. Thats the view given by most English dictionariesa deemphasis on ones own importance. . Expose` on the Royal . Should I be baptized again?" Answer: This is a vital question to many of you. 89 Best of allthese lessons are absolutely free! Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. In periods of modern droughts, aerial photographs document the receding water levels in reservoirs around the stateshorelines growing wider and drier as water levels fall. (From Forerunner Commentary). Bible commentaries can sometimes shed light on biblical passages and link things together in a way we might not think of. The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. When He was very tired? Thomas Watson, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. A five-mile-long aqueduct supplied the city with tepid water [Revelation 3:16, the lukewarm reference]. Herbert W. Armstrong College site allows users to study lessons, take tests online. It is profound, describing where we approach in spirit when we pray. There are hundreds of such subjects! Jesus faced this dilemma when He healed a paralytic man. Most of the time, when modern translations differ in meaning from the King James Version, they are in error. Somehow, at the end of the age, when Christ has returned to reign and inaugurate the eternal state, this earth will be renovated and a new earth will be the resulta new earth full of righteousness in which pain and sorrow will be absent. God has seen to it that His Church is well-fed. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? We can develop an overview of why it was written, its major theme or themes and an outline. Can we explain the details of the gospel, the Kingdom of God, the Millennium and Gods government? We may therefore presume that some from the other remaining churches will be taken as well So, what is Philadelphia? Today, these churches occupied the areas that ranged from Asia Minor to present-day Turkey. This is most helpful when studying a particular doctrine or topic. Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. After all, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, love is known by its actions more than its words. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. But they also know that the only way to endure courageously (Revelation 3:10) is to seek the strength of God. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; Revelation 3: 7.