Theology

Christianity: rooted in history, backed by eyewitnesses. In John 1, the author skips the greetings and goes straight to the heart of the matter: he and others saw, heard, and observed the Messiah. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," he declared. In today's study, we'll consider the historical facts that support our faith. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did John refer to Jesus as 'the Word?' B) In what way is Jesus also 'the light' that came into the world? C) What are the implications of Christ's incarnation to you and I?       website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jericho had massive walls. It didn't matter. There are no walls that can deter God's Wrath. And there is no army that can stop those who serve Him. In Joshua 6, we will study both points in one of the most famous (and faith-building) passages in Scripture. Questions That We'll Answer: A) How big was Jericho's outer wall? Did it have an inner wall as well? B) What tool or weapon was used to bring the walls down? C) What can we learn from the battle at Jericho that applies to us?     website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No. Other. Name. As he felt the Sanhedrin's angry gaze, Peter stood firm. There's no other name, there's no other door, there's no other way by which fallen sinners can be reconciled to God. Not two. Not ten. Just one, Peter declared. Jesus Christ is the singular means of salvation. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What are the implications of this statement to other religions? B) What were the implications to Peter's original audience? C) What sort of opposition does such an exclusive claim make?   web: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is trying to remake you in its image. Will you let it? In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that the world is intent on creating worldly people. That's what it does. It wants to conform you and I to its own priorities. However, Paul tells Christians that we are NOT to be conformed - instead, we are to be transformed through the 'renewing of our minds.' Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why is conformity bad (and dangerous)? B) How does transformation occur? C) What does it mean to 'renew' your mind in God's Word?   Website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermons  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genesis started in a GARDEN. It ended in a COFFIN. In Genesis 1, things were looking great. God had created the world, and said that all He had created was good. But things got dark in Genesis 3. Following man's sin in Genesis 3, a roller coaster of depravity followed. In Genesis 4, Cain killed his brother, and things didn't improve through the end of the book. In today's sermon, we will consider Genesis 50 (the final words of the last chapter). Questions That We'll Answer: A) What does Genesis tell us about mankind? B) What does Genesis tell us about God? C) How does Genesis set the stage for the rest of Scripture?   Website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They meant it for evil. But God used it for good. In Genesis 45, Joseph's brothers stood before him - brothers that had once sold him off to slave traders, and then told their father that he was dead. They had acted wickedly! And in a 'twist of fate,' their lives were now in his hands. But was it really a 'twist of fate?' Was their encounter just an amazing coincidence? That will be the focus of today's study. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What is 'providence,' and how does that word apply to Gen. 45? B) Why didn't Joseph exact revenge, when given the opportunity? C) What was God's purpose in the events of Joseph's life?   Web: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Genesis 40, Joseph was in prison. Now, he did not deserve to be there. He'd done nothing wrong. And he must have wondered what part his shackles played in God's plans. Hadn't God given him a dream of a great and glorious future? Well, in today's text, two other men would have dreams - and their interpretation would play a huge role in Joseph's story. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What were the dreams of the Butler and Baker all about? B) Did these men deserve to be in jail? If so, what had they done? C) What would the outcome of their dreams mean for them and Joseph?   Web: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joseph's story started poorly. Within moments of being introduced in Scripture, Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. And not long after, he found himself in prison. So, where was God when calamity struck? That will be the focus of today's study in Genesis 37. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did Joseph's brothers hate him so much? B) Why did God allow Joseph to face so many hardships? C) Where is God when our own circumstances grow dark?   Web: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Genesis 32, Jacob was preparing for a fight. Jacob was no stranger to conflict, but this time was different. In Genesis 32, as darkness closed in, he prepared for a confrontation with his brother Esau. However, the figure who grabbed him that night was not who he expected. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Who was it that Jacob wrestled with in Genesis 32? B) What was the point of this wrestling match? C) How was Jacob changed forever as a result?   web: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Genesis 28, Jacob dreamed of a ladder. The ladder reached all the way from Heaven to Earth. So, what was this dream all about? For centuries, no one knew. For centuries, it remained a mystery. But then, in the first chapter of John, the answer was finally provided. Join us as we consider 'Jacob's Ladder' in today's study of Genesis. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why was Jacob all alone, using a rock for a pillow? B) What was the nature of his dream - and what exactly did he see? C) What was Jacob's response (after waking from this dream)?   Website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacob must have been one rotten kid! In spite of God's clear direction, and although his other son was a numskull, Isaac did not want Jacob to receive his blessing. If it were up to Isaac, it would be Esau who would carry the family line forward. Jacob was not an option. However, God's decree would not be thwarted, would it? That will be the focus in today's study of Genesis 27. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did Isaac prefer Esau? What were his reasons? B) Was the 'ruse' of Jacob and his mother Rebecca actually a sin? C) What can we learn from the brokenness of this patriarchal family?   Website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These men, hailed as the 'patriarchs' of the Old Testament, helped shape the entire narrative of our faith.They were also sinners. Big, big sinners. In today's sermon, we'll see that the patriarchs needed God's grace every bit as much as we do. And God gave it to them! His providential care is seen in every part of Genesis 25. Questions That We'll Answer: A) In what way are the patriarchs the 'Mt. Rushmore' of the OT? B) Why them? In other words, why did God choose these three men? C) What does this passage tell us about the doctrine of 'predestination?'   website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Genesis 22, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son. Why? For many, this event is one of the most confusing in all of Scripture - why would God tell Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? What was His purpose? And then, why would He tell Abraham to stay his knife? In today's study, we will study this difficult and heartrending event. Questions That We'll Answer: 1) What was God's purpose here? Was He testing Abraham? 2) What did Abraham think would happen on Mt. Moriah? 3) How does this event foreshadow Christ's sacrifice on Calvary?   website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sodom and Gomorrah are the poster children for God's wrath. In Genesis 19, we come across a cautionary tale to a world hellbent on offending a holy God. Specifically, Genesis 19 describes the destruction of these two cities. The destruction was horrific. It was severe. And yet, in Matthew 10, Jesus says that an even worse judgment will befall those places that reject the Gospel. Questions That We'll Answer: 1) What was the sin (or sins) of Sodom and Gomorrah? 2) Why was God willing to relent if 10 righteous people were found there? 3) What did Jesus mean in Matthew 10 (when He referred to Sodom)?   Website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Genesis 18 made a promise so outrageous that Sarah laughed. The promises that He has made you are even bigger. God has promised to save and sanctify you, to wipe away all your tears, and to dwell with you in Paradise for eternity. Now those are promises! But how can we be sure they apply to us (and that they will be fulfilled)? That will be the focus of today's sermon. Questions That We'll Answer: 1) Who were the three men that appeared to Abraham in the desert? 2) What promises did One of the men make to Abraham and Sarah? 3) Why did Sarah laugh, and what was God's reaction to that laughter?   Web: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God made Abraham mind-boggling promises. And Abraham believed Him. In Genesis 12, Abraham was introduced with little fanfare. He was a man from a pagan family and a pagan background. And yet, God was going to make this nobody a series of incredible promises - promises that Abraham believed in, and then acted accordingly. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What were these amazing promises? And how many were there? B) Who are the true children of Abraham? Are you one of his children? C) What does it mean to be called a 'friend' of God?   Website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God told the people to go outward. Instead, they went upward."Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth" God told the people. But they said no - in their minds, it was safer and smarter to stay in one place. And so, they built a formidable 'tower' in Genesis 11. In today's study we'll read about that tower (and God's response).Questions That We'll Answer:A) Why was God angered by the building of this tower?B) Why did God confuse the language of the builders?C) What relationship does Genesis 11 have with Acts 2 (Pentecost)?Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wrong question: how did all the animals fit in the ark? The most crucial question of Genesis 6 is NOT about the animals. Not at all. Rather, it is this: why was an ark needed in the first place? In other words, why was God willing to flood the entire globe, only six chapters after creating it? Seems drastic. So why did God do it, and what does it tell us about the future? Questions That We'll Answer: A) In what way did the flood typify the wrath of God being 'poured out?' B) In what way did the ark typify Jesus Christ? Is Jesus in this text? C) Why did Christ refer to future days as being 'like the days of Noah?'   Website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That didn't take long, did it? You might have thought Genesis 4 couldn't go worse than Genesis 3 - that mankind would have learned its lesson. Surely man would do better! Surely he'd turn away from sin! However, before Genesis 4 was over, a blood soaked corpse proved otherwise. Questions That We'll Answer: A) Why did Cain kill his brother? And what was wrong with his sacrifice? B) Why did God warn Cain that 'sin lay at his door?' C) Is it possible that sin is at our door as well? What should we do?   Website: http://www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One sin. That's all it took. In our day, sin is treated casually - as a marketing device (think 'Sin City'), and rarely as a spiritual anchor. But one sin is all it took for man to be thrown out of the garden, and for chaos to sweep the created realm. This tells us two things: 1) sin must be really bad, and 2) God must be really holy. Questions That We'll Answer: A) What 'tool' did the serpent use to attack Eve in the garden? B) What is the purpose of the fiery sword at the garden's edge? C) Why are the words 'Genesis 4' the best words in any language?   Website: www.fpcgulfport.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.