FBCC - Second Serving

1 John 4:4–6 By This We Know the Spirit of Truth Introduction There is a lot of confusion, debate, and division in religion as a whole, and it does not get any easier when we look at Christianity. It should not be this way, at least not the confusion, because God has promised us the Spirit of truth so we can be confident about what is true. God has not left His people without clarity. If we take time to see, study, and learn the guardrails God has graciously given, both in Scripture and through the accountability of the church, we can discern between false and faithful prophets and teachers (1 John 4:4–6). Do Not Be Intimidated John speaks to believers with tenderness when he says, “Little children” (1 John 4:4). He is not talking down to them. He is reminding them who they are, and reminding them they belong to God. Then he gives them strength. They are “from God” and they “have overcome them” (1 John 4:4). Before we can understand the comfort, we have to identify who “them” i...

Jesus Cleanses the Temple: A Call to True Worship Mark 11:11–21 Introduction Imagine a program meant to help people in need, but instead, someone uses it for selfish gain. Unfortunately, this happens far too often, even in places that should be dedicated to serving God. A recent example involved two men in Florida who falsely claimed to be pastors. They applied for financial assistance under false pretenses, claiming their ministry had hundreds of employees and millions in expenses. Instead of using the money for ministry, they planned to buy a luxurious mansion. This kind of corruption is not new. Even in Jesus’ time, people misused the worship of God for personal gain. In Mark 11, we see Jesus confronting this issue directly. As He enters the temple in Jerusalem, He finds that it has become a place of greed rather than worship. What He does next sends a powerful message about the kind of worship God desires. Jesus Inspects the Temple The passage begins with Jesus arriving i...

The Triumphal Entry: The King Has Come Mark 11:1–10 A King’s Arrival Imagine the amount of preparation that goes into welcoming a president, a celebrity, or a world leader. Entire teams spend weeks planning every detail—security, transportation, media coverage—just to ensure everything is perfect. Important figures don’t simply walk in unnoticed; their arrival is carefully arranged. This is what we see in Mark 11:1–10. But this isn’t just the entrance of any earthly ruler. It is the arrival of the promised King, the long-awaited Savior of the world. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem marks a moment of great significance: God’s promise to send a king from David’s line is finally being fulfilled. The Preparation of the King As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem, He gave specific instructions to two of them: “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.” (Mark 11:2) Jesus ...

1 John 4:1-3 Do Not Believe Every Spirit Introduction We have a responsibility to be confident in what we believe, and to think for ourselves on the reasoning and meaning of Scripture as a body of Christ. Scripture does not tell us to submit our minds to man, or to chase every curious thought that can grow inside a sinful heart, a heart that decides what is good and evil based on what seems right in its own eyes. God has been gracious and kind. He has preserved His promise and His message about Christ for us. And because of the Spirit of God, we can understand the gospel. He gives us a lens to see what is true, and to recognize what is not. John writes to real churches with real problems, and he speaks like a loving pastor. He calls them “Beloved” (1 John 4:1). He is not trying to make Christians fearful. He is trying to protect them. His command is simple, direct, and necessary. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for...