Feed My Sheep

The School of Suffering (James 1:2-4)

Suffering is the gift no one wants, but that everyone needs. One of the main ways we grow in our faith and build loving relationships is through affliction. In this week's lesson we learn...
How suffering helps us minister to others
One of the ways we build loving relationships is by a shared experience in suffering
How God redeems our suffering for his good purposes
The kind of trials we face where comfort is needed
What's the difference between a trial and temptation?
An encouraging reminder that for the believer, all suffering is temporary!
Thanks for listening. This is week six in an 11-week introduction to biblical counseling called, "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands." To order a Study Guide please click here. 

A Leper is Made Clean (Mark1:35-45)

In ancient times, lepers were social outcasts and a threat to public health. But on one occasion, a leper broke etiquette and walked straight toward Jesus. Even more surprising, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. Last Sunday, in our Bible Study Community, we looked at this remarkable story in Mark 1:35-45. In this passage, we learned...
How Jesus balanced a busy ministry life with private devotion to his Father
What was Jesus' top priority in ministry?
A bit of background on leprosy
A spiritual lesson how Jesus can cleanse each one of us
The reason Jesus' warned, "say nothing to anyone!"
Thanks for listening. This lesson is part of our weekly median adults Bible Study Community. Our class is aimed at those in their 30s-50s, but all are welcome to stop by the Fellowship Hall at 9am on Sundays at Immanuel Baptist.

Building Loving Relationships

Whether it's sharing the gospel, counseling a friend, or rebuking a loved one, before we can speak truth, we must establish a loving relationship. In this lesson, we discuss...
How discipleship is like gardening
What are the features of the "ideal growing environment"?
Find out who Paul called "one of a kind, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare"
The first step to a relationship with God
The difference between justification and sanctification
Thanks for listening. This is week five in an 11-week counseling training class called "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands." If you found this talk helpful, please consider subscribing to the podcast.

The Gospel of Mark (Mark 1:1-13)

Every relationship has some kind of introduction. Mark is a great place to start if you want to know more about Jesus. In this lesson, we learn...
Why we all should study Mark's Gospel
What makes Mark different from the other gospels
What does it mean that Jesus is the "Christ"?
How baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place in the life of a believer
Thanks for listening. This is our opening study from our Sunday morning Bible Study Community on The Gospel of Mark. If you live in the Highland area, we invite you to join us Sundays at 9am in the IBC Fellowship Hall.

The Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6-7)

How can God use you to help others? In this study, we learn...
How Jesus is the "Great Physician"
What it means that he is "Wonderful Counselor"
Our role as ambassadors of Christ
Four aspects of all personal ministry: love > know > speak > do
Thanks for listening. This is week four in our 11-week counseling series, "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands." Tonight's lesson was a bit shorter, as we spent most of our time in table group discussion, then watched the training video. For a closer look at the concepts of being ambassadors of Christ, see Lesson Four in the Study Guide.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Lamentations 3)

Have you ever hit "rock bottom" before God got finally got your attention? The nation of Judah did. In this study, we learn...
That it's OK to cry... and that many godly people have
The dazzling symmetry and poetry of Lamentations
How moments of shame can lead to repentance and renewal
Where Jeremiah drew hope in the midst of affliction
Thanks for listening. If you live in the Highland area, we invite you to our Immanuel Baptist median adults Bible study on Sundays at 9am in the Fellowship Hall.

Understanding Our Heart Struggle (James 4:1-3)

Not a day goes by we don't experience some kind of conflict. What causes all these fights and quarrels? James 4 gives the answer. In this lesson, we learn...
The heart is more than just the place for feelings and emotions
Key passages that teach behavior stems from the heart
How our "passions" war within our members to create conflict
Some practical examples of how wants can morph into needs and expectations
What do we do if someone else doesn't meet our needs?
Should we sympathize with those who experience disappointment?
The ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit
Thanks for listening. This is week three in our 11-week study on biblical counseling called, "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands." Next week, we will focus in how Jesus is our wonderful counselor.

The Heart is the Target (Luke 6:43-46)

"Follow your heart," Cinderella sings. "Trust your feelings" Master Obi Wan says. In the real world, is this actually good advice? In our study of Jesus' sermon in Luke 6:43-46, we learn...
The connection between behavior and the heart
Examples of bad fruit vs. good fruit related to our speech
Why behavioral modification is not enough
Jesus' evaluation of the human heart
How idols can pop up in the heart
Some practical ways to detect what's going on in the heart
Thanks for listening. This is week 2 in an 11-week biblical counseling intro called, "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands." If you live in the Highland area, you're welcome to join us Wednesday Nights at 6pm.

Justice Will Prevail (Jeremiah 50)

For many years, Babylon had been the hammer in God's hands, smashing other nations and carrying out judgment for their wickedness. Now the time had come for Babylon itself to experience God's judgment. In this lesson, we learn...
A quick overview of the final chapters of Jeremiah
How Jeremiah connects to other events happening in the ancient world
Who is the "nation from the north"?
How to respond when wicked people get caught and punished
Why Christians should thank God for his wrath
What Babylon refers to in the Book of Revelation
God's covenant faithfulness to Israel, and what this means for us today
Thanks for listening. This lesson was taught at the median adults Bible Study Community at Immanuel Baptist Church. We meet Sunday mornings at 9am in the Fellowship Hall and are using Lifeway's "Explore the Bible" curriculum. We'd love to have you join us!

God Says Not to Go (Jeremiah 42)

Have you ever asked God for direction, only to be unhappy with the answer he gave you? In this lesson I share...
Our goal for this new Bible Study Community
A quick fly-over of Jewish history
How to figure out the quirky order of the Book of Jeremiah
God's surprising advice to the nation of Israel
Why we don't need to be afraid, even when the odds seem overwhelming
The danger of asking God for advice, then doing the very opposite of what he says
Thanks for listening! This is our first week in a brand new Sunday morning Bible Study Community using Lifeway's "Explore the Bible" material. I will try to continue recording these lessons each week and posting them for those who miss the class or want to follow along with us from a distance. Next week's lesson will be on Jeremiah 50.