Concordia Adult Bible Class

Work can become so overwhelming that people can lose sleep over it or have nightmares about it. When Jesus was about to go to the cross to do the work of salvation, understandably, He was overwhelmed. How did He handle His heavy workload? He went to His Father in prayer. We should follow Jesus’ lead.

With increasing frequency, there are many who are expressing anxiety over the direction of our country. Can the U.S. survive many wars, high debt, and moral decay? The book of Daniel reminds us of two things. First, God cares about those in power. Again and again, God pursues Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, seeking to make him His follower. Second, even if worldly kingdoms fall, God’s Kingdom stands forever. And we are residents first and foremost of His Kingdom.

Have your kids ever woken you up at night because they thought they heard a noise? That’s what Samuel did to Eli. But in Samuel’s case, the voice he heard was the very voice of the Lord. Tragically, though Eli paid close attention to his Samuel, he paid little attention to his own children, Hophni and Phineas. Though kids cause us concern, they should, in some sense, “keep us up at night” because we love them and want what’s best for them.

The word “vocation” means “calling.” As Christians, we are called to live out our faith in every one of the callings of our lives – be that as a husband, a wife, a parent, or an employee. In this message, we look at the callings that spouses have to be loving toward each other.

To be “sanctified” means to be “made holy.” The Holy Spirit makes us holy when He guides us in the way of holiness outlined by God’s word.

As the gospel reconciles us to Christ even though we are by nature separated from Him because of our sin, we are called to be reconciled to each other. What sins, committed against us, do we need to forgive so we can be reconciled to each other?

The doctrine of justification reminds us that we are saved not because of anything we do, but because of what Christ has done. When we have faith in Christ, He shows us grace and gives us His righteousness while nailing our wickedness to His cross. The word “justify” means “to make righteous.” Christ makes us righteous through His death and resurrection.

The doctrine of predestination can be summed up thusly: “Jesus chooses you.” He chooses you not because of any merit or worth on your part, but because of His great love for you. Though this doctrine is somewhat mysterious, it need not be frightening. Rather, it can be consoling because it reminds us how far God will go to save us, even choosing to save us when we are rebelling against Him.

The truth of Christian doctrine is vitally important because it helps us defend ourselves against the lies of Satan (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3). This is the point Paul makes at the end of his letter to the Ephesians when he speaks of the armor of God. We begin with the end of Paul’s letter so we can understand the point and importance of doctrine before we unpack some individual doctrines themselves.

Dads wear many hats! From disciplinarian to bread winner to healer of hurts, dads do it all. But dads also struggle. Sometimes, their jobs and families can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, even their faith can be shaken. But no matter how tough things may become, Jesus invites dads to find their strength and solace in Him.

So often, singleness is overlooked or downplayed in the Church. But singles have an important role – to devote themselves undividedly to the work of the Lord! Singleness does not have to be a curse of loneliness. Instead, it can be a tremendous opportunity to devotedly serve the Church in ways that others may not be able to.

Weekly Bible studies from Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX.

Jesus loves marriage! In a culture that was full of divorce, Jesus upholds the value and primacy of marriage. Marriage is a tremendous good not only because of the support, love, and counsel that a spouse can offer, but because it offers a tremendous picture of deep unity.

Do you ever feel like you’re running on empty? Exhaustion leads to emptiness. But Jesus can fill us with His strength. We should turn to Him and draw from His Word.

The disciples are scared of everything! They are scared of a storm and then, when Jesus calms the storm, they are scared of Him. Fear can be paralyzing. But Christ calls us not to fear and instead to live by faith in Him.

The story of David and Absalom is one of the saddest in Scripture. A father is estranged from his son and does not realize what he has lost until his son dies and David cries in despair, ““O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son” (2 Samuel 18:33). Rather than living with regret, we are called to repent of our sins and start anew.

The burdens of life can become overwhelming. The apostle Paul, no matter how stressful his life may be, knows the secret to overcoming stress: finding strength in Christ (cf. Philippians 4:13). Christ can help us bear the burdens of stress we cannot bear by ourselves.

How do you share the gospel in a society riddled by relativism and pluralism? Paul encountered just such a challenge in Acts 17. In Paul’s speech at Athens, we take a look at some of the techniques he used to minister to people who saw no apparent value in believing in one God and Savior.

The places that need the gospel are nearly limitless. Jesus’ desire, as demonstrated in Acts 1, is that his gospel go out to “the ends of the earth” (verse 8). Where is God calling you to share the gospel – in a place near or far?

Sharing the good news takes time! A person does not always believe after only a single conversation. Such is the case when Paul shares the gospel with King Agrippa. As we share our faith, then, we must be patient, knowing that God works through his Word, even if God’s Word takes many years or even decades to bear the fruit of faith!