Ned Brown

What were some of the challenges facing the early church in the first century?  Does the church today face these same dangers?
Jude opens his letter to the church identifying himself, not as the half-brother of Jesus, but as a bond servant of Jesus.  He notes his intention to write regarding "our common salvation;" an encouragement which rejoiced in the implications of the finished work of the cross.  Instead, he felt the need, "to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3).  He wrote exhorting this church to fight for the faith.  But what does it mean to contend for the faith; and why is this warning necessary?
In today's lesson we learn that, just as happens today, "certain men have crept in unnoticed...who turn the grace of our God into lewdness" (Jude 4).  These false teachers threatened the young church and the believers needed to be ready.  In studying this letter we find much in common between the culture and society of the first century, and our own.
Thank you for listening.  May you be encouraged by the Word of God to stand firm and contend for the faith and to earnestly fight for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that the Son of God came into this world to take our place in judgment, bearing the penalty for our sin upon Himself so that we can enter into the Lord's presence.

In John 9, when Jesus healed the man born blind, the response from the Jewish leaders was rejection and division.  It is in this setting that the Lord taught those gathered around Him that He is the Good Shepherd.  But instead of recognizing Him as the Good Shepherd, they again rejected His teaching, asserting He had a demon.
In today's teaching, we consider this teaching regarding the Good Shepherd.  Of great importance is the statement from our Lord, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27 NKJV).  The question for us is, do we know the voice of our Shepherd?  How can we learn to distinguish His voice?  And what does it mean for us when He says, "I lay down My life for the sheep."?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.

In some ways, the book of Ruth is an unlikely book.  Elimelech, an Israelite, leaves Israel during a famine occurring during the time of the Judges.  Of all places he settles his wife, Naomi, and their two sons in the land of Moab.  Violating God's Law, Mahlon and Chilion take for themselves Moabite wives.  Then tragedy strikes.  Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion all die, leaving Naomi alone in a foreign land; a Godless land.
She returns to Israel.  Orpah, one of her daughters-in-law leaves at Naomi's urging.  But Ruth gave an unlikely response, wherever you go, I will go; your people will be my people and your God my God.  She must have seen something in Naomi's life, along with her words, to convince her that the Moabite gods were no gods at all.
Join us for this week's lesson from the book of Ruth to see how God's mercy and grace transform the individual into a person He can use for His purposes and glory.
Thank you for listening.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.

The Apostle Peter is in his last days before being martyred for his faith.  He penned his letter to the church in Asia in order to remind them to remember the teaching of scripture as handed down by both the prophets and the apostles.  But he also wrote to warn them regarding the scoffers that would come; those who mock the coming of the Lord, willfully forgetting that God both created the world and judged it with the flood of Noah's day.
In answering these mockers, Peter again reminds them of who God is and of his character.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.

As Peter faced the end his life on earth he found rest in the certainty of his salvation.  His farewell address to the church sought to encourage them with the same assurance he drew from God's Word.
But he also sought to warn the believers of danger that lurked ahead, namely in the form of false teachers seeking to draw the church away from the truth.  Just as it was relevant to the situation facing the church in the first century, so the church faces the same threats today.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.

People prepare a will in order to identify how to handle possessions at the time of passing.  A testament is a statement of beliefs; a credo; a statement of what is of utmost importance.
In his epistle to the church in Asia Minor, Peter spells out what is most important.  He reminds the church what they have in Jesus Christ.
As you listen to today's lesson, may the Lord bless you at the teaching of His Word.
Thank you for listening.

We work hard.  We follow the "rules." We try to live out our faith to the best of our ability.  But trials still come and we are tempted to ask, "Is it even worth it?"  But in the midst of this, James tells us to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials..."  How is this possible?  What does this look like?  In this lesson, we explore what scripture has to say about trials, especially the purpose of trials and the hope that all believers in Jesus Christ have as their eternal resource to go through the trials of life.