The Johannine epistles address the challenges faced by the early church at Ephesus, the largest in the ancient world, grappling with Jewish legalism and Hellenistic Gnosticism. John, previously the church's pastor, confronts the threat of false leaders prioritizing personal gain over the gospel's truth. Through these letters, he emphasizes the central theme of God's love, providing guidance and encouragement to the believers amid their struggles.
A Practical and Spiritual Guide for Everyday Challenges in Ministry
Designed specifically for pastors, this handbook offers a comprehensive collection of questions and answers that address common challenges faced in ministry. It serves as a practical resource, providing insights on theological issues, pastoral care, and church leadership. The content is structured to facilitate discussion and reflection, making it a valuable tool for both personal growth and congregational engagement. With its focus on real-world applications, this guide aims to empower pastors in their daily responsibilities and enhance their effectiveness in serving their communities.
Understanding the End Times was never intended to be a book describing world conditions to predict the closeness of the appearing of Jesus for His Church. Many books have come and gone written with the purpose of comparing world events to scriptures about end times and Jesus' return. However, this book was not; it was designed to provide a Bible understanding of God's plan for the ages by weaving together the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments. It was also designed to describe the situations and events that will exist on earth at the time of the culmination of all things. For these reasons this book should be timeless. I am not setting a time for Jesus' return, nor am I going to name the Antichrist; this would only devalue the message of this book. What I will do is challenge you to open your heart to the Word of God and your eyes to what is happening in the world. The atmosphere is lining up like never before, spiritually, morally, politically, economically, in every way. Don't let your heart fail for fear of what is coming on mankind and the world. Instead, look up in faith and anticipation. Your redemption is closer than ever! Book jacket.
On the day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and power to his followers. So dawned the church age. Led from then on by His Spirit, believers blazed a trail through a dangerous maze of pagan cultures and religious legalism. The gospel spread like wildfire through the known world, bringing salvation to an entire generation and trial and triumph to believers of the Way. Verse by verse, Bob Yandian outlines the exploits of men like Stephan, Peter, and Paul, men hailed both as gods and heretics, bent on uprooting the binding vines of religion and philosophy to plant the kingdom of God. From honest appraisals of the early congregations to detailed descriptions of the cities Paul evangelized, Yandian walks readers through the thoroughly exciting and perilous adventures of the early church.
Although the city of Ephesus is famous for its reckless living and idol worship, the Ephesian church is deeply spiritual. And so Ephesians, unlike other epistles written to correct doctrinal error, reveals to mature believers the positional truth of who they are in Christ. It also expounds on practical applications of this positional revelation to marriage, family, and everyday life. By tying together Greek word studies and outside scriptural references, Bob Yandian teaches, verse-by-verse, Gods empowering grace and the believers unprecedented authority. Like Paul, Yandians focus is not only the revelation, but the application of these amazing truths. Yandian exhorts believers not only to learn but to live as the body of Christ in the earth.
The Bible is filled with stories that seem to be -over the top-. Although they are true, they are far beyond anything you could imagine. Have you been swallowed by a whale? Jonah was. Have you had marriage problems like David and Bathsheba did? Are you facing a problem as big as the Red Sea and being chased by an army from Egypt? The reason the Bible has stories of this magnitude is to let you know your problem isn't so big. And if God could deliver Moses, David and Jonah He can deliver you. So it is with the story of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers over two dreams, sold into slavery to get rid of him, entering Egypt as a slave, being wrongly thrown into prison and finally ending up in a dungeon, Joseph gives us a story far beyond what the average Christian will ever go through. Yet, if God could deliver Joseph and turn his cursing into blessing, He can deliver you. Your financial failures, marriage problems, terminal sickness or pending lawsuit can be turned around by the God of Joseph. Are you ready for your cursing to be turned into blessing? Then join me in studying the life of one of the biggest heroes in the Bible. Your faith and courage will be strengthened as you find hope in the reactions of Joseph to the assaults of Satan and people. Your God is bigger than them both.
After Paul had initially established churches in Galatia, he received discouraging news. Jews from Jerusalem had come to those Gentile churches and were teaching them to follow Jewish law as a means of salvation. Paul was so disturbed by this report, he wrote to confront the Galatians about their foolishness in turning to dead works after having received the glorious gospel of grace. The Galatian epistle could be called an unsparing manifesto of grace: a strong declaration of faith and faith alone for salvation, faith not based on any effort or observance, but founded solely upon the grace of God. In this in-depth, verse-by-verse study of Galatians, Bob Yandian defines legalism and its effects upon both ancient Galatians and modern Christians. By outlining how legalism infected the Galatian churches, Yandian also exposes modern legalism and discusses ways to overcome this most subtle of Satans attacks upon the church of Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul's ministry in the Roman colony of Philippi is marked by a vision that leads him to preach the gospel. Central themes of joy and partnership resonate throughout his message, as he expresses gratitude to the Philippians for their support. This letter emphasizes the importance of community and shared faith, showcasing how collaboration in the gospel can bring about spiritual growth and joy.
Focusing on the principle of justification, this commentary on Romans explains that salvation is not achieved through the law but through faith. It emphasizes the importance of living according to one's new nature, guided by the Holy Spirit, to overcome the sin nature. The text provides a detailed, verse-by-verse analysis based on Bob Yandian's personal study notes, offering insights into achieving spiritual victory and a deeper understanding of Christian doctrine.