The Word of God from Scripture preached at the Venice church of Christ, Los Angeles, California. All lessons by Ethan R. Longhenry unless otherwise noted.
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What is 1 Samuel about? What was the promise, and the ultimate tragedy, of the reign of Saul? The First Letter of Samuel | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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How can we best walk according to the Spirit as we relate toward one another? How can we be part of the Israel of God? Peace Upon the Israel of God | Galatians 6:1-18 | Paul's Letter to the Galatians Outline | Conversation Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentlen…
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How could Jesus liberate us to serve one another in love? How can Paul speak of loving neighbor as oneself as the fulfillment of the Law? Called to Freedom | Galatians 5:1-26 | Paul's Letter to the Galatians Outline | Conversation For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Listen! I, Pa…
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What is the book of Ruth all about? What made Ruth's story of life and faith so extraordinary? Ruth | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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From what did Jesus liberate all of us? In what controversial and shocking ways did Paul characterize the Law of Moses and the old covenant? Children of Freedom | Galatians 4:1-5:1 | Paul's Letter to the Galatians Outline | Conversation Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of every…
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What does it mean for all Christians to be clothed with Christ and equal in Him? How did Paul well demonstrate how the Law of Moses was not applicable to Gentile Christians? Clothed With Christ | Galatians 3:1-29 | Paul's Letter to the Galatians Outline | Conversation You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ…
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How did Paul demonstrate the consistency of the Gospel between himself and those in Jerusalem? What does it mean to be crucified with Christ? Crucified With Christ | Galatians 2:1-21 | Paul's Letter to the Galatians Outline | Conversation Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. I went there beca…
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What can we know about Paul's letter to the Galatians? Why was Paul so frustrated with the Galatian Christians? Why did Paul insist so strenuously on having received the Gospel by revelation? A Different Gospel | Galatians 1:1-24 Outline | Conversation From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father …
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What is the book of Judges all about? How well did it go for Israel as twelve autonomous tribes ruled over by YHWH? Judges | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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Why are Americans so interested in ancestry and genealogy? How can we root ourselves in God and His people? Finding Our Roots Outline | Conversation Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash
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What is the book of Joshua about? How did God prove faithful to His promises in Joshua? Joshua | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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How can the people of God do better when it comes to treating people with disabilities? How can we make sense of the treatment of the disabled and ill in the Old Testament? What hope can animate us regarding disability and faith? Disability and Faith Outline | Conversation
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How can disability exist if God made all things well? How do we all experience disability and limitation? What hope can we cherish regarding disability in the resurrection? Theology and Disability | Disability and Faith Outline | Conversation
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What makes the prosperity gospel so pernicious? Why does the prosperity gospel show up in strange places? How can we resist the siren song of the prosperity gospel in all its forms? The Prosperity Gospel | Disability and Faith Outline | Conversation
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What is Deuteronomy all about? Why did Moses rehearse the Law again for Israel? What can we gain from Deuteronomy? Deuteronomy | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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What is grief? Why must we grieve? How can we best support those who grieve? Grief | Death and Grief Outline | Conversation
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Why do we die? How have we become so death afraid and avoidant? How can we live in the face of death? Death | Death and Grief Outline | Conversation
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Which promises has God fulfilled in Jesus? Which promises have yet to find their fulfillment? Can we have confidence God will do what He has promised? The Promise in Christ | The Promise Outline | Conversation
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How did Israel maintain faith in YHWH despite the existential crisis of exile? What promises did YHWH make to Israel? How did YHWH accomplish the restoration promised to Israel? The Promise to Israel | The Promise Outline | Conversation
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What did YHWH promise to David? How did it seem the promise failed? How would the promise find its fulfillment? The Promise to David | The Promise Outline | Conversation
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What did God promise to Abraham? How did God prove faithful to His promises to Abraham? By what means has God blessed the nations through the Descendant of Abraham? The Promise to Abraham | The Promise Outline | Conversation
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What is Numbers all about? How can we maintain strong faith in God in times of difficulty? Numbers | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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What can we learn from how people in the Scriptures responded to God's call? How can we best respond to God's call? Responding to God's Call | Salvation Outline | Conversation
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What is involved in conversion? How should our lives in faith be continually shaped by conversion and repentance? Conversion | Salvation Outline | Conversation
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What is Leviticus all about? Is Leviticus just boring? Are there important things for Christians to understand in Leviticus? Leviticus | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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What happened to Nineveh, Assyria, and Nahum? How was Nineveh a prostitute, and how would later cities imitate her? Nineveh the Prostitute | Nahum 3:1-19 | The Vision of Nahum Outline | Conversation Woe to the city guilty of bloodshed! She is full of lies; she is filled with plunder; she has hoarded her spoil! The chariot drivers will crack their w…
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How was Nineveh's fall just deserts for Assyria? How does Nahum provide assurance regarding the prophetic word? Nineveh's Downfall | Nahum 2:1-13 | The Vision of Nahum Outline | Conversation “An enemy who will scatter you, Nineveh, has advanced against you!” “Guard the rampart! Watch the road! Prepare yourselves for battle! Muster your mighty stren…
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What is Nahum about? How could the God of Jonah speak thus about Nineveh? Why should we grapple with YHWH the Avenger? YHWH the Avenger | Nahum 1:1-15 | The Vision of Nahum Outline | Conversation This is an oracle about Nineveh; the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: YHWH is a zealous and avenging God; YHWH is avenging and very angry. YHWH …
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What is Exodus all about? How did God deliver Israel? Why is there such emphasis on laws and building a tent? Exodus | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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What are extrasensory perception and paranormal phenomena? How should we relate to extrasensory perception or paranormal phenomena? What dangers might attend to extrasensory perception or paranormal phenomena? Extrasensory Perception | The Senses Outline | Conversation
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What is touch all about? How can touch be communal and relational? Why do we associate sensation with emotion? Touch | The Senses Outline | Conversation
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What is taste all about? How can we taste that the Lord is good? Why does God memorialize His saving acts with meals? Taste | The Senses Outline | Conversation
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What is Genesis all about? How does Genesis set forth the beginning of the story of God and His people? Genesis | Books of the Bible Outline | Conversation
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How marvelous is our sense of smell? What kind of smells are there? How can we become a sweet aroma before God? Smell | The Senses Outline | Conversation
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How marvelous is our sense of hearing? How do music and language connect us to God and one another? What happens when we do not hear God? Hearing | The Senses Outline | Conversation
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How do light and sight testify to God our Creator? What do we really "see"? How might we prove "blind"? How can we walk in the light and avoid the darkness? Sight | The Senses Outline | Conversation
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What did Peter emphasize as he concluded his first letter? How can we stand firm in the grace of God? Stand Firm | 1 Peter 5:6-14 | The First Letter of Peter Outline | Conversation And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you. Be sober and alert. Your en…
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What are deacons all about? How can we all serve the Lord Jesus Christ? Aspiring to Be a Deacon | Aspiring to Service | Outline | Conversation
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What are elders all about? Why should men aspire to be elders? Aspiring to Be an Elder | Aspiring to Service | Outline | Conversation
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What would Paul say to exhort Christians who had no need to be reminded of how to serve God and love one another? Paul's answer is 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28. Blameless on the Day of the Lord | 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 | Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians Outline | Conversation Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor …
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Who are these "elders" Peter addressed? What should they be doing? What should the youth do? In what would Peter have all Christians "dress"? Elders and Youth | 1 Peter 5:1-5 | The First Letter of Peter | Outline | Conversation So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I u…
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What is known about the "times and seasons" of the Day of the Lord? How should Christians live between now and the end? The Awake | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 | Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians Outline | Conversation Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you know qui…
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What was causing consternation among the Christians of Thessalonica? How did Paul comfort them in their grief? What is the ultimate hope of the Christian? The Asleep | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 | Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians | Outline | Conversation Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep,…
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What did Paul want reinforced for the Thessalonian Christians? How can we best follow Jesus' commands, love one another, and aspire to live quietly? Do So More and More | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 | Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians | Outline | Conversation Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as y…
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How was Paul encouraged by the news he received about the Thessalonian Christians? What did Paul pray for Jesus to do for the Thessalonian Christians? Good News of Your Faith | 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 | Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians | Outline | Conversation But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in…
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How could Paul consider himself as an infant, a nursing mother of children, and a father toward the Thessalonian Christians? How can we imitate Paul in these ways? A Nursing Mother of Children | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 | Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians Outline | Conversation For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to…
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Why did Paul write to the Thessalonians? Do we have any kind of similar witness to the Thessalonians? Turning to God from Idols | 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 | Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians | Outline | Conversation From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and pea…
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Should Christians expect persecution? Is every difficulty or trial evidence of persecution? What should Christians do when persecuted? Time for Judgment | 1 Peter 4:12-19 | The First Letter of Peter | Outline | Conversation Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to …
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What can we know, and what remains ambiguous or unrevealed, about Junia, Phoebe, and Priscilla? How should we grapple with Paul's affection for and commendation of Junia, Phoebe, and Priscilla? Junia, Phoebe, and Priscilla | The Cloud of Witnesses | Outline | Conversation Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cen…
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What do we know, and what is left unrevealed, about Bathsheba bat Eliam? How does the way we characterize the wife of Uriah tell us about ourselves? How was Bathsheba vindicated? Bathsheba | The Cloud of Witnesses Outline | Conversation
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