The Plank in the Eye Discovered

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:00:09 -0600

Is the plank in our eye that Jesus talked about in Matthew 7 different for every person? Is that plank something that we need to identify and remove so that we will be free to judge and condemn? Join Pastor Jeff in exploring what the plank in the eye actually is.

Learning to Be Carefully Careless

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:13:02 -0600

Was Jesus being trite or unrealistic when he said not to worry about the basic necessities of life? If not, then how does it work?

Hold Out for the Second Marshmallow

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:25:58 -0600

Jesus says we should store up treasure in heaven and not concentrate on the reward of the approval of men for our good deeds. Is it worth the wait?

How to Starve Sinful Habits

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:29:58 -0600

Sinful habits, if not fought, have a nasty way of bringing down the entire spiritual life. But as Paul bemoaned, "Who can rescue me from this body of death?" Overcoming sinful habits is not easy. Here are some practical pointers on how to begin to conquer harmful habits.

Seminar-How to Deepen Your Relationship with Jesus

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 15:39:51 -0600

This seminar looks at some practical steps that we can take to develop and deepen our relationship with Jesus. If you have ever struggled with the concept of building a relationship with an invisible friend, here are some ways you can move forward.

Why Do We Wash Feet

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 11:58:56 -0600

Washing feet is so uncomfortable. Why do we do it? Why did Jesus say we should do it? There is a very good reason.

In the Beginning

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:29:59 -0600

This was created as a slideshow celebrating Creation week. However, just as voice and music it's inspirational as well. The video can be viewed at http://www.cambridgeadventist.org

Showered In, Drinking From, Burning Up Grace

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:54:40 -0600

Living water? What's that all about?

Giving and Praying For an Audience of One

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 18:49:55 -0600

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks clearly of the rewards we receive for our deeds based on the motives of our hearts. It all comes down to the question of for whom we do what we do.

The Fountain of Strength

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:42:38 -0500

Sorrow over sin is a good thing, but it's not where we find power for new life. No parent wants their child to live guilt-ridden and sad because of something he did wrong. Neither does God. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Scripture: Nehemiah 8:10-12

God's Underground Resistance

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:35:41 -0500

When Jesus said not to swear oaths, what did he mean by that? When he said do not resist and evil person, did he intend for us to just let evil run rampant? When he said love your enemies, how did he intend for us to do that?
Scripture: Matthew 5:33-48

Repent, For It's Time to Exchange Citizenship

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:56:37 -0500

What does the kingdom of the heavens look like? Is it just paradise someday? Is that what Jesus announced, "Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens is near?" Apparently the kingdom he announced isn't only some location, someday in the future, but it's available now. If that is true, what does it look like?
Scripture: Matthew 3:1, 2

Surrendering To Freedom

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 17:54:16 -0500

What about gouging out the eye and cutting off the hand that causes you to sin? Did Jesus mean that literally?
Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26

Who is King of the Deep, Dark, and Dirty

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:07:38 -0500

When Jesus spoke of anger as murder, lust as adultery, and so on, was he making new and improved laws that were better than the old laws? He said that he wasn't. He was exposing the undergirding of the original law for the law of love that it was.
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20

Blessed Are the Spiritually Inept

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:58:00 -0500

We have come to see the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 as a list of things that we should aspire to. But if that were so then why did the religious leaders have such a problem with Jesus' message. Could it be that his words were actually subversive and that over time we have managed to misinterpret his meaning? Could it be that the Beatitudes are not a list of what we should aspire to but instead is a description of where we actually are, i.e. spiritually bankrupt? The good news is that the kingdom of heaven is available even to us, as we are.
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-11

Getting Out of the Prayer Rut

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:46:31 -0500

Ever feel like prayer is more a duty than a joy? Ever feel your prayers cover the same ground over and over? Here is one practical way to cultivate true conversation in prayer.
Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

Sermon on the Mount

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:15:50 -0500

Imagine you're on a hillside near Galilee. You see Jesus sit down on the slope and begin talking. You've never heard anything quite like it. This is the Sermon on the Mount, word for word.
Scripture: Matthew 5-7

Learning from Pagans

Sat, 23 May 2009 14:28:14 -0500

The story of Naaman, captain of the Aramean army, who was healed by bathing in the Jordan River is a children's favorite. But there is much in the story to make grown ups think as well.
Scripture: Luke 4:24-27

How to Recognize the Second Coming

Sat, 16 May 2009 14:15:31 -0500

In Matthew 24 Jesus warns us that false Christs and false prophets will appear working great and miraculous signs just before the second coming. In other words, there's going to be a counterfeit second coming, when a false Christ appears and says, "Here I am! I've come the second time." The deception will be so convincing that if God were to allow it, it would deceive in the elect. So how will God's people be able to see through the fake and know the real? How well do you understand how Jesus will really return?
Scripture: Matthew 24:23-27

Heaven's Reward System

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:05:24 -0500

The rich young ruler in Mark 10 reveals some interesting dynamics in the way Jesus dealt with people and how he will deal with people in the future concerning the rewards he promises to bring with him at the second coming.
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

When Jesus is Strange

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:24:15 -0500

In close relationships people can feel the moods and differences in the relationship. Why should a relationship with Christ be any different? Become close enough to Jesus and we begin to feel the intricacies of that relationship, including the fact that sometimes Jesus acts strange and we're not sure what to do with him in that kind of situation.
Scripture: Mark 10:32

How to Overcome Part 2

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:16:56 -0500

We understand how the cross provides forgiveness for our sins because that was the way Jesus paid our debt with his blood. But Revelation 12:11 says that the cross also provides what we need to overcome sin, not just be forgiven for sin. How does that work? How does the cross of Christ give us what we need to overcome Satan?

How to Overcome Part 1

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:40:33 -0500

Jesus, during his time on earth, relived Adam's life as Adam had been intended to live it. And he relived Israel's history as Israel had been intended to live it. He did this so that he could replace Adam's and Israel's history with his own, and in so doing that we could share in that new life. It might sound a little complicated, but it is important because it's all about overcoming evil in our universe and in our own lives.

Grace for the Graceless

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:35:59 -0600

Even though Jonah was graceless toward the Ninevites, God continued to give Jonah grace.

The Blessing of Being Chewed Up and Spit Out

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:23:58 -0600

God told Jonah to go one way, he went the opposite way and ended up getting chewed up and spit out for his efforts. Well, swallowed and spit out, anyway. Jonah tried to run across the sea to get away from God and wound up realizing that he even under the sea he couldn't get away. God was there with a plan in hand to rescue Jonah from his own foolishness.

The Christian Soldiers Only Weapon

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:48:52 -0600

The war between Christ and Satan has been won since the cross, but the forces of evil continue to attack God's people. Going out into the spiritual combat zone unprotected is foolish, which is why Paul counsels us in Eph. 6 to put on the armor of God that will allow us to withstand the diabolical schemes against us.

Do you suit up each day or do you end every day wounded and struck down because you didn't put on your spiritual armor for that day?

How to Be Worthy in Communion

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:06:15 -0600

When Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:27 that taking part in communion in an unworthy manner makes one guilty of sin and brings judgment, what was he talking about? Should you be sinless before you are worthy, or did Paul have something else in mind?

Dignity Recovered

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:25:48 -0600

How did Mary feel about a 70 mile donkey trip at nine month's pregnant? How did Joseph feel when he wasn't able to find a place other than a stable full of animals for his wife to have her baby? Did they question God? Did they complain? Why is it that we can see how God engineers difficult circumstances for other people, but we have a hard time trusting that he does it for us too?

Give God Flowers

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:58:26 -0600

In the story of the one out of ten lepers who returned to say thank you we learn an important lesson about God: he appreciates gratitude and he's a little disappointed when we're not grateful.

The Simple Guide to Judgment Day

Sat, 8 Nov 2008 12:35:29 -0600

The last in this series on what New Testament Christians can learn from the Old Testament sanctuary services, "The Simple Guide to Judgment Day" looks specifically at the Day of Atonement and what it can teach about the great day of judgment. It's probably not what you have imagined.

The Crisis Learning Center

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:18:14 -0500

Julius, the Roman centurion who had charge of Paul on the way to Rome, was unaware that he had enrolled in The Crisis Learning Center. But a crisis it was, and learn he did--along with 276 others on the ship. For two weeks the sailors threw overboard more and more stuff and worked themselves beyond exhaustion trying to save themselves. In the end it came down to them and God and thanks to Paul they finally abandoned themselves to God.

Eating and Drinking a Mystery

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:51:49 -0500

Jesus replaced the ritual of sacrifices with the ritual of communion. It's the way we interact physically with what he is doing for us spiritually. Paul calls it the mystery of godliness. So what does it mean when we eat and drink the symbols of Christ's body and his blood?

What It Means to Be Holy

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:08:58 -0500

We're called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. We're called to be holy as God is holy. It seems impossible, and it is. But we make it more difficult than it needs to be simply because we focus on the wrong thing. Being holy and being perfect isn't what it seems on the surface. It's not a call to sinlessness.

Standing By Falling on Your Face

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:17:53 -0500

Moses and Aaron made a habit of disobeying God. When God would tell them to move out of the way so that he could destroy Israel, they wouldn't do it. Instead they fell on their faces and stopped God. One time, when falling on their faces didn't work, Aaron, armed with incense, stood between the living and the dead and stopped God's judgment. Why did incense make a difference? Listen to find out.

Saved by Grace Judged by Works I'm Confused

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 13:38:30 -0500

The Bible says in no uncertain terms that we are saved by grace through faith. The Bible also says in no uncertain terms that we are judged by are works. Confused? Thankfully the Bible also explains itself.

Obsessive Compulsive God

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:51:08 -0500

God is so serious about saving his people you might say he's obsessive compulsive. The God who controls a universe is obsessed with saving you. Amazing grace!

Cleansing the Heart Via the Feet

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:56:42 -0500

Before interacting with God through the symbols of his body and blood during communion, Jesus commanded his bickering, immature disciples to prepare for this intimate encounter by cleansing their hearts via their feet. Jesus himself knelt before each of his friends and humbly washed their feet and in so doing taught them some fascinating lessons about the true spirit of the new covenant Passover service.

How to Interact with an Invisible God 2

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:06:08 -0500

Part 2: God has given his people rituals through which we respond to him. True, under the new covenant we no longer participate in the ceremonial rituals involving the blood of animals, but New Testament Christians can still learn fascinating lessons from the Old Testament rituals that bring the New Testament rituals alive in a way you may have never known.

How to Interact with an Invisible God 1

Sat, 31 May 2008 10:23:30 -0500

God has given his people rituals through which we respond to him. True, under the new covenant we no longer participate in the ceremonial rituals involving the blood of animals, but New Testament Christians can still learn fascinating lessons from the Old Testament rituals that bring the New Testament rituals alive in a way you may have never known.

The Picture Frame Around Jesus

Sat, 24 May 2008 10:30:32 -0500

Since his theory of relativity was so complex and deep Albert Einstein spent a lot of time trying to explain it in terms that would make it accessible to the common people. Since the plan of salvation is such a deep and even complex rescue plan God has also tried to give humanity a simple explanation so that we can understand and respond to the rescue effort. What God gave us is an allegory, an illustration, in the Old Testament sanctuary. The point isn't the sanctuary so much as what it can teach us. The sanctuary and its services is but a picture frame around the real focus, which is Jesus. Take the time to study this rich illustration and you will come away with a deeper understanding of love, forgiveness, prayer, judgment, and much more. But most importantly you will come away with a deeper knowledge of and love for Jesus.

What is Truth

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:27:25 -0500

Pontius Pilate asked Jesus an important question but he didn't wait to hear the answer. He asked, "What is truth?" But even though Jesus didn't get to answer Pilate's question, the Bible does answer the question in detail. It's a surprisingly huge topic in scripture. One thing becomes quickly obvious: ultimate truth does exist and God seems to think it's pretty important.

Copyright ©2008 Jeff Scoggins

Why Jesus Lives

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:48:59 -0500

Hebrews 10 says that if Christ did not rise from the dead that our faith is useless and we are still in our sins. But didn't the cross take care of everything? Wasn't atonement complete when Jesus died? How is it that we would still be in our sins if Jesus had not risen? The question is answered by the ancient Israelite sanctuary service. Those services show the forgiveness that Jesus provided at the cross, but they also show that Jesus had a continuing work in the process of atonement after the cross.

Nightlight in the Desert

Sat, 8 Mar 2008 10:59:29 -0600

Is there anything for a New Testament Christian to learn from the Old Testament sanctuary in the desert. The author of Hebrews thinks so. In Hebrews 6:1 he exhorts the New Testament Christians to move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and move into greater spiritual maturity. In this verse he lays a foundation for what he is about to talk about: the deep truths that New Testament Christians must gain from the ancient Israelite sanctuary. Why? Because it is a peek into what is going on in the sanctuary in heaven, not just before the cross of Christ, but afterward also.

The End 3

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:29:12 -0600

Once we get out of the strange symbols of beasts and dragons we often breeze over Revelation's closing thoughts. But there is a wealth of critical information embedded there.

The End 2

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 11:37:48 -0600

We continue to build a picture of the end of time working from just the clues we find in the last two and a half chapters of Revelation.

The End 1

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:56:30 -0600

Revelation, when read as a chronological story, doesn’t make much sense. Is it true what some say that the book cannot be understood? Revelation itself suggests otherwise. We can understand it. It’s a matter of learning how to understand and being willing to work at it. For the willing student, Revelation will unravel itself.

When God Gasped for Air

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:09:23 -0600

Have you ever wondered if heaven gave Jesus a going away party before he came to earth that first Christmas? Have you ever really considered what it meant for God to become human?

10 Ways to Destroy a Brother in Christ

Sat, 1 Dec 2007 12:19:17 -0600

The Corinthian church was committing spiritual suicide by committing spiritual homicide against their fellow believers. In a rather unorthodox way, we take a look at how we are continuing the Corinthian tradition.

The First Christian Church Plant

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:27:58 -0600

The book of Acts is a fascinating picture of the kind of church that Jesus’ original church planters began. How is our church different today?

Saved by Blood

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:22:03 -0600

Jesus went through an awful lot for you. Here is that timeless story.