by Matthew Borgstrom | Jul 5, 2019 | Uncategorized
So, what is the purpose of the ordinances? It’s interesting hearing how people think of them, which largely depends on one’s church background. Some view them as just religious routine, with very little personal benefit, much like how giving to the church or...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 30, 2019 | Uncategorized
In 1st Timothy 3:4, Paul says an elder must manage his house not perfectly, but well. Based on that, here’s just a preview of v.5—If an elder is willing to treat those few souls under his care at home with neglect, incompetence or harshness, why should he be given...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 18, 2019 | Uncategorized
Surely, in the wisdom of God, he has ordained that churches would have clarity with regards to leadership and that leaders, though fellow sinners along with the sheep, would have credibility to lead. So ultimately, the question is: What would God put in place to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 10, 2019 | Uncategorized
Upon sampling the key NT passages about relying on God’s strength (Php. 4, Eph. 6, 2 Cor. 12), we have seen that living in God’s strength involves contentment in every circumstance, fighting against spiritual temptation and being given hardships so that we must...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Jun 7, 2019 | Uncategorized
In Rom. 12:3, Paul doesn’t just leave his instruction with the prohibited thinking, but also supplies the prescribed way of thinking. Instead of self-exaltation, all Christians are to think sensibly or perhaps with sanity. This is the word that is used to describe...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 22, 2019 | Uncategorized
With regards to serving in the church, first, we just need to be asking the question: How can I be a blessing to someone? And then here’s what we need to understand: If you serve and meet a need in such a way that another is encouraged or edified and God received the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 13, 2019 | Uncategorized
Here is an except for Charles Spurgeon’s sermon on 1 Cor. 15:54-58, (found here) in which he personifies the Grave in order to demonstrate the victory of Christ over it: From its hollow depths the Grave says, “Ask me where is my victory! Why, O foolish son of...
by Matthew Borgstrom | May 6, 2019 | Uncategorized
We can know we struggle with keeping a record of wrongs, as Paul prohibits in 1 Cor. 13:5, when we can recall the long list of offenses pretty quickly when the opportunity for bringing it to light presents itself—“I can’t believe you did this again. You always do...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 29, 2019 | Uncategorized
We must be aware that these anti-love characteristics in 1 Cor. 13:4-5 begin in the heart and as the heart speaks self-exalting things to ourselves, we swell up with pride until what is inside spills out of our mouths. Thus the main goal is NOT to make sure you don’t...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 27, 2019 | Uncategorized
Does your life indicate that you are absolutely convinced of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, including the resurrection? I’m not asking: Do you think you’ll go to heaven? I am asking: What motivates and drives the foundational aspects of your life? Can...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
King Solomon sheds some light on this ingredient in Ecc. 7: 8b…the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. In contrasting patience with pride, it becomes evident that...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 8, 2019 | Uncategorized
A question that often arises from 1 Corinthians 13:3: How is it possible that this kind of giving does not demonstrate love? Especially, in light of the undeniable fact that so many needs are being met and so many people are being helped. Well there is certainly...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Apr 1, 2019 | Uncategorized
At the very beginning of Rom. 12:9, Paul supplies an overall description of what kind of love is acceptable to God—it’s a love that is genuine or unhypocritical. That raises the question: What kind of love would be disingenuous or hypocritical? There are many answers...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 30, 2019 | Uncategorized
Last week we discovered from 1st John 3 that without love, individuals can have no assurance of possessing spiritual life and churches cannot be assured that God is working in their midst. However, there are several more catastrophic consequences of failing to love...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 20, 2019 | Uncategorized
In 1 John 3-4, it is made clear that only those who have personally experienced and continue to learn about the transforming love of God through the saving work of Jesus Christ, will love as God desires for them to love, since only then will we have the correct...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 20, 2019 | Uncategorized
A main theme that pops out from Eph. 5:19-20 and Col. 3:16 is the corporate emphasis. Yes, the singing and making melody and the giving of thanks is primarily directed towards the Lord, but also to each other in the gathering. In Eph. 5:19, it is speaking to one...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Mar 4, 2019 | Uncategorized
Notice in 1 Tim. 2:1 that all of these are to be done on behalf of all people. Think about all the kinds of prayers and supplications that can be made and NOW think about how many can be made for all people! Just consider the first one—How many needs do we come...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 25, 2019 | Uncategorized
In 1 Cor. 1:21, Paul implies that God has ordained his word to be delivered to his people through this foolish mode of communication in the eyes of the world. Why’s it so foolish? Because preaching simply entails explaining the meaning of God’s word and then...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 18, 2019 | Uncategorized
It is very obvious from Col. 3, Eph. 5 and 1 Pet. 3 that way we operate in our God-given roles in marriage is a direct indicator of how much we fear and trust Jesus Christ. In other words, in the case of Eph. 5:22, submitting to one’s own husband is one of the...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Feb 11, 2019 | Uncategorized
Luke 7:36-50 gives us the proper perspective to answer one important question: Does the quality of your love for Christ correspond to the riches of his grace that you have received? Among other things, this text will demonstrate that there is a direct correlation...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 31, 2018 | Uncategorized
If we were to summarize Paul’s farewell instruction to the elders in Acts 20 to the bare bones concepts, they are called to follow Paul’s example of possessing the character of Christ and the message of Christ. Are those the two concepts that define your Christian...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 24, 2018 | Uncategorized
What does your life consist of? When Christ says, “I came that my people may have life, and have it abundantly,” is this the life we are hoping in? This life that came about through his death. This life that makes us more like him now and will...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 17, 2018 | Uncategorized
There are a couple of biblical realities that have not only been evident on the pages of Acts, but they are realities we might have experienced ourselves or may perhaps experience in the future. On the one hand, Jesus promised hostility from the world simply due...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 14, 2018 | Uncategorized
It’s a great danger to try to attach the name of Jesus to one’s personal ministry without being really linked to him, which is obvious by one’s refusal to do what he has said, namely with regards to ministry methods. What’s clear in the book of Acts...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Dec 4, 2018 | Biblical Fruit, Holy Spirit
The group found at the beginning of Acts 19 were stuck in the time, having received only the teaching of John the Baptist and not being familiar with the finished work of Jesus Christ in all its fullness. Upon the completion of God’s revelation, the NT knows of no...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 26, 2018 | Equipping the Saints, Faithfulness, Obedience, Pleasing Christ
So upon reaching the end of Acts 18:23, we have seen God’s protection of the gospel through the encouragement of the messengers. The encouragement came first through human partnership in vv.1-5. What a privilege it is to have a spouse who is a partner in the gospel...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 18, 2018 | Evangelism, Faithfulness, God's Word
If you remember from the first half of Acts 17, Paul has been chased out of the previous two locations, Thessalonica and Berea, and was led by some trusted brothers to Athens to wait for Timothy and Silas. It turns out neither the Holy Spirit nor Paul was going to...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 12, 2018 | Bible Study, Following Christ, Word of God
In Acts 17:11, Luke points out something different, namely about the listeners in Berea. They were more noble-minded or open-minded than the Thessalonians. Don’t think of our modern mantra of tolerance; being open-minded to every new-fangled idea that any spiritual...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Nov 5, 2018 | Evangelism, Faithfulness
Yesterday, we took a break from Acts and heard a message from Colossians 4:2-6 about how to be a faithful witness. What Paul places of primary importance is steadfast prayer, wise living and gracious speech. Notice that sophisticated arguments are not needed, but...
by Matthew Borgstrom | Oct 29, 2018 | Adversity, Evangelism, Faithfulness
Thus far in Acts 16, we have seen 2 recipients of the Lord’s deliverance—a God-worshipping business woman named Lydia in vv.6-15 and a demon-possessed slave girl in vv.16-18. These two were such different individuals with vastly contrasting life circumstances that...
