Category: Apologetics

Contend and defend for the Christian faith.

Faith Comes By Hearing, And Hearing By The Word

Faith Comes By Hearing, And Hearing By The Word

In Romans 10, Paul asked a series of important questions.

Specifically, he asked this: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”

If you have come to a saving faith, it is because someone shared God’s Word with you. Maybe it was a pastor. Maybe it was a parent. But someone told you about Jesus, and you responded in faith. And now, guess what? You’ve been sent to share that same gospel with others.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why did Paul’s heart break for his Jewish contemporaries?

B) What did Israel need? Is God done with His covenant people?

C) Why is the Gospel called the “power of God unto salvation?”

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

The Good Samaritan: Who Is Your Neighbor?

The Good Samaritan: Who Is Your Neighbor?

Who is your neighbor?

That was the question that Jesus asked the proud, arrogant lawyer. The man said that he’d kept the law. The man said that he’d loved his neighbor as himself. But Jesus knew better. Jesus knew that was only true if he neutered the word of any meaning. And so Jesus asked him, “who is your neighbor?”

Join us as we consider the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan.’

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why did the lawyer try to test or trap Jesus in Verse 25?

B) What was a ‘Samaritan,’ and what was their reputation?

C) What does ‘mercy ministry’ look like to those in need?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Revival And Reformation: What It Looks Like

Revival And Reformation: What It Looks Like

Does the church need revival? Does it need reformation?

Throughout history, there have been a number of ‘revivals’ when God’s people have increased in size, health, and ministry. And in every single case, these revivals involved a renewed emphasis on God’s Word. In today’s study of 2 Kings 23, we’ll see that one of the most famous revivals in history came about after the ‘rediscovery’ of the law during the reign of King Josiah.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) Why did the ancient Israelites tumble into sin so frequently?

B) What does a biblical ‘revival’ look like? How can we be sure?

C) What would a reformation of your own practices involve?

Eternity And Earthen Vessels (2 Cor. 4)

Eternity And Earthen Vessels (2 Cor. 4)

Life is short. Act accordingly.

In today’s study, we consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians, in which he referred to our mortal bodies as “earthen vessels.” In other words, Paul likened our human bodies to pottery – easily broken, and not built to last. Now, is that a depressing thought? Well, it would be, except that Paul said that these “earthen vessels” house an eternal treasure, which can never be lost or destroyed. Join us as we consider this treasure further, in today’s study of 2 Corinthians 4.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

1) What is the difference between what’s ‘eternal’ and ‘temporal?’

2) What does it mean to be a good ‘spiritual’ investor?

3) What did Christ say about laying up treasures in Heaven?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Exodus: The Last Words Of The Book

Exodus: The Last Words Of The Book

When Exodus began, God’s people were laboring over a building project – Pharaoh’s. But by the time Exodus ends, an entirely different building project is in view (the Tabernacle). In our final study of the Book of Exodus, we consider the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a game changer for the people of Israel. With that said, what was this tent designed for? What was its purpose?

Other Questions That We’ll Answer: A) Why was God so specific about the Tabernacle’s construction? B) Why was Moses not permitted to enter into the Tabernacle? C) Ultimately, what did the Tabernacle point toward?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Exodus: Moses In The Cleft Of The Rock

Exodus: Moses In The Cleft Of The Rock

Are you and I able to look upon God’s face? Why or why not? What about when we’re in Heaven – will we be able to look upon God then?

In today’s text, we’ll consider Moses’ request to see God’s face. And we’ll also consider God’s response, and how He safely tucked Moses into the ‘cleft in the rock.’

Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What did the ‘cleft in the rock’ typify? What was it all about? B) Why did God say He would not go with the Israelites in Exodus 33? C) Why was Moses so concerned by this? Why did they need God’s presence?

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby B. Holt

Church Website: www.fpcgulfport.org

Exodus: God And The Golden Calf

Exodus: God And The Golden Calf

The ‘golden calf’ incident is a dark blot in Israelite history. While coming down the mountain, Moses heard the sound of warfare from below. But he soon found that it wasn’t warfare – it was singing and adulation toward an idol. The people had broken God’s law. Terribly. Egregiously. And to demonstrate what they’d done, Moses shattered the 10 Commandments before their eyes.

Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What were the people thinking? And why did Aaron help? B) Were the people trying to replace Jehovah altogether? C) What was the immediate punishment that they received?

Exodus: The Heavenly Tabernacle And Priesthood

Exodus: The Heavenly Tabernacle And Priesthood

Does God care how we worship Him? According to Exodus 28, the answer is YES. In the last fifteen chapters of Exodus, we read about the construction of the Tabernacle. In these chapters, God gave the people some meticulous, specific details for the Tabernacle’s components and design. He also gave specific details for the clothing of the priests – including a phrase they were to wear on their foreheads, “HOLINESS TO THE LORD.”

Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What was the significance of God meeting with His people in the tabernacle? B) In what way did the Tabernacle reflect or anticipate Heaven? C) How are you and I considered “priests” as NT believers?

Exodus: The Ark Of The Covenant

Exodus: The Ark Of The Covenant

What was the Ark Of The Covenant? In Exodus 25, God told the Israelites to construct an ‘ark,’ and to place the ark in the Tabernacle. But what was the purpose of the Ark? And what was the significance of the ‘mercy seat’ that was on its top? These questions will be the focus of today’s study.

Questions That We’ll Answer:

A) What do we know about the ark’s construction and origins?

B) What was the ark’s history as it was moved from place to place?

C) And finally, where is the ark today? Egypt? Ethiopia? Where?

Exodus: The Blood Of The Covenant

Exodus: The Blood Of The Covenant

The Israelites had seen ‘animal sacrifices’ before. On many occasions, they’d seen blood on the altar. However, they’d never been sprinkled by that blood (the way that Moses did in Exodus 24). Why did Moses do this? And what was the point of this “blood oath” or covenant that the people had entered into with God? That will be the focus of today’s study.