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Galatians 5:16-23 teaches that at any moment we are either walking by the Holy Spirit or according to the sin nature. Walking by the Spirit, enjoying fellowship with God, walking in the light are virtually synonymous. During these times, the Holy Spirit is working in us to illuminate our minds to the truth of Scripture and to challenge us to apply what we learn. But when we sin, we begin to live based on the sin nature. Our works do not count for eternity. The only way to recover is to confess (admit, acknowledge) our sin to God the Father and we are instantly forgiven, cleansed, and recover our spiritual walk (1 John 1:9). Please make sure you are walking by the Spirit before you begin your Bible study, so it will be spiritually profitable.

Messages with tag - Self-absorption

Colossians (2011)
Sunday, May 08, 2011
by Robert Dean
Passage: Colossians 1:11-12
Series: Colossians (2011)
Duration: 46 mins 36 secs
Includes communion service. Throughout the centuries, various “secrets” to the Christian life have been discovered. Why? It is simple: the Christian life isn’t merely difficult, it is impossible! There is no way any human in his own power can fulfill the commandments of God. We need special power. In the Church Age, this is provided by God the Holy Spirit. In this lesson we are looking at various aspects of how God strengthens us in our spiritual life.
Romans (2010)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
by Robert Dean
Passage: Romans 1:26-32
Series: Romans (2010)
Duration: 59 mins 58 secs
Decisions and ideas have consequences. When a person, a tribe, or a culture rejects God, the consequences are devastating. Romans 1:18-23 clearly teaches that all human beings are religious: they all know God exists. Those who reject the God of the Bible always substitute something or someone else to worship. The result is that God then gives us over to our desires. The three stages of divine judgment described in this chapter show the cultural degradation that ensues from the rejection of God.
Colossians (2011)
Sunday, November 11, 2012
by Robert Dean
Passage: Colossians 3:18-21 & Ephesians 5:25-33
Series: Colossians (2011)
Duration: 46 mins 10 secs
The issue in these passages is for husbands to love their wives. The analogy is to love as Christ loves the Church. You must understand the gospel in order to understand this kind of love. The purpose for Christ’s love for His Church is to sanctify, purify and present her to Himself without residue of sin, eternally set apart to God. A Christian marriage is a training aid to show the world the relationship between Christ and His Church. Learn how elements of doctrine are revealed through marriage and its unique oneness lived out through different roles with distinct identities.
Colossians (2011)
Sunday, November 18, 2012
by Robert Dean
Passage: Colossians 3:20-21 & Ephesians 6:1-4
Series: Colossians (2011)
Duration: 53 mins 49 secs
The family is another of God’s Divine Institutions. It is a part of God’s absolute social law built into the fabric of a social human being who is created in the image of God. It has been in decline since the middle of the 20th century. Even conservatives are saying they need to separate social ideas from economic ideas in order to address other voting blocks, but the breakdown of marriage and family has wide economic consequences which are an integral part of economic realities. In Rome, in Paul’s day, family values had deteriorated, resulting in the increase of abuse of children and women. In what way does the Bible view children as arrows in the hand of a warrior? How is the reality of a Triune God related to absolute unity and distinction in marriage and family? See how a self-absorbed generation paves the road for destruction of a nation.
Colossians (2011)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
by Robert Dean
Passage: Colossians 3:20-21 & Ephesians 6:1-4
Series: Colossians (2011)
Duration: 51 mins 8 secs
The family is where the next generation is trained. Its health is related to the health of a society. Honoring parents shows humility and respect which is the essential response to authority. A leader must first learn to follow. Observe a child’s response to the parent of the opposite sex as an indicator of the way he will relate to his spouse. In Proverbs, verses concerning how to train children are practical guides of implementation. See the nature of Proverbs as wisdom sayings, not promises. Understand what it means to “train up a child” and when that begins. When is the “rod of correction” appropriate? What is the common starting point of every baby? Is discipline always negative? What is the direction of our culture regarding child rearing? How does discipline relate to God’s love for us? What was God’s ultimate expression of judicial punishment?
Proverbs (2013)
Sunday, March 17, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Proverbs 3:1-12
Series: Proverbs (2013)
Duration: 1 hr 12 mins 33 secs
This passage is organized into a verse with a command followed by a verse with consequences, and ends in two verses regarding correction. There are a number of irresistible consequences for obedience to God’s commands. You would think no one could consider turning away from such a positive, rewarding course resulting in a life with wisdom, guidance from God, lack of fear, direction over our finances and protection leading to abundant living. The reality of disobedience is God’s experience with man, so in the end He encourages us even when correction becomes the exercise of His love for us. God’s correction assures us that abandonment of His own is not a part of God’s nature, and because of that, we are blessed even in His chastening.
1 Thessalonians (2013)
Sunday, July 14, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3
Series: 1 Thessalonians (2013)
Duration: 59 mins 31 secs
Time for a gratitude check! Are you near the top of the gratitude gauge or sunk near the zero? If you're too stuck on thinking about yourself to notice what God and others are doing for you, it's hard to be thankful. Listen to this lesson to see how having an entitlement mentality destroys us and our culture. See how the Apostle Paul never failed to express thanksgiving in his epistles. Discover the true meaning of grace and how it impacts our gratitude.
Proverbs (2013)
Sunday, July 28, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Proverbs
Series: Proverbs (2013)
Duration: 51 mins 23 secs
"Me! Me! Me! It's all about me. You may think it's about you but it's really all about me!" None of us would say this out loud but it's what we think. Listen to this lesson to learn about the enemy of every believer called the sin nature. See how Proverbs teaches that character must be taught from the crib and that no one is born with self control or discipline. Discover how God the Holy Spirit enhances moral values and makes them spiritual values that lead to character transformation.
Acts (2010)
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 17:16-31 & Romans 1:18-22
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 3 mins 7 secs

What gods do you worship? Success? Money? Happiness? The pagan Athenians worshiped all the gods, betting that some of them would come to their aid. Listen to this lesson to learn how the Apostle Paul used their worship of the unknown god to show there is only one true God, the God of Creation. Find out how everyone has enough evidence to know that God exists but suppresses that truth. Begin the fascinating study of the Chain of Being and see how evolution grew out of it.

Click here to access Dr. Dean's paper presented at the Conservative Theological Society referenced in this Bible class.

Romans (2010)
Thursday, January 02, 2014
by Robert Dean
Passage: Romans 12:3-4
Series: Romans (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 1 mins 29 secs
Me! Me! Gimme a gift! Who doesn't love to get a gift? Listen to this lesson to learn about an extraordinary gift, a spiritual gift, graciously bestowed on each of us by God when we trust in Christ as our Savior. See that the purpose of this gift is not for bragging rights or to make us look good in the eyes of others but to be used to benefit other believers in our local church. Learn the different words used to describe these gifts and how these gifts are for Church Age believers only. Understand that through spiritual growth and the transformation of our thinking we come to exercise our spiritual gift fully in service to God.