Talawanda Baptist Church

Matthew 19.16-20.28 Many of us believe (wrongly) that if we are good enough, we will gain eternal life. However, we do not understand what it means to be good. Jesus corrects us through teaching a rich young man and his apostles. In this first vineyard parable, Jesus teaches His disciples that the vineyard owner will […]

Isaiah 5.8-30 God’s vineyard, the men of Judah, has rebelled against Him. They reject His law and live according to one they have made for themselves. God shows them the utter wickedness of their lives. They are not rejecting His law; they are rejecting Him. Therefore, He will leave them nothing. All sin will be […]

Isaiah 5.1-7 God is a careful vineyard keeper. He prepares the land, cultivates His crops, and expects high output. However, His vineyard rebels against Him refusing to produce fruit. He expects His people to produce justice and righteousness, but instead Judah produces bloodshed and crying.

Isaiah 4.2-6 The Day of the Lord also includes the gracious treatment of God’s people. God promises to bring fruitfulness back to creation through the work of His Branch. Messiah identifies with His people and continues to add abundance to their lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah’s comforting judgment here confirms the […]

Isaiah 3.1-4.1 Isaiah continues his prophetic warning against Judah and her leadership. When the men of Judah begin to give up their leadership positions, immature leaders and women take over. God gives a scathing rebuke against the proud women of Judah, but implicitly He is harder on the men. Judah becomes an example of what […]

Isaiah 2.5-22 Verse 5 brings Judah (and us) to a pivot point. Either they follow the nations who are flowing up to Mount Zion to hear the Word of God or they continue to serve themselves and face judgment. Isaiah tells us the decision of Judah. They would rather serve nothings (Heb. elilim) than serve […]

Isaiah 2.1-4 Isaiah sees the Word of God leading people from all nations to Mount Zion to hear the teaching of the Law.  Because of the Word, men can live at peace with one another. They destroy their weapons and turn them into cultivating tools. These tools will be used to heal relationships and societal […]

Isaiah 1.1-31 Isaiah, the greatest of the writing prophets, opens his prophecy with an overview of his entire ministry. He teaches Judah of their position before God. Because of sin, Judah lives in rebellion. God calls His people to repentance because His justice will be done. We stand with Judah in need of God’s grace.

Matthew 7.28-8.4 One of the greatest themes that Matthew develops in his Gospel is Jesus’ authority. From the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus claims astounding authority for Himself. Who can make binding blessings and judgments? Who can demand obedience? God alone. Yet, that is exactly what Jesus claims for Himself. Then, proving […]

Matthew 7.21-27 Jesus uses two illustrations to point us to Him. First, He shows that judgment is coming and our works cannot save us. In the second image, He teaches us that construction on a solid foundation is essential. Therefore, Jesus constructs His church on the foundation of who He is.

Matthew 26.20-32; John 13.21-30 Jesus delivers an important message to Judas and to His disciples. Amazingly, He uses a very simple prop to reveal the most important message the world has ever known: some bread and wine.  The same message results in very different outcomes. For Judas, hope is gone as he enters eternal night, […]

Matthew 7.13-20 Which way will you go? The broad way is easy and everybody takes it. The narrow way is hard and you cannot start it on your own. Jesus places His people on a different path that looks different to everyone treading the broad way.

Matthew 7.7-12 Jesus uses three images to tell of the greatness of God’s forgiveness. God is not malicious; He is our loving Father who knows our greatest need before we come to Him.

Matthew 7.1-6 Forgiveness plays a vital role in ministering the gospel. Yet, forgiveness wrongly ministered can hinder the gospel because it confuses the message.

Matthew 6.25-34 Anxiety does not prove how much concern you have for your life. It shows how much you do not trust God. God has made us for a better purpose than to worry over food and drink and our next paycheck. Our purpose is found in God alone.

John 3 Bro. Austin takes us to a familiar passage to see how one can be reborn.

1 John 5 Austin leads us through the marks of a Christian. These things are not done to become a Christian, but are evidences that one has been reborn.

Matthew 6.19-24 Jesus gives us three images in order to teach us one unified lesson. We are not the ones in control. So, who is in control of you? Are you being owned by those things you thought you owned or are you willingly submitting yourself to the loving God of the universe?

Matthew 6.16-18 Though it is currently not in vogue in the world, fasting is expected of Christ’s followers and allows us the opportunity to focus on God in an undivided way. Jesus warns us not to practice fasting as the hypocrites do because drawing attention to yourself completely defeats the purpose from the start.

Matthew 6.11-15 Our Father knows our greatest needs and meets them through prayer. We must eat to live. However, more than anything, we need to have a restored relationship with Him. Then, He will enable us to flee from the evil that easily ensnares us. Christ teaches us in the prayer that we are completely […]