Lessons - The Smith Slant

Ephesians 1

Fred Smith September 3, 2019 No Comments

Before looking at the text let’s look at a little of Paul’s relationship with the church at Ephesus. Turn to Acts 19. We can see four things that are special: First, Paul encounters disciples who have received only the baptism of John and never heard of the Holy Spirit. We’ve talked about this before but it is worth repeating. The baptism of John was the baptism of repentance and was almost a r ...[Read More]

Titus 3

Fred Smith August 26, 2019 No Comments

After challenging Titus to deal with false teachers, promoting sound doctrine, the responsibilities of the elders, young men, older women, and slaves, he closes his letter with how Titus is to remind and teach. Chapter 3 is a recap in a way as well as new challenges for Titus. Paul does not stop challenging everyone around him until the very end of his letters and his life! “Remind the people to ...[Read More]

Titus 1

Fred Smith August 13, 2019 No Comments

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness – a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savio ...[Read More]

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Fred Smith August 8, 2019 No Comments

We don’t hear much about doctrine today. I’m not sure I heard much about doctrine when I was growing up. We knew we were Baptists and thought we knew what that meant but didn’t. We learned our doctrine from our hymns. We knew about propitiation from “Washed in the Blood” and “Nothing but the Blood”. We knew about the sacrificial death of Jesus from “The Old Rugged Cross”. We knew about forgiveness ...[Read More]

2 Timothy 2:14-26

Fred Smith July 29, 2019 No Comments

Part of Timothy’s responsibility as a teacher is not only to introduce new things but to remind people of what they already know. Most of us already know enough new things but we need to be reminded of what we know already – and we don’t always appreciate it. I need to be reminded constantly to take out the garbage, keep doctor appointments, change the oil on the car, and a host of other sma ...[Read More]

2 Timothy 2:1-13

Fred Smith July 22, 2019 No Comments

Paul is in the final years of his life when writing to Timothy. They have been hard years filled with persecution, prison, suffering, deprivation, endless travel, argument, and controversy. Yet, they have also been years of deep and long-lasting relationships with friends, converts, churches, and disciples like Timothy. But Paul’s life has been one of extremes. His deepest friendships remained int ...[Read More]