Volume 5: The Early Church
Experience the Bible for yourself! This in-depth video Bible study-shot on location and featuring teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan-will help you understand the New Testament better by giving you abetter understanding of the Old Testament.
01. Lesson 5.1 | Everything to Lose, Nothing to Gain
This Lesson delves into the unwavering commitment and faith of early believers in the face of potentially catastrophic repercussions. It also explores the demanding and transformative nature of discipleship within the early church, emphasizing the need for courage, commitment, and community in the face of a challenging world.
02. Lesson 5.2 | The Salt of the Earth
This lesson examines Jesus' call to his followers to be a preserving and seasoning influence in the world, it encourages believers to live lives that are distinct, preserving, and influential, having a positive impact on the world around them by living out the values of God's Kingdom.
03. Lesson 5.3 | Where Satan Lives
This lesson takes viewers to the ancient city of Pergamum (also known as Pergamos), located in modern-day Turkey. This city is notable for being one of the seven churches of Asia addressed in the book of Revelation, where it is characterized as the place "where Satan has his throne" and "where Satan dwells". In essence, lesson 3 emphasizes the importance of unwavering faith in the face of spiritual challenges and temptations. It calls believers to live lives that distinctly testify to the power and truth of God in a world that often seeks meaning and significance apart from Him.
04. Lesson 5.4 | The Mark of the Beast
This lesson delves into the symbolism and significance of the Mark of the Beast mentioned in the Book of Revelation. This lesson, likely drawing on the early church's context and experiences, explores the challenging message that this apocalyptic imagery presented to early Christians and its implications for believers today.
05. Lesson 5.5 | Hot or Cold
"Hot or Cold," focuses on Jesus' strong rebuke of the church in Laodicea, as described in the Book of Revelation. This lesson explores the spiritual condition of being "lukewarm" and the importance of genuine commitment to God. In essence, this lesson uses the vivid imagery of Laodicea's water supply to illustrate the importance of genuine, active faith and to warn against spiritual complacency and self-sufficiency. It emphasizes the need for believers to be useful and impactful in the world, actively serving God and reflecting His values rather than becoming lukewarm and ineffective.