Chip Brogden CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS

Hi Elaine,
 
Quick reminder to join us for this week's online Bible study...
 
THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
Part 4: Participating in the Divine Economy
Thursday, October 8, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
We participate in this Divine Economy by observing just ONE PRINCIPLE that Jesus taught.
 
I'll show you real-life examples from Scripture and from the world we live in.
 
I look forward to "seeing" you tonight!
I am your brother,
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Have you ever wondered what it means to "seek first the Kingdom of God?"
 
For the last few weeks we've been studying the spiritual wealth, blessing, and prosperity that we have in Christ.
 
Some folks object that this teaching has no practical value for them.
 
"Spiritual blessings are fine, but they won't pay the bills!"
 
Won't they?
 
Didn't Jesus say, "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things [food, drink, clothing, basic necessities] will be added to you"?
 
Sounds practical to me!
 
At least in theory.
 
But what does that mean?
 
It goes without saying that the false gospel of "prosperity and success" is based on a self-centered faith instead of a Christ-centered faith.
 
Jesus didn't die on a cruel cross so we could live it up like a prodigal son wasting his father's inheritance.
 
On the other hand, there is no inherent spiritual benefit to being poor - too many people are living in poverty, suffering the effects of no food, no water, no shelter, no medical care.
 
There is nothing holy or spiritual about having no money and not being able to pay your bills.
 
So, somewhere between the two extremes of "spirituality is having everything!" and "spirituality is having nothing!" is what I'm calling the Divine Economy.
 
When we participate in this Divine Economy we begin to see the tangible benefits of all those spiritual blessings we have in Christ.
 
That's right - the invisible becomes visible; the spiritual becomes real; the theory becomes reality.
 
Exciting!
 
And the good news is...
 
We participate in this Divine Economy by observing just ONE PRINCIPLE that Jesus taught.
 
I'll show you real-life examples from Scripture and from the world we live in.
 
To learn what that ONE PRINCIPLE is, join us for this week's online Bible study...
 
THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
Part 4: Participating in the Divine Economy
Thursday, October 8, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
Your gift (of any amount) helps make these classes free to all.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Churchianity Today
by Chip Brogden
We must always be sure to distinguish between the Lord’s invisible, universal, spiritual Church (the Ekklesia) and the non-profit religious organization that meets in a building with a steeple on top. The difference is incalculable, and we dare not make the mistake of confusing the two.
The Ekklesia is not an organization or invention of man, but an organism filled with the Life, and whether we worship “in Jerusalem or in this mountain” is not as important to God as whether or not we worship Him “in Spirit and in Truth.”

So where is the distinction? What makes it an issue? It becomes an issue when spiritual or Scriptural significance is erroneously attached to a mere social contrivance, cultural norm, religious tradition, organizational structure, or place of meeting. When the waters are muddied and the lines are blurred between the social expectation, tradition, or custom of the religious organization and the true spiritual life and essence of the Ecclesia or the individual believer then such a system has the potential to evolve into a dangerous form of spiritual abuse or religious elitism...
READ THIS ARTICLE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/churchianity-today/
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Ekkleasia
A Revelation of The Called-Out Assembly
Chip Brogden 
LISTEN FREE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/the-ekklesia/
I challenge you to search the world over and you will never find this Church, that Jesus said He would build, as something constructed, something to be seen in this realm.
If you can understand what the Ekklesia really is then it will answer a lot of the questions and settle a lot of issues that arise when we try to naturalize it, bring it down to the earth, and make it all about the “meeting” or the “building” or the “organization.”

Jesus said He would build His Church. Has anyone ever seen this building? What is it made out of? How much money did it take to build it? Did they pay cash for it, or did they raise money for it, or did they borrow money to build it? Where is it located – in Jerusalem, or Bethlehem, or Antioch, or Rome?

Jesus said He would build His Church. Has anyone ever seen this building?
 
What is it made out of? How much money did it take to build it? Did they pay cash for it, or did they raise money for it, or did they borrow money to build it? Where is it located – in Jerusalem, or Bethlehem, or Antioch, or Rome?

I challenge you to search the world over and you will never find this Church, that Jesus said He would build, as something constructed, something to be seen in this realm.
 
Once you see the scope of this, once you discern the spiritual nature of the Ekklesia, and once you touch upon the spiritual Life of the Ekklesia, you will never be satisfied with anything of this earth. Everything pales in comparison to this Church that Jesus is building!
 
Now available for "whatever you can afford" - or free, if you can't afford whatever :-)

Just listen or download it from this link:
MORE https://www.chipbrogden.com/the-ekklesia/
Listen as you wish, share as you like, and give as you can.

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Can you believe it will be October in two days?
 
Time flies when you're having fun... and our current Bible study has been especially fun for me.
 
We have only begun to scratch the surface of the spiritual wealth we have in Christ!
 
Like the man who was ignorant of the "acres of diamonds" beneath his feet, we are likewise ignorant of the wealth we have in Jesus and our inheritance in the Kingdom.
 
Like the prodigal son, who asked for his inheritance in advance, left home, and promptly wasted it because he was young and foolish.
 
Or worse, like his older brother, who dutifully stayed home but whined about not having a stupid goat - when his father would have freely given him anything if he had enough sense to stop sulking.
 
For too long we have acted like prodigal sons and whining children, like little dogs waiting for a few crumbs to fall from the master's table, instead of taking a seat at the table next to the Master!
 
Why do you suppose that is?
 
Well, for one thing, because most Christians get their teaching from the religious system, where the goal is not to help you become self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency, but to get you to pay tithes and stay dependent on them.
 
Listen!
 
More of God's people have perished for a lack of *knowledge* than have ever perished over a lack of *finances*.
 
The wisdom of God is to "seek first the Kingdom" - and when our priorities are in alignment, we will see what we could not see before, and we will be able to tap into spiritual wealth that is more valuable than all the riches of this world.
 
So far, we have learned...
 
1. We have already been blessed; it is not a lack of *having*, but a lack of *seeing*.
 
2. God made great and precious promises based on *His* ability to keep His Word (not *ours*).
 
3. God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others, and He wants to bless "all the families of the earth."
 
But how can we even begin to be a blessing to others if we're still trying to get the blessing for ourselves?
 
And why are we still trying to *get* it if God says He has already *given* it?
 
Is God wrong, or are we wrong?
 
I'll take God's Word over yours or mine.
 
But a fair question is...
 
If it's not money and riches and the wealth of this world, what is it?
 
What does "every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ" include?
 
(That's two fair questions!)
 
I thought this week we might begin to answer those questions with an inventory all that wealth you have in Christ.
 
Now, if you think that spiritual wealth isn't relevant to material needs and so this isn't practical, you are quite mistaken.
 
We need wisdom and revelation to make the connection - it's difficult for a rich man - or even someone who aspires to be rich - to enter the Kingdom of God.
 
But nothing is impossible with God, and if we are willing to wise, we will receive the wisdom.
 
Join us for this week's online Bible study to learn more...
 
THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
Part 3: The Supply of the Spirit
Thursday, October 1, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
Your gift (of any amount) helps make these classes free to all.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
 
I am your brother,
 
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA


Hi Elaine,
 
Can you believe it will be October in two days?
 
Time flies when you're having fun... and our current Bible study has been especially fun for me.
 
We have only begun to scratch the surface of the spiritual wealth we have in Christ!
 
Like the man who was ignorant of the "acres of diamonds" beneath his feet, we are likewise ignorant of the wealth we have in Jesus and our inheritance in the Kingdom.
 
Like the prodigal son, who asked for his inheritance in advance, left home, and promptly wasted it because he was young and foolish.
 
Or worse, like his older brother, who dutifully stayed home but whined about not having a stupid goat - when his father would have freely given him anything if he had enough sense to stop sulking.
 
For too long we have acted like prodigal sons and whining children, like little dogs waiting for a few crumbs to fall from the master's table, instead of taking a seat at the table next to the Master!
 
Why do you suppose that is?
 
Well, for one thing, because most Christians get their teaching from the religious system, where the goal is not to help you become self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency, but to get you to pay tithes and stay dependent on them.
 
Listen!
 
More of God's people have perished for a lack of *knowledge* than have ever perished over a lack of *finances*.
 
The wisdom of God is to "seek first the Kingdom" - and when our priorities are in alignment, we will see what we could not see before, and we will be able to tap into spiritual wealth that is more valuable than all the riches of this world.
 
So far, we have learned...
 
1. We have already been blessed; it is not a lack of *having*, but a lack of *seeing*.
 
2. God made great and precious promises based on *His* ability to keep His Word (not *ours*).
 
3. God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others, and He wants to bless "all the families of the earth."
 
But how can we even begin to be a blessing to others if we're still trying to get the blessing for ourselves?
 
And why are we still trying to *get* it if God says He has already *given* it?
 
Is God wrong, or are we wrong?
 
I'll take God's Word over yours or mine.
 
But a fair question is...
 
If it's not money and riches and the wealth of this world, what is it?
 
What does "every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ" include?
 
(That's two fair questions!)
 
I thought this week we might begin to answer those questions with an inventory all that wealth you have in Christ.
 
Now, if you think that spiritual wealth isn't relevant to material needs and so this isn't practical, you are quite mistaken.
 
We need wisdom and revelation to make the connection - it's difficult for a rich man - or even someone who aspires to be rich - to enter the Kingdom of God.
 
But nothing is impossible with God, and if we are willing to wise, we will receive the wisdom.
 
Join us for this week's online Bible study to learn more...
 
THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
Part 3: The Supply of the Spirit
Thursday, October 1, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
Your gift (of any amount) helps make these classes free to all.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
 
I am your brother,
 
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Can You Hear What the Spirit is Saying?
                      by Chip Brogden
God desires to confound us that we may learn to listen to Him.
Before we are confounded by the Lord we are dogmatic and sure of what we believe, but now we are not so sure. Before we could hear the Lord and follow His direction, but now we hear little or nothing at all. Before we were sure of our direction and calling, but now we wonder if perhaps we were mistaken.
 
What is happening? The Lord is confounding us. He is teaching us what it means to walk by the Spirit...
READ THIS ARTICLE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/the-danger-of-familiarity/
https://www.chipbrogden.com/can-you-hear-what-the-spirit-is-saying/
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Overcoming guilt and condemsation
Chip Brogden
Image
LISTEN FREE
 https://www.chipbrogden.com/overcoming-guilt-condemnation/
Guilt usually arises out of unrealistic expectations, and these expectations are either created by you or given to you from other people.

Maybe those expectations come from your parents. Maybe those expectations come from your religion. Maybe those expectations come from the other people you work with, or work for. Or maybe, just maybe, you feel like you’ve let God down, that He is terribly disappointed with you, and you can never measure up no matter how hard you try.
 
Quite frankly, religion is very adept at motivating people with guilt. They want you to attend more, give more, volunteer more, and if you don’t, they have an incredible way of making you feel guilty, and leading you to believe that not only will the church be disappointed with you, but God will be disappointed with you also.
 
When the guilt goes unresolved, it develops into condemnation – a feeling of worthlessness. A feeling of despair. A feeling that there is no hope for you. A feeling that life is not worth living. That feeling of condemnation is NOT healthy. That is something that needs to be dealt with. And that is the purpose of this teaching.
 
Get this today for "whatever you can afford"!
 
Just listen or download it from this link:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/overcoming-guilt-condemnation/
 
Listen as you wish, share as you like, and give as you can.
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Join us online tonight for...
 
THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
Part 1: Heirs of the Promise
Thursday, September 17, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
This week we go all the way back to God's PAST promises to Abraham to understand the PRESENT riches and the FUTURE inheritance.
 
I hope to "see" you there!
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Last week we began a study on "the riches of His grace," exploring the spiritual wealth that is yours IN CHRIST.
 
The key phrase there is IN CHRIST.
 
It's never in yourself!
 
And it's not even the things you "do" for Jesus.
 
That's good news, because it means "failing to do" doesn't disqualify you from your inheritance.
 
It's not according to our goodness, but according to "the riches of His grace," since God is "rich in mercy."
 
Thank the Lord for grace and mercy!
 
But like the man who was oblivious to the acres of diamonds beneath his feet, we can be equally ignorant about God's abundant provision and miss out on all that richness and blessing.
 
I mean, if you don't KNOW that you have ALREADY been "blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph.1:3) then you can't benefit from those blessings, can you?
 
You could even find yourself...
 
...asking for things God has already given,
 
... seeking for things God has already revealed, and
  
...knocking on doors that God had already opened!
 
Strange, isn't it?
 
Maybe the issue is not "having more" but "seeing more" of what we already have!
 
The question is: What does that inheritance consist of, who gets it, for what purpose, and when?
 
That's what we will answer in this series of teachings.
 
The Bible has quite a lot to say about this inheritance - but guess what?
 
We haven't received it yet!
 
At least, not 100%.
 
The way I understand and explain our spiritual wealth in Christ is like this:
 
1. PAST Promises
 
2. PRESENT Riches
 
3. FUTURE Inheritance  
 
We need to know what God has already promised in the PAST; this is the foundation for everything that follows.
 
We also need to know how to tap into the PRESENT riches - because we have real needs, right now, and we can't afford to wait until we get to heaven before we start walking in fruitful abundance!
 
We also need to know how God is preparing us to receive the FUTURE inheritance, so we won't be like the prodigal son and waste the whole thing on riotous living :-)
 
God is very rich, and also very wise!
 
So, first things first.
 
This week we go all the way back to God's PAST promises to Abraham to understand the PRESENT riches and the FUTURE inheritance.
 
It will be a wonderful journey!
 
Join us online for...
 
THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
Part 1: Heirs of the Promise
Thursday, September 17, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
These online class are free, but your gift (of any amount) helps make it possible.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

The Danger of Familiarity
by Chip Brogden
How often do we take the presence of Jesus for granted?
Our pseudo-Christian culture is profane. I speak not of the profanity of foul language, but the profanity of treating divine things with a casual, apathetic, flippant attitude. We profane holy things by making them common, ordinary, usual, mundane, and routine.

Interestingly enough, only those who know the Holy are in danger of becoming too familiar with it. Unbelievers, those who are not yet acquainted with the Holy, cannot profane what they do not understand.
 
The danger of familiarity is in knowing and taking for granted...
READ THIS ARTICLE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/the-danger-of-familiarity/

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Chip Brogden

LISTEN FREE
 https://www.chipbrogden.com/overcoming-fear-and-worry/
Fear is a very powerful emotion and can have a negative effect on our spirit, soul, and body.

Jesus said that there would come a time when men’s hearts would fail them for fear of what was happening on the earth. We are living in that time! We all have things that we are afraid of, and life provides us with plenty of things to worry about.
 
Being a Christian does not mean we will never experience fear or have worries. The Bible does not ignore this very human emotion. Instead, it offers us an alternative to living in bondage to fear. Are you afraid? Fearful? Worried? Anxious? You can overcome fear and worry! Join us as we explore this issue together with sound, Scriptural teaching and practical wisdom.
 
This teaching is part of our Overcomer Series which offers a Biblical perspective on spiritual and emotional issues.
We're making this available today for f.r.e.e!
 
Just listen or download it from this link:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/overcoming-fear-and-worry/
 
Listen as you wish, share as you like, and give as you can.
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Sun, Sep 6 at 2:02 PM
The Harvest is Coming
by Chip Brogden
In the history of the recovery of the Heavenly Order we have seen how, time and time again, something happened to threaten that recovery. It should be readily apparent to the reader of Scripture that there is something that relentlessly opposes God’s Ultimate Purpose in Christ.
In the history of the recovery of the Heavenly Order we have seen how, time and time again, something happened to threaten that recovery. It should be readily apparent to the reader of Scripture that there is something that relentlessly opposes God’s Ultimate Purpose in Christ...
READ THIS ARTICLE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/the-harvest-is-coming/
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Chip Brogden
LISTEN FREE
 https://www.chipbrogden.com/paul-apostle-controversy/
Controversy and conflict are as much a part of the Christian life as power and blessing.

The entrance of light into darkness creates controversy and conflict, and this is how the Ekklesia came into existence. God worked through Paul to show that He can work through anyone. But everywhere he turned, Paul ran into resistance – from the Jews, from his own brothers and fellow laborers in Christ, from the Romans, and even from the devil! Even today, Paul remains a controversial and divisive figure – which is precisely why we need to study him and grasp the largeness of his view of Christ and of the Ekklesia.
 
We need to see what Paul saw, because the conflict and controversy Paul encountered in the first century is not too different from the conflict and controversy we face today.
 
What can we learn from Paul’s single-minded focus on Christ? And how can we apply those lessons to our lives, to our time, to our generation? We’ll explore those questions and answer them in this series.
The f.re.e. summer giveaway continues with this just-completed audio series! Listen or download it from this link:
 
https://www.chipbrogden.com/paul-apostle-controversy/
 
Listen as you wish, share as you like, and give as you can.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Chip Brogden
LISTEN FREE
 https://www.chipbrogden.com/paul-apostle-controversy/
Controversy and conflict are as much a part of the Christian life as power and blessing.

The entrance of light into darkness creates controversy and conflict, and this is how the Ekklesia came into existence. God worked through Paul to show that He can work through anyone. But everywhere he turned, Paul ran into resistance – from the Jews, from his own brothers and fellow laborers in Christ, from the Romans, and even from the devil! Even today, Paul remains a controversial and divisive figure – which is precisely why we need to study him and grasp the largeness of his view of Christ and of the Ekklesia.
 
We need to see what Paul saw, because the conflict and controversy Paul encountered in the first century is not too different from the conflict and controversy we face today.
 
What can we learn from Paul’s single-minded focus on Christ? And how can we apply those lessons to our lives, to our time, to our generation? We’ll explore those questions and answer them in this series.
The f.re.e. summer giveaway continues with this just-completed audio series! Listen or download it from this link:
 
https://www.chipbrogden.com/paul-apostle-controversy/
 
Listen as you wish, share as you like, and give as you can.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Tonight we conclude our study of Paul with the final message in the series:
 
PAUL: THE APOSTLE OF CONTROVERSY (Part 5)
Thursday, September 3, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
We'll discuss, not just the Secret to the Christian Life, but the Secret to a HAPPY Christian Life, with specific lessons drawn from Paul's happiest letter.
 
I hope to "see" you online!
 
 
I am your brother,
 
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Last week I fully planned to complete the series on Paul, but I got into a time warp and realized more than an hour had passed and I was still on my first slide!
 
As an experienced teacher I usually know what's going on with the clock, but in this case I completely lost myself in the study.
 
Fortunately, I had enough sense to realize that rather than try and complete the rest of the teaching in a single marathon session, I would simply finish in a follow-up session.
 
So that's what we're doing this week.
 
Paul's suffering is well-known; but how was he able to overcome all these things?
 
For instance, Paul's happiest letter is Philippians, where he writes: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice." 
 
He wrote that while under arrest, chained to a Roman guard.
 
You don't have to be an apostle to experience tremendous difficulty, stress, and hardship; you also don't have to be an apostle to experience joy in the midst of difficult circumstances.
 
What is Paul's secret to rejoicing? 
 
How could he rejoice on the way to his execution?
 
Most importantly: What about Paul's experience can we learn and apply to our experience?
 
We conclude our study of Paul this week with the final message in the series:
 
PAUL: THE APOSTLE OF CONTROVERSY (Part 5)
Thursday, September 3, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
It's free to join, but your gift of any amount makes these online studies possible.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
 
I am your brother,
 
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Change is Coming!
by Chip Brogden
When we pray “Your Kingdom come,
Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,” do
we really know what we are doing?
We are asking for two things. On the positive side, we are joining together with God and agreeing with Him, praying in line with His Eternal purpose in Christ for the recovery of the Heavenly Order and the establishment of the Irresistible Kingdom of God. On the negative side, we are asking for the end of this present evil age, the subjection of this rebellious generation, and the elimination of everything that fails to give Christ the preeminence, whether they are considered “worldly” things or “religious” things.

This kind of prayer is not a frivolous thing. It is calling for a revolution in the way things are. It is commanding all that is to make room for all that is to come...
READ THIS ARTICLE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/change-is-coming/
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
A few years ago I thought about an interesting book title for something I might write one day:
 
"195 Stripes."
I used this phrase in an audio teaching while discussing the things that Paul suffered.
"195 stripes" is how many welts you would accumulate on your back and legs after being chastised with 39 stripes of the lash on five separate occasions (39 X 5 = 195).
That's how many times Paul was whipped in the synagogue as punishment.
39 stripes was the maximum Jewish corporeal punishment (actually, 40 was the maximum according to Deut. 25:3, but they stopped at 39 to make sure they didn't lose count and accidentally break God's Law).
Paul got that punishment five different times: "From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one." (2 Cor. 11:24).
I want to know: what is it about a man that will take that kind of punishment and still say, "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice!"?
What is it about a man that will take that kind of punishment and still say, "Love never fails"?
I want to know what that man knows.
I want to see what that man sees.
i want to understand what that man understands.
If I can know and see and understand what drives a man like that then maybe... just maybe... I can make sense of my own little bit of suffering and find a purpose bigger than myself worth living for.
Maybe you can, too.
That is what first got me interested in Paul.
Those 195 stripes.
This week we conclude our study of Paul with the final message in the series:
PAUL: THE APOSTLE OF CONTROVERSY (Part 4)
Thursday, August 27, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here (if you haven't already):
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
It's free to join, but your gift of any amount makes these online studies possible.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother,
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Sat, Aug 22 at 11:01 AM
Chip Brogden
Image
LISTEN FREE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/simplicity-of-christ/

Elaine,
 
Christ is on the side of simplicity, while religion is usually on the side of complexity.

Paul’s greatest fear was that his brothers and sisters in the Lord might be “corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (II Corinthians 11:3b). Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Have you made the Christian life too difficult? So often, man takes something easy and light and turns it into something difficult and heavy. Jesus is calling us to forsake the complicated way and to follow Him in sincerity and simplicity.
 
In these four messages we talk about Jesus, fellowshipping with one another, growing up spiritually, and exercising spiritual discernment in the midst of all the confusion. We try to strip away all the complicated layers and complexities and get to the simple heart of things. If you’re frustrated and fed up with “trying to be a good Christian,” our prayer is that you will find simplicity and joy in the Lord as we examine these truths.
Access this teaching now [f.r.e.e.] from this link:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/simplicity-of-christ/
 
Listen as you wish, share as you like, and give as you can.
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden


PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Last week we learned why any attempt to understand Paul apart from his miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus is doomed to fail.
 
We cannot separate such a man from his message; we cannot understand his perspective unless we have seen and experienced what he has seen and experienced.
 
All of this underscores the value of revelation... and by "revelation" I'm referring to that truth revealed by the Holy Spirit.
 
Paul did not just collect some teachings "about" Jesus; Paul had a revelation of Christ IN him.
 
I'm suggesting that theological study and doctrinal analysis are merely academic pursuits, intellectual enigmas, and ultimately useless without "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."
 
It may be useful for us to examine ourselves and ask how, and where, and by what means, and through whom, we arrived at the revelatory knowledge of Christ. I'm afraid that much of what we think we know we simply picked up along the way as moved around in Organized Religion, listening to second- and third-generational, hand-me-down teachings and traditions of men.
 
What Paul learned didn't come from man, but from the Holy Spirit.
 
This revelation is the key to our surviving and thriving in the last days - and if that means discarding everything else we think we know in order to possess a single pearl of great price, then that's what we have to do.
 
What did Paul see, hear, and experience on the road to Damascus that is valuable enough for him to lay down his life for?
 
And is it even possible for you and for me to experience this kind of revelation of Christ WITHOUT going through some dramatic encounter like Paul?
 
Join us for this week's Online Bible study as we consider these things and why they matter now more than ever.
 
PAUL: THE APOSTLE OF CONTROVERSY (Part 2)
Thursday, August 13, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here:
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
It's free to attend, but your donation (of any amount) helps make it possible.
 
 
I am your brother,
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Chip Brogden
LISTEN FREE
Elaine,
 
The desert you’re trying to get out of is exactly the place where God intends to bless you and reveal more of Christ to you!

When I talk about the wilderness, when I talk about the desert, what am I talking about? Spiritually speaking, it’s that place where you feel all alone. It’s that place where you no longer have the sense of God’s manifest presence. That is, you know mentally that God is with you, but you don’t have the sense of it. Everything feels like you have been abandoned or forsaken by God. Perhaps you are discouraged, or depressed. Perhaps you’ve been hurt or disappointed. Perhaps it’s something in your body, some weakness or ailment that you can’t seem to get the victory over. Maybe you’ve been under attack, either from other people, or attacked in a spiritual sense. Maybe you’re just pressed under the weight of circumstances. It could be a problem at work, or a problem at school, or a problem in your marriage. For many people it’s a financial difficulty, struggling to make ends meet, or trying to recover from a hardship.
 
Or maybe you’ve come out of Organized Religion, and there’s a great big void, a great big empty place in your life that used to be filled by “church”, and so you’re trying to find fellowship, but there seems to be no fellowship. Or you thought you found fellowship in a house church, but you were disappointed to discover that it was not what you thought it would be. For whatever reason it didn’t meet your need. Maybe you don’t even know why, but the point is you’re still seeking something you haven’t found yet. Maybe there’s something lacking in your relationship with God. He seems distant, or uncaring, or unavailable. You don’t have a sense that you are making any progress. You feel like you’re either standing still or going backward. You pick up the Bible and try to read but you get nothing out of it. Perhaps you keep this up for awhile and then maybe you give up reading it altogether. Maybe you try to pray but it seems like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. Maybe you keep praying or maybe you just give up. Then perhaps you think you’ve done something wrong, that you have displeased the Lord terribly. You try to confess your sins but can’t really think of anything you’ve done wrong. You try to get back to the way you used to feel but nothing seems to work. Maybe you start to wonder if you’ve lost your salvation, or if you’ve committed the unpardonable sin, or grieved the Holy Spirit so badly that He’s left you.
 
If you can understand God’s Purpose for the desert, if you can understand how and why and that He wants to prepare a way for you in the wilderness, then I think it will encourage you. Whatever does not kill you makes you stronger. There is such a blessing in the desert. There are things you learn in the desert that you cannot and will not learn anywhere else. But what I see too many times is people seeking a quick deliverance! God calls them to the wilderness, He calls them to the desert, and they resist it, or they go and immediately look for a way out. They don’t stay there long enough to derive any spiritual benefit. You’re trying to avoid the desert, or get out of the desert, because the desert doesn’t feel good. And I’m saying the desert you’re trying to get out of is exactly the place where God intends to bless you and reveal more of Christ to you!
If you can relate to any of the above, this teaching is for you!
 
Access it now from this link:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/spiritual-desert
 
Listen as you wish, share as you like, and give as you can.
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,
 
Our online Bible study kicks off in a few hours...
 
PAUL: THE APOSTLE OF CONTROVERSY (Part 1)
Thursday, August 6, 2020
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Register here:
http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
Revelation is the basis of Revolution, and Paul's revelation of Christ on the road to Damascus changed the course of history. 
 
What motivated Paul to keep going, even in through the worst controversy and conflict imaginable?
 
Join us to learn his secret.
 
I look forward to "seeing" you online tonight!
 
I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA