Chip Brogden CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS

Hello Elaine,
 
Hard to believe that we are welcoming a new year!
 
Are you growing in grace and in the knowledge the Lord Jesus?
 
Or, are you growing in stress and in the knowledge of how crazy the world is becoming?
 
You become whatever you focus on.
 
No matter what the new year may bring, my prayer is that you will be ESTABLISHED in a Christ-centered faith - because everything else is being shaken!
 
As the Scripture says: "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ..." (Rom. 16:25a).
 
GOD IS ABLE to establish you!
 
But how?
 
"...according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began..." (Rom 16:25b).
 
That is, God will establish you by revealing things kept secret - things you need to know that only HE can reveal!
 
And God WANTS to reveal it to you, and to all...
 
"...but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith..." (Rom. 16:26).
 
Now made manifest!
 
Now made known to all!
 
And yet, God's people continue to be "destroyed for lack of knowledge" and to perish without a vision of Who they have (Hos. 4:6; Pro. 29:18).
 
That should not happen.
 
That's one reason why The School of Christ exists - to proclaim these mysteries revealed in Scripture so you will be established in the faith!
 
And we're going to explore all of them in this new online Bible study...
 
THE 12 MYSTERIES IN SCRIPTURE

(Introduction) 
Thursday, January 5, 2023 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

 

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
 
I am your brother, 

Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

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Reduced to Christ
by Chip Brogden
“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

The principle in John 3:30 is that I must decrease. As surely as Christ must increase, so I must decrease. It must be so; therefore it will be so.
There are two Universal Spiritual Principles found in John 3:30 that express two very fundamental truths. First, that Christ must increase. This is a principle that most Christians can agree with. Are there any Christians who do not desire more of the Lord? Are there any believers who do not long for a greater expression and revelation of Christ – in their personal walk, as well as in the world around them? It is easy to align ourselves with this principle and pray in agreement with God’s Will – that Christ would be increased, and that the knowledge of Him would continue to grow and expand.

What is more difficult to affirm is the decrease of Self. Yet this principle is as powerful and as sure as the first. With more of Christ, there is less of me. With more of me, there is less of Him. And so, in order to cooperate with the first principle, we must overcome the “but” that stands between the two. “He must increase, but…” Something hinders. What gets it the way? What prevents the increase of Christ? It is me – or more accurately, the “I”, or the “Self” keeps getting in the way. And so, “I must decrease...”


CONTINUE READING
https://theschoolofchrist.org/reduced-to-christ

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Law vs. Grace
LISTEN NOW
https://theschoolofchrist.org/law-vs-grace

“The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
-Jn. 1:17
 
The difference between these two is the difference between Law and Grace, Legalism and Love, Fear and Freedom, Misery and Mercy, Hypocrisy and Holiness, Religion and Religion. 

The Risks of approaching God through Law are many, but they all lead to being cut off from Christ and falling from Grace. 


The Rewards of approaching God through the Grace and Truth of Christ are also many, and this Grace is something we have to grow into because it sounds too good to be true!

We explore some more differences between Law and Grace in this teaching series.

LISTEN NOW
   https://theschoolofchrist.org/law-vs-grace
 

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine,
 
Join us tonight for the final message in this series...
 
LAW VS. GRACE (Part 9) 
Thursday, December 29, 2022 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
When we keep HIS Commandments, we are demonstrating a righteousness that far exceeds the rules and regulations of the Law of Moses.
 
This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother, 

Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine,
 
Did you know that the early Christians did not observe the Sabbath Day?
 
Nowhere did Jesus say, "Thou shalt observe the Sabbath and go to church on Sunday."

Yes, the early Ekklesia gathered on “the Lord’s Day” which was Sunday, because this was Resurrection Day.


The Lord's Day was a Custom - not a Command!

 

Jewish Christians could keep the Sabbath on Saturday and go meet with the Ekklesia on Sunday because these two practices were completely separate.

 

It worked for awhile, but eventually Christianity had to "come out" of Judaism.

 

The same way Christians today have to "come out" of Churchianity.

 

So why do Christians today pretend to be Jewish and insist on making a certain day of the week holy when every day belongs to God?

 

"Well, because that's part of the Ten Commandments, isn't it?"
 
But no, the early Christians didn't keep those, either.
 
Now, it doesn't mean they were completely "lawless"!
 
Instead, they were taught to keep HIS Commandments.
 
Whose?
 
His.
 
The Commandments of Jesus.
 
Remember, God said: "This is My Beloved Son... Hear Him!"
 
The Law came through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ.
 
We follow Jesus, not Moses.
 
We want Relationship, not Religion.
 
And when we keep HIS Commandments, we are demonstrating a righteousness that far exceeds the rules and regulations of the Law of Moses.
 
Join us for the final message in this series and discover the simplicity and freedom that is yours in Christ!
 
LAW VS. GRACE (Part 9) 
Thursday, December 29, 2022 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

 

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
 
I am your brother, 


Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine!
 
It is not about celebrating WHEN Christ was born, but THAT He was born.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given..." (Isa.9:6).

THAT He was born is a miracle.

THAT He died and lives again is marvelous.

THAT He lives in you and me is mind-blowing.

THAT He intends to be "All in All" is mind-boggling.

I especially love the third stanza of that wonderful hymn that so clearly reveals His purpose...

"Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name!"

Karla and I pray that the blessing of Jesus, the One Gift of God, will be with you and all your family and loved ones, today and every day.
 
I am your brother, 

Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

d with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Going to Christian College in Dallas, Texas)
Foley, Alabama

Join us on an epic, life changing journey through Israel, through the eyes of those who are well acquainted with the culture, the people and the Land. This is not your average Israel tour— bring your family, bring your friends, and experience the REAL ISRAEL with George and Baht Rivka as your personal hosts.


Hello Elaine,
 
Join us tonight for...
 

LAW VS. GRACE (Part 8) 
Thursday, December 22, 2022 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

 

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.
 
I hope to "see" you online!
 
I am your brother, 

Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine,
 
We live in "perilous times" just as Scripture promised.
 
It is a time when many will turn aside from the simplicity of Christ and will succumb to the complexity of Religion.
 
Take Judaism, for example.
 
There are 613 Mitvot (commandments) in the Torah (Law of Moses).
 
Most Christians are not Jewish, so when they talk about "the commandments" they are not talking about the 613, but the 10 (as in, the Ten Commandments).
 
Why don't we talk about circumcision?
 
Why don't we talk about stoning everyone who commits adultery?
 
Because, no matter how blinded by religion we may be, we still have enough sense to perceive that there is a difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
 
And we are willing to dispense with 603 commandments and keep the 10 Big Ones.
 
Then there is the Tithe - a virtual 11th Commandment, completely re-written to support the modern-day religious machine.
 
And perhaps a 12th Commandment - "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together," which is so important that it must be carved in stone somewhere in the Old Testament, right? (And if it isn't, it probably should have been!)
 
One thing hasn't changed in 6,000 years, though...
 
People prefer comfortable bondage to uncomfortable freedom.
 
Religion, as hard as it may be, is actually easier than Relationship.
 
Legalism, as burdensome as it is, is easier than Love.
 
That's why Religion is a broad way, an easy path, that leads to destruction.
 
Relationship is the narrow way, the difficult path, that leads to Life - "and few there be that find it."
 
Join us as we dig more deeply into these things...

LAW VS. GRACE (Part 8) 
Thursday, December 22, 2022 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother, 
Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

Past, Present, and Future in the Book of Revelation
by Chip Brogden
Revelation is not only telling us what is happening in the future, but it is also tells us what happened in the past – because I have learned that the best way to interpret the future is to interpret the past.
The best indication of a person’s future behavior is to look at their previous behavior. It’s not to say that people can’t change; it only means that people seldom change. They usually don’t change. If you want to get a good indication of what they’re going to be like in the future just look at how they have behaved up until that point. That’s why we need to be new creations. We need the Lord to come in and do a miracle, because apart from the miracle of God in our life, we human beings are not naturally prone to change. We like to keep things just the way they are. Someone who doesn’t know the Lord, or someone who claims to know Him but is not walking with Him, or is in a carnal state of being… They’re probably not going to change unless something dramatic happens.

In the same way we can look at history, and we make the observation that history tends to repeat itself; and the reason it repeats itself is because people seldom change. Things may change, but people seldom change, and therefore history tends to repeat itself...

CONTINUE READING
https://theschoolofchrist.org/past-present-future-revelation

 

Hello Elaine,
 
How easy for religion to get a foothold in people who want to please God! 
 
In fact, if you love God and want to please Him (as most Christians do) then you above all others are especially susceptible to this particular temptation.
 
We want to please God so badly that we think "more religion" or "more church" or "more Bible" or "more stuff" is going to make God happy.
 
When that fails, we start listening to other people - pastors, prophets, popes - who claim to know what will make God happy.
 
They usually end up shoving more religion, more law, more rules down your throat.
 
Because it's not really about making God happy - it's about making them happy, and using God to manipulate you into doing what makes them happy.
 
That's the spirit of Religion.
 
Amazingly, the Bible shows this is nothing new.
 
The Galatians were "bewitched" by some Jewish believers from Jerusalem who taught them that they must be circumcised and follow the law of Moses if they wanted to be saved.
 
Nice people, sincere, wanting to please God - but they got bewitched and befuddled while listening to some ex-Pharisees trying to follow Jesus but still walking around in a religious hangover.
 
It was a huge controversy at the time.
 
But the same basic controversy exists now.
 
Religion vs. Relationship.
 
Fear vs, Faith.
 
Law vs. Grace.
 
We'll discuss how the Galatians got out of this trap (and how you can too, if you're stuck in it) in this week's online Bible study...
 

LAW VS. GRACE (Part 7) 
Thursday, December 15, 2022 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

 

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.
 
Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.
 
I am your brother, 

Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

 
PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine,
 
Oh joy! Join us for tonight's online Bible study...

LAW VS. GRACE (Part 6) 
Thursday, December 8, 2022 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
We're talking about getting over your religious hangover and walking with God in a love relationship. Good stuff you need to hear and be reminded of.
 
I hope to "see" you online!

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

 

The Prisoners of the Lord
by Chip Brogden
"...When you are older, you will stretch out your arms and Someone Else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."

-John 21:18
Spiritual maturity is not being able to do more or less, it is being able to do nothing of myself. 
God is more glorified in my “death” than in my “life”. It is most difficult for people to see this. They have been told that God “hired” them to put them to work for His Kingdom. If they do not report or “work” every week then (they are told) God’s Kingdom suffers loss. Instead of the Lord’s easy yoke and light burden, Religion gives them a difficult yoke and a heavy burden.

Those who are young may have complete liberty to dress themselves and go wherever they please. But after some time the Lord begins to touch those things, and we find it increasingly difficult to live, move, or do anything of our own accord. Self begins to be replaced with Christ, and Someone Else begins to dress us and take us to places where we would not wish to go.

CONTINUE READING
https://theschoolofchrist.org/the-prisoners-of-the-lord

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

 

7 Progressions of Truth
by Chip Brogden
"[God] desires all men to be saved and
to come to the full-knowledge of the truth."

-1 Timothy 2:4
There are seven stages of awareness through which we must pass through in order to bring ourselves out of bondage towards the fullness of Truth and into the life of an Overcomer.
The following seven stages describe the spiritual growth of the Christian from sinner, to seeker, to believer, to disciple, and to overcomer...

CONTINUE READING
https://theschoolofchrist.org/7-progressions-of-truth

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine,
 
After setting an impossible standard for righteousness that exceeds the Law, Jesus reveals the secret of how to fulfill it by surpassing it.
 
Join us tonight for this week's online Bible study:

LAW VS. GRACE (Part 4) 
Friday, November 25, 2022 
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible
 
This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.
 
I hope to "see" you online!
 
I am your brother, 

Chip Brogden 
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

 

Put Ye On the Lord Jesus
by Chip Brogden
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus, and make

no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." 

-Romans 13:14

It is interesting that Paul would say, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus.” What exactly does that mean? How do we put on the Lord Jesus?


If we are looking for a method, or a technique, then we are apt to be disappointed, for neither the Lord nor the apostle Paul gives us such a method. The method is Christ: He is Way, He is Method, He is Technique. We are not given a three-point sermon for how to put on the Lord Jesus; yet we are told this is the key to making no provision for the flesh. This much is clear, however: victory is bound up in Christ, and not in ourselves...

CONTINUE READING
   https://theschoolofchrist.org/put-ye-on-the-lord-jesus
 
PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

A Religion of Fear
by Chip Brogden
Everything Religion touches produces fear. The fear touches everything.

It touches your finances. I had a couple who came up to me while the Church was kicking me out, and they said, “We don’t agree with what’s going on here, but we have to keep paying our tithes because we don’t want our finances to be cursed.” What do you say to something like that? What amazing ignorance – that you would actually give money to something you don’t support because you’re afraid to stop tithing.

Where does that fear come from? Doesn’t come from God. It comes from a Church-Centered Faith, which is really just a Self-Centered Faith. We’re going to do what is in our own best interest, and we believe it is in our best interest to keep tithing because we’re afraid of what might happen if we don’t. That’s a Self-Centered Faith. That’s a Church-Centered Faith. It’s not a Christ-centered faith based on love. The Bible says, “Perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love...”

CONTINUE READING
https://theschoolofchrist.org/a-religion-of-fear

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

A Religion of Fear
by Chip Brogden
Everything Religion touches produces fear. The fear touches everything.

It touches your finances. I had a couple who came up to me while the Church was kicking me out, and they said, “We don’t agree with what’s going on here, but we have to keep paying our tithes because we don’t want our finances to be cursed.” What do you say to something like that? What amazing ignorance – that you would actually give money to something you don’t support because you’re afraid to stop tithing.

Where does that fear come from? Doesn’t come from God. It comes from a Church-Centered Faith, which is really just a Self-Centered Faith. We’re going to do what is in our own best interest, and we believe it is in our best interest to keep tithing because we’re afraid of what might happen if we don’t. That’s a Self-Centered Faith. That’s a Church-Centered Faith. It’s not a Christ-centered faith based on love. The Bible says, “Perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love...”

CONTINUE READING
https://theschoolofchrist.org/a-religion-of-fear

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine,
When you have the "residue of religion" still clinging to you like stink in a landfill, you sometimes revert back to Law without realizing it, and this hinders your growth in Grace.

The Risks of approaching God through Law are many, but they all lead to being cut off from Christ and falling from Grace.

Join us for tonight's online Bible study to learn how to prevent this.

LAW VS. GRACE (Part 2)
Thursday, November 10, 2022
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible

I hope to "see" you there!
I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org

PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA

Hello Elaine,

“The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" Jn. 1:17.

Praise God!

The difference between these two is the difference between...

Law and Grace...

Legalism and Love...

Fear and Freedom...

Misery and Mercy...

Hypocrisy and Holiness...

Religion and Relationship.


As I say... you can have either one you want, but you cannot have both.

The Risks of approaching God through Law are many, but they all lead to being cut off from Christ and falling from Grace.

The Rewards of approaching God through the Grace and Truth of Christ are also many, and this Grace is something we have to grow into because it sounds too good to be true.

We'll explore some more differences between Law and Grace, and all the Risks and Rewards, in this week's online Bible study:

LAW VS. GRACE (Part 2)
Thursday, November 10, 2022
7:00 pm Eastern Time (New York)

Register here (if you haven't already):
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org/bible

This online class is free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) helps us to continue to offer it freely.

Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
https://TheSchoolOfChrist.Org
PO Box 98733
Raleigh NC 27624
USA