Chip Brogden CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS

Being Thankful in a World of Entitlement
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​by Chip Brogden
When we stop to reflect upon all that we have in Christ, it is natural and normal to respond with praise and thanks to God.
 
Scripture tells us that in the last days, perilous times will come as “men will become lovers of their own selves… unthankful” (2 Tim. 3:2). Unthankfulness is a symptom of this modern age. People in more prosperous areas of the world are not particularly thankful for their prosperity. Ironically, they have grown accustomed to thinking that the world (or God) owes them even more – a better job, a free or low-cost education, a nicer home, affordable health care, or an even higher standard of living. This entitlement mentality is unhealthy and leads to chronic discontentment and dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, followers of Jesus recognize that we are entitled to nothing. We also recognize that whatever we do have is the result of God’s blessing: “What do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (I Cor. 4:7). It is impossible for a person to be thankful and to be prideful at the same time...
 
CLICK BELOW TO READ THE REST:
http://www.chipbrogden.com/being-thankful-in-a-world-of-entitlement/
 
I am your brother,
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

All the Parables of Jesus: Prophetic Declarations of Truth
Audio Teaching Series 
by Chip Brogden
The parables of Jesus are not just quaint little stories; they are prophetic declarations of spiritual truth, and they give us invaluable insight into what I call the Irresistible Kingdom of God.
 
“For people who are lost, or who have turned away from religion, this teaching is so full of hope, light, and inspiration to get on that path of relationship with Jesus. One thing is needful! But for the religious who listened in…there was some teeth gnashing I’m sure. :-)” – C.C., Canada
 
There are ten messages (nearly 12 hours)
of teaching in this series!

ORDER OR LEARN MORE
 https://www.chipbrogden.com/product/all-the-parables-of-jesus-prophetic-declarations-of-truth/

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

There's room for you at tonight's Bible study!

LOVE NEVER FAILS (1 Cor. 13)
Thursday, November 15, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

If you haven't already, go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

Sometimes we just need to take a step back, reset, and remember that "love never fails."



I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com


PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

This week we come to that great love chapter - First Corinthians 13.

Karla and I were discussing this and she observed how all the attributes of love that Paul lists in this chapter - patience, kindness, not envious, not boastful, etc. - are all based on character and behavior; none of them are based on emotion.

Emotions and feelings are up, down, and all around.

Emotions and feelings cannot endure anything for very long.

This love of God is deeper, spiritual, and more tenacious that emotions and feelings.

It is also deeper than logic - love can make you do some crazy, irrational things!

Then Paul makes the astonishing statement that nothing matters without love.

Faith?

Spiritual gifts?

Ministries and good works?

Great teachings and sermons?

Perfect doctrines and belief systems?

Without love they are nothing - WE are nothing.

We intellectually nod our head and say Amen.

But do we really, truly get it?

If we did, things would be very different.

We'll dig deeply into this in our next study...

LOVE NEVER FAILS (1 Cor. 13)
Thursday, November 15, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching.


I am your brother,


Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com


PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

The Most Basic Lesson
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​by Chip Brogden
“I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing.”
(Romans 7:18a)
​​​​​​​
It is a great day for the Lord when a disciple of Jesus learns this most basic lesson: that in “me”, in myself, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. 
 
We who have received the Lord as Savior have come to this knowledge of ourselves at least once in our lives. There came a day when we despaired of saving ourselves, and instead of clinging to our righteousness, we confessed our sins and admitted our need for a Savior. At that moment, Christ accepted us as His disciples. Confessing our sinfulness did not hinder us from entering the Kingdom; on the contrary, it opened the door for us to go in. The self-righteous, on the other hand, are disqualified by their own good works. How differently the Lord judges things...
READ THIS ARTICLE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/the-most-basic-lesson/

I am your brother,

Chip Brogden 
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

If you haven't registered for tonight's online Bible study yet, we would love to have you!

CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1 Cor. 12)
Thursday, November 1, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

Hope to "see" you there!


I am your brother,
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

As Paul tried to answer the question of "spiritual gifts," he was concerned that the Corinthians would not be ignorant about how they were supposed to work.

The "ignorance" he refers to has to do with the fact that they were in a pagan society surrounded by "dumb idols."

"Dumb" in this case means "not speaking."

Relating to a living God Who speaks and expresses Himself is a major step up from a religion of "dumb idols."

Likewise, the belief that God once spoke, then someone wrote His words down in the Bible, and then God stopped speaking, is a major step backwards.

Paul didn't want them to be ignorant, but today I'm afraid too many remain ignorant.

Hopefully we can educate ourselves through two major revelations connected with spiritual gifts:

(1) The One Body of Christ, and

(2) Love never fails.

These two revelations must be a starting point for any discussion about the spiritual gifts.

Join us this week as we dig more deeply into how this applies to us today...

CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1 Cor. 12)
Thursday, November 1, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

This class is free; your gift (large or small) makes it possible.


I am your brother,


Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

To Whom Am I Sent?
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
by Chip Brogden
If we are primarily motivated by what other people want, expect, and need then we will be tempted to stay longer than we should stay, or say more than we ought to say. 

When it comes to Christian work and ministry, many workers, ministries and churches are motivated by a perceived NEED. We feel there is a need for something, whether it be a specific ministry, a missionary outreach, a new church, or a Bible study; and so we rise up to meet that need. However, this manner of undertaking spiritual work is purely a human concept. It is of the flesh; it is of the world. It is the same basis upon which a business discovers a need and then creates a product or service to meet that need. The Kingdom of God, however, does not conduct itself according to the principles of business, economics, marketing, or salesmanship.

But the question is not, “Who has a need?” but rather, “To whom am I sent?” Although the two sound very similar, in actual experience the difference is like day and night...
READ THIS ARTICLE
https://www.chipbrogden.com/to-whom-am-i-sent/
I am your brother,

Chip Brogden 
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

If you haven't already registered, I hope you can join us tonight:

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS & COMMANDS (1 Cor. 11)
Thursday, November 1, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

We'll tip over some sacred cows, and if you don't get too riled up, you might even find it educational! :-)


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com



PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,
 
At one time, for a man to wear a hat was a custom.
 
God supposedly spoke to man wearing a hat one day and told him that if he were to "pray without ceasing" then he should go without a hat.
 
I guess this is important to God(?).
 
Anyway. he stopped wearing a hat, and all the people with hats mocked him.
 
He took it as a sign that he must be "suffering for Jesus."
 
Really?
 
It's just confusing traditions, customs, and commands.
 
Do you know the difference?
 
You may think you do.
 
But in actual practice, most folks treat them all the same.
 
I mean, mentally we can see the difference.
 
But emotionally we get all bent out of shape over traditions and customs, treating them with the same reverence and respect as a command.
 
Just because something used to be a certain way, or has always been done a certain way, doesn't mean we have to follow it.
 
It also doesn't mean we can ditch it!
 
It just means we need to know the difference so that, whether we do it or ditch it, we are doing it for the right reasons.
 
When you don't know the difference, you start elevating your traditions to the level of commands.
 
And - without fail - those "commands" turn legalistic and get directed towards others.
 
Like, "God commands us to go to church on Sunday!"
 
No, He doesn't - it's a tradition and a custom, but it's not a command.
 
There are maybe 1,000+ things like this.
 
We won't cover them all in this teaching... but we'll see what Scripture has to say about it this week:
 
TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS & COMMANDS (1 Cor. 11)
Thursday, November 1, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 
P.S. It's "customary" to give a little donation to support these online studies, but it's not a "command." There's another example! :-)
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Prevalence, Prominence, and Preeminence
By Chip Brogden
“Preeminence” is a lofty word. It means the highest place of ascendency, above all, over all, surpassing all, to the point that nothing and no one else can even come close.

According to Scripture, God’s ultimate intention and purpose is “that in all things [Christ] must have preeminence” (Col. 1:18) – not just in you and me, not just in the Ekklesia, but in all creation. And, if we trace the history of God’s dealings with man throughout the Bible, we see that God has been steadily and surely working towards this goal. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). He MUST increase, therefore, He WILL increase, and He IS increasing. Likewise, you MUST decrease, therefore you WILL decrease, and you ARE decreasing. This is not a thing to be frightened over. With less of me, there is more of Him. With more of Him, there is less of me. It is a wonderful thing!

The problem, of course, is that religion has taught us something completely different...

CLICK BELOW TO READ THE REST:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/prevalence-prominence-and-preeminence/

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden

Hey Elaine,

If you haven't registered to join us tonight, we still have room for you:

GIVE NO OFFENSE (1 Cor. 10)
Thursday, October 25, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

Hope to "see" you there!


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

The Society of Perpetually-Offended Persons isn't a real club, but it has real members.

The world is filled with people always taking offense.

And the "Christian world" is no better - in many ways, they are the ones most easily offended.

That's a great context for this week's Bible study.

God does not want us to be an offense to others.

Yet Jesus offended everyone - the Pharisees, the people in His hometown, even His disciples.

Sometimes even *I* offend people (I know, hard to believe, right?)

So we don't want to cause unnecessary offense.

But we also have to realize that we live in a world where people are going to be offended no matter what.

And the Truth (if when spoken in Love) is going to offend.

So we'll dig into the ins and outs of "offense" - causing offense and being offended - in this week's online Bible study:

GIVE NO OFFENSE (1 Cor. 10)
Thursday, October 25, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

It's free to attend, but your gift (of any amount) makes it possible.

Thank you for supporting Christ-centered teaching!

I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

The Remnant Principle
By Chip Brogden
In our time the Lord is working with a Remnant and is raising up Overcomers to represent His interests in the earth, a people who are in this world but not of this world.

We must understand that all the forces of darkness are going to focus themselves against this Remnant in an attempt to shut up the Testimony once and for all. This, truly, is a momentous and critical period. More than Israel is at stake: the very fulfillment of God’s Purpose and Plan for redemption, the actual coming of the Messiah to establish His Kingdom, hangs in the balance.

Now who would ever believe that with this much at stake the first battle to be fought will be over a thing so insignificant as what to eat? Who would ever guess that the very fate of mankind rested on something as simple as food. But I tell you that most of the people failed in this very first test, this very small test, and immediately disqualified themselves. 

I pray the Lord will open our eyes to see the principle here!

CLICK BELOW TO READ THE REST:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/the-remnant-principle-part-1/

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden 
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

An entitlement mentality insists on having its "rights."

As an example from tonight's study, Paul discusses what apostles are rightfully entitled to - money!

Appealing to Scripture, to the words of Jesus, and to common sense, Paul says he has a right to expect financial support because: "The Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel."

But then...

He turns around and says he will not insist upon his rights.

Paul had a day job - making tents - while he preached the Gospel.

What's more amazing?

That ministers are entitled to be supported by the people they minister to?

Or that Paul would freely give up that entitlement - and still have a good attitude about it?

Join us tonight and let's explore these things (and much more) together...

HAVING A SERVANT'S HEART (1 Cor. 9)
Thursday, October 18, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

If you haven't don so yet, go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

Should be VERY interesting :-)


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

The famous "love chapter" (1 Cor. 13) is only the culmination of something Paul starts talking about much earlier in his letter.

He's trying to get the Corinthians to stop thinking about their own needs, wants, and concerns.

He's trying to get them to love, cherish, and edify one another as ONE BODY.

See, all their troubles really were the result of self-seeking.

Love is the answer!

But love is easy to talk about and hard to demonstrate.

So Paul gives them an example from his own life.

His example helps us to not only better understand the apostolic calling, but also, to better see the heart of a servant at work.

And with a servant's heart of love, it's amazing how problems work themselves out!

With a servant's heart, Paul knew how to handle the divisions among them.

With a servant's heart, Paul knew how to deal with "sin in the camp."

With a servant's heart, Paul knew how to settle questions about marriage and food sacrificed to idols and speaking in tongues.

It's so simple you wonder how we might have missed it!

So don't miss this opportunity to take a closer look...

HAVING A SERVANT'S HEART (1 Cor. 9)
Thursday, October 18, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

Great, practical stuff here.

Knowledge puffs up - but love builds up.

Hope to "see" you online!


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Your Key to Personal Revival
By Chip Brogden
If the Ekklesia is living and abiding in Christ, this eliminates the need for revival!

What is revival? Well, it’s a Latin word that means “to make alive again”. It means something has died and we are going to revive it. That is revival. But we have already seen that when we abide in Christ we share in His Life. The Ekklesia is living because Christ lives. And so the Ekklesia has no need of revival, because it shares in the life of the Lord.

Now see, we try to take that concept of “revival” and we apply it to things that are dead, things that are outside of the Ekklesia – our church buildings, our religious programs, our church services, our membership – and we hope that through “revival” we are going to increase our ministry, enlarge our church, get more people saved, or whatever the goal is. But my point is that the Ekklesia does not need revival. You are trying to raise something from the dead with revival, but the Ekklesia is living.

The Ekklesia is growing spiritually. It is expanding. How is it growing? How is it expanding? Numerically? Well, perhaps; but the real measure of growth is not in terms of numbers or dollars... 

CLICK BELOW TO READ THE REST:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/your-key-to-personal-revival/

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden

Hey Elaine,

We have the remnants of yet another hurricane heading our way, but we're moving forward with tonight's webinar!

In the teaching you'll learn why must of the things Christians argue over are really non-essential.

I'll even make a list of things essential things (short list) and non-essential things (long list).

I think it will be a lot of fun!

LOVE BUILDS UP (1 Cor. 8)
Thursday, October 11, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

Hope to "see" you there!


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

One of the big controversial issues for the Corinthians was - are you ready for this? - food sacrificed to idols.

Should a Christian eat meat previously offered to the gods in a pagan ceremony?

Hmmm.

That's not a big deal for us today.

But for them, it was a divisive issue.

Likewise, you may have noticed that when it comes to controversial issues today every Christian has an opinion.

Social media allows those opinions to be easily shared, easily spread, and easily argued over.

And when it comes to our belief systems, instead of discussion and understanding, there is a lot of pride as we cling to our opinions about what should or should not be, what is or is not acceptable, what God says and does not say.

Paul called it being "puffed up" with knowledge - when "being right" is more important than being ONE in Christ.

The path of spiritual maturity is not to be "puffed up" with knowledge but to be "built up" with love.

The issues change, but how people approach these issues remains largely the same - usually through a "I'm right, you're wrong" paradigm that divides rather than unites.

So on this week's Bible study we'll look at how Paul dealt with that, and we'll draw conclusions that we can apply to today's controversial issues.

You should find it very interesting!

LOVE BUILDS UP (1 Cor. 8)
Thursday, October 11, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

It's free to register, but your gift  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

A Religion of Fear
by Chip Brogden
Religion is based on fear. Fear is how you attract people to Church, fear is how you keep them going to Church. 

Now, you might wonder why someone would be attracted to going to Church through fear. Usually they grew up in a religious, Church-going family with a mother or father who dragged them to Church every time the doors were open. Maybe they grew up and rebelled against that and decided Church wasn’t for them. So they go out into the world and go their own way. 

Meanwhile, mom and dad are worried about them and concerned for their soul, and they keep bugging them to go to Church. Nothing seems to work. Until there is an accident, or a sickness or illness, or something goes wrong in life. Then mom and dad say, “Well, you know, if you had stayed in Church, this might not have happened. You need to stop fighting against God and get back into Church.” And the person is in a weakened condition, they are worried or depressed or looking for whatever help they can get, and they think, “You know, maybe mom and dad are right. My life is a real mess. I think I’ll try this Church thing out again. Maybe it will help me.” 

So they go to Church, and their life is a mess, so when it comes time to get prayed over, they usually wind up going to the altar and breaking down, and everyone gathers around and prays, and there’s more crying. But just the process of crying and expressing your feelings is therapeutic… all that emotion comes out, and you’re in an environment that seems welcoming and comforting. People are praying for you, and they seem nice and supportive. And mom and dad are overjoyed that you’ve come back to Church. So you begin to think, “You know, Church isn’t that bad after all.” So you start going to Church.

Now that’s a fairly typical pattern of behavior. I’ve seen that scenario play itself out in hundreds and hundreds of people’s lives (if not thousands). I just want to point out that the whole story I just shared didn’t involve the Lord. Not one bit. It’s all Church-Centered. It’s not Christ-Centered. It’s about whether or not you’re going to Church, and the idea is, if you don’t go, bad things will happen; but if you do go, good things will happen, or at least, it will make the bad things easier to deal with. But the whole thing is based on attending Church, and it’s based on fear. It’s not based on where you are with the Lord, it’s based on where you are with the Church...

CLICK BELOW TO READ THE REST:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/a-religion-of-fear/

I am your brother,
Chip Brogden 
 

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

There's still time for you to get on tonight's webinar:

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE (1 Cor. 7)
Thursday, October 4, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

We'll try to cut through all the confusion about marriage and divorce and simplify what Scripture says into four basic principles.

Hope to "see" you online!


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,
 
God's original definition of marriage is under attack like never before.
 
Increasingly, young people are skipping marriage and just living together.
 
The majority of those who DO get married end up getting divorced.
 
Interestingly enough, we are not the first or only people in history to struggle with this.
 
That becomes clear when we study Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, where he answers their questions about marriage and divorce.
 
This is a sociological issue with spiritual implications.
 
If marriages fail, families are more likely to fail, and an entire generations of children can be lost in the shuffle.
 
So regardless of your experience - single, happily married, unhappily married, divorced, or remarried - it does us good to revisit the spiritual and Biblical principles of marriage from time to time.
 
We don't take our values from what the world says and does.
 
We don't even take our values from our own subjective and flawed experiences.
 
We go to God's Word and get His wisdom.
 
Then, if we have find ourselves coming up short or having made mistakes, we receive His mercy and grace and move on.
 
So there is no condemnation here - only illumination.
 
Join us this week to learn more, and invite a friend!
 
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE (1 Cor. 7)
Thursday, October 4, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)
 
Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible
 
It's free to register, but your gift (of any amount) helps make it possible.
 
 
 
I am your brother,
 
Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com
 
PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hi Elaine,

It looks like some people weren't able to order a print copy of my new book from Amazon yesterday.

This has been fixed now.

Here are the Amazon links for "Not Many Fathers":

PAPERBACK VERSION
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1723896071/


KINDLE VERSION
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HM5FJ9C/


Thank you for reading!


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Chip Brogden
"Not Many Fathers"
Not Many Fathers:
What Apostles Are
and Why We
Still Need Them
A New Book by Chip Brogden
LEARN MORE https://www.chipbrogden.com/not-many-fathers/
Hi Elaine,

It's been awhile since I put out a new book, so I'm really happy to make this one available to you :-)

Both Paul and John refer to their brothers and sisters as “my little children.” We should not infer from this that the apostles are assuming the Father’s role; but, as elder brothers, they certainly reflected the Father’s heart towards His children, beyond mere preaching and teaching.

What exactly is the Father’s heart toward His children? How is the Father’s heart uniquely reflected through apostles? And how can we have the Father’s heart without taking the Father’s place?

These are some of the questions we explore in this book. It's available on Amazon in paperback (124 pages) or Kindle editions.

Please check it out this weekend we you have a chance:
https://www.chipbrogden.com/not-many-fathers/


I am your brother,
Chip Brogden


PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA

Hey Elaine,

If you haven't registered for tonight's webinar, here's the info again:

THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 Cor. 6)
Thursday, September 27, 2018
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (New York)

Go here to register for this online class:
--> http://chipbrogden.com/bible

We're talking about YOU being the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and I'll also share the best way to overcome those sins of the flesh - sexual impurity, food, and addictions.

Don't think you're too spiritual for this to apply to you... Paul's letter to the Corinthians shows they struggled with these things, the same as we do.

Hope to "see" you tonight!


I am your brother,

Chip Brogden
http://ChipBrogden.com

PO Box 282
Bunn NC 27508
USA