Matthew Tolbert Podcasts

Statement of Faith Point Seven

[1 Peter 4:3] We are not missing out on anything the world has, carrying out the desire of unbelievers. Do not look back at your former life with fondness like Lot’s wife. The time of being a slave to sin is over. How are you doing with the temptations to sin with sexual immorality and alcohol?

[Eph 6:1-10] Paul calls the church to take their stand against Satanic forces by arming themselves with all the armor God provides.

Statement of Faith Point Seven

[Eph 5:15-21] What does "be filled with the spirit" mean, and how do you do it?

Hell is real a real place where sinners will go forever, and Jesus depicts it as both like a furnace of fire & outer darkness. Two different things are bing communicated by these descriptions, and they are completely complimentary, true, and harmonious in describing God’s judgement. All these attributes of Hell go together; there is no specific ord…

The consequences of sin, both inherited and actual, are separation from God in spiritual death. complete disinheritance as children of God, subjection to all the miseries of this life, physical death and eternal conscious punishment of both soul and body in the lake of fire in the age to come.

[Psalm 46] We have a heavenly city of God as believers in Christ, so we need not fear the instability in this world, even wars and rumors of wars.

[Psalm 16:1-4] Psalm 16 is quoted by Peter in this first sermon at Pentecost. We walk through the first four verses of Psalm 16 in this exposition, touching on prayer, verbal praise of God, love for the brethren, and the sorrows of the wicked.

Statement of Faith Point Seven

[Acts 2:24] It was impossible for Him (Jesus) to be held in its (death’s) power or grip. He HAD to be raised, there was no other way or possible outcome because of who Jesus was and is according to the scriptures.

Statement of Faith Point Seven

[Acts 2:24] Philosophy and science have no knowledge or authority on God, miracles, and eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus is a historical and prophetic matter, a fact attested to by divine revelation and testimony of men and the Holy Spirit.

[Acts 2:23] God's foreknowledge is in reference to His sovereign electing grace in His salvation of sinners. The biblical usage may be surprising to you when compared to how it's most often used in theological conversation today to justify man's free will.

[Acts 2:23] The eternal purpose of God since before the world was created is a deliberate plan and purpose that He ordained beforehand to save many sinners in His great love through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[1 Peter 4:2] Normal Christians do not live any longer for the lusts of men but for the will of God. Obedience is not an option in the Christian life, and it is not legalism to obey God in holiness and righteous living for the will of God. And we must always remember that there is abundant grace for all in the gospel of Jesus Christ.…

[1 Peter 4:1] Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, we as believers also ought to arm ourselves with the same mind to suffer in the flesh like our Lord. Those who have taken up the mission of obeying God and suffer for it, have made a decisive break from sin so that they are done with living in sin.…

[Matt 16:24-28] Jesus tells his disciples what it costs to follow Him - everything. This is the only way to save your life and soul, for when He comes, He will judge every man.

[Acts 2:23] The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is about the resurrection from the dead at Jesus’ second coming, not a worldly kingdom following His first coming. Jesus accomplished the great work of salvation on the cross by allowing himself to be delivered over.

[Acts 2:22] Peter appeals to the crowd of gathered Israelites to listen soberly to his appeal to their conscience regarding the man, Christ Jesus, and how God affirmed Him in their midst.

The Gospel is good news widely proclaimed and gladly received. This good news is God’s and from God.

[Acts 2:19-21] What characterizes the Last Days, the time between Jesus' first coming with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh and His second coming? Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved! What does this mean? How does it work?

[Matt 23:29-25:46] The “Red Letter Second Coming” Jesus laid out for His disciples is simple and clear if you interpret it in light of the 4 questions/categories in Matt 24:3.

[Joel 2:30-32, 3:12-16] Starting with an overview of historical theology, through the Reformation and into the 20th century, we dig into the book of Joel to understand what is written there and how Peter explains these quotations as fulfilled starting at Pentecost.

[Acts 2:16-20] The Last Days begin with the greatest gift that God could ever give - Himself. The Last days are characterized by an era when the Holy Spirit is given to all believers as Christ reigns from heaven.

[Acts 2:14-21] According to Peter, quoting and interpreting Joel 2, the "last days" began at the day of Pentecost. It has been nearly 2000 years of Last Days, and we are living in those last days right now! This has great significance for our life in Christ.

[1 Peter 3:21-22] Baptism is patterned or modeled after God's salvation of Noah and his family through the judgement and destruction of the flood, and in some sense, actually saves us from the wrath to come.

[1 Peter 3:19-20] Whatever you think about sin, it’s clear that sin is man’s fault and it grieves and provokes God. The world is full of wickedness and continual evil thoughts; narrow is the path and few who find it, just like the few that the Lord saved on the ark with Noah according to His favor.

[1 Peter 3:18-20] We break down the passage phrase by phrase, comparing with similar enlightening passages elsewhere in the scriptures, to arrive at the author's intended meaning - and it's BIG!

Psalm 121 is a psalm of assurance, help and preservation by the hand of the LORD through the journey to Jerusalem. This is for Christian mothers and for all believers who desperately need encouragement that God is with us, preserving and helping us to the end. The only action in the whole Psalm is lifting your eyes to the Lord in faith as your help…

[Psalm 3:1-8] This psalm of David has a superscription that sets the scene for this psalm of lament that turns by the end into confidence in the Lord's protection as he flees from his son Absalom. How ought we to respond in the face of opposition and adversaries, including the spiritual forces of evil? We should turn to and trust in the Lord God as…

Wrapping up our discussion of Article 1 in our statement of faith: the Holy Scriptures

[Acts 2:5-13] 1 Cor 14 describes speaking in tongues as when God gives His child words beyond human language to worship Him, full of the Holy Spirit, edifying oneself, not the body. Acts 2 records men speaking a clear message about the mighty deeds of God. According to Paul's explanation in 1 Cor 14, this is does not fit the category of tongues but…

Continuing on with our discussion of Article 1 in our statement of faith: the Holy Scriptures

[Acts 2:1-4] Pentecost was the final component of a single transaction including the cross, burial, resurrection, ascension, and pouring out of the promised Holy Spirit to fulfill the scriptures. This event of the Holy Sprint poured out on God’s people was signified by tongues of fire over each head, a fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy.…

Join us as we discuss the first article in our statement of faith: the Holy Scriptures.

[Acts 4:33] The resurrection of Jesus Christ is historic event testified to by eye-witnesses, Old Testament prophecy, and finally the Holy Spirit.

[Matt 28:16-20] Taking a closer look at the great comission and its parallel passages in the synoptic gospels helps us understand the "what", "how", and "why" of discipleship. We are to go make disciples (converts) of all nations because Jesus reigns now!

[1 Peter 3:17] Following Jesus faithfully will bring persecution. Peter wants us to know here and in 3 other places (1 Peter 1:6-7; 2:15; 4:19) that this is according to the will of God. Knowing that even as we do good we may suffer for it if God wills should bring us great comfort. Jesus is our example through his sacrifice and propitiation for us…

[1 Peter 3:12] God is not an impersonal force like gravity; He is a personal living Spirit who cares deeply about the choices of His creatures What does the scriptures mean by the term "face"? The surface of something, what is visible, where one is heading with focus & determination, personal presence and attention given to someone. We must recogni…

[1 Peter 3:8-12] Why must we seek peace and pursue it? Because peace among the church of Jesus Christ is always in jeopardy. Peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of goodwill, blessing with harmony, health and wholeness, soundness and success. God is the source of all peace, and God’s king brings in a new era of salvation and p…

[1 Peter 3:10-17] Throughout the scriptures, God’s people are commanded to do good. What exactly is this “good” that we must do?

[1 Peter 3:10-17] Peter wants to push us away from fear and evil by reminding us to do good with a focus on others, doing righteousness and keeping a good conscience, even in the midst of imminent persecution and suffering.

[1 Peter 3:8-10] "Turn away from evil" is one word in the original Greek which communicates our obligation, the absolutely necessity of turning away from evil. Evil-that which ought not to be, brings harm or destruction; forsaking the Lord and living as though He doesn’t exist; not obeying the commands of the Lord The Lord's will is made clear in H…

[1 Peter 3:8-10] Election is unconditional-God in his own free and sovereign grace chooses who he wills. The blessing of God for believers however is conditional, it depends on our lives, behavior, choices, and in particular here, our speech; how we use our tongue and our lips.

[Matt 16:24-27] Repent of your sin, believe on Jesus, and follow Jesus all the days of your life - this is the discipleship. Justification is free by faith alone and we cannot add to what Christ has accomplished on that cross, but discipleship is mandatory and it will cost you everything.

[Matt 16:21-23] We continue on the significance of "discipleship" according to Christ, this time focusing on the first half of the well-known passage where Jesus tells Peter to "get behind me, Satan" in response to Peter trying to stop Him from going to the cross as a result of setting his mind on man's interests rather than God's!…

[Acts 11:26] “Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch..." Discipleship - personally following Jesus Christ as Messiah, Savior, and Risen Lord according to His word in the dynamic of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Inclusive of everything from repentance to the new heavens and new earth.