First Christian Church in Lubbock TX. Gospel clarity, people focused.

First Christian Church of Lubbock

Noon Bible Study | 06/29/2022 - Ezekiel 12:1-13:23 | Rev. Paul Carpenter

First Christian Church of Lubbock, Texas.

Bible Study Ezekiel 6:1-7:27 5/25/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study  Ezekiel 4:1-5:17  5/18/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Ezekiel 3:16-27   5/11/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Ezekiel 2:1-3:15 5/4/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Ezekiel 1:1-28   4/27/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Matt 28: 16-20  4/20/22 Paul Carpenter

Noon Bible Study | Matt 23:1-24 - 10/20/2021

Wednesday Noon Bible Study "Matt 4:12-25" 9/16/2020 Rev Paul Carpenter

Revelation 21 
October 30, 2019 
 
• Genesis 12, 15, 17; Galatians 3:16,29. God’s promise and purposes to Himself fell upon Abraham to include – a place, a dwelling, and a people – all blessed and known intimately by God. 
• The Older Testament is the shadow of the New (fulfilled, actual) Testament and Covenant. 
• New earth, new Jerusalem, new nation. 
• Re-creation – no sea. 
• Holy City – New Jerusalem – from God – dressed like a bride meeting her husband. 
• 21:3-4, God speaks 
• God will dwell with humans and live with them. 
• They will be God’s people and He will be with them as their God. 
• He will remove their grief, and abolish death, mourning, crying, and pain, for those are of the old order. 
• 21:5-6, “Behold I make all things new.” – write/remember this – Truth about the way things are. 
• “It is done.” “alpha and omega” – my plan from the beginning is completed. 
• Whoever (John 3:16) thirsts – desires earnestly – I will give of the spring of the water of life freely. (No cost of works, payment, punishment – only desire). 
• 21:7, All who overcome will inherit all this – for I will be his God and he will be my son. 
• 21:8, Cowards (man pleasers), unbelieving (w/o trust in God), abominable (foul, stinky), murderers, sexually immoral (lit. male prostitutes), witchcraft, false god devotees, untrue people. 
• Cosigned to Hell – no share in God’s blessing 
• Take Aways: 
• Reflect on God’s promises to Himself and revealed to His vessels – to have all the conditions met for the praise of His glory by countless tongues. 
• Thirst – desire earnestly the grace of God in Christ Jesus. “Jesus I love you.” “Jesus I need you.” 
• Take heart for your inheritance is secure – serve God, win souls, celebrate the Gospel.

Revelation 21
October 30, 2019

• Genesis 12, 15, 17; Galatians 3:16,29. God’s promise and purposes to Himself fell upon Abraham to include – a place, a dwelling, and a people – all blessed and known intimately by God.
• The Older Testament is the shadow of the New (fulfilled, actual) Testament and Covenant.
• New earth, new Jerusalem, new nation.
• Re-creation – no sea.
• Holy City – New Jerusalem – from God – dressed like a bride meeting her husband.
• 21:3-4, God speaks
• God will dwell with humans and live with them.
• They will be God’s people and He will be with them as their God.
• He will remove their grief, and abolish death, mourning, crying, and pain, for those are of the old order.
• 21:5-6, “Behold I make all things new.” – write/remember this – Truth about the way things are.
• “It is done.” “alpha and omega” – my plan from the beginning is completed.
• Whoever (John 3:16) thirsts – desires earnestly – I will give of the spring of the water of life freely. (No cost of wor

Noon Bible Study | Revelation 21:9-27 (11/21/19)

Noon Bible Study | Revelation 21:1-8 (10/30/19)

Noon Bible Study | Revelation 11:1-14 (08/21/19)

Revelation 6:1-8 
June 19, 2019 
 
• Chts 6-11 are the 7 seals being opened. 
• 5:1-8:1 – the seven seals; 8:2-11 – the seventh seal 
• 6 judgments, interlude revealing God’s love and mercy for His people, the final infliction/judgment, concluding with Jesus’ return. 
• Before Jesus returns, there will be (must be) preparation. Jesus doesn’t come back to correct what has happened, or in spite what is about to happen; rather, these things are written, willed, purposed as God’s plans preceding the return of Jesus and the re-creation of the world. Not only is God/Lamb in control (defense), they are causing this to happen (offense). 
• Four Horsemen – Zechariah 6:1-7 – “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.” 
• God wills, Jesus enacts, and heaven cries, “Come!” A White Horse – Rider held a bow, is given a crown, and he went out conquering and to conquer (means = ends… single-minded). 
• God wills, Jesus enacts, and heaven cries, “Come!” A Red Horse – Rider is given the commission to take peace from the earth causing (God’s intention) men to slay one another; he is given a great sword. (White Horse is external conquest; Red Horse is internal revolution). 
• God wills, Jesus enacts, and heaven cries, “Come!” A Black Horse – Rider had a pair of scales. He establishes a famine. Heavenly Voice – “A quart of wheat for a day’s wage.” (would feed one person); “Three quarts of barley for a day’s wage.” (would feed more but is poorer quality). “Do not damage the oil and the wine!” (the wealthy will continue to indulge themselves. 
• God wills, Jesus enacts, and heaven cries, “Come!” A Pale Green Horse – Rider is named Death, Hades followed right behind him. Authority was given to Death and Hades over ¼ of the earth to kill in various ways. 
• Next week – (5) The martyrs cry out and are comforted; (6) The creation itself is laid bare. 
• Take Aways – 
• The path forward is impossible for an unbeliever to accept as good news. Conquest, Slaying, Famine, Mass Death. 
• This is the way forward, like labor pains. 
• God isn’t allowing it; He is causing it.

Revelation 6:1-8
June 19, 2019

• Chts 6-11 are the 7 seals being opened.
• 5:1-8:1 – the seven seals; 8:2-11 – the seventh seal
• 6 judgments, interlude revealing God’s love and mercy for His people, the final infliction/judgment, concluding with Jesus’ return.
• Before Jesus returns, there will be (must be) preparation. Jesus doesn’t come back to correct what has happened, or in spite what is about to happen; rather, these things are written, willed, purposed as God’s plans preceding the return of Jesus and the re-creation of the world. Not only is God/Lamb in control (defense), they are causing this to happen (offense).
• Four Horsemen – Zechariah 6:1-7 – “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.”
• God wills, Jesus enacts, and heaven cries, “Come!” A White Horse – Rider held a bow, is given a crown, and he went out conquering and to conquer (means = ends… single-minded).
• God wills, Jesus enacts, and heaven cries

Noon Bible Study | Revelation 6:1-8 (06/19/19)

Revelation 2:18 – 3:6 
May 22, 2019 
 
• Thyatira – military outpost – known for their trade guilds; (Lydia, dealt in purple cloth, Acts16:14) 
• Lord Jesus Christ – Son of God, eyes of fire, and feet of bronze. 
• Your deeds, love and faith are increasing. 
• BUT, you tolerate (permit, leave un-confronted) that woman (an actual prominent woman in that local church) Jezebel (Jesus sees her as a manifestation of the same force in Northern Israel – 1 Kings 16:31). 
 She teaches, causing Jesus’ servants to be misled into sexual immorality and idolatry (porneus) – “commit fornication; unfaithful to Christ while posing as a true follower.” 
• Antinomianism – b/c God’s grace covers the believer’s sins, then we are free to live into our fleshly (internal) or worldly (external) desires. 
 Jesus has incentivized her repentance, but she is unwilling. 
 Jesus will cast her on a bed of suffering – venereal disease; and those who follower her will receive the same consequence. 
• He hasn’t done it yet, Warning! Repent! 
• Her children/followers will die. 
• Command – (1) repent; (2) Hold on and do His will. 
• Overcomes, Jesus will rule and you can share in it (Psalm 2). 
• Sardis – Great wealth and fame; fortified city that was captured twice at night. 
• Lord Jesus Christ – Controls the Holy Spirit and the messengers for the churches. 
• Your deeds are incomplete. Reputation (stellar) who people think you are; Character/Nature (terminal) who you really are. To the church who has a stellar reputation, but is in fact dead or dying. 
• Jesus’ Commandment – wake up! Nearly 100% is dead; establish what is still alive, and fast! Remember, repent, obey. 
 Churches in this condition (again great on paper, dead inside), normally have a small remnant as God’s mercy to them. 
• Overcome by being alive, clean, and legitimately walking with Jesus. 
• Dressed in white, their names are in the book of life, never to be removed; instead Jesus will confess/declare their name before the Father and angels. 
 
Take Aways: Three elements for Christians to overcome (to be faithful to Jesus until the Kingdom) 
(1) Remember and return to the Gospel. 
(2) Be willing to pour out your life if it is demanded of you. 
(3) Do not accommodate popular, sinful practices (light and darkness cannot mix). 
(4) Do not tolerate teachers of accommodation; leaving false teachers alone is playing a dangerous game. 
(5) Personally walk with Jesus (even if the church isn’t), and call out – wake up, O sleeper! The bridegroom is coming!

Revelation 2:18 – 3:6
May 22, 2019

• Thyatira – military outpost – known for their trade guilds; (Lydia, dealt in purple cloth, Acts16:14)
• Lord Jesus Christ – Son of God, eyes of fire, and feet of bronze. 
• Your deeds, love and faith are increasing. 
• BUT, you tolerate (permit, leave un-confronted) that woman (an actual prominent woman in that local church) Jezebel (Jesus sees her as a manifestation of the same force in Northern Israel – 1 Kings 16:31).
 She teaches, causing Jesus’ servants to be misled into sexual immorality and idolatry (porneus) – “commit fornication; unfaithful to Christ while posing as a true follower.”
• Antinomianism – b/c God’s grace covers the believer’s sins, then we are free to live into our fleshly (internal) or worldly (external) desires.
 Jesus has incentivized her repentance, but she is unwilling.
 Jesus will cast her on a bed of suffering – venereal disease; and those who follower her will receive the same consequence.
• He hasn’t done it yet, W

Noon Bible Study | Revelation 2:18-3:6 (05/22/19)

James 3:1-12 
March 13, 2019 
 
• 3:1, Teachers are called to instruct the church so as to “ground” her. (apostles – stand and empower; pastors – know and encourage smaller groups with their presence; evangelists – add mightily to the numbers; prophets – treat the sick and the stuck; teachers – ground). 
o Competent, trusted, influential. 
o Judged with greater thoroughness and strictness. 
o Matthew 12:34-37 – all will be judged by our words. 
• 3:2, we trip in various ways. A person who no longer trips in their speech has (1) overcome subcategories and (2) overcome the most difficult way of sinning. You can’t fake this one. 
o Jesus says our words reflect our nature (old vs. new). Like what makes you laugh. 
o (i) The tongue a product of what is in our heart (sin, fear, selfishness, misinformation); (ii) It controls and directs our present and future (without intervention). 
• 3:3-5, The tongue is a napoleon. Little, bold, driven, and harnessing great power (our lives). 
• 3:5b-6, A tongue out of control is like a hellfire that hurts those near it, those attached, and even the tongue itself. 
• 3:7-8, Man can subdue and restrain all sorts of beasts, to produce control, order and peace. No man can tame the tongue. Like an animal who: 
o Is bound for evil in the form of anarchy – will die before is used for order. 
o Is killing all the time with a full storehouse of venom – will kill without prejudice. 
• 3:9-12 (evidence in light of the seriousness of this problem). Tongues bless the Trinity (he is speaking to born again folks); Tongues curse (desire pain and evil) God’s image bearers. The tongue is an instrument designed with a purpose. We don’t use a first aid kit to bludgeon someone; or a rifle to heal someone. The tongue is designed (redeemed) to BLESS – to confer benefits and life. 
• TAKE AWAYS: 
o We are loved and called to holiness. 
o We have a ways to go. 
o We will get there! 
o Teachers and non-teachers, go to the only One who can perfect us, culminating in the redemption of our tongues.

James 3:1-12
March 13, 2019

• 3:1, Teachers are called to instruct the church so as to “ground” her. (apostles – stand and empower; pastors – know and encourage smaller groups with their presence; evangelists – add mightily to the numbers; prophets – treat the sick and the stuck; teachers – ground).
o Competent, trusted, influential.
o Judged with greater thoroughness and strictness.
o Matthew 12:34-37 – all will be judged by our words.
• 3:2, we trip in various ways. A person who no longer trips in their speech has (1) overcome subcategories and (2) overcome the most difficult way of sinning. You can’t fake this one.
o Jesus says our words reflect our nature (old vs. new). Like what makes you laugh.
o (i) The tongue a product of what is in our heart (sin, fear, selfishness, misinformation); (ii) It controls and directs our present and future (without intervention).
• 3:3-5, The tongue is a napoleon. Little, bold, driven, and harnessing great power (our lives).
• 3:5b-6, A tongue out 

Noon Bible Study | James 3:1-12 (03/13/19)

James 2:1-13 
February 27, 2019 
 
• 2:1, Partiality – respecter of persons. God doesn’t do this. Can offend the rich. Will include the poor. It is what it is. 
• 2:2-4, Discriminate, separate, judge with evil thoughts. (versus Matthew 7:5, judging with godly thoughts). 
• 2:5, Chosen, elect, picked out those who are poor to be RICH in faith and in heritance. Major doctrinal claim! 
• 2:6, You (in our flesh) see poverty as having no value, honor, or worth. While it is the rich, powerful who rule, oppress, and meddle in our lives. Major heart condition claim! 
• 2:8, Royal law – supreme – “love your neighbor as yourself” – in this you act nobly, honorably. 
• 2:9, Partiality – favor a person or persons based on temporary surface elements, you are in active rebellion against the Gospel and the mission of Christ – Good soldier to defector (or at least abandoning your post). 
• 2:11, The holding cell – what are you in for? It does not say all sins are alike or the same; it does say that all sins make us sinners. 
• 2:12, Not final destination (heaven/hell), but level of glory. You will be judged. Mercy – covenant loyalty – pity and compassion. If you lack mercy, God’s judgment will not include mercy – straight forward. Mercy exults over judgment! 
 
(1) You will be judged according to God’s perfect law. (not reciprocity in the world, but based on trust and loyalty to the King who is invading) 
(2) Mercy, kindness as a constant heart posture is of great value on the battle field – and is priceless at the judgment. 
(3) Practical Lesson – do not respect externals, but treat the saints (and potential saints) with the eyes of heaven.

James 2:1-13
February 27, 2019

• 2:1, Partiality – respecter of persons. God doesn’t do this. Can offend the rich. Will include the poor. It is what it is.
• 2:2-4, Discriminate, separate, judge with evil thoughts. (versus Matthew 7:5, judging with godly thoughts).
• 2:5, Chosen, elect, picked out those who are poor to be RICH in faith and in heritance. Major doctrinal claim!
• 2:6, You (in our flesh) see poverty as having no value, honor, or worth. While it is the rich, powerful who rule, oppress, and meddle in our lives. Major heart condition claim!
• 2:8, Royal law – supreme – “love your neighbor as yourself” – in this you act nobly, honorably.
• 2:9, Partiality – favor a person or persons based on temporary surface elements, you are in active rebellion against the Gospel and the mission of Christ – Good soldier to defector (or at least abandoning your post).
• 2:11, The holding cell – what are you in for? It does not say all sins are alike or the same; it does say that all sins ma

Noon Bible Study | James 2: 1-13 (02/27/19)

Noon Bible Study | Romans 11:1-10(11/7/18)

Romans 1:1-7 
May 16, 2018 
 
• 1:1, Paul is: 
o A Bond-slave (indebted) to Christ – without any ownership rights of their own. 
o Summoned by name to be an Apostle. A commissioned person to focus back on the authority of the sender. Ex, to give a city back to God. 
o “Separated from” or “severed” for God’s Gospel. 
• 1:2-6, God’s Gospel: 
o 1:2, He promised it beforehand through the prophets as are recorded in Holy Scripture. 
o 1:3, Fully based upon (solely) God’s Son, Jesus the Christ. 
 In terms of Body and Soul, He is from David’s sperm. 
 In terms of Power, He is the Son of God 
• Most notably seen in the Spirit of holiness in the Resurrection. 
 1:5, Through Whom (Jesus Christ), we (Paul and Timothy) have received (not taken) grace and apostleship to seek the “submission to what is heard” through faith among all the Gentiles – to lift the name of Jesus Christ. 
• 1:6, This includes you Romans who belong to Jesus Christ. 
• 1:7, To all those existing in Rome, beloved of God, summoned by name to be saints: 
o “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 1:1-7
May 16, 2018

• 1:1, Paul is:
o A Bond-slave (indebted) to Christ – without any ownership rights of their own.
o Summoned by name to be an Apostle. A commissioned person to focus back on the authority of the sender. Ex, to give a city back to God.
o “Separated from” or “severed” for God’s Gospel.
• 1:2-6, God’s Gospel:
o 1:2, He promised it beforehand through the prophets as are recorded in Holy Scripture.
o 1:3, Fully based upon (solely) God’s Son, Jesus the Christ.
 In terms of Body and Soul, He is from David’s sperm.
 In terms of Power, He is the Son of God
• Most notably seen in the Spirit of holiness in the Resurrection.
 1:5, Through Whom (Jesus Christ), we (Paul and Timothy) have received (not taken) grace and apostleship to seek the “submission to what is heard” through faith among all the Gentiles – to lift the name of Jesus Christ.
• 1:6, This includes you Romans who belong to Jesus Christ.
• 1:7, To all those existing in Rome, beloved of God, summoned by name

First Christian Church of Lubbock Videos

Noon Bible Study | 06/29/2022 - Ezekiel 12:1-13:23 | Rev. Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Ezekiel 6:1-7:27 5/25/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Ezekiel 4:1-5:17 5/18/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Ezekiel 4:1-5:17 5/18/22 Paul Carpenter

Bible Study Ezekiel 3:16-27 5/11/22 Paul Carpenter