Understanding Christianity

In this sermon, Dr. Sean Cole focuses on Acts 4:1-22 and encourages the church to stay focused on three crucial and fundamental values as we move forward together. (1) We must have a strong CONFESSION, (2) a sweet COMMUNION, and (3) a steadfast COURAGE. Listen as he helps equip believers to stand strong as we approach uncertain days ahead in our nation. www.seancole.net

In light of rioters storming the United States capitol building this week and the transition of power of a new presidential administration, many Christians are fearful, confused, and anxious. There is a great deal of division in our nation. Psalm 2 addresses how we should respond with hope for a nation in a turmoil. www.seancole.net

This is PART TWO of Dr. Cole's interaction with Drew McLeod and Eric Kemp of the Provisionist Perspective. In part one, Sean was able to ask them five questions, and in this second episode, Dr. Cole responds to their questions. This was a healthy and needed dialogue with good brothers in Christ. Dr. Cole has some major disagreements with their theology and presuppositions, but this conversation was an example of how to truly make attempts to understand the other side without falsely labeling or misrepresenting their views. This format was not a debate with cross examination, but more of an opportunity to give extended answers to key questions. Enjoy. www.seancole. net You can find their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAZoUFdRUfHHBIO3GrZehkA

In an attempt to better understand Provisionism (formerly SBC Traditionalism), Dr. Sean Cole has a great interaction with Drew McLeod and Eric Kemp of the "Provisonist Perspective" YouTube channel. A few months ago, Sean was notified by a Facebook friend that this new YouTube channel was critiquing some Understanding Christianity podcasts. This was the first time Sean had heard of these guys. He reached out to them to see if they could have a healthy dialogue about their doctrinal differences. This is PART ONE where Sean asks them five questions to better understand the key issues of their theology. Part TWO will be upcoming and will feature their five questions to Sean. You can find their information here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAZoUFdRUfHHBIO3GrZehkA

Pastor Sean starts a new teaching related to the current state of chaos in our nation and evangelical churches. We are living in times that are changing very quickly. In this first session, he introduces the topics, gives some major players, and then addresses the first key belief that is under attack today. We must believe that God is the Creator and Rule of all things. How does our culture attack this: They say that the autonomous self is the rule of all things where self-expression is the highest value. Learn more about the dangers of Progressive Christianity and other issues facing Bible-believing churches. www.seancole.net

In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus commands us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who abuse us. This is an impossibllity when we think about the radical nature of this kind of love. How can we possibly do it? The answer lies in the character of the Most High God---He is merciful to the ungrateful and wicked. Because God first loved us, we can, in turn, love others. www.seancole.net

Is God’s grace merely an “offer” that can be accepted or rejected. . . or is God’s grace His active, sovereign, and unconditional favor that is actually conferred or granted upon the elect? Is God’s grace effectual and irresistible or merely a prevenient or enabling grace? I understand the Bible to teach that because of man’s deadness in sin and total inability, God must actually overcome that spiritual condition with sovereign, efficacious grace that is more than just the gospel appeal. There must be a mysterious, instantaneous, internal work of the Holy Spirit directly on the soul of fallen man. The mind, will, and emotions must be changed inwardly by sovereign means in order to make a person willing to come to faith in Christ. In other words, the grace that is both necessary and sufficient is an irresistible, conquering grace—not a mere offer or simply the presentation of the fact of the gospel. Provisionists affirm that the gospel appeal or the preached Word is sufficient to do what it’s supposed to do

Are you an impatient person? Patience is one of the aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit. How can you have patience this Christmas and every day of your life? Listen and find out. www.seancole.net

In this final teaching, Pastor Sean addresses two issues related to the Second Coming: (1) The Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 19 and (2) The New Heavens and New Earth in Revelation 20-21. Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Sean+Cole+Trinity&qid=1608311130&sr=8-1

2020 has been an unprecedented year of lockdowns, COVID, rioting in the streets of many cities, and a hotly contested Presidential election. Many people have experienced frustration, disappointment, loneliness, and even despair. Pastor Sean preaches an encouraging sermon on hope. He asks three questions: (1) Where do we often go to find false hope to give us security? (2) Where should we go to find true and lasting hope? (3) How do we live out our hope on a daily basis? www.seancole.net

Pastor Sean continues the study on the Second Coming of Christ. He compares the order of events in Matthew 24 with 2 Thessalonians 2. He then addresses Jesus' return in judgment as the Warrior-King on the white horse in Revelation 19. For a good Christmas gift idea, consider Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity." You can find here on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IR9DD8Q8AIXX&keywords=sean+cole+trinity&qid=1607538866&sprefix=Sean+COle+Trin%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-1

In the fourth Beatitude in Luke 6, Jesus gives the shocking blessing of being persecuted. In this timely message, Pastor Sean answers three questions. (1) What is the exact nature of the persecution? (2) What is the root reason for the persecution? (3) Why is it a joy to be persecuted? He addresses some controversial current issues of how our Christian liberties have been suppressed in our culture. Listen and be encouraged. For more teaching on suffering, check out the last chapter of Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity." You can find it here on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IR9DD8Q8AIXX&keywords=sean+cole+trinity&qid=1607538866&sprefix=Sean+COle+Trin%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-1

Why do some people find the message of the gospel offensive and others accept it as truthful? Why do some people come to faith in Christ and others do not? The Reformed answer is that God has a sovereign decree whereby He predestined a fixed number of people before the creation of the world to be saved. In time, those people are effectually called and regenerated by the Holy Spirit who overcomes their deadness in sin and moral inability. Once they’ve been made willing by grace, these exercise faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. So our answer is the golden chain from Romans 8:30: And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. How do our Provisionist non-Calvinist friends answer this same question: Why do some people find the cross offensive and others do not? Their answer: They freely chose to accept the wisdom of the world versus choosing to accept the wisdom of God. From Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2,

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Pastor Sean has been asked many times if we are living in the end times. Is Jesus coming back soon? In Part One of this series, he unpacks Paul's purpose in providing comfort for grieving Christians in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5. What are the sequence of events for the Second Coming? Is it a secret pre-tribulation rapture? What is the Day of the Lord for unbelievers? How should we prepare for the Second Coming? Listen and enjoy. Check out Sean's book "Your Identity in the Trinity" at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1607034388&sr=8-2

In Luke 6:21, we find the counter intuitive words of Jesus about the blessing of weeping. In this sermon, Pastor Sean asks two questions: (1) What causes us to weep? (2) When will we laugh and be comforted? Check out Sean's book "Your identity in the Trinity" at Amazon as a Christmas gift idea: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Identity-Trinity-Discovering-Gospel-ebook/dp/B07RWTJK9K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Sean+cole+trinity&qid=1606698930&sr=8-1

We ask three questions of this Beatitude. (1) What is this righteousness to which Jesus is referring? (2) What does it mean to hunger and thirst? (3) How does Jesus satisfy us? Listen and find out! www.seancole.net

What is goodness? How does it relate to generosity and integrity? What is faithfulness and how does it relate to perseverance of the saints? Pastor Sean unpacks these two aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. www.seancole.net

What is gentleness? How can we be gentle toward God? How can we display gentleness toward others? What is self-control? We explore two Old Testament examples: (1) Joseph who exercised self-control with Potiphar's wife, and (2) King David who did NOT exercise self-control with Bathsheba. Listen as we explore these last two aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. www.seancole.net

Dr. Sean Cole introduces Luke's record of Jesus' sermon on the plain which begins with the Beatitudes. In this sermon, we explore three questions concerning the first: (1) What does it mean to be blessed? (2) What does it mean to be poor? (3) What does it mean to possess the kingdom of God? Pastor Sean also provides some introductory issues regarding how to interpret or understand the Beatitudes. www.seancole.net

We see two truths in Jesus calling His Twelve apostles: (1) Jesus placed a priority on prayer. (2) Jesus shows us the power of the call. If Jesus depended on His heavenly Father in prayer, how much more should we. Jesus has called you in three powerful ways. Listen and find out. www.seancole.net