Tomball Bible Church

September 8, 2024The Book of Judges is a true story that tells truths about God and how He relates to His people. Our journey begins this week on a downward spiral which is bound to happen to any generation that drifts away from worshiping God and obeying Him alone. But a little compromise here and a little compromise there results in a trajectory of unfaithfulness, not only for us but for the generations that follow. Likewise, small, daily acts of trust and faithfulness can reap a harvest of righteousness we cannot fully imagine. It’s the little things that mean the most.Judges 1:1-2:5

September 1, 2024To fully grasp the book of Judges, we must first look at the conclusion of the book of Joshua. Joshua was the epitome of a leader for God’s people, with his life defined by one word: courage. Following God’s Word, Joshua led the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land with unwavering bravery. Alongside Eleazar the priest, he guided the people with righteousness and faith. God had secured the land and remained faithful to His covenant. As Joshua prepared to pass the baton of faithfulness to the next generation, the crucial question was: what would they do with it?Joshua 23-24

August 18, 2024Baptism is one of two ordinances practiced in the church (the other being communion). It is a symbol of the death of Christ for sins and His resurrection from the dead. As He died for our sins, we are "buried" with Him in baptism as a symbol that we who are in Christ have died to our sins. As He rose to new life, so we are raised to walk in newness of life. This act of obedience is for every Christian, everywhere. This Sunday we celebrate our brothers and sisters who take this step of obedience in baptism. God is good!Romans 6:3-4

August 25, 2024We will never outgrow our need for one another. As a church family, we are called to conform to the likeness of Christ. We do not (and cannot) do this in isolation. The aim to be like Jesus is lifelong. So there will always be a need for us to be a part of biblical community no matter our season of life. We will see from the Bible how two lifelong pursuits will result in us growing spiritually and conforming to Christ's likeness together.1 Peter 4:7-11; 2 Timothy 2:1-2

August 11, 2024AW Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about Godis the most important thing about us.” (from The Knowledge of the Holy) How is it possible for finite, limited beings to know and understand our Infinite and Limitless God? If it were not for God’s self-disclosure through Jesus Christ, it would be impossible. While we cannot know everything about God, He will reveal Himself to any who seek after Him and do what He says. To become mature in Christ, we must learn to know God.Jeremiah 9:23-24 (and selected passages)

August 4, 2024The mission of Tomball Bible Church is to glorify Jesus Christ by making mature disciples to reach the nations. This statement didn’t come out of thin air but rather is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, particularly in Ephesians 4:11-16. Paul is exhorting this body of believers to attain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God. The primary means of that goal being accomplished is through the ministry of the Word and maturing in the person of Jesus Christ, not maturing in what we think is maturing, but maturing into the person Christ. We as a corporate body of believers in Jesus should be about one another’s maturity in Jesus, in love speaking truth to one another, and working together to live our lives for the glory of Jesus Christ.Ephesians 4:11-16

July 28, 2024We find ourselves once again in the turbulent waters of uncertainty as a nation. Peace and calm are hard to find as wave after wave of news reports and speculations roll over us. The Bible provides the help we need to navigate through life’s uncertainties. God has provided everything we need to remain anchored in Him and respond with hope and perspective in a polarized society. Deuteronomy 4:1-14

July 21, 2024In Acts 28:17-31, Paul fulfilled what he was called to do. When he arrived in Rome, he first sought out the Jewish leaders to share the hope of Christ as was his practice. Unable to go to a synagogue, Prisoner Paul invited the Jewish leaders to come to him. After most rejected his message that Jesus was the Hope of Israel, he turned his attention to the Gentiles. Despite all the suffering and injustice, he remained faithful to being sent to proclaim the gospel. His example remains for us as the Sent to witness to others that Jesus Christ is the Hope of the world.Acts 28:17-31

July 14, 2024In Acts 28:1-16 Paul completed his voyage to Rome. After the shipwreck on Malta, Paul and the 275 other survivors were met with unusual kindness by the islanders. God preserved Paul’s life in front of them after he was unaffected by a viper’s bite (the second piece of evidence of Paul’s evidence in a Roman court). Our focus this week will be on one key value that can make all the difference in ministering and reaching others as we live by faith in Christ: unusual kindness.Acts 28:1-16

July 7, 2024Every Christian is declared innocent before God by God. This is the beautiful, undeserved truth of the gospel message. In an amazing, 2-part account of Paul’s final sea voyage in Acts, we find Luke providing the first of two proofs of innocence that vindicate the Apostle Paul and his claims about Christianity before his accusers. In part one, we focus on the One who holds the burden of proof of our innocence and the security of safe passage to our future home.Acts 27:1-44

June 30, 2024Communion (also known as The LORD’s Supper) is for Christians only.  It is a small meal of bread and wine, which is primarily a solemn and joyous memorial celebration of Jesus’ death, and a reminder of His future return.  It is a celebration filled with symbolism.  Why do we celebrate communion?  To remember Jesus’ death, proclaim Jesus’ death, rejoice in the benefits of Jesus’ death, celebrate the unity of believers, worship Jesus in a unique way, and look forward to Jesus’ return.  Christians are admonished in Scripture to carefully prepare for Communion by examining themselves, discerning the body, and reconciling relationships before participating; there are dire warnings for those who partake in Communion in an unworthy manner.1 Corinthians 11:24-26

Acts 25:13-26:32 contains Paul’s longest defense and testimony in the book of Acts. The anchor point of his testimony is that Jesus Christ is the light of salvation to everyone, everywhere. He told his testimony by openly declaring his sin(s) against Jesus and the Church, his conversion story when he encountered Christ, and his task to give to witness to Christ to everyone, everywhere. His approach serves as a model for us to follow.

June 16, 2024Well aware of his rights as a Jew, a Roman, and a citizen of God’s kingdom, Pau modeled godly citizenship. He faithfully demonstrated a first-allegiance to Christ that was applied to his rights of earthly citizenship. In many instances, Paul denied his rights for the sake of others he served. Other times, such as his appeal to appear before Caesar in Acts 25:1-12, show Paul making full use of his rights when aligned with godly purposes and applied in godly ways.  

June 9, 2024Have you ever knowingly done the right thing only for the result to make things worse for yourself? It is understandable to expect good outcomes when good deeds are done. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes, not. As Christians, we can't assume that living righteously will result in an easier life. So how do we respond when faithfulness results in hardships? This is our aim as we explore Acts 24:1-27 this coming Sunday.

June 2, 2024Have you ever been unexpectedly hindered when just trying to get home? You have your intended destination. You know that if you can just get to where you’re going, it will be well with your soul! And then…life. We often get disrupted by outside forces that seem to just sweep us away like being carried away by a swift-moving current. When this happens (which honestly happens a lot!), it is a challenge to trust the Lord to get us where we think we need to go. And there’s the rub! For the Christian, our “home” will never be a destination or a circumstance. Our “place” is one God in three Persons who is, and always will be, the Lord of the current.Acts 23:12-35

May 26, 2024Paul returns to a second, volatile hearing before the Sanhedrin at the request of the Roman tribune, which leads to a sharp confrontation with the high priest before it descends into a violent dispute about the resurrection of the dead, spirits, and angels between the Pharisee and Sadducee factions. This leads the tribune to have soldiers remove Paul to for his safety. That night, Paul receives a vision where the Lord stands by him and tells him to take courage because Paul is going to testify about Him even in Rome. This challenging passage has tremendous application for us today, helping us understand what Christ-fueled courage looks like, even in the midst of serious adversity.Acts  22:30-23:11

May 19, 2024This is the first of two instances where the apostle Paul will tell God's story of redeeming him in the first person. In this account Paul recalls his former life and upbringing, he tells of his Damascus road experience, and what the Lord was doing in his life up to a point. What should leap off the page to you is that Paul has zero desire to actually answer the accusations that have been thrown his way, rather he desires to explain why those accusations are even a thing and that story is because Jesus had transformed his life.All of us who are followers of Jesus have similar stories. While we come from different backgrounds and up brings we all are Christians the exact same way, we heard the good news of Jesus Christ and he changed every aspect of our lives. We now live as Paul who said in Galatians, "it is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me." Our lives have been transformed by Christ and so in the moments where we get to share God's story in us we must take adva

May 12, 2024After agreeing to the Elders’ request to join four Jewish Christians in completing an OT Nazarite purification, for the purpose of calming irate Jews in Jerusalem, a riot was instigated in the Temple courts by some Jews from Asia, who shouted accusations about Paul, alleging Paul was guilty of various heresies.  They grabbed Paul, dragged him out of the Temple court, and began beating him, intending to kill him.  Paul was rescued by a Roman Commander and his troops, who carried him to safety to the Roman fort next door to the Temple.Acts 21:27-31

May 5, 2024Sometimes accusations are wrongfully made against us. This week’s text shows how the Apostle Paul was wrongfully accused by the Jewish community in Jerusalem of teaching that the Mosaic law was no longer to be followed. When Paul was made aware of these accusations, he stayed humble and abided by the church leader's wishes, yet did not go against any Christian doctrine. This example should encourage us to look for potential prejudices in our lives that we can pray for the Spirit to highlight in order for us to eliminate, as we aim to build relationships with others so that our witness for Christ can be on display.Acts 21:17-26

April 28, 2024As Paul arrived in Palestine at the end of his third missionary journey, he received stern warnings about what he would face if he entered Jerusalem. Fellow believers directed by the Spirit pleaded with him not to go. Yet, also being led by the Spirit, he pressed on to Jerusalem. This challenging passage contains much-needed truth for the Church today, particularly for counting the cost of our calling and for discerning the leading of God for ourselves and others.Acts 21:1-16