Welcome to the Teacher's Corner, a dedicated space for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the Bible. Here, you'll find insightful articles, reflections, and teachings crafted by our dedicated teachers at NOVA Church of Christ. Our goal is to provide you with regular, thought-provoking content that enriches your faith journey and connects you more profoundly with God's Word.
The church Paul planted in Ephesus was now nearly 40 years old. Many Christians had now been sojourning as rejected aliens for more than 25 years. They witnessed their leaders (Paul along with most of the apostles) martyred, their spouses and children persecuted, and yet they persevered. Yet when Jesus writes his letter to the church in Ephesus, he must address a group in danger of losing the Spirit because they’ve lost their first love. What should they do?
Read MoreAs Paul continues his instruction on how to sing in your life situation, he concludes by sharing the secret to powerful song. Like an anthem that echoes into every corner of the earth, God wants our song to have power. That power comes from His Spirit and His Instruments. Tune up and sing along with Ephesians 6!
Read MoreDo you like to sing? I’m not asking you if you’re a good singer. Ephesians 5 describes the song God wrote for us to sing. He “demo’s” the song for us using Jesus’ life as the soundtrack. Now that you’ve heard the song, it’s your turn to sing—in whatever life situation. Listen closely to how Paul instructs us to sing!
Read MoreToo often, western culture exalts the rights of the individual over the collective—we know what we deserve, what we are entitled to… This attitude poisons the church and destroys unity. Paul paints a different picture—calling us to humility, to recognize that our gifts are designed to build up the body, to repent of our sins so that they don’t damage the body, to understand that unity is what pleases God.
Read MoreHow can anyone describe God—his plan, his wisdom, his vision for humans? Paul explains this “mystery”—what once divided people into ethnic and cultural camps at war, now serves as the very voice of God to proclaim his message. How does God choose to send his message? By unifying the warring factions of humanity into the form of a body—the body of Christ!
Read MoreWhat exactly is a temple? The biblical story from creation to revelation describes a garden where people walk with God in his “paradise” (the Greek word for garden!). Each character in the Bible who wants to revisit that fellowship with God must see through the darkness of a world that chose a different path to enter into God’s presence. Where does this happen? In a garden, a tent or tabernacle, an altar, also known as a Temple. In Ephesians 2 Paul explains that God has revealed a new way to experience the presence of God in the midst of a lost world… a new Temple… his church!
Read MoreHave you ever been around a zealot? Someone so fanatic that their passion scares you; their vision and faith so out of the box that you’re intimidated… I’d like to re-introduce you to the apostle Paul’s heaven-dripping anthem to Christians the wonder of beholding God’s Master Plan to reveal the kingdom: the Church! Paul invites us to resonate a song of Praise, to explore the spiritual realms, to understand the reality of Jesus’ reign, to reveal the glory of God’s message for this earth: us!
Read MoreHow does a church that began with such an explosion of faith get to the point where Jesus has to ask, “what is going on with you?” How did a movement that at one time spread like fire around the earth fall to the point where Jesus wants to know where is their love? This story repeats itself throughout history—a passionate movement ages into a stale, traditional institution. Love waning, faith fainting, hope fading… now what? Is there a way to regain that first love? What does that even mean? Let’s explore!
Read MoreWhat is “righteousness”? I hear far too often that it means doing the right thing. But I don’t do the right thing. The Bible is clear – “There is no one righteous, not even one.” “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Only Jesus lived up to the ideal of Christian character. No man is good enough to be a Christian, let alone a leader of Christians. So what did we get wrong?
Read MoreWe’ve heard the stories. A leader falls—adultery, murder, and deceit, followed by public humiliation. Not just the “bad guys.” Even the “good guys” like David, Abraham, and Moses are guilty of the vilest sins. Why, then would the Bible include them in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11) as “heroes”? Perhaps there is something wrong with our perception of our leaders and ourselves…
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