August 4, 2024 The 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…

July 28, 2024 We 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 …

July 21, 2024 In 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 h…

July 14, 2024 In 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 …

July 7, 2024 Every 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 pa…

June 30, 2024 Communion (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’ …

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 witn…

June 16, 2024 Well 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 …

June 9, 2024 Have 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 r…

June 2, 2024 Have 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. Wh…

May 26, 2024 Paul 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 soldi…

May 19, 2024 This 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 de…

May 12, 2024 After 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, dragg…

May 5, 2024 Sometimes 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 …

April 28, 2024 As 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 fo…

April 21, 2024 Goodbyes are never easy, especially goodbyes that are permanent. The Apostle Paul gave and received numerous goodbyes throughout his ministry, yet the one that hit the hardest for him was his goodbye to the elders of the church in Ephesus. This passage is full of deep affection and care from Paul to this church and yet in it is also …

April 14, 2024 Acts 20:1-16 tells of Paul’s ministry in Philippi, Troas, and a pit stop in Asia before heading to Jerusalem. The passage shows us a glimpse of his pastoral and teaching ministry as he shared in Passover and taught the Scriptures diligently before he departed the area. (It was a killer Bible study!) Luke also provides the names of th…

April 7, 2024 The Church has an Enemy, and the two are in constant opposition. People are a common weapon manipulated by Satan who are used to undermine the Church. Acts 19 gives readers a glimpse into the hardships brought against the Church by those opposed to Jesus. Yet, despite Satan’s efforts to use people for his ends, God’s purpose was not s…

March 31, 2024 Christ Jesus has risen from the grave! Through the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, we have peace with God, freedom from the shackles of our sins, and the promise of eternal life. Because He lives, we too may live with resurrection power and hope. This is truly the greatest news there could ever be. Today, we celebrate and cheer …

March 14, 2024 "Peace on earth!" was declared by angels at the announcement of His birth. "Peace in heaven!" was declared by people at the announcement of His entry. Jesus Christ is the rightful King of Peace on earth and in heaven. As the people temporarily sang His praise, Christ wept knowing what was in their hearts as well as the future destruc…

March 17, 2024 Acts 19 is the story of God working in incredible ways in the city of Ephesus. Acts 19:11-20 is one of the wildest stories though in the Bible, dudes are just trying to make a buck doing some tricks and yet the Lord has “concern for his holy name” as the prophet Ezekiel would say. So God exalts himself by not allowing these exorcists…

March 10, 2024 Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Adventist, Pentecostal, Catholic, Episcopal, and Non-Denominational churches (just to name a few) are all around; each having its doctrinal and practical distinctives. Some even add cult groups such as Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witness to the list of Christian denominations. How are we to know and test…

March 3, 2024 The 2nd mission trip finished out, with Paul leaving Silas and Timithy to lead the church in Corinth, and leaving Aquila and Priscilla to start a church in Ephesus, while Paul set sail to return for a respite at his home church in Antioch. Paul didn’t stay long, and soon after began the 3rd mission trip, heading west back to Ephesus, …

February 25, 2024 Paul’s ministry continues to Corinth where new ministry partners are found along with new believers and continued opposition to the Name of Christ. At the heart of Acts 18:1-17 is a vision Paul received from Jesus to not fear or be silent but to continue proclaiming the gospel trusting in God’s protection. God’s people are entrust…

February 18, 2024 Paul’s speech on Mars Hill in Athens, Greece is one of the most important sections in the book of Acts. With only Gentiles in his audience, Paul models presenting the good news of Jesus using words and images that would relate to his hearers. While the delivery method is different, the message is the same. All people everywhere ar…

February 11, 2024 Having rushed out of Thessalonica due to persecution, Paul and his companions travel to Berea in Macedonia. Here, they start, as was their custom, by preaching in the local synagogue. Instead of jealousy, as they ran into in Thessalonica, the Bereans were much more noble and examined the Scriptures that Paul taught. This sets an e…

February 4, 2024 The center point of this week’s passage is to establish the truth of the Christian faith based upon the evidence Paul and Luke provided the Thessalonians and the future readers of the book of Acts. The Christian faith is built upon the fulfilled promises and prophecies found in the Old Testament by Jesus and only Jesus. The Savior …

January 28, 2024 Paul and Silas continued to preach the Gospel in Philippi. While preaching in the streets, Paul exorcised a fortune-telling demon from a slave girl. The slave girl’s owners dragged Paul and Silas before the City Magistrates, who had them beaten with rods and thrown in jail. That night, God caused an earthquake, which opened the jai…

Januray 21, 2024 Acts 16:11-15 shares the account of the first believer in modern-day Europe, Lydia. Ironically, Lydia came from the very place that God prevented Paul from going in his previous travels. Having left Asia, she moved to Philippi in Macedonia as a seller of purple cloths. A devout, God-fearing woman, Lydia heard the good news about Je…

January 7, 2024 Redirection is all part of living a life of faith. Living by faith by definition is a life trusting in God’s guidance. God is the One who directs and redirects His people by His Spirit. This creates a challenge for us when we seem to be certain of His plan for us and then that plan changes. This week’s passage, Acts 16:6-10, sheds l…

January 7, 2024 Spurgeon wrote, “I tremble for a church whose continuance depends upon the talent and cleverness of one man. If he is removed, the whole thing will collapse; this is a wretched business.” TBC cannot and will not be about one man. For our church to last and have a lasting impact beyond this generation, we must raise, equip, and make …

December 31, 2023 Our God is faithful! He is truly faithful for that is His nature. Our God can only be faithful and true. All we must do is to give prayerful pause, consider all His provisions in our lives and in our church. What do you find? God’s faithfulness remaining. In fact, His faithfulness is undefeated. May pause and reflection stir you t…

December 24, 2023 Of all the ways God could announce the advent of His Son, God chose people. People! The ones who rejected and despised Him. The ones who were destined for His judgment and wrath. The ones who would eventually crucify the Son He sent. He chose people. He actually chose shepherds; those of humble standing and the last to be thought …

December 17, 2023 The next major event we anticipate in God’s plan is Christ’s return! This wondrous mystery has been a subject of hope, debate, confusion, and excitement since the angels promised the disciples Christ would return just as He ascended. This week we will explore what we believe will happen when Christ again appears and those who are …

December 10, 2023 Our Advent series is entitled “The Wondrous Mystery”. Two weeks ago, we focused on the mystery of Jesus Christ’s humility, how he stepped down into our condition as man in order to redeem his people. Last week, we moved to Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus’ purpose of coming to live among us and what his death accomplished for us. And thi…

December 3, 2023 Paul said in his letter to the church of Corinth, “I wished to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” For Paul and every believer in Jesus, the crucifixion is the apex moment that has completely altered the trajectory of the world. The cross is both offensive and beautiful at once. The cross offends mankind …

November 19, 2023 In Acts 15:36-41, Paul and Barnabas are separated because of a sharp disagreement. This passage of Scripture shows us that even mature Christians will often disagree on 'judgment calls,' and sometimes need to separate or split up if the issue is serious enough. Separation among Christians should be done charitably. This passage en…

November 26, 2023 God humbled Himself by coming in human likeness, taking on flesh, and living among those He created. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is a true mystery. How can God put such limitations on Himself for a humanity that had rejected Him? We peer into the wondrous mystery of our Savior’s humility to step down into our condition to rede…

November 12, 2023 Acts 15 contains two scenarios of sharp disagreement between believers. The first (Acts 15:1-35) is a matter of right and wrong. The second (Acts 15:36-41) is a matter of preference. Both scenarios highlight the reality that every group of believers will have areas of disagreement. This week’s focus is on the right view of salvati…

November 5, 2023 The final legs of Paul’s first missionary journey demonstrate key practices that are to continue in and through us who are sent for the Name of Jesus Christ. These practices flow from a central truth that our living God gives witness to Himself through all of creation, especially His chosen people. In light of this, we must continu…

October 29, 2023 In our fourth Family Worship series of 2023, we are focusing on “Love Endures All Things”. This is the ultimate trait of God’s love for us that we are to reflect, especially within families and in the church. We will look at three aspects of God’s enduring love from Psalm 136 as well as be encouraged and challenged by TBC ministry …

October 22, 2023 Paul and Barnabas encountered a divided response to the gospel message they proclaimed in Iconium. When they first met resistance, they remained for a long time, steadfastly preaching the gospel with boldness. What they experienced was God’s empowerment through their faithfulness. God will empower us, and He himself will bear witne…

October 15, 2023 Acts 13:13-52 contains Paul’s first sermon delivered in a Jewish synagogue. Drawing from the OT Law and Prophets, Paul focused on the most important proof of the truth of our faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are raised to eternal life because Christ our Savior was raised first. The Shout of Easter isn’t just for April, m…

October 8, 2023 We come to a point in Acts where the narrative shifts from being about a group of people whom God used in extraordinary ways to advance the Kingdom of God, to one person whom God used in extraordinary ways to advance the Kingdom of God. Yet in all of the extraordinary stories we see the apostle Paul in they all can trace their begin…

October 1, 2023 Do you fear the rising tide of culture’s obsession with self-glorification? There is an ever-growing disdain for the things of God around us. It is becoming increasingly unpopular to hold a Christian worldview. What is the truth we need most to help us stand firm? Paradoxically, we stand firm when we rest and rely on God’s sovereign…

September 24, 2023 Acts 11:19-30 provides examples of the first-called Christians who lived with steadfast purpose. Their example reveals the truth that God always builds His kingdom through the faithful witness of His people. It falls to us, in this generation, to live with steadfast purpose. To do this, we must understand what our purpose is and …

September 17, 2023 Under the Old Covenant, God’s people were spiritually and physically distinct from others because of the regulations of the Law and especially the sign of circumcision. But God changed everything through Christ’s death and resurrection. A New Covenant was made, the old distinctions were removed, and a new sign was given: the Holy…

September 10, 2023 Last week, we saw that “sent believers" are to see the Lost as God sees them (harassed and helpless) and not allow distinctions to keep us from opening our mouths and lives. This week, our attention shifts to God’s intervening works that bring salvation through His people to the lost by the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to go and…

September 3, 2023 Today, it is a common truth among Christians that God’s plan of salvation is for all people, regardless of distinctions. But, this was not the early Church's understanding, especially in how Gentiles were viewed. These first Christians viewed Gentiles as a people wholly opposed to God and beyond His redemption. It took God’s direc…

August 27, 2023 After his time in Samaria, Peter makes stops in both Lydda and Joppa, miraculously healing the lame man Aeneas and raising the woman Tabitha the from the dead. And though Peter is still at the center of the narrative, performing great works, we are also now seeing that the church has quickly grown beyond Peter's own work. In Peter, …