LET THE BIBLE SPEAK.

 Fellowship: Meaning and Etymology. Dr. Benson Omole. Introduction. The practice of fellowship is central to Christian life, worship, spiritual growth, and church unity. True fellowship is not merely social interaction among fellow Christians, but a spiritual sharing grounded in relationship with God, and among believers as revealed in the Bible. Understanding fellowship requires examining: a. The linguistic origin of the term. b. Its biblical usage. c. Its spiritual implications for Christian living. 1. Etymology of the Word Fellowship. A. English Origin: The English word Fellowship comes from two root words: a. Fellow – meaning partner, companion, or participant in a shared relationship b. Ship – meaning condition, state, or quality Meaning Fellowship: The state of shared partnership, mutual participation, or communion, relationship. B. Greek Biblical Root Word. The primary New Testament word translated as fellowship is: Koinonia (κοινωνία). Meaning of Koinonia: Part...

Religion and State Power: A Comparative Study of Islam and Christianity Dr. Benson Omole. Introduction. The interaction between religion and political authority has significantly shaped world history, governance systems, and cultural development. Among the major global religions, Islam and Christianity have exercised profound influence on state formation, political legitimacy, and societal structures. While both traditions began as religious movements centered on divine revelation, their historical relationships with political power evolved differently. This lecture presents a comparative academic examination of Islam and Christianity in relation to state authority, exploring their origins, theological frameworks, historical developments, and modern political expressions. A. Foundational Origins and Early Political Contexts Islam: Religious and Political Formation. Islam originated in the 7th century under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad in Arabia. Unlike many religious ...

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Dr. Benson Omole. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is a cornerstone of our faith, it stands at the very heart of the Christian faith. Scripture presents the resurrection not only as a miracle, but as the foundation of salvation, hope, and Christian living. Here are key biblical benefits, implications and importance of His resurrection: 1. Proof of Jesus' divinity:  Romans 1:4, "and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead."   The resurrection validates Christ’s divine identity and authority. 2. Validation of Jesus' teachings:   John 2:19-22, Jesus predicted his resurrection, validating his claims. He actually died at the Cross, and He actually resurrected from the grave, according to His word, and promise. 3. Hope for believers' resurrection:    1 Corinthians 15:20-22, "But in fact Christ has been raised f...

TOUJOURS SUR VALENTINE. Dr. Benson Omole. Le monde entier célèbre la Saint-Valentin tous les 14 jours de février. De nombreux chrétiens ne sont pas à l'aise avec la signification évasive et détournée de la célébration de la Saint-Valentin. À ce jour, il n'existe aucune historicité définie concernant un Saint Valentin. Tout ce qui le concernait était enveloppé d'une quasi-vérité et de rumeurs. La théologie de Saint-Valentin ne pouvait pas garantir la vie éternelle. Lorsque les chrétiens entendent de nombreuses personnes parler d'observation de la Saint-Valentin ou de l'amour, nous avons rapidement du mal à équilibrer le véritable amour chrétien (comme il est commandé dans la Bible) avec certaines des pressions et des excès terrestres souvent liés à la célébration de ce genre d'amour. Certains appellent ces tensions les réalités maléfiques de notre époque. Cela ne signifie pas qu'elles sont bonnes, mais que ce sont les véritables défis qui se posen...

STILL ON VALENTINE. Dr. Benson Omole. The whole world celebrates Valentine's Day every 14th day, of February.  Many Christians are not comfortable with the evasive, and sidestepped meaning of the Valentine Day celebration. As of today, there is no definite historicity about a Saint Valentine. All about him were shrouded in near-truth, and hear-says. Saint Valentine's theology could not quarantee eternal salvation. When Christians hear many people talking about observing Valentine's Day or Love, we quickly wrestle with balancing genuine Christian love ( as commanded in the Bible) with some of the worldly pressures and excesses often tied to the celebration of this kind of Love. Some call these tensions “the evil realities of our time”—not meaning that they are good, but meaning that they are the real challenges warring against our souls.  Christians must wisely navigate if they choose to abstain from this unwholesome affection. Let’s look at some of these implica...

"Husbands, love your wives,..." Dr. Benson Omole. The Bible, in Ephesians 5:20–33, teaches on marriage relationships, emphasizing the deep unity that must exist between a husband and his wife.  Parallel was drawn between a Christian marriage, and the relationship between Christ and His church. Twice, the Holy Spirit enjoined husbands to, “Love your wives as your own body” (see verses 28 and 33). He explains, “For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. . . . So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28–33, NLT). This instruction, from the Holy Spirit, — “husbands, love your wives as your own body” —derives from the Old Testament idea that in marriage, a man and woman become “one flesh.” The quote from Genesis 2:24, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become...

"PREACHER, WHAT IS THE VANITY OF LIFE, WITH BIBLICAL EXAMPLES."   “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV). The Hebrew word for “vanity” used in this verse literally means “vapor” or “breath.” It can also be translated “meaningless,” “emptiness,” or “futility.” This preacher is Solomon, and he is telling us that, after exploring all the world has to offer, he has found it amounts to nothing. It is pointless to chase worldly goals because they disappear with our last breath. That foundation helps us understand the other ways the word vanity is used in the Bible. Romans 8:20 says that all creation was subjected to vanity because of God’s curse. When Adam sinned, God cursed all that He had made (Genesis 3:17–19). In other words, perfection was lost. All of creation is now falling short of its original purpose; rather than working in harmony with God and creation, inhabitants of the earth have turned on each o...

Conservative Theology: Holding Firm to the Faith Once Delivered. Dr. Benson Omole. Key Text: “Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."  2 Thessalonians 2:15. Lesson Aim: To help believers understand conservative theology as a biblical commitment to preserving sound doctrine, the authority of Scripture, and the foundational truths of the Christian faith. Lesson Introduction: In every generation, the Church faces pressure to adjust its beliefs to fit changing cultures and philosophies. Conservative theology represents a response to such pressures by emphasizing faithfulness to Scripture, historic Christian doctrine, and moral stability. This approach seeks not innovation, but continuity with the faith handed down by the apostles. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8 (KJV). 1. Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture. Teaching Point Conservative theology affirms that the Bible is true...

LIBERALISM AND ITS THEOLOGY. Dr. Benson Omole. "According to Britannica, theological liberalism is a movement in Protestantism  that establishes religious inquiry on the basis of reason and experience rather than traditional authority. It seeks to ...focusing on inner motivation and adapting faith to modern intellectual, scientific, and ethical understandings." The liberal approach to Bible commands, often associated with theological modernism, shifts authority from the literal text of Scripture to contemporary experience, reason, and social context. This approach often interprets commands as historical, culturally conditioned, or metaphorical guidelines rather than absolute, universal imperatives.  Key Aspects of the Liberal Approach to Bible Commands includes: a. Reinterpretation Over Obedience:  Liberal theology frequently reinterprets traditional commands, particularly those concerning sexuality or gender roles, to fit modern, progressive social values. b....

PRE-MARRITAL SEX AND THE BIBLE. Dr. Benson Omole. Aren’t you bothered with these questions? a. Premarital sex – why are Christians so strongly against it? b. What is an appropriate level of physical intimacy before marriage? c. Why is sexual purity so important? d. Is abstinence before marriage a realistic teaching? e. Is it okay to have premarital sex if you know you are going to marry him/her? f. Does the Bible say anything about sex before marriage?  It will interest you to know that the Bible condemns all sexual sins, before marriage, and after marriage:  a. Adultery is a consensual sex between a married person and someone other than his or her spouse. Read:  i) "...Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul..." Proverbs 6:32;  ii) "...Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body..." 1 Corinthians 6:18 and...

A LETTER TO ALL MEN. Dear Men, If you want to rise in this life, understand this truth: not every hole is pleasure — some are poison. Not every woman is a blessing — some are the reason great men fall from thrones to dust. The world no longer destroys men with swords. It destroys them with seduction. Beauty has buried more destinies than bullets ever did. Let’s speak brutally, truthfully, unapologetically. 1️⃣ YOUR ERECTION IS NOT A COMPASS If your body leads you, your future will mislead you. A man who obeys every urge becomes a slave to his own weakness. Every time you chase lust, you lose direction. Every careless release drains discipline. A man who cannot command himself will be commanded by life. 2️⃣ SOME SKIRTS HIDE SNAKES Pretty faces can hide wicked spirits. Soft voices can carry deadly intentions. You think you found comfort — you found a curse. The woman you thought would heal you might be the one sent to break you. Lust blinds men faster than darkness ever could. 3️⃣ SEX IS...

THE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE   MATTHEW 13: 45-46. Jesus had just finished explaining to His disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, and these two short parables are a continuance of His discussion of the “kingdom of heaven.”  He expressed truths about the kingdom in these parables in Matthew 13:  a. the seed and the sower (vv. 3-23) and  b. the weeds in the field (vv. 24-30);  c. the mustard seed (vv. 31-32) and  d. the leaven (v. 33); and  e. the hidden treasure (v. 44)  f. and the pearl of great price (vv. 45-46). Jesus taught these parables to emphasize how men should treasure and value the kingdom of heaven. "The whole point of the parable is the joy with which the man finds the treasure, and his abandonment of everything else in order to secure it" (B.T.D. Smith, Cambridge Greek Testament: The Gospel According to Matthew, p. 141).   There are several lessons in this parable which deserve our careful ...