Gospel Dynamite with J. Allen Mashburn

What Does It Mean to Be Created in the Image of God? | Genesis 1 | J. Allen Mashburn

Today, we examine the Scriptures to learn what it means to be created in the image of God.  Join us in Genesis 1, as we search the Scriptures for the answers.

Christ's Invitation to Children | Matthew 19 | J. Allen Mashburn

Our Lord loves children and He desires them to be cared for, loved, and given the Gospel of Christ at an early age.  

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 6:10-12 | J. Allen Mashburn

“Finally!” The first word of verse 10 is a blessing, isn’t it? That word indicates that we have reached the last major section of the book of Ephesians. As Paul nears the end of this precious book, he closes with a final series of admonitions. He challenges his readers to open their eyes to the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged. He calls them to be sure they are on the right foundation, wearing the proper spiritual garments, fighting the right enemies, and trusting the right Lord. Verses 10-18 are a statement about the matter of Spirit-Filled Warfare.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 6:10-18 | J. Allen. Mashburn

In this passage, we are given insight into the battle we are engaged in and into the weapons with which we are to fight this battle. My friends, we are in the fight of our lives! If we are to do what the Scriptures say and "stand", v. 11, 13, 14, then we must know how to prepare ourselves for this battle. Here, Paul reveals some aspects of the battle in which we find ourselves this evening. I just want to remind you tonight that we are involved in The Fight Of Our Lives and we must know how we are to prepare to ourselves to be effective in that fight.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 6:5-9 | J. Allen Mashburn

Paul has previously discussed our relationship with God, our worship, our marriages, and the parent-child dynamic. In these verses, he shifts focus to the master-slave relationship, a common institution in the Roman Empire, where an estimated 50 million people were enslaved. While the Bible does not explicitly condemn slavery, it acknowledges the system's widespread abuse. Since slavery is unfamiliar to us today, let’s explore insights from Dr. John MacArthur about this ancient practice. In Greek and Roman societies, slaves had no legal rights and were treated as commodities—bought, sold, traded, or discarded like animals or tools. Roman citizens viewed work as beneath them, relying heavily on slave labor. Compassionate masters, like Pliny the Elder, who mourned his slaves’ deaths, were rare. One Roman writer classified agricultural tools into three groups: articulate (slaves, who could speak), inarticulate (animals), and mute (tools and vehicles). Slaves were barely distinguished from animals or objects. The Roman statesman Cato advised discarding old or sick slaves as worthless, and stories abound of cruel punishments—like Augustus crucifying a slave for killing his pet quail or Pollio feeding a slave to lamprey eels for breaking a goblet. Juvenal described a slave owner who delighted in the sound of his slaves being whipped. Given the rampant abuse in slavery, God inspired Paul to provide instructions for both slaves and masters. While slavery no longer exists in our society, these principles apply to the employer-employee relationship today. Let’s examine these verses to understand Spirit-Filled Service and how it shapes our service to God and others.

A Biblical Examination of the Sufficiency of Christ -- J. Allen Mashburn

The sufficiency of Christ affirms that Jesus Christ is wholly adequate to meet every need of the believer—salvation, sanctification, provision, and intercession. This doctrine stands as a cornerstone of Christian faith, offering assurance and direction in a world filled with competing ideologies and self-reliance.
 
In salvation, Christ’s exclusive role as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and His singular name for salvation (Acts 4:12) establish that His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12-14) fully atones for sin, requiring no additional works or mediators. For sanctification, Christ initiates and completes the believer’s transformation (Philippians 1:6), with His Spirit and Word conforming them to His image (2 Corinthians 3:18) and rendering them complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10). In provision, Christ meets all needs—material, emotional, and spiritual—according to His infinite riches (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:31-33), with His grace proving sufficient even in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). As High Priest, Christ’s ongoing intercession ensures believers are saved to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25), secure from condemnation (Romans 8:34), and represented by a righteous advocate when they sin (1 John 2:1-2).
 
For believers today, Christ’s sufficiency counters cultural pressures to seek fulfillment in self-effort, materialism, or pluralism. It calls Christians to trust solely in Christ, rest in His finished work, proclaim His adequacy, and persevere through trials by His grace. This truth fosters a life of faith, rooted in spiritual disciplines and bold witness, assuring believers that Christ is enough for every challenge and need. In Him, they find complete salvation, transformation, provision, and advocacy—now and forever.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 6:1-4 | J. Allen Mashburn

Ephesians 6:1-4 instructs children to obey and honor their parents, as this aligns with God’s command and carries a promise of blessing and long life. Parents, particularly fathers, are urged not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them with godly discipline and instruction, fostering their spiritual growth in a loving manner.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 5:22--6:4 | J. Allen Mashburn

Ephesians 5:22–6:4 outlines Christian household relationships, emphasizing mutual love and respect. Wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, while husbands are instructed to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loves the church. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord, and fathers are urged to raise their children with discipline and instruction in the faith, without provoking them to anger. The passage underscores Christ-centered roles, fostering harmony and godliness in the family.