We Need The Bible

Today’s Reading – Acts 17 – 19

For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:28)

Just a quick thought this morning to wet your appetite for the Bible preaching that we will hear at our churches today. Here in the latter part of verse 18, we read about Apollos. The Bible tells us that Apollos was eloquent and knew something about the doctrines of Christ, and he certainly was proficient in the Old Testament Scriptures; but he had a lot to learn. He had been baptized by John, but being perhaps because he was geographically away from the area where Christ was preaching and teaching, he was limited in his knowledge. Aquila and Priscilla took him under their way, and discipled him, causing him to become more grounded in the Word.

The Bible then goes on to explain that Apollos, after being trained, went into Achaia and there took the Word of God and boldly preached to the Jews there. Apollos was mightily used of God for two reasons. First is that he was Spirit-filled, proven by the boldness of his preaching. He had a power (Acts 1:8), and a passion that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Secondly, he used the Bible. He didn’t need the wisdom and philosophy of man when he had the most powerful tool in the world for reaching people, the Word of God.

Many of our churches today are sadly lacking and limiting Bible preaching. Many have eliminated services from their schedule where the Bible was taught. And even in the remaining services, the Bible is almost an afterthought. Preachers and teachers, God’s people do not need your philosophies and opinions; but they desperately need God’s Word. Let’s keep the Bible at the very center of our soul winning, and our church services. The preaching of the Word of God must be preeminent. Our people are starving spiritually, and the Bible has just what they need to give them health.

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Today’s Passages –Acts 17 – 19 (Second Milers also read –Psalms 101 – 105; Proverbs 21) "And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in…

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Phil Erickson

Pastor Phil Erickson has been the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church since January of 2002. Having grown up in Ocean County, Pastor Phil has always had a burden for the south Jersey area. After graduating from Bible College in Longview, Texas, he and his family moved to Galloway Township with the vision of digging in and serving the Lord and the people of Atlantic County. Pastor Phil and Cindy Erickson have been married since 1985. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Their oldest son, Phil Jr. and his wife Katelyn are serving the Lord in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. Their oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Wesley Clayton who is in the Air Force and is currently stationed in New Mexico. Samantha, their third child, is married to Justin Mears and they are both serving the Lord at the church in Galloway. Hannah, the youngest, is married to Lucas McCollum, and they are also serving here in Galloway. In preparation for ministry, the Lord led him through a variety of educational experiences that have equipped him to serve the Lord and His people. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Theology from Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (formerly Texas Baptist College), a Master of Religious Education in Bible from West Coast Baptist College, and a Master of Biblical Studies from The Crown College. More recently, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Veritas Baptist College. He is thankful for these opportunities to study God’s Word more deeply, and counts it a privilege to use whatever knowledge the Lord has given him for the building up of His church. In addition to pastoring, the Lord has given Phil the wonderful privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor at Vision Baptist College in Berlin, NJ and Veritas Baptist College.