1 John 2:1-2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 12^th & 13^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Newcomers to marriage are, by all intents, "little children." To the newlyweds, then, this passage says: "I am writing these things to you so that you might not divorce.

Ephesians 5:24-26

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word

From Background Notes [BN] for May 12^th & 13^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

1. Submission is a two-way street because it is based on reverence for Christ. That is, we must not demand from each other what belongs properly only to God. Reverence of this sort is due to God alone. The Greek word used by Paul...

Genesis 2:24

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 12^th & 13^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

1.             Companionship within the human species was important to God because companionship eternally belonged to God's nature: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In woman, man found his peer and his equal which consisted in a physical union at his origin and in a physical union in his marriage. The notion of the "helper fit for him" does not imply inferiority but correspondence. 

Titus 3:14

Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 5^th & 6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Not a great deal needs to be said about these passages. They are rather direct in their teaching that the Christ communities reject idleness and encourage work. Much is at stake...

Philippians 4:15-16

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 5^th & 6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Greek phrase reads, "once and twice,” an idiom implying the repeated action, as if to say, "so sooner did you send me one gift, than you send me another!" Nor did Paul view the generosity in material terms alone. Rather…

Acts 2:44-45

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 5^th & 6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

It would be an anachronism to suggest that this was communism…

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-- this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

From Background Notes [BN] for May 5^th & 6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Having wealth means nothing, if we do not have the God-given ability to "enjoy it.” Our reading of the previous texts helps us to see that possessions are only enjoyed when they are put to divine purposes…