Paul's list of graces that should be evident in officer-bearers is chiefly composed of qualities that should form and grown in all believers, if they truly hold the mystery of the faith. Here is that priceless 'secret' (verse 16) and how we benefit.

Abram, by faith, leaves his former life and culture and receives seemingly unfulfillable promises. Soon he is tested and falters, yet God had already provided a solution. Here are the lessons for today, and how those four mighty promises are fulfilled in believers even now.

So much hangs on vigilance in the Christian life. There can be no stand, no defense of truth, and no progress in holiness, without constant watchfulness. Here, not only for overseers but for all, are the principles of vigilance from key exhortations of Christ and of Paul.

The seeds of the woman and the serpent will always be in conflict (Genesis 3.15), but Babel marked 'world government' and supremacy of idolatry. God scattered languages and people to preserve the godly line and show the ungodliness of world social reformation as a goal for believers.

One of Paul's five utterly trustworthy sayings is the excellency of a longing to be a preacher of the Gospel. Here is the office of 'over-watcher' or elder, and we look particularly at the elder who labours in the Word, also called a pastor.

'And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.'

Here are God's reasons why women may not be teachers in the church. Here also is how saved women are to be mightily blessed in saving a new generation, and in similarly supportive roles. The key is faith, love, holiness and sobriety (or self restraint).

As salvation is a free gift of God, in what way must we strive for it? What makes it a narrow gate? Why do many seek to enter, and fail? Here are the hindrances, the way to enter, and the experience that awaits us.

It is often assumed that Paul is speaking here of the conduct of public gatherings, but this topic does not truly begin until verse 11. Before then we have pastorally precious and profound exhortations to all believers praying wherever they are.

'There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.'