Biblical Talks with Elder Michael Tolliver Podcast
When the term Reformed theology is used, it often refers to something less historical. Often it refers to a theology that acknowledges the doctrine of predestination and holds to a high view of the Bible as God’s inerrant Word. Sometimes it is also identified with the so-called five points of Calvinism: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. These are all important teachings of the Reformed tradition, but they do not fully encapsulate or describe Reformed theology.
A better starting place is five statements that have been called the five solas of the Reformation. These five solas (sola is the Latin word for “only” or “alone”) are sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (God’s glory alone). Put together, these solas clearly express the central concerns of the Protestant Reformation, which was about worship and authority within the church as much as it was about individual salvation. The “alone” in each is vital, and they emphasize the sufficiency of God’s Word and the gracious nature of salvation, received by faith alone, in Christ alone. The last of the five solas, soli Deo gloria, is the natural outworking of the first four. It reminds us that Reformed theology understands all of life in terms of the glory of God. To be Reformed in our thinking is to be God-centered. Salvation is from the Lord from beginning to end, and even our existence is a gift from Him.
Biblical Talks with Elder Michael Tolliver Podcast
A Spotlight on the Scriptures: John 15:5: Abide And Abound
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This is a Spotlight on the Scriptures: John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Abide in Christ. Stay close. Stay connected. Stay rooted. This ain’t just about religion—it’s about relationship. Jesus is not a weekend appointment—He’s your lifeline. Your source. Your sustainer. He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” That means if you’re not plugged in, you’re drying out. You can’t ghost Jesus Monday through Saturday and expect revival on Sunday. You can’t binge the world all week and expect to bear fruit in worship.
Growth doesn’t come from a glance—it comes from a gaze. Power doesn’t come from a visit—it comes from abiding. You want spiritual vitality? You want holy fire? You want to be useful in the kingdom? Then you’ve got to hang out with Jesus. Not just in the sanctuary—but in the secret place. Not just in the crowd—but in communion. Because abiding is intimacy. It’s walking with Him. Talking with Him. Leaning on Him. It’s letting His Word shape your thoughts, His Spirit guide your steps, and His love fuel your life. So don’t just show up—stay in Him. Don’t just check in—press in. Because only those who abide… abound.
This is a Spotlight on the Scriptures
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Relationship Over Religion
Daily Abiding, Not Occasional Visits
Intimacy With Christ In Practice
Press In And Abound
SPEAKER_00This is a spotlight on the scriptures. John 15 and 5. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is that bears much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Abide in Christ. Stay close, stay connected, stay rooted. This ain't just about religion. It's about a relationship. Jesus is not a weekend appointment. He's your lifeline, your source, your sustainer. He said, I am divine, ye are branches. That means if you are not plucked in, you are drying out. You can't ghost Jesus Monday through Saturday and expect a revival on Sunday. You can't bench the world all week and expect to bear fruit and worship. Growth doesn't come from a glance, it comes from a glaze. Power doesn't come from a visit, it comes from abiding. You want spiritual vitality, you want holy fire, you want to be useful in the kingdom, then you got to hang out with Jesus. Not just in the sanctuary, but in the secret place. Not just in the crowd, but in the communion. Because abiding is intimacy. It's walking with him, talking with him, leaning on him. It's letting the word shape your thoughts. His spirit guides your steps. His love fuel your life. So don't just show up, stay in him. Don't just check in, press in. Because only those who abide abound. This is a spotlight on the scriptures.
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