eBooks by Bill Furioso

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A Collection of Articles Investigating New Covenant Worship in Spirit & Truth This collection of articles is the fruit of more than 40 years of intensive study, prayer, research, and reflection, as well as, a varied experience in church life, ministry, and meetings. In passionate pursuit of that “New &...

This message deals with the following topics: The Discipline of the Lord, The Judgment of God, His Judgment on His Household, His Judgment on Individual Believers,  as well as “Suffering in the Flesh”, “Ceasing from Sin”, “Self-Discipline”, “Pursuing Holiness”, and “Seeing God”.    

By considering the context in John’s gospel where Jesus told His disciples to “abide in Me”, we can better understand what it means to Abide in The Vine. We can get insight into WHY Jesus exhorted His disciples in this way shortly before His arrest, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. There...

God has chosen to reveal Himself through His creation, through His Spirit-inspired written words, and ultimately in His Son, Jesus Christ. Recorded in Scripture are many names which God has attributed to Himself, each of which reveal aspects of His nature, character, and attributes. The focus of this message is...

Acts 2:42 tells us that following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the Christ Followers of the primitive church “continually devoted” themselves to “the apostles’ teaching and fellowship”. In this article we consider the content, the nature, and the goal of apostolic teaching. What did...

Art as an Essential Form of Worship Including some Cautionary Thoughts for Christian Artists  Through his works of art, the Christian artist can “magnify the Lord” by “telling of His glory”, often without words, through reflecting on the attributes of God, which are “the radiance of His glory”. This is...

The Bible – the New and Old Testament scriptures are the Self-revelation of God – Father, Son, and Spirit. Only in these scriptures do we find the mysteries of God, including “the mystery of Christ”, revealed, and His “eternal purposes” prophesied. We need “diligent workers” like Paul. Indeed, every believer...

In this teaching, “Breaking Bread”, I attempt to elucidate what the term means and what it is referring to by discussing its Hebrew origins and its connection with the Old Covenant Meal – The Passover Meal, as well as its Christian usage and its connections with The New Covenant Meal...

Paul the apostle explained that what he had written to the Ephesians about husbands and wives spiritually applied to Christ and the Church.  Paul was comparing the marriage relationship to the relationship between Christ and the Church – the husband being Christ, and the Church being the wife. Starting with...

Introduction We human beings naturally perceive weakness and insecurity to be a “problem”. I believe that we can see from Scripture that, in Christ, weakness and insecurity can actually be a blessing. It is an opportunity to access the life and strength of Jesus Christ. When we offer Him our...

As a call to God-centered art, this article offers Christians involved in the various art forms a foundation for a biblical aesthetic. The attributes of God, revealed in His creation, in His written word, and in His Living Word, Jesus Christ, are the conceptual forms by which we perceive and...

A Study of Conversion in the Lives of Peter & Paul This book is a study of Conversion. The teaching addresses what it means to be “called” – the nature of the call, who are called, answering the call – as well as a look at the life-changing experiences with...

with a Group Discussion Guide & additional Resources for Organic Church Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church. We cannot discern the Body until we first discern the Head. We cannot understand the mystery of the Church until we understand the mystery of Christ. Jesus is building His...

Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples….” Since it takes the authority of Christ to make a disciple of Christ, authentic Equipping Ministries will, by nature of the case, share the life of Christ –...

In His prayer to the Father in John 17, Jesus said that both He and His people (the Ekklesia) are in the world, but not of the world.  Throughout church history, it has been, and still is, very difficult for the Church to understand this paradox, and has been even...

This eBook is a follow-up to my series entitled “A New & Living Way: An Investigation into New Covenant Worship in Spirit & Truth”.  In the context of the principles examined in that series, this writing approaches the subject of “Gathering” – NOT on how we gather, or where and...

The Church has a calling that could be referred to as “The Even Greater Commission”: “… that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 3:10 Jesus laid down His life for a Bride...

What is Postmodernism? What is Deconstruction? How do these relate to biblical faith? Can they result in the “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” – “the sin that leads to death”? In 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Paul explained that one must have the Holy Spirit in order to receive and understand the...

The subject matter of this message concerns the influence of the Holy Spirit on the human soul during the conversion-regeneration process. By this term, “conversion-regeneration process”, I mean specifically the process of coming to “repentance” and “faith” in Christ, which would be followed by regeneration. The process being discussed in...

This message is about eating and drinking – eating and drinking with Adam and Eve, eating and drinking with Moses, as well as eating and drinking with Jesus, and His Disciples – giving insights into the meaning of Jesus’ cryptic saying, “Eat of My body, and drink of My blood”....

“The elementary principles of the World” (Galatians 4:1-10; Colossians 2:8-23) have been used as tools by the fallen powers and principalities (2 Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 6:12) to keep the Church – namely, the first century Church, almost all the various streams of the Church throughout its history, even to the present...

Why is there evil?  Does God cause evil? Does He allow evil? Why would God allow evil? What is evil? I have found that the unveiling of truths contained in Scripture regarding evil and the spiritual forces of evil, have actually served to increase my personal perception of God and...

The key words in the title give the subject matter. There is a fact which we all must FACE; and that is: the FUTURE is coming. Whether the prognosis is good or bad – whether we want it to come or not – the FUTURE is coming – we must...

When the Lord is the true Source of provision for the servant, it allows the Holy Spirit the opportunity to affect spiritual growth in the worker within the very context of his walk and service in the Lord. The spiritual growth has to do with faith and faithfulness in service....

What Does a God-Centered Life Look Like? In this message, we look at what “forsaking” means, what “all” means, and what “following Jesus” means. The impetus for writing this article came from observing the spirit of Materialism in our current generation – even among God’s people. The article identifies this...

In this article, I am focusing on the adjectives, “apostolic” and “prophetic”, rather than the nouns, “apostle” and “prophet”. My goal is a more Christ-centered perspective and understanding of the phrase, “the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20-22), as well as, what it means to “lay” that Foundation....

Joined to the Cornerstone Knowing & Experiencing Christ in, and by, and through Sound Doctrine Throughout the Old Testament, we see stones placed as memorials of experiential encounters with the Lord. In the New Covenant also there are foundational “stones”, as it were – foundational experiences of Christ. We need to...

Sometimes, we have extraordinary experiences of that which is true, good, and beautiful. At these times, God is letting His glory issue from Himself through an out-raying of His attributes. The response of the human spirit to this manifestation of the glory of God is often tears.

“God-Centeredness” is a quintessential issue. All Christians, as well as all churches and ministries come down on one side of the line or the other regarding Man-Centeredness or God-Centeredness. There is a very clear line of demarcation. Our perspective has implications for virtually every activity of both our personal and corporate...

Issues in Evangelism In Mark 10 Jesus converses with a man – “a rich young ruler”. Their conversation sheds light on some issues integral to evangelism – How, Good, All of the Law, Wealth, Self, God.

“The Gospel of the Lion and The Lamb” is the title I have chosen for a teaching on the Book of Revelation. The “Lion and Lamb” theme (found in Revelation 5:5-6) is the essence of the Book of Revelation. This teaching is NOT a line-by-line commentary but is rather an...

Another Look at Consensus in the Church In certain movements within the Church, it is currently in vogue to criticize church leaders for usurping the Headship of Christ. I agree that, generally speaking, this is a valid criticism. But the more accurate statement would be that human beings, church leaders...

The Lord’s final word at the end of the Old Testament spoke of a “Period of Restoration” before the Day of the Lord in which there would be a “turning of the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers”. PART 1 discusses...

“The Book of the Law”, found in the Book of Joshua, is an Old Testament type and shadow which relates to the New Testament passage in the Gospels – the “Sermon on the Mount”, and the New Covenant “Law of Christ” – regarding the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

The two correlating facets of Holy Spirit Fellowship are “the fellowship OF the Spirit” and “fellowship WITH the Spirit”. They both have to do with personal relationship with the Holy Spirit in the context of a devotional life consisting of various spiritual disciplines or “holy habits”. Further, “the fellowship OF...

What political philosophy and what form of government may be best suited for the governance of ALL humanity – fallen and redeemed? More specifically: Is there a political philosophy which is most suited to the biblical worldview? Is there a particular form of government which inherently contains the elements of...

A presentation of the disciple-maker as “Cultivator”, through the use of word pictures of The Husbandman.      

A Personal Investigation into the Morality of Voting “IN”, but “not OF”. These are the two contexts in which a disciple of Christ lives – IN the world; but not OF the world. (John 17:13-19) For more than two thousand years the Church has struggled to understand what this actually...

In order to have reasonable communication and a constructive, beneficial discussion on a matter, we need to define the terms which are being employed in the discussion. So, if we are to discuss Paul’s perspectives on “The Israel of God”, we need to be clear on Paul’s definitions of the...

On my seventy-eighth birthday, I was feeling sorry for myself. This verse came to mind: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) A very familiar verse. What does that mean? Is that the best translation of the Hebrew? Is “joy” a verb or a noun – an...

A Governing Principle: Bearing One Another’s Burdens & The Law of Christ In this article I point out that using the Hebrew nation as a prototype, God established the concept of tribes – extended family households – as a model for His kingdom people. I am calling this model “Kingdom...

The apostle, Peter, spoke of “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord”. (Acts 2:19-21) Taken in context, Peter is saying that before Christ returns at the end of this present age, there will be “times of refreshing”, and that these times would “come from the presence of the...

The purpose of this teaching is to present the essential meanings of Baptism, and specifically the quintessential meaning of Baptism in light of the New Covenant. We will very briefly survey the progression of the concept of Baptism in the Hebrew Bible, the Gospels, and the Epistles – again with...

A study on the meaning of “Repentance”: Essentially a change of perception and understanding followed by a godly sorrow, a change of behavior and lifestyle, and a return to dependence on God.

I have observed that almost every time I pray for someone I ask the Lord to “have mercy” on them. Thus far, I had thought: “He can choose to show mercy, or not show mercy.” I had not taken time to ask why He may choose to seemingly not show...

~ The Incarnation & Atonement ~ His Kingdom & Righteousness ~ The Kingdom of God is a mystery. Many have misunderstood this mystery and consequently have also misrepresented the Kingdom of God in the earth. If we do not understand the mystery of the Incarnation, we will not understand the...

The apostle, Paul, wrote of “the power of His resurrection”. (Philippians 3:10) What is the “power” of His resurrection? And what is the unique power of “His” resurrection? In this message we will investigate the resurrection of Christ, and more purposefully, the nature of its “power”.

God is always moving forward in His kingdom plans and purposes. He never moves backward. And for those who love Him, He never stops moving in our lives for His glory. But to continue moving on with God “from glory to glory” requires our living “from faith to faith”. It...

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to testify of Christ. With His inspiration of the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit’s intention was to reveal the glory of Christ. About a decade ago, the Holy Spirit asked me this question: “What is it that you think you see in the New...

In this teaching, we will consider the question: When Do You Receive the Holy Spirit?  Specifically, we will be investigating whether believers receive the Holy Spirit WHEN they believe – making receiving synonymous with believing; or whether believers receive the Holy Spirit AFTER they believe – making receiving subsequent to...

“Christendom” is a counterfeit Christianity in the form of a Constantinian Civil Religion. It is a religion which has been taken into the captivity of its surrounding culture. As with the Jewish religion which centuries ago had been exiled in Babylon, any remaining vestiges of our culturalized Christianity are now...

Christ-centered Typology for Revelation of Christ, Relationship with Christ, and Reflection of Christ “Typology” – a term given to a method of interpreting the Old Testament scriptures in light of the New Covenant, was used by the apostolic writers of the New Testament. This approach to understanding the Old Testament...

This is an expository study of the Letter to the Hebrews. However, it does not cover every verse in the letter, but rather, goes deeply into key verses, focusing on the goal of SEEING JESUS. (John 12:21) Here we see Jesus as the Word of God, the Unique Son, the...

To understand the kingdom of God, we must understand the mystery of Christ, who is the King of that kingdom. If we seek the kingdom of God and do not enter into the mystery of Christ, we have not entered into the kingdom, and will misrepresent the kingdom of heaven...

This teaching has to do with nurturing one’s personal relationship with Christ with a view to spiritual transformation (growth in Christ-likeness). Too often discipleship is understood to be attending a special “discipleship class”; and mere attendance is the only responsibility of the disciple. At best, this would make one a...

The purpose of this article is to present an overview of spiritual gifts which I have found useful in my life and ministry. It consists of three components: The categorization of the spiritual gifts into three groups: MOTIVATIONAL gifts MANIFESTATION gifts MINISTRY gifts One’s MOTIVATIONAL gift is the root of...

Biblical teaching on the normal Christian birth into spiritual life and the normal Christian life of ongoing spiritual growth – a resource for discipleship.  

So, you’re a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. Daily, you look out at the world in which you live – you hear what is being said, you see what is being done – and increasingly you are feeling more and more different and separate – even in relation to some...

Throughout the New Testament, ministry is referred to as “work”. Scripture also speaks of “the work of ministry” being materially or financially “supported”. This article addresses that subject matter with an overview of scriptures associated with “giving”, drawing on 50 years of personal experience of being supported in “the work...

The Difference Between Theology & Politics:   The Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ & the kingdoms of this World What I have to offer in this essay is at variance with the current conventional “Evangelical” perspectives and political activities. (In fact, it equally flies in the face of...

Both the Old and New Testaments instruct us to know and understand God: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he...

The various schools of thought on Holiness are founded upon their understanding and interpretation of Romans 6:6. The colloquial speech used to discuss the commonly held concept of “Death to Self” or “Crucifixion of Self” does not hold up to biblical scrutiny or logic. It therefore does not suit the...

There are places in the spiritual realm – dimensions in God, which are “dark” to us until He brings us into those depths and reveals more of Himself to us through experiences with Himself which gift us with “Treasures of Darkness”. However, God’s “treasures” – His values, priorities, and agenda...

Using the scriptural word picture of The Vineyard of the Lord, this article takes a look at the current condition of the Church. In response to this, it then takes another look at the commission of the Church, addressing various aspects of discipleship all in light of the New Covenant,...

A Theology of Suffering Sorrow is inescapable. And the following questions found in the hearts and minds of all human beings are equally inescapable: Why is there suffering and sorrow? Why does God allow it? Why do “good” people suffer?  The Scriptures offer rational answers to these “inescapable questions”.  

We can make a distinction between the “Work of the Cross” and the “Way of the Cross”: The “Work of the Cross” is Christ’s sacrificial work on the Cross as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the World”. The message of the “Work” of the Cross...

“The weakness of God” – this is, indeed, a captivating phrase penned by Paul the apostle in his letter to the Church. (1 Corinthians 1:25)  This “weakness” is God’s chosen “methodology” from “before the foundation of the world – in “the Lamb slain” (Revelation 13:8), in His choice of Israel...

The title of this message is a question found in Psalm 24: “Who is this King of Glory?” In Matthew’s gospel we find Jesus asking a question of His disciples: “Who do people say that I am?” And a little later in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is coming into the city...

Those who are “born of God” (John 1:13) have an identity in Christ which is not derived from race or nationality, nor from family or culture, nor our own ingenuity. This is a birthright which comes only when we receive Christ as the One Isaiah called our “Eternal Father” (Isaiah...

Today, most people – including many believers – do not understand what it means to be Born Again. There are denominations that avoid, and even ridicule, this spiritual reality, because some people have abused it. As someone has said: “The answer to abuse is not disuse.” – based on the...

The Kingdom of God is a quintessential theme in Scripture and a comprehensive subject with many salient aspects to be addressed. This particular article addresses the following: What is the Kingdom of Heaven? When & Where does the Kingdom come in its fulness? Millennial Scenarios What is the Ekklesia &...