Read Jeremiah 26:8-11 and John 7:25-30 We hold the memory of Biblical prophets in such high regard that we would consider the calling to be an honor. And it is, in fact an honor to be given the task to speak the very words of God. But the Old Testament prophets led a lonely, unpopular existence of threats and suffering. …
Break the Law Read Exodus 32:7-14 & John 5:31-46 Exodus 32 is one of my favorite passages of the Old Testament. To quickly summarize chapter 32, Moses is on Mt. Sinai meeting with God about the 10 commandments when the people of Israel grew impatient and decided to melt all their gold to create a golden calf to worship. God …
Read Psalm 145:4-13 and John 5:17-29 God acts and God speaks. Those two truths are the most important things that any of us canknow about the way that the universe works. These truths are also far from certain in thehopeless view of life so most of the world around us has bought into.These truths are also the bedrock for having …
Read Psalm 46 and John 5:1-16 Your life is probably busy. You have too many things to do and not enough time to do them. And what does God tell you to do about that? He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” In the midst of all the busyness and commotion of life, God says to be …
Read 2 Samuel 7:1-16 Last week Psalm 95 gave us an example of how to worship God as a mighty creator exalted above his creation. This week we are brought deeper into the life of King David, the worshipper-in-chief of the nation. The ark of the covenant has returned to the City of David. David humbled himself “dancing with all …
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT Read Hosea 14 and Mark 12:28-34 It is time for the question & answer period and you know Jesus is going to love this! The self-righteousscribes and Sadducees’ have amassed hundreds of laws. – 613 by one historian’s count! Some religiousleaders tried to distinguish between major & minor laws, and some taught that all laws were equallybinding …
Overcoming Demons Read Psalm 95 and Luke 11:14-23 What does it mean to acknowledge the greatness of God? How exactly are we to relate to Jesusas a king? The Psalms have many such songs where praise is going up to God as the Almightypowerful and strong King. Psalm 95 is one such example. It begins with a call to enter …
Galatians 2:1-14 Discussion Guide One of the saddest statements about the American church in recent years is that we are mostlyknown for arguments and disagreements with other Christians. Some of these disagreementsare over important matters, but others of them appear stupid and petty to everyone who is notdirectly engaged in the argument. One of the great characteristics of Paul in …
Keeping the Law Read Deuteronomy 4:1-9 and Matthew 5:17-1 You must obey. Those are three very difficult words to hear. They’re repulsive. Because of sin, we’re naturally hardwired to fight back against ultimatums like this. Why would you blindly obey someone just because they told you to? Were it a teacher or a boss who demanded your obedience, no matter …
Read Psalm 25:1-10 & Matthew 18:21-35 Forgiveness is defined as “the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.” Christians and non-Christians alike understand that the process of forgiveness implies the work of two people to reconcile a relationship. It should not come as a surprise that God created us and desired a relationship with us, but as soon as …
