Church

Law, Wisdom, and Worship anchor the soul of the believer in times of crisis.

Luke 1-2 The Corona Virus is just one of the things Jesus came to save us from. How does he do that: Jesus shared our frail humanity Luke 1:26-38 The virgin birth is a historical event with eye-witnesses.  God experienced real human sickness (?) and death.  Jesus is the cure for Covid 19.  Luke 1:46-56  Mary expected that her child would change her circumstances.  Mary’s pregnancy was cause for great personal joy.   With Jesus we […]

Luke 1:59-80 Things go better when we get up in the morning thinking about God’s will instead of our own desires.  I. Choosing God’s Will leads to PRAISE.   God’s ANGEL for us is the Bible.  Every Christ-follower has a CALLING.   II. Choosing God’s Will provides SALVATION.  Zechariah’s praise was for MARY’S child.  God HUMBLES the rich and HONORS the poor.   III. God’s Will gives PURPOSE to what we do.   ALIGNMENT with God’s purpose is all we […]

Romans 5:12-21 What “why” question does Romans 5:12-21 answer? List 3 events throughout the Old Testament which attest to the need for a savior. List 3 characteristics of man which are a result of “the fall.” What is the “free gift” given to all? Explain solidarity… How can you use Romans 5:12-21 to reach others… are these passages enough to have a conversation or do you look at them as just the tip of the […]

Malachi 47/55  Don’t waste your life.  Live intentionally for God.  1:2-3  God looked past his deceit and lies and loved Jacob.  1:13b-14  We are like Esau when we don’t give God our best 2:13-14  God feels like a divorced lover when we play Esau. 3:14 God has a plan to make us holy anyway. 3:8-10   Repent:  Let’s give God our best; test him. 3:16  Be encouraged, God knows are heart.    3:5  Be warned, the […]

Nehemiah 8-9 I. Understanding the Bible gives us joy. 8:5-13 A. Expository preaching explains the meaning. B. Understanding prompts us to worship. II. Specific confession precedes Gratitude. 9:1-3, 17, 19 A. Redeemed saints are a grateful people… B. …because God does not destroy sinners. III. Actually obeying God’s word makes us free. 9:38, 13:23-27 A. Human promises are pretty weak. B. Wisdom leads to right behavior, sometimes.

Three kinds of leadership: teacher, shepherd, leader. I. Nehemiah was a praying man A. He believed in the goodness and power of God. B. He knew his mission would fail if God did not act II. Nehemiahn had a carefully crafted plan before he took action. A. He formed a plan as he prayed. (contrast Noah) B. Nehemiah inspected the walls alone at night before he went public. III. Nehemiah, a cautious man, was willing […]

Zechariah Hope comes in stillness (2:13) Hope comes in a single day (3:9) Hope comes by my Spirit (4:6, 10) Hope comes on a donkey (9:9) Hope comes for thirty pieces of silver (10:12-13) Hope comes with a sword (13:7) Hope comes to the Mount of Olives (14:4) Hope for all nations (14:16)

Haggai Intentional structuring of our lives and prioritization of our efforts brings order into an otherwise life of chaos. 1)  God confronts us about misplaced priorities.      A.    Have you ever felt like there just isn’t ____________              time in the ______?       B.    What are your priorities in life? 2)  God encourages us with His presence. A. When we prioritize our ________ with Him first,     everything else __________ into place. B. Which rocks and stones […]

Ezra 1 – 3Gloating over our adversaries makes us just like them.God is powerful and willing to make us free.I. God’s decree makes us free.A. God stirred the heart of Cyrus to make a proclamation. B. God stirred the hearts of people to build the temple.. II. We have been made free to serve.A. They gathered as one man. B. They followed the Law of Moses. III. Worship is the practice of freedom.A. Some celebrated. […]

The Prophecy of Obadiah Gloating over our adversaries makes us just like them.“The Pride of your heart has deceived you.” I. Gloating feeds our pride. A. Edomites gloat because they think themselves secure. B. The Jwews might have gloated back after reading Obadiah. “You were like one of them.” II. Gloating destroys family. A. Jacob and Esau were brothers; they were family. B. Our sin wounds people we love. “The Day of the Lord is…

Daniel 7 Guest Speaker Gordy Grover

Daniel 6               Unit 16 Session 3 It is better to live with prayer, than to die without.  I. Prayer is a legitimate public testimony Does this mean Daniel was a hypocrite? (Matt 6:5-6) And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that  they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to…

Daniel 4 Unit 16 Session 2 Be careful what you think will bring you peace and happiness.  Be spirit filled! Are you walking in the spirit? Do people sense  something different about you? Name three things from Gal 5 “of the flesh” Have compassion on unbelievers.   What did Jesus command us to do in Luke 6? Love your enemies Pray for those who abuse who Expect nothing in return Be merciful, even as your Father…

Daniel 3:13-30 The actions of the three friends are not heroic or unusual, but normal for every believer.     If we are not different, we will be assimilated.  Giving in is more dangerous than resistance.    What things are we determined not to do?  God is uniquely with people who choose to be different.    Suffering for doing the right thing pleases God. The miracle had already happened.  . .   People who choose to be different make…

“The Crazy-Man Prophet” Ezekiel 37 Two, no three, impossible things God will do:   God resurrects dead people.  (1-14) The vision  A political resurrection of the Jewish nation?    A spiritual resurrection of born-again people? A physical resurrection of the saints when Christ returns?    God reconciles adversaries.  (15-27)  The Object Lesson   Judah and Ephraim had separated over 300 years earlier.   All nations come together in the church.   Believers are saved into a living faith community.  .   This…

“The Fall of Jerusalem”  2 Chronicles 36:11-23 When God gets mad, good things happen. God’s just wrath is beautiful.   He is the God of storms.    God is love but he is equally the God of light.    God’s just wrath gives people hope.   The wicked were destroyed or assimilated. Righteous people lived by faith in exile. A faithful remnant would return.   God’s just wrath will be satisfied.   the Jews survived four world empires. The gospel spread…

Habakkuk If we complain and argue with God, is that considered doubting Him or believing in Him? When was the last time you argued or complained to God? The last time you prayed; how did it go? Turmoil Have you ever started a conversation with someone where all you were doing was complaining about everything around you, your individual situation and circumstances? I’m hurting, I’m confused and I just don’t get it.  God says, “I’m…

Jeremiah 31:31-34 We don’t need to create unity in the church because believers become a spiritual community through the new birth. We enjoy community because God’s law is written on each of our hearts. Christians agree with God before they agree with each other. Conflict resolution only works because we already have unity in the Spirit. We enjoy community because each of us know God personally, not academically. Like a subject knows his king. Like…

2 Chronicles 34 Josiah breaks it down for us: I. Get rid of things that keep us from following Jesus A. At a very young age, Josiah reversed centuries of idolatry. B. Idolatry is an evil substitute for life-giving relationship with Christ. II. Develop a habit of worship that works for you. A. Restoring the Temple gave the Jews a place to worship God properly. B. A lack of worship cripples faith. III. Do something…