Focal Passages: Judges 4:4-8, 12-16; 5:1-5 

When we think of the book of Judges, we probably will think of characters like Samson or Gideon. However, the book of Judges tells the story of several leaders in Israel who responded to God’s call. Judges outlines a cycle of disobedience and oppression for the nation of Israel. 

In the wake of Joshua’s passing the people of Israel slid into a pattern of idolatry resulting in foreign oppressors that plagued God’s people. During this plight God raised up leaders to deliver His people to victory and renewal of faith. The partnership of Deborah and Barak illustrates one of the more unexpected pairings of the Old Testament.  

Allow yourself to be challenged. Deborah was a prophetess filled with the Spirit of God. While Israel was suffering under the heel of the Canaanite king, Deborah judged the people with the wisdom of God. While Deborah fulfilled the role of a civic leader, she did not take men into battle. She summoned Barak and called him to be the military leader Israel needed to subdue their foe.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Exodus 17:8-13; 24:13-15 

The second study of this quarter focuses on the role of the supporting casts of the Bible. No one likes to play second fiddle. We all aspire to leading roles in the activities we pursue. This is the road to self-centeredness and conceit. Rather, God calls us to a life of servant-hearted ministry. We must realize it really is not about us in the first place; it is about giving glory to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). In church ministry and leadership, we will all play second fiddle to the Head of the Church, Jesus the Messiah. May we be good servants of the Master who has called us. [Read more…]

Focal Passages: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:14-20 

Over the past few weeks we have studied the many covenants God has made with His people. From Eden’s call to replenish the earth to God’s promise of a Davidic King the Bible displays the beauty of God’s assurances to provide the faithful with a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). All of these covenant promises find their fulfillment in the New Covenant outlined in Jeremiah 31 and accomplished through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

A new covenant unlike any other. The new covenant finds its uniqueness contrasted with the Mosaic covenant at Sinai (Exodus 19). Interestingly, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah in this passage to the unified people of God. At this point in biblical history, the Nation of Israel had been annihilated for over 150 years and the Kingdom of Judah was in the process of being sent into exile in Babylon.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: II Samuel 7:8-16 

In addition to God’s promise of blessing and salvation through the lineage of Abraham, God also promised King David in II Samuel 7 that there would always be one of His descendants sitting on the throne in Jerusalem. God has always remained faithful to the assurances He has given. 

Nonetheless, a king does not currently sit on a throne in Jerusalem. David’s descendants would reign first over a divided kingdom and would eventually fall to destruction and exile. The people would return; the city would be rebuilt; yet, a Davidic king was not placed on the throne. Is this an example of a promise God has not kept? Of course not.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: II Chronicles 7:1-3, 12-20 

As we close out the month of June, the American public make plans for the cookouts, fireworks  and summer fun of Independence Day.  

As believers enjoy this festive time of patriotism, we must also take time to pray for our country and ask the Lord for His continued blessing upon this nation. II Chronicles 7 outlines the way we can intercede on behalf of our nation, state and communities. 

While we enjoy many freedoms in this land, especially religious freedom, the signs grow concerning that this may not always be the case. Moreover, God calls His people to pray for our government leaders (Romans 13), pursue the welfare of the communities around us (Jeremiah 29:4-7) and to always remember that blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh (Psalm 33:12).   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Exodus 19:1-8 

The book of Exodus tells the wonderful story of how God delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and led them toward the Promised Land. 

This narrative demonstrates the faithfulness of the Lord to His plan of salvation and great desire to make a people for Himself who will be a city on a hill, shining the Light of Christ on a lost and dying world. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 12:1-3, 15:5-7, 17:7-11 

God’s promises in Scripture always point to the covenants He has made with His people. 

The last two lessons saw God’s mandate for humanity to be fruitful, replenish and steward the earth. This week’s lesson focuses on the covenant of redemption and blessing founded in God’s calling and promises to Abram.  Through the Lord’s interaction with the patriarch we learn that blessing is not something earned but is a gift of God’s grace.

God’s promise to us of blessing began with a call to Abram. Out of nowhere God called Abram.   Abram’s father had taken his family from Ur and traveled as far as Haran. Terah intended to carry on to Canaan, but he ended up settling in Haran and died there.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 9:1-13 

God had every right to judge humanity completely. The intentions of mankind were “nothing but evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) Yet God’s grace found Noah. Through Noah the Lord preserved humanity and His promises of redemption. 

For 150 days the waters prevailed on the earth. Once the waters receded and the Lord instructed Noah and his family to come out of the ark on dry ground, the patriarch built an altar to give glory to God. The Lord’s renewed blessing to Noah remains in effect for us today.   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 1:26-30, 2:16-17, 3:16-19 

The Bible is replete with the promises of God. They unify the testaments into an overarching story about God’s intervention within history to accomplish His plans.

From Creation to the Cross, from the Exodus to the end of all things, God’s assurances have comforted His people to know that He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Within the narrative of God’s formation of the world and creating mankind in His image, we see His mandate to be fruitful and multiply. Through this call to steward the earth comes the commitment that God will bless the faithful with fruitful lives.   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: II Corinthians 9:6-15 

The topic of giving always heightens emotions in people, especially, in modern day culture. You will find extremes at both ends. There will be those who emphatically embrace the ideology of giving and those who depose it. The majority will fall somewhere in the middle.  

I don’t understand why people have such a problem when it comes to the question of giving. I must confess, in my over 40 years in the ministry, this topic was my least favorite to preach on.  It should not have been, because there is great joy in giving. It is an act of worship. But this topic can produce tension if people don’t understand its concept. It is definitely Biblical and in fact required.  

I think most people get bogged down in the specifics. Like do I tithe on the gross or the net?  Does it have to be 10 percent to be accepted by God? We trip on the details and lose the understanding of why we do it. But giving can be one of the most joyful things in our lives and one of the most worshipful things we can do to show our love toward God.  In this study we will examine giving and how it can change our lives forever. [Read more…]