Explaining the Book

1 Thessalonians 4 Commentary: The human experience of grief is as old as sin. When our father Adam disobeyed God, sin entered into the world – and death though sin. This death – in all of its various lifelong forms and manifestations – leads to grief in just as many forms. Our responses to this… Continue reading 1 Thessalonians 4 Commentary Verses 13-18

[S] In the past decade or so, a new term has been coined. I’m talking about the word “adulting”. The linguistics journal American Speech has offered up these definitions for this word: 1. to behave in an adult manner; engage in activities associated with adulthood 2. to make someone behave like an adult; turn someone… Continue reading 1 Thessalonians 4 Commentary Verses 9-12

How would you characterize the American church right now in one word? •           Maybe “fractured” comes to mind. So many denominations and groups. So little agreement among those groups as to what God actually wants from us. •           How about “worldly”? The attitudes, lifestyles, and worship of the members and leaders of churches can tend… Continue reading 1 Thessalonians 4 Commentary Verses 1-8

1 Thessalonians 3 Summary of Verses 11-13: No one really likes waiting. Whether it’s waiting in a line or waiting for food when you’re hungry or waiting for the next significant event in your life – waiting isn’t usually comfortable or enjoyable. Sometimes it feels downright unbearable. And yet, waiting is inevitable – even in… Continue reading 1 Thessalonians 3 Summary of Verses 11-13

1 Thessalonians 3 Summary | Verses 6-10: What encourages you in this life? When things get difficult for you and you feel down, what is it that lifts you up? The internet, of course, is full of ideas on how you can be encouraged. One Ph.D. author suggests that engaging in positive self-talk, watching uplifting… Continue reading 1 Thessalonians 3 Summary Verses 6-10

Turn with me in your Bible to Matthew 22. In our last message on this parable of the wedding feast, we discovered that Jesus spoke this parable in the context of hostility. The chief priests and Pharisees were seeking to kill Jesus. He had entered Jerusalem for the Passover and was teaching the people and […]

It’s always a privilege to be invited to some special occasion. You can probably think of the excitement associated with finding out that you had been invited to some sort of event: A friend’s birthday party or The wedding of someone you cared about or The retirement party of a co-worker. Being invited to things […]

The concept of justice is one that everyone subscribes to – at least, when it turns out for their benefit. You want to be able to go to the store and weigh-out a pound of produce and be charged accordingly – no more and no less. When you go to the gas station you want […]

Let’s turn our attention to Psalm 57 now. Because you and I need to know How to Pray as You Wait for Your Trial to End. And that is the wonderful example that God ordained David to set for us in Psalm 57.

Let’s turn our attention to Psalm 56 where we will see The Prayer of a Believer Outside of God’s Will. David had found himself to be outside of God’s will. How did he handle that situation and what can we learn as we pray through these situations in our lives as we become aware of them?

Zechariah 7 Commentary Verses 8-14: Let's turn our attention to Zechariah 7. We'll be continuing today in a section that began in the first verse of this chapter with a question. A few of the Jews had been sent by others to ask whether they should continue to mourn and fast commemorating the destruction of… Continue reading Zechariah 7 Commentary Verses 8-14

Zechariah 1 explained: Let's turn our attention to the book of Zechariah and the first chapter. Zechariah 1 is where we'll be studying today. And this is really the last time that we'll be in this first chapter of this book. We'll be studying verses 18-21 which constitute the second vision given to this prophet… Continue reading Zechariah 1 Explained: Verses 18-21

Job 40 Commentary: Let's turn our attention to Job 40. So, the Lord has asked Job about 59 questions so far that are all intended to show Job that God knows what he's doing – both in all Creation and in Job's specific circumstances. Job 40 Commentary: God to Job | 1-2 And so now,… Continue reading Job 40 Commentary: Verses 1-14

Job 25 Commentary: The God who created the universe has revealed himself in a book. The book that we hold in our hands. The Holy Scripture. And there are numerous facts that we can gain about God from creation. But without this book we are left in the dark about much of what God is… Continue reading Job 25 Commentary