Nehemiah: The Wall Builder (Part 1) I. Nehemiah: PASSIONATE for a CAUSE. (Neh. 1-2)A. The GENERATIVE power of DIFFICULTY and PAIN. (1:1-4)B. Our PRAYERS shape us over TIME. (1:5-2:9)C. Nehemiah
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Lent 2024 – Four Post-Exilic People – Part 2 | Selections from Ezra 7-10
Ezra: The Teacher of the Law I. A CONTEXT grounded in “THREES”. (Ezra and Nehemiah)A. ZERUBBABEL, EZRA, and NEHEMIAH.B. The TEMPLE, the LAW, the JERUSALEM wall.C. A KING, some CONTROVERSY,
Read moreLent 2024 – Four Post-Exilic People – Part 1 | Selections from Ezra 1-6
Zerubbabel: The Temple Building Governor I. The JOY of coming HOME. (Ez. 1-3)A. The FULFILLMENT of the PROPHECY . (1:2-4; Jer. 25:12; Is. 45:13)B. It’s the EXODUS all over AGAIN.
Read moreComing to The One Who Comes to Us – Part 8 | John 13:1-17
Coming as King in an Unexpected Way I. It’s a DINNER with FRIENDS. (vs 2)A. A COMMUNITY he deeply KNOWS and LOVES.B. There’s a MIXTURE of FEELINGS at the table.
Read moreComing to The One Who Comes to Us – Part 7 | John 11:1-44
When Jesus says “Come” to a Dead Man I. Jesus COMES to BETHANY. (v.1-16)A. The UNUSUAL love of JESUS. (v.1-6)B. The disciples are INVITED to TRUST. ((v.7-16)C. John ANCHORS the
Read moreComing to The One Who Comes to Us – Part 6 | John 7:14-52
When Jesus Comes Late to the Party I. TOURISM guide for the Feast of TABERNACLES. (Jn. 7-8; Lev. 23)A. TENTS: A huge 7-day CELEBRATION. (7:3-4; Lev. 23:39-40,42-43)B. WATER: The feast
Read moreComing to The One Who Comes to Us – Part 5 | John 6:25-71
Chasing the Bread of life I. The CROWD is CHASING Jesus…or are they? (v.25)A. CHASING their next MEAL. (v.21-26)B. CHASING more and more PROOF . (v.28-40)C. CHASING their own IDEAS.
Read moreComing to The One Who Comes to Us – Part 4 | John 6:1-21
Don’t let the disciples get lost in the crowd I. Getting the FOCUS on the right PLACE. (Jn 6:1-21)A. John’s RETELLING is DIFFERENT. (6:1-21; Mt. 14; Mk. 6; Lk 9)B.
Read moreComing To The One Who Comes to Us – Part 3 | John 2:23-3:21
When Religious People Come I. John sets the STAGE for the CONVERSATION. (2:23-3:1)A. The BUZZ about JESUS. (2:23-24)B. NICODEMUS has impressive CREDENTIALS. (3:1) It’s always important to read the context
Read moreSeason of Advent – Part 4B (Love) / Gospel of John – Part 2 | John 1:29-51
Come and See I. The WAY Jesus COMES. (v.29-39)A. QUIETLY but in PROXIMITY . (v.29,36)B. ASKING probing QUESTIONS. (v.37)C. OFFERING an INVITATION. (v.39) Last week Jake talked about the coming
Read moreSeason of Advent – Part 4A (Love) / Gospel of John – Part 1 | John 1:1-18
The One Who Came to Us I. WORDA. Objective TRUTH (1:1)B. Creative POWER (1:1-3; Gen. 1)C. Personal DISCLOSURE II. LIGHT (1:4-5)A. An OBSTACLE to OVERCOMEB. A CONCEPT to UNDERSTANDC. Or
Read moreSeason of Advent – Part 3 (Joy) | Zechariah 10:1-12
When God “Whistles” I. HOPE and PEACE will lead to JOY. (10:1-3)A. SEARCH in the right PLACE. (v.1-2)B. WANDERING Sheep with MISSING leaders. (v.2-3)C. The LORD will be the SHEPHERD.
Read moreSeason of Advent – Part 2 (Peace) | Zechariah 9:9-17
The Peace of the Kingdom of God I. A PALM SUNDAY passage in Advent? (v.9-17)A. The KING is COMING to you. (v.9)B. A PEACE that EXTENDS. (v.10; Ps. 72:8)C. FREEDOM
Read moreSeason of Advent – Part 1 (Hope) | Zechariah 1-6 (3:1-4:14)
What Zechariah is Dreaming of this Christmas I. FINDING our FOOTING in Zechariah.A. UNDERSTANDING the CONTEXT. (1:1-6)B. DISCERNING the literary STRUCTURE. (Chap. 1-6)C. HOPE is the HEART of the MESSAGE
Read more1 Samuel: Listening to What God Says – Part 12 | 1 Samuel 8
We Need a King I. A TYPICAL, yet highly IRONIC request. (v.1-5)A. It’s not UNEXPECTED. (v.3-4,8; Deut. 17:14)B. EVERYONE is DOING it. (v.5; 1 Sam. 12:12)C. But don’t MISS the
Read more1 Samuel: Listening to What God Says – Part 11 | 1 Samuel 4-7
Using God for our own purposes I. The STORY of one more bad DECISION. (4:1-21)A. They QUESTION, but don’t wait for an ANSWER. (v.1-4)B. A FALSE sense of SECURITY. (v.5-9)C.
Read more1 Samuel: Listening to What God Says – Part 10 | 1 Samuel 3:1-21
The Last Judge…the First Prophet 1 Samuel 3:1-21 I. SOMETHING is DIFFERENT about this one. (1 Sam. 1-2)A. It starts with FAITHFULNESS and LONGING. (1 Sam. 1)B. A BLESSING given
Read moreJudges: NOT Following Where God Leads – Part 9 | Judges 17:1-13
Replacing the God we have Forgotten I. Unusual ACTIONS flow from mixed up MOTIVES. (v.1-13)A. Lives CENTRED around the SELF. (v.1-4; Lk 6:32-36)B. Actions MOTIVATED by FEAR. (v.2-3; Titus 2:11-13)C.
Read moreJudges: NOT Following Where God Leads – Part 8 | Judges 11:1-40
Forgetting Who (and How) God Is I. The STORY of JEPHTHAH the judge. (v.1-40)A. Mighty WARRIOR and REJECTED son. (v.1-3)B. Until he had SOMETHING to OFFER. (v.4-11)C. An ATTEMPT at
Read moreJudges: NOT Following Where God Leads – Part 7 | Judges 6-8
The Life and Times of Judge Gideon I. When Reading Judges…A. Resist the Urge to IdolizeB. Remember the Story of the Bible (Gen. 3:15)C. Review the Cycle of Sin (Judges
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