Blog: December 2018

We took a break from the chronological journey through the Bible this past Sunday to focus on Christmas. From the moment sin entered the world, its consequences were obvious. God’s people were separated from Him; they did not enjoy the intimate relationship with their Creator for which He had created them. People were affected by sickness and pain. Corruption spread quickly throughout the earth. The situation seemed hopeless, yet God did not leave His people without hope. It was into this hopelessness that God spoke. Hundreds of messages ...

With 2019 just around the corner, this is a great time for every follower of Jesus to start (or recommit to) a pattern of daily Bible reading.  And don’t just read.  Reflect, meditate, re-read, make notes, journal, use study helps (the ESV Study Bible is excellent), pray the Word, and apply what you learn personally and in community. And that means being intentional:  If you don’t plan to dig into Scripture, it will not happen.  So mark out quality time in your daily rou­tine to get into God’s presence in this way, and ask the Holy Spirit ...

Last week, kids learned that God had a plan for Joseph’s suffering. The land of Egypt enjoyed seven years of plenty before a famine struck, just as Pharaoh had dreamed. During that time, Joseph gathered all the excess food and stored it in the cities. The famine was severe in every land, so Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to everyone who needed it. Jacob and his family lived in Canaan, and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for grain. Jacob still felt the sting of losing Joseph. He did not allow his youngest son, Benjamin, to go for ...

During last Sunday’s message I asked if you found it odd to be going through the Book of Job during Advent.  After all, the speeches of God in Job 38-41 strongly emphasize divine transcendence—that the Lord, the Creator, is vastly “beyond us,” even shrouded in mystery. God drives home the point that Job’s knowledge and abilities are miniscule compared with the magnificent reach of divine sovereignty.  He does this with a barrage of questions:  Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (38:4).  Can you send forth ...

Jacob grew up in strife with his twin brother, Esau. He spent many years away from his family to avoid Esau’s anger. God spoke to Jacob in a dream and reaffirmed to Jacob the promise He gave to Abraham and Isaac. Finally, God called Jacob home to the land of Canaan. God blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel.   Jacob had 12 sons. They would become the leaders of the tribes of Israel. But Jacob’s favorite son was Joseph. Joseph was the son of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife, and Jacob didn’t hide his favoritism. He gave Joseph a gift ...

Our journey through the Book of Job is raising important, sobering questions—for example, about a link between suffering and sin (do those who suffer “have it coming”?), about the type of safety God does and doesn’t promise us, and about whether our relationship with God boils down to a “contract” under which we claim a right to bounty and blessing (do we love God or just his gifts?). And all such questions prompt us to examine our expectations.  For example, do we imagine that life as we know it will just go on and on and on?  Of course, ...