Jul 27, 2021
From lust to murder: had David made better decisions, or had his friends stepped in to stop him, he may have had a different story. But he did not avoid temptation, and his friends sat silently by. However terrible David was, God still finds a way to redeem him.
Jul 27, 2021
After Jesus fed the 5000, an act of both generosity and power, the people wanted to make him king. They wanted him to exercise “power over” others. But, Jesus was not that kind of king. He rules as a servant, not as a tyrant.
Jul 23, 2021
God is the originator of “tough love.” God does not spare us the earthly consequences of our sin. That is not what grace means. Grace means that we are not defined in God’s eyes by our sin, that God will always provide a “righteous branch” to save God’s people. Will we have eyes to see? Jeremiah 23:1-6
Jul 23, 2021
David loves God so much he decides (without asking) to put God in a box, or literally, to move the Ark of the Covenant from a tent to a temple. As we, the church, emerge into a post-Covid era, we do not know what church will look like, but we know we need to ask God in prayer before we move. 2 Samuel 7:1-14
Jul 13, 2021
Jeroboam was doing a good job: expanding the kingdom, making the wealthy wealthier, appeasing Baal. In comes an outsider - Amos - who tells the king and his priest that God is taking the full measure of their work, and finds it lacking. Amos 7:7-15.