As Jesus entered into Jerusalem and the last week of his time on earth, he was welcomed in by shouts from a crowd, "Save us please!" Just a week later the crowd would be yelling "Crucify him!"
The Lost Sons
When Jesus was confronted by religious leaders about why he was spending time with sinners, he told three stories: a parable of a lost sheep, a parable of a lost coin, and a parable of lost sons. The story tells of a wayward younger son who runs from home and lives recklessly without regard to his family, and an older son who stays home working and following all the rules in order to get what he wants. Yet, both sons are equally lost. The difference is one son comes to his senses and back to the father.
The Call of the Inn Keeper
Many of us are familiar with the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. Who do you picture yourself as in that story? The man who gets beaten and robbed, left for dead? The ones who pass by on the other side of the road to avoid the mess? The Samaritan who cares for him? Could it be that Jesus himself has taken on the role of the Good Samaritan, and our role is found in one other character in the story who often gets forgotten?
Pray Like This
The Blessed Life
Jesus attracted many different kinds of people with his miracles, his care, and his words. Many of them were looking for the same thing you and I are looking for - the blessed life. How do we find happiness? How do we get fulfillment? How can we truly be satisfied?
Jesus' words on this shocked his listeners and they're just as shocking to our culture today. The way to be blessed? Well, start by acknowledging how little you have.
Wine at the Wedding
The very first miracle where Jesus showed his glory was making wine out of water when a wedding celebration ran out of the good stuff. Was this a random, unplanned moment? Was this a side quest in the real mission Jesus came for? If we look closely and reframe this story away from our context into the people’s who lived it, we just may find how this moment was instrumental in telling the world who Jesus is and exactly why he came.
Jesus Is Born
God’s people had been waiting and holding their breath for the promised Messiah to come and rescue them. They all had different expectations of what to look for. When he finally came into the world, many could not see him because they were searching for something else. Yet, Jesus came just as promised. What are you looking for? What do you seek? Are you able to see the real Jesus and find the hope, joy, peace, and rescue you need?
Psalm 19 - God in Creation
Psalm 148 - Praise the LORD
Psalm 16 - Power. Place. Presence.
Rebuild: Ezra/Nehemiah (part two)
Rebuild: Ezra/Nehemiah (part one)
Get Ready For Your Exile
The words of Jeremiah were given by God to prepare His people for exile. You're about to be taken into captivity, forced to live in a foreign land, ruled by an oppressive nation. What should you do? How should you live? God's words delivered through Jeremiah were shocking. Make it a home. Plant and tend to gardens. Enter into relationships and build families. In essence, continue the call given to humanity at the very beginning... whether you're in a garden of paradise or exiled in Babylon.
God Sings Over Us
Have you ever been so happy you couldn’t help but to sing?
Sing! Rejoice! Because even though this world is broken, life is hard, and you have rebelled, God will come and sing over you with rejoicing — if you have humbled yourself and recognize your need for Him. He will rescue you like a mighty warrior. How amazing is it that God sings over His people?
Elijah Against 450 Prophets
God’s people were worshipping the gods of other nations along with the God of Israel. As Elijah said, they were hobbling between two crutches. God uses Elijah, his prophet, to show who the true God is during an epic showdown between Elijah and 450 prophets of Baal. It would seem Elijah would be outmatched, but really it was a battle between God and Baal - and Baal would prove to be no match at all for the true God.
Appointing A King
God's people wanted a king, just like the other nations had. They wanted one who would represent them well. One who was tall, handsome, strong - a natural leader.
But God was their true King, and if He was going to give them a human representative it would be one who represented what He is like - not what the other nations were like. This is the context where we find the power struggle between Saul and David.
The Cycle of Judges
Israel had been rescued by God and finally entered into the promised land of rest. But it didn’t take long for them to rebel against Him and worship other gods. So, God would hand them over to their rebellion and let the gods they worshipped and the nations they longed for take them over. They would cry out for rescue so God would send someone as a judge over sin and the other nations. The people would rejoice, but again, it didn’t take long to repeat their rebellion.
They found themselves in an exhausting cycle: rescue, rest, rebellion, reaping the consequences, rescue… repeat. Who could come and break the cycle?
Crossing Over
God’s people had been freed from slavery but had been wandering around the wilderness now for decades. To make matters worse, their leader Moses had passed away. Would this new leader, Joshua, be able to cut it? Would the people finally enter into the land promised to them long ago? Would they finally learn that it was not Moses or Joshua who would rescue them, but Yahweh himself who is their salvation?
The People At Sinai
Once God set His people free from slavery to Egypt, He showed His power to them and gave them a new way to live. In His ways. As His representatives.
These commandments were not just rules to follow. They were a liberating new way of life that would display God’s glory and goodness to the rest of the nations.
The Passover
God has gone head to head with Pharaoh, perhaps the most powerful man in the world. Pharaoh brought all of his gods to the battle as well. God, the Lord of Israel, the Creator of all the universe, has been victorious every step of the way. Nine times, he defeats the gods of Egypt. Then He had one last blow to deal. Yet, even in the brutal discipline and judgment of God, He provides a way out. He gives an opportunity for not just Israel, but all who would trust in Him, to have death pass over them and lead them on to life.