Focal Passage: Jeremiah 7:1-15  What does the text say? Jeremiah 7:1-15 warns from God to the people of Judah about their idolatrous ways. The people were going through the motions of religion, but their hearts were far from God. They trusted in the false security of the temple, rather than in the Lord. The Lord warns them that He will not tolerate their hypocrisy, and that they will face severe

Focal Passage: Jeremiah 2:1-13  Introduction: Jeremiah 2:1-13 delivers a powerful message from God to His people, calling them to repentance. The passage describes the sinful behavior of the Israelites, who have turned away from the true God and pursued idols instead. As we examine this passage, we will learn about the dangers of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from God. What does the text say?  Jeremiah 2:1-13 is

Focal Passage: Jeremiah 1:4-19  Introduction: Jeremiah’s call to prophesy emphasizes a powerful reminder that God calls and equips us for His work. In this lesson, we will explore Jeremiah 1:4-19 and discover how God’s call to Jeremiah applies to us as Christians today. What Does the Text Say? In Jeremiah 1:4-19, we see God calling Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah was reluctant to accept this call

Focal Passage: John 21:15-23 As you think back over the course of your life, do you ever struggle with regret?  For most of us, regrets are plentiful and painful, and some have changed the direction of our lives. But regardless of the mistakes we’ve made in the past, nothing compares to the feeling of regret that we often carry after we’ve failed the Lord.  It could have been a consequential

Focal Passage: John 20:19-29 One of the most tragic and dangerous developments in recent times is what’s known as Christian deconstructionism. Just as one deconstructs a building by tearing down the roof, the walls, and eventually the foundation, some today are claiming that persuasive arguments from science, philosophy, and other religions have filled them with enough “reasonable doubts” to deconstruct their faith, thus tearing down biblical beliefs they once held

Have you ever experienced a dark time in your life? A moment when it seemed like everything good was unraveling. It could have been a major health crisis when you were diagnosed with a potentially fatal disease.  It might have been receiving word that you lost your job, and you didn’t know how you were going to make ends meet. It could have been a season of intense sadness or

Focal Passage: John 18:28-40 One of the most thought-provoking literary devices is irony. Writers often grab our attention by describing situations that — to our surprise — turn out differently than we expected. We might read about a fire station burning down, or a marriage counselor filing for divorce or a pilot with a fear of heights.  These twists are often given to display deeper truths, such as the vulnerability

Focal Passage: John 18:1-11 In our fallen culture, it’s not uncommon for criminals to scramble from police to avoid arrest. A few weeks ago, a man in West Tennessee was accused of assaulting a family member.  When the police arrived, the suspect barricaded himself inside the home and threatened to open fire on the officers. The standoff lasted for over four hours until a special response team carefully made their

Focal Passage: John 17:13-26 One of the great blessings of having close relationships with other believers is the ability to call upon them to pray for us in a time of need. As a pastor, I receive numerous prayer requests each week, where people ask me to pray for the most serious and urgent needs in their lives.  Similarly, it’s not uncommon for me to call upon many others to

Focal Passage: John 15:26-27; 16:7-15 One of the strangest elements in literature is what’s called a “paradox.”  According to the dictionary, a paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory or illogical. In other words, it’s a message that seems backwards or doesn’t make sense.  We encounter paradoxes when business owners say, “You have to spend money to make money;” or when a counselor states that “failure often leads to success.”