Focal Passage: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25 It really is about the Name: When I read Isaiah 7:14 I am always intrigued by the way different people approach this amazing promise given by the prophet Isaiah. Many skeptics see this as a desperate attempt of the prophet to bring hope to the people of God when they were facing annihilation by the Assyrian armies. When you consider that Isaiah’s son’s name
Focal Passage: Genesis 3:1-7; 21-24 I have gotten into the habit of pulling from the closet before bed the clothes I will wear for the next day. It is a mindless task — picking out something that matches (hopefully) and is clean. Occasionally, walking through a clothing store or flipping through a catalog, I decide I need something new to wear. I then place those new clothes in the closet
Focal Passage: Psalm 103:1-5, 8-13, 17-19 The focal text for this study is Psalm 103:1-5,8-13,17-19. For so many believers, Psalm 103 expresses their deepest heartfelt gratitude toward God. When we consider the vast number of ways that God has expressed His love for us, it should compel us to bless the Lord with the entirety of our soul. When I consider verses 1-5, my heart immediately goes to the
Focal Passage: Genesis 2:7-9, 15-25 I have asthma. It is a family trait. My grandfather and my late mother-in-law had it. My oldest son has it. Asthma constricts the airways and makes it difficult to breathe. When my son was very young, various times he was hospitalized with his asthma. I remember distinctively watching him in his oxygen tent in the hospital, just waiting and praying for the medicine to
Focal Passage: Psalm 138:1-8 The focal text for this study is Psalm 138:1-8. David begins this amazing psalm to the Lord with a heart of praise and worship. John MacArthur states, “the psalmist moves from individual praise (vv. 1-3) to international praise (vv. 4-5) then finishes with invincible praise” (vv. 6-8). When a person really sees God in His majesty he should be moved to a posture of obedient worship.
Focal Passage: Genesis 1:1–5, 26-2:3 Often, when reading, hearing, or preaching on rest, our minds imagine some tropical holiday or, perhaps as we do in the Smoky Mountains, we think of a long, fall, mountain-cabin holiday weekend with a cozy fire, warm blankets, and a cup of delicious hot chocolate. Yet, when God spoke about rest, it was not because He was tired or needed a break. Isaiah 40:28 says,
Focal Passage: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-15 In this text we find Moses who is in the middle of an identity crisis. He was once a prince in Egypt and is now a shepherd for someone else’s flock. He is watching over his flock, minding his own business and suddenly he encounters a burning bush. It is important to understand that this Scripture is not about the bush. This story is about
Focal Passage: Mark 16:1-14 What does the text say: Our focal passage, Mark 16:1-4, recounts the moment when several women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, arrived at the tomb where Jesus had been laid after His crucifixion. They had brought spices to anoint His body, but as they approached the tomb, they noticed that the large stone sealing the entrance had been rolled away. Upon
Focal Passage: Psalm 65:11-13 What is the worst grade you ever made on a test? I had a friend in high school whose initials were CDF. He would joke that his report card was simply displaying the first letters of his names. I wonder how he would answer that question? Imagine you getting a test paper back from your teacher and written in red marker on the top right corner
Focal Passage: Mark 15:24-39 What does the text say?: Our focal passage, Mark 15:24-39, depicts the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. The text reveals that they divided His garments, casting lots for them. Above Jesus’ head, a placard displayed the charge against Him: “The King of the Jews.” As Jesus hung on the cross, bystanders mocked Him, and even those crucified with Him joined in the derision. Darkness descended
Focal Passage: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25 It really is about the Name: When I read Isaiah 7:14 I am always intrigued by the way different
Focal Passage: Genesis 3:1-7; 21-24 I have gotten into the habit of pulling from the closet before bed the clothes I will wear for the
Focal Passage: Psalm 103:1-5, 8-13, 17-19 The focal text for this study is Psalm 103:1-5,8-13,17-19. For so many believers, Psalm 103 expresses their deepest heartfelt
Focal Passage: Genesis 2:7-9, 15-25 I have asthma. It is a family trait. My grandfather and my late mother-in-law had it. My oldest son has
Focal Passage: Psalm 138:1-8 The focal text for this study is Psalm 138:1-8. David begins this amazing psalm to the Lord with a heart of
Focal Passage: Genesis 1:1–5, 26-2:3 Often, when reading, hearing, or preaching on rest, our minds imagine some tropical holiday or, perhaps as we do in
Focal Passage: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-15 In this text we find Moses who is in the middle of an identity crisis. He was once a prince
Focal Passage: Mark 16:1-14 What does the text say: Our focal passage, Mark 16:1-4, recounts the moment when several women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
Focal Passage: Psalm 65:11-13 What is the worst grade you ever made on a test? I had a friend in high school whose initials were
Focal Passage: Mark 15:24-39 What does the text say?: Our focal passage, Mark 15:24-39, depicts the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. The text reveals
