Genesis 2:1-3 Spend time before the Lord considering how you typically view the Sabbath Is it simply a day to rest and rejuvenate for the work week ahead? Is it a day to pay your religious dues? Is the Sabbath a topic you avoid because it brings to mind competing lists of Dos and...
Genesis 1:1-31 In introducing Genesis, Pastor Dave stressed his desire to focus on the things God wants to teach us about Himself and avoid being sidetracked by debates such as evolution vs. creationism. I identified with his concern because my small group is studying Revelation, which also...
All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. (1 Peter 1:24-25, quoting Isaiah 40:7-8) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having...
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)Solus Christus (Christ Alone) Meditate on the cross of Christ: The sovereign King of the universe, wrapped in human flesh, bearing and destroying all human sin from a motive of love; the source and definition of life that death could in no way hold. Next to the...
Introduction to the Protestant Reformation + Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) One of the fruits of the Protestant Reformation was the translation of the Bible into the everyday languages of the people. Try to imagine yourself as an average Christian in Europe 500 years ago. You are illiterate, and...
Rejoice always,pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Thanksgiving I am in Tulsa, OK, with my sister after the death of her husband last Thursday. This time of grief so close to...
1 Corinthians 16:1-24 Ask the Lord how you can apply the principle of regular, incremental saving and giving in your life. Faithfully pray for our pastors: Dave Tebay, Todd Dixon, and (soon) Shannon Estell. As Dave noted, the task of shepherding is often challenging and even...
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 Tell the Lord how much you are looking forward to a glorified, spiritual body and thank Him. I have a brother-in-law who is dying of cancer. He is not a believer and needs to hear the hope of eternal life in a new, imperishable body. Maybe you know someone in a...
1 Corinthians 15:1-34 Thank the Lord for the gospel. If we hadn’t traded our filthy rags for Jesus’ white robes of righteousness, we couldn’t stand in the Father’s presence to offer praise or ask for His favor. Spend some time appreciating the fact that, even though...
1 Corinthians 14:26-40 The phrase “a personal relationship with the Lord” falls so easily from evangelical lips, but we rarely talk about what that looks like in practical terms or appreciate it. Praise God for desiring a personal relationship with His children, for reaching out...