Prophecy of Doom and Deliverance (Zechariah 9:1-8)

Zechariah receives word regarding some cities that we barely know. However, these cities better pay attention because the Lord's judgment is coming against them. This is not just a prophecy that declares death, but there is assurance that the Lord will establish his heavenly city as symbolized in Jerusalem.

(Sunday August 7, 2022)

Eagerly Receiving Jude (Jude 1:1-4)

Jude is the brother of James and the brother of our Lord.  This is a brief letter, but Jude is eager to write the letter.  What is Jude so eager to write about?  Why does Jude talk about judgement, and what hope can we glean from a conversation regarding judgment? 

Encouragement for Some or All? (James 5:1-6)

When James is warning the rich it is easy for us to say that it is the other people who have to worry.  We might think that we are not on the Fortune 500 list so in reality we are not that rich.  The truth is that as Americans we are very rich, very blessed, and among some of the most wealth in the world.  Can we be Christians then?  How can we have a joy in the Christian life when James tells the rich to “weep and howl”?  Are these verses for all Christians or just a select few Christians?

Affirming the Sovereign God (James 4:11-17)

James wants us to consider our lives in light of who we are in the Lord.  We might think that this is obvious and something that we should all be doing.  However, the reality is that our temptation is to look at the areas in our lives that we think are ordered properly and then judge others in the community in light of our walk.  Why is this such a problem?  How does such an attitude remove God from the equation?  How are we then acting as if we are not even Christians when we judge one another?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Reminder (2) (Genesis 11:1-9)

The Lord has washed the face of the earth with a flood, but has delivered a household through the ordeal waters of death.  Has sin been washed off the face of the earth?  We know that Ham mocked his dad and did not bear fruit of being one of the seed of the woman so clearly there are still sinners walking on the earth.  However, did man learn his lesson from the flood?  Did man get the message that God will carry out His justice?  Or does God need to intervene to restrain man? How can God intervene now that he bound himself to preserve this creation until the final Sabbath?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Reminder (Genesis 8:20-9:28)

The Lord enters his rest at the end of the creation.  The Lord has finished his work and is now in the rest where man is to join the Lord enjoying the eternal bliss of heaven.  However, man has fallen, martyrdom has already happened, and the Lord has dealt with the offender.  Now what is going to happen?  How is this creation going to respond to Lord warning Cain?  Will the Lord have to intervene once again?

The Coming Pun-ishment (Micah 1:6-16)

The people of Israel are facing the wrath of the Lord that is coming against them.  They will experience this wrath, but what did they do that was so wrong?  Why does the prophet mention a series of place names that are difficult for us to pin on a map?  How do those cities communicate the punishment that is coming?  What is the hope in the midst of the promised punishment?  What could this punishment possibly teach us?