Sin Is Unfulfilling (Hosea 4:10-19)

When Satan stood before Adam and Eve in the garden of eden he gave them the seduction and the allure of freedom. They could be like God and God would have to bow to their will. Adam and Eve discovered that Satan is a liar in that moment. We also discover that sin's appetite is never exhausted and it can never be quenched. Hosea gives the examples of this from Israel's depravity, but also teaches us that God's redeeming mercy can reach deeper than our depravity and sin.

A Prophet Without Honor (Matthew 13:53-58)

Christ is our redeeming messiah.  You would think that Christ entering town would be a very rich blessing because the Lord would teach the intentions of Scripture.  However, Christ is not received with such honor in his hometown.  What does this tell us about the Word of God?  What does Nazareth teach us about our potential reaction to the Lord’s Word?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Sighting (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

The goal of the Christian life is to make it to the end of the age without turning from the Lord.  How can we do this, and what assurance do we have that our Sabbath rest is worthwhile?

My Indictments (Job 30:1-31)

Job is not happy with how the Lord has treated him.  You would think that Job would be rather content considering that the Lord has blessed him, and allowed him to enjoy a great life.  However, now we hear why Job is so upset as he even uses the counselors own words to describe his suffering.  Why would Job be so upset if he is merely using the counselors own words to describe his suffering?

This is a Senseless Struggle (Job 23-24)

Job is frustrated that the counselors will not see things the way that Job sees things. Job is frustrated that God will not see things the way that Job sees them.  Job thinks that if God, the counselors, and wisdom would follow his lead than all would be well.  If we are honest there are times when we might have this struggle or thought as well, but is it in line with the Word of God?  What could be the issue in such thinking?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Stall…. Again (Judges 13)

Joshua left God’s people in a good place as people who can find rest in the land.  In many ways they were tasting a promised sabbath rest in the land that God had given them.  The Lord has been merciful to His people and has given them judges to rule over them, to deliver them, and to provide some wise guidance.  Judges records for us a tragic history of Israel continually sliding down away from the Lord, but the Lord still gives them a judge.  What is the significance of Samson?  How does he represent the current state of Israel? 

God Needs to Listen! (Job 13:6-14:22)

Job has tried to reason with the men who have come to encourage him.  However, in Job’s mind he is not gaining any traction.  The counselors are still convinced that Job has unconfessed sin or a specific sin that warrants God’s punishment.  The irony is that Job and the counselors are not in complete disagreement, but Job has been trying to tell the counselors that there is something wrong with the world as they know it.  What is Job going to say to the Lord? What is the basis of Job’s trial?

Is Wisdom Traditional? (Job 12:1-13:6)

We can learn a lot from tradition and from many who have gone before us.  We can learn because they are people who have had struggles, setbacks, and experienced success like we have.  We can learn how to cope in each of these situations from the generations before us.  However, Job does not seem that persuaded by the generations who have gone before him.  In fact, Job pretty much rebukes the counselors for listening to wisdom that is traditional for them.  What is Job’s problem?  Why does Job seem to doubt the credibility of wisdom and those who have gone before him?

God is Mercifully Wise (Job 11)

Men have scheduled their time to meet with Job and encourage him.  We have heard two of the counselors and now we have the opportunity to hear from a third counselor. The counselors have not successfully encouraged Job in the Gospel. Job is one who has claimed his own self-righteousness before the Lord claiming that he can hold God accountable.  Is this new counselor going to be the voice of reason who lays out the gospel?  Is there going to be someone who understands that Job is not fighting against God?  Will this speech help Job understand that God is not His enemy, but the very strength of his life?

The Righteous will Always Prevail (Job 8)

Job’s friends came together with the purpose to rally around him and encourage him.  Eliphaz has not done a great job of helping Job as Eliphaz implied that Job deserved this suffering.  Now, it is time for the second counselor to try.  Will Bildad encourage Job?  Is there something we can glean from Bildad as he tries to encourage Job?

Simply Guilty (Job 4-5)

We heard Job’s frustration of his life in this age.  He is one who does not see the value or the purpose of his life right now.  His speech is asking the Lord to blot him out of existence.  This is not something that is appropriate or correct, and how are his friends going to encourage this man?  We would think and hope that they would provide a counter point to Job’s previous speech.  Eliphaz speaks up, he challenges Job’s speech, and is laying out his view of suffering.  Is this view correct?

Humbled Before God (James 4:1-10)

We can be very frustrated at times because it seems like the Lord is not hearing our prayers.  We might be asking for something that we desire, but the Lord might not be giving us what we want.  Why would the Lord withhold good things from his children?  How can we find contentment in times of want?  How can we have an attitude before the Lord that is pleasing and honorable to Him?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Savior

We can think of the Lord being in the midst of his people as a New Testament promise.  We think about Pentecost with the Holy Spirit being poured forth showing conclusively that the Lord is in the midst of His people.  Is it true that this is only a promise for the New Testament Church or is this promise truly rooted elsewhere?

Sojourning Under the Sun: Sabbath Solution (Genesis 12:1-20)

The Lord has been reacting to what man is doing under the heaven.  Man is trying to establish a personal Sabbath Garden like Eden where God is going to be lead around like a little dog catering to the wishes of man.  Is the Lord going to allow something like this to happen again and again?  What about the promise of the Lord raising up a faithful line to love Him, honor Him, and serve Him?  Moses introduces to us a new character that the Lord has chosen to use in the building of His kingdom.

Our Mysterious Profession (1 Timothy 3:14-16)

The apostle Paul has exhorted the church to use the law of God in a lawful manner.  How do we know if we are using the law of God lawfully?  How do we grow in our Christian life if Paul himself states that Godliness is a mystery?  If it is a mystery how do we know if we are growing?

The Absurdity of Struggle (Matthew 26:36-46 (LD 44; COD Head 5 Art. 4)

The Christian life is something that ebbs and flows with ups and downs.  There are times when we face tests and struggle to persevere through those tests.  There are also times when we face temptations in the weakness of our flesh making it challenging to persevere through this life.  How do we keep a proper perspective on heaven?  How do we keep our focus on the goal of heaven and glory?  Where do we find our strength and power?  What can we learn from Christ interacting with his disciples?

The Sanctifying Basis (2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (LD 32; COD Head 5 Article 11)

It is a good thing to desire the Lord’s sanctifictifying power.  We should want such a thing if we take hold of Christ by faith.  It is honorable, but do we think about what we are asking?  We are people who are stained with sin.  We are people who honor strength and not suffering.  How does the Lord conform us to Him?  Do we always enjoy this conforming power of the Lord?  When is the Lord working us the most when it seems he has abandoned us?

A Nagging or Nudging Spirit? (Psalm 32 (LD 21; COD Head 5 Article 5)

As a Reformed person I believe that the Holy Spirit will not leave the people that God has chosen.  When someone who is not persuaded of perseverance of the saints hears such talk they immediately think that the Reformed view teaches that God leads people around on a string.  The concern with Reformed Theology is that man becomes a puppet, an empty shell, or a blind follower who has been deprived of a will.  Is Reformed Theology teaching that the Holy Spirit is merely God’s string? Do Reformed people really believe that man is emptied or relieved of his will/desires/decision making ability?  How can Reformed People account for man’s will while God overwhelms His elect people by His Spirit?

Struggling Sinners and Saints (Romans 8:18-25 (COD Head 5 Article 1)

There is no doubt that one would not be saved apart from the grace of God.  I think all Christians who have a grasp of Christianity would affirm the necessity of grace for our salvation.  We know that we are those who need grace, but how much grace do we need?  Is 90 percent enough or do we need more?  Is our confidence in that we will not fall away because we love the Lord enough or is it because know that the Lord loves us enough?

Providence and Preservation (Ephesians 4:30 (COD Head 5 Article 6)

When we think about the Reformed doctrine of salvation we could think that the doctrine is simply summarized as such, “Once saved always saved.”  I have to confess that personally such a definition really bothers me.  It makes salvation sound cheap in the sense that we just go along for the ride and there is no struggle.  So, if this is not something I like then what can we put in the place of it?  What is more, how can Reformed people be so sure that God will preserve sinners who naturally hate Him?  How does the Spirit even work in Reformed theology?