Old Testament – Books of Wisdom
I. Introduction Sometimes when I study, I get a plot, like in the Book of Jonah or Exodus or Acts. I enjoy studying it, the plot, the life lesson, the historical significance, the miracles, and the fishing lessons. But Psalms is usually hard for me. I read today’s scripture and thought, “It’s a … Continue reading Halleluiah! Praise the Lord!
I. Introduction An old friend once told me a story that every married man understands. His wife tried on a new dress and asked, “Does this dress make me look fat?” He answered with complete honesty. It was true - and it was also unwise. Later he said something I have never forgotten: truth and … Continue reading Finding Wisdom
I. Introduction We all arrived safely at the office today. Raise your hand if you’re not here. We don’t always stop to think about it, but even something as ordinary as getting to work safely is evidence of God’s care. Scripture reminds us that our steps are ordered by the Lord, and His protection … Continue reading God Protects Us
I. Introduction Psalm 139 Today I want to take a moment to reflect not on headlines or controversies, but on the foundational truth that every life is known and loved by God. In Psalm 139, David meditates not on theological jargon, but on the overwhelming reality of God's personal involvement with His creation. Psalm … Continue reading God Knows Us Intimately
The content reflects on Psalm 128, emphasizing that true success is found in reverence for the Lord, rather than societal measures like wealth or titles. It illustrates how blessings extend from individual faith to family and community, advocating for a life focused on God's guidance. Happiness arises through obedience and faithful living.
The content discusses the profound nature of forgiveness as exemplified in Psalm 32, highlighting the contrast between God’s unconditional forgiveness and human reluctance to forgive. It shares tragic stories, notably the Amish community's response to a shooting, emphasizing how true forgiveness is a choice that leads to healing and joy.
I. Introduction Psalm 62 is not written from a place of comfort, but from the middle of one of the most turbulent seasons in David’s life. The historical setting is Absalom’s rebellion, recorded in 2 Samuel 15–18. By this point, David is no longer the young shepherd-king who defeated Goliath or the newly enthroned … Continue reading Security in God
I. In the Beginning In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw the light was good. God separated the light from the darkness, and there was evening, and there was morning, and there was the first day. And … Continue reading Our Creator
I. Introduction – Why do We Pray? Psalm 23 is perhaps the most well-known and beloved passage in the entire Bible. Its words have brought comfort and hope to countless believers through generations, providing peace in times of distress and assurance amid uncertainty. This week, well-known Christian leader and author Charlie Kirk was assassinated. … Continue reading The Lord is My Shepherd
I. Introduction Over the past few months, we've been studying the Psalms—God-breathed poetry that reveals deep emotional honesty, divine justice, and prophetic truth. For four weeks, we stepped aside to focus on apologetics and Islam, examining how the Christian faith compares to and differs from other worldviews. Now, returning to the Psalms, we focus … Continue reading The King’s Prophecy
I. Introduction "God is Dead." -Nietzsche, 1882. "Nietzsche is Dead." -God, eternal. We're working through various Psalms for a few weeks, and this week we'll explore how God reveals Himself to us. In other words, How do I know God exists, and how does that affect me? Does God Exist? In 2009, journalist John … Continue reading Does God Exist?
I. Introduction Ecclesiastes is a unique book. Most think it was written by Solomon near the end of his life, and it’s a book of perspectives and of insights about the purpose of life. It’s a book of depression as Solomon tries to find pleasure in this world, only to find that eternal pleasure … Continue reading When Words Matter
I. Introduction We’ve been in the book of Job; we’ve studied Job’s loss, his suffering, then speech after speech from Job’s friends. Today we’re going to study Elihu, or as I first asked when I started studying for this lesson – Eli Who? I know everybody has been faithfully reading your scripture in preparation … Continue reading Elihu Speaks
I. Introduction A guy named Pete gets a job as a switchman with the railroad, and undergoes weeks of training. The supervisor then takes him into the switch booth to test his readiness. The following exchange takes place: Supervisor: "Imagine you were sitting here alone and you learned there was a train coming from … Continue reading Faith Tested
Introduction Ecclesiastes is a unique book. Most think it was written by Solomon near the end of his life, and it’s a book of perspectives and of insights about the purpose of life. It’s a book of depression as Solomon tries to find pleasure in this world, only to find that eternal pleasure in … Continue reading The Purpose of Community
I. Introduction Two hundred and forty years ago, our nation was in bondage. Made up of 13 colonies of the British Empire, the colonies were governed by rules from far across the sea. Twelve years prior to that, the British and the French were in a great race to colonize the Americas, leading to a … Continue reading The Purpose of Freedom
I. Introduction Welcome back, everybody. I think it feels weird to see people again. We’re still not back to normal, though. Diane & I were blessed during this lockdown. I was able to work from home, and I got an extra hour of sleep because I wasn’t commuting and we saved on gas. But at … Continue reading The Purpose of Work
Introduction The last time I taught, it was from the Book of Jonah. I really enjoyed studying it, there is a plot, a life lesson, historical significance, miracles, and fishing lessons. But Psalms is usually hard for me. I read today’s scripture and thought, “It’s a book about praise. How am I going to find … Continue reading Halleluiah, Praise the Lord!
Introduction Two weeks ago, Jim Armstrong visited our class and taught about Solomon’s wisdom. I loved his story about his wife’s dress; when she asked if it made her look fat, his answer showed he lacked wisdom. So you’ll excuse me if I was a little confused when I started looking into my bible study … Continue reading Kingdom Wisdom
I. Introduction We’re continuing our chronological study of the bible; last week, Chris brought us into the time of David and the end of King David’s life. Throughout David’s life, he was a man after God’s own heart, even though David was an adulterer, murderer, deceiver. Yet, God rescued David, just as He rescues you and … Continue reading The King’s Prophecy
I. Introduction A guy named Pete gets a job as a switchman with the railroad, and undergoes weeks of training. The supervisor then takes him into the switch booth to test his readiness. The following exchange takes place: Supervisor: "Imagine you were sitting here alone and you learned there was a train coming from the North … Continue reading Faith and the Revelation of God
I. Introduction Psalm 139 Once a year, our church asks us to focus on a “sanctity of life” message, so we’re going to have a little 1-week vacation from our lessons in Acts this week. Instead, let us start with Old Testament scripture of wisdom and worship. I know you have your bibles with you … Continue reading God Knows Us Intimately
I. Introduction I see we all arrived safely at church this morning. Raise your hand if you’re not here. Today we’re going to study how the Lord protects us, and I thank the Lord He protected all of us this morning and brought us safely here. I’m not sure we all stopped to think how … Continue reading Our Protector
I. His Faithfulness We’re going to spend some time in Psalm 146, so let’s get right into it. Verses 1-2, Hallelujah! My soul, praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live. God is worthy to be praised. But do we always … Continue reading His Faithfulness
I. In the Beginning In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw the light was good. God separated the light from the darkness, and there was evening, and there was morning, and there was the first day. And … Continue reading The Creator
I. Introduction – Why do We Pray? First of all, I want to apologize for my absence recently. It’s been a difficult month for me. My stepfather was a warm, loving father who taught me much about the meaning of family and forgiveness, and he was also the first close family member to me … Continue reading The Lord is My Shepherd
I. Introduction I want you to think back, remember yourself at a young age. Who or what did you want to be when you grew up? What qualities of that person or job did you like that attracted you? Do you still sometimes think of what it would be like to be that person? Our … Continue reading Blessings for Those Who Fear the Lord
I. Introduction Do you ever get discouraged? What situation have you been in that discouraged you? (Job loss, health issues, family matters). I've told you that I've been saying goodbye to co-workers lately. They stop by my office, shake my hand, say it's been nice working together, and do I know anybody that's hiring. As … Continue reading Trust in the Lord
I. Introduction I visited a coworker in the hospital this weekend. He told me he was at home watching tv when the doorbell rang. When he opened the door, there was a 6 foot cockroach standing there. Before he could say anything, the cockroach punched in the stomach and ran off. The next night, he … Continue reading Security in God
I. Introduction Opening discussion: Think of a time when a friend offered you forgiveness. How did you feel? When we put our trust in Jesus, God offers His forgiveness to us, and we should feel the same way. Today we're going to study Psalm 32 and experience God's forgiveness toward us. Charles Roberts was a … Continue reading Forgiveness
I. Introduction "God is Dead." -Nietzsche, 1882. "Nietzsche is Dead." -God, eternal. We're working through various aspects of the Psalms, and this week we'll explore how God reveals Himself to us. In other words, How do I know God exists, and how does that affect me? Does God Exist? Two weeks ago on September 7, … Continue reading Does God Exist?
We started a new bible class today, and I am blessed to teach adults this year every 2-3 weeks. Not that I wasn't blessed teaching 3rd graders last year, but teaching married adults will be infinitely more challenging. I look forward to what God teaches me this year. Anyway, I'm going to try to share … Continue reading The Meaning of Life
I was blessed with the opportunity to teach bible class this morning on the book of Job, chapters 1 and 2. Respond in Faith, or "why do bad things happen to good people?" A guy named Pete gets a job as a switchman with the railroad, and undergoes weeks of training. The supervisor then takes … Continue reading Respond in Faith
Chasing the Wind 
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