2 Kings 12
2 Kings 12 - He is another leader in Scripture who started off so well but failed to finish. Joash had simply stopped trusting God. He did well when he was being mentored, but he never came ...
2 Kings 11
2 Kings 11 - The history can get pretty confusing when the stories switch back and forth from the northern kingdom to the southern kingdom. In addition, there are details outlined in the book of Chronicles that ...
2 Kings 10
2 Kings 10 - When this chapter begins you get a sense that Jehu is going to be a ferocious warrior for the Lord. He eliminates Ahab's family, doing everything the Lord has asked. He follows that ...
2 Kings 2
2 Kings 2 - Discipleship 101 Elijah respectfully asked Elisha to stay and leave him alone, but Elisha refused to leave his mentor. After Elisha demonstrated such incredible loyalty and commitment to him, Elijah offers a special ...
1 Kings 22
1 Kings 22 - What's the deal with Ramoth-Gilead and why did they want it back? Ramoth was a Levitical city so it was considered important to the Jews. During King Solomon's reign, it was a key ...
1 Kings 21
1 Kings 21 - When Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes, took them off, and put on sackcloth. He refused food, slept in the sackcloth, and went about gloomy and depressed. 1 Kings 21:27 The tearing ...
1 Kings 18
1 Kings 18 - Obadiah was a manager of Ahab's royal palace and a devout worshiper of God. He demonstrated his faithfulness to the Lord by hiding 100 prophets from Jezebel. She had a history of killing ...
1 Kings 14
1 Kings 14 - King Jeroboam decided it was time to seek the Lord, but only after his son was inflicted with sickness. In the past, the idol worship worked out just fine for him, but when ...
1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 - As we read in 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam’s kingdom was in a terrible state and God had a message for him. There are three different scenarios we see play out in this scene. ...
1 Kings 12
1 Kings 12 - What happens when the vessel that is destined to carry God's image into the world is split up and divided? What happens when civil war threatens the existence of those who represent His ...
1 Kings 11
1 Kings 11 - When Solomon was old, his wives seduced him to follow other gods. He was not completely devoted to Yahweh his God, as his father David had been. 1 Kings 11:4 HCSB How many ...
1 Kings 9
1 Kings 9 - 1 Kings 9 provides some insight into the subtle turn taking place in Solomon. As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the king's house and all that ...
1 Kings 6
1 Kings 6 - It's amazing to me that the Lord spoke these same words over and over to Solomon. "If you obey all my laws and commands, I will do for you what I promised your ...
1 Kings 3
1 Kings 3 - Incredibly, we see both the pinnacle of Solomon's character as well as a foreshadowing of his downfall here in chapter 3. Solomon desired to serve the Lord. He could have asked God for ...
1 Kings 1
1 Kings 1 - The book of Kings picks up with an older David (70) still serving as king but declining in health. The time to pass the torch was near, and this sets the backdrop for ...
Genesis 50
Genesis 50 - It is always fascinating to me when we come across a chapter in the Bible that captivates us with incredible detail and then quickly moves across history with sweeping summaries. We get both in ...
Genesis 49
Genesis 49 - What did Jacob's prophecies mean long-term for these sons of Israel? Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the firstfruits of my virility, excelling in prominence, excelling in power. 4 Turbulent as water, ...
Genesis 48
Genesis 48 - From Jacob (Israel's) sons, the 12 tribes would be formed. This can be confusing when you factor in Genesis 48. Jacob brings Joseph's sons to him and actually adopts them as his own. This ...
Genesis 44
Genesis 44 - Judah goes from schemer to savior. He goes from loving himself to understanding pure, unconditional love. He was the first to suggest selling Joseph years before but now he is the first to offer ...
Genesis 43
Genesis 43 - There are several tests going on in Genesis 43. Jacob's faith is being tested. Will he trust God and allow his son Benjamin (the only other son of Rachel) to cross over to Egypt ...
Genesis 42
Genesis 42 - According to Wikipedia, The Conscience Fund is one of three gift funds maintained by the United States Department of the Treasury. It was put into place for voluntary contributions from people who have stolen from ...
Genesis 41
Genesis 41 - Joseph began as a shepherd of animals and become a shepherd of men. He, like Jesus, was loved by his father but despised by his brothers. He, like Jesus, was prophesied to receive authority ...
Genesis 39
Genesis 39 - Set against the backdrop of Joseph's brother Judah pursuing a harlot who was actually his daughter-in-law, here we have a polar opposite response. Genesis 39 is a valuable lesson on dealing with temptation. Joseph ...
Genesis 38
Genesis 38 - Social media has become a giant in today's culture. It's a place you can project the best version of you. It's a space where you can share your best pictures and your best life ...
Genesis 32
Genesis 32 - There are three points that really stick out to me in this chapter. Separation from the world will often allow us to become aware of God's greater revelation. In Genesis 31, we learn that ...
Genesis 20
Genesis 20 - Once again Abraham lied. Once again he told a foreign king his wife was his sister. And once again he was rebuked by a foreigner. It seems to me, in His grace, God withholds ...
Genesis 19
Genesis 19 - I find it interesting that there were two angels sent to Lot's house to save four people. There was a hand for each person God desired to save. In other words, there is nothing ...
Genesis 17
Genesis 17 - The question we all ask ourselves at one point or another is, why circumcision? First, in the context of what God is speaking to Abraham, the covenant is dealing specifically with fathering nations. Circumcision ...
Genesis 16
Genesis 16 - Think about all the stressful situations that Abraham, Sarai, and Hagar now faced from one sinful decision. Does Sarai have a right to be mad at Abraham and to despise Hagar? Should Abraham raise ...
Genesis 13
Genesis 13 - Between chapters 12 and 13, we see a spiritual maturity unfolding in Abram's life. His journey into Egypt illustrated his lack of trust in God's provision. Now, we read that he has decided to ...
Genesis 11
Genesis 11 - Josephus wrote of how the Tower of Babel originated from the heart and mind of Nimrod. "Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. ...
Genesis 10
Genesis 10 - Here in Genesis 10, we are introduced to an individual whose full-fledged insurrection led to all sorts of rebellion among humanity. Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on ...
Genesis 7
Genesis 7 - The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding trough, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand." Isaiah 1:3 HCSB There are a lot of themes throughout the Bible ...
Genesis 4
Genesis 4 - I'll be honest, this story has always confused me. Why was Abel's offering acceptable to God but Cain's was not? All we know from the story here in Genesis is that Abel offered the ...
Genesis 3
Genesis 3 - Blatant evil is not our greatest threat as believers; it is deceptive evil wrapped in a package of truth. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may ...
Genesis 2
Genesis 2 - Sometimes we fall into the trap of believing that God's wrath is greater than His grace. In Genesis 2, we read of God's unbelievable grace when allowing Adam to roam freely in creation. And ...
Genesis 1
Genesis 1 - In his book, The Good Book, author Deron Spoo gives us perspective on what we should treasure about Genesis 1. In his opinion, the primary purpose of this first chapter is to affirm that ...
John 19
John 19 - One of the unique aspects of John's Gospel is the theme of Jesus as the Lamb of God. All the way back in John 1, we read about John the Baptist declaring “Look! The ...
John 15
John 15 - "It makes no sense to me!" the woman proclaimed. "I can't comprehend the concept of one way to God for only one simple reason. There are still people in this world who will never ...
John 13
John 13 - John would have known the story well. He (the disciple whom Jesus loved) was reclining against Jesus when it all unfolded, so this firsthand account is most likely as accurate a picture as we ...
John 12
John 12 - Here in John 12, we are once again drawn to how Jesus' words and actions were in complete obedience to God and how He functioned as an extension of His Father in Heaven. We ...
John 11
John 11 - So much irony! The reasoning of the religious leaders is astounding. "Let's kill the man who is actively doing mighty works in the Name of God..." "Let's kill the man who has just proven ...
John 9
John 9 - Jesus and the disciples are out for a stroll when suddenly they encounter a blind man. In the ancient world, blind people were especially helpless in many ways. They were easily manipulated and exploited. ...
John 4
John 4 - Jesus told him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe." John 4:48 HCSB Jesus used signs and wonders as a tool to lead people into faith. Later in His ministry, ...
John 3
John 3 - If we take a bird's eye view of chapter 3, we find that John is intentional about giving us stories that refute the familiar view of Salvation in ancient times. The Path To Salvation ...
Esther 8
Esther 8 - Throughout the book of Esther, I have been drawing lines connecting Haman with Satan and this chapter is no different. Haman was defeated and eliminated but the King's decree still stood over the Jewish ...
Esther 7
Esther 7 - The time has come for Esther to speak up. It was not God's timing earlier because many events had to unfold. Haman was lured into a trap by his own arrogance. He unknowingly constructed ...
Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah 13 - So, remember that guy Tobiah? Back in Nehemiah 6 he was one of Israel's enemies who formulated a smear campaign against Nehemiah to stop the construction of the walls. Now we read that while ...
Nehemiah 10
Nehemiah 10 - Cutting corners. To me, this is what the covenant was all about. The people vowed to obey God's law and swore a penalty on themselves if they broke it. We don't do this today, ...
Nehemiah 9
Nehemiah 9 - Nehemiah 9 describes a scene of revival. God was working collectively and personally to bring about reflection, ownership, repentance, and obedience. There is something to be said about reflecting on our history with God. ...
Nehemiah 8
Nehemiah 8 - Why is it important to read and hear the Word of God? The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in ...
Nehemiah 6
Nehemiah 6 - Nehemiah is determined to fulfill the Lord's work and rebuild the walls despite facing every obstacle imaginable thus far. He has persevered during the mockery from his enemies and the turmoil from his own ...
Nehemiah 5
Nehemiah 5 - In Nehemiah 4, we looked at how the enemy engages us when we step out in faith to do the Lord's work. Satan and the world work externally to derail our progress, however, the ...
Nehemiah 4
Nehemiah 4 - This chapter is a case study for how the enemy works when you decide to follow through with God's calling. In Nehemiah 3, Nehemiah planned a strategy to get the walls up all at ...
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 1 - Back in the minor prophets, we learned that very few Jewish people left Babylon to return to their own land when they were granted permission. Out of approximately 2.5 million Jews, only about 50,000 ...
Hebrews 13
Hebrews 13 - Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as ...
Hebrews 12
Hebrews 12 - Dear Weary Christ-Follower, Read Hebrews 12:3-17 Which is worse, the weight of sin or the discipline of Jesus? It's an interesting question to ponder considering we often complain about our lot in life. The ...
Hebrews 10
Hebrews 10 - If you are tracking with the author of Hebrews thus far, it may seem overwhelmingly theological. The second half of Hebrews 10 is a practical response to the foundation that has been established thus ...
Hebrews 9
Hebrews 9 - The author of Hebrews captures the incredible depth of what Jesus did for sinners. It is both stunning and poetic. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— ...
Hebrews 8
Hebrews 8 - Hebrews 8 is an important chapter because it proves Jesus was the Messiah and His covenant was both needed and expected. The Jews reject Jesus as their Messiah primarily on the grounds that His ...
Hebrews 5
Hebrews 5 - First, let's just point out that this chapter is deep! Here in Hebrews 5, we see two distinctive attributes of Christ's character. It was by humility He was given (by God) the title of ...
Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4 - The Law demanded perfection. This was the standard accomplished by Jesus. Despite our best efforts, we don't even come close. However, we continue to live in a society built upon works. Nearly everything we ...
Hebrews 3
Hebrews 3 - At one point in the '90s, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, and Andre Agassi all had an Official Fan Club, and I was a proud card-carrying member. I loved watching Andre Agassi when I was ...
Hebrews 2
Hebrews 2 - For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 HCSB It was ...
Hebrews 1
Hebrews 1 - We do not know the writer of Hebrews and honestly, it doesn't matter. The book is absolutely beautiful. Written with a unique elegance, this Holy Spirit-inspired author had mastered the principles of rhetoric and ...
Malachi 4
Malachi 4 - But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2 HCSB ...
Malachi 3
Malachi 3 - "Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. Malachi 3:6 HCSB Picking up on the truth of God's refining process, we read in verse 6 that He is ...
Malachi 2
Malachi 2 - God starts with the priests and then works His way down to marriage and divorce in this heavy-handed chapter. Rather than speak to the details, I want to look at the bigger picture. We ...
Malachi 1
Malachi 1 - Malachi's ministry would have overlapped with Nehemiah. The temple had been rebuilt (v. 13), and there was a presiding governor over the nation (v. 8), but the people were struggling with the same sins ...
Zechariah 13
Zechariah 13 - In order to understand this chapter, we must rewind to the end of Zechariah 12. In the end times, after Jesus has returned, Zechariah predicts a time of mourning where Israel will finally realize ...
Zechariah 12
Zechariah 12 - Zechariah's name means "The Lord Remembers" and in this chapter, we get a striking image of God remembering His Jewish people. Theology is not the most important thing here, but it does determine what ...
Zechariah 5
Zechariah 5 - Even though the Jewish people were brought back to their land, were forgiven of their sins, and were inspired by the Holy Spirit to complete the temple, God still had standards for them. What ...
Zechariah 4
Zechariah 4 - Verse 6 is the key to unlocking the truth of Zechariah 4. So he answered me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by strength or by might, but by My ...
Zechariah 3
Zechariah 3 - Wow! What. A. Scene. Joshua stands before God in rags while Satan accuses him. That image alone is enough for an entire sermon series. The reason Joshua stands in rags is because the vision ...
Zechariah 2
Zechariah 2 - There is so much we could unpack in this short chapter of only 13 verses. It is rich with symbolism and prophecy. But I want to draw your focus to one section that stuck ...
Zechariah 1
Zechariah 1 - According to many scholars, Zechariah is the most messianic, apocalyptic, and end times descriptive book of the Old Testament. That's a big statement considering many have probably never read it. Haggai led the charge ...
Zephaniah 2
Zephaniah 2 - Urgency. Do you sense it? Are you living it? There are two massive truth bombs that come from this chapter. The first is that God will repay all evil done against Him outside of ...
Zephaniah 1
Zephaniah 1 - The twelve minor prophets are divided into two categories based on the time period of their ministry. Either they came before the Babylonian exile (pre-exilic) or after it (post-exilic). "Zephaniah is the last of ...
Nahum 3
Nahum 3 - God has declared the condition of Nineveh unrepairable. They have gone too far. There is no chance for restoration. Is this how you feel currently in a relationship or situation? There is no remedy ...
Nahum 1
Nahum 1 - The book of Jonah was God's grace to Ninevah, and Nahum is His truth. God would judge Nineveh. For some, the thought of His judgment invokes imagery of an all-powerful Being looking down on ...
Haggai 2
Haggai 2 - The main event of Haggai is the rebuilding of the temple, however, there are other several other storylines that run alongside this narrative. One such example is verse 13 where Haggai offers two opposing ...
Haggai 1
Haggai 1 - We just finished studying Zephaniah who warned of God's future judgment on Judah, and as predicted, they were carried off to captivity by Babylon. That bondage lasted 70 years until Babylon was conquered by ...
Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk 1 - Many years ago, in 2010, I was driving home from work heading north toward Fort Wayne. My windshield wipers were frantically trying to keep pace with the torrential downpour of a typical Midwestern summer ...
Micah 7
Micah 7 - Consider the similarities of Micah's world and our world today... There is undesirable fruit all around Everyone is scheming, waiting for a chance to do evil People in authority take bribes as money trumps ...
Micah 6
Micah 6 - Micah uses a sarcastic exaggeration to illustrate the hardness of the people's hearts. What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the ...
Micah 3
Micah 3 - The distortion of justice taking place in Israel was a strong indicator of just how bad things had become. Those who were entrusted to lead the city were actually manipulating it. Their ability to ...
Micah 2
Micah 2 - People only want to hear what tickles their ears. They don't want to hear the truth. "Men haven't changed much. They don't want to hear really of the judgment of God that is to ...
Micah 1
Micah 1 - Dates Approximate Micah was a prophet during a very critical time for both Israel and Judah. He mostly served the nation of Judah and his ministry spanned over the kings of Jotham, Ahaz, and ...
Jonah 4
Jonah 4 - Jonah 4 exposes a horrendous sin that all of us have been guilty of at one time or another. Judgment. Jonah loathed Nineveh. Actually, he hated the people of this city. He had decided ...
Jonah 1
Jonah 1 - Nineveh was both a great and wicked city. It was the capital of the Assyrian Empire and the Assyrians had a reputation for being extremely cruel. It was quite possibly the largest city in ...
Amos 8
Amos 8 - What can be more susceptible to rot and disease than ripened fruit? There is a short window of time for the beautiful and refreshing sweetness of ripe fruit to be tasted. But after that ...
Amos 7
Amos 7 - In Genesis, Abraham pled with God over Sodom. In Exodus, Moses interceded for Israel. Here, Amos does the same. Although Amos would later give a prediction for God's people, he first would go to ...
Amos 5
Amos 5 - The oppression of the poor. Check. The establishment of structures built on immoral actions. Check. The acceptance of bribes in order to betray the less fortunate. Check. We should be wary of reading these ...
Amos 4
Amos 4 - My most interesting takeaway from this passage is simply the accountability to which God claims full responsibility for. Many times, we are quick to try and cover up the characteristics of God that don't ...
Amos 3
Amos 3 - How can two people walk hand in hand if they aren’t going in the same direction? "They do not need to be agreed about everything. They must, however, wish to keep each others company, ...
Amos 2
Amos 2 - Amos 1 and 2 are really meant to be read and analyzed together as they are a review of the judgements from God. In Amos 2, however, we see God turn his attention away ...
Joel 1
Joel 1 - The book of Joel centers around The Day of the Lord. Here is a brief synopsis of what that entails... The Day of the Lord Though it probably refers to future events, it ...
Hosea 14
Hosea 14 - Many people today worship their own abilities and accomplishments. For others, it is their intellect. Still others worship their spouse or their children or their jobs. Whatever it is that separates us from our ...
Hosea 13
Hosea 13 - Chapter 13 of Hosea brings much of the same for the people of Israel. How bad has it gotten? They are in the business of sacrificing babies to their false gods. And let's just ...
Hosea 9
Hosea 9 - Hosea 9 continues to pound away at our human flesh. God's people had "taken to sin like a pig to filth." But, this did not happen overnight. It started with small compromises that that ...