Church Life
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12 Lessons from the Book of Job
This winter, I was fortunate enough to be asked to teach a survey of the book of Job to our main adult class at West Side. This book is one of the richest collections of wisdom poetry in the history of the world, and its insights into the nature of divine justice and deliverance exceed all others. As usual, I feel an immense sense of gratitude for the lessons I have learned through teaching through this book as well as discussing it with others in the process. There are many more than 12 valuable lessons about God that I have learned and relearned through teaching this class. That said, I’d…
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Who Knows?
I feel like these words are an answer more than a question these days. What is this generation thinking with their music? Who knows. What is up with all the changes happening in our world? Who knows. Are we really going to relive 70s fashion? Who knows. Was the groundhog serious about six more weeks? Who knows. In our weekly Wednesday night devotional we heard a famous use of these words, but as a question. In the book of Esther, evil Haman has gotten the king to sign a decree basically sentencing all Jews to death. While encouraging Esther to be brave and go to the king on behalf of…
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Bible School Excuses
A few weeks ago at Central, I preached a sermon on parenting. In part of the sermon, I mentioned that parents miss out on a powerful blessing when they do not “take the help” that Bible school provides. After all, parents who are striving to instill God’s Word into the hearts of their children should be utterly grateful for those kind and good teachers who provide instruction to their children. After mentioning that, I gave some excuses that I have heard over the years as to why parents do not bring their kids to class. I mentioned four in the sermon, but I want to list five commonly-heard ones here.…
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Measuring Up
The Bible is full of some of the greatest symbolic imagery ever composed. For one thing, the metaphors of the Bible are expertly crafted and genuinely beautiful, inspiring awe for their Author in and of themselves. Additionally, their beauty and genius are enhanced by their ability to communicate the mind of God in relatable terms and convict their audiences powerfully and personally. One such example that grabbed my attention recently is found in the opening verses of Amos 7 (vv. 1-9). As this chapter of poetic prophecy opens, Amos witnesses God preparing a swarm of locusts to destroy the harvests of Israel. Amos comes to the defense of his people,…
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Week of February 17 “Something from the Margin of My Bible”
Leah is taking a couple of weeks off from her video series to help deal with some family issues. She’ll be back very, very soon. On the “margin” podcast this week, Adam shared a very helpful outline from Mark Posey for Nehemiah chapter 1. To listen or subscribe, click here.
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Slow Down, Relax, and Enjoy
It snowed yesterday and apparently all night (judging from the amount of snow on the ground). It had been predicted for days before the event finally took place. We gathered extra food supplies along with all the other masses at the grocery store. (Jim actually followed a woman to her car and helped her unload her groceries just so he could have her cart!) We watched The Weather Channel as well as our local television station and saw the totals fluctuate between a dusting of snow to at least a foot. Our 4 to 8 inches turned out to be 5 inches of snow on the ground. And I love it!…
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One Change to Consider Making to Adult Bible Classes
I am deeply appreciative of the elders at Central for many reasons. One of those reasons is that there is regular conversation about the Bible school program. In far too many congregations, the Bible school is handled with a “set it and forget it” mindset, but I am grateful that, at Central, there is ongoing discussion of how things should go. And that includes the adult Bible classes. In far too many congregations, adult classes default to one of two common ways of doing things. Either (1) they use a printed curriculum and basically just read the lesson aloud and fill in the blanks, or (2) they go verse-by-verse-by-verse-by-verse through…
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They Told Me Today
They told me today of the high, lordly townWhich, because of their pride, our great King has torn down.How foolish to scoff at the King’s invitation!Did none of them know He is lord of the nation,A dutiful sov’reign, and friend to us all?You’d think that the people who live in the wallOf the city He built, walking roads which he paved,Would have jumped at the chance, and they would have behavedLike the most thankful servants there ever could be;At least I would have done so, if it had been me.What a farcical, fanciful, frightening thoughtThat a failure as I should be given a spotIn the house of the King! Why,…
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Some Thoughts about Gates and Doors (and Saltshakers)
Most who read this will be familiar with this statement made by our Lord: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matt. 16:18) There is absolutely no way to “guesstimate” all of the possible interpretations and nuances about the last part of that statement. Wherever one comes down on all of that, though, it is generally agreed that this was the Lord’s way of saying that the church He would build would be (as the saying goes) “built to last.” In other words, nothing could keep Jesus from…
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Week of February 10 “Into the Heart of the Bible” and “Something from the Margin of My Bible”
On “Into the Heart of the Bible” this week, Leah gave a brief overview of the Period of the Judges. To watch, click here or watch below. On the podcast this week, Adam gave a quick definition of a term in Deuteronomy 18:11. To listen and subscribe, click here.
