A lot has changed in a year. 2020 – the year of the Corona – has been a year of a lifetime. Health scares and concerns as COVID death tolls mount, economic woes skyrocket as workers are laid off and businesses close, as well as quarantines and distancing alter how we meet. As if all…
Promises to Obey – assembling a “to do” list
“Promises to Obey – assembling a ‘to do’ list,” from the lesson series, Return from Babylon | scattered & gathered, June 2020 our Scripture Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites,…
Scattered and Gathered: life after Babylon
Are you looking forward to the restrictions imposed because of COVID-19 being lifted? Many people anticipate the day that live worship services return and gathering together becomes easier. But many websites are warning that after the coronavirus passes, there will be no “return to normal.” Life for us has changed forever. What will a sermon…
Scattered | the time between the testaments
The word “scattered” describes the nation of the Jews throughout their history. The word occurs in the Old Testament to describe God’s involvement in the moving of people. (Interestingly, it is a word that Jesus uses in His parables, especially that of the sower.) Some of the relevant OT Scriptures include Genesis 11:4, Deuteronomy 4:27,…
Autumn Rain
6 When they reach Dry Valley, springs start flowing, and the autumn rain fills it with pools of water. 7 Your people grow stronger, and you, the God of gods, will be seen in Zion (Psalm 84:6-7 CEV). Do you dread the heat of the summer? How hot does it get in the summer where you live?…
Communicating Sound Doctrine
From the days that I sat at the Seminary listening to seasoned, biblical scholars, sound doctrine stirs me. The professors were people who knew the Scriptures and taught them with confident authority. How do we teach the content of sound doctrine to others in the church? There are so many different opinions about Scripture, how…
Traditions of Pentecost: A New Movement is Born
Traditions aren’t what they used to be, are they? Some things are just not necessary because they are no longer needed. I don’t have to sing all sixteen verses of Just as I Am as a hymn of invitation at the end of every church service. I don’t have to listen to my favorite music…
Blessings: Learning a New Way to Count
Gipsy Smith, a famous evangelist in Great Britain of yesteryear, said of the blessings in this song, “Men sing it, boys whistle it and women rock their babies to sleep to it.” Johnson Oatman, Jr., born April 21, 1856, was a citizen of Lumberton, N.J. His dad was a local merchant and just happened to…
Iron Shoes: When the Road is Lonely
What do we do when the road is lonely? Sometimes we need shoes made of iron. We learned a very simple truth a few weeks ago. God prepares us for a task by providing us with the right kind of shoes. We concentrated on one verse of Scripture, Deuteronomy 33:25, Your sandals shall be iron and bronze;…