Sermons on Bible
A Promise to Bless the World
Genesis 22:18–The Bible’s story opens with a grand vision of God’s intentions for humanity only to be quickly followed by a lengthy section tracing humanity’s persistent rebellion against God and His intentions. Humanity’s rebellion, however, did not negate God’s good intention. Beginning in Genesis chapter twelve, the Bible traces God’s promise to bless humanity by restoring His grand vision. This lesson will consider that promise and its fulfillment as part of our ongoing series considering humanity’s story in the Bible.
Kings and Queens
Genesis 1: 26-28
Well-written stories introduce main characters in both memorable and prescient ways. Whether subtle or heavy-handed, those introductions set the boundaries within which we come to understand the characters and the stories they inhabit. That storytelling technique helps us appreciate the way God introduces humanity in the Bible’s carefully crafted narrative. We will, in this lesson, briefly consider humanity’s introduction in the Bible and how it both prepares us to understand the rest of the Bible’s story and how it helps us understand our place and purpose in the world.
Continuity and Change
James 1:17 — The connection between the Old and New Testaments offers one example where readers today sometimes miss the elements God intends to unite the two parts of the Bible. We will therefore take time to explore some of the features of the Old Testament that extend into the New Testament, their connection to Jesus, and how Jesus’ place in them both creates continuity and change.
Public Reading of Scripture
Paul told Timothy to give attention to the public reading of scripture. This lesson uses that instruction as the motivation for its public reading, and exploration, of Genesis 18.
Public Reading of Scripture – Mark 1:1-15
Nehemiah chapter eight records Ezra publicly reading the Law of God to the people, explaining it as it was read so that his audience could understand it. This lesson will borrow from Ezra’s example and will move through the opening section of Mark chapter one, explaining the text and helping us think about its meaning for our lives.
Difficult Passages
Paul told the Corinthian Christians that God expects His people to “be united in the same mind and the same judgement” (1 Corinthians 1:10). That expectation, however, encounters difficulties when we consider the challenging nature of some of the material God put into His Bible, the book that He intends to play a key role in our unity (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:6). We will, therefore, take time in this lesson to explore one difficult passage – God’s command to the Israelites to “devote [the Canaanites] to complete destruction” in Deuteronomy 7:1-5 – and its place within the biblical narrative
God on a Mountain and God in us
Acts 2:1-4 Like any well-crafted story, the Bible records dramatic moments that establish templates used to shape and inform other, later events. But rather than merely being good storytelling technique, the Bible uses those moments to introduce important concepts that give insight into God’s character and His relationship with humanity. Exodus’ account of God’s descent onto Mount Sinai offers one of those dramatic, template-forming events. This lesson will follow some of the ways the Bible uses the scene on Mount…
Is It Biblical?
Scripture: John 14:19-24
It is important that churches consistently ask the question, “Is it biblical?” We might not always get the answer right, but it’s certain that we won’t find the answers if we don’t ask this critical question. God gave Old Testament Israel the unique blessing of having his word in writing. In times of unfaithfulness, they forgot that they even had God’s written word. That wouldn’t have happened if they had been asking if the things they were doing were biblical.
God’s Curious Bible
Timothy 3:16-17
This lesson considers some of the features of God’s Bible that make it an unexpected book and explores how those features play a role in shaping our understanding and application of its contents.