Jeremiah 32:16-25 Jeremiah began his prayer by speaking of God’s awesome power in creation and in bringing Israel out from Egypt. With Jerusalem facing an invading Babylonian army, Jeremiah rightly understands this as another act of God’s power. Even so, he believes that afterwards the people will return, and God will bring them back to the land.
1 Kings 19:1-18 Elijah was discouraged because his greatest public success did not appear to change anything. God worked with him by sending an angel and then commissioning him with purpose.
Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus fulfilled prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5; 42:1-4). Bethlehem was a small village. Nazareth in Galilee was considered an insignificant place (John 1:46; 7:41, 52), but it fulfilled prophecy (Micah 5:2).
Matthew 1:18-19 The birth of Christ begins with a scandal. Mary is found pregnant though she’s betrothed. Joseph decides to divorce her quietly. The law was clear about this situation (Deut 22:13-14, 20-21; 22:23-24).
Matthew 1:20-21 In Hebrew, "Jesus" sounds like the word “salvation.” Jesus will save his people from their sins. Just like the Joseph in the book of Genesis, this Joseph is a dreamer.
Who you were - Romans 3:10-18
What you did - Ephesians 2:1-3, 11, 12 “Nature” is the basic or inherent
features. The nature of a dog is to be friendly with people; the nature of a
lion is very different. The nature of humans is sinful.
God did what He could to communicate with Israel to choose life.
Numbers 14:22-23 …put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to
My voice….
1. (Exodus 14:10-12) God parted the sea.
2. (Exodus 15:22-24) God made the water sweet for them.
3. (Exodus 16:1-3) Yahweh provided daily manna for them.
Deuteronomy 12:1-3 Upon entering the promised land, God told Israel to tear down any worship objects they encounter. (See also Deuteronomy 32:16-17, 37-39; 1 Corinthians 10:14-22.)
Deuteronomy 12:4-7 Although some sacrifices atoned for guilt, most of the sacrifices and offerings came from a heart of gratitude and generosity.
Deuteronomy 12:11-12 God wanted the whole family to participate in the sacrificial offerings, including children, servants, and even the local Levite.
Deuteronomy 12:15-19 Sacrifices weren’t to appease God’s wrath or curry favor so He would make the rain fall on time. Rather than manipulation, sacrifices were ways to say thank you to a God who faithfully cared for His people.
Deuteronomy 5:22-29 God first introduced himself to Israel through the ten plagues when He delivered the people from Egypt. Once they arrived at Mount Sinai, God came down in a flurry of fire, thunder, and earthquake. He spoke to them audibly from the midst of the fire atop the mountain. The people responded with a heart eager to listen and obey.
Deuteronomy 10:17-19 God is just, and He wanted Israel to be just as well. Injustices become possible when dealing with vulnerable people. God claims justice for the fatherless, the widow, and the sojourner.
Deuteronomy 15:1-11 Here we encounter the fourth member of the quartet of the vulnerable—the poor. God designed a debt-forgiveness program as part of the rhythm of Israel’s calendar. Every seven years, they were to cancel all debts. Even when it came close to the year of release, God still wanted His people to care for the poor instead of hardening their hearts against them.
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 Oppressive workplace practices may bolster profit or make it easier for managers, but ancient Israelite workers were protected. God didn’t want powerful employers to mistreat their workers.
Essentially, “justice” refers to giving each person what he or she deserves or, in more traditional terms, giving each person what is due to them. While justice and fairness are closely related terms, and we might use them interchangeably at times, they are certainly distinct to a degree in their meanings.
Deut 16:18-20
Deut 1:9-17
Deut 25:1-3
Justice is not solely all about punishing people who do what is wrong. That is the punitive side of justice. The other side is setting forth and establishing the standard of what is considered “right” behavior.
Deut 19:14-21
Deuteronomy 21:10-14 A woman of a village captured in war was particularly vulnerable in the ancient Near East. Tragically, rape and enslavement were the norms. However, God restricted Israelite soldiers from acting immediately, instead providing the woman with a month to mourn and adjust to the new reality. Even then, he could not use her as a slave, but had to marry her, inducting her into his household as a person of status and into the wider covenant community of God’s people. (See also Leviticus 19:18, 34.)
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 In a polygamous marriage, a husband sometimes favored one wife above another. This law offers protection for the unloved wife in the case that she bore the firstborn son in the family.
Deuteronomy 4:15-16 God did not show them any form, so they wouldn’t make images of God and Jesus like the pagans did of their gods.
19 Asherah, counterpart to Baal, was worshipped with sexual immorality, prostitution, divination, and fortune telling.
5:6-10 From the beginning, God was firm regarding this subject.
6:10-15 Shall not follow other gods.
7:17-26 Yahweh promised to defeat their enemies. They were to burn the images of the pagan gods.
Deuteronomy 4:13, 23, 31; 5:2-3; 7:2, 9, 12 Covenant people
4:5-9 As they “keep and do,” they become a witness to the world.
4:32-40 Yahweh’s chosen ones were to keep His commandments.
7:1-14 Stay separate from the heathen; eliminate all idols.
9:4-7 Do not forget.
10:14-20 Stay humble, be godly, and love
12:28, 32 You shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.
Acts 17:16, 23 Paul was provoked by the idols, so he spoke about the unknown God.
Understanding Yahweh
Yahweh reveals Himself to those who want to know Him.
Yahweh makes Himself known primarily, but not exclusively, through the Scriptures. Torah (Pentateuch) is the best place to start.
To understand Yahweh requires knowledge plus first-hand experience.
I. The joy of God is experienced when we know God as _______________________ .
II. The joy of God is experienced when we know God as _______________________ .
III. The joy of God is experienced when we know God a _______________________ .
IV. The Joyful Life
Verses used:
Psalm 16
Psalm 37:23-26
Matthew 6:31-34
1 Peter 1:13 Our hope is on the revelation of Jesus Christ rather than success, wealth, or even making a difference in the world.
1 Peter 1:14-16 Instead of blindly and uncritically following our cravings, God says we can be holy like He is!
1 Peter 1:17-19 God is the judge, and He has decided He will judge deeds. We cannot allow ourselves to become swept up in whatever morals and mores our society adopts. Rather, Scripture calls us to live as exiles, knowing that one day Christ will come and retake this fallen world. (Matthew 10:22; 1 John 3:13)
Hebrews 5:11 Those Christians who are dull, sluggish, lazy of hearing are spiritual infants who need milk rather than solid food.
14 The mature hear and practice and discern good and evil.
Hebrews 6:1-3 Some were still holding onto the law and not faith in God’s grace.
The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are part of the elementary teachings of Christians; yet, most wrongly understand them due to ignorance or wrong teaching. Elementary - basic, rudimentary, fundamental, essential, underlying
Following Jesus entails two major aspects:
Reading his words and doing them
Watching his example and imitating him
John 10:24-28 People had various opinions of Jesus. Some believed and others thought he was oppressed by a demon. What do you think? Are you one of his sheep?
Luke 6:46-49 Jesus clearly defines what it means to follow him. If you call him “Lord,” you must also do what he says. Those who hear his words and do not do them are like someone who built a house without a foundation.
Romans 6:23 You can’t earn salvation. It is God’s free gift.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Romans 1:16 The gospel is the message we believe for salvation.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Luke 8:12 The devil works to prevent people from understanding and believing the gospel.
The gospel includes three truths:
Acts 3:1-10, 16, 19
Acts 4:7-10, 12, 16-18
Do not speak.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man
John 3:16 For God…
John 3:17 For God…
John 14:6 Jesus said unto him,
Billy Graham story
SPIRITUAL MARKER
1 Samuel 7:3 Forsake your idols; turn back to Yahweh.
1 Samuel 7:10 They obeyed, so Yahweh routed the Philistines.
1 Samuel 7:12 Samuel set up an ebenezer, a spiritual marker, to commemorate this event.
“Ebenezer” is a Hebrew word that literally means “a stone of help”. Stones, altars, and recorded historical events can all be ebenezers that memorialize a time of divine assistance.
God Wants YOU and Is Fighting For YOU
Exo 20:1-6
Idols primarily refer to physical idols/statues that represent false gods. But there are also many other very dangerous idols in life that are not made by human hands.
The Battle—Spiritual Warfare
Eph 6:12-17
God has enabled us for the battle, but we must be prepared. We are not left helpless.
2 Cor 10:4-7
2 Corinthians 4:4; 11:3; Ephesians 2:2, 3; 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:9 The great deception we all are confronted with is we believe we can do it on our own. “I don’t need help” is the mantra of many.
Proverbs 15:8 God wants to help. He delights in our prayers.
1 Samuel 21:8-15 David knew he needed help.
Psalm 34:1-7, 15-19 The first step in receiving help from God is realizing you need help, and the second step is asking with faith.
Deuteronomy 4:29; Proverbs 8:17 Seek Yahweh, and you will find Him.
2 Chronicles 15:2, 4, 15
Proverbs 15:8 The prayer of the upright is God’s delight.
Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, seek, knock.
Matthew 6:5-15 Jesus provided instruction on how to pray and gave a guideline for daily prayer. The aspects of prayer include – praise for Yahweh (Psalm 106:1), acknowledgement of the coming Kingdom (Acts 24:15-16), request for daily needs (Matthew 6:32-33), receiving and giving forgiveness (1 John 1:7-10; Matthew 6:14-15), help with temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9), and deliverance from evil.
Jonah 1:1-17 Instead of obeying God’s command to go and preach to Nineveh, Jonah flees in the opposite direction.
Jonah 2:1, 10 Although Jonah tried to end his life, God saved him and gave him another chance to do the right thing.
Jonah 3:1-10 This time, Jonah preaches to the people of Nineveh: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” The city’s response is heartfelt and all encompassing. Although he didn’t have a heart for the people, Jonah’s message hit home, inspiring wholesale repentance and fasting.
Revelation 4:1-3 John gets invited backstage to see God’s throne room in heaven. What he sees, he compares to precious stones that dazzle in the light. (See also Psalm 104:1-2; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:5.)
Ezekiel 1:4, 13, 22, 26-28 The prophet Ezekiel likewise saw a vision of God in which he used analogies to burning fire, flashing lightning, and gleaming stones to describe what he saw.
Revelation 4:4-5 Twenty-four elders surround God’s throne. Although we cannot be certain who these beings are, it’s likely that they are angelic beings (not deceased people) who are the counterpart of the church on earth.
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Jerry Wierwille"]
God of GRACE — 1 Pet 5:10
The grace of God has been most fully revealed in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we are recipients of God’s grace through trusting in Christ. Everything we have received is given ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Vince Finnegan"]
Acts 1:1-11 Acts reveals a new spiritual order. God gave the ascended Jesus “all authority in heaven and earth.”
Matthew 28:18-20 Before the ascension, Yahweh worked with the four living creatures, the seven ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Sean Finnegan"]
The main focus of the Gospels is the life of Jesus of Nazareth. However, they also reveal much about Jesus’ God. In fact, since Jesus always did his Father’s will, we can even say that Jesus’ words and deeds reflect ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Jerry Wierwille"]
The Writings (Ketuvim) – Third division of the Old Testament books in the Hebrew Bible: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 and 2 ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Sean Finnegan"]
The best source for information about someone is that person. Although you could read a thousand websites, articles, books, not to mention droves of podcasts and videos, how could you know for sure that the ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Vince Finnegan"]
To God be the glory - Romans 16:27; Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 4:11; 5:11
God is not who we want Him to be; rather, He is who He says He ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Susy DiCecco"]
Ephesians 4:1
NIV: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
CEV: As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Jerry Wierwille"]
Philippians 3:10 — Paul desired to experience the “power of his [Jesus’] resurrection.” While certainly he looked forward to being raised to an immortal life at Christ’s return, there is a dimension of ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Sean Finnegan"]
Death is our biggest problem. Many of us actively avoid behaviors that will shorten our lives while cultivating habits that are good for us. Others put their hope in scientific breakthroughs to lengthen their lives. ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Vince Finnegan"]
Hebrews 4:14-15 We will look at some of the many events that led up to the death and resurrection of our Lord and acknowledge how he felt.
John 11:33-35 Jesus wept as he was conscious of the suffering hearts ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Sean Finnegan"]
Genesis 2:21–25 As Bible-believing Christians, we ground our understanding of sexuality in creation. Before the Fall, God gave Adam and Eve marriage as a beautiful gift. This is the standard or pattern for all of ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Jerry Wierwille"]
Galatians 5:13-18
For you, brothers and sisters, were called to freedom; only do not use the freedom for an opportunity to indulge the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Vince Finnegan"]
Romans 11:33-36 Today, we understand in part.
Genesis 18:25; Psalm 58:11; Psalm 89:13-14; Psalm 97:1-2; Deuteronomy 32:3-4; Deuteronomy 10:17-18; 2 Chronicles 19:17 God is righteous and has the just plan to ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Sean Finnegan"]
Genesis 2:8-9 God’s original habitat for humanity was a luscious garden full of delightful food. There were two special trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:15-17 ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Brian Kelly"]
Psalm 27:14; Psalm 37:7-9 “the Lord” = “YHWH”
1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10a
Revelation 21:1-4 …"Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Sean Finnegan"]
Matthew 6:33 Jesus told us to seek first God’s Kingdom and righteousness. What does this mean? What is God’s Kingdom?
Amos 9:13-15 Amos envisioned a day full of such abundance that the plowman would overtake ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Vince Finnegan"]
Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 3:10-18 Sin is a problem for everyone.
Acts 2:38; 3:19-26 The only antidote for the sin problem is our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:22-26 Jesus paid the price for our redemption and ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Sean Finnegan"]
Fellowship comes from the verb koinoneo, which means “to share” or “to take part in a thing with another.” Fellowship is a community encounter wherein the participants experience companionship, comradery, and a ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Jerry Wierwille"]
John 13:12-17 — Jesus left us the ultimate example of being a servant and commanded that we do likewise for each other. If we follow these instructions, he said that we will be blessed.
Matthew 25:31-46 — When ...
By [wbt_preacher_link preacher="Vince Finnegan"]
John 8:31-36 The word “continue” is from the Greek “meno” which is also translated stay, remain, abide, dwell. Jesus’ disciple is one who stays in his word.
Luke 8:11-15 There are four responses to our Lord’s ...
