Focal passage: John 4:46-54

If you put “Signs of Christ’s Return” into an online search engine, you’d find many sites like “Eight Signs of Jesus’ Soon Return,” and “12 Signs …” and “6 Signs …” and “5 Signs …” and “SEVEN Signs …” and lots more. Obviously, people today are very interested in the signs of Jesus’ Second Coming. 

The Apostle John was no doubt interested too, but even more so regarding the signs of Jesus’ first coming. Our current lesson series is entitled All Signs Point to Jesus — the signs being seven miracles that took place during Jesus’ life here on earth. Although Jesus did numerous miracles (that the other three Gospel writers recorded), only seven of them were included in John’s account.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: John 2:1-11

Today marks the beginning of a series of lessons called All Signs Point to Jesus, from the Gospel of JOHN. Unlike Matthew, Mark and Luke, John tells the story of Jesus by highlighting seven of His many miracles, each being a sign of who Jesus was, each pointing to a different aspect of His divine character. 

A frequently asked question is Why are there FOUR Gospels? J. Vernon McGee had an amusing answer: “Because THREE would be too few, and FIVE would be too many.” Yet Dr McGee himself would agree that it’s much more than that; God gave us pictures of the foursquare tower of truth found in the life and work of Jesus, four ‘sides,’ four ‘views’ of the greatest story ever told. We’ll be blessed to study one of them — John’s inspired ‘view’ — over these next weeks. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Hebrews 10:19-25; 13:12-15

I remember reading an anonymous piece called ‘It’s Time to Plant our Gardens,’ that appeared in a number of church newsletters 20 or so years ago. The idea was this: in our ‘spiritual gardens’ we should ‘squash’ our differences, and ‘turnip’ for church services, and — one more — ‘lettuce’ be obedient and faithful. As sappy as such a veggie-tales play on words might seem, in our focal passage today we are seriously exhorted to do those very things!

The Scripture itself is Hebrews 10:19-25 and 13:12-15, for our final lesson in The Heart of Worship series; today’s topic is The GATHERING for Worship. Each of the two selected passages gives a different perspective on how we’re to gather for worship.(Note: In using the words inside and outside I’m referring to the spiritual CONDITIONS described in our text, not to physical LOCATIONS.)  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Psalm 63:1-11

In about the middle of my pastoral years (three decades ago!) ministers of music began introducing “praise and worship songs” into congregational hymn-singing. I especially remember two of those praise songs to this day; they were beloved — and were what I call ‘very singable.’ The words of both songs come directly from Psalm 63, our study-text for today: “Oh God, You Are My God” and “Thy Lovingkindness Is Better Than Life.” If you were ‘around’ during the 80’s and early 90’s, you probably can still sing them. So let’s ‘sing and study’ Psalm 63, from the current series of lessons called The Heart of Worship. Today’s topic is The BENEFITS of Worship. 

Psalm 63 was not only sung during church services in recent decades, it was also a staple in congregational music in the earliest centuries of the church. One of the most eloquent preachers and prolific authors in the early days of Christianity, John Chrysostom (347-407 A.D), said that it was ordained and agreed upon … that no day should pass without the public singing of Psalm 63. The primitive fathers began every morning worship by singing this Psalm!  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Psalm 40:1-11   

Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Or is it more of a “grrrr-attitude?” This week’s lesson on The ATTITUDE in Worship, from Psalm 40:1-11, could help you settle that question.  We’re in a series called The Heart of Worship, and frankly, the study today is one of my favorites in the entire series.

Is Psalm 40 “Messianic”? Not everyone thinks so. Messianic passages in the Old Testament are called such because they’re quoted by or about Jesus the Messiah in the New Testament. And there are three verses of this Psalm that are directly referenced in the New Testament. Verses 6-8 are quoted and commented on in Hebrews 10:5-10. Some scholars conclude that even more of this Psalm is prophecy about Christ. 

For example, one could see His coming into the world (verses 6-8), the cries of His soul in bearing our sins during crucifixion (verses 1-2), and His conquering death by rising triumphantly — singingly! — from the grave (verses 3-4). Our being commissioned to go tell the story might be seen in verse 5! (By the way, I think the Psalm is gloriously Messianic.) [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Psalm 25:4-15 

A gray-haired man and his young grandson were walking outdoors. The boy asked, “Grandpa, can a feller see God?” The grandfather stopped. He scanned the blue sky and the billowing clouds, saw the trees swaying in the wind, and the birds and squirrels flittering about. “Son,” he answered, “If a feller really looks, all he CAN see is God.” 

Inspired worship happens, when everywhere we look, there is God! Today’s study, The INSPIRATION for Worship, is from The Heart of Worship series. Our focal text is Psalm 25:4-15, describing two sets of inspiring prayers and promises.

Verses 4-7: The Prayer of a SAINT

Psalm 25 is attributed to David. Whether ‘the sweet singer of Israel’ actually penned it (or one of his praise team members) this is certainly a ‘Davidic’ psalm — one of David’s collections of praise and worship songs. In verses 4-7, he’s praying for GUIDANCE. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Exodus 1:16-17; 22-2:10 

Shiphrah, Puah, and Jochebed. Not everyone will recognize those first two names; many will know the third. They are three brave women depicted in today’s study passage, Exodus 1:16-17; 1:22-2:10. It isn’t an exaggeration to say this “ladies’ trio” helped change the history of the world. Our lesson is called “Treasuring What God Treasures,” and it’s a beautiful story about the sanctity of life. 

Treasuring Life Without Any Exception (1:16-17; 22) 

The backdrop for today’s Scripture is the Israelites’ period of slavery in Egypt. The whole family of Jacob (who became ‘Israel’) had lived in Egypt since their homeland was devastated by famine. As years went by, Egypt’s Pharaoh became extremely uneasy about the Israelites multiplying; Jacob’s descendants now numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Pharaoh decreed that every Israelite male be murdered at birth. He obviously reasoned that females would not be as likely to form an armed rebellion in the future.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Isaiah 40:21-31 

Matt Redman wrote a song that includes the line, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship, And … it’s all about You, Jesus.” That phrase, The Heart of Worship, is the title of our new lesson series. Today’s study, from Isaiah 40: 21-31, is The FOCUS of Our Worship. 

I recently asked a congregation, “How many of you were ever in a boring worship service?” Hands went up everywhere. I replied, “I understand. But that’s the wrong answer. We all may’ve been in a boring service at some time. But brothers and sisters, if we were ever in a worship service, it was anything but boring!” 

A.W. Tozer said, “How we think of God is the most important thing about us.” Reacting to that statement C.S. Lewis said, “It is not! How GOD thinks of US … is infinitely more important!” Now these are not just two great theologians verbally disagreeing on what’s most important about us; these are two great truths about authentic worship — the kind described in our text. Worship IS about how we think of God! It’s ALSO about how God thinks of us!  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:32-44 

It might seem strange — here in January — to still be in a series of lessons entitled “Looking Forward to CHRISTmas.” We could also wonder why today’s lesson in that series concerns Christ’s Second Coming — His Second Advent. Remembering that “Advent” is another term for CHRISTmas, I checked the dictionary. 

Advent is defined as “… a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus’ birth at CHRISTmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.” Aha! So it’s very natural to conclude this series with a lesson on Looking Forward with Expectation — to the “Second Advent”! 

Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both Testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that in the Old Testament alone there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming. In the New Testament 318 such references are found — or one out of every 30 verses.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Matthew 2:1-11; 16-18 

The very “first CHRISTmas” was over. Jesus’ birthday had come to pass. Some research scientists of that day had gotten word of it, and had traveled a long way to see the newborn Child. Even though theirs was an after CHRISTmas visit, it was memorable: they had sojourned many miles to WORSHIP that Baby! 

Our calendars also say CHRISTmas 2024 has “come to pass,” yet today we’re studying a lesson entitled “Looking Forward to Worship.” 

Why is this? It’s because the Looking Forward to CHRISTmas series is not just about anticipating a day on the calendar; it’s about participating in an ongoing worship celebration of Jesus’ incarnation. It’s more than one day; we’re told in Scripture to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). 

Our focal text is Matthew 2:1-11; 16-18, “the visit of the wise men.” Those research scientists had studied an unusual star formation and had concluded that it was the sign of a newborn king, worthy of their worship. This is their story. 

In fact, it’s the story of wise men AND fools! 

Verses 1-11. The wise: seeking to worship The SOVEREIGN 

Dawson

During CHRISTmas in my boyhood years at church, I often donned a flannel robe and put on a glittering crown that Mama had made out of cardboard. A couple of friends would be dressed similarly; we were of course depicting “the three kings .” Sometimes we even tried to sing, We Three Kings of Orient Are. Most everyone knows now that the Bible doesn’t mention three men; there could have been just two, or several. And they weren’t kings; they were magi — wise astronomer-types of that day. And they weren’t “Orientals,” either! 

But we do know they were wise men: (1) They searched the skies for signs of the King. (2) They were guided by the light from heaven. (3) They traveled far and wide until they found JESUS. (4) They bowed at His feet and worshiped Him. (5) They gave Him their treasures, gifts truly fit for a KING, items that symbolize His Kingliness and even His death. (6) Then they departed “different” from how they arrived. Read back over those things; are they not six steps any of us should take in worshiping Jesus this season? 

Verses 16-18. The foolish: seeking to worship SELF 

Herod and his cohorts revealed things that fools do at the mention of Christ and CHRISTmas. They MAKE trouble (remember verse 3). They FAKE religion (think back on verse 8). They attempt to TAKE Christ “out” (verse 16). And they BREAK hearts and homes (verses 17-18). Grinch-like Herod and his bloody men represent the Satanic, self-centered activity that surface every CHRISTmas. Let’s rebuke and resist such foolishness. 

True story: A town put on a well-attended outdoor pageant every CHRISTmas. One year they decided the wise men would carry incense censers for effect. But the streaming smoke set off the town fire alarms. Firetrucks screamed up and firefighters rolled out hoses. Finally it was known what had happened, and everything settled down. But the crowd distinctly heard the fire chief say with irritation, “You wise men have set off alarms all over town!” 

That’s still happening among the wise and foolish today. The CHRISTmas Gospel delights wise men — and disturbs fools! B&R — Dawson is pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church, Columbia, and has served as transitional interim pastor at numerous churches since his retirement from full-time ministry.