Focal Passage: Psalm 10:1-4,12-18 

Where are you Lord? The psalmist begins this passage with the question of God’s distance from him. I have heard so many people, even Christians for that matter, often speak of God seeming distant from them. They often say, “I don’t see God in my circumstance.” This is not an emotion that was unfamiliar even for the biblical writer. 

In Psalm 22:11 the psalmist pleads, “Do not be far from me, because distress is near and there is no one to help.” Psalm 44:24 asks, “Why do You hide Yourself and forget our affliction and oppression?” 

You hear the desperation in Psalm 71:10-12 as the Psalmist cries out, “For my enemies talk about me, and those who spy on me plot together, saying, “God has abandoned him; chase him and catch him, for there is no one to rescue him.”   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Luke 5:1-11 

Hearing God’s Word. In Luke 5:1-3 we find Jesus on the shore of Lake Gennesaret or the Sea of Galilee. I live on Fort Loudon Lake, but it is often called the Tennessee River, Ish Creek, or just Loudon. Sometimes theologians and historians get caught up with details, but the simple truth is that different bodies of water were given different names depending on what person or people group was giving the name. 

Luke tells us the people were crowding Jesus and he asked Simon Peter to pull him back so everyone could hear his teaching. This speaks to the inclusivity of the gospel. 

How important is the Word of God? Well, Jesus Christ was the Word made flesh, yet He came to preach the Good News. (Luke 4:43) Jesus Himself knew that the proclaimed Word was powerful to change lives.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Psalm 91:1-6, 9-16 

My God in whom I trust: For a person to really trust someone they must understand who that person is. That is why the psalmist (most likely Moses) states that our protection is provided by the Most High. 

The word “Most High” denotes the One that is the very highest. He is above all other gods and is the One they must all go up to. God’s people are in the shadow of the Almighty. He is always “overshadowing” us with His presence. 

When I visited the Holy Land on different occasions, I quickly began to understand that shade was a place of comfort and rest from the treacherous elements. That is why the Psalmist spoke of dwelling in the shadow of the Most High.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Jeremiah 23:5-6, Romans 3:10-13, 21-26 

The Righteous Branch of David: The prophet Jeremiah begins this passage with, “Look, the days are coming.”  Jeremiah opened with this same statement on 15 other occasions.

Even though Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet,” he was given the task of bringing hope to God’s people. It is important to note that it is God who initiated the hope and also God who raised up the person of hope. 

In Zechariah 3:8 God promises, “”Listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring My servant, the Branch.” [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25 

It really is about the Name: When I read Isaiah 7:14 I am always intrigued by the way different people approach this amazing promise given by the prophet Isaiah. 

Many skeptics see this as a desperate attempt of the prophet to bring hope to the people of God when they were facing annihilation by the Assyrian armies.

When you consider that Isaiah’s son’s name had the meaning of “running toward destruction,” then one must really stand and take notice of a child being born that declares through His very name, “God is with us.” Can the birth and naming of a child turn around or defeat a pursuing army?  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Psalm 103:1-5, 8-13, 17-19 

The focal text for this study is Psalm 103:1-5,8-13,17-19. For so many believers, Psalm 103 expresses their deepest heartfelt gratitude toward God.  

When we consider the vast number of ways that God has expressed His love for us, it should compel us to bless the Lord with the entirety of our soul.  When I consider verses 1-5, my heart immediately goes to the many benefits that we receive because of God’s limitless grace. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” 

The central message of Psalm 103 is that we can’t begin to “bless” God enough for all that He has bestowed on us through Jesus Christ.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Psalm 138:1-8 

The focal text for this study is Psalm 138:1-8. David begins this amazing psalm to the Lord with a heart of praise and worship. John MacArthur states, “the psalmist moves from individual praise (vv. 1-3) to international praise (vv. 4-5) then finishes with invincible praise” (vv. 6-8). 

When a person really sees God in His majesty he should be moved to a posture of obedient worship. As I read verses 1-3, my mind went to Isaiah 6 with the prophet being ushered into the throne room of God. 

The reality of experiencing the presence of God in all of His holiness carried Isaiah to a place of absolute reverence (Woe is me.) to a position of unwavering obedience (Here am I Lord, send me).  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-15 

In this text we find Moses who is in the middle of an identity crisis. He was once a prince in Egypt and is now a shepherd for someone else’s flock. He is watching over his flock, minding his own business and suddenly he encounters a burning bush. It is important to understand that this Scripture is not about the bush. 

This story is about an all knowing, all powerful, always present God that has chosen to come to a shepherd in the wilderness. 

It is about God speaking truth into someone’s life, not based on their position, but based on God’s person. There was a not so special place for shepherds in that day. They were not allowed to stay in the inns or eat in the village cafés because of their lowly occupation, yet God sought out Moses to represent Him.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Psalm 65:11-13 

What is the worst grade you ever made on a test? I had a friend in high school whose initials were CDF. He would joke that his report card was simply displaying the first letters of his names. 

I wonder how he would answer that question? Imagine you getting a test paper back from your teacher and written in red marker on the top right corner is a 10 percent. I’m sure that gives some of you straight A students anxiety just thinking about it. Even for the friend I mentioned earlier, a 10 percent on a test would be a disaster. 

Now, I encourage you to read Luke 17:11-19. Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned to Him and gave Him thanks. If we were to grade the guys in this story, they’d get a 10 percent. Even while the vast majority did not come straight back to Jesus, that was His expectation.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: II Thessalonians 1:3-12  

If you can consider hell free from any pause in your spirit, doubt, or struggle then you might be doing so too flippantly. I feel small and insufficient when I consider a place of torment that people go to forever. If you feel the same way then we are in good company. Commenting on a passage in Matthew, David Platt writes, “If we’re honest, these truths about heaven and hell are a little overwhelming … We wonder, ‘Is it really true?’ ”

Pondering the reality of hell doesn’t carry with it an automatic “low view” of Scripture perspective. No, those who have a high view of Scripture, those who believe that the Bible is God’s Word are the ones who are going to struggle the most with the reality of a place of agonizing punishment that will never end. So let’s ponder together the reality of hell.  [Read more…]