Focal Passage: Acts 2:5-16, 36-38 

In this week’s study we examine probably one of the most discussed phenomena’s in the New Testament. When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers it marked one of the most remarkable events in the life of a follower of Jesus. Until this time, the Holy Spirit made His appearance in specific instances and only for certain period of time.  

However, this time His appearance was very different. This time the Holy Spirit took up permanent residence in the lives of the believers. What happened then is still happening today to everyone who puts their faith in Jesus. At that moment, the Holy Spirit enters our heart and makes it His permanent home.

In Acts 2:5-16, we see that Jerusalem was crowded with people there for the Feast of Pentecost.  They came from everywhere even as far away as Rome, Egypt and Asia. And, there were as many languages and dialects as there were countries.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Acts 1:4-11, 23-26 

The book of Acts is wonderful and powerful piece of literature. It combines divine power evidenced in factual history in a story narrative. Most scholars believe that Luke is the author and the style is most definitely familiar with his. 

There are also internal references as well. Take for instance the fact the book is addressed to Theophilus. We know that Luke’s Gospel was also addressed to Theophilus which is alluded to in the prologue of Acts. The “we” passages also present a strong case for Luke because we know he was a traveling companion of Paul on many of his missionary journeys. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 50:15-26 

One of the mountain top verses of the Old Testament is “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, the saving of many lives.” A transformative verse for me.  

A brief story. In the fall of 1983, I was 26 and a student at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Having completed my master of divinity in the spring, I had begun my Ph.D. work and was scheduled to lead my first seminar in a class on sisdom literature.  My assignment was an in-depth book review and response to Rabbi Harold Kushner’s book Why Bad Things Happen to Good People which was a bestseller at that moment.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 45:1-15 

While the final note of the story of Joseph would come when the brothers no longer had the protection of their father after the death of Jacob when Joseph professed his love for them, the climax of the story took place in the revelation of Joseph to his brothers (45:1-15). The fulfillment of the dreams was now complete.

The worst nightmare for the brothers became reality. Not only was Joseph alive, but he was in charge. What was expected never happened.  No shouting. No death threats. No multiple ways of destruction. No “I told you so!” Only tears. 

Joseph had the power now, not the older brothers. Now was the time for revenge for the pit, the slave caravan, the prison, Mrs. Potiphar, the prison, and all those who “forgot!’ But most of all, it was time to put the brothers in their place for lying and deceiving their father. Yet, it did not come.   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 41:14-20, 33-37 

As a widower, one of the things that I find joy in, is the occasional conversation with someone that remembers my wife and something that she did or one of her characteristics. We usually laugh about some wonderful memory. I enjoy remembering. I enjoy someone saying her name one more time. And I really enjoy that she is not forgotten.

Being forgotten is a fear that many may have. Being forgotten is like an old song — “just blowin’ in the wind.” We often feel irrelevant and not important. Throughout Joseph’s life — the caravan trip, his first time in prison, his early days in Potiphar’s house and his second trip in prison — Joseph seems to have been forgotten. His brothers forgot. The caravan leaders forgot. Potiphar forgot. Even the cupbearer and baker — his prison buddies — forgot! All forgot, except two. First, the Lord.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 39:7-21 

All people face some kind of trauma in their life. Sometimes it happens because of their own actions. Sometimes it happens because of what others did. Sometimes there is no explanation.  

After trauma occurs, the question becomes “what now?” The default position becomes “I’ve been hurt. I’m a victim. Because of this trauma, my life has been forever changed!” The story of Joseph details another option — an option that is focused on the very presence of God (v. 21).

Act 1 of the life of Joseph, found in Genesis 37, told of boastfulness, parental pride, hatred, betrayal, and deception. From the coat of many colors to the hatred in the eyes of the brothers; from the overzealous pride of Jacob for Joseph to Joseph being thrown into a pit; from the boastfulness of Joseph telling his dreams to all who would hear to the Joseph being sold into slavery; the story of Joseph was one crisis heaped upon another.   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 37:5-8; 18-28 

Giving gifts for the most part is just such fun and important. So important, that gift giving is actually one of the Love Languages. 

During our early years of marriage, I loved to buy my wife clothes. I knew her sizes. I would walk from one end of the mall to the other looking for just the right things. It was fun and joyful.

The real joy was watching her receive those gifts. Most of the time, it would be something she would never have picked out and maybe not even liked. But she would wear them happily tell anyone who listened where she got them. That was the real gift — the gift of her love.   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 35:1-15 

Leaving is never easy. Leaving family after a wonderful holiday season is never easy but is tempered with the knowledge that there will be another time. Leaving a job and friends is never easy even for a new opportunity but again tempered with the knowledge that some friendships will survive time and distance. 

However, sometimes leaving means never returning. A bad job. A bad break-up. A bad mistake. Leaving means turning away from what was and starting new someplace else.  

Being forced to leave Shechum after some horrible events, Jacob returned to Bethel, a place he had been once before. God led them away. Jacob’s daughter had been raped. Two of Jacob’s sons found revenge. Now they left Shechum.   [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 32:22-32 

Jacob wrestled with God and lived! Yes, he walked with a limp because of his injury, but his life had been spared. He came face to face with God and lived. This was no dream and no accident.  Alone until daybreak, Jacob wrestled with God. His hip socket dislocated in the struggle did not stop Jacob from wrestling with all his strength and might. In the end he was given a new blessing, not one that came from deception, a new name, Israel, and a limp.

Jacob deceived his brother and father to receive the patriarchal blessing reserved for the eldest son. He wanted what was not his to receive. Now as he wrestled with God, he yearned and desired, for his own blessing from God. He could not and would not escape. He demanded to know the name of his opponent, but none came. 

He fought and fought. But no name came. Yet, by clinging to God, he received that blessing, long sought. As his father and grandfather before him had been blessed by God, now, also, Jacob received God’s blessing to continue to fulfill the Abraham covenant of being a great nation. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Genesis 30:25-34, 41-43 

Patience is a virtue. But try as I might, I am not very patient. I do not like long lines. I do not like waiting almost anywhere. But I try. Even as I get older, I continue working on it. However, patience is a characteristic of value and worth. It means tolerance, persistence, fortitude, perseverance, and unflappability — those things we strive for yet may not achieve. 

Patience was something new for Jacob. In the beginning, he was not a patient man. As the deceiver, he had tricked his father and brother in a moment of opportunity and then ran for his life. He was in a hurry. He tricked Isaac and Esau out of Esau’s birthright as the eldest son. He had received his father’s blessing, which was meant for Esau. He wanted. He took. He ran — quickly.

Jacob arrived at his mother’s brother’s home and Laban received him. Then something very unexpected happened. He became a patient man. Over the next 20 years, as the deceiver was deceived when Jacob fell in love, God worked on his heart and changed him. Through learning patience, Jacob became a blessed man.  [Read more…]