Something Greater

Isaiah 1, Part 1: Rebuke and Redemption Isaiah 1:1-9 God lays upon Isaiah a vision of rebuke and judgement against the nation of Judah and the capital city of Jerusalem. God rebukes their sin and rejects their shallow religion. Yet in his mercy God offers a choice and promises relief and restoration. God rebukes the nation's sin. Isaiah 1:1-9 (ESV) The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be st

Servant of God Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness... (Titus 1:1) Paul calls himself a servant of God . Servant, translates a Greek word meaning slave, whether literally or figuratively, involuntary or voluntary. It carries the sense of subjection and service. This Greek word comes from a root word meaning to tie or bind. It is closely related to a word meaning to beg. Putting all the meanings together, Paul was describing an intimate, all-consuming relationship with God , one which bound him to obedience and faithful service. It was a relationship based upon need: Paul was compelled to serve God as a poor, starving man is compelled to beg. Is this an unique experience? Did Paul expect his readers to emulate this all-consuming slave-relationship with God? Did Paul endorse slavery as an acceptable soci

Bible Study: My Method (Currently) How do you teach others about the Bible? What study method seems to help you most in understanding and communicating the truth contained in God's Word? For about a year now I've been thinking about how I best learn and teach. Gradually I've established a habit of study that seems to fit my mind and personality, and I'd like to share it with others. Perhaps it, or some form of what I describe, will help others develop their own style of study and communication. Note: The following steps have their genesis in a book titled "Miraculous Movements", by Jerry Trousdale, copyright 2012 by CityTeam, published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. I've adjusted and adapted Jerry's original ideas to fit my own preferences. My method of studying and preparing to teach from the Bible involves four distinct steps: Brief Overview Main Ideas and Key Verses Trust and Obey Digging Deeper I tend to follow these four steps in order, b

Psalm 13: Consider And Answer Me To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. What do you think? David felt as if God had forgotten him - as if God had mislaid him, or was oblivious of him. In this emotional song, David says that he feels this way because of enemies and foes (hateful people; crushing, crowding things). What circumstances have recently made you feel this way? David begs God to "consider" (to look

Psalm 12: The Godly One Is Gone To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?" "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs." The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Tell about a time when you felt alone in