Living in Exile

Jim Leffel

Jeremiah 29:4-14

Jeremiah writes to the Israelites who were placed in exile after Babylon took captive of Jerusalem. Jeremiah had been warning the people about Babylon. They realize what he has been saying all along is actually true, so now they are attentive to Jeremiah's words. The people's main inquiry is how does God want them to live as Jewish people in exile. Jeremiah warns those in exile of two items of importance; these warning can also be applied to Christians living today since the world is not their true home. Jeremiah's first warning is to not conform to Babylonian culture so that they would not forget that they are God's people. On the other hand, he also warns them to not fully retreat from the culture around them and live in isolation. He also encourages them to work for peace and to do so by treating others with compassion and dignity. Lastly, the exiled as well as the Christian today is to live in hope of God's promises and what is to come.\r\n

The Branch

Jim Leffel

Zechariah 6:12-13

Jeremiah describes Israel's future King Messiah and likens him to a branch. Jeremiah states this king will be from David's family line - wise and just. He will also be the people's righteousness, meaning that through this king people will have right-standing before God who is perfect. The king is able to be the people's righteousness because he is also their priest. The Messiah is able to extend forgiveness to all people. In this hope through Christ the Messiah, we are able to have freedom, are incorporated into his kingdom, and become spokespersons for God to tell others about this good news of grace.

Disputing with God

Jim Leffel

1 Corinthians 10:13

Jeremiah complains and accuses God because he is suffering. God responds to Jeremiah with assurance that He will restore him and protect him if Jeremiah simply chooses to return to God. God assures Jeremiah that God is his fortress; this is reminder for Jeremiah from earlier that He will make Jeremiah strong like walls. Walls are useless until tested; Jeremiah is now being tested through suffering. Jeremiah does end up choosing to return to the Lord in grace and he was restored to God's work

The Heart of God and His Servant

Jim Leffel

Jeremiah 8:18-9:2

God desires us to cultivate His heart for people and to resist the desire to flee from relationships. He wants us to identify with others and display spiritual sensitivity through faith in prayer and by being energized by hope.

What's Wrong with the Religious?

Jim Leffel

Jeremiah 7:1-11

Jeremiah warned against having a religious mentality. The Israelites were taking false security simply because they were near the temple. 3 ideas were discussed: 1) the temple was a symbol that represented justice and mercy and the presence of God; 2) having a religious mentality flows from a lack of compassion and leads to narcissism; 3) religious passion should come from a sincere heart and seek truth.\r\n

On Trial

Ryan Lowery

Acts 25:14-26:31

When Paul makes his way to Jerusalem, he must give a defense to a variety of different parties. At the core of his defense is that he is a Christian by reason as he explains that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament. We should seek out evidence and be willing to respond to what we see. Believers should be prepared to boldly make a defense through personal testimony and through Scripture.

Jesus in the Old Testament (Part 5)

Gary DeLashmutt

John 7:37-39

God uses Moses to deliver the Israelites from Pharaoh and to guide them to the Promised Land. While wandering in the wilderness, God provides for their needs and quenches their thirst. Moses strikes the rock with his staff which produces an abundance of flowing water. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus being stricken and quenching humanities' thirst. It also points to Jesus providing everlasting life. Jesus is God's provision to meet humanities' greatest need and he continues to be our provision as we continue to entrust our lives to him.\r\n

The First Missionary Journey

Ryan Lowery

Acts 13:1-40

The history of missions is split between the harmful and the helpful, but if the claims of the Bible are true then missionaries are essential. Luke's historical account of Paul's first missionary journey shows what missions look like when done correctly. All of us should seek to be missionaries in our own culture or another.

Jesus in the Old Testament (Part 3)

Gary DeLashmutt

Genesis 22:1-14

God's love is demonstrated through the earliest event that predicts the coming Messiah through Abraham and his son Isaac. This is shown through two kinds of Messianic prophecies: 1) historical; 2) typological. Through Abraham's faith being tested as God calls on him to sacrifice his son Isaac, God's faithfulness is revealed as He provides a ram to take Isaac's place. This is a picture (type) of what God will do through His Son Jesus. There are many pictures (types) through Abraham and Isaac's story that point to what happens with Jesus as he is the sacrifice for humanities sin.\r\n