Click for PDF version Monday Read Romans 12:1-5, 8:15 Peculiar Communities ARE UNIQUE We should remind ourselves that the preferred definition of “peculiar” is not “strange” or “odd”; the dictionary says that its primary meaning is “to belong exclusively to.” There can be few terms more appropriate, therefore, to describe the people of God,...
Click for PDF version Monday Read Matthew 5:14-16, 24:14, 28:18-20; Revelation 7:9-12 This week’s devo series, supporting next Sunday’s message, considers “the state of the church.” Today’s focus: the professing global Christian church. “Christianity’s [global growth exceeds the general] population’s growth. From 2020 to … mid-2024, the world’s population [projects growth] from … 7.84...
Click for PDF version Monday Read Romans 12:3, 11:11-32 Paul starts his letter to the Romans by saying, “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (1:7a). He is writing to a mixed community of Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). One of his goals is for this group of...
Click for PDF version Monday Read Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy.” (Romans 12:1) Romans 12:1 begins with the word “therefore.” Whenever we see the word “therefore” in our Bible study, we must ask what is it there for? It is a very important word because the human...
Click for PDF version Monday Read Exodus 6:2-8 Freedom. Redemption. Provision. Promise. The Book of Exodus begins as a story from freedom to bondage. Before Pharaoh ruled the land, the Israelites moved to Egypt where they would settle for some time. Over this transitory time to Egypt, the Israelites started growing their community and...
Click for PDF vesion Monday Read Nehemiah 9:1-37 In his book, The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer writes, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” If Tozer is right that what we think about God is what is most important about us, then...
Click for PDF version Monday Read 2 Kings 22:1-10; Psalm 19:7-14 Josiah’s Dedication to God Josiah was king of after Israel was split into two kingdoms. His reign is noted for doing what was right in the eyes of God, following in the way of King David (2 Kings 22:2). Despite David’s sins, he...
Click for PDF version Monday Read 2 Kings 18:1-8; 20:1-6; 16:1-4 Hezekiah’s Context This week’s story about the healing of King Hezekiah requires familiarity with Hezekiah as a person. Hezekiah is introduced in the narrative of the kings of Judah as a 25-year-old new king who reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years. That places...
Click for PDF version Monday Read Jonah 1 At the time of Jonah, Assyria had not been a threat to Israel for a generation, and the reign of Jeroboam II (793-753 BC) had achieved prosperity and military success in the history of Israel’s divided monarchy. Nineveh (modern day Mosul, Iraq), at this time, was...
Click for PDF version Monday Read 2 Kings 13:14-19; 1 Kings 19:15-21; Matthew 4:18-22 This week we continue in the summer series, “Truth to Power,” through the books of 1 and 2 Kings, continuing to look at the life of Elisha to uncover a humble, totally sold-out-for-God prophet. In 1 Kings 19 we read...
