Pastor Mark's Wednesday evening teachings will give us an overview of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. Tonight, Pastor Mark continues in the book of Judges.

Ahimaaz was a very fast messenger who could run with the best of them, and he was anxious to tell the king of the victory over the rebel forces. But Joab knew that Ahimaaz was not ready to give the news of Absalom's death to his father, David. The messenger was very zealous, but he was unprepared and lacked maturity. In today's study, Pastor Mark exhorts us to add knowledge to our zeal to serve the Lord. If we're to be effective as teachers and witnesses to others, then we have to be growing in our faith and in our understanding of God's word and how to apply it to our own lives. If we don't have that, then we have little to offer.

Ahimaaz was a very fast messenger who could run with the best of them, and he was anxious to tell the king of the victory over the rebel forces. But Joab knew that Ahimaaz was not ready to give the news of Absalom's death to his father, David. The messenger was very zealous, but he was unprepared and lacked maturity. In today's study, Pastor Mark exhorts us to add knowledge to our zeal to serve the Lord. If we're to be effective as teachers and witnesses to others, then we have to be growing in our faith and in our understanding of God's word and how to apply it to our own lives. If we don't have that, then we have little to offer.

David loved his son Absalom and would be heartbroken at the news of his death. But Absalom had in many ways been a spoiled rich kid, whose pride caused him to rebel against his father and God's chosen king. As Pastor Mark makes clear for us in today's study, Absalom - although extremely handsome - personifies the ugly characteristics that pride brings about in a person's life. His willfulness blinded him to his own weaknesses and his vanity ironically led to a humiliating death at the hands of his enemies. Scripture warns that living a life of arrogant pride will lead to a downfall of one kind or another, but humility brings true greatness.

David loved his son Absalom and would be heartbroken at the news of his death. But Absalom had in many ways been a spoiled rich kid, whose pride caused him to rebel against his father and God's chosen king. As Pastor Mark makes clear for us in today's study, Absalom - although extremely handsome - personifies the ugly characteristics that pride brings about in a person's life. His willfulness blinded him to his own weaknesses and his vanity ironically led to a humiliating death at the hands of his enemies. Scripture warns that living a life of arrogant pride will lead to a downfall of one kind or another, but humility brings true greatness.

Though Joshua's plan was to spy out the enemy and gain a strategic advantage over Jericho, the Lord had a greater plan in mind. All the while Joshua was focused on how best to get the nation into the land, God was just as concerned about getting a sinner out of the world. The story of Rahab gives us great insight into the heart of God to save a life.

Pastor Mark challenges us to be an "intimate" with the Lord. We need to be a follower of Christ that stays close to Him so that we might be used effectively for the kingdom.

Pastor Mark challenges us to be an "intimate" with the Lord. We need to be a follower of Christ that stays close to Him so that we might be used effectively for the kingdom.

Though Joshua's plan was to spy out the enemy and gain a strategic advantage over Jericho, the Lord had a greater plan in mind. All the while Joshua was focused on how best to get the nation into the land, God was just as concerned about getting a sinner out of the world. The story of Rahab gives us great insight into the heart of God to save a life.

When David was approached by a man he thought he could trust, and was told that another friend had betrayed him, David believed the worst. But rather than trying to find out if the accusations were true, he took them at face value, and a bond that had been based on mutual respect and love was now destroyed. Had David looked into it, he would have discovered that he'd been lied to. His friend had not betrayed him at all, but was being accused by a man who was hoping to enrich himself by lying. In today's study, Pastor Mark uses this incident to emphasize the importance of finding out the whole story and not just one side.