You know that the Bible has many different literary genres — historical narrative and biography and poetry and so on. What it also contains that is less obvious is music. And we might remember that it does when we think about Psalms, but it’s not terribly obvious that we recognize it when we read something like the book of Amos. And that sets up today’s focus question, “What is a doxology?”

The idea of “gettin’ in your bidness” means, “Yo dude, now you’re getting a big personal!” So you might be amused to know that today, in both our OT and NT segments, there’s a bit of God “gettin’ in your bidness.”

Today’s main focus question is prompted by where we’re going in today’s OT segment…the book of Jonah…and I’m going to actually just leave you with it at the end — because you should be prepared to ask others this question.

What I am about to tell you is not unfamiliar. In fact, it is very near to you. And I imagine you may be tempted to move on quickly to something more novel, more educational, more inspiring. But I hope you’ll give me, and perhaps God, an ear for a brief thought about attention, the love of a dog, and a counter-cultural call.

More red words! Today wraps up Jesus’ teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. Toward the end you’ll hear a story that introduces some contrast, and it’s there I want you to keep an ear out for the answer to today’s question, What are the two possible responses to Jesus?

I heard a financial teacher once say this. “Think about the words ‘real estate.’ Did you know that the word ‘real’ comes from the same place as the word ‘royal’ — and if you don’t think you belong to the king, just try not paying your taxes!”

Now I wouldn’t bet my life on that word study, but it’s a good reminder…and the source of today’s focus question…Whose real estate do you manage?

Why was Jesus' reference to salt such a big deal?

Today in Matthew 4 we hear what is perhaps a familiar story of the Devil tempting Jesus. What may not be quite so familiar is how the ways that that temptation happens actually tells a deeper story…and answers today’s focus question, “Which categories of human temptation did Jesus experience?”

Where does the Trinity appear together in the Bible? The most clear example is here in Matthew 3.

“Typology is the perception of recurring patterns of action in salvation-history that are too “coincidental” to be attributed to any cause but God,” and they can involve people, events, or even institutions. But is it lost on the spiritually blind?