Do you remember an illustration often used in gospel presentations of a picture of a heart-shape with a throne shown in the center? It was used to illustrate how, by default, all people are born with a self-centered focus; a sin nature. The chair in the illustration represents the "throne" in each person's heart from which the ruler of that heart reigns. Each sees themself on that throne directing their ways according to their own desires. "All of us like sheep have gone astray," Isaiah 53:6 says, "each of us has turned to his own way…" And Romans 3:23 states "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." A Christian recognizes Jesus as the rightful ruler of the heart and seated on that throne. Romans 10:9 says "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;" However, though as believers we acknowledge Jesus as Lord of our life, many struggle with yielding to His ultimate authority over all areas of their life. Professing with their mouths, "Jesus is Lord," but still not totally yielding to Christ in their thinking, speech, and actions, their heart remains divided. Perhaps for this reason, many wonder why they do not seem to be growing in spiritual maturity. Thankfully, God addresses this issue in His Word through Paul's writing to the Colossians. Join us this Sunday as we learn together what it means to "Let Christ Govern Your Heart" as we study Colossians 3:15-17 together. Prepare for Sunday: Read Colossians 3:15-17 and Ephesians 3:14-21. What does the "peace of Christ" mean to you? What promise does it hold for your present and future? How does the Word of Christ "dwell"

Christian, how can you know your sins are forgiven? How can you be certain you're fully and gladly accepted by God, though your life is still imperfect and marked by sin? What anchors your hope to a future of perfect humanity, enjoying a perfect creation, forever in God's presence? "Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away," John 20:1. Mary and the other disciples struggled to make sense of what they saw: Jesus' empty tomb affirmed that He had done exactly what He promised—He has defeated sin and death for all who belong to Him. "... Go to My brothers and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God," John 20:17. What a wonder this is! Christ's Father is yours, believer. Through Christ, and Christ alone, you are brought into a restored relationship with God, inseparably united to Him—now and forever. How is this possible? Only because "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," 2 Corinthians 5:21. On Friday, we'll remember the cross: Christ, our Substitute, the One who was made "to be sin on our behalf." Then, this coming Lord's Day, we'll finish our three-part look at 2 Corinthians 5:21 and its powerful gospel summary. I hope you'll join us Friday at 6:30 pm and again on Resurrection Sunday as we rejoice in "The Risen King: Christ Our Righteousness." Prepare for Sunday: Read and meditate on John 20:1-17, as well as 2 Corinthians 5:21. How is the empty tomb described? Why does John include these details? What helped Mary recognize Jesus? What, spec

Christian, how can you know your sins are forgiven? How can you be certain you're fully and gladly accepted by God, though your life is still imperfect and marked by sin? What anchors your hope to a future of perfect humanity, enjoying a perfect creation, forever in God's presence? "Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away," John 20:1. Mary and the other disciples struggled to make sense of what they saw: Jesus' empty tomb affirmed that He had done exactly what He promised—He has defeated sin and death for all who belong to Him. "... Go to My brothers and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God," John 20:17. What a wonder this is! Christ's Father is yours, believer. Through Christ, and Christ alone, you are brought into a restored relationship with God, inseparably united to Him—now and forever. How is this possible? Only because "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him," 2 Corinthians 5:21. On Friday, we'll remember the cross: Christ, our Substitute, the One who was made "to be sin on our behalf." Then, this coming Lord's Day, we'll finish our three-part look at 2 Corinthians 5:21 and its powerful gospel summary. I hope you'll join us Friday at 6:30 pm and again on Resurrection Sunday as we rejoice in "The Risen King: Christ Our Righteousness." Prepare for Sunday: Read and meditate on John 20:1-17, as well as 2 Corinthians 5:21. How is the empty tomb described? Why does John include these details? What helped Mary recognize Jesus? What, spe

A right relationship with God has a way of turning things upside down. Consider the evidence: Daniel remained at ease the night he spent in a den of hungry lions, while the king whose law put Daniel there lay tossing on his bed in torment of soul. What a difference a clean conscience makes! "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him," exclaimed Daniel the next morning. "... and also toward you, O king, I have done no harm." Last week, we saw the character God formed in Daniel before the crisis. This week, we'll see what that relationship with God produces during the crisis. To believe we're kept by God's sovereign hand gives us boldness as His exiles. And to know He favors His covenant people, that our sins have been blotted out, gives us confidence even when we face our own death. Observable boldness and quiet confidence are the fruit of a right relationship with God—and a display case for His power to deliver. Even the wicked, like Babylon's King Darius, see God's power at work among His people. "... men are to fear and be in dread before the God of Daniel," Daniel 6:26 (LSB). "... for He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be unto the end." This Lord's Day, we'll finish our look at Daniel 6, concluding the first half of the book of Daniel. I hope you'll join us as we consider, "God's People in Exile: Conscience Before Confidence." Prepare for Sunday: Read and meditate on Daniel 6, focusing on verses 18-28. What contrasts do you see between Daniel and Darius? Why was Daniel delivered

Daniel and the lion's den is one of the Bible's best-known stories. We rightly marvel at Daniel's devotion and God's deliverance; the former challenges us, while the latter assures God's people in exile still today. Yet it's what happened long before the lion's den that Scripture highlights for us in Daniel 6. "Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because an extraordinary spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the entire kingdom," Daniel 6:3 (LSB). What set Daniel apart from all other leaders was not merely administrative talent, but an inner quality that consistently rose above the often-stormy environment encircling him. Years of private devotion had formed in Daniel an inner life that bore the fruit of excellence. This Lord's Day, we'll consider how God graciously built in Daniel the kind of character that kept him from flinching when loyalty to the Lord was not merely costly, but deadly. Join us as we turn to Daniel 6 and consider "God's People in Exile: Character Before Crisis." Prepare for Sunday: Read Daniel 6, meditating on verses 1-18. How was Daniel distinguished among the other royal court officials? What does the term "extraordinary" or "excellent" reveal about Daniel's character? Use Scripture elsewhere to support your answer. Why would Daniel's integrity provoke hostility rather than admiration? How is Daniel a foreshadowing of Christ?

God calls the proud to humble themselves. What happens, though, when the proud refuse to be humbled? "... The God in whose hand are your life-breath and all your ways, you have not honored... you have been weighed on the scales and found lacking," Daniel 5:23,27 (LSB). Babylon's acting king, Belshazzar, ignored history, shut his eyes to God's revelation, and disregarded prophetic warnings. He partied and pretended importance while enemy armies camped around his capitol city. The handwriting on the wall of his extravagant banquet hall turned Belshazzar's proud revelry to reality: "That same night the Chaldean king was killed," Daniel 5:30. Belshazzar's end still warns us today: God's sovereign justice is at times swift and final. For God's people living in exile, the proud king's fall is an encouragement that no arrogant empire or ruler stands forever. God will bring down all the proud; some He humbles and restores. Others He humbles and judges with finality. God's people find their hope in the One whose life was weighed and found perfect, lacking in nothing. The perfect righteousness of Christ is our only safe harbor from the wrath that awaits all who are judged by their own merit. I hope you'll join us this Sunday as we turn to Daniel 5 and consider, "God's People in Exile: Weighed and Found Lacking." Prepare for Sunday: Read all of Daniel 5 and meditate on verses 22-30. Based on the text, how would you describe Belshazzar's feast? What is his tone in speaking to Daniel? Why does Daniel emphasize "even though you knew all this" in verse 22? What does the writing on the wall reveal about God's justice? On what scale are we tempted to "weigh" our

This winter's cold and flu bug seems catchier than most. Has it caught you yet? Many of you would answer "yes" – despite your best efforts to stay away from sick people. No matter what you do to avoid it, at some point you find you've got it. Pride, man's besetting sickness, is also this way. No matter what steps we take, we find we have it. We don't catch it; we're born with it. At our worst, we mistake God's patience and forbearance toward us for His indifference, or tacit approval of our sin. And He'll take extraordinary means to remind us that we are made to worship Him, not ourselves. "... a voice came from heaven saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is said: the kingdom has been removed from you," Daniel 4:31 (LSB). While Babylon seemed untouchable, God was already at work vindicating His sovereign rule for the sake of His exiled people. This Lord's Day, we'll finish our look at Daniel 4 and its startling account of a powerful king's journey from pride to praise. God's compassion for Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar expressed itself in a severe mercy: a prolonged season of insanity and isolation from all that he once boasted in—until the king was finally humbled. "... For all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride," Daniel 4:37. Join us this Sunday as we turn to the Scriptures to see pride exposed, judged, and — by mercy — overruled. I hope to see you here as we consider, "God's People in Exile: The King's Speech."