The last words in the book of Judges reminds us of how important a king is. The chaos in Israel resembles the chaotic world we live in today. The chaos of ancient Israel was due to having no king. Likewise, the chaos we face ourselves results in not having the King of kings rules over us.

As King David's last day approached he took his son Solomon aside and gave him this advice - -Be strong and be a man.- David then gives his son great advice on how to be a man. David notes that manhood protects what has been entrusted to him, is determined to obey God and seeks to be rewarded by God.

As Jesus performed a healing miracle, some began to realize that Jesus is the Messiah. However, the religious leaders accused Christ of being empowered by the devil rather than by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12 gives us lessons on how to know if a ministry is of God or not. In this passage Christ also identifies what sin will not be pardoned.

The loyalty of Christ to his mission is marked by prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane. In contrast, the disciples slept and found themselves helpless with faced with adversary. Meanwhile, the greatest act of disloyalty was initiated with a kiss that sent Christ to the cross. Matthew 26 gives very specific lessons regarding loyalty.

Christ appeared to his followers various times. While in Galilee he appeared to his followers and while many worshipped him, some doubted. Wavering faith requires that we make ourselves available to Christ. As with these disciples, it was then that Christ issued his followers the Great Commission and their faith was strengthened.

Paul's 7th chapter of Romans sounds like a riddle as he describes the mixture in every Christian's life between not doing what he wants to do and finding himself doing what he does not want to do. The struggle against the flesh is a lifelong battle until the Christian is home with the Lord. Despite Paul's self assessment of being wretched he can say, -Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ-.

Preaching is God's chosen method of growing his Church. Just as in Deuteronomy 4-10, the people of God gather together to hear from God. Whenever God's word is being proclaimed, God is speaking to us. The importance of preaching is clear in the Scriptures and we are given lessons on how to listen to God's preached word.

The Scriptures gives us various descriptions of what the Church is. The local church is so significant to the Christian that the words church and Christian are nearly synonymous.

The parable of the 10 Virgins tells us that Jesus is returning for his church as a groom comes for his bride. What seems to be a delay on Christ's part should not produce apathy in the church. Rather, we are to we ready and alert, certain of our standing in Christ.