Jehu was God’s weapon of judgment upon Ahab and Jezebel. He carried out his mission with intensity and zeal. Although God has not called the church to violence, we should, nevertheless, imitate Jehu’s zeal in our mission to love.

1 Kings 16:30-33 Ahab did more to provoke God to anger than all the kings of Israel who came before him. He introduced and sponsored the worship of Canaanite gods, including Baal and Asherah. His wife, Jezebel of Sidon, was a religious zealot who relentlessly persecuted the prophets of Yahweh, including Elijah (1 Kgs. 19:2).

1 Kings 21:5-7 When righteous Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to Ahab, Jezebel took matters into her own hands. After she had Naboth executed, Ahab took possession of his neighbor’s plot.

1 Kings 19:15-17; 21:19-29 God ordained that Jehu become king instead of Ahab. This Jehu would be God’s weapon of vengeance upon Ahab’s house.

2 Kings 9:4-13 After a young prophet anointed the military commander, Jehu, king, his officers immediately supported his bid for the throne.

2 Kings 9:30-31 Jehu first confronted and the reigning king Joram, Ahab’s son. Then he came for Jezebel. Next, he arranged for the death of all Ahab’s seventy sons.

2 Kings 10:18-19 Last of all, Jehu killed as many worshipers of Baal as he could and turned the temple into a latrine.

John 3:16-17 Jesus is the true and better Jehu. However, God did not send him to condemn the world, but to save it.

Revelation 19:11-16 Nevertheless, when Jesus comes again, he will come in judgment, making Jehu’s zeal look small in comparison.

Pastor Sean uses the Bible version NRSVUE

Deuteronomy 17 God anticipated that Israel would ask for a king, and He did not forbid it. Instead, He gave specific instructions for those He would appoint. The most important requirement was that the king write a personal copy of the Law

1 Samuel 8:5-7 Israel says: “Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” – wrong motive.

1 Kings 10:22-24 The first three kings; Saul, David, and Solomon all reigned for 40 years. Saul failed to remain faithful, David was the best having God central, Solomon starts good ended terrible. v.23 So King Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.

1 Kings 11:1-13 Solomon worshiped false gods influenced by his pagan wives. God told him He would split the kingdom.

1 Kings 12:1-33 Rehoboam was king over Judah and Benjamin and Jeroboam over the 10 northern tribes.

Proverbs 16:18; 11:2; 29:23 Pride comes before a fall.

Proverbs 11:14; 12:15; 15:22; 24:6 Wise counsel.

Rev. Vince uses the Bible version NASB-95

Matthew 3:1-6, 13-17; John 3:22-30; 4:1-3 John the Baptist was called by God to initiate a renewal movement within Israel, featuring repentance through baptism in water. Even though he had no sin, Jesus came to John to “fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus also baptized many, acting through his disciples.

Luke 3:15-17; John 15:26; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, 32-33 John’s prophecy about Jesus was that he would baptize people with the holy spirit. Jesus reiterated this promise at the last supper and shortly before his ascension. On the day of

Acts 2:37-41; 8:12-13, 36-38; 9:18 (22:16); 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 33; 18:8; 19:1-7; 1 Cor 1:13-17 Baptizing new converts in water was standard operating procedure in the early church. Baptism in water went hand in hand with receiving the holy spirit

Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12 Baptism is a symbolic ceremony that affords people a physical experience to identify with Christ’s death and resurrection. They symbolically experience burial and resurrection. Although baptism is not necessary for salvation, it is a helpful opportunity for the repentant to make a public profession of faith and commitment.

Sean Finnegan uses the Bible version NRSVUE

“In Christ” reveals the covenant relationship we have with him. The spirit doesn’t change who we are but empowers us to live in the covenant relationship with Christ, freely submitting to his lordship. God’s everlasting love is declared in

1 Corinthians 11:23-27 we are in a covenant relationship with Christ and God.

A biblical covenant is a binding, relational agreement that God establishes with people in which He defines the relationship, makes promises, sets conditions or obligations, and specifies consequences. It is more than a contract and more than a feeling-based relationship, it is a structured relationship grounded in God’s initiative. He is our Father and Jesus is our Lord.

The Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic

Romans 3:23–24 “in Christ” as a covenant relationship, Christ is Lord who promises justification, redemption, and eternal life, and our response is to submit to his lordship by living under his rule, within the realm of his saving grace.

“In Christ” is a metaphor of sphere and relationship, meaning to live under Christ’s covenant lordship and to share in all that he has accomplished.

Romans 6:3-11 we are to identify with Christ’s accomplishments. This is our faith.

Romans 6:23 …the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1-8 flesh – we are born self-centered, given to covetousness, rebellion and the desire to fix ourselves.

Galatians 5:16-26

Romans 8:9 the spirit doesn’t change who we are but empowers us to live in the covenant relationship with Christ, freely submitting to his lordship.

Romans 8:15 you have not been given the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.

Romans 8:18 God loves you. He wants you in His family.

Romans 8:25 God loves you and wants you to be with Him forever.

Romans 8:31 God loves you, you are part of His eternal purpose.

Romans 8:34 God loves you and always has your back.

Romans 8:39 nothing can separate you from His love.

Rev. Vince uses the Bible version NASB-95

Reading through Luke 2:1-38, we see both God’s provision as well as his restraint in the events surrounding the birth of the Messiah. Instead of cluing in the elite and powerful, he worked through shepherds and the elderly to confirm Jesus’s destiny to Joseph and Mary. God delights to work with the ordinary to do the extraordinary!

Luke 2:1-5 Mary had learned that her child would not be an ordinary boy, he would sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:30-33). Nevertheless, she had to follow the laws of the land, which included traveling while pregnant to be counted in the census.

Luke 2:6-7 Ancient houses typically had a space for animals on the first floor. A “manger” is a feeding trough. These were not ideal circumstances from a health and sanitation perspective, yet everything went well.

Luke 2:8-12 These shepherds were probably bored watching their flock by night. Seeing an angel and hearing him announce the birth of the Messiah must have been quite the shock!

Luke 2:13-14 I get the impression that the angels were bursting with joy at the baby announcement. Rather than keeping it a secret (Luke 9:20-21), they blasted out the good news that the Messiah had been born.

Luke 2:15-20 After they found Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Bethlehem, they recounted what happened, which must have affirmed Joseph and Mary’s confidence that this baby really was who they thought he was.

Luke 2:21-24 Joseph and Mary followed the commandments of the Torah, including circumcising the child on the eighth day (Lev 12:3), offering the sacrifice for purification on the 40th day (Lev 12:6-8), and paying the redemption fee for a firstborn son (Exod 13:13-15; Num 3:47).

Luke 2:25-38 Simeon and Anna confirmed, once again, that this baby was special. He would bring a light to the Gentiles and glory to Israel.

Pastor Sean uses the Bible version NRSVUE

Isaiah 9:1-2 The land of Zebulun and Naphtali had suffered greatly when the Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pileser, invaded. Though Isaiah lived through the growth of the Assyrian threat from paying taxes (2 Kgs 15:19-20) to outright invasion (2 Kgs 15:29), he prophesied about a light that would dawn on this dark situation.

Isaiah 9:3-5 Isaiah prophesied a great military victory when their yoke would be broken like the day of Midian (Jdg 6:1-6, 11-16; 7:2-3).

Isaiah 9:6-7 This prophecy is in the past tense. By Isaiah’s time, the child had already been born. The name was “(A) miraculous strategist (is the) warrior God; (the) everlasting Father (is the) commander of peace.” Theophoric names are

2 Kings 18:5-7; 19:32-37 Although it seemed utterly impossible, God employed a miraculous strategy to defeat the Assyrian army, breaking the yoke from Judah in the south and Israel in the north.

Luke 1:76-79 The birth of John the Baptist relates to another fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2 when the light shines on those sitting in darkness (cf. Jn 1:5-8).

Matthew 4:12-17 Jesus picked up where John left off. He began his ministry of bringing God’s light and deliverance from oppression in the ancestral lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. When he returns, he will fulfill the rest of the prophecy of

God has graciously provided us with a diverse community of faith. Rather than judging or worrying about our differences, let’s strive to love one another. When issues come up, we can work them out rather than dividing.

Romans 12:3-8 God just loves diversity. We see this so clearly by looking at how many kinds of fish, or dogs, or flowers he made. Within the church too, we find lots of diversity with respect to gifts. Rather than worrying about differences, let’s

Romans 12:9-13 The great key to community unity is love. Rather than thinking of yourself as a spectator or, even worse, a critic, get involved and find ways to contribute to the community of faith.

Romans 12:14-18 All groups of people face conflict from time to time. Thankfully Jesus did not leave us without clear guidance on what to do when you’re offended (Mat 18:15-17, 21-22).

Romans 14:1-6 Some of us are weaker in our faith while others are stronger. We should cut each other some slack and prioritize community over our individual rights.

Romans 16:17-19 Divisiveness, however, is to be avoided. The issue is not whether or not you should stay part of the community, but how can you work the issue out that’s bothering you in a godly way.

Pastor Sean used the Bible version NRSVUE

Your identity in Christ is received, not achieved. You belong because of God’s grace, you are adopted into His family, and your identity is grounded in what Christ has already done.

Romans 6 teaches that your old self died with Christ: “Your old self was crucified with Him.” Your former identity isn’t improved — it’s executed. The old lies—“Only what you see is real,” “Your choices don’t matter,” “You can’t change”—no longer define you. Scripture calls you to “consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God.”

Colossians 3:3 declares that your life is now hidden with Christ in God—covered, secure, and protected. God sees you as a new creation, not as your past.

Galatians 2:20 shows that Christ now lives in you. Christianity is not you trying harder but Christ expressing His life through you. Your strength is not your own.

Because of this new identity, you belong to a new kingdom: “Sin shall not be master over you.” Shame no longer names you. You now live by faith in the Son of God.

You live out your identity by declaring truth (Romans 6:11), renewing your mind (Colossians 3:2), and walking by the Spirit (Romans 8:14). Scripture replaces old labels with God’s identity: free, loved, new, forgiven, empowered, never alone, God’s workmanship, secure, victorious, chosen, strengthened, and without condemnation.

You are dead to sin, alive to God, hidden with Christ, and Christ lives in you. This identity is a gift — now live like you belong.

When we first believe and repent, we receive God’s spirit, which adopts us into his family. Like Octavius whom Julius Caesar posthumously adopted, we must accept our adoption and live it out. When we do, we will suffer. Thankfully, our inheritance as God’s children far outweighs any suffering we must face today.

Romans 8:11 The spirit of God is the primary activating agent for resurrection on the last day. We receive the spirit when we first believe in the gospel and repent of our sins (Titus 3:3-7; Eph 1:13-14).

Romans 8:12-14 There’s something inherently wrong with us. Paul calls this impulse to do what is wrong, “the flesh” (Rom 7:14-15, 21-24). If we choose to be led by the spirit, we can gain freedom from the flesh. By acting like God, we are the children of God (Gal 3:6-7).

Romans 8:15-16 Receiving God’s spirit also means that we’ve been adopted into God’s family. Just as Octavius had to believe and act on his posthumous adoption by Julius Caesar, so too we must believe and act upon our adoption by God.

Romans 8:17 Because we are God’s adopted children, we are also heirs. To be an heir is to be destined to receive an inheritance. Heirs of God means that we will receive our inheritance from God—eternal life in the kingdom of God (Mat 5:5; Luke 12:32).

Romans 8:18 All who want to live a godly life in Christ will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12). Although we don’t seek out suffering, it is inevitable if we stand for God in this fallen world. Our suffering matters, but we must remember to keep it in perspective of the coming glory.

Science Assumes Intelligent Design cannot be challenged.  Christianity has assumed that Jesus is God and the debate is over.

Acts 10:38 – “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth… for God was with Him.”

Proverbs 8:22–30 – Wisdom beside God from the beginning.

Mark 14:61–64; Matthew 26:63–65; Luke 23:2–3

Conclusion

1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 5:19; Acts 2:36