Gideon and his 300 men teach us that God's purpose is that we might depend on Him entirely so that He alone receives the glory. | Outline: [I] Weakness Required - In order for God to give Israel victory, they must be weak (vs. 1-8) [II] Weakness Reassured - In our weakness, God assures us that He is sufficient (vs. 9-14) [III] Weakness Reconsidered - Weakness is not a liability, but the place of our obedience and God's victory (vs. 15-23)

The baby that is born to Joseph and Mary is the Prince of Peace who's come from heaven and yet arrives so privately and without pomp. The humility that surrounds his arrival will be prevalent during his entire earthly ministry as the Savior who...

The baby that is born to Joseph and Mary is the Prince of Peace who's come from heaven and yet arrives so privately and without pomp. The humility that surrounds his arrival will be prevalent during his entire earthly ministry as the Savior who becomes like us, lived with us and gave his life for us. | Outline: [I] The Birth of Jesus drew Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, vs. 1-7 [II] The Birth of Jesus drew the Angels from Heaven, vs. 8-14 [III] The Birth of Jesus drew the Shepherds from their Fields, vs. 15-21

In these verses our focus falls upon the mother of Jesus, Mary. There are many things in life that come to us in two’s and three’s, but all of us only have one mother in the entire world, and the same was true of Jesus. Mary is an example of faith to...

In these verses our focus falls upon the mother of Jesus, Mary. There are many things in life that come to us in two's and three's, but all of us only have one mother in the entire world, and the same was true of Jesus. Mary is an example of faith to us as she trusted in the purposes of God for her life in her honored position as the mother of Jesus. | Outline: [I] Mary's Surprise, vs. 26-37 (a) She wasn't certain what Gabriel's greeting means (b) She was certain that she couldn't be pregnant [II] Mary's Surrender, vs. 38 (a) She trusted in the purposes of God for her life

In this brief study on the Lord's Supper we answer three questions to guide us in laying a foundation for our receiving of this meal that was instituted by the Lord Jesus. | Outline: [I] Why was the Lord's Supper given? (a) To remember the...

In this brief study on the Lord's Supper we answer three questions to guide us in laying a foundation for our receiving of this meal that was instituted by the Lord Jesus. | Outline: [I] Why was the Lord's Supper given? (a) To remember the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (b) To remember the benefits we receive from it [II] Who should receive the Lord's Supper? (a) The Christian who understands what the bread and the cup represent (b) The Christian who isn't living in open sin (c) The Christian who is trusting in Jesus alone for salvation [III] What are we to expect in receiving the Lord's Supper? (a) It will have a humbling, cheering, sanctifying and restraining effect on the soul

In this chapter of 1 Samuel we get a look into a family meal with complexity and friction that becomes the occasion for God to tenderly intervene in godly Hannah's sad heart. In the larger story line of 1 Samuel we see the way that God is...

In this chapter of 1 Samuel we get a look into a family meal with complexity and friction that becomes the occasion for God to tenderly intervene in godly Hannah's sad heart. In the larger story line of 1 Samuel we see the way that God is ordering the pieces of history to make the way for Jesus our great high priest who intervenes for us from heaven's throne. | Outline: [I] Elkanah was an admirable man with a complex family (vs. 1-8). [II] Hannah was a godly woman with a sad heart (vs. 9-20). [III] Samuel was a young boy with an important future (vs. 21-28).

God's people were to keep the pattern of Sabbath rest because it would be a weekly reminder to them that God was the God of creation and their salvation. However, what God gave for restfulness had turned into restrictiveness. Jesus rights these...