There is a man who speaks for God at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke. He is the one whose message is the very Word of God. He comes just before the King announces His arrival. John is this man, and his message is singular and clear. Tonight, we will study the needed message of John the Baptist.

Often, in this world, people take what God declares as good and twist it to fit their own agenda or pleasure. Chapter 3 of Daniel gives us an account of this making. In it, we are challenged about our own personal stand for holiness. How willing are we to take the abuse of this world to stand with Christ? We will explore the faith of three young men and their persistence of holiness for the sake of God’s name.

In this passage, we read about a superior Child who is wise, humble, and deeply respectful. Everything we would expect in the Messiah. To top it all off, Jesus knows who He is and makes the first recorded claim of Divinity from His own lips.

In Daniel 2, we see that God is clearly the Lord of All Creation. He is sovereign over the world’s greatest kingdoms, but He also cares about the small details of life. In His providence He had placed Daniel in his particular position to establish truth in a pagan culture. This passage should encourage and challenge us to place our trust in the One who controls all things.

The book of Daniel is one of challenge and high intensity. The dedication of Daniel stands out in a culture of compromise and self-indulgence. We begin this study as we recognize the favor of God in the life of Daniel despite the difficult circumstances. The book will begin by challenging us to make the same high level of commitment.

The Lord challenges us in Scripture not to settle for a mediocre faith but to press on in our obedience and dependence on the Lord. This study will challenge us to excel in our faith as we trust the Lord to grow faith in us.

The final section of James concludes with a call for genuine faith that persists in difficulty.  The mature believer will love others despite time and circumstance.  Mature believers will seek the things that Christ seeks and love those who are wandering and hurting.

This passage explores the importance of genuine worship as a response to understanding who Christ is—our Savior and Lord. It emphasizes both the heart and the method of worship according to biblical principles.