When Solomon offers the dedication sacrifice for the Temple, God indicates His divine approval by sending fire from heaven. This is yet another way God made His personal presence known to His people at this monumental moment in their history.

At the dedication of the Temple, God's glory filled the place. We are reminded of the clouds at Sinai, and upon the Mount of Transfiguration. When God descends to His people, all we can do is marvel and praise the One who breaks our darkness with His love and living light.

Humans have a knack for making a mockery of justice. A woman caught in the act of adultery is brought in front of the public for a show trial. But where's the man, if she was caught in the act? Jesus saves her by fufilling both the law of love and the law of Moses. So too, we are saved by Jesus, even when we are wrong.

The Temple was created as a little "heaven on earth." In worship still today, we get a taste of "heaven on earth" when we receive the Lord's love and gifts anew. As we consider the wisdom of the Temple's design, we reflect on how we experience heavenly splendor in worship.

Wisdom, properly applied, is the key to earthly success. While wisdom can give you untold earthly success, no amount of earthly success or possessions can ever give you wisdom. We consider the gift of wisdom as we consider the key to Solomon's success.

In the face of hatred, Jesus brings love! This chapter reveals the hatred that Jesus experienced from the crowd, the Pharisees, and even His own family. Yet Jesus continues, because the work of God is to bring transformational love to people filled with hate.

David blessed the people in his farewell speech, encouraging them to live lives of service. Despite his personal struggles, David proves to be a good example of a life of service. There is great blessing for us when we follow the Lord gladly and willingly.

We hear echoes of Joshua's blessing and Jesus's Great Commission as David reminds young Solomon that the Lord will never leave nor forsake him. We are ourselves comforted with this assurance, knowing the Lord is always present and blessing us even when we doubt His loving care.

Jesus insists that He is the very Bread of Life, come from heaven to earth. He is so insistent on this fact that He offends many listeners. There can be no middle ground on this. Either Jesus is, or is not, the Son of God. Who do you say that He is?

Here we are given occasion to thank God for worship musicians, greeters and our church security teams! These often under-appreciated servants in the Lord's Church are highlighted. We thank God for those who are called to teach through music and greet, as special expressions of God's love.