Daniel 7 gives us a glimpse of Daniel's vision and what we see is frightening. He describes wind blowing, four beasts coming out of the sea, and a little horn. If we dig a little deeper, we see that the beasts represent world powers that would rise. Daniel also describes one who came "like a son of man." Several hundred years later, Jesus refer to Himself with these same words. He is the Son of Man, who is truly God and truly human.

Take a moment to check out the class materials below.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Richard

Daniel 7.13-14: “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (ESV)

Week Four Handout

This week we follow Daniel to the palace of King Belshazzar, where he was summoned to interpret mysterious writing on the wall. Daniel interpreted the writing, which was a message of condemnation of the King. God was reminding Belshazzar, and us too, that God is in control.

Take a moment to check out the course materials below.

Many Blessings,

Pastor Richard

Daniel 5.29-31: Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed in purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made concerning him that he should rank third in the kingdom.

That very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. (NRSV)

Week Three Handout

The account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego reminds us that God is in control. This can be seen when, at the very moment King Nebuchadnezzar imagined his plan was being carried out, God’s far bigger plan was unfolding. The ultimate fulfillment of this plan is the cross of Jesus Christ.

Take some time to check out class materials. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

In Jesus,

Pastor Richard

Week Two Handout

In our lesson this week, we follow Daniel from his home in Israel to captivity in Babylon, to interpreter of dreams. The one constant throughout all of this: God's constant presence. God is constantly present with you too. This presence can be seen in God's continual guidance, care, and love.

Take a moment to check out the class resources below. Please contact me if you have any questions.

In Jesus,

Pastor Richard

Daniel 2.47 The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!” (NRSV)

Week One Handout

Thank you for being part of this look at select passages from the Gospel of Matthew. Links to the Catechism app I mentioned can be found below.

Next week we begin a new study on the book of Daniel.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

In Jesus,

Pastor Richard

Matthew 22.21-22 Then (Jesus) said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. (ESV)

Catechism App (Apple)

Catechism App (Android)

Our reading this week reveals how Jesus used a story about a vineyard to share what the kingdom of God is all about. The central truth Jesus shares through this story is the lengths to which God will go to reach all people, including you. Just as the master reached out to the vineyard workers by sending His Son, so too did God send His Son, Jesus, to reach out to us, and to call us to new life through the cross.

I want to alert you to our upcoming class schedule, which is as follows:

August 28 - No classSeptember 4 - Class resumes with Signs of the Kingdom lesson sevenSeptember 11 - New Daniel Bible study begins.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Many Blessings!

Pastor Richard

The chief priests and elders approached Jesus with questions about the source of His authority, but what they really wanted to know was His answer to the question of identity. They specifically wondered if He believed He was a prophet from God, or the promised Messiah.

When it comes to our faith relationship with God, the question of identity is crucial. Like those chief priests and elders, we are invited to wrestle with the question, Who is Jesus? Perhaps an even better question for us to consider is this: who is Jesus revealed to be through the Gospel accounts?

Please take a few moments to check out the course resources.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Many Blessings!

Pastor Richard

Matthew 21:23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" (NRSV)

I suspect that at one time or another most of us have uttered the words, 'This isn't fair?' Thankfully, God doesn't measure fairness the way we do, otherwise, our sin would stand out in stark contrast to what God would have us do. Instead, God reaches out to us with grace and mercy. This grace and mercy can be seen in the landowner described in Matthew 20, who called workers throughout the day. Many of those called were considered unworthy of being hired, but the landowner still hired them, and paid them equal to those who had worked the whole day. This landowner gives us a glimpse of what God's great love for us through Jesus looks like.

Take a moment to check out the presentation and audio from this week's session.

In Jesus,

Pastor Richard

Matthew 20.1: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard." (NRSV)

This week, Jesus challenges us with one of His many stories, which also known as parables, about forgiveness. As we follow the key characters, it becomes quickly apparent that the forgiveness of the master is costly and self-sacrificing. God’s love is like that of the master; it's abundant and overflowing. God's costly love can be seen most profoundly in and through the cross of Jesus. Our forgiveness of others, which is often imperfect, is meant to reflect and be grounded in God's far greater forgiveness of our sins through Jesus. How are you called to reflect this gift of forgiveness?

Please take a moment to check out the class presentation and audio. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Richard

Matthew 18.27: Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. (NKJV)

This week we begin a seven-week look at the Gospel of Matthew, focusing especially on how Jesus reveals the kingdom of God to us. The Bible passage for our first lesson is Matthew 18.15-20, which presents us with a guide for conflict resolution. Verse 20 closes this guide out with the comforting reminder of Jesus' constant presence among His follower.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Have a blessed day in Jesus!

Pastor Richard

Matthew 18.20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (NRSV)