Hero
“But…Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people….” (1 Samuel 13:14) That was God’s description of the Bible hero, David. What goes into making a hero? Bravery. Integrity. Noble qualities others want to emulate. Humans have always been fascinated by heroes – people we often place […]
An Anchor for the Soul
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats…. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then […]
The Prayer of Faith
“He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say…” (Luke 11:1–2) We’re in a series of sermons discussing faith. Faith is the foundation for life of […]
Don’t Put God in a Box
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Mark 10:52) In this passage, Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus. If you’ve spent any time reading the gospels, you know Jesus healed a lot of people. In fact, there are some 31 specific recorded […]
Mustard Seed Faith
“…For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) Jesus loved to use word pictures and parables to teach. He’s using a metaphor here and the most […]
You Are Somebody
“But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”” (Luke 8:46) In this passage, Jesus is in the midst of a large crowd – Luke says it almost crushed him. As he slowly made his way through the throng, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up […]
Reality Check
“When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with him, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.”” (Matthew 8:5–6) Where does faith begin? Paul tells us we’ve all been given a “measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3), but when does it begin to rise up within us? In this passage, […]
New Every Morning
“…yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” (Habakkuk 3:18) After God shows Habakkuk the looming “day of distress,” this is the prophet’s response. Up to this point, to me at least, the greatest selling point of this little book of the Bible has been its authenticity. […]
Remember Mercy
“Lord, I have heard the report about you; Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds. Revive your work in these years; make it known in these years. In your wrath remember mercy!” (Habakkuk 3:2) When God revealed His plans to Habakkuk, the prophet falls to his knees in the fear and awe of the […]
The Just Shall Live by Faith
“See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous will live by his faith—” (Habakkuk 2:4) We’ve joked some about how seemingly insignificant this short little book by a minor prophet with a strange name is. It’s even hard to find in the Bible. But did you know that arguably the […]
Wait, What?!
“O Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O Lord, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish.” (Habakkuk 1:12) When the prophet Habakkuk complained to God about the wickedness of Judah – and God’s seeming indifference – God’s response […]
God, Where Are You?
“How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2) Where is God when bad things happen? That’s a question we usually try to avoid or are afraid to ask. But we all ask it. The Old Testament […]
