Game of Thrones
“Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” (2 Samuel 5:12) We’ve seen David respond well in bad situations …but how will he respond in good ones? I think of those lottery winners you always hear about. Like […]
Lost and Found
“David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old…David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken…Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or […]
Shadows on the Wall
“David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam….” (1 Samuel 22:1) When I saw this, I was reminded of another famous cave I read about in a philosophy class. Maybe you’ve heard of it: Plato’s “Cave Allegory.” In his book Republic, Plato told a story of an imaginary group of people who had […]
In the Meantime
Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul’s officers as well…David…escaped to the cave of Adullam… (1 Samuel 18:5, 22:1) I call this week’s sermon, “In the Meantime.” David has been anointed as Israel’s next […]
Faith in Low Places
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (John 4:7) The story of the Samaritan woman at the well starts out like a travel blog. Jesus begins his journey in Judea, goes to Galilee, and then through Samaria. As the crow flies, Jesus saved many […]
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. […]
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 […]
