Encounter the Bible

This week, we begin a 4-week trek through Ezekiel, the last of the major prophets and the last book in our journey through the Bible.   Have you ever seen a children's message in worship?  One where the presenter tried so hard to bring a message using some type of object, whether that be a block of wood or a live animal? Oftentimes, those messages are better understood by the adults than by the children.  It seems like Ezekiel's messages went something like that.  He used all kinds of creative ways to communicate, yet the people never really understood what he was saying. But Ezekiel goes on to present the message in those creative ways, bringing the word of the Lord to the people as they were heading off into exile.  After years and years of disobedience, it was time for God to punish his people. As you read through Ezekiel, what messages stand out to you?  What messages still seem applicable today?  How would Ezekiel be received in 21st century ...

We finish our journey through Jeremiah this week and then move on to Lamentations, widely attributed to Jeremiah. It's clear that the writer of Lamentations has experienced incredible trauma, but brings that trauma and trouble to God is a very orderly and well-thought-out way.  Certainly those cries weren't written in a day and what we read is the result of hours, days, weeks, even months of processing what had taken place.  Imagine what the people were going through: they lost everything, and many were taken away from their homes to a foreign land with little hope of returning. Sometimes the cries of our hearts are hard to put into words.  We can be thankful that God has given us these words to express our hurts and to make our complaints.  We also have several psalms of lament that enable us to do that.   Yet, even in the sadness, there is hope.  Don't miss Lamentations 3:22-24.  How has God answered your cries for help?  How has he given y...

We almost complete our journey through Jeremiah this week as we encounter both narrative and prophecy in the final chapter of Judah's history prior to being conquered and taken into exile by the Babylonians. Jeremiah has direct access to key people, especially the kings.  Yet, despite their requests for his to inquire of the Lord, they don't listen because he brings a message they don't want to hear.  Consequently, he winds up getting arrested and left to die in a cistern.  God wasn't finished using Jeremiah, so he is rescued and continues to bring God's word to his people.  Again, the leaders and the people ignore his message and do what they think is best.  Guess how that ended for them... Jeremiah was bringing God's word to his people, yet he was ignored again and again.  Who are the messengers of God's word today?  Do we listen to them? Or do we ignore them and do what we think is best?  When God's word to us isn't what we want to hear, what d...

We continue our journey through Jeremiah this week as we encounter the expected themes of judgment and exile.  But within those messages are also messages of hope. Perhaps the most well-known message of hope comes in Jeremiah, part of our reading this week.  Sadly, we take Jeremiah 29:11 out of context and misapply it.  However, if it's read in context, the meaning becomes much deeper and richer.  As you read this week, take a slow read of Jeremiah 29 and let the broader context give you a deeper understanding of this well-known verse. With so many words of judgment, it might be easy to judge God's people and forget that we, too, are in a similar situation.  We rebel against God all the time through the words that we speak, the actions we take, and the attitudes we hold.  In our sin, we are in exile. But in Christ, we are rescued from sin and exile and brought into new life. How do the messages of Jeremiah resonate with your everyday experience of your sin ...