Teachings
Little Picture/Big Picture
This Sunday in our series, "Living in God's World, Even When It's Hard" we will see the first recorded vision that Daniel receives as a prophet of God. Daniel's visions are among some of the most unusual in the entire Bible. What I notice in Daniel 2 is the striking contrast. There is the little picture of what Daniel, his friends and Nebuchadnezzar are going through. But then there is the big picture of God's plan for the history of the entire world. God is personally involved and moving in both dimensions-the micro dimension of our personal lives and the macro-dimension of working redemption in the entire world. It makes me love God and bow in awe of Him. Why would God want to use such ordinary people like me and you? How is it that we have a small part in his amazing plan? Let us delight in God together this week as we ponder the end of Daniel 2.
The Movement of Faith
In Genesis 12, God’s focus shifts to one man, Abraham. God gives Abraham a promise that will address the sin that exists in the world and reconcile fallen humanity back to himself. By God’s Grace and the power of His presence and Spirit, Abraham responds by faith to God’s commands. Through the person of Abraham, God created a promise for his people. That promise is intact and available to this very day for those who put their faith in God.
Unworthy
Since the love of Jesus is the very core of our spiritual life, because it is the power behind our vision: "Loved by Jesus, Loving Others," since it is the only way to true happiness in this life in the next, I wanted us to stop and drink from the well of Jesus love for a few weeks. We will look at Luke 7:36-50 this week. We will see that we do not have to be worthy to come to Jesus. In fact, we must see ourselves as unworthy to come to him. When we come to him that way, we will love him for all of his forgiveness and kindness. Everyone who sees themselves as unworthy may come and experience his love. When you come, you will never be the same because of the love you experience. Having drunk deeply of the love of Jesus will prepare us for my next 4-week teaching series beginning May 12 on "the Bible and Modern Sexuality." Please pray that God's word would flow deeply into my heart and yours.
