Many things in life come in threes. My grandmother’s breakfast was the nearly-holy trinity of eggs, sausage, and grits. Then there’s coffee, sweetener, and creamer; the wizarding trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione; Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup (I tip my hat to you if you get that reference); life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;…
Read MoreCategory: Bible Study
Lessons and studies from the Bible
When Life Knocks You Down, Let God Lift You Higher
For the last few weeks, we’ve been discussing how to face defeat in life. By “defeat,” I mean a loss, a setback, or a failure—sometimes self-inflicted, sometimes caused by others, and sometimes occurring without clear cause. No matter the source, defeat hurts, confuses, and tests us. So how can we overcome defeat? What are things…
Read MoreGod’s Hand in the Hurt: Lessons from Joseph’s Journey
One of the all-time great stories in the Bible is the story of Joseph. If you grew up in church, you probably heard his story in Sunday School before you could read. We’re looking at Joseph’s story today, too. God has much to say to us through the life of this incredible man. We’ve spent…
Read MoreDefeated, But Not Done: Finding God in Our Failures
When she was in sixth grade, our daughter was trying out for her middle school soccer team. She was a good player and fully expected to make varsity, so she was devastated when she didn’t. She would play on the junior varsity team instead. It’s always hard to watch your children face defeat, and I…
Read MoreWorship in the Wreckage: When Defeat Finds You
You and I will experience defeat. Most likely, you already have; some of you, like me, have had this experience many times. What do I mean by “defeat”? I’m referring to a loss, a setback, a failure. Some of us hear the word “defeat” and think about our favorite sports team losing. I hate losing….
Read MoreJesus: One Way to God or One of Many?
We’re asking the question, “Is it true that all world religions believe the same thing, and all lead to heaven?” Is it true that “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere about it?” In the previous post, we looked at the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, a fact in history…
Read MoreDo All Roads Lead to Heaven?
I’ve been shocked by only a few sermons in my life. I lived a sheltered childhood in a Southern Baptist church, and when I got out on my own, I was surprised that everyone didn’t believe like I did. So, when a preacher would say something I’d never heard before, my brain would go on…
Read MoreShortcut to a Throne, or Faith in God’s Timing?
In chapter 16, we saw David anointed as king of Israel and, as part of God’s plan, placed in service to Saul. The king liked David very much, and David’s music helped ease Saul whenever an evil spirit would overcome him. But then David won a great victory over a man named Goliath (chapter 17),…
Read MoreHe Sees the Heart: What We Miss, God Knows
In chapter 15 of 1 Samuel, God rejected Saul as king because he repeatedly failed to obey Him. The people of Israel had sinfully demanded a king, and God allowed them to have the king of their choice. By the end of chapter 15, it was obvious to everyone that their choice had been a…
Read More99% Obedience Is 100% Disobedience: The Fall of Saul
If you were approaching a brand-new bridge over a massive canyon and you saw a sign that said, “Bridge construction is 99% complete,” would you head across? Well, you could, of course, but a 99% complete bridge still puts you at the bottom of the canyon. Partial obedience, like a brand-new bridge, might look impressive…
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