promises on Sacrificial Love

Keywords

Scripture

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as som...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

Author

William Rowley

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Romans 4:13-25, Romans 10:8-13

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? The Old, Old Story Jesus’ resurrection and ascension (and perhaps Pentecost) are the resolution of a story that starts with all the way...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Hosea 1:10-20

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Hosea 1:10-20, Hosea 11:1-11, Ecclesiastes 1:2, Luke 12:13-21, John 1:13

The Good News or the Bad News? Which do you want first: the good news or the bad news? Well, if you’re preaching Hosea these next two weeks, it doesn’t matter what you want. You’re getting the bad ...

liturgy

God of majesty and power, Who spoke and

Author

John Birch

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-3, Genesis 2:7, Matthew 10:30, Psalm 139:1-4, Romans 5:8, Luke 19:1-10, Hebrews 13:15

God of majesty and power, Who spoke and this world was, Who breathed and this world lived, Who counts the hairs upon our head, Who sees our thoughts and reads our hearts, Who loves us more than we des...

liturgy

The Lord is our Shepherd. He is aware

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 23:1-3, Isaiah 53:5, John 10:11, Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 2:24, Ephesians 1:7

The Lord is our Shepherd. He is aware of our wanton hearts. He has rooted out our sin and reversed its dire consequences upon His cross. The tree of life has become the cross of Christ. Although we ha...

lectionary

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Hosea 1:2-10, John 1:13

Preaching Commentary The Good News or the Bad News? Which do you want first: the good news or the bad news? Well, if you’re preaching Hosea these next two weeks, it doesn’t matter what you want. ...

Quote

Author

Walter Brueggemann

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 23:1-5, Luke 12:22-34, John 6:1-13 , Isaiah 5:1-3 , 1 Kings 17:7-16

Jesus reminds us that the wounds of scarcity can be healed only by faith in God’s promise of abundance.

liturgy

Loving father, you promise the most

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 8:38, Ephesians 1:3-6, Galatians 4:3-7

Loving father, you promise the most amazing things. You give us an inheritance, you adopt us as your sons and daughters, you say you will never leave us nor forsake us, and you say that nothing can se...

Quote

Author

Gerard Wisse

Keywords

The promise of God in Christ Jesus is of such extraordinary magnitude that it seems almost impossible that it also applies to someone like me. Therefore the Lord, by means of His Supper, stamps the se...

liturgy

As people redeemed by Christ

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 62:1-5, Exodus 16:11-18 , 1 Kings 17:8-16, John 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Psalm 23:1-5

Pastor: As people redeemed by Christ and made His Bride, let us pray to Him for ourselves and for everyone in need. For this Holy Meal, where You have again given us a tangible reminder that all ...

lectionary

Epiphany of the Lord

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-12, Micah 5:2

Preaching Commentary Preaching Angle: Irony When we discover a bit of irony in life, we feel like we’ve struck gold. When we stumble upon a bit of irony in Scripture, it’s holy gold! Maybe you read...

lectionary

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Author

Jeff Volkmer

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 40:21-31, Deuteronomy 1:5, Deuteronomy 4:25-26, Deuteronomy 28:49-52, Leviticus 26:null, Genesis 15:null, Exodus 6:6-7, Leviticus 26:11-12, Jeremiah 30:22, John 8:34, Romans 6:17-18

Preaching Commentary Context A Dire Warning All the way back in the Pentateuch God warned the people of Israel that their residency in the promised land was predicated upon their obedience to the ...

liturgy

O God, you make covenants with us and

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

O God, you make covenants with us and never break them. We find it much harder to keep our word. We offer promises we don’t intend to keep, and we make deals that we intend to break. All too often we ...

liturgy

Jesus, the Promised Shepherd

Author

K.J. Ramsey

Keywords

Scripture

Ezekiel 34:11-16, Jeremiah 23:3-4, Micah 5:4-5, John 10:11-14, Hebrews 13:20-21, Psalm 23:1-3

Jesus, the Promised Shepherd, you who are always making a way for your people to rest when other shepherds demand performance and success: reveal the green pastures where we can heal...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Isaiah 60:1-6

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-6, Genesis 32:30, John 2:1-12, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16, Ephesians 5:8, Luke 1:78, Titus 2:11, Isaiah 49:6, John 1:5, Isaiah 60:19, Revelation 22:5

Word Study Ἐπιφάνεια: The Greek word from which the English transliterates Epiphany is a combination of a preposition and a verbal idea. Epi -upon and fainō -to shine, illuminate. An epiphany is li...

liturgy

God of mercy, you promised never to

Keywords

Scripture

Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 119:89, Malachi 3:6, Deuteronomy 7:9

God of mercy, you promised never to break your covenant with us. Amid all the changing words of our generation, speak your eternal Word that does not change. Then may we respond to your gracious promi...

liturgy

The Lord calls to all to “Come and see” who He is

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 6:4, Isaiah 55:6-7 , Jonah 3:1-10, Ezekiel 6:25-27, John 1:35-39 , Psalm 66:16-20

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Pastor: The Lord calls to all to “Come and see” who He is, repent of our sins and put our faith in Christ. Silence for personal confession. Pastor: Merciful God, People: w...

liturgy

Inspired by Judges 2

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Judges 2:null

Pastor: Oh God, you have been so gracious to us. You have given us so many wonderful gifts—they outnumber the stars in the sky! You have kept your promises to us, and you have been faithful! All: But ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Matthew 2:1-12 (Guide A)

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-12, Micah 5:2

Preaching Angle: Irony When we discover a bit of irony in life, we feel like we’ve struck gold. When we stumble upon a bit of irony in Scripture, it’s holy gold! Maybe you read this sentence and didn...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16

Author

Keywords

Scripture

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, 1 Samuel 4:11, Psalm 89:3-4, Luke 1:31-33, Matthew 2:null, Micah 5:2, Psalm 127:1, Mark 1:14

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Ark of God The ark of God traveled with the people of Israel on their journey through the wilderness, accompanied them on their conques...

Quote

Author

C. S. Lewis

Keywords

The promise of glory is the promise, almost incredible and only possible by the work of Christ, that some of us, that any of us … shall please God… to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted...

liturgy

Inspired by Deuteronomy 8:11-20

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Deuteronomy 8:11-20, Philippians 4:7

Pastor: Oh Lord our God, we have forgotten who you are and what you have done for us. Your great and miraculous works for us are lost in the recesses of our minds, and we could not care less about you...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Isaiah 40:21-31

Author

Jeff Volkmer

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 40:21-31, Deuteronomy 1:5, Deuteronomy 4:25-26, Deuteronomy 28:49-52, Leviticus 26:, Genesis 15:, Exodus 6:6-7, Leviticus 26:11-12, Jeremiah 30:22, John 8:34, Romans 6:17-18

Context A Dire Warning All the way back in the Pentateuch God warned the people of Israel that their residency in the promised land was predicated upon their obedience to the Torah . This can be ...

liturgy

Adapted from 1 Kings 8:23, 56-58

Keywords

Scripture

1 Kings 8:23, 56-58

O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart. Blessed be the ...

lectionary

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Author

Keywords

Scripture

2 Samuel 7:1-11, Psalm 89:1-4, Psalm 89:19-26, 1 Samuel 4:, Micah 5:2, Psalm 127:1

Advent 2020: Tear Down the Heavens God Builds the House Updated & expanded for 2023 AIM commentary Ancient lens What's the historical context? The Ark of God The ark of God tra...

liturgy

Embracing God's Unfailing Promises

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 15:1-7, Hosea 3:1, Romans 8:38-39, Jeremiah 31:3, Matthew 23:37, Jonah 1:4, 2 Timothy 2:13

Our gracious God, you repeatedly move towards us, even when we pull away. You are not deterred by our rejection of you nor our running from you. Your love is persistent. We confess our distrust of you...

liturgy

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you who faithfully fulfill

Keywords

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you who faithfully fulfill your promises. We thank you that you sent your only begotten son in the fullness of time. With all your church we celebrate his joyous com...

lectionary

Epiphany of the Lord

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 60:1-6, Genesis 32:30, John 2:1-12, Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16, Ephesians 5:8, Luke 1:78, Titus 2:11, Isaiah 49:6, John 1:5, Isaiah 60:19, Revelation 22:5

Preaching Commentary Word Study Ἐπιφάνεια: The Greek word from which the English transliterates Epiphany is a combination of a preposition and a verbal idea. Epi -upon and fainō -to shine, illumi...

illustration

The Greatest Promise in History

Author

Nancy Guthrie

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 3:15, Genesis 22:18, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Habakkuk 2:3, Isaiah 40:31

When someone promises us something wonderful, we can hardly wait for that promise to be fulfilled. If the promise is something good, we want it now! We really don’t like to wait. And yet the very best...

liturgy

Holy Spirit's Promise and Presence

Author