Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 17:17-24 — biblically sound. These stories of Elijah are reminding us that...from the beginning God was intent on saving all the peoples of the earth. That God is both all-powerful and all-compassionate. Moreover, He, not Baal, held power over life. Lk.4:25,26 Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner

Psalms 49:1-20 — descendants of Korah contributed 7 works to the 2nd Book of Psalms (ch.42-47). Overview - The sons of Korah probed deeply, to help us examine: love for God (Ps.42); divine vindication (Ps.43); the mystery of national defeat (Ps.44); messianic truth (Ps.45); “God with us” is exalted as our fortress (Ps.46); Then the last 3 psalms celebrate God’s rule (Ps.47), His eternal city (Ps.48), and redemption from this transient world (Ps.49). INTRO! (1-4) ​​​​​​​(2)

Song of Solomon 8:1-14 — together. But true love can’t only remain in the mind. LOVE’S EXPERIENCES! (3,4) (3) Another description of their love making. (4) Again the warning(3rd time) she warns not to stir up love too early! LOVE AWAKENED! (5) (5a) Oh that we would learn to lean on Jesus our beloved! “Utter dependance!” (5b) Like natural birth love is not w/o pain! The pain of longing (he’s away on business, she went to visit relatives). The pain

Jonah 1:4-17 — from his enemies - God runs toward His enemies. Jonah is on a mission of revenge - God is on a mission of rescue. Jonah is racially exclusive - God is racially inclusive. Jonah is about self-protection - God is about sacrifice. Slide#5 Outline: Crawling Down Into The Hold. All Hands On Deck. Climbing Up To The Crows Nest. CRAWLING DOWN INTO THE HOLD ​​​​​​​The Phoenicians dominated the Mediterranean Sea for 3 centuries

Matthew 22:1-14 — do we let guests know our dress code? I invited my friend and her boyfriend (by name on the invite) to the wedding, but they recently broke up. Now she wants to bring a friend I don't like - can I tell her no? I added a 4th, When you pay $30-50 a plate for a family of 5, that RSVP yes, & they are a no show, can you send them a bill? Wedding planning can get difficult. Who to invite? Who to not invite? Who can sit by who at the tables? etc. a)  Well, when God planned a wedding, He

Matthew 23:13-39 — here.  2 Indictments: Swindling widows & making pretentious (attempting to impress) prayers. Both of these are bad enough by themselves, both make them guilty of the lowest Hell. They will have to stand before the widows judge one day. Ps.68:5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God doesn’t leave this even to His best angel, but takes this unto Himself. His Mercy is extended to those longing for families. He becomes their Father.

Matthew 8:1-17 — Slide7 Intro: Willing and Able If we cut Matthew in 1/2 ch.1-10 is the King Revealed & ch.11-28 the King Rejected Matthew first introduced us to Jesus as the Person of the King in ch.1-4. Next, to the Principle of the King in ch. 5-7. And now we’ll see the Power of the King in ch.’s 8,9. After all, if a king doesn’t have Power, what good are His credentials or principles? In ch.8,9 we’ll see 10 miracles (5 in Capernaum, the city that rejected

Luke 1:5-25 — Intro: Q: How did you announce the birth of your baby? Yet, this really isn’t a Birth announcement, but a Conception announcement! At Hope Starr’s 5th B-day party a few weeks ago(Desi’s daughter) Hope stood before the family & friends & announced, “Thank you forcoming to my B-day party & my mommy has a baby in her tummy!” 1st of 4 important visits. THE PROMISE OF LITTLE

Luke 14:1-24 — them publicly to a more appropriate seat. If where we sit makes us important, then we are not very important! It is what we are, not where we sit that really counts. It is only the little man who is self-important! Jesus probably had Prov.25:6,7 in mind “Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom

Luke 21:5-28 — We'll Pretend We Know You!" The Temple was beautiful, & the people were showing up to Temple…but they were “playing Temple” like 2 little children pretending to play house! AIN’T NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE? (5-28) This is Luke’s version of the Olivet Discourse. Also found in Mt.24,25(full account) & Mrk.13(parts of it). Except only Luke hits on the destruction of Jerusalem. Note: “donations” (5) right after widows mite

Luke 9:1-17 — Intro: Share about German Cable TV interview last week. [Thanks for your graciousness] A DOZEN SENT! (1-11) SENDING! (1-5) Now Jesus sends them out to do what they had seen Him do. Q: Ever have someone represent you? That’s risky! {maybe your child, a friend, a lawyer} (1) Power & authority – “Power is the ability to do something; authority

Acts 24:1-27 — INTRO: Top Five Things People Put Off Until the Last Minute: #1 House chores/yard work; #2 Holiday gift shopping; #3 Making doctor/dentist appointments; #4 Calling relatives; #5 Changing oil in the car. One of the topics we’ll talk about this morning is procrastination. Paul had to defend himself 5 separate times during the 2 years in Jerusalem & Caesarea. Remember form last week 40 men had vowed not

Romans 8:31-39 — our own we cannot pass that exam. Our creative attempts to earn eternal life fall far short. - But we have Someone who will stand in for us! :) Jesus Christ! Pray: Title: A Love That Keeps On Giving! Outline: Paul’s 5 Questions to drive home our Security in Christ:​​​​​​​ What Shall We Then Say? Who Shall Oppose Us? Who Shall Accuse Us? Who ShallCondemn Us? Who Shall Separate Us? Secure sheep; Advantaged sheep;

1 Corinthians 14:20-40 — w/). He ordered the whole universe. Of the sea He said, When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop! He made a path for the thunderbolt. Job.38:25 He made the path of the seas. (i.e. Ocean currents) Ps.8:8 He made the 4 seasons. Gen.8:22 Eccl.3:1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Owning a marine aquarium I realize how fragile its eco system

2 Corinthians 7:1-16 — how they were doing. - He met up w/Titus in Macedonia & was joyful to hear the trouble was over, relationships were healed, & all was well! CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS! (1) We should ask God to cleanse us like David asked for in Ps.51:2,7 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin…Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. But, we should also cleanse ourselves! We should also “put away” things that

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18 — delivered from unreasonable men – Pray for the gospels success from those who oppose it. I call this the...female dating verse. [Actually a good verse for certain wives prayer. Or, a businessman’s prayer] REASSURANCES (3-5) ​​​​​​​CONCERNING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS (3) From faithless men to the Faithful God. Faithfulness - Bask in it. God’s faithfulness to us is the basis for our faithfulness to Him. God's

1 Timothy 2:1-15 — Intro: Nathan Mattfeld’s Ordination – Pentecost Sunday – Pente = 50. {50 days after Easter Sunday} Also known as Whitsunday(White Sunday, referring to white robes which were worn by the priest on this Sunday) Outline: The Worship of God; The Will of God; The Women of God. Remember the overall letters

Hebrews 11:1-7 — trusting in what is not seen. Faith means more than believing in God; it means believing God. (Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, R.C.Sproul) Faith is…the evidence of things not seen - For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2Cor.5:7 Some see faith contrasted by sight, or contrasted with empirical evidence (something based on experiment or experience). We have a saying, Seeing is...what?...believing. Don’t see faith as the opposite of sight, or in

Hebrews 13:17-25 — average pastor receives after a sermon is, that was pretty good pastor, but when I heard pastor so & so teach it he brought out… His pastoral authority gets lost in the fog of the ever popular, ever articulate, & ever popular Radio preacher.5.  So what is the proper balance? vs.17 He is a leader…not a dictator who drives the sheep from behind. He is a shepherd who goes before & leads the way [Nehemiah, A servant who leads & a leader who serves] As has also

1 John 5 overview — LOVE! ​​​​​​​BORN TO LOVE! (1-3) If you’re born of God, then you’re Born to Love! The Father gave you life & the Son gave His life...for you. (2) When you love the Father, you’ll love his children as well! BORN TO WIN! (4,5) If you’re born of God, then you’re Born to Win! Your 1st birth made you a sinner & a loser, but your 2nd birth makes you a conqueror. The world wants to entice you(2:15-17); The devil wants to seduce you(Gen.3:6); But Christ will