Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 3:1-28 — pagan Canaanites felt that the closer they got to heaven the more likely was the possibility that their prayers and offerings would reach their gods. Offering sacrifices at places other than the tabernacle was prohibited in the Law (Lev. 17:3–4). Nevertheless this practice was commonly observed in Israel at this time, even by Solomon. Great high place meaning the most popular or largest. (gadol bamah, Canaanite origin) Eg. In Istanbul, we visited the famous Hagia Sophia (Gk Ortho,

Isaiah 58:1-14 — don’t worry…you still look great on the outside! / (3b-5) If your fasting leaves you: self-indulgent in other areas(3b); harsh toward your employees(3c); it causes you to quarrel or even get angry enough to hit somebody(4a)…then you can be sure, your fasting is not acceptable to the God. How you treat people at work or home on Monday, is the supreme test of acceptable worship from Sunday! If your going to attack someone attack your own sin! Oh

Isaiah 66:1-24 — with a description of the millennium & true worship under Messiah’s rule. Its emphasis God’s Greatness & the need for people to repent to enjoy fellowship w/Him. (Shepherd’s Notes; pg.99) PEACE LIKE A RIVER! (1-24) ​​​​​​​JESUS ENTHRONED! (1-4) (1,2) He is so majestic no earthly temple could contain Him. Besides, how do you build a house for the Lord when He made everything? I’ve seen some of

Jeremiah 33:1-26 — ask in order to receive. As did Job “Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.”(13:22) As did David “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Ps.145:18) As did Isaiah “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' (58:9) As taught Jesus "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened

Jeremiah 39:1-18 — [2] besieges us; & then [3] penetrates our wall. The capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians was in July 587 bc. The siege started in Jan 588bc. Vs.3 – Sitting in the gate” – A place of power! This is the start of Lk.21:24 “The times of the Gentiles” This “Times of the Gentiles” ends when Messiah will start his reign. Man on the Run! (4) His escape route was near the pool of Siloam. He fled north. “Zedekiah, who

Jeremiah 8:1-22 — Jeremiah’s Unpopular Temple Sermon. 8:1-3 ends that Judgment on Jerusalem with Destruction, Desecration,& Death. We’ll look at 5 questions: [1] Why are they backsliding? [2] How can you say, “We are wise?” [3] Why are they sitting still? [4] Why did they provoke god? [5] Why is there no recovery? INTRODUCTION! (1-3) ​​​​​​​Vs.1 – Sounds Halloweenish? Nat. Retail Assoc. says, “consumers will spend more than 2.5 BILLION

Ezekiel 16:1-63 — teenage skateboarders heard her cries and discovered her on top of a garbage bin. She was wrapped in a blanket and a paper bag and still had her umbilical cord attached. A new born infant found abandoned in a vacant field just off Interstate 45, in Jefferson County. The child was left on a pile of garbage partially covered with a plastic bag containing the afterbirth. “The new born infant was found by Mr. Jesu Rodriguez, a temporarily unemployed carpenter who was walking

Matthew 17:1-13 — barrier was crossed. It was the crossing the line between the natural & supernatural; between human & divine. GOD GIVEN GUIDES (3) best pic on Mo & Elijah ​​​​​​​THE EXTRATERRESTRIALS (4) Why Moses & Elijah?  [Moses had been dead 1400 years; Elijah 900 years] Both these men had previously conversed w/God on mountaintops. Moses on Mnt. Sinai (Ex.31:18). Elijah on Mnt. Horeb [Sinai’s whole mnt range] 1Kngs19:9 Both

Matthew 18:15-20 — or a turtle? [Rick Warren] When the skunk in the relationship gets upset they spray & everybody knows it When the turtle in the relationship gets upset, they pull into their shell & hide. So Matthew moves from Estranged Sheep (vs.12-14 lft the 99) to Erring Sheep (vs.15). He’s speaking of interpersonal problems between Christians, that remain unresolved. These are family matters...and we can work them out. Title: We Can Work it Out. [Beatles 1965, Lennon-McCartney

Matthew 18:21-35 — Intro: 490 All Forgivenesses Are Not Alike Did you know that the only animal the grizzly would allow to eat with him is the skunk. Grizzly bears in Yellowstone Park often come to eat at the place where garbage is dumped. This huge bear can fight and beat

Matthew 22:1-14 — clear to our guests? How 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

Matthew 5:5 — it. Slide13 We temper steel to make it stronger (heat up to higher critical temp, then rapid cool down/quenching, repeat). It’s a long process till it meets the requirements of its maker. Slide14 Aristotle said, Anyone can become angry, that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way - This is not easy.   3 A lady once told

Matthew 8:18-27 — Intro: I have decided to follow Jesus Last week I pointed out, Matthew 1st introduced to the Person of the King in ch. 1-4. Next, to the Principle of the King in 5-7. & now in 8,9 as the Power of the King. We said if a king doesn’t have power what good are His credentials/principles? In ch.8,9 we have 10 miracles (covered 4 last Sun). Last week we looked

Luke 19:1-10 — proverbial “middle-man”! Zacchaeus was morally lost (he was sinful); he was intellectually lost (he did not know who Jesus was); he was socially lost (he was of the despised class being a tax collector). ZACCHAEUS THE SEEKER! (3,4) (3) Sought – the imperfect tense pictures his continual effort. Sought to see who Jesus was – He obviously didn’t know who He was. Crowd – the blind man heard it, he saw it. Short stature – Or, in the Greek, “vertically

Acts 26:1-32 — & power to King Agrippa. He starts to build a bridge that Agrippa can cross securely. Now he builds his bridge in 3 sections: Paul’s life Before Christ; his Conversion Experience; & his life After Salvation. [1] BEFORE CHRIST! (4-11) Why does Paul make such a big deal about himself as a persecutor of the church? To establish his credibility w/Agrippa, who like his sister Drusilla, comes from a long line of Christian-haters. Remember, Herod Agrippa I, killed James;

Romans 8:31-39 — (31b,32) ​​​​​​​If God is for us – “If” means “since or because”. It isn’t a question mark, it is an exclamation mark!!! The Father is “for us”(31); The Jesus is “for us”(34); The H.S. is “for us”(26). Is the opposite true? “If God is against you…who can be for you?” And, if they are for you…what does it matter? Please think that through if you don’t know

Ephesians 4:17-32 — way a person (or a group) lives. This includes patterns of social relations, consumption, entertainment, and dress. A lifestyle typically also reflects an individual's attitudes, values, or worldview. AVOIDING IMMORAL LIFESTYLES (17-24) WALK (17-19) What an attention getter Paul lays down here (listen to NIV as it highlights the command) NIV So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. No

Ephesians 5:1-21 — Light. Walk Carefully. Walk Filled Paul starts by commanding, not suggesting, that believers imitate God in how they treat one another. It doesn’t say that 2nd part in vs.1? No, but it starts w/the word therefore...so see 4:32. In 1820, Charles Caleb Colton coined the phrase that states: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. ​​​​​​​3 Jn11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. He who does good

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 — Intro: Title: Rapture Reunion Last Week: The Thessalonians believed that since the Lord’s return was imminent…some deduced, why work? 4:11,12. Still dealing w/the Lords return they wonder, now that a few of our friends died, do they miss out on the Coming of the Lord? What happens to them? We will be Reunited to them at the Rapture. Thus the Rapture Reunion. Interesting

Revelation 16:1-21 — of each eye above the surface. The top half has an air lens and the bottom half has a water lens, which amounts to a set of bifocals, giving him the ability to see in both the upper and under world. Q: Who won super bowl 7? The year, 1973? [Miami 14 - Washington 7]. Why significant? – Because it was Super Bowl 7. The Pony Express - This historically famous mail service between St. Joseph, Missouri, and California depended on constant movement and readiness. Relay stations were