Bible Commentaries

Psalms 119:105-112 — children of Israel’s light by night! The children of Israel got accustomed to being led by light - “For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night,...throughout all their journeys.” (Ex.40:38) Light – It lights the sinner’s path to Christ; it lights the believer’s path to Glory!” Prov.4:18 “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” Jn.8:12

Psalms 141:1-10 — Jesus, All our sins & grief to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit. O what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer.” Every word & every line in Ps.141 is a prayer! We also often forfeit peace, & go through needless emotional pain, All because we don’t carry everything to God in prayer! Q: Why is it that it is so hard to pray? I had to re-learn how to pray during

Jonah 1:1-3 — Book Intro: Book of Jonah - The Prodigal Prophet. Its right in-between Obadiah & Micah :) The Main Character: Who do you think it is? - Not the big fish (mentioned 4 x’s); not the great city (9 x’s); not even Jonah the disobedient prophet (18 x’s); but God (mentioned 38 x’s). Patricia Sjostroms bible, red heart stamp, on every time God was mentioned in Jonah. Main

Matthew 23:13-39 — Christianity & don’t want any part of it (so be it), but don’t you dare influence others to follow you to the pit. *You are either detouring others from the Kingdom or inviting them into it. WOE 2, DAMAGING THE DEFENSELESS & SHOWY PRAYERS (14) ​​​​​​​Some manuscripts omit this vs.14 ESV/NIV. But it is in Mrk.12:40 & Lk.20:47 so we know it is God’s truth, even if it wasn’t here.  2 Indictments: Swindling widows & making pretentious

Matthew 24:15-31 — and did what we couldn't do, paid what we couldn’t pay. We stand forgiven and bask sheepishly triumphant in Jesus' glory. Jesus our Stunt Double, our Stand In, our Substitute. Last week we dealt w/the beginning of the Trib, 13:1-14. Today we’ll deal w/… Midpoint (15-20) The Middle of the Trib 2nd Half (21-26) The 2nd Half of Trib 2nd Coming (27-31) The End of the Trib Tribulation - a time of great worldwide troubles unlike anything in history. More

Matthew 7:13-29 — portion of Scripture we are shown the Scriptures Great Divide. You’ll choose one of 2 roads. You’ll be one of 2 trees. You’ll be one of 2 disciples. You’ll build on one of 2 foundations. 2 ROADS (13,14) 1 unto life, 1 unto destruction Picture the countryside back in Jesus’ day, a land where bandits and robbers did their dirty deeds. Travelers would commonly use one of two roads. The popular highway, the wide road, was the one in which

Mark 10:32-52 — question, “Has Jesus taken over in your heart? Perhaps He resides there, but does he preside there?” Reside = To live in a place permanently or for an extended period. Preside = To hold the position of authority. In vs.45 we have the key to the whole book of Mark. It sums up the 2 main headings of Marks Gospel: Servanthood & Sacrifice. From this point on, Mark will shift from Servanthood to Sacrifice. Title: Point B. [to plan your trip, you punch in

Mark 11:12-24 — hindered. Often OT prophets acted out their message when words no longer worked[c19 pottery over head;27 yoke] This whole episode was a sermon in action. Title: Count Your Figs Outline: Figs & Fraud - Faith & Forgiveness. FIGS (12-14) ​​​​​​​The day/Mon. Morning. The Place/Left Bethany/towards Jer. POOR FIG TREE If He had power to kill the tree, why didn’t he use that power to have tree produce figs? The cursing of the

Luke 12:22-34 — the schoolboy who was once asked what parts of speech “my & mine” are, he replied aggressive pronouns! The Rich Fool lived life like he was drinking sea water…the more he drank the thirstier he became! This week (22-34) Jesus gives the flip side concern, “don’t be anxious about basic needs!” {i.e. anxiety/worry} Covetousness is the desire for more-n-more but never getting enough; Anxiety is the crippling fear that there may not be enough. (Shepherd’s

John 13:18-38 — any answers. Judas not only clutches the 30 pieces of silver; he holds tightly a secret only he & Jesus share at the table: he is the betrayer! Et tu, JUDAS? BETRAY! (18-30) Oreo Cookie Outline: Betray! - Love! - Deny! (18) See Ps.41:9 - Heel = בֵקָע(Aqev) Only here in the NT. The metaphor is of one administering a kick. Or tripping with the heel like a wrestler. Or a horse raising its hoof & kicking. On the ground & vulnerable, your own confidant,

John 3:16-21 — sons by Jesus Christ to Himself(Father), according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. It was with God the Father that this all started! God is Love! 1 Jn.4:8 So loved - Love is the mainspring of God’s being. Not God so...manipulated the world; or so finally broke the world; or disciplined; or punished, or scourged the world...until they came to Him! No, it wasn’t a

Romans 12:1-3 — just spinning our wheels) Overview of the rest of Romans: It’s about Relationships! [Today] Our relationship with The Lord (vs.1,2); Our relationship with Ourselves (vs.3); [Next] Our relationship w/The Church(vs.4-16); Our relationship w/Our Enemies (17-21) Then, we’ll look at our relationship with Our Government in ch.13. And lastly, our relationship with Believers who disagree w/you ch.’s 14,15. As we read these 3 verses listen to Paul’s

Romans 14:14-23 — of ourselves to Him. Ever heard of a [fyoo·NAM·bu·list] Funambulist? Lt. funis rope + ambulare to walk [ambulant = able to walk; ambulance = walking hospital] Rope Walkers, Tight Rope Walker. 4 types of Tight Rope Walkers: Tight wire - is the art of maintaining balance while walking along a tensioned wire between two points. High wire - is the same as tight wire but at much greater height. Slacklining - is when the rope is slightly

Colossians 3:18-25 — every area of life including family, or especially family! So Paul gives concrete advice about Christian living. Relationship Responsibilities! “Order is heaven’s first law” in every sphere of life. [Griffith Thomas; pg.104] 1 Cor.11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Paul believed there was an order to the family, & in society; and that this order was God-given!!! I make

Hebrews 10:26-39 — judgment. This of course reminds us of the most famous sermon preached during the Great Awakening, & likely the most famous sermon in all American history, Jonathon Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, delivered in Enfield, Conn. in 1741 He used startling imagery I quote: “all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you, & keep you out of hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.” - “you hang by a slender thread, w/the

Hebrews 13:17-25 — would be if the majority of its people prayed  for its pastors & lay leadership.   Is it any wonder that Satan does his utmost to snatch that weapon from the Christian or to hinder him in the use of it? Andrew Murray Slide14 Obedience & prayer will be the 2 oars that will steer any church in the rt direction. Be respectful, supportive, be a cheerful team player. A PRAYER & AN APPEAL (20-25) This lovely benediction captures a number of the major themes

1 Samuel 15:1-35 — wicked they were. They were descendants of Esau (unbel. brother of Jacob) & enemy of the Jewish people. The army of Amalek attacked the recently emancipated slaves shortly after Israel came out of Egypt. Sum up Ex.17:8-16 See promise vs.14. The Lord declared perpetual war against Amalek vs.17. More details Read Deut. 25:17-19. Why was God was so mad? vs.18 [rear ranks: women, children, grandparents, sick, weary, tired] Don’t forget vs.19 - God viewed this as reprehensible! So,

1 Samuel 8:1-22 — Theocracy had been foreseen & planned for by God. Gen.35:11 Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. Read Deut.17:14,15. So, why were they wrong for asking? They were rejecting God’s leadership. They lacked faith in God. They wanted to be like other nations. They wanted a king to lead them into battle. RESPONDING TO REJECTION! (6-9) (6) Forced

2 Samuel 1:1-27 — his kingdom(ch.15); & then his crown. Instead of death to self(stop sinning), he chose the death of self(suicide). Book Overview: David the king is the central figure in 2nd Sam. Ch.1-10 records his national victories; Ch.11-24 records his personal defeats. Or his Triumphs(1st 1/2) & Troubles(2nd 1/2). [see slope under crosses/David’s up & down] The turning point is his sin of adultery(11), the tragic consequences of which affected both his family & the nation. David

2 Samuel 6:1-23 — Him! Outline: Careless Worship; Correct Worship; Critical Worship. THREE ATTITUDES OF WORSHIP! ​​​​​​​CARELESS WORSHIP! - The Uzzah Attitude! (1-11) The Ark of the covenant: was constructed about 400 years before David. It was Israel’s holiest object. It was a gold-covered acacia wood box, about 4’(L)x 2 ½’(w) x 2 ½’ (deep). It had a golden lid(mercy seat) straddled by 2 gold cherubim on top. Carried by 2