Encountering God – 8.12.18
Encountering God – 8.12.18 Genesis 32:22-31 (NIV) 22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not…
God’s Plan for You and the Church – 8.5.18
God’s Plan for You and the Church – 8.5.18 Genesis 29-30 (NIV) 29 Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples. 2 There he saw a well in the open country, with three flocks of sheep lying near it because the flocks were watered from that well. The…
God’s Plan and Mundane Events – 7.15.18
God’s Plan and Mundane Events – 7.15.18 Genesis 25:19-34 (NIV) 19 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram[a] and sister of…
Trusting God in Difficult Times – 7.8.18
Trusting God in Difficult Times – 7.8.18 Genesis 22 (NIV) 22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on…
The God Who Does the Impossible – 7.1.18
The God Who Does the Impossible – 7.1.18 Genesis 21:1-7 (NIV) 21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 3 Abraham gave the…
Trusting God when Life is Hard – 6.24.18
Trusting God when Life is Hard – 6.24.18 Genesis 15 (NIV) 15 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,[a] your very great reward.[b]” 2 But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childlessand the…
The Danger of Pride – 6.10.18
The Danger of Pride – 6.10.18 Genesis 11:1-9 (NIV) 11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward,[a] they found a plain in Shinar[b] and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build…
Walking in the Victory of God – 6.3.18
Walking in the Victory of God – 6.3.18 2 Peter 1:3-11 (NIV) 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in…
Noah and God’s Preservation – 5.27.18
Noah and God’s Preservation – 5.27.18 Genesis 6-9 (NIV) 6 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My…
Two Reasons to Avoid Sin – 5.20.18
Two Reasons to Avoid Sin – 5.20.18 Genesis 4:1-16 (NIV) 4 Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the…
The Beginning of God’s Redemption – 5.13.18
The Beginning of God’s Redemption – 5.13.18 Genesis 3 – (NIV) 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may…
Returning to God’s Good Creation – 5.6.18
Returning to God’s Good Creation – 5.6.18 Genesis 1:26-31 (NIV) 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that…
The Gravity of Sin – 4.29.18
The Gravity of Sin – 4.29.18 Joshua 7 (NIV) 7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things[a]; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,[b] the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go…
Pleasing God in the Family – 4.22.18
Pleasing God in the Family – 4.22.18 Colossians 3:18-4:1 (NIV) 18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your…
Our New Life in Christ – 4.15.18
Our New Life in Christ – 4.15.18 Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV) 3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also…