Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

Reflections on Hosea 4-7

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God wants Israel to seek and know Him, but they have turned away and refuse to return.

  • Sin – Hosea recounts some of their sin in 4: 2. They swear, lie, murder, steal, and commit adultery. The latter three you may avoid in practice, but what about your heart: do you hate or get angry, covet, or lust (Matthew 5:21:30)?  And how do you use your tongue?  Do you swear or curse?  Do you lie or deceive?  Is there sin in your life for which you need to repent?
  • Know God – God wants his people to love him, to know him in a real relationship (6:6). But Hosea makes clear that they do not know God (4:1, 6; 5:4).  How well do you know God?  Not about God – how well do you know him?  Are you seeking to grow in your relationship with God?  Will you press on to know Him (6:3)?

Reflections on Hosea 1-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Hosea is called to illustrate in his own life Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s love.

  • Unfaithfulness – Hosea marries a wife who is unfaithful – a vivid picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. In what ways can we be unfaithful to God?  How does this picture reveal the horror of our sin?
  • Redeemed – Hosea redeems his wife and brings her back home. God will judge his people, yet he promises restoration.  Jesus redeems us from our unfaithfulness.  A day is coming when peace and righteousness and faithfulness will reign, and we will know the Lord (2:18-20).  Praise the Lord for his incredible love for us!

Hosea 1-7: Whoredom and Hope

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) What does God tell Hosea to do, and why (v2)?

How might we be unfaithful today (see James 4:4-5, Revelation 2:4-5)?

What does God tell Hosea to name his children, and why?

(4) For what sins does God condemn Israel in v1-2?

Give examples of how we see these sins in our country.

How are we tempted to excuse some of these sins as lesser sins?  Does the church need to repent of some of these sins?

For what two main sins does God condemn Israel in v12-14?  How might the former sin lead to the latter sin?  How do we see this today?

What is the result of these sins in v3, and how might we see this today?

(4) The people don’t know God (v1,6).  Why not (v4-6)?

How might we apply this point to our homes, churches, and nation?

(2-7) In what way are the people seeking the Lord, and why does God reject it (2:11, 5:6-7, 6:6)?

In what way does God want them to seek him (5:15)?

What application is there for us?

(1-3) What hope is given 1:10-2:1?  How does this begin to play out in the New Testament (John 1:11-12, Ephesians 5:23)?

What further hope is given in 2:14-23?  How do we see this play out in the New Testament (Matthew 9:15, II Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-32, Revelation 7:15-17, 19:6-9, 21:1-9)?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Lord, Search My Heart: Breaking the Power of Canceled Sin – Jon Bloom (DG)
Micah 6:8 exposes me: I can love abstract ideas of justice and kindness, and neglect their concrete expression. It admonishes me: I cannot “do justice” or “love kindness” without loving real people. It humbles me, which is just what the Doctor ordered, if I’m really ready to walk with him.

10 Sure Marks of Humility – Tim Challies
Is there any trait more odious than pride or more precious than humility? Is there any trait whose presence we so highly honor in others and whose absence we so readily excuse in ourselves? Truly, pride is the chief of sins and humility the highest of virtues. Yet the Christian has the joy of seeing the Holy Spirit put pride to death and bring to life the beauty of humility. Here are 10 sure marks that you are growing in humility.

Doubt Your Own Anger: How to Kill a Quiet Killer – Ed Welch (DG)
We want peace, health, respect, love, control, influence, safety, and much more. Sinful anger appears when these desires and expectations quietly become more important to us than loving God and loving neighbor (James 4:1–2).

Why Do Christians Sing? – Tom Olson (EM)
Our singing is more than a warm-up for the sermon or a filler in the service. Singing stands alongside preaching as one of the two great ways God has ordained for His word to dwell richly in our hearts.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day singing and growing with your local church!

Sermon Songs: Revelation 12

On By BrianIn Revelation Hymns

MusicNotes

See the battle of the ages, On one side our glorious Lord
Against Him the devil rages, Hatred toward the saints outpoured
But our God wins, The snake is crushed
Against him, Christian, stand firm

A women ready to give birth, A dragon waiting to kill
A Male Child caught up from the earth, After He has done God’s will
Satan loses, Is disgusting
Against him, Christian, stand firm

The devil is thrown from heaven, With all his accusations
See the ancient serpent Satan, Work to deceive the nations
Against his lies, Accusations,
Against him, Christian, stand firm

(To the tune of “Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending”)

Reflections on Jonah 3-4

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Jonah goes to preach to Nineveh, and then is angry when the people respond to his message.

  • Obedience – God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah ran the other way. After God got his attention, Jonah finally went even though he didn’t want to.  Are you currently acting in disobedience?  Are you obeying only because you feel like you have to?  Or are you obeying out of love for God and people?
  • Mercy – Jonah is a story about mercy. God shows mercy first to Jonah, and then to Nineveh.  But Jonah doesn’t think God should show mercy to Nineveh, and so he is angry.  What about you?  God has shown you great mercy.  Are you willing to extend that mercy to others?

Book Collection

On By BrianIn Book Look, PASSION Collections

I’m a bit late this year, but here are several “best books of 2017” posts.  With a great variety of categories, there is something for everyone.  If you are looking for some good books to read this year, check out these lists.

2017 TGC Book Awards

Christianity Today’s 2018 Book Awards

Best Books of 2017 – Kevin DeYoung

Top 17 Books of 2017 – Tony Reinke

My Top Books of 2017 – Jared Wilson

The Collected Best Christian Books of 2017 – Tim Challies

One of my top books for 2017, that showed up a few times on the above lists, is David Murray’s book Reset which I highly recommend (even passed out a few).

For youth, Jaquelle Crowe’s book This Changes Everything also showed up several times.  I am taking our youth group through it right now.

For children you might try Trillia Newbell’s God’s Very Good Idea which is also on numerous lists.

A few others that are now on my reading list include This Is Our Time by Trevin Wax, The Story of Reality by Greg Koukl, Recapturing the Wonder by Mike Cosper, and The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary by Jonathan Pennington.

And if you want to know in general what not to read, you might check out Tim Challies’ new post: A Guided Tour to 2017’s Bestselling Christian Books.  Surely we can do better.

 

Q&A#4: Our Great God

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#4
Q: What are some further attributes of God?
A: God is eternal, self-existent, self-sufficient, and unchanging, full of glory and beauty.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
– Psalm 90:2 (ESV)

Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
– Psalm 96:6 (ESV)

Reflections on Jonah 1-2

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God called Jonah to preach to Nineveh, but Jonah runs the other way.

  • Salvation – Jonah tells the sailors to sacrifice him to the sea to calm the storm, but the sailors try to save themselves. Many people today try to save themselves instead of looking to the sacrifice of Jesus.  Where are you looking for salvation?
  • Hope – From the belly of the great fish, Jonah prays with hope that God will yet save him. At the same time, he recognizes that there is no hope for those who worship idols (v8).  Where do you look for hope?  Are you looking to God with hope in the “belly” of your great trial?