Author: Brian

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

Jonah 1-4: Mercy

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) God calls Jonah to go to a wicked people, but Jonah doesn’t want to go.  How does this contrast with Jesus?

What does Jonah attempt to do instead (v3, 4, 10)?  Why might we attempt to do the same?

How well does Jonah’s attempt work?  What happens?

The sailors try to save themselves.  How do people try to save themselves today?

What did the sailors need to do instead?  How does this point to Jesus?

(2) How would you describe Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish?

Where do you see his hope?

Why is there no hope for those who worship idols (v8)?

How might his prayer serve as a useful pattern for us?

What happens to Jonah?  What does this tell us about God?

How does Jonah’s experience point to Jesus (Matthew 12:40)?

(3) What message does Jonah give to Nineveh, and how do they respond?

How does God respond?  What does this tell us about God?

(4) How does Jonah respond?  What does this tell us about Jonah?

Jonah was grateful when God extended mercy to him (2:9), but grumpy when God extended mercy to Nineveh.  In what ways are we like Jonah?  Why?

What lesson does God want Jonah (and us) to learn?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

He Will Restore Your Soul – Jon Bloom (DG)
Do you feel forsaken by God? Jesus understands. He truly understands more than you know. We can feel forsaken by God; Jesus was forsaken by God. We feel lonely; Jesus was, for a horrible moment, truly alone. As our Great High Priest, he is able to sympathize with us in all our weaknesses….

The Easiest Sin to Justify – Tim Challies
When we sin in anger, we tend to absolve ourselves of blame by pleading the circumstances around the anger….

One Simple Thought On MLK Day – Kevin DeYoung
Just one thought, and it is this: every human being—regardless of color, nationality, economic status, or intellect—has been created in the image of God and should be treated with dignity and respect.

4 Practical Threats to the Church Today – Jared Longshore (Founders)
If I were the devil, I would get Christians separated. I would convince them that one hour a week is plenty of time for them to spend together.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church worshiping our glorious God!

Reflections on Amos 6-9

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Amos sees five visions of judgment, and then closes the book with the promise of restoration.

  • Word of God – God tells Israel that soon there will be a famine of hearing the Word of God (8:11-12). God has spoken again and again, but they would not listen.  Soon God will stop speaking.  What a terrible judgment!  Do you listen when God speaks?  Are you seeking his Word?
  • Booth of David – God promises that he will raise up the fallen house of David and usher in a great time of blessing (9:11-15). God has raised up Jesus, a descendent of David, and when Jesus returns, these blessings will arrive.  Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Reflections on Amos 1-5

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God is sending judgment upon the nations, and especially Israel, because of their sins.  He calls Israel to return to Him.

  • Oppression – Israel was condemned for their oppression of the poor. They were violent; they robbed, they oppressed, they crushed the poor.  All the while, they were getting rich (3:10-4:1).  Are there ways that you oppress the poor?  How might you help them instead?
  • Religion Game – God also condemned the people for playing the religion game. They continued to offer sacrifices and keep feasts and sing praises, but they were not walking with God.  God called them to walk in justice and righteousness (5:21-24); without these things their rituals are empty.  Are you walking with justice and righteousness?  Or are you just playing the religion game?
  • Return – Again and again, God disciplined Israel, but they refused to return to him (4:6-11). God called the people to seek the Lord that they may live (5:4-6).  He told them to seek good, rather than evil, that they might live (5:14-15).  But they refused to listen.  How has God disciplined you?  Are you listening?  Are you seeking the Lord?  Are there ways you need to change?

Amos 1-9: Justice and Righteousness

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1-8) Amos begins by confronting the violence of Israel’s neighbors, but then turns his focus on Israel.  What sins does Amos confront?

2:6-8 –

3:9-10 –

4:1 –

4:4-5 –

5:7, 10-12 –

6:4-6, 12 –

8:4-6 –

How would you summarize the sins that Amos is confronting?  What does God want to see (5:24)?

How might we see these same sins in our country?  In our lives?

(2-9) How does Amos describe the judgment that is coming?

2:13-16, 3:11-15, 4:2-3, 5:1-2, 6:14, 8:7-10 –

4:12-13, 5:16-17, 7:7-9, 8:2-3 –

5:27, 7:17 –

5:18-20 –

8:11-12 –

9:1-10 –

(4-7) Our God judges sin, and yet he is also willing to show mercy.  How do we see his mercy in the following verses?

4:6-11 –

5:1 –

5:4-6, 14-15 –

7:1-6 –

How do we need to apply each of the above passages in our lives?

(9) What hope does Amos leave for the people?  For us?

v11-12 (see Acts 15:16-17) –

v13-15 –

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Why You Should Live in the Psalms – Scott Slayton (One Degree To Another)
The Psalms provide a welcome antidote to our craving for shallowness. The Psalms, which seem so easy to understand on the surface, invite us to deep study and contemplation. They show the blessing of cultivating a deep and abiding trust in the Lord and beckon us to leave behind our life of distraction so we can know and love God more deeply.

Learning to Say Hello Again – Douglas Groothuis (CT)
It seems like a small thing, but it really isn’t. How we greet—or fail to greet—others says much about our character. But in the power of the Holy Spirit, we may practice the presence of people by acknowledging and recognizing them for who they are: creatures made in God’s image.

Will Your Phone Dominate Your Life in 2018? (Crossway)
Technology use is an area with which many of us struggle to find balance. How much is too much? What is it good for? How can we encourage our families to hold it in its proper place?

How to Discourage Your Minister in the New Year – Paul Levy (reformation 21)
I want to give you 6 ways to discourage your minister in the New Year…

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Reflections on II Chronicles 25-28

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Three pretty good kings reign, followed by one evil king.  Consider:

  • Prone to Wander – Amaziah did what was right in God’s eyes, but later he set up and worshipped Edom’s gods. Uzziah did what was right in God’s eyes, but later grew proud and entered the temple which he was not supposed to do.  Are you persevering in your walk with God, or have you started to wander?
  • Need for Instructors – Uzziah set himself to seek the Lord and had Zechariah instruct him in the fear of God (26:5) – in the same way Joash had had Jehoida to instruct him. Are you seeking the Lord?  Whose instruction are you seeking?

Reflections on II Kings 14-17

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Kings and kingdoms come, and kings and kingdoms go.  Note:

  • The Summary of Your Life – King after king comes onto the scene, reigns, and dies. And this book summarizes each one by only one standard – did he do right in the eyes of the Lord or evil in God’s sight?  What matters most is your how you live in relation to God.  How will your life be summarized?  Even the kings who did right often had exceptions noted.  Are there exceptions in your life you need to deal with?
  • Sin and Consequences – According to chapter 17, God dispersed the nation of Israel because they sinned against the Lord. Sin has consequences.  Are you taking sin in your life seriously?