Author: Brian

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

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

3 Motivations to Hate Sin – Erik Raymond
Until sin is actually hated for its odious and repulsive character we will not make true progress in godliness.

Kindness Changes Everything – Stephen Witmer (DG)
We open ourselves to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit when we ask him to produce in us kind hearts that overflow through kind lips.

18 Prayers to Pray for Unbelievers – Tim Challies
A friend asked the question: How do I pray for unbelievers? How do I pray effectively? I trust that every Christian regularly prays for family or friends or colleagues or neighbors who do not yet know the Lord. And while we can and must pray for matters related to their lives and circumstances, the emphasis of our prayers must always be for their salvation. Here are some ways the Bible can guide our prayers.

Why We Desperately Need the Body of Christ – Paul David Tripp (Crossway)
Your walk with God is a community project. The isolated, separated, loner, Jesus-and-me religion that often marks modern church culture is not the religion that is described in the New Testament.

Sermon Songs: Ephesians 6:18-20

On By BrianIn Ephesians Hymns

MusicNotes

Dear Christian now commit to pray
To stand against the devil
Pray in the Spirit and always
Alert and ever watchful
Persevere – do not faint
And pray for all the saints
For courage ev’ry day
And the right words to say
To tell the gospel message

 (To the tune of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”)

Reflections on I Samuel 4-6

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Israel was fighting the Philistines, so they brought the ark to the battlefield thinking it would help them.  Instead they lose the battle…and the ark.

  • Good luck charm – Rather than seek the Lord’s help with the battle, they bring the ark to the battle. They treat it as a good luck charm.  Are there objects in your life that you treat as good luck charms?  Not only does Israel treat the ark like a good luck charm, but since the ark represents God’s presence, they also treat God that way.  They thought they could manipulate God.  If they brought the ark, God would have to perform for them.  Do you treat God that way?
  • God’s Sovereign Power – The Philistines take the ark, but they soon learn that God is not one to trifle with. They place the ark in their temple only to find their idol bowing down to the ark.  Then God sends a plague upon them.  They are so hard-pressed that they finally send it back to Israel.  What powers do you see in this world?  How does this reminder of God’s sovereign power encourage you?  Will you trust in God’s sovereign power?

Reflections on I Samuel 1-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections1 Comment

Like Ruth, the beginning of I Samuel is set during the period of the Judges.  Again we see examples of faithfulness amidst the corruption.  Note:

  • Worship – Elkanah faithfully brings his family to worship and sacrifice before the Lord each year. Three times in chapter one, we find the word worship – an obvious theme of the chapter.  Is it an obvious theme of your life?
  • Prayer and Praise – Another theme in chapter one is prayer. Hannah pours out her heart to the Lord.  God wonderfully answers her prayer, and the first part of chapter two records Hannah’s praises.  About what do you need to pour out your heart to God?  What answered prayers do you need to praise God about?  Do you regularly respond to answered prayers with praise?
  • Judgment for Sin – Eli’s sons did not follow the Lord. They treated God’s offerings with contempt, and slept with the women who served at the tent of meeting.  God sent a man to warn Eli that judgment was coming.  God spoke to Samuel to warn Eli again that judgment was coming.  We may look at those around us doing wicked things and apparently prospering, but remember – God’s judgment is coming.

I Samuel 1-6: To Honor God Or Not

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(1) What word is used three times to show how Elkanah’s family honored God (1:3, 19, 26)?   What did that look like?

By application, what does that look like for us?

(1-2) In what ways does Hannah show honor to God?

How does the end of her prayer (2:10) foreshadow later events in this book and beyond?

(2) How does the rest of the chapter contrast Samuel and Eli’s sons as it relates to honoring God?

What applications might we find here for today?

(3) How does the author’s comment in 3:7 contrast to what we learned about Samuel in chapter 2?

In what ways might we see this contrast today?

(3) How does Samuel show honor to God? How does God respond?

(4) After Israel is defeated in v1-2, what smart idea do they have?  Are they honoring God or not?  Why?

How is this different from Hannah’s prayer in chapter 1?

When are we tempted to treat God like Israel did?

(5-6) How do the Philistines treat God at the beginning?  How does God respond?

How do the Philistines change their approach to God?  What do they decide to do?

(6) How do the people of Beth-shemesh treat God?  What happens?

What can we learn from the Philistines and the people of Beth-shemesh?

Sermon Songs: Ephesians 6:18-20

On By BrianIn Ephesians Hymns

MusicNotes

Dear Christian – put on God’s armor
Truth to counter the devil
Christ’s righteousness now to cover
Your heart in this great battle
The gospel shoes put on
Peace with God through the Son
Through Him we’re one body
Proclaim to all you see
The good news of our Savior

 The shield of faith take in your hand
To stop the arrows flaming
Guarded by God’s salvation – stand
Against the devil’ scheming
Take up the Spirit’s sword
And fight now like our Lord
The Bible learn and know
And so defeat the foe
Resist him ‘til he’s fleeing

 (To the tune of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”)

Reflections on Ruth 3-4

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God takes a story that begins with tragedy and death, and ends it with joy and new life.  Note:

  • Kinsman Redeemer – If a man in Israel died without a son, it was the responsibility of a relative to marry the man’s wife, and their first son would be counted as the deceased man’s child to continue the family line (Deuteronomy 25). Land sold or lost also had to be redeemed by a relative (Leviticus 25).  Boaz serves as a kinsman redeemer by marrying the deceased’s wife and buying the land.  Jesus took on flesh to become our kinsman, that he might redeem us from our spiritual poverty and make us his bride.
  • God’s Grace – In the Old Testament, God had called Israel to be his people, but even then God was extending his grace to outsiders. Ruth is a wonderful example of this: she left her people and gods for the people of Israel and the true God (1:16), she found refuge under God’s wings (2:12), and she was so incorporated into God’s people that she became an ancestor of David and ultimately of Jesus himself.  How did God bring you, an outsider, to himself?
  • God’s Providence – Naomi returned to Bethlehem bitter, but the story ends with joy. God is an expert at taking tragedies and bring good out of them.  What struggles are you facing?  Will you trust him?  Mourning comes for a time, but joy will follow.

Reflections on Ruth 1-2

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

After the depravity and apostasy of Judges, Ruth is a breath of fresh air and a reminder of how to live in dark times.  Observe:

  • Loyalty – Ruth demonstrates an incredible loyalty to Naomi. Ruth leaves everything she knows in order to stay with her mother-in-law.  She goes out to glean to help provide for not only herself but also Naomi.  How loyal are you to your family?  To your friends?  To your church family?  Do you stick with them?  Are you there to help in difficult times?
  • Care for the poor – Ruth gives us an example of one who needed the provision for the poor that God had set up in the Law. She goes to glean the leftovers from the field.  Boaz, who owns the field, shares God’s heart for the poor by encouraging her and helping her.  Do you have God’s heart for the poor?  How can you encourage and help those in need?
  • Godliness – After the depravity and apostasy of Judges, the book of Ruth gives us a simple reminder that some people still followed the Lord during this otherwise dark time. Boaz is a wonderful example of a godly man, and Ruth of a godly woman.  Yet references to the danger of other men assaulting Ruth makes clear that not all of Bethlehem is like them.  Boaz and Ruth live for God among many who do not.  In our world, where many do not follow God, will you follow the example of Boaz and Ruth?