Acts 4:1-12 1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of ...

Romans 3:23-2823 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice ...

Grace is the unmerited favor of God.Ephesians 2:1-3“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinati...

Jonah 3:10When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.Identify and confess your own areas of self-____________________ (1:1-3)Jonah 4:1-31 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that yo...

Have you heard the call to love God and love people?Jonah 3:1-31 Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the LORD's command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.Jonah 3:4-54 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty d...

Review of Jonah 1When we run from God’s word, we run from God.When we run from God, He runs after us.When we run from God, we run over people.Jonah's lament is not a white flag of surrender, but a red-flag cry of desperation, longing for the God he’s pushed away.Context and Structure• Now the LORD had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and...

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.Psalm 46:10“Be still, and know that I am God!I will be honored by every nation.I will be honored throughout the world.”Be still and consider your security in Christ (46:1-3)Psalm 46:1-31 God is our refuge and strength,   always ready to help in times of trouble.2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come   and...

Celebrate God's loving provision with words of thanksgiving.Psalm 107:1-31 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!   His faithful love endures forever.2 Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out!   Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.3 For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,   from east and west, from north and south.The reason for our gratitude is the expressed and enduring...

Deal with discouragement as a cry for help, then take your soul in hand.Psalm 42:1-5For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.1 As the deer longs for streams of water,   so I long for you, O God.2 I thirst for God, the living God.   When can I go and stand before him?3 Day and night I have only tears for food,   while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,   “Where is this God ...

Becoming wise isn’t just about growing old and getting smarter. In contrast with foolishness, wisdom is the ability to discern the righteous application of the knowledge you attain. Reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom. The fool has said in his heart there is no God.The wise will flourish by trusting the word of God.Psalm 1:1-31 Oh, the joys of those who do not   follow the advice of the w...

Psalm 51For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.2 Samuel 12:11-1411 “This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You ...

"God has a celebration meal with us, not after we finally get out of the dark valley but in the middle of it, in the presence of our enemies."-Tim Keller; The Songs of JesusThe Shepherd's protection includes His satisfying provision.Psalm 23:1-3a1 The LORD is my shepherd;   I have all that I need.2 He lets me rest in green meadows;   he leads me beside peaceful streams.3 He renews my strength.Phil...

Psalm 13:1-6For the choir director: A psalm of David.1 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?   How long will you look the other way?2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,   with sorrow in my heart every day?   How long will my enemy have the upper hand?3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!   Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We...

The application of freedom requires a FROM and a FOR.Galatians 5:1So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.John 8:34-3634 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, yo...

The magnification of God’s faithfulness requires a ______________ trust.Matthew 6:25-2725 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you...

John 3:1-211 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”4 “What do you mean?” exclai...

John 4:1-9 (NLT)Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jes...

Mark 4:35-4135 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Th...

The Bible reveals our Creator, who is both magnificent in power and yet intimately personal.John 1:1-31 In the beginning the Word already existed.   The Word was with God,   and the Word was God.2 He existed in the beginning with God.3 God created everything through him,   and nothing was created except through him.Isaiah 40:12Who else has held the oceans in his hand?   Who has measured off the he...

Revelation 21:1-21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.God's renewal of the world includes the transformation of everything.Revelation 22:1-21 Then the angel showed me a river with the...