The Levites were to be set apart as ‘the Lord’s firstborn’. In this lesson we explore the significance of that special position throughout the Scriptures, including in the original Passover account, as embodied in Jesus Himself, and now for Christians, as members of “the church of the firstborn”. This provides a beautiful picture highlighting what
One of the greatest challenges for Christians is to not harden our hearts when we face challenges and suffering. The Hebrews writer points back to this psalm and the lessons from Israel’s time in the Wilderness, to teach us important lessons about spiritual perseverance. In this message we explore the characteristics of a soft heart,
Here Paul encounters a group of believers who knew only the baptism of John the Baptist. With insights from an early Christian writer, we explore the purpose and limitations of John’s baptism. The word spreads from Ephesus throughout the region, bearing fruit and creating conflict. Many publicly burn their very expensive collections of occult scrolls,
Peter concludes his Pentecost message by explaining that Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God, based on the prophecy of Psalm 110. In this lesson we explore why this provoked the strong, “cut to the heart” response from Peter’s audience, and why it still matters for us today. When the people ask what
There is great treasure to be found in Psalm 3, especially when we understand its background: a heart-breaking tragedy in David's life. Here we see that even after God forgives our sins, the destructive consequences can follow for the rest of our lives. We also dig into remarkable similarities in details of David's story and
Bible scholars, even relatively conservative ones, often struggle with the ten plagues. Were these genuine supernatural miracles, or is it possible that these could be explained by naturally occurring phenomena? Does it matter? In this lesson we wrestle with these questions and look specifically at the first two plagues: blood and frogs. Why did the
Let the Plagues Begin: Blood and Frogs (Exodus 7:14-8:11) View Lesson
Let the Plagues Begin: Blood and Frogs (Exodus 7:14-8:11) View Lesson
One of the great treasures of the Old Testament is how it helps us understand the true nature and character of God. There are many things that distort our understanding of God's nature: the character of our own human fathers, our tendency to make God into something He is not, and Satan's consistent attack, trying
As we start the New Year, it is a great time to take inventory of our spiritual lives, including our own personal righteousness. To help us we have the prophet Ezekiel, the example of Job, and the instruction of James. This lesson encourages us to understand the heart of God, who loves all people and is