The World That Jesus Entered, part 3: Darkness

One of the great themes of Christmas is light shining in the darkness.  "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light," the prophet Isaiah writes as he looks forward to the birth of the Savior.

But just last week, we talked about how the Jews celebrated the "Festival of Lights."  How did this time of great victory become so dark?  What hope does Jesus bring to the darkness of our own time?

The World That Jesus Entered, part 2: The Maccabees

Sunday was the 8th day of Hanukkah.  This Jewish holiday commemorates an event that was pivotal in both shaping the Jewish world in which Jesus lived and forms a background for many New Testament prophecies about the end times.

So who has heard a Baptist preacher give a Hanukkah sermon?  Well, here it is...

The World That Jesus Entered, part 1: World in Transition

When you open up the pages of the New Testament, what you find is drastically different from the world of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi.  This month, we are going to tackle two key questions:

What happened in the history "between the Testaments" to shape the world that Jesus entered?

What can we learn from this era about how to live as God's people in a world in transition?

The Restoration, part 4: Time for Persistence

God called Nehemiah to a task.  There were countless obstacles and troubles in completing that task, but he worked to finish.  How often do we think about finishing the task God has given us?  What does it take to persevere until our calling is complete?

The Restoration, part 3: Time for Joy

For our Thanksgiving and Lord's Supper message, we looked at the Jews' celebration after they had rebuilt the Jerusalem wall.  Many problems still persisted, and they had sorrow over their sin.  But it was not time for weeping but for joy and celebration.  This week, we look at the importance of taking time to rejoice and celebrate God's faithfulness in your life.

The Restoration, part 2: Restoration Resources

Throughout the Old Testament, we see God using pagan nations and armies as His hand of judgment on His people, but the remarkable story of Ezra and Nehemiah show how God worked through pagan kings to restore and bless His people.

These kings gave each of these men particular directives meant to restore and strengthen Jerusalem.  These jobs in Jerusalem's restoration mirror two of the works God must do to complete the job of restoration in our lives as well.

The Restoration, part 1: Restored for a Purpose

Have you ever walked into a room, got yourself involved in one thing and then another, and when you left the room you realized that you failed to do what you went into the room to do in the first place?  Well, the exiled Jews went back to Jerusalem and forgot what they were sent back to do, and God sent the prophet Haggai to remind them.

What happens when we lose focus?  What is God's promise for when we put first things first?

In this little book from the "clean part of your bible," God speaks a very contemporary word to us through His prophet Haggai.