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.

The Exile, part 4: "One Like a Son of Man"

Daniel had a dream.  There was a great raging sea, and four terrible, threatening beasts rose out of the water.  Daniel and his people seemed to be at the mercy of these terrible beasts.  Then a glorious figure appeared above the raging sea.  This "son of man" was the hope of the world.

Hundreds of years later, the twelve disciples also found themselves caught in a storm on the sea.  They thought they were at the mercy of the raging waters.  A glorious figure appeared, walking above the storm.  This Son of Man was their hope.

This week, we looked at Daniel's vision of Jesus as He is today, glorified at the right hand of the Father in heaven.