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Haggai 2:1–9, Matthew 16:13–20 There is a lot of hand-wringing about the demise of the church. To put things in perspective, it is often better to read the Old Testament than the New. Yet people often skip all the prophets because it appears so dark…

Exodus 35:2–3, Leviticus 25:2–5, Matthew 12:1–9 What recharges you? An extrovert will be charged up by being with people. An introvert charges by being alone. Both, in many respects, are forms of rest. Part of the problem with Sabbath, as it is practiced, and as…

Genesis 28:10–17, Exodus 3:1–6, Luke 23:44–46 Have you ever been confronted by a person who states that they can worship God better in nature than in a church? They might be right. Jacob put a stone under his head, and upon waking declared that the…

Proverbs 29:22–25, Philippians 2:5–11, Galatians 6:1–5 Tell the truth. That is a maxim for life. However, often we succumb to the temptation to lie. We can be surprised when it pops out, or we could plan for it. There are times where lying is appropriate…

Nehemiah 13:4–22, Matthew 12:1–8 Nehemiah was “just” a layperson. He probably had no formal religious or other education. He wasn’t a “leader” of the people. He did, however, have an important position of trust with King Artaxerxes. To be the cupbearer meant that you were…