Just after Jesus has foretold his suffering death for a third time, James & John request seats of honor when Jesus comes into his “glory.” But Jesus’ kingdom is a different sort than they are thinking and overturns every culture’s vision of greatness. He calls them, and all his followers, to be servants of all, […]

A father brings his suffering son to Jesus and asks for help and healing. Jesus tells him with faith anything is possible. The father replies, I believe, help my unbelief. In a life of suffering and loss, we wrestle with faith and doubt–we wonder why, why God…? Mercifully the God of the Bible draws near […]

In Mark 8, Jesus reveals that he will suffer, be rejected, killed and rise from the dead. And he calls all of his disciples to deny their self, take up the cross, and follow him.

We finish our series on King by looking at the ways Hezekiah and Josiah pursued devotion to God.

The history of the northern kingdom of Israel in 1 & 2 Kings is a long line of unfaithful leaders. Kings who did not trust God for provision, protection or salvation, but instead turned to other nations and other gods to assuage their fears and deal with their biggest concerns. Many centuries later, we do […]

Naaman, the Commander of the Army of Syria is the ultimate insider in his own country. But in Israel he is the ultimate outsider – an enemy who has leprosy. But he comes seeking the healing of the God of Israel’s prophet Elisha. What must he do to elicit the favor of this God? Nothing? […]

Elijah has just had his greatest victory as Yahweh God defeated the god of Baal. But in 1 Kings 19, the Queen threatens Elijah’s life. He is filled with fear and failure but God meets him in his hopelessness and despair with abundant graces and a new calling. Our God is a wounded healer how […]

The sum of Ahab’s life is “he did evil in the sight of the Lord.” He worshipped the Baal, the Canaanite god, and rejected Yahweh, the Covenant God of Israel, because he wanted the security and prosperity and did not trust God to provide. Similarly, we are drawn to trust things other than God for […]

To what are you devoted?  This week we continue our series in I and II Kings by studying what Solomon, Jeroboam, and Rehoboam were devoted to, and why those objects of devotion divided the Kingdom of Israel.

Solomon, the greatest of Israel’s Kings is also the wisest man in the world. But David, despite his many failings, is called a man after God’s own heart. It is not influence, reputation, brilliance or success in life that matters most, it is a heart for God and finishing well.