by Steve Thomason | Sep 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
Matthew 3:1-4:11 A big question asked by many is, “Why did Jesus have to be baptized? There are a couple reasons. First, He came to set the example for us. Second, and more important, Jesus’ baptism was His rite of passage, inaugurating Him into the role of Messiah....
by Steve Thomason | Sep 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
Matthew 1:1-2:18 1:1-1:17 A King’s geneology As you scan through the list of names in Jesus’ geneology, having just finished reading the Old Testament, how many names do you recognize? (*note that Jeconiah is the same name as Jehoiachin. He’s the king that surrendered...
by Steve Thomason | Sep 18, 2010 | Uncategorized
Without doubt, one of the most frequently asked questions (God’s FAQ list) is, “what is God’s will for my life?” Everyone wants to know what it is that God wants them to do, specifically. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that the answer to the...
by Steve Thomason | Sep 16, 2010 | Uncategorized
The story of Jonah is one of the most well-known stories in the entire Bible. God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah runs the other direction. Jonah gets swallowed by a big fish. Jonah preaches to Nineveh. Nineveh repents and turns to God. That’s the story we are...
by Steve Thomason | Sep 15, 2010 | Uncategorized
Once again, Amos preaches a scathing message of repentance to a wicked Israel. Along with Joel and Hosea, Amos prepared Israel for the coming destruction at the hands of the Assyrians. The prophets bring many charges against the people, but there is one that really...
by Steve Thomason | Sep 14, 2010 | Bible, Personal Updates
This morning we officially say goodbye to my sister-in-law, Melissa. Last night we had the family viewing. That is such a difficult thing to do. To see a body that was once full of life lying so still is disturbing to the mind. We never see human bodies that still....
by Steve Thomason | Sep 14, 2010 | Uncategorized
Joel, as with many other prophets, was preaching a message of urgency and repentance to a nation that was on the verge of being annihilated by an invading horde of “locusts.” The beginning of his book is doom and gloom, but here, in this passage, he offers a glimmer...
by Steve Thomason | Sep 13, 2010 | Fiction
I love the TV show Chuck. My family and I have been catching up on the first three seasons in preparation for the Season 4 premiere next week. What I like: First of all, Chuck is a geek. I love underdog stories where the geeky guy is the hero and the jock turns out to...
by Steve Thomason | Sep 13, 2010 | Uncategorized
Hosea 8:7; Hosea 10:12-13; Galatians 6:7-8 A disturbing story was aired on the news recently. A group of teenagers, calling themselves the 311 Boys, video-taped themselves brutally beating each other while spewing profanities. One shot showed a boy repeatedly beating...
by Steve Thomason | Sep 12, 2010 | Uncategorized
Read Hosea 1:2-5 During what time period is the prophet Hosea doing his preaching ministry? (1:1) To whom is Hosea preaching? What physical action did God instruct Hosea to take? What analogy was being taught through this physical action? Read Hosea 3. What was Hosea...
