The story: God's messengers - Come Home, Israel

Focus Passage: 1Kings 1-11, 2 Chron. 1-9

It was a Father’s heartache. Tom had been the apple of his father Jim’s eye. Tom was smart and very athletic. Father and son had been so close throughout his high school years. When he got to college, Tom got caught up in a bad crowd and soon he had dropped out and Jim didn’t hear from Tom for a while. Jim finally heard that Tom was out west somewhere and had run on hard times. His friends had deserted him and he was on drugs. Jim called the cell phone that he had given his son in college, but no one ever answered. He finally heard from a friend where Tom was living and went to see him. In the days of David and Solomon, Israel had been the envy of the world. It was powerful and had enormous wealth. It showed the greatness of God to a world that wished they could belong to Yahweh. In the last days of Solomon, the nation ran away from God and worshipped others. God would send prophets to them to demonstrate His power through miracles. He called them and prophets spoke of His great love for them. The message was always the same. Return to me and I will restore you. Here is the story of God’s heartache with His wayward son.

I will show them my power 1 kings 18:38 Fifty years have passed since the days of Solomon and the wicked King Ahab sits on the throne of the Northern Kingdom. Elijah calls a meeting with Ahab and proposes a challenge between the true God and Ahab’s false gods to see who the true God is. 450 prophets of Baal called on their god for hours with no response. God sends fire down from heaven that consumes the water, the sacrifice and the wood. The people cry out that Yahweh is the true God, but sadly their faith doesn’t last.

I will show them the depth of my love Hosea 3:1 Now, a 180 years have passed since Solomon and God calls the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute. It is a visual message showing how much the Lord loves the nation of Israel which has prostituted itself to the false gods around it. Sadly, Hosea would love this woman and have children with her, but she would run away. Hosea was commanded to buy his wife out of the prostitution that she was now enslaved in. It was a visual message about how God had bought Israel out of slavery and sin again and again.

I will give one last warning Amos 9:8 The end is near. Israel is on the verge of destruction and so the Lord sends the prophet Amos. His message is a message of punishment for Israel and Judah. If Hosea shows gospel love, then Amos shows law justice. Israel is within a generation of being destroyed. It is time to repent before it is too late. Yet, the people see no reason to repent. In the end, their rejection of the Lord will put them out of God’s protection and their evil living will bring its own destruction.

This is the story of a God who stuck with His people for over 200 years. It would have been easy to have just destroyed Israel or to have allowed it to fall quickly to its neighbors. Yet God loved them and sent prophets to them with demonstrations of power and a visual demonstration of love. Neither worked. Our God does not give up on His people. He shows them His power and His love. He is a heavenly father who loves his children even when they are in the midst of sin. It is never too late to cry out to the Lord and seek His mercy and His help. His love never ends and never fails. The message of the prophets is still the message of God today. God is calling His people to return to Him so that He might restore them. He loves His church and will not give up on it. Regardless of how far you have strayed, come home! It is the message that God says to us and that we have to be saying to others. It is the message that can change America as it builds families, ends violence and gives people lives that work.

Prodigal Son - The (Self) Righteous Brother

Focus Passage: Luke 15:25-32

Most of us can relate to the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal son. We have looked at a beggar on the street who has two good hands and two good feet and thought him lazy. We have been upset with someone swearing at a ball game and wondered why they have no manners. Such feelings seem justifiable. The world is filled with sinners who are destroying their lives. We have better character and we may be avoiding some of their problems. We are the righteous ones. Yet, that righteousness is not from us. We have been made righteous by our God and by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It is not self righteousness, but God righteousness. When we forget that righteousness is a gift from God we can rob ourselves of all the joy that God brings into our lives.

Over inflated self worth v. 29b His words say it all. The older son has been out in the field working hard. Did anyone notice his hard work given day after day for the months or years that the younger brother was out playing around? He sees how the father and others value the younger son, but do they value him? Where was the celebration for his years of service? His reaction starts with an ego that is crushed. This celebration should be his and not the brother’s.

Misses the blessings he has had for years v. 29a The older brother has begun to think of his service as duty. “This farm wouldn’t function without all the work that I put in day after day. You are lucky to have me. What if we had both run off like that worthless son of yours. You would be in trouble.” He has forgotten all that he received that the younger son missed. He had the father’s love every day and sat at a table filled with the best of food. He had been comfortable while his brother was suffering.

Contempt for others who do not feel our worth v.30 Ultimately, the older brother shows contempt for the father as well as his brother. In his self righteousness, he is angry with anyone who does not feel just like he does. His self-righteousness creates a chasm between the father and him. If the father loves the younger son, then he must not love me. Self-righteousness makes us feel contempt for anyone who does not agree with us. People who have done nothing wrong are suddenly the enemy.

In some ways this brother was just as lost as the younger brother. His heart is in a far country far removed from the Father’s love and character. The cure for his self-righteousness begins with the father’s love (v.31). In the text, the Father came to the older son to plead with him. The father is loving and gracious with this son. It is obvious that he values the older son and sees this son as important to him. It is only the love of the Lord that can break into a selfish heart. The story ends with the older brother standing outside the house. His anger has robbed him of the joy and celebration with family and friends. His bruised ego causes him to stand isolated from others grumbling and complaining. His pride won’t let him celebrate for his brother. When we see someone trapped in self righteousness, we need to love them with God’s love, but most of all we need to pray for them. We need to help them to know that they are valued and appreciated for all that they do. Every child of the Father is special.

Christmas Stories - Jesus in the Temple: What is Growth?

Focus Passage: Luke 2:39-52

In our culture growth usually implies learning facts and passing tests. So let’s do a typical growth activity and see if you can guess who this famous person is. He was born on Feb. 12, 1809 and was assassinated on Good Friday 1865. He was born in Kentucky and was 6 ft. 4 inches tall. Finally, he was president during the civil war. You guessed it. It was Abraham Lincoln. Now I know a lot about him yet, I would never say that I know how the man thinks or what he would do in a situation. The Bible is about growing in your relationship to the Lord, not just learning facts. You can marshal all the facts you want to about God and the Bible, but it won’t change a thing if you don’t know Him. When we talk about spiritual growth, it is not Bible knowledge that we seek. It is growing in our relationship with the Lord. Growth comes when we know and are known by God.

Make time with Him a habit v.41 The text says that every year Mary and Joseph went up for the Passover. Can you imagine how hard it was to make the 70 mile journey with kids in tow on foot? Sure you do, many of you travel hundreds of miles to be with family. There is sacrifice in such a trip, but you make a habit of it. You want to be with your parents on that special day. Ironically, our relationship with the Lord often starts with a habit. Parents bring their children to church every Sunday till they don’t feel like it is Sunday if they are not in church. It is the start of a relationship with the Lord.

Spend extended time with Him v.43 Passover was a week-long celebration, but that was not enough time for Jesus. Mom and Dad went home and Jesus decided to stay for a couple more days. He wanted more time with the Father. Even as an adult, Jesus would go up into the hills for hours to pray to the Father. Faith grows as you spend time with the Lord in bible study and prayer. It is getting close to His heart and feeling His pulse. The more time you spend with the Lord, the more comfortable you are with Him.

Dialogue with Him v.46 When his parents find Him, He is asking questions and dialoguing with God and with others. Shouldn’t He be giving the lecture? No, the man Jesus had to have His relationship with the Father grow. Their relationship had changed. He knew what it was to be God. What was it like to be Savior? God wants us to dialogue with Him. He wants us to find out what your role in God’s great plan is to be. See how the Lord has gifted you and given you opportunities. This is the time when we apply what we have learned and let Him change our lives.

Others will notice that you have changed. Anyone in Jesus’ day could spout back rehearsed answers or quote established ideas. Yet, here was a 12 year old actually talking like he knew God and knew what God would do in a given situation. God’s will and wisdom stand out in anyone who has spent the time to let the Lord teach them. You may think that such understanding can’t happen for you, but God wants you to know Him and the Holy Spirit can teach anyone. People will show you respect because you live the character and values of God. God’s character wipes off on those who spend time with Him. Just remember that spiritual growth isn’t about facts, it is about relationships. Those who have a relationship with the Lord will find that the Lord will mentor and teach them all through their life. 

Prodigal Son - When Freedom Goes Too Far

Focus Passage: Luke 15:11-24

We pride ourselves on being the land of the free and the home of the brave. Yet, freedom can be taken too far. We feel we can do anything we want to. We want to play our music as loud late at night or have a dangerous dog. We want to shout profanity in the streets or wear clothing that others find offensive. Freedom can be abused. People think that they have a right to tell God what is right and fair as well. Surely, a loving God would never let anyone go to hell. We try to set the rules for life and ignore what our heavenly father knows is best for us. Sadly, that isn’t freedom, it is rebellion. Such rebellion will crash our lives and chain us to our urges and emotions. Jesus tells a story about the cost of rebellion and the path to real freedom.

Christmas Stories: Simeon - Not Just Another Baby

Focus Passage: Luke 2:21-38

Just think if every child baptized in Kentucky had to go to one church in Frankfort to have the baptism performed. Every Sunday, there would be a line of a couple hundred families. You might notice a family extremely well dressed or a family that is extremely tall or short. Most families would not get a second glance. So it would be with Jesus’ family. Every Jewish family was required to bring their child to the Jerusalem temple when the child was 40 days old to present a sacrifice. Jesus’ family was poor and brings the sacrifice of the poor – two doves or pigeons. They are hardly worth a second look. Yet, he was not just another baby. In the midst of the crowds, one man starts a commotion that others around must have wondered what the fuss is. He tells us why this is not just another baby.

The Lost Sheep - The Importance of One

Focus Passage: Luke 15:1-7

Three shiny school busses pulled up at the Cincinnati zoo with a load of third and fourth graders. The teacher in charge lectured the children about staying with their chaperone Then off they went across the bridge and into the Zoo. Ted was following the group when he spotted a docent showing off an eagle feather and talon. He heard squawking behind him and went to see the eagles in their cage. After a few minutes, he realized that he wasn’t with the rest of the group. He began to panic. At the same time, Mrs. Kravitz was counting heads and realized Ted was gone. She jumped up and began to retrace her steps finally finding Ted crying in front of the eagle cage. Ted was lost like sheep in the text and like the sinners that were gathered around Jesus. There was a big difference between the Pharisees who were against Jesus and the sinners who just got lost.

The Story: Christmas - The Birth of a King

Focus Passages: Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2

They must have thought that God had forgotten them. It had been 2100 years since he was promised to Abraham. Would the Messiah ever come? There are times that we often think that God has forgotten us as well. God, do you care about us? We need your help and you seem so silent. Yet, the child did come and He shows us what is different about our God and our faith. He shows why it is worth holding on until he comes and what he will bring when he gets here. It is worth hearing again because we live in a culture that thinks all religions are alike and all are worthless. He also shows us why we should share him with others so that they can have this blessing in their lives as well.

Mary – A Friend who thinks you’re special Luke 1:30 The story begins with a teenage girl who was the first to know that Jesus was coming. God called her favored for she would be the mother of Jesus. Her life would not be easy. People would think this virgin mother was a hor. She would have to run for her life to Egypt and watch her son die on a cross. Yet, God would be with her and shower his love on her. She would know God’s love in ways that you and I will never experience.

Joseph – A Savior in the battle with sin Matt. 1:21 The next one to know about the child was a man named Joseph. This descendant of David would be used by God to protect the child so that God could give them something that they didn’t realize that they needed, which is a savior. Jesus would save people from their sins. He would sacrifice himself on a cross so that our sins would be paid. He would rise so that we might have a future in heaven.

Manger – A servant who belongs to everyone Luke 2: 7 The angels said that the savior would be for all people. The baby in the manger put those words into action. He was not born in some great palace or even in the temple. Look at the dirty shepherds holding the baby and the unimportant town’s people crowding around his parents. The savior has come for everyone. No one is excluded

Magi – A God who you can approach Matt 2:11 The magi traveled for weeks just to come and touch him. He is a God that you can approach for he became one of us. No other god has ever become one of his people. We have a God who speaks to our needs in scripture and who we can share anything with in prayer. He is approachable.

Other religions are based on lists of things that you have to do to be saved. Those people go it alone in life. Even if their gods were alive, they don’t care about them. Our God is different. He loved us so much that He died for us on a cross. He wants us to succeed in life and so he walks beside us ready to help. He gives us guidance and even works miracles for his people. We are loved by the baby in the manger who we can call friend. The child makes faith personal. We worship a God whose life is contained in the scriptures. We can imagine that we are sitting on the hill and hearing the actual words that he said in the Sermon on the Mount. We can picture walking with the crowds as he healed the sick and raised the dead. It is what sets our faith apart from all the others. Our faith is different and worth holding on to. One look at the baby will tell you how different it is.