Sunday, December 16, 2018

Posted on Dec 13 2018
Matthew 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus Bible background: Only Matthew and Luke report Jesus’ birth. The Gospels of Mark and John do not. Matthew approaches Jesus’ birth from the perspective of Joseph-Jesus’ adoptive father. We read of Joseph’s dilemma and Joseph’s
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Sunday, December 9, 2018

Posted on Dec 05 2018
Isaiah 7=Emmanuel, God With Us! Bible Background: This story mixes politics and religion! In 734 BCE, King Ahaz of Judah is being threatened by the King of Israel and one of his allies. King Ahaz reaches out for an alliance with superpower Assyria (who will eventually crush Israel and Judah).
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Sunday, December 2, 2018

Posted on Nov 28 2018
JONAH – NOT ON THE SAME PAGE WITH GOD! Bible Background: Jonah is a short story (You can read it in 5 minutes!) It’s got a ‘comic’ quality to it, as in “What a silly prophet!” “What a whopper of a tale!” The story was likely written to be
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Sunday, November 25, 2018

Posted on Nov 21 2018
1 Kings 17 = Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath Bible Background: The prophet Elijah is introduced abruptly, in a time in Israel when King Ahab and Queen Jezebel have led the people away from worshipping only the LORD, and have encouraged worship of Baal (Canaanite deity, thought to be in
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