Sunday, September 15, 2019

God's Promises: Plagues and Passover (Randy)

The ten plagues of ancient Egypt brought by God through Moses to Pharaoh make little sense to the modern sensibility. Why would God bring such destruction to the whole country, culminating in the death of firstborn sons?  As it turns out, God exercised and demonstrated his authority in a way that Pharaoh could (ultimately) understand, and the beginning of his salvation plan proves to be a perfect type for our salvation in Christ. 

Listen to God's Promises: Plagues and Passover
Lesson Plan

Crucifixion timeline (Guideposts and sketch)
Crucifixion timeline (Randy's analysis)

Sunday, September 8, 2019

God's Promises: Covenant (Chris)

We begin our new series, “God's Promises: What Can Ancient Israel Teach Us About our Faith in Christ?"  This series is based on the statement of Jesus that he came "not to abolish but to fulfill" the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).  What does this mean, and how can we learn from the stories of the Old Testament as we seek to become better disciples of Christ?


In our first lesson, we explore the idea of Covenant.  The lesson revisits the promise and explanation of the future given by God to Abraham in Genesis 15.  This original Covenant connects all of us directly to the history of Ancient Israel.  We then look at Israel enslaved in Egypt to see how the story in Exodus relates to our lives as Christians.

Listen to God's Promises: Covenant
Lesson Plan
Handout
"Get Out" article by Tim Keller which Chris Referenced in class

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Living the Bible - Genesis Edition: The Great Flood (Randy)

Noah’s Ark is one of the most familiar stories in the Old Testament, yet we tend to remember the childhood cartoon version of it.  A man and his family gather up the earth’s animals and enter the ark on faith, survive a terrible flood, and then repopulate the earth. But this skips over the important fact that God judges the earth and unleashes his terrible wrath. How do we as moderns reconcile this terrible image of God with our notion that he is a God of love and mercy?

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Living the Bible - Genesis Edition: Justice, Love, and Generosity part 2 (Chris)

Continuing the prior lesson, we explore how the story of Cain and Abel focuses on generosity and illuminates the justice of God and the love of God.  We see how we can be like Cain ourselves if and when we pursue our relationship with God selfishly and out of obligation rather than love.  Even then, we conclude that God loves us no matter what.

Listen to Living the Bible -Genesis Edition: Justice, Love, and Generosity part 2
Lesson Plan
Handout

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Living the Bible - Genesis Edition: Justice, Love, and Generosity (Chris)

We explore how the story of Cain and Abel focuses on generosity and illuminates the justice of God and the love of God.  We see how we can be like Cain ourselves if and when we pursue our relationship with God selfishly and out of obligation rather than love.  Even then, we conclude that God loves us no matter what.

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Living the Bible - Genesis Edition: 7 Truths of Adam and Eve (Randy)


We are so familiar with the story of Adam and Eve that we miss God’s powerful wisdom packed within it.  A careful reading reveals at least 7 truths around which we can orient our lives.

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Living the Bible - Genesis Edition: In the Beginning (Chris)

January is a good time to reflect on beginnings as our class settles in to a new year and a new series.  We are made in God's image, and God gave us the ability to create -- to initiate new things.  With such opportunities in mind, what does Genesis teach us about how to harness our creativity in service to God and to each other?