“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd … Read More
Priest and King
Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will … Read More
Beautiful Feet
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news,who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy.When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem,for the LORD has comforted his … Read More
God’s Highway
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD[a];make straight in the desert a highway for our God.[b]4 Every valley shall be raised up, every … Read More
Into the Wild–July 2011 Message Series
The upcoming series of messages here at First Assembly of God in Lafayette, Indiana is a nice fit into this midsummer month! Into the Wild will look at the lessons learned by the children of Israel in the desert after they were delivered from Egypt and before they entered the Promised Land. Maybe you’ve experienced a stretch of life where … Read More
Sabbath Keeping
Q: Do we still need to honor the command, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy”? What does that look like in our complicated American culture? A: This question, emailed to me on February 3, 2011 was one of the queries we couldn’t get to on our Q Sunday on February 6. The question was submitted by someone who … Read More
Does the Old Testament Contradict the New?
Q: Leviticus 11 mentions “unclean” foods that we should not eat, but Mark 7 says that it is not what goes “in” that makes a man unclean but what comes “out” of his heart. Why do the Old and New Testaments contradict each other? Interesting question! This was turned in to me via email and asks an appropriate question that … Read More