How was the birth of Jesus a sign to Ahaz? After all, the events of today’s passage happened more than 700 years before Jesus was ever born. Ahaz never heard the angels sing. He never saw what the wise men and the shepherds saw. How could he have drawn strength…

What are you celebrating this Christmas season? Deliverance from sickness? A new baby in the family? A better job? In today’s passage, Zechariah gives us lots of reasons to celebrate. In the first place, he celebrates God’s faithfulness. Throughout this passage, he points to the promises that God had made…

So, why did Zechariah have to write down his baby’s name? Earlier in this chapter, we learn that an angel had appeared to him and told him that he and his wife would have a baby, even though Elizabeth was much too old to become pregnant (v. 13). Zechariah expressed…

Why do we worship God? David wanted to build a temple for this purpose, and in this psalm, he meditates about what he would do there. Now, we might expect him to look forward to taking a victory lap, allowing the glory and grandeur of the Temple to reflect on…

Especially this time of year, it’s easy for us to get caught up in all the work of the Church – and there is a lot to do. From building programs to organizing mission trips to working in soup kitchens to recruiting Sunday School teachers, there’s always something else that…

It all made perfect sense. Yes, while the people of Israel were wandering through the desert it made sense for all the things necessary to carry out the worship of God to be housed in a moveable tent, just like the rest of the people. And before they had a…

So, why was it so important that the Temple of the Lord be built in Jerusalem? Today’s passage tells us why David chose the site, and it had to do with one of the greatest sins which he had committed while he was king. I suppose we’ve all heard about…

Why does God choose some people for specific tasks? We don’t really know any more than David did. He didn’t know why God had chosen him, the youngest of his father’s sons, to be king. In fact, he didn’t know why the tribe of Judah was chosen to provide the…

Joseph’s Dilemma Matthew 1:18-25 Review: 1. Joseph’s love for Mary even when he thought she had been unfaithful illustrates God’s unconditional, selfless love for unworthy sinners 2. Joseph was able to love Mary so selflessly because of His trust in and obedience to God. Go Further: Read John 13:1-17, 34-35;…

The word “worship” comes from the same root as the word “worthy.” To worship someone thus means to consider him or her worthy of our attention and our praise. In that sense, millions of people will gather at stadiums and around TV sets to worship college football conference champions today,…