Looking to the Mount of Transfiguration story in Matthew, Brother Collin directs our gaze toward the Lord Jesus alone, allowing for no distractions or competition.
Reflecting on the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 helps to remind us that Christ’s death on the cross is the truly acceptable sacrifice that opens the way for us to approach God in worship.
Many times in Scripture, we encounter the word “therefore,” and it is always a good idea to ask, “What is it there for?” Brother Laurel Smalling considers three of these instances as he encourages us to commit afresh to draw near to the Lord.
The cross of Christ stands at the center of all eternity, and we can see that mirrored in the structure of the most well-known of Isaiah’s “Servant Songs,” found in Isaiah 52:13–53:12. We we learn to focus on and orient our lives around the true center of God’s purposes.
Brother Collin Beckford shared a few thoughts from our Thursday night Bible Study on 2 Timothy at our Lord’s Day meeting. As Paul says to Timothy, we have this confidence: that the Lord knows those who are His. May those of us who belong to Him depart from iniquity.
As a demonstration of the way truths of the Old Testament are revealed in the New Testament, Brother Norris Clarke shared this meditation on the bronze serpent from Numbers 21.
Looking at the examples of Abraham and Moses, we can see the importance of having God as our ultimate treasure and reward. All else fades in comparison to this “one absorbing treasure that fills our heart and eye,” as the hymn puts it.
The opening verses of each of the first seven psalms hold much for our encouragement when it comes to living lives of prayer and devotion to the Lord. (The recording begins a few minutes into the message, just after Brother Laurel had read Psalm 1:1.)
At the end of Romans 8, Paul presents us with three powerful rhetorical questions that, as we meditate on them, can give us the confidence to face any difficulty in our lives.
In the well-known prophecy about the coming of the Lord in Isaiah 9, we read five beautiful names of the Messiah that speak of His matchless, incomparable character.
Brother Norris Clarke shares these few thoughts on the importance of aligning our thought patterns to the Lord through the power of His Spirit. While we might think it is always a good thing to “think for ourselves,” this can lead us into trouble, just as it did the people of Israel in the days of the judges.
As things go “back to normal,” it is good for us to reflect on the past and project into the future. In a way, we find ourselves in a similar situation to that of the Babylonian exiles who returned to Judah. As we meet this small group in Ezra 3 and the book of Haggai, we find them worshiping, weeping, working, and waiting.
For our final Lord’s Day meeting on Zoom, Brother Luke Harriman shared this message from Jeremiah 31 where the Lord assures His people He would gather them again from their captivity. We can truly give thanks to God for His faithful shepherding care over the past eighteen months online as we anticipate regathering in person next week.
Brother Colin Beckford shared these few words of encouragement as we remembered the Lord as our Good Shepherd, as revealed in John 10.
Brother Laurel Smalling takes us to Revelation 19, where we see the song of the glorified saints, who eternally will sing the praise of the Lord Jesus in the presence of God.
The great hope of the Christian is to one day see the Lord Jesus face to face, to be with Him forever, and to be made like Him, fit for glory in the presence of God. But we can also experience these three realities to some extent even now.
Psalm 37 gives us five teachings that can help keep us on the path when times get tough: trust in, delight in, commit your way to, rest in, and wait on the Lord. These can be remembered with the phrase, “The Dark Clouds Rain Water.” Like a dark grey cloud that promises water, the Lord can be trusted to deliver on the promises we find in Scripture. Let us cling to Him.
Drawing timely advice from Philippians 4, Brother Collin leads us to keep our minds fixed on Christ and all things true, lovely, praiseworthy, and right. This is particularly important during this difficult season we are passing through.
The story of Jesus healing the ten lepers gives us an opportunity to think about the barriers that might keep us from praising the Lord as we should. May we find in Christ the solution to overcoming these barriers.
This Lord’s Day, Brother Glen Smalling shared a meditation on these few words from John 19. What did He go forth to do? As He went to the cross, He was going forth to conquer sin, death, and Satan. Truly, He has won the victory!