If I were to ask you ?Are you at war with anyone?? you would probably be surprised, maybe even offended. And why would that be such a strange question? Probably because we all want to think of ourselves as peace loving individuals. But the fact is, we are at war, with God. The good news is, that God has made a peace offering towards us. Will you accept it?
Colossians 1:20
Decision making is something universal within the human experience. How is it that a Christian is supposed to find wisdom and answers in a world that provides so many options? This question is not new to humanity?s situation in the world, but has been around for quite some time.
God always provides for his people. In dangerous times, as in times of peace, God gives his people the blessings of the good life. If you belong to God, God will always take care of you. He will provide the work, clothing, home, and food you need to live.
What would the church be like if Christians understood that this post-Christian culture is about to be set aflame by the wrath of God? What would our witness be like if we saw the spiritual condition of unsaved family and friends as it actually is? What if we accepted personal responsibility and helped snatch them from the fire?
When you suffer, it should not come as a surprise, especially if you suffer for the sake of Christ. However, alongside the pain do you sense His compassion? Do you experience the sympathy of the Holy Spirit to comfort you in grief?
News of divine judgment is never pleasing to hear. In the prophet Jeremiah?s day, speaking this message cost him some significant time in a cistern or what we know as a pit. This raises the question of, ?How much are we willing to suffer for the sake of staying to true to God?s message??
True followers of Christ are never half-hearted. His real disciples embrace God?s Word and all it teaches. You will not become the pure bride of Christ by flirting with the Gospel. You must listen, believe, and live out the Word of God.
The promise of the Old Testament is for a savior. We see it in Genesis, Exodus, and Isaiah. And through the reminder of weddings, thanksgivings, and even farming, it?s also shown to us in the book of Jeremiah.
Many people just want what they deserve - at least they think they do. Until they stop and examine their good deeds and see that even those acts do not measure up. And if truth be told, what they really deserve is punishment not reward.
Nothing is too hard for God. He has the power to conquer your sin, save the lost, heal broken relationships, bless your work and your family. But the question is, do you believe it?
Jeremiah was a praying prophet. Whenever he had a crisis, when he needed guidance, when he was worried about the future, his soul cried out to the Lord. That is because he knew his God.
Jeremiah speaks of God making a new covenant with his people?but what exactly is a covenant, and why would God even need to make a new one? More importantly, what does that mean for us?
Sorrow is part of life. In fact, Jesus himself said that his followers would face trials, grief, and losses of all sorts. That doesn?t exactly sound like good news, now does it?
Have you ever looked at the great cities in our world and thought that they weren?t really that great? Did you ever think that the city was a place where God was not? Well, after today?s lesson, you might change your mind.
We often think of the Old Testament prophets as harbingers of terrible news. But that wasn?t always the case. Sometimes their message of impending judgment was followed by a message of hope.
Do you ever wonder what God is up to? Of course! We all do. But how do we avoid that wonder turning to fear and doubt?
?I know the plans I have for you,? declares the Lord. ?Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.? Does this describe you? Are you looking for hope and a future?
God is a righteous judge, and that means that anyone who doesn?t repent of their sin will be fitted with a yoke of iron! Not exactly the happiest of messages, but it is one the prophet Jeremiah was told to preach.
Does the evening news scare you? Are you afraid of war, terror, or evil governments? Believe it or not, Jeremiah has a lot to teach us about who really is in control of the world powers.
Have you ever felt like you were put on trial by your friends or family members because of your faith? Don?t worry, you?re not alone.
If God offered you a cup of wine, would you drink from it? What if it were the cup of His wrath?
In Jeremiah chapter 24, the prophet sees a strange vision: Two Baskets of Figs. One was full of the best figs in the land, and the other wasn?t even fit for dogs to eat.
We hear people claiming to speak the will of God all the time. But do you know how to identify a false prophet?
We have heard of Jesus as Lord, and even as the Good Shepherd. But what does it mean that He is the Righteous Branch?
Ever wondered what an ancient book like Jeremiah could teach you about marriage? Believe it or not, it can actually teach you the importance of having a Second Honeymoon.
Do you know anyone who plans in waiting until later in life to think about God and spiritual things? Are you like that?
Have you ever done what God told you to do, but then doubted Him because what you thought would happen... didn?t? If so, don?t worry. You?re not alone.
No one can fully understand the ways of God. But does that mean we have the right to question His decisions about whom He saves and whom He destroys?
Have you ever questioned God for shaping your life the way He has? If He is the potter and we are the clay, then we have the right to do so, don?t we?
Do you sometimes think you have to work seven days a week in order to get ahead? Surely God will understand, right? Not according to the prophet Jeremiah.
Do you think that people are basically good, they just need a little help to bring them closer to God? Jeremiah found out the hard way whether this statement was true, or not.
Have you ever felt like your faith made you a social outcast? Well, imagine how Jeremiah felt. He wasn?t even allowed to go to dinner parties.
Have you ever prayed for something and then become frustrated because God didn?t answer you? You?re not alone; even the Old Testament prophets experienced this.
Our sin should make us weep before the Lord, but have you ever looked at the sins of others and found yourself arguing with God because of them? Jeremiah did.
Corruptio Optima Pessima: The corruption of the best is the worst. That?s especially true when the people of God turn from him to follow idols.
We often think of Jeremiah as the lamenting prophet, but what happens when it is God who does the lamenting?
Have you ever broken a contract with someone? The penalties can be quite severe. But imagine what happens when we break a contract?with God!
Did you ever ask God why He hasn?t given you all that you deserve in life? Actually, in Christ, we don?t get what we deserve in life, and for that we should be eternally grateful. Confused?
It is easy to identify an idol if it is made out of stone or wood. But how do you identify idols of the heart? Listen next time, as Dr. Philip Graham Ryken continues his study in Jeremiah by looking at what it teaches us about idolatry.
Do you think boasting is wrong? Well, that depends what you are boasting about. Listen next time, as Dr. Philip Graham Ryken discusses something to boast about from the book of Jeremiah.
Have you ever felt beaten down by sin and sorrow and thought there was no cure for your pain? Have you ever cried out in agony for a balm to heal your wounds? The prophet Jeremiah did, and he received a surprising answer.
In the book of Jeremiah, the people of God acted like bird-brains! In fact, if you compared them to birds regarding their ability to obey their creator?s instructions, they came out way behind.
Have you ever heard an ?R-Rated? sermon? Imagine what happened when the people of Judah engaged in child sacrifice! To find out, listen next time, as Dr. Philip Graham Ryken discusses a disturbing section in the book of Jeremiah
All families worship together, whether they know it or not. The question is, what are they worshiping? Listen next time, as Dr. Philip Graham Ryken discusses the book of Jeremiah, and find out about the Family at Worship
What happens when God?s people are convicted of their sins and turn back to him and walk in a new obedience? Reformation.
Have you ever been at a crossroads in your life and not known which path to take? How do you decide which way to walk?
The prophet Jeremiah lived in the same sort of society that we live in. There are blind fools, fat cats, and lying prophets all around us. The situation is a bad one- in fact it?s incurable. So what will we do in the end?
God told the prophet Jeremiah that he?d hold back his wrath if Jeremiah could find even one righteous person in the City of Jerusalem. So he looked and looked, but couldn?t find a single righteous individual. But if we are perfectly honest with ourselves, we know why.
Divine judgment- the worst possible nightmare. There will come a day for some people when this terrible nightmare will become a reality. But you do not have to be numbered among them.
Have you ever felt disappointed with God? Well try looking at things from His perspective. If God wanted to write a book about us, He could call it ?Disappointed with People!? Don?t think that?s true?
Do you struggle with giving God your whole heart? We all do. Yet the Christian?s relationship to God is a love relationship. And true love requires an undivided heart.
We sometimes get the idea that being faithful to God?s covenant is simply a matter of obeying God?s Law. But there is actually more to it than that. God wants our hearts as well as our wills.
How can we, as Christian believers, stand up against the enemies of God in a wicked world? Where does that kind of courage come from? Next time we?ll find out how the promises of God can help us stand against the enemies of God in a wicked, fallen world.
Have you ever wondered who you are and why you are here? Next time we'll begin a study in the book of Jeremiah. We'll learn that an integral part of knowing who you are is knowing whose you are.
Have you ever wanted God to speak to you directly? To show himself to you personally? It sounds like a wonderful desire. But in reality, God?s holiness is not something we can bear face to face. It requires a mediator.
Suppose you had to squeeze the whole meaning of Christmas onto a Christmas card. How would you do it? What would you write? Is it even possible? According to Dr. Philip Ryken, the whole meaning of Christmas is much too big for a card. But you could make a pretty good start by quoting a single sentence written by the apostle Paul.
We live in a consumer-driven age. It?s hard to escape the advertisements for the newest edition or updated model. In truth, we crave ?The Next Thing.? But what happens when the desire for more leads to wanting what someone else has?
Telling the truth. That?s something we?d all like to think we do, but when we?re honest, we know that dishonesty comes in all sizes. Whether it?s a big lie, a half-truth, flattery, a fib, or just leaving out some key detail that shades the truth, we?ve all failed miserably here. The question before us once again as Christians is, how do we see God?s grace when it comes to the matter of truthfulness?
Are you a thief? I ask because Christians today have forgotten what stealing really means. Theft occurs at every level of society, and like everyone everywhere, even believers are in on the take.
Giving thanks when you?re sitting down to a nice fish dinner is one thing. Giving thanks when you?re trapped in the belly of a fish is quite another! You might have heard and read the story of Jonah a dozen times and never noticed that that?s exactly what Jonah did.
Sex is like super glue because it bonds together a man and woman in a permanent union. This type of bond is only for marriage; sex in any other context leads only to misery and heartache.
We say that America is a civilized country, but in reality we live in a culture of death. Death is everywhere. There?s murder in our cities, our schools, and on our highways. And according to the Bible, there?s murder in our very own hearts as well.
High school students are amazed at how out of touch their parents are, how little they seem to know about life. But parents deserve a lot more credit than that! Yet even if they don?t, they still need to be obeyed because it?s the will of God.
Work? work? work? is there ever an end to the to-do list? There just aren?t enough hours in the day. But God has a remedy-one whole day in seven to rest in his grace.
Do you realize that, if you?re a Christian, you carry the very name of Jesus Christ? The name of Christ is associated with everything you do, and your reputation is actually a reflection on his reputation. We?re studying the Ten Commandments learning what it really means to take the Lord?s name in vain.
We all want to be loved for who we really are, or, in modem terms, to be loved unconditionally. Well, so does God. But all too often we don?t love him as he is. Instead we attempt to remake him into a god that makes us feel good, a god that does what we want.
Whom do you love? In what do you trust? The truth is that we?re tempted to love and trust many things besides God. But there?s a cure for the lure of the world, and that is Jesus Christ. Jesus is so powerful, so wonderful, so worthy of our trust that he can displace the pull of the world from our hearts.
I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that God requires perfect obedience to his Law. In each detail and every instance, we are required to be perfect. This is bad news because we can?t do it. But that?s where the good news comes in.
Why is there so much opposition to God?s Law? It?s because people feel uncomfortable when God tells them what to do. But God?s Law is actually for our good. It informs our conscience and deters us from sin. Most of all, the law shows us our need of a Savior.
What are the Ten Commandments really all about? Are they even relevant today? They are indeed, and that?s because the Ten Commandments are really about love?love for God and love for one another.
Are you afraid to share the truth about God with those around you? It can be difficult to know exactly what to say, and to make sure you say it right. And then what happens if they don?t listen to you? Believe it or not, Moses had similar struggles.
Have you ever looked at a genealogy in the Bible and decided to just skip over it? After all, what can we possibly learn from a list of names? You might be surprised. I think we can learn a lot and that it can be interesting and fun too.
Do you want to know who the Lord is? It?s an important truth that we all need to learn. Moses wanted to know, and so the Lord revealed himself as the God of all salvation. God may have saved the Israelites from the Egyptians but what does that salvation mean to us?
It can be hard to do the right thing, but you know what is really frustrating? Doing the right thing, only to find yourself worse off than before! Moses went through that, and it?s a necessary lesson for all of us, so that we can understand God?s sovereign control in our own lives.
Have you ever known someone who placed impossible demands on you? Weather you?re overloaded with homework, or in the workforce, or at home with a bunch of kids, it happens to all of us. Thousands of years ago Pharaoh did this to the Israelites, yet their suffering, ultimately, was so that God would be glorified.
The reality of God and His holiness is written on everyone?s heart, even those who most oppose God?s people. This was the case with Pharaoh in ancient Egypt just as much as it is the case in our world today.
The Book of Exodus presents us with many important themes: God saving his children, the hardening of Pharaoh?s heart, and ultimately, God punishing the wicked. But before any of that could happen, Moses had much to learn.
God has made you exactly as he wants you. Do you believe that? He calls us to serve him. No matter where you live and no matter what our abilities are. Why? It?s not just our talents that God can use. Our weakness gives him glory as well. Do you live that way?
Do you ever stop to think about why God used such extraordinary miracles when he freed his people out of slavery in Egypt? Not only did he demonstrate his power, but in doing the miracles, he honored his covenant promises. And even more than that, he brought about justice for their years of enslavement. It was a redemption that was paid in full. Sound familiar?
If you?re a Christian, you have work to do. And it?s work that God has called you, and you alone, to do. If you?re like me, hearing that can result in anxiety. It?s easy to focus on myself ? my planning, my readiness, my preparedness. And while doing that, forgetting that if it?s God?s work, he provides all that is needed. You and I are just his instruments.
Do you realize God does not meet us where we are? No, it?s far better than that. God brings us to where he is. We are not good. We can never keep his law. We can never stop from sinning. Instead, the Bible teaches that Jesus keeps the law with perfect holiness. And then he died on the cross to take away all of our un-holiness.
God?s servant Moses had choices most of us would never dream of. Raised in Pharaoh?s court he had everything life can offer. But he chose hardship instead of glory. And yet for all his good intentions, Moses sinned against God. If we?re honest, we?ll see that we do as well. When we take matters into our own hands, we?re fighting against God.
As American Christians, we often get focused on behavior. In some ways it?s part of our national character to be pragmatic. We want to know what to do or to change in order to live better. And while that goal can certainly result in pleasing God, we need to remember that the scriptures first and foremost, reveal God?s plan for salvation.
Do you realize that the story of Moses? birth and life mirrors that of Jesus Christ in several important ways? And from these events in history we learn quite a bit about how God saves us ? both by using people and triumphing over evil ? in his timing and in his way?
Slavery, persecution and suffering. These certainly aren?t things any of us would choose to go through. And if truth be told, if we had to endure them, as many people have throughout history, our first response would likely be, ?Why, me?? So why do God?s people go through such hardships? How is it that a sovereign, all-powerful God allows this?
If you want to learn about Jesus Christ, where do you turn? Most of us would say the Gospels, and that?s right. But we can also turn to the book of Exodus, because one way or another, the entire Bible is the story of God?s salvation. And in Exodus we?ll learn about the mercy, justice, holiness, and glory of our Almighty God.
Have you ever looked at a work of modern art and been puzzled as to its message or purpose? So much of the art in the world today seems to be odd that we find it hard to fit it into our Christian world-view. But what?s the bigger question ? what role do the arts play in the church today? What does God say about the arts? And what kind of art glorifies God?
?You belong to me.? Did you know that there are over 50 songs that have been written about those four simple words? Jazz, pop, country -- artists of all kinds of music have written lyrics about this concept that conveys such strong feelings. But these feelings didn?t start with us.
Is your prayer life where you want it to be? Do you ever feel like the words you?re trying to lift up to God?s ear just fall to the floor the minute they leave your lips? We all feel like that at times.
Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is? It?s easy to wonder -- we don?t always feel like our lives are achieving any greatness. Well, there is a purpose...but with all the difficulties and distractions of daily life, it is easy for us to get lost in the details.
We often describe our Christian communities as a ?body of believers? or ?God?s church family.? You might call yourself a ?believer? or a ?follower of Christ.? But do you ever think of yourself as a priest, or as part of a royal priesthood?
Most of us wear our ?Sunday best? for church. We try to look a little nicer than normal, as it?s after all for worship. So too the priests of Israel had fine garments they had to wear when entering into God?s presence. But one Priest didn?t wear them when he made His sacrifice. He didn?t need outward splendor -- he had a splendor all his own.
Have you experienced a time when you felt like God wasn?t present? Or been anxious that he might not get you through a difficult time? You?re not alone. When Jesus was crucified, the disciples felt they had lost him for good. But they were wrong, and they came to see how Jesus? promise that he would be with them forever --was true.
?Time heals all wounds? -- that?s a famous quote and something that we all rest on after suffering grief. Sometimes time is all we have. But I can only think of one great tragedy in all of history where no time was needed -- where the grief was not only turned into joy, but became the source of the rejoicing. And that?s the story of Christ on the cross.
Have you ever wanted to know exactly what God wanted you to do? Decision-making can be difficult, and when it?s time to make an important life choice, people often wish that God would write his will for them in the sky. What they fail to see is that God has revealed his will for them. He has even given us an instruction manual on how his children should go about learning just what his will is.
The priests of the Old Testament were holy men with a holy calling. They were servants of God, offering sacrifices to Him for the entire nation of Israel day and night. They had the high privilege of entering into the Holy Place were God was. They wore sacred and beautiful garments. But they weren?t perfect. They were still sinners -- except for One. And this Priest has offered the perfect and final sacrifice.
Many people today say that they want to know God. But what there really interested in is what God can do for them. They?ve got a lot of questions they?d like him to answer, problems they?d like him to solve, and blessing they?d like him to give. But this is not how God operates. God is holy, we?re not, and before anything else happens, something has to be done about our sin.
When the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, President Ronald Reagan spoke of the astronauts as having ?slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.? This phrase expresses one of our deepest longings. We want to meet with God. We want to see him -- the only problem is, we?re sinners. We stretch the truth. We use our money selfishly...these sins keep us from God. And that?s why we need Jesus.
Do you find it hard to be one of the only Christians at your work place? How much do you talk about your faith to the other parents at your child?s school? It?s not easy, but there are so many people living in darkness who cross our paths each day who need to hear about the light that God offers to sinners. The only way to have the light of God is to come to faith in Jesus Christ.
In today?s struggling economy, a lot of us have come to a place that we thought we would never be? worrying about how we will meet our needs. If you?ve lost your job, you?re probably worried about how you will pay your bills and provide food for your family. And you may feel like nobody understands or knows your needs. But someone does. And he knows your needs even better than you do.
We live in a casual age. Life is busy and modern. People don?t have time for the pomp and circumstance of yesterday, especially when it comes to church and God. But we should remember that God and everything about him is holy. So we must be careful not to treat holy things carelessly.
The Bible teaches us that ?Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.? I think the reverse is also true, that where our hearts are, that is where we put our treasure. So if all this is true why do we spend so much money on earthly things? Well, it?s because our hearts are hard. But when we give back to God what he has given to us, we have the privilege to participate in God?s work of spreading the Gospel.
Boasting is never attractive. But have you ever noticed that, despite the fact that nobody likes a bragger, everybody brags anyway? And what about? Our brain power, our muscle power, our buying power...anything that makes us feel like we are better than someone else. But when we come to know Jesus, we humbly realize that we have nothing, except for his cross, to boast about. And for the cross we should boast eagerly.
Does each day?s mail only bring bills? Or have you ever been at a time where you were so far in debt, you saw no way of getting out? Now imagine someone else paying all of your bills, every last one, until your name is completely cleared. Well, good news! That?s already happened.
Christians believe that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with his resurrection, was the most important event in the history of the world. To Christians, the cross of Christ is the source of all hope and comfort. Yet the same cross that is so attractive to the followers of Christ is exactly what keeps others from coming to him at all. How could there be any power in a man hanging on a cross?
If I were to ask you ?Are you at war with anyone?? you would probably be surprised, maybe even offended. And why would that be such a strange question? Probably because we all want to think of ourselves as peace loving individuals. But the fact is, we are at war, with God. The good news is, that God has made a peace offering towards us. Will you accept it?
Would you be offended if I told you that you were hopeless and helpless? Of course you would, but the fact is, we're all hopeless and helpless, every one of us born into this world, except One. Listen next time to Every Last Word with Dr. Philip Ryken as he teaches about that one person who will give us all the hope, all the help that we will ever need in this life.
If you look around at Christmas time you?ll likely see almost everywhere baby Jesus in a manger. But something is missing, can you think of what it is? In order to fully understand Christmas, another part of Jesus? story needs to be told. Tune in this week to Every Last Word with Dr. Phil Ryken to hear about the very important connection between the manger and the cross.
We see it everywhere, hanging from people?s necks, in the skyline on top of certain buildings, and even on the covers of some books. It?s something that we?ve gotten so used to seeing, we?ve forgotten how powerful it can be. Do you know what I?m talking about? Join us next time on Every Last Word as Dr. Phil Ryken reminds us of the power and necessity of the cross of Christ.
Have you ever felt like you disappointed God, or worse, completely fallen away from him? It happens to all of us, and in the midst of these struggles, it?s easy to forget that God?s grace and Jesus? atoning work on the cross is sufficient for everyone. Join us next time to Every Last Word for an encouraging message from Dr. Phil Ryken as he gives us a ?Word for the fallen.?
The Bible teaches that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the most significant events in human history. The reason Jesus rose from the dead was to conquer sin and death once and for all. That sounds like critical information for all of us to hear. But the question you might be asking is this: ?Is what the Bible says about Jesus really true? Did Jesus of Nazareth actually come back to life??
| 02/26/12 | Dominated by the Spirit |
| 02/19/12 | God's Kingdom Consummated |
| 02/19/12 | Attempt Small Things for God |
| 02/19/12 | Living Sacrifice |
| 02/12/12 | People of the Kingdom |
| 02/12/12 | The King or the Queen |
| 02/12/12 | Christianity is Christ |