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!
At the end of Peter’s second letter, he encourages us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Luke Harriman gives a few thoughts on this verse and how we can enjoy more growth in the grace of our Lord.
Many things in our life compete with the Lord for our attention and devotion. As we see from the examples of Peter, Stephen, and Mary, the cure for Idolatry is to turn our eyes upon the face of Jesus as we endure suffering. The glimpse of Him as our Sun of Righteousness will cause all other lights to look dim by comparison. Brother Luke Harriman delivered this message on the Lord’s Day morning, referring to hymn 308 in Spiritual Songs, “Hast Thou Heard Him, Seen Him, Known Him?”
2 Peter 2 tells us of some who “denied the Lord who bought them.” Brother Norris Clarke shared some thoughts with us this Lord’s Day on what it means to deny the Lord and, by contrast, what it means to confess Him.
From three passages in the book of Philippians, we see the supreme purpose, position, and peace available for the believer in Christ. May we live our lives oriented around these truths.
Brother Laurel Smalling brings this brief word of encouragement to fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus’s soon coming as our strong and steady hope through difficult days. Lord Jesus, come!
This morning, we turn to Psalm 116 to consider thoughts on the sacrifice of thanksgiving, which we offer in the presence of the people of God.
Reading from Romans 8, Brother Collin Beckford encouraged us this Lord’s Day to enjoy life in the Spirit as we reflect on all the Lord has done for us.
When the Lord Jesus came into the world, He quoted from Isaiah, declaring that He was the fulfillment of the prophetic word. We can take great comfort in knowing that the Lord sets us free from our spiritual poverty, blindness, and oppression.
Brother Ken Huebner shared some thoughts on the temptation of the Lord Jesus in the wilderness, encouraging us to find comfort knowing that He has faced every type of trial, and He is able to sympathize with us in every way.
On this Resurrection Sunday, 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!
This Lord’s Day morning, we read Isaiah’s fourth “servant song” together in Isaiah 52 and 53.