Stephen's Defense

Ryan Lowery

Genesis 7:37-8:1

When argument failed, the enemies of the early church turned to lies and perjury when they accused Stephen of attacking the God of Israel. In Stephen's defense, he makes the argument that God is much more than just the God of Israel. Those who murdered Stephen had idolized ritual practices and were blind to the fact that God wants a relationship rather than religious acts.\r\n\r\n

The Paradox of Fulfillment (Part 1)

Jim Leffel

Matthew 5:1-12

There is great suffering in this world and we have become people who are trying to hide from it and deny it. We turn away from God, but He is the one who we can take comfort in. He is asking for us to place our worries on Him. We must be willing to let our hearts break.

Dealing With Failure

Scott Risley

1 Peter 5:2-4

When Christians fail, it is easy to believe that God has abandoned them or will punish them for their mistakes. The example of Peter's failure, however, demonstrates that God is gracious towards us and can even use our failures for good, and those who choose to accept the second chance God gives them can become more effective servants for Him.

The Great Tribulation

Gary DeLashmutt

Revelation 15:5-16:21

During the period of The Great Tribulation, God is involved in an extraordinary way to both judge and redeem. God judges directly to rescue his creation by destroying hardened enemies, yet often also judges indirectly to demonstrate the folly of rebellion in hopes that some will turn back. During the time of The Great Tribulation, God judges directly while taking a multitude of actions to plead with people to turn back to Him.

Jesus: The Slain Lamb

Jeff Gordon

Revelation 5

John details seeing Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, represented as the ransom for God's people. The Lamb was slaughtered, but was able to take the scroll that no one else could open, and he was declared worthy of it. With reference to Exodus 12 and Isaiah 53, this vision symbolizes the gospel message: that Christ died in our place to offer salvation to all people.

Why Does God Have the Right to Rule?

Gary DeLashmutt

Revelation 4:1-5:14

In John's vision of the throneroom of God, three reasons are given for God's right to rule: 1) God is the only morally perfect Ruler; 2) God is the Creator who owns and cares for His creation; and 3) because Jesus has already paid the ultimate price to save humanity.

Behold, Your King

Scott Risley

Psalms 22:14-18

Death by crucifixion is brutal and bloody, and Jesus' death on the cross was no exception. However, Jesus' death was not merely an execution but rather God's plan for the salvation of mankind, and his death simultaneously fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and satisfied God's wrath. Through his sacrifice, we are able have our moral debt paid in full and to experience a personal relationship with God.

The Sheep are Scattered

Scott Risley

2 Corinthians 7:10-11

Peter and Judas both betrayed Jesus before his death - one by denying that he had ever met Jesus, and the other by turning him over to the murderous authorities. Even though these two men performed the same despicable act, Peter became a leader in the early church and Judas committed suicide. These two outcomes can only be explained by one factor: their response to their failure. Peter chose to repent while Judas chose to stay in his regret, and we as Christians are also faced with the same choice when we make mistakes in our own lives.

Jesus Betrayed, Arrested, and Denied

Dennis McCallum

John 18:1-40

Jesus is betrayed by Judas Iscariot and handed over to the chief priests and Pharisees to be arrested. Jesus is aware of Judas' betrayal, and shortly afterwards, Peter denies Jesus three times, something Jesus had also predicted. On the surface, the failures of Judas and Peter seem identical, but their attitudes reflect a difference, what is known as metanoia (repentance or change of heart) versus metamelomai (regret or worldly sorrow). It is these heart attitudes that distinguish Peter versus Judas and why the outcome of their lives looked radically different. This attitude before God is important for Christians to consider when they encounter failure as well.