Previously in The Bible's Big Story, we have witnessed Creation, the Fall, and the Covenant Promises - to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, and to Moses. God fulfilled his promises by bringing Israel out of Egyptian slavery and into the Promised Land, making them a great nation.

Even though Israel had become the great nation that God promised, the people were quick to turn their backs on God. The Book of Judges shows a vicious cycle--the people forget about God, they face disaster as a result, they cry out to God for help, God raises up a leader through which he rescues them, and then the cycle repeats!

Perhaps a king will help? But, no--even the wise Solomon forgets the God that gave him wisdom. The kingdom becomes fractured in two. King after king fails to do what is right in God's sight. Despite a few moments when it seems the people might listen to the warnings of the prophets, the people once again find themselves slaves in a foreign land, as both kingdoms fall.

The people misinterpret their defeat as God's defeat and wonder: has God finally given up on them? Is his plan ruined? Is all lost?

This week, the story continues! God works through the descendants of Abraham to call them out of slavery and establish them in the promised land. God takes this people and shaped them to be his own.

The first 11 chapters of the Bible describe the ripples of separation and sin that spread throughout the universe. What would God do? Would he forever abandon his broken creation? Would he destroy it to start again? In Abraham we see God's answer: The story will continue. God will remake his creation, starting with one old man and woman, with no family to call their own. Stay tuned to see how the story unfolds over the next four weeks.

There are times when God's truth makes sense to us, and times when the truth of God's Word seems to be foolishness. We need to do as the psalmist wrote, asking God to lead us so we can walk obediently in His truth. When we obey, we see God's truth revealed in our lives - his truth about us and about him.

David prayed "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth." (Psalm 86:11) The truth revealed in God's Word often brings us to our knees. It is through prayer and conversation with God that we seek God's truth to work in all areas of our lives.

It is in Biblical community that our understanding and implementation of God's truth reaches maturity. This community involves clsoe relationships with believers who know us well, our church family and leaders given us by God, and even the broader church.

 

 

What does the Bible say about certain issues? This is the congregations opportunity to ask Mark any questions.

What does the Bible say about certain issues? This is the congregations opportunity to ask Mark any questions.

What does the Bible say about certain issues? This is the congregations opportunity to ask Mark any questions.

 

 

 

 

Kris - see if you can listen to this.

If you have ever had a theological question that you would like an answer to, this is the oppurtunity to ask it.

What's in your wallet has the power to cause great harm in your life - or be a blessing in the lives of others. Can we learn to be generous like our God?

We all want to be in charge - to decide what is right and wrong in our own lives. But all authority is an illusion - unless it comes from God. Are you willing to let the Bible be the authority for your whole life?

Do you feel tired sometimes - lacking to power to live life in the way God wants you to live? God's Word has the answer - the Bible itself! It is the power for salvation and for daily life.

We begin a new series entitled "Read the Manual: The Truth, Power, Authority, and Usefulness of the Bible." In week one we look at the question, "Is the Bible true?"

Is resting time wasted time? This week we end our "24" series by looking at the Biblical concept of the sabbath.

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This week we look at the concept that we will never get our priorities straight in life until we give God control.

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Can people change? YES! God has an amazing plan for lasting change in our lives - and the power to help make that change happen.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart - for they shall see God!" Being "pure in heart" means opening the secrets in our lives - the hurts, habits, and hang ups that we try to hide - and sharing them freely with God and one another, so we can receive God's love and forgiveness.

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The first in our "Life Reclaimed" series, focusing on change that God can bring into our life right here and now.

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The first in our series of relational evangelism. God is calling you to understand the different "spiritual addresses" of friends, coworkers, and neighbors who are far from him so you can share his grace in an appropriate, life-changing way.

Porches have steps for a reason - so we can reach out from the porch to draw others into a community with God and with us!

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This second week in our series on living in community with God and one another focuses on the eternal nature of community. Relationships built on the porch last forever!

God exists in a loving relationship - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In creation, God was seeking to expand that circle of community - to include us!

In this final week of the "In the News" series we ask: What is the role of Christians in a society that seems to grow more sinful each day?

This is a message given at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, IL.

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