Month: November 2009

God Works With the Unqualified

Rob Woodrum3 Comments

This Sunday we’ll be reading Luke 1:26-38, as we continue the story of Jesus as told by Luke’s gospel.

As you read that story, what do you see as similarities and differences between the story of Zachariah and that of Mary?  How do you see yourself in this account?  Isn’t it interesting that God chose to work in a backwoods town with a couple of “nobodies” instead of bringing Christ through well known rulers or highly respected religious leaders?  What does that tell us about how and who God works with?  What does that tell us about US?

Backstory; Birth of John the Baptist

Rob Woodrum3 Comments

Have you ever had a major disappointment in life?  Have you ever asked God to intervene, only to feel like heaven was shut up and silent?  In the next section we will read, we’ll be introduced to a couple who went through that very thing.  We’ll be looking at Luke 1:5-25 this Sunday.  By the way, you can listen to this passage read HERE.

How did you feel when your prayer didn’t seem to be answered?  Did you feel like you did something wrong.  In our passage, we have an old couple who are described as people who are committed, observant followers of God…yet who suffered what was often considered a sign of God’s curse on their lives.  They were childless.  Not only that, they were advanced in years, meaning, they were past the age of doing anything about being childless.  You wonder how they felt, yet it appears it didn’t cause them to give up their trust in God.

What’s really interesting is that these people are the starting point for Luke’s account.  He frames it in the time of Herod the Great…but then shifts the focus from that impressive, historical leader to these two backwoods people who are the equivalent of an old country pastor and his wife.  People who should be considered insignificant, who can’t even get a prayer answered by God.  It’s with these folks that Luke starts the story of Jesus.  God is just cool like that.

When the angel appears to Zechariah, how does he respond?  Does it change the outcome of what the angel says?  What DOES it change?  Do you relate to Zechariah at all?  What does this passage say to you?

Investigating the Hero King

Rob Woodrum1 Comment

LUKE webThis Sunday we’ll begin a new series…one that may take a while to get through, but I truly believe will be worth it!

What are some of the earth-shaking events that have happened in history that you can think of ?  The terrorist attacks of 9-11 come readily to mind, having occurred so recently.  Think about the ways in which our world changed as a result of that event.  It’s been one of our responsibilities as a generation to record what happened in that attack.  To investigate it, and it’s ramifications on our world and society.  It’s important because people under the age of 9 didn’t live through it, yet it has shaped their world.

We’re going to begin a study which investigates another event which occurred some 2,000 years ago…an event that spanned 33 years, and which changed the world forever.  It’s the most important thing that’s ever happened, and our lives will never be the same because of it.  What we’re talking about, of course, is the news that God came to the earth and lived, taught, was killed and then rose again among us.  It’s pretty amazing, and it’s the foundation of our faith…yet so few know anything about it.

So…we’re going to begin studying the Gospel of Luke; an investigation of the Hero King.  This Sunday, we’ll read Luke 1:1-4 as an introduction.  Also, another heads up is I will start teaching from the ESV (English Standard Version).  You can read about it and access it here.  Many teachers have been moving toward using the ESV because it appears to be a very faithful, literal translation which is still very easy to read.  I really have come to like it in my own studies.  It will track pretty well with the NKJV if that’s what you’re using.

Anyway…see yaz Sunday!