Messages

The book of Daniel is not just about the stories you heard in Sunday School—it gives us an insight into God’s promise and a pattern at work in history.

Today we study Mark 2:1-12 as Jesus heals a paralytic man and forgives his sins through His authority. We identify 4 different people groups in this passage and determine who we may identify with. The 1. Scribes who are offended by Jesus’ authority, 2. The Friends who are banking on Jesus’ authority, 3. The Crowd who is intrigued by Jesus’ Authority and 4. The Paralytic who is desperate for Jesus’ authority. Who are you as it relates to Jesus’ authority?

The renewing of our minds can only happen to a Christ follower through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, but we also have a role in not conforming to the world.

King David officially passes leadership of the nation of Israel to his son Solomon, who God chose as the next king. He encourages and directs Solomon to trust and follow God’s commands and wisdom.

It is essential that we understand the historical and theological nature behind the story of Job. While the book was likely written by a Jew and for a Jewish audience, none of the characters in the book are ethnic Jews because the nation of Israel did not yet exist.

The Old Covenant has served its purpose, and it has been replaced by a better covenant (Heb 7:22). While the Old Covenant was still in effect in the Old Testament, the New Covenant was predicted in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The New Covenant is the promise that God will forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of this covenant, and His death on the cross is the basis of the promise. Today this New Covenant fulfills the triad of land, seed and blessing under the Abrahamic Covenant, and out of it we have received our current spiritual blessings. We are no longer under the Law but under grace (Rom 6:14-15)!

How should we respond to a living God who has done all the work of redemption for us? Since the price for our sin has been paid by Jesus, we worship Him by offering ourselves as living sacrifice available for God’s use.

God demonstrates his sovereignty by anointing Solomon as the king of Israel to follow David. Despite Adonijah’s attempts to claim the throne, God proves faithful and his word remains true.