Twenty Pages a Week: Recent Episodes
Hal Hammons
We are reading the entire Bible through in a year - an average of 20 pages per week. I am Hal Hammons, your host. Every Monday morning (Lord willing!) I will post a short segment to encourage you in your week's reading. We begin with my "first impressions" from the reading this time through, then we focus on "one story," "one verse" and "one word." I hope it motivates you to get in the Book of books and stay there.And check out my Citizen of Heaven podcast also. There we cover the ins and outs of living as a Christian in Satan's world.
We discuss the absence of a big-screen adaptation of this book; Haman's refusal to be satisfied with virtually everything he wanted; God's propensity to turn what appears to be random chance into a blessing for His people; and the significance of the term "Jew," and the stigma that comes with being the people of God.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
Nehemiah tells the story of the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem. The book emphasizes prayer, proper fellowship, commitment, and many other core principles.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
We begin the second quarter by discussing the return of the Jews from exile, the reconstruction of the temple, the role outsiders were to play (or not play, as it were), Ezra's own mission of instruction and training, and the presence of God in the lives of His people.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
The story of Solomon and his successes sets the groundwork for what the nation of Judah did right in the years of the divided kingdom. By examining the work of God in times past, we can evaluate the best way of presenting ourselves as the people of God in our day. This lesson concludes Quarter 1.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
This reading comes with its challenges. But even the first few chapters, which seem like little more than long lists of names, has lessons and examples for us.
This book describes the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and then the fall of Judah shortly afterward. I touch on the story of Elisha's final message for the king of Israel; the way the new residents of the land duplicated Israel's own shortfall in worship and service; and how "misleading" spiritual leaders can be.2
This is the story of Solomon's rise and fall, the split of the nation, and the disappointment of Jeroboam and the other Northern kings. We'll discuss who the real "troubler of Israel" was, and is; and what a king should be, both in the world and in the church.
We cover the reign of King David in this lesson, warts and all. We focus on the return of the ark, his sorrow over Absalom and its implications for us, and what made his "mighty men" mighty.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
God takes His time. It took generations for David to ascend the throne. It took years even after he was anointed. But God does things in His way and His time. This section of Scripture tells the story of how David's family came to power, and how the Israelites' idea of a great king turned out to be a failure.
We focus on "The LORD your God" as Moses' chosen description of God, the "Song of Moses," God's requirements from Deuteronomy 10:12, and the covenant He struck with Israel.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
We touch on the importance of the dozens of names in the book, and God's determination to bless every family of Israel; we discuss the hesitation and ultimate obedience regarding the man who violated the Sabbath; a verse criticizing the people's tendency (both then and now) to blame the messenger instead of the actual sinners; and the word "whatever" and its importance with regard to the commands of God.
Most of the lesson this week will focus around the incident regarding Nadab and Abihu in chapter 10. This is not the easiest reading, but there are plenty of lessons to be learned in this book.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
We discuss how it always seems to get worse before it gets better; why a slave would remain a slave, and what that has to do with us as Christians; Exodus 33:13 and the glory of knowing the ways of God; and the word "holy" as a descriptor of one who would come into the presence of the Almighty.
Check out the Citizen of Heaven podcast at https://halhammons.buzzsprout.com/.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
We discuss the Jacob and Esau story, the way God works His way in the lives of His people, and the difference between "your" God and "my" God.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
I hope you like the new format! We will be more consistent this year -- that is my commitment!
This week we cover my focus on names; the Lot and Sodom story; Genesis 6:7 and the grace shown to Noah; and the word "Believed."
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
I had a sit-down with several of my previous guests and tried to encapsulate the Bible in an hour. A great conversation.
My brother Paul Hammons joins for this episode. He preaches for the Kimberly church of Christ in the Birmingham, Alabama, area. The first half of Daniel is popular with the young Bible class students, but it is just as powerful for adults as we examine how we function as the people of God in a carnal society.
Keith Stonehart of Fultondale, Alabama, sits in as I post from the road. (All went well, by the way, in case I left any doubt.) We discuss the sad yet important message of Ezekiel, the inspiration we find in a valley of dry bones, and the battle with evil that always ensues after God breathes life into us.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
Chris is back, discussing the first half of Ezekiel. His odd (to put it mildly) preaching style, God's spectacular first scene, the role of the watchman, and various other topics enter into the conversation prominently.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
Steve Wolfgang joins this week to discuss the life of exiles. We discuss Zechariah's failure, Ebed-Melech's remarkable example, despair in the bottom of the cistern, and the blessings God has on the other side of Babylonian captivity.
Stephen McCrary of Oxford, Alabama, joins this week to discuss the final section of Isaiah. Stephen cohosts the Walking with the Book podcast with Bryant Bailles.
Bryant rejoins the stream to discuss the middle section in Isaiah. We deal with the judgment and salvation of God, as well as the highs and lows of Hezekiah's reign as king of Judah.
In this episode, Phillip Martin from Sharpsburg, Georgia, takes delight in embarrassing me, on the day my daughter was married, over the sexual imagery in the book. Seriously, though, he provided great perspective on the poetry and symbolism.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
I fly solo this week. We begin the third quarter of the material with a look at Isaiah's life as a prophet, his run-in with King Ahaz, and the role childbirth played in his life both prophetically and literally.
This is my conversation with Michael Walls (pre-recorded instead of live this week because of my travel schedule), covering Book 2 of the Psalms.
Edwin Crozier and Andrew Roberts, hosts of the Text Talk podcast, sit in and discuss the first book of the Psalms.
Michael and I discuss how literally we should take Satan's quest for Job's soul and ours, why wisdom is so difficult to come by, and how we should "gird up our loins" and work in the place God puts us instead of wishing we were somewhere else.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
We discuss Nehemiah's penchant for prayer, our desire to remember and be remembered, our need for walls of all sorts, and much, much more.
Brent and I discuss the importance of genealogies, Brent's favorite character in the book (not Ezra, by the way), and various other aspects of the text.
Daniel Parrish of Russelville, Alabama, joins for the discussion. We will discuss the Naaman story, Elisha's prominence as "the man of God," Israel's rebellion and punishment, and related matters.
Hal Hammons is the preacher for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
Kyle Sanders joins the discussion this week. We discuss the failed Canaan invasion, the Korah rebellion, the complaining nation, the humility of Moses, and many other aspects of the text.
I was on vacation this week, so I didn't go live or have guests. I discuss the Pharaoh story and the foreknowledge of God; why permanent slavery could be a desirable thing; and why commandments are different from suggestions or advice.
Terry Francis and Zeke Flores join the podcast this week. We discuss the pros and cons of Joseph's example; Jacob's wrestling match with God; and the role of providence in the lives of God's people.
Phillip Martin and Michael Walls guest host. We discuss garden theology, the Babel dispersion, and man's eternal effort to work his way into a paradise of his own making instead of receiving the grace of God and entering into His paradise.