The Church at Meadowlake Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Church at Meadowlake
Cary Cox, from Mark 6:30-44. Jesus the good shepherd feeds the sheep in the wilderness. He is the greater Moses and David, the fulfillment of all the Old Testament, showing by his powerful and miraculous meal that he is all we need!
Cary Cox, from Mark 6:14-29. Mark tells us the story of the death of John the Baptist. He had called everyone to repentance, but some are not ready to turn from their sins! John’s death foreshadows the rejection and death of Christ. But the call to repentance will not be silenced!
Cary Cox, from Mark 6:1-13. Though Jesus is Lord, and one day every knee will bow to him, at the present time not all are bowing. Not everyone believes. Jesus was rejected by his hometown, and the apostles he sent out would also face rejection. There are serious consequences to unbelief! And yet, God turns the rejection of Jesus to the salvation of his people through the cross and ressurection!
Cary Cox, from Mark 5:21-43. Mark continues to present Jesus Christ as Lord over all hostile enemies. In this passage, Jesus shows that he is Lord over disease and even death! We must not fear, but only believe. He may heal us now. Or he may sustain us through hard things and heal us forever at the last day!
Cary Cox, from Mark 5:1-20. Jesus casts an army of demons out of a tormented man, showing him mercy, and revealing that he is Lord over all the powers of darkness!
Cary Cox, from Mark 4:35-41. Jesus again does what only God can do. He commands the wind and waves – and they obey him! The disciples are terrified, and ask, Who is this? That is the question Mark wants you and I to consider. The evidence and eye-witness testimony he is presenting shows us that Jesus is the divine Son of God!
Cary Cox, from Mark 4:26-34. Jesus said the kingdom of God has come – yet, surprisingly, it looks insignificant and small to those who are blind to its beauty. It often looks like nothing is happening. But Jesus said we scatter the seeds and sleep. We rest because God is working behind the scenes! We can’t control it. It is the work of God. So be encouraged in the ministry – rest in Christ and trust him for the results!
Cary Cox, from Mark 4:21-25. Jesus compares himself to a lamp shining and revealing the kingdom of God. He calls us to pay careful attention to what and how we hear God’s word. There is great blessing for those who hear the preached word of Christ with faith! We need God-opened eyes and ears!
Cary Cox, from Mark 4:13-20. Our conclusion to Jesus’ parable of the sower. The gospel of the kingdom is rejected and by resisted by many. Some seem to receive the gospel, but do not endure to the end. A faith that does not last is a false faith that does not save! Genuine disciples continue in the faith and bear fruit.
Cary Cox, from Mark 4:13-20. The Parable of the Sower, Part 2. Jesus shows how important our hearing of God’s word is. There is a real and active enemy, the devil, who attacks people at the point of hearing God’s word. What are we doing to combat this strategy? How are we hearing the preached word of God? What place in our heart and home does the proclaimed gospel of Jesus have?
Cary Cox, from Mark 4:1-20. Jesus spoke to the crowds of outsiders in parables as a judgment for their hard hearts. But he explained the truth to his disciples, who were hungry for God’s word. The word of his kingdom will triumph in spite of great obstacles and unbelief! It is of the utmost importance how we hear and respond to God’s word!
Cary Cox, from Mark 3:20-35. Mark combines a story of Jesus’ family rejecting him with a story of Jesus’ nation rejecting him (in the official rejection of the religious leaders of Israel). The ones you expect to be on the inside are being thrust outside the kingdom, while the ones you would expect to be outsiders are becoming insiders! We look at the unforgiveable sin and who makes up the true family of God.
Cary Cox, from Mark 3:7-19. The crowds are following Jesus, but mostly for the miracles he can give them. But his disciples are coming closer. Jesus calls his 12 apostles to be with him in fellowship, and to minister out of that relationship to Jesus. They are flawed men with sins and differences, but they are called in unity around Jesus! Fellowship with Jesus means fellowship with his people!
Cary Cox, from Mark 3:1-6. A Sabbath showdown in the synagogue between Jesus and the Pharisees! Jesus is driving home his claim to be Lord of the Sabbath – the true interpreter of God’s word, and the intent of his heart. The Pharisees have hard hearts and end up plotting to destroy Jesus, who shows compassion and power for the hurting, and righteous anger toward the hypocrites.
Cary Cox, from Mark 2:23-28. When Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees about the Sabbath, he makes astounding claims about himself, and corrects their understanding of God’s priority. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath – the Messiah, and the very God who instituted and rules over the Sabbath rest for God’s people! Our rest is in Christ!
Cary Cox, from Mark 2:18-22. Everything is new with the coming of Jesus Christ! He brings the joy of the kingdom of God, the messianic feast! He is the Bridegroom of God’s people! He is the substance of all the shadows, prophecies, promises, and pictures of the OT. In Christ we are a new people in a new covenant with a new temple, headed to the new Jerusalem in new heavens and new earth! It’s all about Jesus.
Cary Cox, from Mark 2:13-17. Jesus did not come for the healthy, but the sick! All are infected with sin, but not everyone knows it. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. In this passage, Jesus balances Truth and Love perfectly. He hangs out with sinners. But he does not affirm their sin. He calls them to repent, that they may be transformed by the grace of God in Christ!
Cary Cox, from Mark 2:1-12. When a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus (through the roof!), Jesus claims to do what only God can do – forgive sins! He does two miracles to back up his claim. Jesus has authority to forgive sins!
Cary Cox, from Psalm 16. Peter quotes Psalm 16 on the day of Pentecost to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter even says David was specifically speaking about the resurrection of the Christ! This psalm shows God as our hope and all-satisfying joy, in this life, and beyond the grave, forevermore!
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:40-45. In the healing of a leper, Mark shows us the heart of Jesus. He is moved with compassion, angry at the suffering of this broken world, willing to intervene, and powerful to heal and cleanse the hurting man! Sin is our leprosy, and Christ is still willing and able to save!
Clint Pitman, from Titus 3. All three Persons of the Trinity are at work in our salvation! The reason we are saved is not found in us, but in God. It is not according to our works, but according to God’s mercy!
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:28-39. Jesus has a full day of ministry, and stays up late showing compassion and power to the whole town! He gets up early to pray, and has a time of testing. The crowds are calling, but Jesus is not after fame and worldly success. He is after obedience to the Father! True success is faithfulness to the will of God.
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:21-28. Mark is showing us who Jesus is – the Son of God! In this passage, he shows us the powerful authority of Jesus in word and deed that left everyone completely overwhelmed and amazed!
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:16-20. Jesus calls his first disciples, beginning to build his community. He calls them directly with authority and they answer with immediate obedience, leaving all to follow Jesus!
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:12-15. After Jesus is baptized and anointed for ministry, He is driven out to the wilderness to be tested and prepared. He enters into the great spiritual conflict! And he begins his ministry by preaching the gospel of the kingdom and calling people to repent and believe!
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:9-11. At the Baptism of Jesus, He is officially revealed to Israel as the Messiah! Mark continues to connect Jesus and the beginning of His ministry to the OT Scriptures. We see the Persons of the Trinity at Jesus’ baptism.
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:1-9a. Mark connects his gospel of Jesus with the prophecies of the Old Testament. They predicted a messenger who would prepare the way for God. John the Baptist came and prepared the way for Jesus! The passages of the OT about Yahweh God are consistently applied to Jesus by the NT writers. We must prepare through repentance and receive Jesus!
Cary Cox, from Mark 1:1. As we begin a verse by verse study of Mark’s Gospel, we first do an overview of the whole book. Who was John Mark? What is the message of his gospel? Mark is proclaiming to us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 24. The book of 2 Samuel comes to an end with David’s sinful census and his sacrifice that satisfied the wrath of God and averted the plague from Israel. David anticipates and points ahead to King Jesus, who gives himself as the final sacrifice for God’s people, satisfying God’s wrath and taking away the plague of God’s judgment!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 23:8-39. The list of David’s mighty men remembers David’s kingdom as one of might and power! God used these men to bring victory to his people and judgment on his enemies. But this passage also reminds us of David’s sin, pointing us away from him, to the Messiah to come! Jesus is the greater David, who won the greater victory for us!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 23:1-7. David was used by God in a prophetic way – God spoke through him! And his prophetic ministry was centered on the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. 2 Samuel is telling us that, at the heart of David’s life and kingdom and ministry, is his ministry of worship and word, all centered on the Messiah!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 22. God’s word makes a point to highlight for us his aspect of David and his kingdom – he was a man of worship! David was the king who set the worship of God at the center of his life and of the nation. And his song in this chapter points us to Jesus the Messiah, the King we worship!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 21. David is portrayed as the king God uses to bring justice – both making things right for those wronged, and punishing the enemies of God. This anticipates Christ, the perfect King of justice, who at his coming will both vindicate his people and crush all enemies!
Mickey McCall, from Luke 2:1-20. God works through the decree of the emperor to send his Son into the world! Christ’s birth is announced and celebrated, and he is worshiped and treasured. Christ the Savior has come!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 20. David resumes his reign, but before he can even sit on the throne, another rebellion breaks out! The nation is divided. God’s people are arguing instead of rallying around the King. Sheba leads an explicit, King-rejecting rebellion. But there is another, more subtle rebellion taking place…
Taylor Walls, from Philippians 4:14-20. Taylor Walls gives us 4 reasons why local churches and believers should support gospel missions. He also gives a report of his Latin American mission.
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 19. The war is over and David has won! He is ready to return to Jerusalem and resume his reign over God’s people. But he soon finds out it is not that easy to unify the divided, arguing people. When Christ our King returns, he will unify the kingdom of God around himself, and settle accounts with all people!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 18:1-19:8. God gives David victory. God judges Absalom with death. The victory for the people of God comes through the sorrow of their king.
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 17. The mighty counselors advise Absalom, with the future and direction of the kingdom hanging in the balance! Yet, it is the Lord who has the final word! We look at the sovereign decrees of God – He reigns over all! Nothing is left to chance. We either fight the Lord for control, or fall at his feet in humble trust.
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 16. As David leaves flees from Absalom, more and more layers of shame are heaped upon him as consequences of his sin. He is cursed and betrayed. Christ Jesus also walked in shame to the cross, where he bore the curse for our sin!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 15. Absalom makes a grab for the throne! His pride reminds us of our own desire to reject God’s king in order to rule our lives. In David’s suffering, he trusted in the Lord, and his suffering points forward to the suffering of Christ! Which king will have our heart?
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 14. Everyone is scheming and manipulating to fix the kingdom. But God is working out his plan. David’s half-hearted ‘forgiveness’ of Absalom contrasts with the full and gracious reconciliation believers have experienced through the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 13. David’s family begin to experience the terrible consequences of David’s sin. We answer the question, “Why are disturbing stories like this in the Bible?”
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 12:15-31. Does David’s awful sin mess up the plan of God? No, God in his grace is absolutely committed to his kingdom, his purpose, his people, and his glory! David rises up again in faith. God shows amazing grace. And Christ will come – even through the line of David and Bathsheba!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 12:1-15. When David sinned, God sent a preacher to boldly confront him for that sin. God does not play around with our sin – He is holy. And God loves his people too much to let us continue in sin! We must respond to God’s confrontations by confessing and repenting of our sin, and receiving his forgiveness. Yet, we also face difficult consequences caused by our sin.
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 11. How did the great King David fall into sin? We look at his downward progression from lust to adultery to deception to murder. We see how insidious and destructive sin really is. And we see our need for the greater King – our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 11:1-5. The text shows us David’s downward progression into sin, as innocent seeing turns into lust and becomes adultery. God’s word points us away from trusting in men, and points us to Jesus Christ, our perfect King! God’s people find cleansing from sin in Christ, and power to fight lust and sin.
Rick Bobbin, from Job 1-2. God is sovereign in our suffering. He has a purpose in our pain that is ultimately good for us, and for his own glory. We can trust God as we walk through suffering!
Steve Davis, from John 20:24-31. A look at ‘Doubting Thomas’ and his interaction with the risen Lord Jesus! We see Thomas’ weakness and also his faith. We see Jesus’ patience with his people and also his deity clearly affirmed! The Lord calls us to faith.
Mickey McCall, from Luke 1:57-80. Luke shows us the transformation in Zechariah, father of John the Baptist. He comes out of his season of silent waiting with words of praise, faith, and truth!
Vic Connell, from Romans 8:18-39. Brother Vic Connell likens the Christian life to joining the army of the Lord. We are not in control of where we are stationed or what our assignment is – sometimes our Commander leads us into suffering. But the gospel of Jesus gives us great hope as we serve the Lord!
Benton Glass, from John 3:16. It’s easy to get distracted from the heart of the gospel – even by good things! Benton Glass calls us back to a focus on God’s heart of love in giving his Son!
Clint Pitman, from Revelation 5. A look at the One – the ONLY One! – who is worthy to walk up to the Father and take the future of the world into his hands! Jesus Christ was slain and has conquered! He has done it. Our response is joyful worship and surrender.
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 10. This passage brings together both David’s kindness and David’s strength, pointing us to the great kindness and strength of Christ. We receive his grace in the gospel, and his power and victory over sin and death! And, in Christ, we extend gentle kindness and courageous strength to others.
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 9. The surprising kindness of David to Mephibosheth foreshadows the amazing grace and mercy of King Jesus to his people!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 8. God gives David victory and blessing, just as he had promised. David’s victories point us ahead to the great and victorious King, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 7:25-29. In prayer, we plead God’s promises back to him, and we cry out for his name to be glorified! We rest in God’s word, and we receive his blessing, through faith!
Cary Cox, from Proverbs 18. In this Midweek Bible Study, we unpack Proverbs 18. Foolishness (Sin) destroys our lives and destroys community. Wisdom is life-giving, and builds community, as we order our lives around the Lord.
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 7:18-29. Even though David is alone with God, praying in private, he has taken the people of God with him, on his mind, heart, and lips. What place does the church have in our prayers?
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 7:18-29. We are walking through David’s prayer to God, his response to God’s great promise of a Son who would reign forever. In his prayer, David magnifies the word of God, he marvels at the grace of God, and he pours out praise to God!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 7:18-29. David responds to God’s amazing promise by praying. David models for us what biblical prayer looks like. In prayer, we seek God’s presence and humble ourselves before him!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 7:1-17. In one of the most important passages in the entire Bible, God promises David a Son who will reign as king forever! See how the Bible connects the dots to clarify its one great message, pointing us to Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 6. David models whole-hearted worship before the Lord. Michal is not participating in worship with God’s people, but is judging and criticizing. In Christ, we are chosen and loved, free to worship God!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 6. As David brings the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, he is centering the kingdom around the worship of God – his presence with his people! What can we learn about true worship here?
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 5. After years of waiting, David experiences the faithfulness of God to his promise, as he is anointed king over all Israel! As David unifies Israel under his kingship, takes Jerusalem, and defeats his enemies, we see a picture of the great King, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 3-4. Everyone around David is acting like they’ve lost their minds, spinning crazy, unleashing sin and foolishness. But David is standing still. And God is at work – even in the crazy, sovereign over sin – to fulfill his good purpose. This points us to Christ! We can trust God, even when it’s crazy!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 2. David is finally anointed king! But only of one tribe of Israel. And his kingdom is opposed by a rival. The kingdom of God sometimes looks small and weak. But it will certainly grow! Jesus also announced the kingdom of God – and was opposed and crucified. His kingdom appears small, but is advancing – and one day every knee will bow!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 1:17-27. David’s song of lamentation for the deaths of Saul and Jonathan teaches us about the reality of grief in this broken world. Jonathan’s loyal friendship is celebrated. And the story anticipates the Son of David, Jesus Christ, who conquered death and the grave for all his people! Grief and sorrow are not ultimate or final in the kingdom of God!
Cary Cox, from 2 Samuel 1:1-16. This book begins by setting Saul and David side by side for comparison. Saul has died in failure, but David rises. We see David’s faith-filled fear of God, his character, his justice. All of this points us to the Lord’s Anointed – Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from Acts 2:22-36. On the day of Pentecost, Peter stands before the city of Jerusalem and boldly preaches Jesus Christ as the risen King! Peter gets to Christ by opening the Scriptures and pointing to David, and the promise of a Messiah from David’s family. Jesus is not only alive from the dead, he is exalted as King of kings and Lord of lords!
Cary Cox, from Matthew 21 and Zechariah 9-14. What does David have to do with Palm Sunday? Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, receiving shouts of the title, “Son of David”! Jesus claimed to be the Messiah by this action, and he vividly fulfilled the prophecies of Zechariah.
Cary Cox, from 1 Samuel. To understand 2 Samuel, we need to remember what happened in 1 Samuel. In dark days, God is at work to bring in his kingdom – life and revival and a king after his own heart! His kingdom will come through his word! Saul rejects God’s word but David clings to it. To reject God’s word is to reject God!
Cary Cox, from Acts 13:13-39. Paul and Peter, in their first recorded sermons, both preach Jesus Christ by starting with King David. Following their method, in this sermon we trace the theme of the Kingdom of God from Genesis to Revelation, showing the one, unfolding story that builds to King David and points to Jesus Christ!
Mickey McCall, from Luke 1:39-56. A look at Mary and Elizabeth’s response to God’s word working in their lives, showing itself to be absolutely certain! Their response is praise!
Clint Pitman, from Ephesians 2:11-22. God has brought Jews and Gentiles together as one new man in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 5:12-14. Peter ends his letter by calling believers to stand firm in the true grace of God – the true teaching of the gospel of Christ! His greetings demonstrate his call for us to embrace the community of the church. These two keys help believers survive in a hostile world.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 5:8-11. This world is hostile against the church because there is an enemy, the devil. Peter calls us to resist the devil by standing firm in the faith of the gospel of Christ. Our victory is certain in Christ, and glory is coming!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 5:5b-7. Peter calls the church to humility in our relationships with each other, and also before God – even when he leads us through suffering. We humble before God in suffering by casting our anxieties and worries on him, resting in the truth that he loves us!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 5:1-5a. Peter speaks to the leaders of the local churches. Elders. Pastors. Overseers of the Lord’s flock. These men must be faithful and tender, leading and feeding Christ’s sheep, even in times of persecution.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 4:12-19. Peter summarizes the message of his letter, teaching Christians what to expect in this hostile world. We can expect to suffer for following Christ, but we can also expect God to be with us as we suffer, giving us the joy and blessing of his presence! God is sovereign over our suffering, and he will use it for his glory and our good!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 4:7-11. Peter instructs believers on how to live in relation to the local church. God’s will is that Christians live out the faith in this hostile world together, in close commitment to one another. We pray, we love and forgive, we open our homes, we use spiritual gifts to build up the church, and we do all of this to the glory of God in Christ!
Cary Cox, from Proverbs 5. God’s wisdom is for all of life, including our sexual lives. What is God’s will for human sexuality? Does he really care what we do with our bodies? What is sexual sin? Is there hope if I’ve sinned? Hear the Bible’s beautiful wisdom for sex in marriage!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 4:1-6. Peter gives practical instructions for believers living in an unbelieving world. We embrace the mindset of Jesus – ready to obey God even if it means suffering. We reject the sin of the world – refusing to join them in it, pursuing God’s will even though they persecute us. No persecution or suffering – not even death – can separate us from our glorious reward in Christ!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 3:18-22. Peter reminds suffering Christians of their baptism, which is an appeal to God, an outward, public, official expression of the inward heart of faith in Christ. We share in Jesus’ death to sin and his triumph over the grave and every enemy!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 3:18-22. What does Peter mean when he writes that Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison? Though there is some mystery here, Peter’s point is clear – Jesus has accomplished and proclaimed triumph over all the enemies of God through his death, resurrection, and ascension to glory!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 3:18-22. Peter gives suffering Christians the ultimate encouragement: Christ also suffered! He died for our sins. He rose from the dead – suffering is not final! And he ascended to the highest place of glory in triumph over every enemy!
Cary Cox, from 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Why did Jesus come into the world? Why was it necessary for him to take on flesh and come as a real man? Paul answers – Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!
Cary Cox, from John 1. What is the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and why does it matter? What does it show us? We look at the pre-existence of Jesus, his coming to earth, his deity, his humanity, his humility, and his love!
Mickey McCall, from Luke 1:26-38. The angelic announcement to Mary about her conception and birth of Jesus Christ answers questions and gives us certainty about Jesus’ coming into the world as the Son of God.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 3:13-17. Peter helps Christians by showing us what to believe and how to live when we experience suffering and pain in this life.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 3:8-12. Peter calls Christians to self-denial in relationships; to embrace suffering and even bad treatment from other people, while continuing to do good and trust God. We treat others the way God has treated us in Christ!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 3:1-7. Peter instructs Christian wives and husbands in how they should treat each other as we live before a watching world of unbelievers. The gospel transforms who we are and how we live. Each spouse must willingly embrace the humble mindset of Christ.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:21-25. Right in the middle of his instructions for how believers should live in this sinful world, Peter pauses to just set Jesus Christ before our eyes! Christ himself is the key to the whole thing. We cannot live the life God requires apart from Christ, who is our Standard, our Savior, and our Shepherd!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:18-23. In giving instructions to Christians who are slaves, Peter teaches a principle of the Christian life that applies to all believers. We are called to embrace humility and unjust suffering as we live for the glory of God – just as Jesus did!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:13-17. Peter calls the church to live in an honorable way before a watching world, beginning with our politics. Believers are commanded to voluntarily submit ourselves to the authorities in each culture, including government leaders. We give respect and humble obedience to authorities, for the glory of God and the witness of the church.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:11-12. Peter shifts from the church’s identity in Christ, to the church’s behavior in this fallen world. How should we live? We are called abstain from deadly sins within, and to live with visible, honorable conduct without, even when this world is against us. All for the glory of God and the good of people!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:7-10. Peter encourages the persecuted church by reminding us of who we are in Christ. Though the unbelieving world appears powerful, and the church currently appears weak, ultimate shame is coming to those who reject Christ, and ultimate honor and glory to the church!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:4-7a. Peter encourages suffering Christians by reminding us of our identity in Christ. We are united to Christ! The church is the new, spiritual temple of God on this earth! Never forget the glory of what we are building together in him.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 2:1-3. Peter calls believers to grow up and mature in this salvation we have in Christ. We grow in our love by putting away sins that kill community. We grow up in the truth of God’s word, craving it like a baby craves its mother’s milk. And we grow in our experience with Christ himself – tasting, experiencing the goodness of the Lord!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:23-25. What does it mean to be born again? How do we experience the rebirth? Peter sets this spiritual experience before our eyes, showing us that we are reborn for the purpose of loving our church family, and we are reborn through the preaching of God’s word, the gospel of Christ!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:22. Peter commands the church to show real, fervent love to each other. This love is a miraculous love from God, put in our hearts at our conversion to Christ. Since we have this love, let us give ourselves wholly to loving the brothers and sisters!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:20-21. Here is a dose of practical encouragement for believers! Because our salvation in Christ is absolutely certain, our hope is also certain when we rest in the accomplishment of Christ – even though we live in a difficult and evil world. Set your hope in Jesus!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:17-19. Peter shows us how Christians are to live while we are in this exile, far from our heavenly home. Our mindset helps us live with holiness and hope: remembering that God is our Father, He is the Judge, and He is our Savior!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:14-16. Peter commands believers to be holy, because God is holy. We were not holy. God made us part of his holy people through conversion to Christ. And now he calls us to walk out that holiness as we live in a hostile world.
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:13. Peter transitions to the commands of his letter. We look at how the commands of Scripture are grounded in truth to believe. Peter shows us how to focus our minds on the Lord, and calls us to set our hope in the glory that is coming when Jesus returns!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:10-12. Peter explains that the prophets who wrote the Old Testament wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and predicted the sufferings and glories of Jesus Christ! Now this same Holy Spirit anoints the preaching of the gospel of Jesus! Believers can be encouraged in our suffering because of this salvation!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:6-9. Peter explains that Christians have a deep and spiritual joy in Jesus Christ, even when we are experiencing pain and suffering! He gives us a biblical perspective on suffering, so that we can endure with joy while we wait for the coming glory!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:3-5. The apostle Peter encourages hurting believers by directing our praise to God, and by reminding us who we are and what we have in the Lord. We are born again! We have a real hope! We have a sure inheritance in Christ! We are guarded by God until the end!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:1-2. Peter gives believers hope by reminding us who we are! He points us to what the Father, the Spirit, and the Son have done for us, to mark us off from the world as the special people of God! We are his!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:1-2. We can stand firm in a hostile world as believers in Christ because we are the elect, God’s chosen people, according to the Father’s foreknowledge. What is God’s foreknowledge? We look at what it is not, and what it is, biblically. God sets his love and affection on us in Christ before the foundation of the world! Therefore, we have hope!
Cary Cox, from 1 Peter 1:1. Peter gives us his whole letter in his first verse. What is our identity as Christians? We are the chosen and beloved people of God, yet we live out the faith in a fallen world that is hostile to God and his people. We are foreigners and aliens here. In Christ, we must stand firm!
Mickey McCall, from Luke 1:5-25. Gabriel announces the birth of John the Baptist, which is according to the prophecy of Scripture. God is faithful to his word, giving us certainty in our faith in Christ!
Cary Cox, from Malachi 4:4-6. The final prophecy of the Old Testament points to Jesus in a unique way. Moses and Elijah – all the law and the prophets – are fulfilled in Christ! We need God’s word and transformed hearts, which he gives us through what Christ has done.
Cary Cox, from Malachi 3:13-4:3. The wicked are talking, saying that it is useless to serve God. They get nothing out of it, see no value in the Lord. The righteous are also talking. They honor God’s name. The Lord is also talking! He promises fiery judgment on the wicked, and glory for his people!
Cary Cox, from Malachi 3:6-12. The Lord confronts Israel for their failure to honor the covenant in regard to their tithes. God is the unchanging, generous God, who gave his Son for us! He calls his people to honor him with our money. Generous giving is an act of worship!
Cary Cox, from Malachi 2:17-3:5. God has told his people that he is coming to them. But now he clarifies that this might not be as fun as they think. When he comes, he will painfully purify his people, and he will judge the wicked.
Cary Cox, from Malachi 2:17-3:1. The Lord confronts his people for their sinful speech against God. But, in the process, he gives them an amazing promise that he is coming to them! We see how this prophecy is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ.
Cary Cox, from Malachi 2:10-16. God not only wants us to honor him in public worship; he calls his people to honor his name in our marriages! The way we treat our spouse affects our relationship with God.
Cary Cox, from Malachi 2:1-9. The Lord speaks through Malachi to the priests of Israel. They are responsible to God for the disobedient, heartless worship of God’s people. God gives leaders to his people, and he holds those leaders accountable! God desires his leaders to preach truth, turn the people from sin, and honor God from the heart.
Cary Cox, from Malachi 1:11. In Malachi 1, God is not only correcting Israel’s worship; He is also hinting of major changes coming! His name will be great among the nations! People will worship him by name in every corner of the earth!
Cary Cox, from Malachi 1:6-14. The Lord confronts his people over their half-hearted, lazy, and unscriptural worship. God will not simply take whatever worship he can get; he demands the glory and honor he deserves! He is a great King, and his name will be honored and feared!
Cary Cox, from Malachi 1:1-5. Before God confronts his people with their sins, he first affirms his ongoing covenant love to them! Malachi reminds the people of God’s sovereign choice of Jacob over Esau, and of God’s unfolding plan that is consistent with his sovereign purpose. He will not quit on his people!
Cary Cox, from Malachi 1:1. We introduce the book of Malachi by walking through the entire story of the Old Testament. See how the story unfolds! See our ongoing weakness and sin, but see the Lord’s ongoing faithfulness to his promises and his people! See how the story centers on Christ! God is glorious, and he calls his people to worship him rightly.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 5:16-21. John concludes his letter by calling the hurting churches to confidence in Jesus Christ and his gospel! Everything else is just idols – all other ground is sinking sand!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 5:13-15. John calls believers to confidence – we can know that we have eternal life, right now! And this assurance spills over into boldness as we walk with God in prayer, learning to pray according to his will.
Cary Cox, from Romans 4:16-25. Because God raised Jesus from the dead, believers have a real hope as we face impossible circumstances in this life, and a hope that goes beyond the grave!
Clint Pitman, from Hebrews 4:16. Clint unpacks this call for believers to draw near to God with confidence, based on the work of Christ! These words are like medicine to the Christians’ soul. God loves us! He wants us near him!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 5:6-12. The apostle John corrects false teaching that minimizes the blood of Jesus. Without the preaching of the cross of Christ, we have no gospel! And John points us to the simple testimony of God about Jesus: eternal life is in the Son of God!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 5:1-5. What does a real, born-again, child of God look like? John brings all his tests and evidences together to show us a complete picture of the genuine Christian. Someone who has experienced the new birth will believe the truth about Jesus, will love God and his people, and will obey the commands of Scripture. And they will experience the victory of Jesus over this sinful world!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 4:17-21. John shows us some of the things God’s love accomplishes in our lives as it works among us in the local church. What does love do? It removes our fear of God’s wrath and judgment! It reminds us that he loved us first – we are loved! And it reveals that we are not liars, but that we genuinely love God.
Mickey McCall, from Luke 1:1-4. An overview of the gospel of Luke, who writes to give us certainty in the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 4:13-16. John focuses on the glorious reality that believers have a love relationship with God through the gospel: we abide in him, and he abides in us! We are welcomed into the fellowship of the Trinity!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 4:11-12. It is God’s will for the amazing love he showed at the cross to be duplicated in the daily life of local churches! We who have received his love must now give his love to one another. And John teaches that, when the church is loving each other with God’s love, the invisible God is present among us and revealed in our love!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 4:9-10. What does it mean that God is love? How can we know that God loves us? John answers these questions. God’s love is clearly displayed through the gospel – his sending of his unique, eternal Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, to deal with our sins and give us life!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 4:7-8. John commands the church to love the church, but not in our own strength. God is love by nature, and his love flows to us in the gospel! As we rest in God’s love, we are enabled to love one another.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 4:1-6. John calls the church to discernment. There is a spirit at work behind everyone who speaks to us, and not every spirit is from God! We test the spirits by looking at the doctrine of the one speaking – what do they say about Jesus? Do they hold to the historic, apostolic teaching of Christianity? Is their message the same as what the world is saying?
Cary Cox, from 1 John 3:19-24. What do we do when our heart condemns us? When we wrestle with shame and guilt and fear and baggage? We take it to God! John shows us how to work through our issues so we can have confidence in God’s presence. We look at the evidence of God’s grace in our lives. But above all, we look to God himself, and preach his truth to our hearts. God’s word trumps the feelings and opinions of our unreliable heart.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 3:16-18. In clear and bold language, the apostle John teaches that believers must love one another in the church with the same voluntary, self-sacrificial love that Jesus showed when he laid down his life for us on the cross! What would this look like in real life in a local church?
Cary Cox, from 1 John 3:11-15. The apostle John now turns to the evidence of Love. If we are God’s children, truly born again, we will show it by loving our brothers and sisters, our church family. God’s children love one another. They just do. If you don’t, you still belong to the devil, John says. It’s easy to embrace a lofty ideal of love, but it’s much more difficult to actually love real, imperfect people in a visible, local church for about 80 years! But this is what God calls us to do in Christ.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 3:7-10. Why did Jesus come into the world as a Man? He appeared to destroy the works of the devil! He came to end the great war that was running through the pages of the Bible; to crush the serpent’s head! His accomplishment at the cross is applied to us in the new birth, as God miraculously transforms us from the inside out!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 3:4-6. Why did Jesus come to earth as a Man in the incarnation? John says he came to take away sins! Jesus is the sinless Son of God who took away the sins of his people at the cross, and gives us power to walk in victory over sin in this life!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:28-3:3. We who are genuine believers in Christ are the children of God! We not only show this family resemblance in the way we live now, but John the apostle teaches us here that there is a future aspect of our adoption: Jesus will return visibly, and we will be like him when we see him as he is! We will be transformed in glory!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:28-3:3. John teaches that those who are genuine believers and, therefore, children of God, will bear the resemblance of God, their Father. Our lives will show that we belong to him!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:28-3:3. Children of God Part 1. The apostle John sets this truth before us, as a feast for the soul. He wants us to see and believe and celebrate this glorious fact – that genuine Christians are children of God! This truth defines our identity!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:18-27. John describes 5 things that are true of real believers. We have the Holy Spirit, who works in us to confirm the truth of the gospel. Christians must stand firm on the gospel, continuing in the faith!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:18-27. John introduces another test to help us know who is a true believer and who is fake. The test of doctrine means that true believers will hold to the true, apostolic gospel. They will stand on the word of God, in the true church. John says that antichrists are already here, warring against the church and denying God’s word.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:15-17. John warns the church about loving the world. We cannot love God and, at the same time, love the world system that hates God and stands opposed to his word. We must be loyal to him.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:12-14. John pauses to remind the true believers, the ones still standing in the church on the true gospel, who they are and what they have in Christ! We are forgiven! We know the Father! We have overcome the evil one by his word!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:7-11. John applies the test of love to determine if one is a true Christian. With Jesus’ coming into the earth, the light has exploded into this dark world, and is slowly spreading through his people. God’s light of love is shown in Christ, and in his church, as we love our brothers and sisters! Those who fail to selflessly consider their fellow believers show themselves to be false Christians.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:3-6. There is such a thing as a fake Christian. How can we know if we are genuine? John gives us the test of obedience. A lifestyle of obedience is evidence that we know God. An attitude of obedience toward the Bible shows we love God. Becoming more like Jesus shows we are in Christ.
Cary Cox, from 1 John 2:1-2. What do Christians do when we sin? John helps believers think rightly about the issue of sin. Don’t sin! But if you do, we have Jesus! He is our advocate before the Father, and the propitiation for our sins!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 1:8-10. John the apostle is correcting false teaching about God and Sin. True Christianity does not teach us to embrace sin, or to deny sin, but to confess our sin! There is cleansing from sin through the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 1:5-7. John clarifies true Christianity for hurting churches under attack from false teachers. He shows us God’s nature as light, and corrects false understandings about sin: we cannot live in a lifestyle of sin and know the God who is light!
Cary Cox, from 1 John 1:1-4. John begins his letter by pointing hurting Christians and struggling churches to the doctrine of the incarnation of Jesus Christ! Jesus always existed as God, and became a Man in order to give us eternal life and fellowship with God and his church. The apostles are eyewitnesses who point us to the glorious truth of Jesus!
Cary Cox from 1 John. An overview of the book of 1 John. The apostle clarifies the difference between a true Christian and a fake. He calls the church back to the basics: believe right, live right, and love right!
Mickey McCall, from John 4:1-30. Mickey, one of the elders at Meadowlake, walks us through Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well. Jesus is the fountain of eternal life for all who believe on him!
Clint Pitman, from Hebrews 12:3-13. In times of suffering we are tempted to give up on the faith. God’s word encourages us to look to Jesus in our suffering and to think about it rightly, as loving discipline from our Father, for our good.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 50. Genesis ends with Joseph forgiving his brothers because of his faith in God! It ends with Joseph preaching a sermon to his family about the sovereignty of God! And it ends with God’s people, far from the promised land, waiting in faith for God to visit them and fulfill his … Continue reading Healing and Hope
Cary Cox, from Genesis 49. On his deathbed, Jacob has one final act of faith. He summons his sons and blesses them, ministering to them, speaking the true words of God to them concerning their lives and future. The blessing of God on mankind remains, and Genesis has traced its location to this point – … Continue reading The Blessing Remains
Cary Cox, from Genesis 47:28-31 and Ch48. On his deathbed, Jacob demonstrates faith that perseveres to the end! He talks to his family about God and prepares the next generation to continue in the faith after his death. Here is spiritual leadership. Here is our call to family worship. Here is putting the Lord as … Continue reading Finishing with Faith
Cary Cox, from Genesis 46:31-34 and 47:1-27. Joseph is in action, presented here as a good and faithful servant and a God-sent savior. God is working through his servant to bless Israel and also the nations! We are saved to serve the Lord!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 46:1-30. God lets Jacob know that it is his purpose for him to go down to Egypt – even though we know that this will result in 400 years of slavery! God’s plan is often surprising. What we think are detours are part of his plan!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 45. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and teaches them a theology lesson about the sovereignty of God! It is Joseph’s beliefs about God that shape his treatment of his brothers and enables him to forgive them!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 43 and 44. God continues to work in the hearts of Joseph’s brothers, leading them to repentance. The brothers are growing and maturing and responding to God. There is hope for sinners because of the work of God’s grace!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 42. After over 20 years, Joseph’s brothers stand before him! Joseph tests his brothers, and through his tests, God softens their hearts and deals with their sin. The Lord loves us so much that he leads us to repentance, and deals with our sins once and for all in Christ!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 41. After years of being humbled, in just one moment Joseph was raised to power over Egypt by God! See the sovereignty of God over individuals and nations! See the faithfulness of God to his promises! And see our responsibility to serve faithfully in whatever situation the Lord unfolds in our … Continue reading God Humbles and Exalts
Cary Cox, from Genesis 40. Joseph is in prison but he is still serving God faithfully, even in the little things – ministering to people and testifying about God. The assignment may look small and insignificant, but when we do all to the glory of God, everything we do has purpose and significance. Christ also … Continue reading Faithfulness in the Ordinary
Cary Cox, from Genesis 39. Joseph’s life seems to be falling apart, and yet God is at work, showing faithfulness to Joseph. In a moment of great temptation, Joseph stands on God’s word, and shows faithfulness to the Lord!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 38. The story of Judah highlights his great fall into sin and spiritual decay. This man with a destiny to lead the tribes of Israel must first fall to the end of himself and be humbled, before God transforms him through his amazing grace! There is hope for even great sinners through Jesus Christ – the lion of the tribe of Judah!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 37. The story of Joseph shows us that God is sovereign over all things, without exception. And this means that our hope is always secure, without exception! The sins of Joseph’s brothers and the sufferings of Joseph could not stop the sovereign plan of God, but could only serve that plan. God works in his chosen, fallen, broken family to rescue Israel from starvation – and ultimately bring salvation from sin through Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from Psalm 90. This psalm puts two giant truths in front of us: the ‘bigness’ or eternity of God, and the ‘smallness’ or finiteness of man. We are called to live our lives in light of these 2 truths. Our time on earth is short, and our days are numbered. But God transcends time itself! He is our help and our hope! Think on this, and get a heart of wisdom.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 35:16-29 and ch36. God has revived Jacob, who is now leading his family and walking with God again. But, even though Jacob is doing what is right, he still faces wave after wave of sorrow. God leads his beloved people along the path of suffering because he loves us. He teaches us and transforms us, drawing us close to him. There is still blessing in the brokenness, and there is always hope in our heartache!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 35:1-15. In spite of Jacob’s fears and failures, God revives him through his word! Jacob shows us in this passage what spiritual leadership looks like. He proclaims God’s word to his household and leads them in repentance and preparation for worship!
Cary Cox, from Psalm 88. The saddest psalm in the Bible instructs God’s people who are discouraged, depressed, or suffering. What do believers do when faced with extreme sorrow? There is hope in God!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 34. When Jacob’s daughter is abused, his sons get revenge. As God continues to unfold his plan through this flawed family, we learn two big truths about life in this broken world: God’s people can still suffer, and God’s people can still sin. But in it all, Christ is our hope!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 32 and 33. As Jacob prepares to reunite with his brother, Esau, God continues to both bless and break Jacob. God is teaching him to lean on God in faith, rather than self-reliance. This is the heart of Christian discipleship. Not us, but Christ in us!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 31. At the end of his 20 years in Haran with Laban, Jacob looks on that time and interprets what God was doing in his life. With eyes of faith, he saw the invisible hand of God’s providence in his life. We must learn to interpret reality rightly, viewing the world through the lens of God’s word!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 29-30. Jacob is far away from home for 20 years. During this time, God is blessing Jacob and God is breaking Jacob. God is prospering him to become the nation of Israel, and God is purifying him, dealing with his character. God’s blessings come in the context of brokenness, and through Christ’s brokenness on the cross, the greatest blessing of all is ours!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 28:10-22. Jacob is on the run for his life! He has sinned. Failed. But in his weakness, God appears to him in great grace, and gives to him the promise of the blessing of Abraham! Christ is the ladder to heaven Jacob saw in his dream!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 26:34-28:9. Isaac’s family has disintegrated into sin and chaos! But God is at work in spite of them, and even through their sins, to unfold his sovereign plan of salvation for the world.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 26. The text presents Isaac’s life as a parallel with Abraham’s. Isaac is walking in the footsteps of his father’s faith. He is like his dad, even in his father’s sins and mistakes. But he also enjoys the same grace of his father’s God! Christ also shows us his Father!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 25:24-34. Isaac and Rebekah struggled, but now the struggle continues in the lives of their boys. Jacob and Esau portray the struggle between the serpent’s line and the offspring of the woman. Esau shows himself to be blind to the things of God. He despises what God loves.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 25:1-26. As Abraham dies, God continues to work out his plan of blessing and salvation through Isaac and Rebekah. They must have faith in God through their struggles. God wants us to know that he will bring salvation, not us. He will do it his way, in his power, in his timing, for his glory!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 24. In Abraham’s old age, he secures a bride for Isaac, that the promised line of offspring may continue. We see people living their lives before God in faith – seeking his will and leading, obeying his guidance. And we see the God of providence – guiding, leading, providing, and orchestrating all things according to his will!
Mickey McCall, from Luke 12:1-12. The Bible speaks over and over again about our responsibility to fear God. What is the fear of God? Why should we fear him? How does a healthy fear of the Lord affect our fear of man?
Cary Cox, from Genesis 22:20-24 and 23:1-20. Abraham suffers the loss of his wife, Sarah, but acts with faith in the promise of God. A call to finish in faith, and to point the next generation to our hope in the Lord and his word!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 22:1-19. God tests Abraham and asks him to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. Worship is costly, and walking with God is a life of increasing surrender! We see glimpses of the gospel here – the Father did not withhold his only Son from us! He has provided the Lamb who takes away our sins!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 21:13-34. God shows his common grace and goodness to Hagar and Ishmael, and he shows his covenant grace and kindness to Abraham. What is the difference between God’s common grace and his covenant grace?
Cary Cox, from Genesis 21:1-12. After 25 years of waiting, Isaac was born! God is faithful, and he will do what he promises. But in God’s choice of Isaac over Ishmael, we learn that God will do things his way, not ours. He will accept no help from us in his plan of redemption. We must approach him to be saved, and to live each day, by faith in his promise, not according to our flesh, our strength, or our way.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 20 (Gen Study 39). Abraham’s falls into old patterns of sin, but God is still faithful! He comes to the rescue. We see God’s commitment to his salvation plan, his seriousness about his sexual boundaries, and his sovereign restraint of human sin.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 19. God absolutely destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for their great sins, but he rescues Lot in his great mercy. We are shocked into understanding just how wicked sin is in the sight of God. We see Lot’s failure to lead his family spiritually, or to exercise wisdom and spiritual discernment. God’s people are warned against loving this world, and reminded that judgment is coming. Our salvation and our treasure are in Christ!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 18 (Genesis Study 37). God appears to Abraham and they share a covenant meal. The Lord brings two announcements: An announcement of promise concerning Sarah, which displays his great and wonderful mercy! And an announcement of judgment for Sodom, which displays his great wrath and justice! God is, at the same time, the glorious God of mercy and judgment! Both his mercy and wrath are displayed at the cross in Christ, who rescues us from judgment and brings us into the enjoyment of God’s mercy!
Cary Cox, from Psalm 73. Asaph tells us the story of his crisis of faith – how he almost walked away from serving the Lord – and how the Lord intervened. This psalm is a rare jewel for hurting Christians. It gives hope and encouragement, fresh perspective, and a call to see God himself as the most valuable treasure in life!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 17 (Genesis Study 36). God appears to Abram and enters into full covenant with him. New names for he and Sarai, and new promises that are amazing – Sarah will have a son! God is able – he is El Shadai, God Almighty! And we who believe are his covenant people, marked off from the world to live for his glory!
Cary Cox, from Luke 1-2. It’s easy to get so familiar with the Christmas story that it becomes reduced in our minds to mere tradition, nostalgia, entertainment, or fantasy. But the story of Christ’s birth is more than this – it is Scripture – the word of God to us! Here are 5 observations from the Christmas story, as the word of God.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 16:7 (Genesis Study 35). Who is the angel of the LORD? He appears in Genesis 16, and we meet him all over the Old Testament. He is both a messenger sent from God, and he is also God. How can this be? And how does this prepare us to understand the coming of Jesus in the New Testament – the Word who became flesh, who was with God and who was God?
Cary Cox, from Genesis 16:7-16 (Genesis Study 34). We are encouraged by the tender and unexpected kindness God shows to Hagar in the desert. He hears her desperate cry! He sees her! Hagar is overwhelmed by the surprising grace of God. We serve the God who cares about outcasts and sinners – like us!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 16:1-6 (Genesis Study 33). Abram and Sarai have a setback in their faith. After years of waiting on God to give them a child as he promised, they take matters into their own hands, and try to help God out. But God doesn’t need our help, and we get into all kinds of trouble when we fail to wait on him and trust him. God is able, and God is faithful: wait on the Lord!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 15:7-21 (Genesis Study 32). God makes a covenant with Abram and tells him what will happen to his offspring in the future. God is the faithful, covenant God who invites us to trust him!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 15:1-6 (Genesis Study 31). God speaks encouragement and promise to Abram. Abram believes God, and it is counted to him as righteousness!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 14 (Genesis Study 30). Lot’s foolishness gets him in trouble, but Abram comes to the rescue. However, the real battle for Abraham is a test of spiritual discernment in his meeting of two kings. Melchizedek speaks God’s word to Abram, which helps him see through the temptation from the wicked king … Continue reading Our Trust and Our Treasure
Cary Cox, from Genesis 13 (Gen Study 29). Abram and Lot make choices that reveal the condition of their hearts. Abram is trusting and treasuring God. Lot is pursuing his own way and showing no spiritual discernment. What is our Treasure? Where is our Hope? Are we walking by faith or by sight?
Steve Davis, from Luke 24:44-49. The resurrected Jesus Christ opens the Scriptures to his disciples and sends them out on the mission: to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name to all nations!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 12:10-13:4 (Genesis study 28). Abram stumbles when his faith is tested, but God’s grace intervenes. The Lord will not give up on his promise or his people! Literary connections in this passage anticipate the Exodus of Israel, emphasizing God’s continued grace and faithfulness to all his people, for future generations!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 12:4-9 (Gen. Study 27). Abram responded to God’s call with the obedience of faith! Our faith in God must show itself visibly in our outward obedience to God’s word.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 11:10-12:3 (Genesis Study #26). After the Tower of Babel incident, God’s word goes straight to the genealogy of Shem in order to trace the family line of God’s promise and blessing all the way from Adam to Abraham. This is a treasure map, with clues pointing us to the location of … Continue reading The Location of the Blessing
Cary Cox, from Genesis 11:1-9 (Genesis Study 25). Mankind unified themselves in rebellion against God at Babel, grasping for power and glory, in disobedience to God’s word. But God overruled and scattered the nations, for our good and for his glory. Now, through the gospel, God is gathering the scattered nations to himself in Jesus … Continue reading The Tower of Babel
Benton Glass, from Luke 5:12-32. Jesus makes clean those who are unclean, meets our most desperate needs, and calls those who are far from him!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 10 (Genesis Study 24). The table of nations shows us how the three sons of Noah grew to become all the nations of the world. God is sovereign over the nations, and he has a heart for the nations – to save people from all nations through the Messiah who comes … Continue reading God of All Nations
Cary Cox, from Genesis 9:18-29 (Genesis Study 23). An awkward and embarrassing text that powerfully points us to Christ, and helps explain the entire trajectory of the story of the Bible! In Noah’s sin we have a second fall of man, and another curse and blessing pronounced. This passage is a map that identifies the … Continue reading Another Fall
Cary Cox. An overview of the ministry and office of deacons in the church. Deacons show us the heart of God to save, and the humility of God to serve!
Rick Bobbin, from Matthew 16:24-28. Rick Bobbin shares the story of how God called him to faith in Christ, and unpacks Jesus’ call to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?
Cary Cox, from Genesis 9:1-17 (Genesis Study 22). After Noah gets off the ark, God gives him the ‘house rules for Creation 2.0,’ what life will look like after the Flood. He is the God of new beginnings. The Lord also establishes a covenant with creation, giving precious promises! Creation and Covenant point to Jesus … Continue reading A New Beginning
Cary Cox, from Genesis 8:20-22 (Genesis Study 21). Noah’s sacrifice after he got off the ark moved God’s heart. What was it about animal sacrifices that were effective? It was never the animals that took away sin. God forgave – and still forgives – sin only and always on the basis of the finished work … Continue reading An Effective Sacrifice
Cary Cox, from Genesis 7-8:19 (Genesis Study 20). The account of the Flood is written in a way to draw our attention to God himself. He is sovereign over all that is happening; he reigns as King over the Flood, Lord of the chaos, God over all! He is showcasing the glory of his wrath … Continue reading King Over the Flood
Cary Cox, from Genesis 6:9-22 (Genesis Study 19). Apologize for Bad Audio. Noah is separated from the sinful world by his walk with God. God speaks to Noah to warn him about the coming flood. God’s warnings come with instructions. He instructs Noah to build the ark, God’s gracious provision for his salvation from judgment. … Continue reading God and Noah
Cary Cox, from Genesis 6:1-8 (Genesis Study 18). In part 1, we focused on man’s increasing sinfulness in the days before the flood (Gen 6:1-4). Now, we look at the response of God to man’s sin in verses 5-8. God’s word in this passage takes us to the very heart of God, and reveals him … Continue reading Freefall Part 2
Cary Cox, from Genesis 6:1-8 (Genesis Study 17). In the days before the Flood, mankind collapsed into a freefall of sexual sin and violence. God’s boundaries were crossed. Demonic influence prevailed. Sin increased. Until God brought judgment. God’s wrath comes on the sin of man, but there is rescue through his grace!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 5 (Genesis Study 16). The genealogy of Adam through Seth shows us that Adam and Eve’s sin passed down to their children, along with the consequences of death and the curse. In Adam all die. And yet, this passage also gives us glimpses of great hope! Because of the work of … Continue reading And He Died
Cary Cox, from Genesis 4:17-26 (Genesis Study #15). The author of Genesis sets before us a vivid contrast between the family line of Cain and the family of Seth. Cain’s family had cultural advancements and cities, but no mention of God. A godless society that celebrated self and pride and sexual sin. But God gave … Continue reading Cain and Seth – Two Family Lines Part 2
Cary Cox, from Genesis 4:1-16 (Genesis Study 14). God’s promise to send a serpent-crushing offspring through the woman is traced in the tragic account of Cain and Abel. We can look at the entire Bible through the lens of the two family lines. God’s promise runs straight to Jesus Christ, through the family of the … Continue reading Two Family Lines Part 1 – Cain and Abel
Mickey McCall, from Matthew 26:36-46. In the garden, Jesus prayed to the Father as he prepared for his mission – drinking the cup of judgment and wrath for our sins. His prayer – and the Father’s answer – show us that there was no other way for God’s people to be saved. Praise the Lord … Continue reading The Exclusivity of Christ and His Mission
Cary Cox, from Genesis 3:14-15, 20-24. In Genesis 3, we not only see the righteous wrath and judgment of God, but we also see the surprising, amazing grace of God on full display! God had previously given no promise of mercy or forgiveness – just that they would surely die. But here, as God gives … Continue reading Fall of Man Part 2 – God’s Grace – Genesis Study 13
Cary Cox, from Genesis 3:7-24. What happened when Adam and Eve sinned? What changes took place in them? What effects did the Fall have for all humanity?
Cary Cox, from Genesis 3:1-6. Suddenly, there is a serpent in the garden, speaking with the woman about God’s word! He leads her astray, and his point of attack is the word of God. We have an enemy. But we also have a Savior, who has defeated the enemy at the cross! With trust in … Continue reading There is an Enemy – Genesis Study 11
Cary Cox, from Genesis 2:24-25. At the end of Genesis chapter 2, the Lord gives a lasting decree for all humanity about marriage. The New Testament writers quote this important text to teach husbands and wives about marriage, and to show how marriage points to the great love of God for his people in Christ!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 2:18-25. God creates the woman and brings her to the man. We are designed for community, relationships, fellowship. Here in just the second chapter of the Bible we have the institution of marriage for all peoples, in all places, for all time. We look at God’s good gift of physical intimacy … Continue reading Marriage and Community – Genesis Study 9
Cary Cox, from Genesis 2:4-18. The Bible begins to zoom in on God’s personal and intimate care for mankind. We see the overflowing, generous, and gracious goodness of God on display! See how our Creator loves us! See how the Bible points us to Jesus Christ! God is so good!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 2:1-3. God finished his work of creation and rested. There is a spiritual rest in Christ for those who cease working for salvation and trust in Jesus’ finished work on the cross. (The end of the recording was cut off by accident)
Clint Pitman, from Micah 6:1-8. Through the Prophet Micah, God called Israel to stop covering up hearts and lives of sin with external worship rituals. God wants the heart! He calls his people to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. Jesus Christ lived this out perfectly for us, and he … Continue reading What Does the Lord Require of You – Clint Pitman
Cary Cox, from Genesis 1:26-28. God made us in his image and gave us dominion over all the earth. We were meant to rule under God, as stewards and managers, imitating his creativity, bringing beauty and blessing and order out of chaos around us. When we fell in sin this dominion was corrupted – we … Continue reading Who We Are – Dominion – Genesis Study 6
Cary Cox, from Genesis 1:26-31. God defines who we are on the first pages of the Bible. We are created in his image, as male and female, with a purpose for men and women to unite in marriage and fill the earth with image-bearing children, for the glory of God.
Cary Cox, from Genesis 1:26-31. The very first chapter in the Bible tells us who we are as humans. The Bible is the great “Owners’ Manual” from our Creator, and it defines us, explains us, and records our purpose. God created us in his own image and likeness. What does this mean?
Cary Cox, from Genesis 1:3-25. As we study the days of creation, we see God’s power on display, as well as his purpose for what he made. Genesis 1 is laying this foundation: God gets to say what is good and what is not good. God gets to define the purpose for everything he made. … Continue reading The Power and Purpose of God – Genesis Study 3
Cary Cox, from Genesis 1:1-3. God turns the barren wasteland and emptiness of the land into something beautiful, useful, and good. How? By his Spirit, through his Word! God works by his Spirit through his Word throughout the Bible and in salvation. He can make something beautiful in our lives through Jesus Christ!
Cary Cox, from Genesis 1:1. The Bible begins by bringing us into the presence of the Person of God! It is all about him. And through Jesus Christ, we can know and enjoy our Creator and Lord.
Mickey McCall, from Psalm 78:1-8. Mickey unpacks Psalm 78’s call for God’s people to proclaim God’s ways and word to the coming generations, so that they will hope in God. A plea for Family Worship Time in our households!
Clint Pitman, from Isaiah 42:2-3. Clint focuses our attention on the kindness of Jesus towards believers who are struggling. Jesus’ character, as prophesied in Isaiah, is different from rulers of this age. He does not seek the celebrity and fame of this world. He does not beat his people down, but lifts us up. And … Continue reading The Meekness and Gentleness of Christ
Cary Cox, from Jude 24-25. Jude closes his letter with a glorious doxology – an outburst of God-centered praise! Jude knew that the hope of the church is not in our ability to keep his instructions or get rid of false teachers. No, the hope of the church is in HIM, who is able to … Continue reading The Hope of the Church – Jude Study 8
Cary Cox, from Jude 17-23. Jude turns his attention away from the false teachers to give instructions for the church. What should the church do during times of scandal, attack, or suffering? It’s not a time to give up; it’s a time to grow up! A time to minister, to persevere, to build up the … Continue reading Instructions for the Church – Jude Study 7
Cary Cox, from Jude 14-16. Jude looks ahead to the day of Judgment: Christ is coming in staggering glory with the host of heaven to pour out justice and wrath on sinners. Jude lists the damning evidence against the rebels in the church; their ungodliness demonstrates the just nature of God’s judgment. Christ rescues his … Continue reading The Judge is Coming – Jude Study 6
Cary Cox, from Jude 11-13. Jude doesn’t just list the sins of the imposters who have infiltrated the church. He takes the time to describe how bad sin is, by comparing these men to the worst sinners of the Old Testament. He poetically describes the selfishness, emptiness, and uselessness of these men, the danger they … Continue reading How Bad is Sin? – Jude Study 5
Cary Cox, from Jude 8-10. Jude brings his formal indictment of the imposters to the church, listing their sins to show the church who these men really are. They rely on their dreams instead of the word of God, the faith delivered to the saints, and these dreams propel them into sexual sin, rebellion, and … Continue reading Accusing the Imposters – Jude Study 4
Cary Cox, from Jude 5-7. The church in every generation will face some form of the lie that you can live in sin and not be judged by God. Jude reminds the church that God will absolutely judge unrepentant sin, fiercely. He gives us 3 examples from Scripture to show that when we step outside … Continue reading Remember God Judges Sin – Jude Study 3
Cary Cox, from Jude 3-4. Jude writes to the church, charging us to fight for the faith, which is the set of teachings handed down from Jesus to the church, through the apostles in the Scriptures. The faith does not change, though wicked men creep into the church and attempt to do so, twisting God’s … Continue reading Fight for the Faith – Jude Study 2
Cary Cox, from Jude 1:1-2. Jude writes a letter to the church – those who are effectively called by God, beloved by the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ! What a privilege to be a part of the Lord’s church!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 13:11-14. Paul closes his letter by calling the church to live out the gospel together, pursuing healing in the church. The presence of God himself among them is the answer.
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 13:5-10. Paul calls the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. What is “the faith?” What evidence should we look for when examining ourselves?
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 12:19-13:4. Paul begins to close the letter by dealing with some unfinished business – the minority in the church who are still in sin. Paul warns the church that he is coming and bringing the powerful judgment of Christ against their sin, unless they repent. What is church discipline?
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 12:11-18. Paul gives a gentle rebuke to the Corinthians, and we see what healthy relationships should look like in the church between church leaders and church members. We owe each other loyalty and love!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. Paul’s vision and his thorn. The great lesson of 2 Corinthians, the true nature of the gospel – Christ’s power is made perfect through our weakness!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 11:16-35. Paul lists his ‘greatest hits,’ his big accomplishments, and they amount to his sufferings and weaknesses! This is true Christianity, the path of the cross. Not our strengths and abilities, but our embracing of the cross to follow God’s will.
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 11:5-15. Paul boldly exposes the false apostles in Corinth as servants of Satan, who look at outward appearances, boast in abilities, and selfishly take advantage of the church. We are not consumers, we are servants! We embrace weakness, we give, we love, we serve, for the glory of Christ!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 11:1-4. We are bombarded with dangerous false teaching all the time, whether we realize it or not. The enemy attacks us in the realm of thoughts, ideas, arguments, beliefs. Paul warns us about false Jesuses being presented, false spirits, and false gospels. We must know the truth and cling to … Continue reading The Danger of False Teachers – 2Cor Study 40
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 10:12-18. Paul explains how the false apostles have rejected the boundaries and assignments set by God. They have invaded the area of Paul’s ministry authority by coming into the Corinthian church he planted, and turning them away from the gospel and from Paul. God sets limits and boundaries in our … Continue reading God Sets Boundaries – 2Cor Study 39
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 10:1-11. Paul shows us what real spiritual warfare is all about. He is tearing down the strongholds of bad ideas, which produce bad behavior, using the weapon of truth! Our battlefield is in the realm of ideas. God’s people must oppose demonic teachings by clinging to the gospel of Jesus … Continue reading Paul Goes to War – 2Cor Study 38
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 and 9:1-5. Paul gives instructions about the collection for the Jewish saints, and, in the process, shows us the importance of handling money with wisdom and integrity. The way we live before a watching world, specifically how we handle money, can bring honor to the Lord or shame to … Continue reading Handling the Money – 2Cor Study 36
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 8:10-15. Paul helps us think rightly concerning our financial giving.
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 8:1-9. Paul encourages the Corinthians to faithful giving in light of the extravagant grace and generosity of Christ in the gospel!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 7:9-16. Paul points out the Corinthians’ visible fruits of repentance. Repentance is a change of mind and change of heart that results in a change of lifestyle. Bear fruit in keeping with repentance!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 7:2-10. Paul risked offending the Corinthian Christians with his ‘severe letter,’ calling them out for their sin. But God used it to bring them to repentance! God breaks us and humbles us as he awakens us to our sin, but this ‘godly grief’ produces repentance that leads to salvation!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. The church is the temple of the living God! Believers in Christ are blessed and honored to be the house of God, the place where God’s presence and message is manifested! We are the family of God, his sons and daughters, in Christ! All of these blessings call us … Continue reading Cleanse the Temple – 2Cor Study 31
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. God is a separating God, who separates light from darkness, good from evil, and his people from the unbelieving world. God calls his people to be separate – a unique people, different from the world, and set apart to God.
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 6:3-10. How well are you representing Jesus and his church? Paul teaches us the right heart and the way to live it out as we minister in Jesus’ name as his people. A great concern for the glory of God, and a great awareness of his future judgment, will overflow … Continue reading Commending Our Ministry – 2Cor Study 29
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. When we are reconciled to God through Jesus, we are also reconciled to his church! When we get Jesus, we get his people, too! Following Jesus involves keeping things right between us and the church. Showing that we are genuine Christians means we continue to receive Jesus’ messengers and … Continue reading Reconciled to Each Other – 2Cor Study 28
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 5:21. One of the most amazing verses in the entire Bible! Paul cuts to the heart of the gospel, showing us what was happening as Jesus was on the cross. Here we see what God accomplished for us to make having a relationship with him possible. Jesus became sin for … Continue reading The Basis of Reconciliation – 2Cor Study 27
Mickey McCall, from Psalm 34. David learned that God is near to the brokenhearted, and he saves the crushed in spirit. But how do we know if we have a broken heart or a hard heart?
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. Paul shows us what gospel ministry is, which centers around the message of the cross. God has chosen to save people through the preaching of human representatives, who proclaim the message of the gospel! What is the message? Who are the ministers?
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 5:18-21. Paul explains the gospel using the language of reconciliation. Our sins had separated us from enjoying God, but God freely chose to deal with this problem through Christ’s death and resurrection. Believers are now able to enjoy fellowship with God forever in Christ!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 5:14-17. What is the gospel? What does Paul mean by the love of Christ, or the death of Jesus? How does the gospel transform us?
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 5:11-15. Paul was motivated for ministry by the gospel event itself – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Jesus died for us so that we would live for him and not ourselves. The gospel changes everything!
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 5:9-11. Paul is motivated for present ministry by the truth of the future judgment! We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 5:1-8. Paul encourages himself for difficult ministry in the present by looking toward and longing for the future resurrection of the body. What does Christianity teach about what happens to us after we die?
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Paul is concerned about what we are looking at. Though there is visible brokenness in this world and in us, we must lift our eyes up to see the unseen spiritual truths of Christ, by faith. As we look to the Lord, we find encouragement to keep pouring ourselves … Continue reading Encouraging Ourselves for the Ministry – 2Cor Study 20
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 4:13-15. Paul has explained that the Christian life and ministry involves embracing self-denial and death, so that others can be built up and receive life. Since ministry comes at such a high cost, why continue? Paul explains in this passage why he continues in the ministry.
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 4:7-12. Paul gets to the very essence of Christian ministry, and the Christian life: selflessness. We embrace daily the death of Christ. We die to self in order to serve others. This is what Jesus both taught and modeled for us. Christ gives us the power as believers to humble … Continue reading The Nature of the Ministry – 2 Cor Study 18
Cary Cox, from Psalm 11. In a time of crisis, David rejects bad advice and turns his eyes on the Lord! David’s theology supports him in the time of trouble; he knows who God is, and that he will judge the wicked and rescue his righteous people. What about our advice? Our theology?
Psalm 11 – Refuge in the Righteous God – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 4:7. We have this treasure – this glorious gospel ministry in Jesus – but we carry it in jars of clay. Ministry happens in the context of brokenness and weakness. God uses us in our weakness, so that he will get the glory!
The Context of the Ministry – 2Cor 4 7 – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from Psalm 10. When it looks like the wicked are winning, when it feels like God is far away, and when it seems like God doesn’t care about the suffering of his people – it is then that we must put our eyes on God (not our problems and enemies), pour out our hearts to him in prayer, and remind ourselves of truth. God is still on his throne. He will judge the wicked and bring justice for his people! We walk by faith, not by sight or feelings.
Psalm 10 – Still on His Throne – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. What is true Christian ministry? God acts in a powerful and miraculous way to shine light on our hearts through the preaching of the gospel, so that we see his glory in the face of Jesus Christ!
16 – The Focus of the Ministry Part 2 – 2Cor4 1-6 – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from Psalm 9. David and God’s people are experiencing oppression from enemies, but David praises God and encourages himself with truth: God reigns as King! He will judge the wicked, and he will vindicate his saints! This truth allows us to give our pain to God and find refuge in him, even as we wait for justice.
Psalm 9 – Helper of the Weak – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 4:1-5. Paul continues to describe true Christian ministry to us, as he defends his own ministry to the Corinthians. Preaching is at the heart of Christian ministry. We proclaim God’s word, which culminates in the gospel of Christ. Paul tells us what we do not preach, and what we do.
The Focus of the Ministry Part 1 – 2Cor4 1-5 – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 4:1-4. Christian Ministry is a ministry of the word of God. And there is an enemy of Christian ministry, the devil, who seeks to hinder the word of God and blind unbelievers to the glory of Christ.
14 – The Enemy of the Ministry – 2Cor4:1-4 – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from Psalm 8. David praises God for his glory in creation, and supremely in his design for mankind – setting man over all God made! We were created in the image of God, for his glory, to rule as kings over creation. This was broken in our fall into sin, but is being restored in Jesus Christ, the perfect Man!
Psalm 8 – The Image of God – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:2. Believers are called to ministry, fueled for ministry, shaped for ministry by the Spirit of God. A look at Christian ministry, and how to stay encouraged when ministry is hard.
Cary Cox, from Psalm 7. What do we do when we are falsely accused? A look at the God of justice, who will judge the world in righteousness.
I Need Justice – Psalm 7 – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 3:12-18. Paul compares the veiled glory of the old covenant with the unveiled glory of God seen in the gospel, the new covenant in Jesus Christ. We are transformed by the Spirit of God as we look at his glory with God-opened eyes!
Was Blind But Now I See – 2Cor3 12-18 – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from Psalm 6. What do believers do when we are miserable, sick, under the discipline of God for our sin? David shows us how to cry out to God in our pain, pouring out our heart, seeking his grace, and desiring to give him glory. See how the Lord works through David’s prayer to bring encouragement to his heart!
Psalm 6 – I Need Grace – Cary Cox
Cary Cox, from 2 Corinthians 3:7-11. Paul contrasts the old covenant ministry, which can only bring death and condemnation (because we can’t keep the law), with the permanent and more glorious new covenant ministry – the gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Glory of the Gospel – 2 Cor 3:7-11 – Cary Cox