Category: Uncategorized
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Reflections on Reading: The Book of Zechariah
Zechariah was a prophet alongside Haggai. Both of them prophesied after the return from exile around 520BC. Jeremiah had prophesied that the exile would last seventy years. Then God would establish the New Jerusalem, yet life rebuilding the city of Jerusalem was difficult and it seemed like none of those promises were coming true. Zechariah…
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Reflections on Reading: The Book of Haggai
Haggai is a book of new beginnings, in a sense. Whereas the previous prophets had been proclaiming the coming judgment and exile for the sins of the people of Israel, Haggai prophesied during the second year of Darius. This indicates that Babylon had fallen and Persia was now the major nation in the area. Scholars…
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Reflections on Reading: The Book of Zephaniah
Zephaniah lived during the final decades of Judah, during the reign of King Josiah. King Josiah sought to end idol worship, but it was too entrenched in the national psyche. Although Josiah was a righteous king, he met a tragic death in battle. Zephaniah had been warning for years that God’s judgment was coming. Zephaniah…
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Reflections on Reading: The Book of Habakkuk
Habakkuk was a prophet during the final decades of Judah before its fall to Babylon. It was a time full of injustice and idolatry. Unlike most of the other prophets, Habakkuk does not accuse Israel, but is writing a lament. As he sees the unrighteous deeds the people and the looming threat of evil Babylon,…
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Sermon: Hold to the Truth
This is the 5th sermon in the Seven Golden Lampstands series. It covers Revelation 2:12-17.
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Reflections on Reading: The Book of Nahum
Nahum is writing after Israel has been conquered by Assyria around 722 BC but before Assyria falls to Babylon around 612 BC. As with Jonah, his prophecy is not directed toward Israel or Judah, but to the nation of Assyria and its capital city of Nineveh. God appears in Nahum 1 to judge the evil…
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Sermon: Never Fear, Jesus is Near
This is the 4th sermon in the Seven Golden Lampstands Series. It covers Revelation 2:8-11.
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Sermon: He Is Risen (Easter 2020)
Easter 2020 was a strange one. No meeting together as the church. We didn’t have a special family gathering with extended family after the services. Our Easter egg hunt was just our three kids finding eggs we hid on the campus of Southwestern Seminary. It was quiet. Our church buildings were empty. But so was…
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Reflections on Reading: The Book of Jonah
The short book of Jonah is probably the most commonly read of the Minor Prophets. Rather than a series of poetic prophecies, it is primarily a narrative. The story follows Jonah, a prophet called by Yahweh to prophesy destruction on an enemy of Israel unless they repent. Jonah’s hatred of Assyria causes him to choose…
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Sermon: The Letter to the Church at Ephesus
This is the 3rd sermon in the Seven Golden Lampstands series. It covers Revelation 2:1-7.
Joel McReynolds 