This week we hear how Jesus is the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18 - The LORD raised up a Prophet like Moses. Yet as THE Prophet, Jesus has spoken to us about a new and living way, a New Torah that instructs us to trust Him.

>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we take a look at one of the most “unique” stories in the Torah: The Prophet Balaam and his oracles toward Israel. In the midst of these blessings, Balaam is given the words and the vision to expand on the words already spoken by the Lord and Jacob: A Star will arise in Israel, a King who will come rule even the nations.

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In this powerful section of the book, Ezekiel again confronts Israel’s idolatry and spiritual adultery. In one of the most powerful chapters of the book - 16, the Lord compares Israel to an adulterous wife who has forgotten the love and care of her husband; she has turned to play the prostitute with whoever she can find, paying them to unite with her. Although Israel has forgotten the Lord’s goodness to her, the LORD will not forget His promises to her; He will redeem her and restore her when He makes atonement for all her sins.

>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week, we begin a series on the way the Hebrew Scriptures foretell the coming of the Messiah our Lord Jesus. In Luke 24:44 Jesus Himself said that Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms wrote things about Him the He fulfilled. As we had toward the Christmas season, celebrating the birth of our Savior and King, we can see how the people of Israel anticipated their long awaited savior.

>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we look at the chapters 12 and 13 and the larger structure of chapters 12 through 17. Contrary to the word of the false prophets, the destruction of Jerusalem and the final deportation is coming. Even Zedekiah’s rebellious alliance with Egypt will not thwart the Word of the Lord and plans He has set in motion.

>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we do a little application of the things that we considered while looking at the Reformation. Hebrews 11 and 12 emphasize the priority of faith in our relationship with God. If we want to be “people of whom the world is not worthy” we will be people of faith. Jesus Himself is our greatest example of this faith, and on HIm we keep our eyes focused.

>>Listen to or download the audio here.

In the chapters 9-11 we have the vision of the Glory of the LORD of Israel departing from the Temple and Jerusalem. In their false pride, the idolatrous people who were still in the land assumed that the LORD would never let the pagans desecrate His city or His Temple because His presence dwelt there. In a terrifying pre-vision of what would soon take place, Ezekiel sees the glory of the LORD retreat from the Temple to the Mount of Olives: Judgment is coming; it cannot be avoided.

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In this final treatment of the Reformation, we come to the fire-brand Martin Luther. Luther is the main figurehead of the Great Reformation. Through his writing and works he drew the line in the sand, “this far and no further.”

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In this session we finish chapter 7 and the warning of the impending doom and begin chapter 8 which begins the narration of the Lord’s glory departing from the Temple.

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This week we consider the contributions of John Wycliffe and John Huss in the movement that leads up to the Reformation. Questioning Papal Authority, the corruption of the Roman Church and the nature of the Church’s mission, these two “pioneers” of the Reformation sparked the cinder that would become the flame of Martin Luther.

>>Download the audio for this session here.

In Ezekiel 6 and 7 the Lord speaks judgment against the mountains of the land because they have been the places of great idolatry. In this judgment, the Lord takes full responsibility for the “calamity/evil” that is about to fall upon the people and the land. But therein lies the greatest hope: If the Lord takes responsibility for all that He allows, then He can also redeem it. In chapter 7 three alarms are sounded heralding the reality THE end has come and nothing can be done to stop it.

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We begin exploring the signs and message given to Ezekiel to proclaim to the exiles in Babylon. The new is not good: the siege of Jerusalem will come and only a remnant will be spared.

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Ezekiel is set apart by the LORD to speak His word to the rebellious house of Israel. As Ezekiel is set to the exiles, he is not to rebel as they, but to speak and do exactly as the LORD instructs. In these chapters we see the awesome reality that the LORD calls his prophet to faithfulness, not success.

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>>Download the notes here.

We are excited to have a combined meeting with the Heritage Builders class for the month of October! This week we begin a short overview of the Reformation. October 31st has traditionally been celebrated as Reformation Day. We will do an overview of the people, events and trends that fanned the flames that eventually became the Reformation with a view to understanding the times of Revolution in which we live.
*I am sorry but there was a malfunction with the recorder that messed up the audio; you can listen to the lecture, but it is blown out. The other lectures should be fine.
>>Download the Audio here.
>>Download the Handout here.

In chapter 1 the heavens are opened and the incomprehensible LORD appears to Ezekiel. In one of the most startling and nearly incomprehensible passages of the Old Testament we get a graphic description of the appearance of the LORD God arriving on “chariot” to commission Ezekiel to service.

>>Download the audio here.
>>Download the notes here.

We begin our study of Ezekiel by situating the prophet in his historical circumstances. After five years in Babylonian exile, the LORD appears to Ezekiel in the very year he should have begun his priestly service to commission Ezekiel to a new type of service: Prophet. Understanding the context of the early days of the Babylonian invasion and exile is crucial to understanding the role this book plays in establishing hope for Israel in the LORD’s larger plans.

>>Listen to or download the first session here.
>>Download the notes here.

In our final session we look at renewing our desires. Our will, our movement through life is driven by our desires. We are guided by our thoughts, moved by our emotions, driven by our desires. Father God wants our desires to be shaped by our primary concern for His glory which in turn cultivates our love.

>Download the Audio here.
>Download the Notes Part 2 here.
>Download the Presentation here.

We are moved by our emotions. Father God desires that our emotions be shaped by us tasting, experiencing His Goodness which in turn leads us to trust Him. The renewal of our emotions - our negative, destructive emotions and feelings - begins with us finding our ultimate source of security in being the Beloved Children of God now. Once we are secure in Father God’s love for us, we are free to follow the Spirit wherever He may lead us, even into suffering and distress.

>Download the Audio here.
>Download the Notes Part 2 here.
>Download the Presentation here.

Our thoughts are the ideas, images and information that we process through our intellectual capacities. Father God desires that our thoughts be shaped by His Truth which in turn cultivates our Hope. The “eyes of our hearts” are enlightened by the Gospel and the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us by faith. Now we can focus on Christ, setting minds and our thoughts on Him.

*There is a new set of notes this week in the download link below.

>Download the Audio here.
>Download the NEW Notes here.
>Download the Presentation here.

Our transformation comes to us as a gift of God’s grace that we receive through faith. In this session, we begin to consider how the Father transforms us by the grace of Christ through the Holy Spirit. As we behold the reflection of the glory of God in the face of Christ that we receive in the Gospel, the message of truth, we are transformed degree by degree to be more like Christ.

>Download the Audio here.
>Download the Notes here.
>Download the Presentation here.

In this session, we explore what has gone wrong with the heart. When the truth of the One True God is suppressed, the thinking becomes futile and the heart is darkened. This soon results in corrupt desires and ultimately idolatry: seeking some ultimate source of 1) significance, 2) security or 3) soul satisfaction other than Father God’s love given to us in the grace of Christ through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The good news is that our Father illuminates our darkened hearts through the Gospel and fills them with the presence of His Spirit through faith.

>Download the Audio here.
>Download the Notes here.
>Download the Presentation here.

In this first session, we will explore what the Heart is. We have two hearts: 1) the physical organ that pumps blood through our bodies and 2) the spiritual organ from which all our life flows. From our Heart flows our thoughts, desires, emotions. Understanding that the Heart is core, central to who we are is the foundation for understanding what Father God is doing in Christ in us through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

>Download the Audio here.
>Download the Notes here.
>Download the Presentation here.

In this final session, we conclude our look at 2 Thessalonians. In the final chapter of this book, Paul deals with some practical issues of how to deal with those who have become undisciplined in the community. In the end, Paul is confident that the work that the Lord has begun in their midst will be completed because He is faithful.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We continue our discussion of the Rebellion and the revealing of the Lawless One that must precede the coming Day of Lord. This Lawless One (also known as the Antichrist, the Beast, the Son of Destruction) will stand opposed to all “gods,” particularly the One True God in the Last Days. Yet Christ will destroy him at His arrival.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the new chart here.

2 Thessalonians chapter 2 is one of the more difficult passages in Paul’s writings. Disturbed by a false teaching that they have already entered the Day of the Lord - the time of final judgment - Paul assuages the Thessalonians fears that this Day has already arrived. This Day of the Lord will not arrive until two things happen first: 1) The Rebellion occurs and 2) the Lawless One is revealed.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.
>>Download the new chart here.

In this session we finish our tour of 1 Thessalonians and begin 2 Thessalonians. Paul praises the church for continuing in their steadfastness, despite lingering affliction, reminding them that God will justly repay those who do not know Him and have not obeyed the Gospel at the arrival of Christ.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

In this session we consider what Paul says about The Day of the Lord in chapter 5. This day, a day of destruction and doom for those who do not know Christ, will not be a day that takes followers by surprise. Jesus’ arrival will be to deliver His people from the coming wrath and the herald of that wrath for those who are trusting in others false messiahs.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

In this session we consider Paul’s teaching about the arrival of the Lord in terms of those who have already “fallen asleep through Jesus” in the last verses of chapter 4. When Jesus arrives, He will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Him. He will first raise the bodies of these and then He will “snatch up” those who are left behind to join Him in the air. This passage serves as one of the foundational passages on the doctrine of the Rapture of the Church.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

This week we focus primarily on the teaching related to the arrival/appearing of our Lord Jesus and what will happen to those who have already “fallen asleep” through Him. Those who have already died as Christians at the Lord’s arrival will not miss out on anything; they will be the first to experience the resurrection.
>>Listen to or download the audio here.

We close out chapter 3 and the first major division of the book. Here Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue on in faith and love, since their growing love would cultivate their holiness which in turn would confirm their blamelessness. As we begin the exhortation section of the letter, Paul gives instructions related to sexual holiness and honor.
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In this session, we consider what Paul has to say about those who are hindering the spread of the Gospel and also the joy, hope and pride that he has in the saints at Thessalonica.
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We close out our general discussion of the Kingdom by exploring the presentation of the Kingdom in the Apostolic teaching and preaching in Acts.
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This week we explore Paul’s teaching on the Gospel as the Message of Salvation, the power of God at work among His people doing what only the Message of Truth can do.
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We consider Paul’s continuing narrative in chapter of 1 Thessalonians where he gives the proper and pure motivations that should be at the heart of all ministry.
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This week we continue our discussion of chapter 1 and the importance of example and imitation in the context of affliction in the life of the church.
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In this session, we take a closer look at the first chapter. In spite of much affliction, the Followers at Thessalonica turned from their old, dead way of life to follow the One True King and Savior - Jesus. All that had taken place in their midst was not by chance, it was all part of the Father’s plan to draw them out of the World and transfer them to His eternal Kingdom.
>>Download the audio here.

This week we discuss the reality of the Kingdom in terms Jesus’ and the Apostles’ teaching. The power of the Kingdom is now present, but the full reality is yet future. (Sorry, but the first two sessions of this teaching were not recorded).
>>Download the audio here.

Tags: kingdom

We begin our study by situating the Letters to the Thessalonians in their historical and cultural context and then reading through 1 Thessalonians.
>Download the notes for the whole study here.
>Download the audio for this session here.