The Story (Part 3)
Rebuilding the Walls
March 1, 2020 • Mark Rowland
The biblical figures of Ezra and Nehemiah are not the most popular or well-known. Years after the first group returned to rebuild the temple, another group returned under the leadership of Ezra, a priest and Bible scholar who was passionate about God and His Word. Ezra would do everything in his power to lead the Israelites into a new era of devotion to their God. After that, a final group returned under Nehemiah, who desired to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. He led the people to do so despite the fearful tactics of their enemies to derail and stop the project. Ezra and Nehemiah were reformers who were determined not to allow this reemerging but fledgling nation to fall back into her old ways.
Queen of Beauty & Courage
February 23, 2020 • Mark Putman
Fifty years after the first group of exiles returned to Jerusalem, the majority of Israelites remained scattered throughout the Persian Empire, and many lived in the capital city of Susa, including a woman name Esther. Esther, an orphan who was raised by her righteous cousin Mordecai, eventually won favor with the king, becoming queen. In the story of Esther, we see how God works behind the scene to fulfill His promises and grand purpose; even when we cannot see God working, He is. God is in control, working all things out for the good. We also learn from the bravery and courage of Esther. Sometimes we must stand in courage, even when it is not popular to do so, and risk it all.
The Return Home
February 17, 2020 • Mark Rowland
After three generations have passed and Israel has been in exile for 70 years, the Persian King, Cyrus, overthrew the King of Babylon and encouraged all foreigners living there to return to their homelands. So, in 537 B. C. about 50,000 exiles returned to their homeland to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra. But the opposition of the local people caused fear and discouraged the Israelites from completing their work. After the foundation and altar were built, the temple remained untouched for sixteen years while the people built their own fine homes. God sent His prophet Haggai to call the people back to their primary task. The unfinished work revealed their growing spiritual apathy
Daniel In Exile
February 9, 2020 • Mark Putman
Daniel was not a prophet in the traditional sense. He did not preach publicly to the Israelites before or during captivity. He was a prophet in the sense that he received God’s inspired message and revealed the truths that God showed him. His stellar character stands out in both his words and deeds. The book of Daniel points to three purposes. First, it shows that God was faithful to protect His covenant people in and through their discipline. Secondly, within this story, we see that God is sovereign over all nations. Finally, Daniel himself serves as a model for godly living in a heathen culture and his example still applies to us today.
The Kingdoms Fall
February 2, 2020 • Mark Rowland
Manasseh’s reign marked a spiritual relapse from which the kingdom of Judah would not recover. He made a mockery of his father Hezekiah’s faithful reign and did more evil than any of his predecessors. He was eventually captured by the Assyrian king and led off to Babylon in utter humiliation. There were six more kings in Judah after Manasseh and only one of them, Josiah the boy-king, was considered good. The kings that followed him did evil in the eyes of the Lord. God called the prophets, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, to warn the people of exile. While both prophets had an impossible task, they listened and obeyed God’s call on their lives. Through Jeremiah and Ezekiel, God revealed both destruction and the coming New Covenant .
The Beginning of The End
January 26, 2020 • Mark Putman
During the time of the divided kingdom, there were 38 kings in all; only five were considered good kings. God sent prophets to the people, but they refused to hear and obey. The northern kingdom fell first to the Assyrians and were sent into exile. The southern kingdom was under the rule of King Hezekiah at that time; he was one of the good kings who put his trust in the Lord and was able to defy the Assyrian king. But his son Manasseh, who became king after him, did not follow in his father’s footsteps. That’s when God sent Isaiah to Jerusalem. His name means “Yahweh saves” and his name is remarkably similar to his message—The Holy One of Israel is your Savior. Through Isaiah, the Lord promised a Holy One who would bear the sins of the world.
God's Messengers
January 19, 2020 • Mark Rowland
We saw last week that the kingdom became divided; Israel was in desperate need of repentance. The priests and judges were corrupt. Violence and social injustice oppressed the poor and the righteous. God’s people had long ago forsaken their covenantal obligations of righteous life under the Law. But God loved them too much to let them continue down a path of destruction. He began to call prophets to speak on His behalf. These men faced much opposition and hardship as they spoke truth to people who did not want to hear it. This week we will look at two of the prophets God called to speak on His behalf, Elijah and Hosea.
A Kingdom Torn In Two
January 12, 2020 • Mark Putman
The Israelites were called and chosen to be a holy nation and to model the glorious life available to all who live under the government of God. When Israel rejected the theocratic reign of God, He allowed them to become a monarchy wherein the King of Israel would understand his role as the Lord’s vice-regent. When King Solomon turned away from Him, God judged him by tearing the kingdom from the house of David; the kingdom split and two kings arose. Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, took reign over the southern kingdom (Judah) and Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s officials was the king chosen to rule over the northern kingdom (Israel). Both kings fell into the sin trap of pride and idolatry.
State of the Church
January 5, 2020 • Mark Rowland
Our objective for 2020 is to: Help people find Jesus and grow in holiness and healing. Jesus chose us, His followers, to be the instruments through which others would come to know Him. As our relationship with Christ grows stronger and we become more and more like Him, our abilities and passion for sharing Him with others will grow too. In order for us to grow in holiness, to be purified or free from sin, we need to open ourselves for the Lord to work. There will be wounds that will need to be healed, sins to be confessed and forgiven, and lies to be replaced with truth— all through the power of the Holy Spirit. As this sanctifying work is being done in us, we will be made ready to help others in our church, community and city to begin their journey with Jesus