GOD'S BIG STORY - Wednesday Night Series

Luke part 2

November 6, 2024 • Dr. Derr • Luke

LUKE PART 2 Main Point: Luke, an educated Gentile historian, chose to write an orderly account of the story of the life of Jesus the Messiah From last time... - Luke most likely joined up with Paul in Acts 16 during Paul's second missionary journey. - Luke wrote to a Gentile named Theophilus ("lover of God") who was likely a patron who financially supported Luke's work as a theological historian. - Luke utilized sources (Mark? Matthew? Q?) and eyewitnesses to construct his account. One very notable possible eyewitness is Mary, which would explain how Luke had so much detail concerning the Christmas account in Luke 1-2. - Luke focused on the theme of Jesus coming for the poor and outcast. This theme is proclaimed by Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth in Luke 4 (Reciting Isaiah 61 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.") But it is also seen in how Luke focused on the plight of the poor, the outcast, the orphan, the sick, the Samaritan, the women, and other isolated, oppressed groups. - Luke also shows the reader how Jesus is the Christ but that this would come about through suffering. (Confer especially Luke 9:18-27) Texts to Consider: Luke 9:51 Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 Luke 11:1-3 Luke 13:1-5 Luke 16:19-31 Luke 24:22-27; 44-49

Luke part 1

October 30, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson • Luke

Mark

October 23, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor • Mark

Main Point: Mark wrote to encourage and challenge believers to follow Jesus and to proclaim Him as the Messiah, the Son of God. Outline 1. Galilee - Mark 1-8:26 2. On the Way to Jerusalem - Mark 8:27-10:52 3. Jerusalem - Mark 11:1-16:8? Texts to Consider: Mark 1:1 Mark 1:14-15, 17 Mark 1:29 Mark 4:35-41 Mark 8:27-33; 9:1-13 Mark 11:12-25 Mark 15:33-39

Matthew

October 16, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson • Matthew

Main Point: Matthew wrote to a largely Jewish audience to show how Jesus is the Promised Messianic King in the line of David and from the family of Abraham. Jesus established himself as King over God's Kingdom by suffering and dying on the cross and then being resurrected in power and glory. An interesting Parallel... Jesus as the New Moses Texts to Consider: Matt. 1:1-16 Matt. 2:17; 3:3; 4:1-11; 12-14 Matt. 9:35-38 Matt. 23:1-36 Matt. 28:11-15

Zephaniah - Malachi

Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor • Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Zephaniah -       Where and when? Judah in the days of King Josiah (c. 640–609 BC) -       To whom? Judah -       What’s the big deal? Impending judgment on Jerusalem and Judah and the nations, Day of the LORD, hope for Jerusalem and the nations  -       Text to Consider: Zeph 3:9–13 Haggai -       Where and when? Jerusalem, after return from Babylonian exile (c. 520 BC). Ezra 5:1–2 -       To whom? Exiles who have returned to Jerusalem -       What’s the big deal? Temple rebuilding, but not what they had hoped. -       Text to Consider: Haggai 2:1–23  Zechariah -       Where and when? Jerusalem, after return from Babylonian exile, same time as Haggai (Ezra 5:1–2) -       To whom? Exiles who had returned to Jerusalem -       What’s the big deal? Call to Repentance  -       Text to Consider: Zech 1:1–6; Zech 9:9–17 Malachi -       Where and when? Even later than Haggai and Zechariah -       To whom? The people of God in Israel -       What’s the big deal? Covenant unfaithfulness through polluted offerings and withheld tithes. Coming Day of the LORD.  -       Text to Consider: Mal 3:6–15; Mal 4:1–6

Hosea - Habbakuk

October 2, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor • Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah

Hosea/Joel/Amos/Obadiah/Jonah/Micah/Nahum/Habakkuk Hosea -       Where and when? Northern Kingdom, before the fall to Assyria in 722 BC. -       To Whom? Hosea’s prophecies are mostly in the form of poems directed toward the people of the Northern Kingdom.  -       What’s the big deal? Idolatry. The people were worshipping the Canaanite god, Baal. The relationship of Hosea and Gomer serves as a visual lesson from the content of the prophetic sermons.  -       Text to Consider: Hosea 14:1–9 Joel -       Where and when? Judah, Unknown – look at Joel 2:20 -       To Whom? Inhabitants of the land of Judah -       What’s the big deal? Destruction through a vicious army was coming, but Joel called on the people to repent. -       Text to Consider: Joel 2:12–19, 2:28–3:3, 3:11–16 Amos -       Where and when? From Tekoa (Judah), but prophesied to Israel Northern Kingdom before the fall to Assyria -       To Whom? Northern Kingdom (Israel) -       What’s the Big Deal? Oppression of the poor and needy, Day of the LORD  -       Text to Consider: Amos 5:18–24 Obadiah -       Where and when? Most likely Judah following exile to Babylon in 587 BC.  -       To Whom? Judah, about Edom -       What’s the Big Deal? Edom, ancient kinsman of Israel, had taken advantage of Judah during the exile to Babylon (Ezekiel 35, Ps 137:7). Day of the LORD (Obad 15) Jonah -       Where and when? Northern Kingdom of Israel during 700’s BC in reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kgs 14:25) -       To Whom? The people of God -       What’s the Big Deal? Chance for repentance for all nations Micah -       Where and when? Judah, c. 742–687 BC. -       To Whom? Israel and Judah (both Northern and Southern Kingdoms) -       What’s the Big Deal? Idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness -       Text to Consider: Micah 5:1–5a Nahum -       Where and when? Unknown, but Assyria fell to Babylon in 612 BC.    -       To Whom? For the benefit of the people of God about the fall of Assyria (Nineveh)  -       What’s the Big Deal? Assyria’s cruelty returned upon itself because of God’s wrath Habakkuk -       Where and when? Before the exile of Judah to Babylon  -       To Whom? The people of God concerning that exile -       What’s the Big Deal? God was doing a redeeming and purifying work through the Babylonians

Ezekiel - Daniel

September 25, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor • Ezekiel 40, Ezekiel 47, Daniel 1—7

Daniel Main Point: Daniel proclaims the sovereignty of God over various kings, nations, and empires. The people of God were expected to live out their faith in the midst of an unbelieving world, trusting in the Sovereign God.  Texts to Consider: Ezekiel 40:1–4 What does Ezekiel get to see, and who shows it to him? Ezekiel 47:1–12 The image of the Temple that Ezekiel sees is … Daniel 1:1–21 Daniel 3:16–18 Daniel 5:24–30 Daniel 7:1–28

Ezekiel part 2

September 18, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor • Ezekiel 20—38

Ezekiel (Part 2) Remember from last time… -       Image of “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD” in Babylon -       Ezekiel’s call as a watchman -       The new heart that God was going to give the remnant that returned from exile -       The image Ezekiel saw left the holy city and headed eastward Texts to Consider Ezek 20:32–44 Ezek 33:21–33 Ezek 34:1–24 Ezek 37:15–28 Ezek 38–39

Lamentations - Ezekiel

September 11, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor • Lamentations, Ezekiel

Main Point [Lamentations]: The book of Lamentations is individual poetic reflections on the fall of Jerusalem and the exile that followed. Like the prophetic works, the complexity of God's dealings with his people, and their understanding of this dealing, is highlighted in the poetry of Lamentations. Main Point [Ezekiel]: At the beginning of Babylonian exile, God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision of the glory of the LORD, a prophecy of judgment, and a prophecy of hope. Texts to Consider: Lamentations 3:1-66 Lamentations 5:19-22 Ezekiel 1:1-28 What are the historical situations at the beginning of the book of Ezekiel? Ezekiel 3:16-21 Ezekiel is made a watchman for the house of Israel. What does that mean? Where in the New Testament is this image also drawn upon? Ezekiel 8:1-18 Ezekiel 11:14-25

Jeremiah 1-27

August 28, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson • Jeremiah 1—27

NOTES Jeremiah 1-27 Texts to Consider: Jeremiah 1:1-3 As always, we need a little history lesson. Jeremiah prophesied where and when? Jeremiah 36:1-32 How did the "Book of Jeremiah" come to be? Jeremiah 1:4-19 The call of Jeremiah brings out some powerful truths. They are... Jeremiah 7:1-15, 30-34 What was the attitude of the people toward spiritual things? Jeremiah 18:1-23 The illustration of the potter and the clay draws upon language from Jeremiah 1. What other Old Testament book sounds similar to the message the LORD gave Jeremiah in this passage?

Isaiah 1-53

August 21, 2024 • Dr. Derrick Wilson, Sr. Pastor • Isaiah

Isaiah Main Point: Isaiah prophesied of both judgment and hope for the people of God. Texts to Consider: Isaiah 1:1 What is the timeframe of the events of the book of Isaiah, according to Isa 1:1? Isa. 5:1-7 One of the primary themes of the book of Isaiah is Isa. 6:1-13 In a very familiar passage, what is the end result of the LORD sending Isaiah to the people of Judah? Isa. 11:1-16 In a very familiar passage, what is the end result of the LORD sending Isaiah to the people of Judah? Isa. 39:1-8 What happens in this chapter that impacts the understanding of the book of Isaiah? Isa. 45:1-7 Who is this guy, Cyrus? Isa. 49:1-6 So... what is the LORD doing with the Servant? Isa. 53:2-12

Isaiah 1-39

August 14, 2024 • Ryan Gardner, Student • Isaiah 1—39

Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

Ecclesiastes/Song of Songs Ecclesiastes Main Point: Much like Job, the wisdom of the “Preacher” in Ecclesiastes reveals that much of life does not go as simply as the Book of Proverbs suggests. Thus, the ending of the book (Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man) summarizes the final result of much pondering.  Song of Songs Main Point: The gift of physical love is one of God’s greatest gifts when exercised within the bounds of the picture of Genesis 2.  Texts to Consider: Eccl 9:1–10 Is the Preacher happy or sad? Eccl 12:9–14 Who is writing this part? Is it the same author? Song of Songs 1:1 What does this book have to do with Solomon?  What have the major approaches to interpretation been? Song of Songs 1:2–4 This passage mentions “the king.” Is that referring to Solomon? Are there varied opinions? Song of Songs 2:3–7 Many scholars suggest that 2:7 is a repeated phrase which indicates a formal structure. But, does it? And, beyond structure, what theme is introduced and developed? Song of Songs 3:1–5 Another theme is introduced in this passage. What is it? Song of Songs 4:1–5:1 What do you think about this description of her beauty? Song of Songs 7:11–4

Proverbs

Dr. Derrick Wilson • Proverbs

Main Point: The Proverbs serve as short, memorable sayings to help us live out the demands of God's law Texts to Consider: Prov 1:1-7 What is wisdom literature? Why is it linked to Solomon? Prov. 3:5-12 This is a perfect passage to memorize. What themes are addressed in this representative section of Scripture? Prov. 7:1-27 Prov. 9:1-18 Two ways of life are personified as women. What are these two ways of life? Prov. 14:4 Why are we talking about oxen?

Psalm 113-118

Vlad Baraniuk

Title: Praise the Lord! Text: Psalms 113-118 Psalm 113 ·      God is highly exalted and worthy of praise ·      God stoops to take care of the lowly Psalm 114 ·      God is awesome in power ·      God, in his power, is able to redeem Psalm 115 ·      God deserves all glory ·      God stands in contrast to all idols ·      God is a worthy shield and trust Psalm 116 ·      God has been faithful in life and even in death Psalm 117 ·      God desires to be known among all peoples ·      God displays his faithfulness to all peoples through Christ Psalm 118 ·      God’s steadfast love endures forever ·      Never let the joy of salvation run out