Summer of the Kings: Explorations in 1 and 2 Chronicles
Speaking in a pivotal moment of revival in Hebrew history, the Chronicler takes a look at examples of leadership in Judah’s past with a radically fresh view of the complicated circumstances confronting people leading faith and national communities. Mining the past for future shaping insight, the Chr
Reclaiming the Word of God
September 3, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 2 Chronicles 34, Psalm 26:1–8, Romans 12:9–21, Matthew 16:21–28
Centering faith in the Word of God is the key to the renewal of God's people. During Josiah's reform, the Word of God was rediscovered and placed at the center of the life of the community.
The Power of a Contrite Heart
August 27, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 2 Chronicles 33, Psalm 138, Romans 12:1–8, Matthew 16:13–20
All people make mistakes and some learn from it, turning their lives around by the the power of a contrite heart with God's grace. King Manasseh made the biggest mistakes but God turned his life around by grace. His son Amon took a different road.
Little Picture Discipleship
July 30, 2023 • 2 Chronicles 14:1–7, 2 Chronicles 15:1–8
When and where do we seek God? The story of Jehoshaphat demonstrates why it is important to involve God in the minor things of life as well as the major things.
The Easy Way or the Right Way?
July 23, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 2 Chronicles 14:1–7, 2 Chronicles 15:1–8
Seeking compromises and short-cuts in life appears easier than taking the longer, harder but right path. Such choices often lead to the loss of God's plan for the fulfillment of potential and purpose. Asa came close to being a perfect example of a God-obedient king until he chose what he thought was an easier way to address a difficult problem than choosing the right way directed by God.
Live or Memorex
July 16, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 2 Chronicles 10
Finding true direction requires careful discernment and counsel from trustworthy sources. Thoughtless or unwise decisions can lead to trading what is of most valuable for cheap substitutes. Rehoboam ignored wise counsel and did not consult God. Instead he listened to what was popular, most familiar and personally self-gratifying. The result was the disaster of a divided nation.
Give Me Wisdom and Knowledge
July 2, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 2 Chronicles 1:1–13
Prayers are dangerous for they expose where our hearts are. Solomon's prayer for wisdom and knowledge displayed his desire to lead well by God's direction.
There's a Place for Us
July 9, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 2 Chronicles 2:1, 2 Chronicles 6:1–11, 2 Chronicles 7:11–20
Worship of God is central to reforming and renewing the hearts of scattered and tattered communities. In building the Jerusalem Temple, Solomon turned the focus of life toward a unified center represented by God's covenants with Abraham and Moses.
Vision of the Homeless
June 25, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 1 Chronicles 17:1–15
Homelessness is a global human problem and is a metaphor for the history of God as recorded in the Hebrew scriptures. As David contemplates building God a house, the Lord reminds David of the history of his people and that God has in mind something grander than David is imaging, the House of David that will one day present the Savior of the world.
Moving Past The Velvet Rope
June 18, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 1 Chronicles 11:1–9
In the story of David's arrival in Jerusalem, God's plan is revealed to move the second King of Judah past the challenge of Jebusite occupation in order to fulfill God's purpose.
Beginning at the Ending
June 11, 2023 • Pastor Frank Waugh • 1 Chronicles 10
New beginnings are birth out of the death of what came before, as the memory of the dead past sets the stage for everything that comes afterward. The Chronicler begins the story of 1 and 2 Chronicles interestingly with the death of Saul, the first King of Judah and sets the stage for a reform of the Hebrew nation upon its return from Babylonian exile. The reform is structured on the revisioned communal memory of the Kings of Judah.
