2 Samuel: The Story of Unlikely Redemption
2 Samuel 19:9-43
February 23, 2020 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 19:9–43
This passage describes the return to Jerusalem of King David as God’s chosen covenant king over Israel. But the transition is anything but easy or smooth as various individuals and groups respond to David’s return in different ways. As pro-David and anti-David elements jockey for position, the tension becomes tangible, squabbles and bickering spring up all over the place. How does God lead David to respond? In what ways do these events point us forward to Christ, the true king, not only the king we always wanted, but also the king we have always needed.
2 Samuel 18:1-19:8
February 16, 2020 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 18, 2 Samuel 19:1–8
What happens when people reject God and God’s proper claim to sovereignty in their lives? What happens when people believe in God but live their lives as if God simply doesn’t matter? Join Pastor Jim for this study of a 3,000 year old snapshot of redemption history when the hope of the Gospel was foreshadowed in the life and times of Israel’s King David.
2 Samuel 17
February 9, 2020 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 17
In this age of expressive individualism, opinions are copious and advice ubiquitous; wisdom, on the other hand, remains precious. Where can we find real wisdom? Is all truth and reality just up to the individual? What is the difference between Divine revelation and human discovery as it relates to gaining wisdom? Join Pastor Jim as he unfolds the wisdom of God found in 2 Samuel 17.
2 Samuel 16
February 2, 2020 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 16
King David’s son Absalom had coordinated a coup and was heading for Jerusalem to take over the throne. Others were screaming and throwing stones at David as he left the city. What was at the root of all of this? Where was God in all of this? Join Pastor Jim as he unpacks the story of three discouragers in the life of David and shows us how the amazing grace of God in Christ has returned good to replace our guilt.
2 Samuel 15
January 26, 2020 • Pastor Tommy Bailey • 2 Samuel 15
2 Samuel 15 continues the account of King David and his fractured family. King David’s third son, Absalom, has set his heart on insurrection. He is intent on stealing the hearts of the people of Israel and taking the throne for himself. In the midst of this treachery David flees, and in the process his heart seems to come awake with a deeper trust and faith in God. Join us as we study this passage and witness the grace of God at work amidst the tragic consequence of sin.
2 Samuel 14
January 19, 2020 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 14
2 Samuel 14 tells the tale of a fractured family. King David appears ineffective as a father and his third son, Absalom, recalcitrant upon his return to Jerusalem. After two years of the silent treatment Absalom has had enough and draws a line in the sand. The conflicts begin to unfold but join Pastor Jim as he points us to the good news of how God’s grace towards repentant sinners is both whole-hearted and unconstrained.
2 Samuel 13
January 12, 2020 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 13
2 Samuel 13 recounts a series of stories about sinful human beings in desperate need of God’s redeeming love. Join Pastor Jim for this honest, challenging but ultimately hopeful study where we learn we don’t have to be controlled or defined by passions or anger. We don’t have to find our identity in brokenness or in our darkest moment. In union with Christ we can have our sins forgiven and be made new, born again to a living hope. As C. H. Spurgeon has said, “There are many sorts of broken hearts, and Christ is good at healing them all.”
2 Samuel 12:15-31
January 5, 2020 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 12:15–31
What kind of response can we expect from God after we have repented from our sins? Does the grace of God free us from the consequences of our sins? Join Pastor Jim as he draws timeless lessons from a significant event in the life of Israel’s King David, which point us to the hope we find in God’s amazing grace, through faith in King David’s greater son, Jesus Christ.
2 Samuel 12:1-14
November 17, 2019 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 12:1–14
2 Samuel 12:1-14 is a sobering passage to be sure. It raises so many questions and yet it also leads us to a greater humility before God’s holiness, raises our awareness of humankind’s sinfulness, and offers us an increasingly greater wonder at God’s grace and mercy offered to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Join Pastor Jim for this encouraging message from 2 Samuel.
2 Samuel 11
November 10, 2019 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 11
There are two names hardly used anymore but most often remembered for their association with King David: Goliath and Bathsheba. David faced the battle with the giant as a young and inexperienced youth but with God’s help, David became victorious. It was when he was older and should have been wiser, David faced his battle with temptation over Bathsheba. But David failed terribly and the collateral damage was horrific. What were the signs that David should have seen but completely missed? What about all the lives David ruined? What was God’s response to David’s selfish actions? What were God’s purposes in all of this mayhem? Join Pastor Jim for this look at a well-known story that holds both timeless truths and ultimate hope for all of us.
2 Samuel 10
November 3, 2019 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 10
Most of us have been misunderstood before and most of us have misunderstood others at some point in our lives. In both cases, misunderstandings cause a great deal of tension for all parties concerned. 2 Samuel 10 is the story of kindness misunderstood and rejected, and how this led to war with a tremendous loss of life. If we are interested in understanding others and being understood properly ourselves what is the role of faith in God and how can believing the Gospel of God’s grace through Christ begin to nurture and influence healthy relationships? Join Pastor Jim as he unpacks lessons from this record of events that happened over 3,000 years ago; lessons that remain as true now as they were back then.
2 Samuel 9
October 27, 2019 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 9
The beauty of the historical narrative found in 2 Samuel 9 is the way it reflects the Gospel in the context of covenant relationships. Don’t you just love a narrative about promises made and kept, about grace, mercy and kindness in action? Join Pastor Jim for this study that leads us to the beauty of God’s lovingkindness, grace and mercy towards sinners such as we are!
2 Samuel 8
October 20, 2019 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 8
The Old Testament overflows with examples of how we are all longing for the love of a righteous king who loves justice and deals in mercy. But this is so far from the real world many people have experienced. Is there any hope that things will ever change? Join Pastor Jim as he explores a 3,000 year old example of this in the people of God under King David all foreshadowing what we find in David’s greater son, the greater king, Jesus Christ.
2 Samuel 7:18-29
October 13, 2019 • Pastor Jim Thomas • 2 Samuel 7:18–29
We can learn a lot about a person whenever we hear them pray and there is much to learn from David’s prayer response to God in 2 Samuel 7:18-29. David was sitting in the middle of a “no” from God. What would his immediate response be towards God? How do we respond when God says “no” to us? Join Pastor Jim as he unpacks this prayer of humbled gratitude from David, a man after God’s own heart.