Very early on in the Book of Genesis we are told about a great conquering king named Nimrod, who was famous for his mastery of men and beasts, and famous for the cities he founded.  And his most famous city was built on a plain in the land of Shinar, in what is today called […]

David was ancient Israel’s greatest king. But before he was David the Great King he was David the Outlaw. Remember? Soon after old Prophet Samuel anointed him, David was forced to run and hide in the mountains, hunted by the government, hunted by King Saul, who wanted to kill him. And before long about four […]

Twenty years before this moment, Jacob was forced to run for his life from his brother Esau, who wanted to murder him. He left in a hurry. He left with nothing. And Moses showed us how he camped in some random place along the road — only to discover that this was not just some […]

Moses has been preparing his readers for Judgement Day for quite a while. As far back as Chapter 13, he introduced the city of Sodom and offered us a contrast between that corrupted city on a plain that looked like the Garden of Eden, and Abraham’s temporary tent city set up in the mountains under […]

In his first letter to the Christians of Roman Asia, Peter made a deep dive into history, going all the way back to the Book of Genesis to remind his friends of conditions during the time of Noah. If you remember, that story really begins with two sons of Adam: Cain and Seth. Cain was […]

Okay. So last week Jesus continued teaching his course in Kingdom Management. He is training the disciples how to manage the kingdom after he has gone away. And really their job description is very simple: forgive everyone who repents. Do not add to God’s Law; do not add to God’s Word; do not make people […]

When we first met Jacob and Esau…we were not impressed. These were a couple of violent kids! — from before birth into adulthood, these two brothers fought over everything. But at the very heart of their hatred for one another has been this question: who is going to win the Father’s blessing? Who is going […]

Okay, as we return to Luke’s story of Jesus today, we have to remember that Jesus is still in the city of Jericho, only about 20 kilometers from Jerusalem. Which is hugely significant for everyone there. The people can tell that Jesus believes he is the Messiah, God’s anointed king, come to conquer the world […]

Today, in our worship, we re-lived a story from the Old Testament. On page 3, during our time of confession, we read together what God wanted from his people while they lived in the land he had given them. He wanted true justice, mercy, compassion, love for widows and orphans, refugees and the poor. We […]

Last week we met a man who lived about 4000 years ago in a part of the world we now call Iran. His name — Abram — actually means “Glorious Father”…which has turned out to be a painful irony, because Abram’s wife Sarai is unable to make him a father. But all is not lost, […]

God shares with his last remaining son on earth that a judgement of epic proportions is coming. This revelation produces a structure, and this structure is designed to make room for life. God fills the structure Noah has built with life and, in the process, makes it holy. The last days of Old Earth turn […]

So the people of Israel are camped at Mount Sinai, and God is training them for life and worship in the promised land. He has commissioned them to be a nation of priests. When they get to the land they really have two simple jobs to do: work the land, and protect it. And we […]

Years ago, a friend and I started a men’s group. We had three simple rules: 1. You have to drink something. 2. You have to smoke something. 3. No small talk. That group grew rapidly in numbers and in depth. It provided an opportunity for men to get beyond the usual Christian cliches and talk […]

So today, finally, we get to begin 12th Book of Genesis, the last Book of Genesis, which is [2] the account of Jacob’s family line. So this Book is the story of Jacob…and his sons. And just as we have found with many of the previous Books of Genesis, even though this Book is really […]