The Thessalonians were facing persecution and questions concerning the return of Christ. These difficulties were discouraging for them. In this text Paul prays that they will be encouraged and strengthened. He also mention truths which were designed to be an encouragement for them.
Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 | Download
The overall message of this chapter is that one cannot defy the living God and get away with it. This is a warning passage which stresses that our lives are in God’s hands, they are evaluated by God and if found wanting punishment will follow. The good news in the passage is that God calls to repentance and God will deliver those who humble themselves before him.
Read Daniel 5:1-31 | Download
This passage marks the end of Jesus public ministry in John’s gospel. Jesus summarizes the message that he has been teaching and he does so with a note of urgency that underscores the great significance of how we respond to him.
Read John 12:44-50 | Download
In this passage, God humbles proud Nebuchadnezzar. The story teaches us about the pride that is in all of us by nature and the grace of God in bringing people to humble themselves before him.
Read Daniel 4:1-37 | Download
Some of the Jewish leaders believed in Jesus but did not confess him openly because “they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” This is a sin which which we all struggle. The solution is found in Christ who because he loved praise from God more than praise from men was crucified and rose from the dead, obtaining for us forgiveness and the transforming power of resurrection life.
Read John 12:42-43 | Download
The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who disobey the kings order to bow down to his idol is told to remind us to resist pressure from the world to join in its sin regardless of the cost. Jesus resisted this pressure perfectly and his perfect record is placed on the account of those who trust him.
Read Daniel 3:1-30 | Download
This passage comes near the end of Jesus’s public ministry in John’s account and answers the question of why so many of the Jewish people did not believe in Jesus.
Read John 12:37-41 | Download
There are the five points that Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation makes:
1) God controls the history of the world.
2) The kingdoms of this world are temporary.
3) The kingdom of God will last forever.
4) The kingdom of God will destroy all other kingdoms.
5) The kingdom of God will one day fill the earth.
Read Daniel 2:24-29 | Download
The key concepts in this passage are the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and the meaning of two of his names, Jesus and Immanuel.
Read Matthew 1:18-25 | Download
This is an important prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus Christ. It was a promise of hope given during a difficult time in Judah’s history. From it we learn that the Messiah will be a Shepherd-King who will rule over his people forever.
Read Micah 5:1-5 | Download