Reading Time: 4 minutes
God will not stay where he is not wanted. However, he does not take lightly being pushed away. If repeatedly pushed away, he will punish those who resist him. That is the essence of Ezekiel’s vision at this point.
Study
August 21 | The Soul that Sins
Reading Time: 4 minutes
In this lesson text, the exilic prophet Ezekiel taught that the soul that sins is the one in trouble. Ultimately a child cannot pass the buck of blame for sin to mom or dad. Each individual must stand before God personally.
August 14 | Sins of the Leaders
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Since the call of this exilic prophet (in Ezekiel 1–3), the prophet had cried out against Israel’s idolatry and the sins of Israel’s leaders. The result was that leaders began persecuting Ezekiel. At this juncture “the word of the Lord” came to Ezekiel to cry out against those leaders.
August 7 | Sent to a Rebellious People
Reading Time: 4 minutes
The major prophetic book of Ezekiel is the Judges of the exile. It is the Dark Ages of captivity for Israel. This prophet-priest had to announce that sin came with consequences. With this lesson, we launch a two-month study of this book.
July 31 | Don’t Be Idle Wasting Time
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Paul made two prayer requests. He asked the Thessalonians to pray that the gospel would spread rapidly and be honored. Paul also asked God to deliver him and his team from wicked and evil people who have no faith.
July 24 | Be Strong Through Trials
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Paul gave the Thessalonians inspired advice about how to be strong through trials. It had to do with growing in faith and love, recognizing God’s judgment, and constantly praying.
July 17 | Be Alert for Christ’s Return
Reading Time: 4 minutes
This section on the return of Christ (beginning in 1 Thessalonians 4:13) is one of the longest in the New Testament. Evidently some of the believers felt as if those who had died before the return of Jesus would miss out on his second coming. Paul was writing to correct that fallacious thinking.
July 10 | Endurance Inspired by Faith
Reading Time: 3 minutes
It’s been said that the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon. . . . One thing hindering the Thessalonian believers from enduring the race was confusion about the end times and return of Christ. Confusion about the future caused them uncertainty in the present.
July 3 | Labor Prompted by Love
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Christianity is not for the lazy. . . . The apostle Paul did not labor to achieve salvation; he labored because he had salvation.