June 14, 2021
The Book of Leviticus starts out talking about all kinds of offerings. The burnt offering was to provide atonement for sin (1:4). In the New Testament John the Baptist saw Jesus and proclaimed “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Speaking of Jesus the Apostle John says, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (I John 2:2). The word propitiation is only used in the N.T. here and in I John 4:10. It describes Christ in His sacrificial death appeasing the wrath of God on account of sin. We don’t need burnt offerings. We just need Jesus.
Leviticus 1-3
June 13, 2021
Today I’m going to pray scriptures over you “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” ( 1:17-19). Amen.
Ephesians 1-3
Pastor Roger Dean
June 12, 2021
Who do you say that Jesus is? In 9:18-20 Jesus asks His disciples who people were saying He was. After they gave several answers, He asks them who they say He is. Peter answers the only answer that any of us will ever need to believe. “The Christ of God”. I like the way the Gospel of Matthew records it even better ” You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”(16:16). With this confession we declare our belief in Jesus as Savior. Who do you say that He is?
The Gospel of Luke 9 & 10
Pastor Roger Dean
June 11, 2021
“It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (3:26). Knowing that the word salvation means saved, healed, delivered, etc. then we can safely say that it is good for us to wait for almost anything we need. Trying to get on our own, what only God can give us, usually fails. But this waiting isn’t just complacent wishing. It is with faith and expectancy. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him” (3:25). Here the word wait not only means to wait for but also to look for, expect and hope for. When we seek God, we should expect Him to show up. So, it is good for us to wait expectantly for God because His goodness is worth waiting for.
Lamentations (yeah all of it!)
June 10, 2021
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (3:6). Our ways are the course of our life, the road we travel, or our actions. If we want on the right road and to do the right things, we need to acknowledge Him. To acknowledge Him means to be aware of His presence and in fellowship with Him. When we have this kind of relationship, He directs our steps. Direct in this verse means to make straight and right. With the Holy Spirit as our Guide, we will not get off the path. We quote Romans 8:14 a lot “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God”. But in the original Greek the first part is reversed “For as many by the Spirit are being led”. Put the Spirit first and your paths will be straight.
Proverbs 2-3
June 9, 2021
Much can be said about the need for family. Studies have continuously shown that having a mother and a father are one of the best ways to get a good start in life. Unfortunately, some are not given this advantage. The good news is that God cares for orphans and for children who are in one parent families. David says God will be their Father and He will set them into families (68:5-6). Part of this setting is providing them a church family that will be there to help with the things lacking. This Father’s Day maybe we should give some honor where it is due. To God, the greatest Father we could have.
Psalms 66-68
June 8, 2021
In chapter 8 Solomon prays to God and in verse 23 declares “there is no God in heaven above or earth below like You, who keeps Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before you with all their hearts” (v.23). Then in v. 27 “Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built”. Sol recognizes that the God we serve far exceeds any box we could put Him in. Yet He Himself has chosen to take up residence inside those who receive His Son as Savior. I Corinthians 6:19 tells us our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. A boundless God has bound Himself in covenant with us who follow His Son. We cannot constrain Him, but we can contain Him!
I Kings 5-9
Pastor Roger Dean
June 7, 2021
Much of our reading today continues the intricate crafting of the tabernacle’s furniture and implements. After the work is done Moses inspects it all to see how they did. He approves it.
Ok, now is time for a shameless plug for our Vacation Bible School that starts tonight at 6 and goes until 8:30 at our Batesville campus. The people putting this together have been working on this for 2 years! The shut down last year prevented us from doing VBS. But this year is all out and out doing any year we’ve ever had. The folks have decorated beyond belief and have prepared the scene of a Rocky Railroad all over the church. We will have train rides in the front parking lot starting at 5. Food will be served each night. Lessons have been planned to give kids Biblical insight. Bring out your kids, this will be an incredible week. All I can say is I APPROVE!!!
Exodus 37-40
Pastor Roger Dean
June 6, 2021
I think we have all seen Christians who acted more Christian than they really were. You know what I mean, they put on a show at church but in their everyday life they were not living it. We should pray that Christ be formed in them. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you” (4:19). There are two words that speak to formation. One is schema from which we get the word scheme. It pertains to an external form or outer appearance. The other, used here in 4:19, is morphoo which refers to internal realities. It speaks of a change of character. It is being Christ-like not just acting Christian. How did Paul labor for them? The same way we should, in prayer until Christ is formed in them.
Galatians 4-6
June 5, 2021
“Then He said to the woman Your faith has saved you. Go in peace”(7:50). The word saved here is sozo which means to save, heal, cure, preserve, rescue, deliver etc. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The devil wants to steal the word out of people’s hearts lest they should believe and be saved (Luke 8:12). When Jesus calms the sea and wind, He asks His disciples “Where is your faith?”( Luke 8:22-25). We could ask ourselves the same question. If faith means more than just being saved, and includes being healed and delivered, then we shouldn’t be walking in fear. If our faith is in Jesus, we should go in peace, like the lady was told to. If we are constantly in fear, has the word of faith been stolen by the devil from our hearts? If so, get back in the word of God. That is where your faith is built.
The Gospel of Luke 7 – 8
June 4, 2021
Most of what we read today is God proclaiming judgment on the nations. Some of these nations were used to bring Israel down. When you study history, you find that countries attack each other on a regular basis. The peace on earth, that the birth of our Savior brought, wasn’t between men. It was between man and God. Pastor Cheryl and I heard a man speak about global dominance. He said any nation that is the lead dog only holds that position about 200 years. Where does that put the United States? Jesus said in the last days nation will rise against nation. But there is no reason for us to be overly distraught. If we have received Christ as our Savior, we look forward to His reign. And it will be a dominion that lasts for eternity.
Jeremiah 47-52