"I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.” Psalm 119:99

In my 20s I knew I could not out-read my liberal professors. But I took heart from this verse that I could out-meditate them.

So can you.

-John Piper

“I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored...” — John 4:38

What a humbling thought, and yet so like the nature of the God of all grace and His ways, that the fruitfulness we see in our life likely has little to do with our own labors. -DA Kistner

The Father of light and love disciplines us perfectly. He searches us perfectly. He refines us. He tries us. He prunes us, why? Because He wants us as close to Him as we can get. -Allen Hood

Anti-Semites: When Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70, that was an act of God
 ...but when the State of Israel was miraculously restored in 1948, that was Satan's doing.
-Joel Richardson

“The unity of Pentecost is not abstract and absolute, but rather concrete and pluralistic.”

“It embraces the other in their ethnic, socio-economic, and gender diversity, and affirms their human dignity as bearers of the divine image.” - Frank Macchia and Daniela Augustine

The earth and all its elements (society, culture, art, animal kingdom, etc.) are headed for restoration, but Jesus must be on the earth for this to happen. The restoration of all things occurs with the second coming and kingdom of God, not before.  - Michael Vlach

The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. Romans 15:12  

Looking forward to the Gentiles in unity submitted to the king of the Jews worshiping the God of Israel. May the church be a sign and witness to the glory to come.

-John Harrigan

I’m convinced the devil will let us Christians do a lot of “good” things as long as we stay distracted from the “best” thing of fresh intimacy and eye contact with Jesus. - Corey Russell

Jesus doesn’t associate with you in your sin, but He does associate with you in your humanity. - Ern Baxter  

His splendor was like the sunrise;

rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. He stood, and shook the earth; he looked, and made the nations tremble. Habakkuk 3:4-6 

 

There is no knee that will not someday bow down. There is no tongue that has ever been, that will not soon confess that Yeshua is both Lord and King.

-Joel Richardson

He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.” John 21:19 God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. 

-John Harrigan

"The word of the Lord came to Elijah, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.’” 1 Kings 17:8-9

A widow who, in fact, has one empty jar and one empty jug. And a son to feed, with nothing. She will feed you. That’s how I do it.

-John Piper

On the cross we see a great Warrior with a spear—not in His hand, but protruding from His side. -Bob Sorge

References throughout the Old Testament that speak of YHVH God "coming" to save His people are images of the return of Jesus. In the incarnation, God became flesh, dwelt among us, and then He very specifically and emphatically stated, “I will come again” (John 1:1,14; 14:3).  -Joel Richardson  

Missions will no longer work along the stream of expanding Western power. They have to learn to go against the stream. And in this situation we shall find that the New Testament speaks to us much more directly than does the nineteenth century.  -Leslie Newbigin

Let men see the cross openly set forth, in its naked terror and majesty, that they might know what they are, and what their sins have done. - Ern Baxter

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:42  

Peter's synopsis of the Great Commission.

-John Harrigan

Prayer is what faith sounds like. -DA Kistner

When you forgive those who rejected you, you get your eyes clear. You can’t see God’s purpose for your life when unforgiveness is blocking your view. -Bob Sorge

If the gospel is grace alone, then every conversion is a miracle. -Timothy Keller

Paul preached the Old Testament prophets at face value: "So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place" (Acts 26:22) 

-Michael Vlach

The incredible detail found within Daniel 11 is very unsettling. When the Lord gives *that* much detail that aligns so precisely with historical data, it is likely because there is something *else* - something very difficult to believe - that He is trying to get us to believe...  -David Sliker

The story God tells through Hosea is so incredibly moving. The entirety of the biblical story is summarized there. God is faithful to an ungrateful, unfaithful whore. He gives her his life to redeem her and make her his faithful bride forever. That's Israel. That's you and me. -Joel Richardson

The earth and all its elements (society, culture, art, animal kingdom, etc.) are headed for restoration, but Jesus must be on the earth for this to happen. The restoration of all things occurs with the second coming and kingdom of God, not before. -Micheal Vlach

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel . . . I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 2:8-10  

Paul's gospel.

-John Harrigan

Under the Old Covenant, the priests of Israel wore elaborate garments including a tunic, sash, robe, ephod, breastplate, turban and crown.  

Under the New Covenant, the church of Jesus (a holy, royal priesthood) is to wear even more elaborate garments. We are to put on Christ.

-DA Kistner

"Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’
Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” Psalm 115:2-3 “Where was God when ____________ happened? This answer should be taught and learned well before the calamity comes.  

Then it can be an unspoken comfort.

-John Piper

"Mercy is not the sanctioning of compromise but the directing of the heart into holiness." 

—Bob Sorge

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 CSB Meaning, don't be a conceited Gentile who changes the Jewish hope and narrative (cf Romans 11:11-32) 

-John Harrigan

HaYom HaAdonai (The Day of the Lord) overshadows the Book of Judges. The cycle of idolatry, gentile oppression in the Land, "crying out" to the Lord, the sending of a judge, military victory/deliverance is a repeated microcosm of Jacob's Trouble and the Lord's Return. Deliverance by a judge is celebrated by prophetic foresight into ultimate, eschatological fulfillment. The Song of Deborah and Barak after their defeat of Sisera's Canaanite army is a prime example. Language within the prose is clearly parallel to eschatological passages.

1.A.

Judges 5:4 - “Lord...when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped..."

1.B

Isaiah 63:1 - "Who is this who comes from Edom, is he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength?"

2.A.

Judges 5:19 - “The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo..."

2.B.

Revelation 16:14-16 - "to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God...at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon." 

3.A

Judges 5:23 "Curse Meroz, says the angel of the Lord, because they did not come to the help of the Lord." 3.B

Matthew 25:41: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire...For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink..." 

4.A

Judges 5:31: “So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”  

4.B

Matthew 13:43: "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." 

-Gabe Cali