Our Safe Place

Scott Risley
Psalms 31

In this Psalm, David writes of how God is his hiding place when he is surrounded by enemies. When we face suffering, we often wonder why God allows it, but such times are an opportunity for us to pray to God as David did and experience what it means for God to be our safe place, which is difficult to understand when life is easy. The result can be a deeper understanding of God and a more intimate relationship with him.

When Yahweh is Your Shepherd

Scott Risley
Psalms 23

In this famous Psalm, David describes the Lord as his shepherd who gives him all that he needs. This metaphor reveals the safety, provision and guidance we can experience from God when we are reconnected with him through Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd

James Rochford
John 10:7-11

This Psalm of David reveals how God cares for us the way a shepherd cares for his sheep, providing help, direction, provisions, and purpose. Later in the Old Testament, God promises to rescue His flock, a promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, who called himself the Good Shepherd.

Ishmael and Isaac

Mike Sullivan
Genesis 21:1-7

Through the story of the births of Ishmael and Isaac, we see two different ways of following God: one based on self-reliance, and the other based on trusting God to keep his promises. Self-reliance tends to lead to problems and defeat, while trusting in God's promises often involves waiting, but leads to peace and the experience of God's faithfulness.

The Cutting of the Covenant

Gary DeLashmutt
Romans 4:1-5

A fascinating narrative describing how God ratified a covenant with Abram and providing three key insights into living by faith. God declares us to be in right standing with Him when we simply trust in His promise. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is faith under strain. Faith submits to God's plan and to His timing for its fulfillment.

Faith

Jim Leffel
2 Samuel 12:1-6

Jim Leffel provides a detailed study of Biblical faith looking at the faith of Abraham, the father of all Biblical people, and David, the great king of Israel. Biblical faith is rooted in an understanding of God's revelation to us in nature, His Word, and ultimately, through His Son. Furthermore, it is a holistic faith that has intellectual, practical, social, and personal dimensions.\r\n

Abraham's Early Faith

Gary DeLashmutt
Genesis 12:4-13:18

As we study the Bible's account of Abraham's life, we see that God's dealings with him mirror His dealings with Christians who have put their trust in Him to pay for their sins--the essence of faith. Abraham's life gives us a picture of a normal life of faith-lapses, as is common and normal for Christians, but also shows us that God is always faithful to people who have put their trust in Him--not because of their performance but because of His faithfulness. Understanding this will help us be more stable, have an answer for our fears, find growth through trusting Him and through His loving discipline, and, someday, see amazing results of our steps of faith.

Jesus' Provision for Our Deepest Needs: Rest

Paul Alexander
Matthew 11:28

Jesus says, ?Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.? When we entrust ourselves to him and draw near in dependence, Jesus offers to give us rest from burdens such as regret, anxiety, lostness, and a parched soul.

God over All--Including Our Failures

Mike Woods
Matthew 11:28

Many important figures in the Bible experience failure and we can learn from their responses. In this teaching, different types of failure and different responses to them are discussed. Failure leads us to decide to depend on God or not. Learning God's Will helps us reconsider our definition of success.