Luke 2:52 (Royal Rangers)

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. (Luke 2:52) Read: Numbers 26:1-51, Luke 2:36-52, Psalm 60:1-12, Proverbs 11:15 Relate: There is something to be said for order, tradition, and repetition. Normally, I’m not a big fan of two out of those three, but there are times, places, and…

Above The Highest Heavens

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth. (Psalm 57:5) Read: Numbers 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 11:9-11 Relate: Have you ever seen a picture of the earth taken from the furthest vantage point ever? If you just answered no, you lied. Look up. There it is. You…

When Leaders Fail

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them.” (Numbers 20:12 NLT) Read: Numbers 19, Numbers 20, Luke 1:1-25, Psalms 56:1-13, Proverbs 11:8 Relate: “I did not have sexual…

Between The Living And The Dead

He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped. (Numbers 16:48) Read: Numbers 16:41 – 18:32, Mark 16:1-20, Psalm 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7 Relate: You could say it was all about leadership issues. Moses had been leading the people of Israel out of Egypt, through the desert, and into the Promised Land. He had raised up key men…

The Unlovables

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) Read: Numbers 4:1 – 5:31, Mark 12:18-37, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26 Relate: Some people are easy to like. They just exude charm. It…

Iconoclasm

Do not make idols or set up carved images, or sacred pillars, or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 26:1) Read: Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22   Relate: Emperor Leo III overthrew his predecessor to save the Kingdom. Byzantium had been severely mismanaged and was…