Pilgrim’s Progress: Repentance and Return (1:13)

  “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” Jeremiah 3:22 Read: Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 15:11-32 Pilgrim’s Progress Stage 1 Part 13 Relate: Christian weeps. Not the vague, atmospheric weeping of the opening pages, but the specific, targeted grief of a man who now understands exactly what he…

First Response

He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. (Acts 7:60) Read: 1 Kings 8:1-66, Acts 7:51 – 8:13, Psalm 129:1-8, Proverbs 17:1 Relate: I have never been stoned. Neither have I ever had men throwing rocks at me to the point of death. However, there was one…

Love Your Enemies

If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. (Proverbs 25:21) Read: Jeremiah 31:27-32:44, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 25:20-22 Relate: There is a story of a soldier during Vietnam. He and his battalion had just gone into a small village that was suspected of…

Merciful Justice

“I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:14 NLT) Read: 2 Samuel 23:24-39, 2 Samuel 24, Acts 3, Psalms 123:1-4, Proverbs 16:21-23 Relate: Israel was once again focusing on…

Handling Regrets

When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done. (2 Samuel 11:27) Read: 2 Samuel 9:1-11:27, John 15:1-27, Psalm 119:49-64, Proverbs 16:1-3 Relate: I…