NT Connect: Ephesians 4:17-24 Weekly Reading: Judges 1-5 Hardness of Heart These first few chapters of Judges take us from the Lord delivering his people into the Promised Land to his people hardening their hearts and turning their back in him. After the death of Joshua and his contemporaries, “there arose a generation after them … Continued
NT Connect: Romans 8:18-39 Weekly Reading: Genesis 46-50 God Is Always at Work Most of us are ashamed of the challenging, regretful, sometimes traumatic, experiences of our past. As a result, we usually prefer to leave the pain and memories associated with those circumstances in the past. Yet, that doesn’t tend to be God’s preference. … Continued
This week, Scott Smith, Lakewood’s Discipleship Pastor, talks about reading the Old Testament in community with other believers. Produced by Kim Nichols
This week Discipleship Pastor Scott Smith offers an encouraging invitation to join NT18. Produced by Kim Nichols
As believers, it is important to remember the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power available to us today. In Romans 8:11, Paul states: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also … Continued
Captivity and the Coming Kingdom: The consequences of sin are painful, sometimes even devastating. But God never delivers a painful message to His own people without following it with a message of hope. After a long and agonizing exile, the people of God return to Him, and quite a few even return to Jerusalem: Books: Ezra, … Continued
The keys to your freedom will often be the keys to someone else’s freedom. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). Through the years, my wife, Dawn, and I have been amazed as we’ve shared our personal … Continued
Books: 2 Kings 12-25; 2 Chronicles 10-36; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah For a brief moment in time, the chosen people had shown signs of their potential glory. But, like Adam and Eve in the garden: they fell. And fell again. And again and again. Like the rest of us, … Continued
Books: Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs What is the kingdom of God? This world has not experienced the fullness of His reign since Eden, but we get glimpses of it in Scripture and even in our own lives. One of those glimpses is in the monarchy that developed after the time of the … Continued
I can remember one of the first instances I felt the need to hide. I was in elementary school. At the time, Lee Majors played the Six Million Dollar Man on TV. He was the coolest! In the show, whenever the Six Million Dollar Man did a great feat, it was always done in slow … Continued
By Scott Smith I love the week of the 4th of July. It’s a time to personally reflect on my thankfulness for the freedoms I have as an American, some of which are: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to bear arms. This past Thursday in Dallas, TX, those three freedoms converged and … Continued
By Scott Smith Today, it appears that a majority of pre-marital couples are choosing to “test drive” marriage before buying into it. What do I mean by that? Dawn and I are finding that upwards of 3 out of 5 Christian couples are choosing to cohabit prior to marriage. It is highly recommended and even … Continued
By Scott Smith “’For I know the plans that I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” –Jeremiah 29:11– In the spring of 2007, we sold our little ranch-style house for the asking price. The housing market was at its peak, … Continued
By Scott Smith “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” –Galatians 6:4– We live in the land of make-believe. Don’t believe me? Take a few minutes and peruse your favorite form of social … Continued
By Scott Smith “He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.” Proverbs 15:31 The community group Dawn and I are in is presently working through Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’ The Love & Respect Experience. In Chapter 18, Eggerichs writes about the life of legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden. “Coach,” as … Continued
