Highlight All throughout the Bible we have stories of individuals or groups of people with detail and personal narratives. Yet, here in this chapter, we have the perspective of all of humanity. “The narrative gives little or no help in understanding their (serpent, Adam, Eve) plight as individuals…Rather, they come to us as representatives of humanity as a whole” (Longman III & Garland; “The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis - Leviticus”). The author paints a broad enough picture for us to relate and see the story impacted all of humanity. Especially the consequences of their actions – total separation from God and curses upon the creation and humans.  Read More

Welcome Welcome to Week 1 of the 2023 Christmas with Compassion Reading Plan. This reading plan is designed to partner with Compassion Christian Church’s sermon series of the same name, which you can find information about right here. In this plan, we will take the time to study a few of the Old Testament messianic prophecies, journey through the Christmas story found in the Gospels, and the spiritual description of Jesus’ birth found in Revelation.   Read More

Highlight Psalm 106 is a review of Israel’s history from the Exodus into the wilderness, to Mt. Sinai, to the borders of Canaan and to their eventual entry into the Promised Land. It is a sad story of sin, not listening to God and forgetfulness…a lack of obedience and self-indulgence. It is about dissatisfaction with God’s provisions, idolatry, willful disobedience, disloyalty, and compromise.  Read More

Highlight The title suggests that the psalm was used when making a thanksgiving offering (a type of peace offering described in Lev. 3). The worshipers would make an animal sacrifice with unleavened bread and then share the food in a communal meal. They would sing this psalm perhaps as part of entering the courtyards around the temple or as a prelude to a time of declaring what the Lord has done for them. The people who are filled with thanksgiving towards God, would shout these lines with joy, inviting others to come and hear about God’s presence and provision.  Read More

Highlight Charles Spurgeon noted several ways that we harden our hearts. He said that “we can harden them by resolving not to feel in regard to spiritual things. We can harden them through delayed obedience…an obedience that is convenient. We harden them when we believe doubts and criticism. He said our hearts can be hardened by the company we keep. And, we can harden them by participating in sin that we know is wrong.” The warning of a hard heart is also found 3 different times in the book of Hebrews (3:7, 3:15, 4:7) with an urgency for all of us to listen to God, and an asking for His softening of our hearts, so we can worship. It’s not something we should put off until tomorrow, but is for today - every day.  Read More

Highlight This is the only Psalm to specifically be identified as “for the Sabbath Day.” What does that mean? Well…we don’t often look at it as a privilege to worship…to offer our worship to God. How many times have we entered into a service or started our day, carrying the weight of something that’s really hard to put down? How often do we stop and focus solely on who God is and what He has done for us?   Read More