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"There was nothing in the ark except ... (1 Kings 8:9) The Old Testament is a challenging read, to say the least! One of the ways we can enter into it is to slow down as we read, to notice what the passage centers our attention on. For example, what word is repeated over and over throughout this passage (1 Kings 8:1-21)? That's right: the ark. Eight times in the first ni...
Keep Reading"Hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israeland bring them back to the land You gave their fathers" (1 Kings 8:34). As we continue our walk through the Old Testament, focusing on the Big Story of God's Faithfulness, we come to King Solomon's dedication of the temple (this week's passage is 1 Kings 8). By now, Solomon is in the eleventh year of his forty-yea...
Keep ReadingWhen the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." (Exodus 20:18-19). Who are your most memorable teachers? Maybe there was someone who made the subject so exciting ...
Keep Reading"I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20: 5) In an old Mel Brooks movie, the comedian offers his take on history. In one scene, Brooks is playing Moses. The scene en...
Keep ReadingThen God spoke all these words: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;you shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:1-3). "Look both ways before you cross the street!" "Wash your hands before dinner (and after you use the bathroom)!" "Wear your helmet!" When our boys were little, my husband and I felt like we ...
Keep Reading"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.You shall have no other gods before me"The people remained at a distance,while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:2-3, 21). During my college days, I was a camp counselor at Grace Bible Camp. One of my privileges was to do cabin devotions and talk to teens about Jes...
Keep ReadingExodus 20:1-17 - The Ten Commandments - "And God spoke all these words." Reading the Old Testament can feel like riding a see-saw: one minute you're up; the next, you're down. We excitedly (and repeatedly) read about Israel's mountain-top experiences, only to watch the people drop into the valleys. Before we focus on the Ten Commandments this week, let's recall some of t...
Keep ReadingThen God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis 1:26) Does it matter how we see ourselves? Are we evolutionary experiments or unique and special creations of God? Does unde...
Keep ReadingIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NIV) If you are a book lover like I am, you likely have opened up to the last page of the book before you even began reading. Sometimes we're curious how many pages are i...
Keep ReadingGenesis 1-3 Spoilers are comforting to me. The problem is that no matter how beautifully a story begins, there are always twists and turns and betrayals. It's hard to know which thread of the plot to follow, and just when you do, then BAM! The story takes a ninety degree turn that requires going back to reread the pages prior to figure out where the plot twist stemmed fr...
Keep ReadingGenesis 3: (The Fall) Everyone knows the story. God creates boy and girl, boy meets girl, girl meets snake, and everything goes off the rails. The first man and woman lived in a perfect harmony with God, and there was only one rule. "'You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die'"(Genesis 2:17). The serpent ...
Keep ReadingIn the beginning, God (Genesis 1:1). What are the four most important questions? No, they aren't "What's for dinner?", "Do I have to?", "Where did I put my keys?" or "Will you marry me?" (though that last might be a top-tenner). After a great Chatham Serves Sunday, we now begin a new series, Age to Age: The Big Story of God's Faithfulness. Why do our Bibles have, and ha...
Keep ReadingBut as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, s...
Keep ReadingEach of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9: 7-8) [Editor's Note: As we prepare for Chatham Serves this Sunday, our CD writer...
Keep ReadingAll this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5:18-20...
Keep ReadingYou are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV) [Editor's Note: As we...
Keep Reading[Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers] prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith (Eph. 4:11-12). [Editor's Note: As we prepare for Chatham Serves this Sunday, our CD writers this week will take a second look at the core values from our recent Inner Strength series. Today, D...
Keep ReadingJesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues,proclaiming the good news of the kingdom When he saw the crowds,he had compassion on them(Matthew 9:35-36) One of the core values of Chatham Community church is being outwardly focused. Jesus lived this out every day because He truly loved people and had compassion on them. Jesus calls us to love...
Keep Reading"Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers" these Twelve Jesus sent out [saying]"Go to the lost sheep. As you go, preachand heal" (Matt. 9:38, 10:5-7, emphasis mine). It's easy to see our church's core value of being "outwardly focused" in action: donation drives for local schools, homeless advocacy groups, or the food bank. Small groups go into the community to fix...
Keep ReadingMatthew 9:35-36 What does it mean to be outwardly focused as Christians? From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus showed us that living our faith meant caring for our neighbors. When Jesus surveyed the throngs of people, their collective distress moved him to action, to be outwardly focused. "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed ...
Keep ReadingDon't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. (Ma...
Keep ReadingJesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: " As you go, proclaim this messag...
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