If Jesus was a guest this morning on Meet the Press and He were asked about Westboro Baptist, the church that is using aggressive, offensive methods to resist evil people; what would He say to them? Today we’re going to explore history of Jesus’ time to look for other resistant groups. Then we’ll look at Matthew to see what Jesus said to those honestly trying to resist evil people. Obviously the methods of Westboro are extreme and hurtful to the cause of the Gospel, but what does Jesus say to people trying to resist the evil around them? His words may surprise you.

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Last week we discovered the grand problem lurking in the background of the book of Chronicles and how the readers of Chronicles were asking the same questions that we are asking of God today. This week we’ll look at something called the “Theology of Immediate Retribution” – how in the books of Chronicles the stories were centered around and hinged on crucial steps that people must take with God. We’ll be looking this week on how “seeking God” is a story-changing action in the book of Chronicles and we’ll be encouraged to seek God for ourselves today.

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The books of Chronicles give God’s answers to a people rebuilding their lives after severe destruction.  It offers a message of hope to those waiting to see if God will restore His promises after a time of punishment. By retelling the story of Kings, the Chronicler challenges God’s people to repentance and prayer and offers hope by pointing to God’s covenant faithfulness.  Some things have not changed. We are still in a time of exile – living as sojourners in a land not our own.  And God still rewards those who have faith. Today’s message challenges us to keep trusting in God’s promises.

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God’s people are often placed in the desert. The wilderness is the backdrop for much of the Biblical story. We’ll spend the next several weeks thinking about living with brokenness, hearing God in the silence and going through testing with God’s help. Today we’ll look at the beginnings of the desert in the Biblical story and how the wilderness image was used in the Bible to encourage believers to grow to find joy in every circumstance and to become closer to God.

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The Psalmist asks a provocative question that echoes above the battles of history – “Why do the Nations rage?” International wars, national conflict and personal struggle stand in stark contrast to the promises of peace and blessing that God has promised His people. Is God really in charge? We’ll explore the tension of the Psalms and explore a sermon on Psalm 2 of St. Paul and see how God challenges us to respond to the plots of His enemie.s

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With National Day of Prayer being celebrated today, and talking about prayer for youth group this Friday and “Does God Answer prayer as the topic for this week’s Sunday “You Pick” sermon – I’m posting some of my favorite verses from Hab 3 – we talked about this in prayer meeting last night – the whole chapter is worth reading – check it out.

Lord, I have heard of your fame;

I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.

Renew them in our day,

in our time make them known;

in wrath remember mercy.

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

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^[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Hab 3:2-19). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

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