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"Sing a New Song" Psalms 96:1-6 The psalmist sings out his praises to God, overwhelmed by all that God has done. As we reflect on God's majesty and his goodness to us, we cannot help telling oth

"Preparing the Way" Luke 1:76-80 Zechariah had just recalled hundreds of years of God's sovereign work in history, beginning with Abraham and going on into eternity. Then, in tender contrast, he

"His Name is John" Luke 1:62-66 Zechariah praised God with his first words after months of silence. In a song that is often called Benedictus after the first words in the Latin translation of th

"Elisabeth Births a Son" Luke 1:57-61 Family lines and family names were important to the Jews. The people naturally assumed the child would receive Zechariah's name or at least a family name.

"Nothing is Impossible" Luke 1:36-38 A young, unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster. Unless the father of the child agreed to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life

Mary's Son 's Future Luke 1:30-33 Jesus, a Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, was a common name meaning "the Lord saves." Just as Joshua had led Israel into the Promised Land (see Joshua 1:1, 2

'God's Wondrous Deeds' Psalm 40:1-5 Waiting for God to help us is not easy, but David received benefits for waiting: God (1) lifted him out of his despair, (2) set his feet on solid ground, (3)

"Zecharias Sees a Vision" Luke 1:18-23 When told he would have a son, Zechariah doubted the angel's word. From Zechariah's human perspective, his doubts were understandable-but with God, anythin

"A Ministry Foretold" Luke 1:14-17 John's role was to be almost identical to that of an Old Testament prophet; to encourage people to turn away from sin and back to God. John is often compared t

"Incense Often Interrupted" Luke 1:8-13 While burning incense on the altar, Zechariah was also praying, perhaps for a son or for the coming of the Messiah. In either case, his prayer was answere

"Righteous Before God" Luke 1:5-7 Zechariah and Elizabeth didn't merely go through the motions in following God's laws; they backed up their outward compliance with inward obedience. Unlike the

"Sing God's Praises" Psalm 66 Our confession of sin must be continual because we continue to do wrong. But true confession requires us to listen to God and to want to stop doing what is wrong.

"God's Reassurance" Genesis 46:1-4 God told Jacob to leave his home and travel to a strange and faraway land. But God reassured him by promising to go with him and take care of him. When new si

"Bring Your Father" Genesis 45:16-20 Good Morning, Joseph was rejected, kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned. Although his brothers had been unfaithful to him, he graciously forgave them and

"Judah's Plea" Genesis 44:14-34 When Judah was younger, he showed no regard for his brother Joseph or his father, Jacob. First, he convinced his brothers to sell Joseph as a a slave (37:27); the

"Dining Together" Genesis 43:16-34 Joseph ate by himself because he was following the laws of the Egyptians' caste system. Egyptians considered themselves highly intelligent and sophisticated. They looked upon shepherds and nomads as uncultured and even vulgar. As a Hebrew, Joseph could

"Jacob's Difficult Decision" Genesis 43:1-15 Jacob's and his sons had no relief from the famine. They could not see God's overall plan of sending them to Egypt to be reunited with Joseph and fed

"Food in Egypt" Genesis 42:1-20 Joseph remembered his dream about his brothers bowing down to him (37:6-9). Those dreams were coming true! As a young boy, Joseph was boastful about his dreams.

"Restoration of God's Favor" Psalm 85 The psalmist was asking God to revive his people, bringing them back to spiritual life. God is capable of reviving both churches and individuals. He can pour

"Second-In-Command" Genesis 41:37-45 Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was a man "filled with the spirit of God." You probably won't get to interpret dreams for a king, but those who know you shoul

"Joseph the Interpreter" Genesis 41:25-36 After interpreting Pharaoh's dream, Joseph gave the king a survival plan for the next 14 years. The only way to prevent starvation was through careful p

"Pharaoh's Dream" Genesis 41:1-8 Our most important opportunities may come when we least expect them. Joseph was brought hastily from the dungeon and pushed before Pharaoh. Did he have the time

"Revenge" Genesis 39:11-20 As a prisoner and slave, Joseph could have seen his situation as hopeless. Instead, he did his best with each small task given him. His diligence and positive attitud

"Joseph Refuses" Genesis 39:6-10 Potiphar's wife failed to seduce Joseph, who resisted this temptation by saying it would be a sin against God. Joseph didn't say, "I'd be hurting you," or "I'd b

"A Prayer For Deliverance" Psalm 70 When others disappoint and threaten us, we feel empty as though a vital part of ourselves has been stolen. When others break the trust we have placed in them,