Monthly Archives: January 2012

The Big Idea Of 2 Corinthians Is The Story Of Paul’s Joy In Partnering With Them In The Ministry

Paul wrote this second letter to the Corinthian church to express his joy over being able to minister with them. This letter was written about 6 months after 1 Corinthians.  Paul was preparing to come back and visit the Corinthians. … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of 1 Corinthians Is The Story Of Encouragement To Return to Healthy Christian Lives

Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth to encourage them to return to the healthy Christians lives from which they had strayed. When Paul had first arrived at Corinth to preach the good news of Jesus, he found … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Amos Is The Story God’s Anger At Injustice

When God’s people ignore the needs of the poor in the name of religion, God gets angry at this injustice. Amos was a shepherd and fig tree farmer in a little town.  That is why we called Amos in our … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Romans Is The Story Of The Church Built Upon God’s Grace Made Active By Faith

Paul wrote to the church in Rome to remind them that God’s grace saved them from their sins. Now they can experience this salvation through faith in God and not by works. When Paul wrote this letter from a town … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Acts Is The Story Of The Church

Luke wrote the book of Acts to provide the historical account of  the coming of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit empowered the beginning and expansion of the church. Acts begins with the final days … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of John Is The Story Of Believing in Jesus The Son Of God And Savior

John wrote “these things have been written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name”.  (John 20:31)  NASB John wrote to encourage God’s people about … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Luke Is The Story Of Jesus The Man

Luke the doctor wrote about Jesus’ human side and emphasized that although Jesus was God, He was also a man. Sure it is hard to relate to a God who feels far away in heaven.  Luke’s gospel reminds us that … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Mark Is The Story Of Jesus The Servant.

Mark wrote specifically to show that Jesus came as the Son of God to serve and to save all mankind. Mark is the shortest of the 4 gospels.  The word gospel means “good news” and is used to describe the … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Matthew Is The Story Of Jesus The King

Matthew writes to Jewish (God’s Old Testament people) readers to convince them that Jesus is the King prophesied in the Old Testament. It has been 400 years since the last prophet, Malachi, wrote. It is important to note that most … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Malachi Is The Story Of God’s Calling His People Back To A Passionate Relationship With Himself

  God cares too much to let His people go through the motions of playing at worship. Instead calls them back to a passionate relationship with Him. It has been 100 years since God brought His people back from captivity … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Zechariah Are The Visions Of God Remembering His People And Future Blessings

God gave Zechariah visions to remind His people that He remembers them and will give them future blessings. When God’s people had returned from captivity in Babylon, the temple had not been rebuilt and they were experiencing drought and poverty.  … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Haggai Is Encouragement By God To Rise Up And Rebuild His Temple

Haggai encouraged God’s people when they had returned from captivity to their Promised Land, to rise up and rebuild the temple that had been destroyed. When God brought His people back from captivity in Babylon they neglected worship in favor … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Zephaniah Is The Story Of God’s Final Judgment And Blessing Called “The Day Of The Lord”

Zephaniah tells God’s people to turn back to God because there is coming a day, called “The Day of the Lord”, when all the world would be judged for their sin and only the faithful would be saved. Zephaniah gets … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Habakkuk Is The Questions He Asks God

Habakkuk represents all of us who question God why something is or is not happening in our lives.  No wonder we call Micah “The Questioning Prophet” in our book, Hooked On The Book. Habakkuk asked God two questions: Why does … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Micah Is The Story Of God’s Judgment and Restoration Of His People

Micah teaches us, like many of the other prophets did, that God hates sin and will judge it, but His purpose in judgment is to bring His people back to Him so He can bless them. When Micah saw the … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Nahum Is The Story Of God’s Judgment On Wicked Nineveh

God will not put up with sin forever and in this book called Nahum the great city of Nineveh is about to be judged for their sin. Remember, in the book of Jonah, how evil Nineveh turned from their sin … Continue reading

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Making The Bible Stories Three Dimensional For Kids

Have you noticed the newest fad in Disney movies,  three dimensional adaptations of the classic stories. How about us making our bible stories three dimensional? Not the kind of story where you have to wear funny glasses but a real … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Jonah Is The Story Of God’s Love For All People

God’s big plan is not only for His people, but it includes His mercy toward all people who repent and turn to Him. One of the wickedest neighbors of God’s people lived in a city called Nineveh.  It was a … Continue reading

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The Big Idea Of Obadiah Is The Story Of The Destruction Of Evil Edom

Obadiah tells God’s people that her evil neighboring nation, Edom, is going to be judged and destroyed by God for all of the evil she has done to them. Obadiah is only 21 verses long, but in it Obadiah packs … Continue reading

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Tim Tebow He Loves His Bible Verses So Much He Wears Them In His “Eye Black.”

Taking your bible verses with you in whatever you do in life, now that is living. The Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow appears to be doing  just that. Check out his father’s website Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. His father tells … Continue reading

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