God Is The Hero

The failures of Israel's Kings detailed in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings can be discouraging unless we realize that the scriptural authors want us to see God (Yahweh) as the Hero, not these men. God is the one who will keep his promise to Israel (and to us) through his Heroic Command of Human History, his Heroic Commitment to his people, and by paying the Heroic Cost to save humanity.

Josh Bales

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14, Psalm 111, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58

12th Sunday of Pentecost

Absalom! Absalom!

Lessons from a failed father and a narcissistic son: 1) Faith learns that we are sinners, but that a faithful King and Son comes to save; 2) Hope discerns a confident but sober way to live in anticipation of "Thy Kingdom come"; 3) Love learns to accept and to imitate our Heavenly Father's love and our Savior's life.

Reggie Kidd

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35, 41-51

11th Sunday of Pentecost