Rebellious and sinful.  It seems impossible for the Israelites to keep their covenant with God.  They are seemingly crushed and defeated.  What is God going to do with these stiff-necked people?  Abandon them?  Hammer them with His law?  His response may surprise you!   Text: Isaiah 53

Focus: God vs. Baal.  Only one of them is true God.  Only one of them has power.  Only one of them can do the impossible.  Only one will win.  What God do you believe in?  Is that reflected in your life?   Text: 1 Kings 18:16-40

Pride mixed with power results in sin.  Sin ruins God's design for the Israelites and the Promised Land.  The nation David and Solomon had spent their lives building up and unifying is divided.  What can we as individuals and as a church learn from this? Text: 1 Kings 12:1-20

God gives Solomon a wish, and then grants it. Solomon becomes the wisest man to ever live. But something goes wrong. Why? God richly blesses us. What can we do to avoid making the same mistakes as Solomon? Text: 1 Kings 3:3-14; 11:1-4

Warrior, Psalm-writer, God-fearing. Liar, adulterer, murderer. Would the real King David please stand up? David was far from perfect. Most of us can relate to David's failures more than his greatness. We might be curious to find out why God would refer to David as "a man after my own heart." Text: 2 Samuel 11:1-12:14

Boy vs. giant. Pebble vs. sword. Confidence vs. arrogance. The stage is set. All bets are on the giant. Final score: Boy-1, Giant-0. A huge upset! How is it possible? Boy + God = Victory. What "giants" are you facing in life? How will you slay them? Text: 1 Samuel 17:1-11; 32-50

The Resurrected Jesus! God raises His Son from death to life, and defeats sin, death, and the devil. Justification, redemption, reconciliation - what do these fancy words mean? Through Jesus we win! Are we living from victory rather than for victory? Text: John 20:1-18

Large crowds, excitement, and shouts of "long live the King". Surely this is the Messiah - the leader that God has sent to free the Jews from the Romans. The camera closes in on the King. He is weeping. Tears of joy, right? No, the people just don't get it - His Kingdom is not of this world. Which kingdom are we living for? Is Jesus shedding a tear for some of us? Text: Luke 19:28-44

The Lord speaks to Samuel, but Samuel doesn't recognize His voice. The Lord doesn't stop speaking. He continues to speak until Samuel listens. Samuel becomes a spokesperson for the Lord. Does God speak to us today? If so, how? Do we recognize His voice? How do we respond to what he "tells" us? Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-21

Ruth, a Moabite, gives up everything to follow and take care of Naomi, her Jewish widowed mother-in-law. God blesses Ruth with a husband and a son. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg! What else is God up to? How will God use our faithfulness and obedience? The impact might extend far beyond what we'll ever know or imagine. Text: Ruth 1:1-9; 16-18; 4:13-22

Gideon's circumstances cause him to not trust God. Gideon tests God - THREE TIMES! How does God respond? Do you trust God no matter what your circumstances? Is God waiting to use you, and you are holding back - testing Him? What will it take for you to fully trust Him? Text: Judges 6:11-23; 6:36-39; 7:19-22

Forty long years in the desert - filled with numerous teachable moments. The wandering is over, and God leads a new generation of Israelites into the Promised Land. Can you imagine the hope and anticipation of the Israelites? What about us? Do we live with hope and anticipation? What are we supposed to be learning and doing as we await our promised land? Text: Joshua 1:1-10; 3:9-17

God delivers the Israelites from the Egyptians. He leads his people, and provides manna and water for them? Are the Israelites satisfied? Thankful? How does God respond to them? How about us? Has much changed today? Text: Numbers 11:1-2; 4-6; 16-23; 31-33

The Israelites had been exposed to and influenced by Egyptian religion, values, and culture for more than four centuries. How will God teach them who He is, and how He wants them to live? Two tablets - Ten Commandments. Why all the rules? Do they still apply to us today? What's the big deal if we break a couple of them? Text: Exodus 20:1-20 

Sometimes God seems to be silent or distant. But he never forgets His people. After 430 years of being in slavery, God frees His people. How does he overcome a powerful, hard-hearted Pharaoh? What is enslaving you? Do you want to be free? Text: Exodus 3:1-10; 6:6-8; 12:31-42

Sometimes people hurt us. Sometimes bad things happen in our lives. Where is God during those times? The story of Joseph gives us some clues about how God works, and how we should respond to our circumstances. Text: Genesis 37:3-8; 18-28, 45:1-8

God calls Abram to leave everything, and follow Him. God promises to make Abram into a great nation, and that all families will be blessed through him. Abraham is already 75 years old. How will God pull it off? Will He keep his promise? What promises does God make to us? Is he faithful? Text: Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; 21:1-5)

In the opening chapter of Genesis, the Upper and Lower Stories are virtually one. God, who is love, creates the universe, and places humanity at the crown of all he brings into existence. Man and woman, as individuals and also in their collective, reflect God's image. People are both the object of God's love and lovers in return. But that all changes with a serpent, piece of fruit, and bad decision. Sin enters the world. How does God respond? Text: Genesis 1:1, 26-28, 31; 3:1-15

The Word of God is a Love Story written to you. It's written by God himself as he inspires approximately 40 different writers over a 1,500 year period. God's Word is written to us - for us. The hero of the story is Jesus. What is his story, and how does He impact our lives - our stories? Text: Ephesians 1:9-11; John 3:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:14-17