Ezra 2 – Genealogies were very important to the Jewish people. For them, if they could prove they had descended from Abraham, they were considered true Jews and could…
The Renovation Blog
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Ezra 1 – 48 years had passed since Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, defeated the southern Kingdom of Judah and carried the Jewish people off to captivity. When this Babylonian king…
Joshua 23 – Joshua’s time on earth and as a leader was coming to an end. He had brilliantly fulfilled the plans and leadership God had given to him. …
Joshua 24 – The book of Joshua opens with a new leader filling Moses’ role and facing an impossible task. The book ends with that task completed as Joshua’s…
Joshua 22 – We all have those times when we jump to conclusions. We hear something not very favorable about people and we make up our mind based on…
Joshua 21 – “Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” – Joshua 21:45 What a…
Joshua 20 – God had preplanned many things and instructed Moses as to how the government of this new nation of Israel should function. One of these was the…
Joshua 19 – The final division of the land is done. All tribes have been given land to make their home. On some levels, the reading of the division…
Joshua 18 – Joshua 18:3 Joshua said to the children of Israel, “How long will you neglect to go in to possess the land, which Yahweh, the God…
Joshua 17 – There is an interesting comparison to be noted in the attitudes of the different tribes and the division of land. With Caleb, he took what was…
Joshua 16 – It’s an interesting thought to ponder. The tribes of Joseph were given land but not titled in the 12 Tribes as a whole. Joseph did not…
Joshua 15 – As the allotment of the land for Judah takes place, Caleb makes another appearance. Be it ever so brief we read of his brother Othniel. After…
Joshua 14 – Caleb was one of the 12 men alongside Joshua when over 40 years before had gone into the land to spy out what awaited the people…
Joshua 13 – “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the…
Joshua 12 – It reads as an exhaustive list. In fact, to us who were not involved in the battle of taking of the land, we are probably apt…
Joshua 10 – Throughout the Israelites taking of their new land we see Joshua’s integrity and faith. He was called to victory and acted upon it. When the kings…
Joshua 9 – They were a people living in Canaan. As Israel had conquered two cities, news brought terror far and wide. Deception would be the tactic the people…
Joshua 8 – With the failure behind them, having cleansed the camp of Achan and his sin, Joshua readied the people for their second attempt at taking Ai. The…
Joshua 7 – The Israelites went from an extreme high to the very depth of low. The unfolding of the story of Jericho was astounding as they conquered the…
Joshua 6 – The Canaanites considered Jericho invincible. Built thousands of years before Joshua, it was one of the oldest cities of the world and a fortress. The walls…
Joshua 5 – The Israelites spent 40 years in the desert because they were terrified of the Canaanites. They foolishly doubted God’s ability to do for them what He…
Joshua 4 – It almost seems like a pause. The entire nation of Israel had crossed over the Jordan River and didn’t move any further. There was an act…
Joshua 3 – “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”– Joshua 3:5 My gosh, I love this statement Joshua made to the people on the…
Joshua 2 – Joshua was a man of strong leadership. He had been trained for this moment by God and through Moses. He had accompanied him partway up the…
Joshua 1 – For 40 years the Israelites had wandered throughout the desert. It wasn’t because they were following their leader – far from it…
Matthew 28 – “He is risen!” These are 3 words that have changed the very outlook and trajectory of all humankind. These 3 words are the key…
Matthew 27 – Four miraculous events took place at Jesus’ death. Darkness came upon the land. The curtain in the temple was torn in two. …
Matthew 26 – “Why the waste?” We use such a question when we consider something that was of value is recklessly used up. Obviously this concerns physical…
Matthew 25 – David Wilkerson was the founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York. His humble beginnings were in Indiana where in time he would…
Matthew 24 – It began as a random observation by the disciples which turned into quite a teaching of end times and Jesus’ return in all His…
Matthew 23 – The word hypocrisy in Greek was a term used for an actor onstage who played a specific role. Jesus took this word and turned…
Matthew 22 – I remember after The Warehouse had been established for about 3 years I was struggling with a few things concerning the church. Although not…
Matthew 21 – We often look at Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem as a statement. He was humble. But what He rode was a powerful statement. He was…
Matthew 20 – We often live in the mindset – people get what they deserve. We think about this when it comes to the laws of the…
Matthew 19 – Let’s face it, childlike trust in God is hard. Many times circumstances bombard our thoughts to the point of giving up. Our bank account…
Matthew 18 – It is almost ironic that Jesus looks to little children in making a point to his own men about greatness. It’s hard not to…
Matthew 17 – It’s known as the Transfiguration. Jesus took his closest friends with Him to the mountain and what took place was more than astounding. The…
Matthew 16 – One of the deadliest enemies of the church is cheap grace. We cheapen the grace of Jesus that has been given so freely to…
Matthew 15 – We spend a lot of time and money investing in making ourselves look good, feel better about ourselves. From the makeup industry to fashion lines…
Matthew 14 – Need is everywhere. We stand in the sea of human hurt, unbelievable pain others have. Their hardship slaps against us like waves of the…
Matthew 13 – Jesus taught in parables and this chapter is chock of several tremendous truths. Truths that to the hearers either they ‘got’ or they didn’t. …
Matthew 12 – There is no neutral ground with Jesus. We either believe who He is and act accordingly or we don’t. We either live in that…
Matthew 11 – The prison walls felt like they were closing in on him. The cold dampness they held seemingly, somehow began to creep into his mind…
Matthew 10 – In the choosing of the disciples, it is obvious he didn’t decide who ‘qualified’ for the job based on pedigree or social standing. They…
Matthew 9 – Human need is all around us. The question is do we see it completely with the heart of compassion or with a heart of…
Matthew 8 – Life’s storms can take on different meanings and venues for each of us. They can come on unexpectedly, bring a devastation to our person…
Matthew 7 – As Jesus finishes His sermon, He has done a remarkable thing. He’s taken the Law and made it practical or deeply personal. Often in…
Matthew 6 – Within the times of which Jesus spoke, there were 3 pillars of a godly life the Teachers of the Law taught. They proclaimed if…
Matthew 5 – The United States has the Declaration of Independence. The Communist regime operated under Karl Marx’s thoughts of the Communist Manifesto.