Oct 8 - Introduction to New Theme, Invitation to Prayer

This fall, our church is studying the Bible – actually, the whole Bible in a year, indeed the Bible as one-continuing-story. With Pastor Randy Frazee as our guide, we are studying The Story.

My sermons this fall are designed to complement the weekly themes of The Story. So far, we've studied 1) Adam (creation), 2) Abraham, 3) Joseph, and 4) Moses.

But a strange thing has happened (at least to me) as I've been preaching this fall. God is inspiring in me a greater urgency.

Last Sunday's sermon reflected some of that passion … and it included a whole lot of detail. Rather than just rushing past it, I promised to share the details with you through the devotions of these next several days.

Stay tuned this week as we discuss.

• The Upper Story vs. the lower story. In The Story, Pastor Frazee uses the terms "Upper Story" and "lower story" to point us beyond our daily understanding of life (the "lower story") to God's greater purposes for humanity (the "Upper Story").
• The many and incredible ways in which Moses prefigured Jesus.
• How the first-century Jews should have been awed by the parallels between Moses and Jesus, … but still missed the Messiah.
• God's current prophecies concerning Israel – which often seem to be fulfilled in our current headlines.
• How Paul (Romans 9-11) and the Book of Revelation speak of God's continuing love for the Jews, his irrevocable promises, and his continuing plan to redeem these covenant people.
• And how God will surely still use the parallels between Moses and Jesus (and many other prophecies too) to win back the hearts and minds of the Jews.

Pray for me. God is stirring a passion, but we're turning a corner. I've started big (God is real; God is active). Now, we'll become much more specific – How do each of us access the power of a "big God" and live bolder lives?

Pray for yourself. Do you want more power, more hope, more purpose in your life? God wants to do a great work in you. What will it take to get ready for it? It will surely cost you something. It may mean picking up a cross. It may mean laying down a false priority. But can you trust that rewards are life-changing. Pray that God will ready your heart.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's praying for you

… pray for me