Author: Norm

THE STORY OF JESUS: Daniel 7-9 “Before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Daniel 7:13) These words were inspired and recorded to help the Jews in captivity. Through Daniel, the people are urged to repent, and to hope in God. Life will not be easy, many kingdoms will arise…

THE STORY OF JESUS: John 9:1-12 “This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Jesus says there is a reason for this disability, but its not someone’s sin. Sin is the ultimate cause of suffering in this broken, messed up world. But God isn’t punishing this man with blindness, He’s…

THE STORY OF JESUS: John 8:48-59 “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58) For the most part, Jesus only speaks of His human nature. But here we have a bold hint as to His divine origin. Jesus makes a number of bold “I AM” statements. And for the Jews, the “I AM” name was so holy,…

THE STORY OF JESUS: John 8:42-47 “The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47) If you struggle with faith or following Jesus, do not take these words against you. Jesus is not in the business of making struggling disciples doubt themselves. Jesus was trying to shake up and wake…

THE STORY OF JESUS: John 8:31-41 “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34) If I still sin, what does that say about my relationship to Jesus? Have I been “set free indeed” (v.36) if I still sin? The issue here is between who I am, and what I do. Jesus has made it possible…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 115 “Those who make idols will be like them… all who trust in them.” (Psalm 115:8) We don’t think about idols much today, but we have them too. An idol is something that we look to as worthy of our devotion. Our idols are things (or people) we love and serve –…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Daniel 4-6 “For he is the living God and he endures forever.” (Daniel 6:26) Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius each needed to learn the same lesson. There is only one God that stands over all powers and authorities. This is a lesson we all need to learn, and God keeps reminding us too. We…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Daniel 1-3 “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 2:44) History is filled with the rise and fall of many kingdoms. Taking the long view, we can’t assume our country will always be this way. Every time a country becomes greater, things slowly come apart…

THE STORY OF JESUS: John 8:21-30 “If you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24) When Adam and Eve turned from God, humanity came under the curse of death. Death is the new normal, and the life we were made for is beyond us. God promised a child…