1 Samuel 27:1-28:25 | Andrew Murch | In 1 Samuel 27 and 28, we see David, once again and in a twist of irony, fleeing Saul and going to the land of the Philistines. Meanwhile, King Saul turns to the occult. He feels like God has let him down and is not answering him the way he wants. So he seeks dark and forbidden spiritual powers to rescue him. He…

1 Samuel 26:1-25 | Andrew Murch | Amid the dramatic back and forth between King Saul and David, Saul says, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” We're left wondering, what circumstances could possibly lead to this declaration from Saul? David refused to take vengeance upon the Lord’s anointed. David’s tru…

Psalm 16:1-11 | Andrew Murch | "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption." Looking back on Jesus' glorious resurrection, the Apostles remembered words originally penned by King David a thousand years before. God, faithful to his promises, delivered his Anointed One from the power of sin and death.…

1 Samuel 25:1-44 | Cody Cannon | Running for his life, David could hardly have imagined this would be his reality when Samuel anointed him to be the next king of Israel. Yet, this “man after God’s own heart” seems unchanged by his present circumstances, humbly keeping God’s command not to kill Saul, even when the opportunity to do so is literally a…

1 Samuel 24:1-22 | Gavin Hesse | This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Our protagonist David has been on the run, fighting for his life against Saul, and finally David is in the position to pounce. As readers, this is what we want. We desire to see the good guy, the one who has been chased, turn the tables on the bad guys and take them down. J…

1 Samuel 23:1-29 | Andrew Murch | Movies, novels, and even documentaries have been obsessed with this same storyline: an innocent person, convicted of murder or a crime and on the run for their lives. It plays on the fear of what happens when “innocent until proven guilty” falters, and the innocent must prove themselves despite a wrongful convictio…

1 Samuel 21:1-22:23 | Andrew Murch | The frequent connection between expectations and disappointment manages to find us in every season of life. And, this next section of 1 Samuel is no different. Here, we see that there’s no preventing disappointments and times of unrealized expectations, but for David and for us, it’s our response in those moment…

1 Samuel 20:1-42 | Andrew Murch | It could be said that life is all about relationships. We are shaped by our primary and formational relationships whether for good or harm. We carry significant memories, insecurities, and motivations from key relationships in our lives. We often make decisions in light of certain relationships and grieve for one r…

1 Samuel 19:1-24 | Andrew Murch | A hardened heart harkens hellward. Murder is set in Saul’s mind, and he is dedicated to sending David to Sheol on the tip of a spear. King Saul repeatedly commands his soldiers, even his own family, to deliver the son of Jesse to death’s door. In God’s mercy, Saul receives multiple opportunities to change. In God’s…

1 Samuel 18:1-30 | Andrew Murch | The great juxtaposition between Saul and David serves as a moment of reflection for us. Will we boast in might, power, and wealth and ultimately become slaves to jealousy, envy, and rage? Or as humble servants, come before the Lord with hearts and hands open with thankfulness for whatever he has put before us today…

1 Samuel 17:1-58 | Andrew Murch | The lesson we learn from the narrative of David and Goliath is that we need a Savior. And what David realizes more than his own people is that the Lord God is his Savior. Our Lord does not save with sword or spear, man or military, wit or white-knuckle strength, grit or grime. This is where the gospel shines throug…

1 Samuel 16:1-23 | Josh Lane | Our culture is addicted to perception over substance. Our social media environment pressures us to present an artificial reality that can look better than it is beneath the surface. People stop at surface perception, but God looks deeper to the substance beneath.由Josh Lane

1 Samuel 15:1-35 | Josh Butler | God wants our full obedience, not just our partial obedience. In 1 Samuel 15, we see that we’re invited to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, giving all of who we are to all of who He is.由Joshua Ryan Butler

1 Samuel 14:1-52 | Andrew Murch | As in many great tales of old, in moments of despair and desperation, a hero emerges. In chapter 13, Saul’s impatient attempt to gain the blessing of God in a battle against the Philistines ended in shocking consequences: the monarchy of Israel would be handed to someone else, stripped from Saul and his descendants…

1 Samuel 13:1-23 | Andrew Murch | Our opening stories of Saul show us what kind of man and king he is. Is he one with courageous faith in his God or one who cowers in fear? Our answer is clear from this text and will be key as we are introduced to other characters faced with the same odds. From the pages of these stories and the lives of these char…

Psalm 145:1-21 | Todd Miles | "I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever." Authored by King David, Psalm 145 stands as an incredible song of praise to God for who he is and the wondrous things he has done. Here, we see that our God is supremely and uniquely worthy of praise because he is both Great and Good, wholly oth…

Luke 2:1-20 | Josh Butler | As God the Son, having taken on human flesh, is born in a manger another glorious scene takes place and another pair of Advent witnesses is introduced. Lowly shepherds are met by heavenly angels who point the way to the birthplace of the long-awaited Savior. Luke continues to highlight the wonderful and mysterious happen…

Luke 1:57-80 | Andrew Murch | Continuing through Luke's account of the birth of Jesus, we come first to the birth of John—or, as we'll know him, John the Baptist. Elizabeth's pregnancy and John's birth are the glorious fulfillment of God's promises. John will precede the Messiah and call God's people to repentance and renewed faithfulness. Here, Ze…

Luke 1:39-56 | Andrew Murch | Now aware that she is pregnant with the long-awaited Messiah and that her relative, Elizabeth, is also pregnant, Mary rushes to Elizabeth. Filled with the Holy Spirit, should-be-barren Elizabeth and not-yet-born John recognize and glorify their Lord, still in the womb of Mary. Here, we see the mercy of God on display a…

Luke 1:5-38 | Andrew Murch | In Luke's Gospel account, the story of the birth of the one, promised Messiah actually begins with the birth of two babies: Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. Both born to women who in ordinary circumstances could not be pregnant, the coming of these extraordinary men is announced in an equally extraordinary way.…

Philippians 4:14-23 | Josh Butler | By his grace and according to his own design, God has determined that one of the primary means for the sending, supporting, and sustaining of gospel workers is the Church. In part, ‘to be the Church’ means to support the work of gospel ministry, to partner with gospel laborers, and to be an agent of encouragement…

Philippians 4:10-13 | Andrew Murch | Here, Paul discusses the way that the Lord has provided for him in times of need, both through the church in Philippi and through His nearness. In verse 10, readers see Paul discussing how the church’s concern for him has been revived as they had an opportunity to care for him. He continues to discuss throughout…

Philippians 4:2-9 | Andrew Murch | Joy and peace often seem to be a package deal. Like inseparable friends, one is seldom seen without the other. In fact, they even start looking alike after a while. There they are, side by side, in Paul’s list of spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22), and, just as he suggests, they both wave invitingly to us from the lives …

Philippians 3:17-4:1 | Thomas Terry | Multiple times in the New Testament, Paul refers to the Christian’s citizenship in heaven. Those who are citizens of God’s kingdom are welcomed into his family, given grace, and united together with him. Citizens of the Kingdom of God have different, allegiances, live for a different purpose, and live different…

Philippians 3:12-16 | Andrew Murch | Running for the health of it is one thing; running for first place is still another. However, we can look at this passage as one running for their very lives. People facing the fury of a huge storm in a disaster movie don’t go back into their house for the heirloom dining set as the tidal wave approaches their c…

Philippians 3:1-11 | Andrew Murch | What do we consider as “surpassing worth” in our lives? According to Paul, following Jesus not only involved giving up our self-earned “righteousness,” but embracing a life of suffering, death, and resurrection. Is it worth it? Paul argues that knowing Jesus is the only thing of “surpassing worth.” Is Jesus worth…

Philippians 2:19-30 | Andrew Murch | Who doesn’t appreciate a good example? Anyone faced with an important or complicated task can see the value in an example. Elementary-age kids are given examples of good handwriting as they learn. Parents show teenagers how to parallel park before turning them loose on the streets of Clark County. In Philippians…

Philippians 2:12-18 | Andrew Murch | This week, even when it’s uncomfortable, allow God’s word to reveal the places of grumbling and arguing in your heart. Pray that the Lord will give you contentment and love for the life and people that he’s given you.由Andrew Murch

Philippians 2:1-11 | Andrew Murch | God wants his people to be unified, and now more than ever in our current context it seems like we can find a million petty reasons to be divided even in the church. The opening of Philippians 2 challenges our worldly loves, preferences, and opinions, and it confronts us with the work of the God-man.…

Philippians 1:18b-30 | Andrew Murch | Paul’s letter to the Philippians confronts us with this truth as he declares that in life or death there is only one thing that matters: Jesus Christ. If Paul lives, it will be for Christ. If he dies, it will be for Christ whom he will meet face to face. Nothing else is more supreme. We find this tension in our…

Philippians 1:12-18a | Andrew Murch | When we look at the work of our hands and the days before us, it’s easy to lose sight of these two things; gospel work and the hope of eternity. It is both a discipline and an act of grace to be able to look up from our “today” and see where the Lord is working. May he give us those eyes today and may it fill u…

Philippians 1:1-11 | Andrew Murch | Paul has reasons to be sad, being separated from the Philippians. But, he has greater reasons to rejoice. Paul could grieve about being removed from brothers and sisters in Christ, but his confidence in Christ Jesus gives him a sure faith that at the very least, he will see these dear friends again on the Day of …

Psalm 56:1-13 | Nathan Noorlun | "In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" Captured by the Philistines, David calls out to God in a prayer saturated with confidence and hope in God. Here, we see that, although oppressed and imprisoned, the hope of God's people is in God himself.…

Psalm 91:1-16 | Joshua Ryan Butler | "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." It is a wonderful thing to find oneself under the shadow of God's redemptive refuge and protection. For the author of Psalm 91, it cause him to glorify God and meditate on the reality of life lived in the presence of God.…

Psalm 19:1-14 | Andrew Murch | When you are awed by Mt. Hood, moved by the tides on Cannon Beach, or blown away in the Gorge, you are hearing the symphony of God’s creation declaring his glory. When you read his Word, you are learning from the conductor how and why the notes that are played. When you cry out to him and receive redemption, you learn…

Psalm 6:1-10 | Gavin Hesse | "Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love." As we continue exploring the Psalms this summer, we come to another prayer from King David. Here, we see that evil does are cast off as David cries out for deliverance from the Lord.由Gavin Hesse

Psalm 16:1-11 | Noah Soistmann | "Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge." There is great joy and hope and peace for the people of God. In Psalm 16, King David considers who God is and who we are as his people. Here, we are reminded that life is lived at its fullest when life is lived in God.由Noah Soistmann

Psalm 55:1-23 | Andrew Murch | "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." Written by King David, Psalm 55 is a prayer-song born out of a season of incredible suffering and anguish. Throughout the psalm, David cries to and pleads with God. Here, we see the reality that God's people, even …

Psalm 39:1-13 | Daniel Orozco | "O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!" In this prayer, King David bows before God and contemplates his own life. Here, we see the truth of how a desperate person approaches a perfect God.由Daniel Orozco

Psalm 1:1-6 | Andrew Murch | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers." The Bible has a lot to say about the way of the wise and the way of the foolish. What separates one way from the other, and how can we know with confidence that our own way is right? In Ps…

Psalm 137:1-9 | Mike Clarensau | "By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion." From the humiliation of exile comes a prayer sung by the ancient Israelites. As they remember the glory and prosperity of their ancestors, God's people call on God to remember their affliction and those afflicting them.…

Psalm 73:1-28 | Tim Smith | "But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." Written by Asaph, Psalm 73 details a man of God caught between devotion to the Lord and envy for the prosperity of the wicked. Here, we see that God is the ultimate reward for man.…

Acts 16:11-40 | Noah Soistmann | This passage is a beautiful reminder for us to slow down and look for where the Lord is working. Instead of rushing from one thing to the next, constantly distracting ourselves, what would it cost to slow down, to look others in the eyes, and pray for the Lord’s leading? Who could the Lord lead you to this week?…

Acts 16:1-10 | Andrew Murch | Have you ever taken a moment to look back through your family line and trace the impact of the gospel? Do you know who was the first person in your family to follow Jesus? For some of us it’s parents, or grandparents, or even great-grandparents who passed on the faith. For many, it’s starting with you right now! You ar…

Acts 15:36-41 Andrew Murch | After being a fly on the wall at a moment of division and clarity for the church, we now are let into a conversation that seems like another very small debate. Two friends, Paul and Barnabas, co-laborers in the gospel, have a disagreement. This is the Barnabas who was the only one to welcome Paul into the faith. These t…

Acts 15:1-35 | Jake Gamble | There’s only one reason people enjoy watching reality TV: the drama! With clashing people, opinions, and decisions come conflicts, debates, and arguments. The cliffhanger is always if conflict will tear the people apart, or if they’ll work it out. We’re about to enter a religious reality TV show episode. Acts 15 is a cr…

Acts 14:1-28 | Josh Lane | Imagine being worshipped as a God and then chased down for murder all in the same day. Welcome to a day in the life of Paul the missionary. Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey together after having been driven out of Antioch and Pisidia. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they begin to “speak boldly”…

Acts 13:13-52 | Andrew Murch | Anyone who has children or have interacted with children knows the meaning of “selective hearing.” However, it’s not isolated only to kids. We all have a propensity to hear what we want to hear and to ignore what we’re not willing to here. Throughout Jesus’ ministry and here in the book of Acts we have seen two kinds …

Acts 13:1-12 | Andrew Murch | There are several stories in the book of Acts that amaze, make you scratch your head, or simply reveal the wonder of God’s work. This text is one of those. What opens as a seemingly average “role call” already blows the mind (tip: “role calls” in the Bible are never random). Just verses ago we saw the raging of a Herod…

Acts 12:1-25 | Andrew Murch | The camera shifts, the scene changes, and we’re once again back in Jerusalem seeing what is happening to the church and the Apostles there. As we look back at the epicenter of the early church, we also see the heart of the persecution of Christians. Herod is ramping up his ongoing attempts to silence and suppress the C…