Elisha And The Bears (What Really Happened)

The Gospel is not toothless. The Gospel is not weak or defenseless. As Spurgeon said – it is like a ‘lion.’ What do you do with a lion? You set it loose. In today’s text, we’ll see an example of this from Acts 17. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What opposition did Paul and the apostles face? B) What was the true (spiritual) source of that opposition? C) What effect does the good news have upon a fallen world? Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

Goliath was a monster. This man was a giant, a beast; the Devil’s own proxy. But God had His own champion. He sent a shepherd from Bethlehem to crush the monster’s head. Does that remind you of anybody else? In today’s study of 1 Samuel 17, we’ll see the Gospel in OT clothing. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) In what ways was Goliath a proxy for the serpent? B) What other types or shadows are in this chapter? C) How do Gen. 3, Rev. 13, and 1 Samuel 17 connect? Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

You can take this to the bank: As a Christian, your future is brighter than you can imagine. But for now? For now, we face hardships and heartache. For now, we live in ‘this present darkness.’ That’s the tension of the Christian life, isn’t it? We live in the ‘already,’ but the ‘not yet.’ Questions That We’ll Answer: A) Why does all of nature ‘groan?’ What is the cause? B) How can we be sure of a brighter tomorrow? C) How do we find strength to endure to the end? Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

Is worship difficult for you? For many people, it is. For many, it seems difficult or unnatural. Now, why would ‘worship’ be difficult? Well, we’re not used to glorifying someone other than ourselves. So, how do we fix this? It begins with the study of God himself. It begins with an appreciation of His character. The more we understand God, the more natural worship becomes. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What sort of worship was taking place in 2 Chronicles 7? B) What happened the moment the Temple was dedicated? C) How can we grow in our love and commitment to worship? Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt

The Bible is full of promises. Some were made by God, and some were made by men. Man’s promises are notoriously flimsy (and often broken). Conversely, the promises of God are iron clad. In today’s study, we’ll consider one of those promises up close. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What does the term ‘covenant’ mean? B) What promise did God make to Israel after the Exodus? C) What promises has He made to you and I as believers? Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

God looks after His children. There are so many examples of this. Manna from heaven. Water from rock. In today’s text, God will use ravens to bring Elijah food. Then, He will then use Elijah to bring a widow hope. The God who provided for them will look after you. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What is the context of 1 Kings 17? B) Why was Elijah hiding from Ahab and Jezebel? C) What can we learn from the Widow of Zarephath? Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt

God doesn’t need us to do anything. However, He invites us to do a great deal! Specifically He gives us jobs of great importance. How then should we respond? That will be the focus of today’s study in Matthew 10. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What is the harvest field, and who are the laborers? B) Why did Christ tell His apostles not to rely on their provisions? C) What jobs and responsibilities do you and I have this year? Speaker: Dr. Toby B. Holt

Elisha was bald. Very bald. In 2 Kings 2, the youth noticed – and mocked him for it. How did Elisha respond? Well, not in a way that you might expect. He cursed the youth – and two bears came out to maul them. So, what’s the deal with that? For some, it seems like an overreaction. Other Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What was so sinful about the youth’s actions? B) Why was Elisha justified in the response? C) What do these events tell us about God? Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby Holt

In Psalm 8, David marveled at the stars. And as he did so, he considered God’s power. ‘What is man,’ David asked, that God should care for him? In other words, why would a God so big care for people so small? And yet, He does. In today’s text, we’ll consider the towering yet tender nature of our God. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What is so striking about Psalm 8? B) Why does David focus on the ‘name’ of God? C) What proof do you have that God loves you? Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby Holt

‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.’ – Ecclesiastes 3:1 In life, there is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to kill and a time to heal. There is a time of war and a time of peace. In today’s study, we’ll consider the various cycles of our existence. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) Who wrote this famous passage, and why? B) Why is life futile ‘under the sun?’ C) What makes things different ‘under heaven?’ Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby Holt