Hold Up The Book

God's people are called to be honest in all of our dealings — the big stuff and the small stuff. We are supposed to be people who keep our commitments; who do what we say we will do. We shouldn't need large piles of legal documents and ultra-serious-sounding language to hold us to our agreements; we should just be trustworthy in all of our dealings. This lesson reminds us why that's important for Christians and gives some practical advice on doing it well.

Ezekiel 34 is a heart-rending passage about how miserably the leaders of God's people have failed to care for them. And yet, the same passage is full of hope as God promises that he will shepherd his people and care for them in place of their failed human leaders. Promises like these make us love God all the more.

Who and what determines who we are? Do we each determine our identity ourselves? Or does our identity come from someone outside of us? The Christian perspective is obvious: that each of our identities are inherent to our being created by God, in his image. This message is very counter-cultural in our current cultural moment, and that's what it makes it that much more important.

Christ's message about being "born again thru water and the Spirit" (John 3:8) is full of joy and hope for those who are getting saved from sin.

For Father's Day, this message reminds all of us to have high expectations for Christian fathers. Whether you're a dad, a mom, or even a Christian who isn't raising any kids... this message reminds all of us of some of the God-given responsibilities of dads who are called by God to, "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4).