1 Chronicles 4-6, John 6:1—21 • Key Verses: 1 Chronicles 5:20, 25 It has been said that the problem with the school of hard knocks is that the tests are given first. That’s a hard way to learn—test first, lesson later. Paul, speaking particularly of the Old Testament, said that...

l Chronicles 1-3, John 5:25-47 • Key Verse: John 5:25 We are surrounded by death and reminders of it. In our homes may be pictures of family and friends who have died. Perhaps you were an heir and received an item that belonged to one of them, and that also...

2 Kings 24—25, John 5:1-24 Key Verses: John 5:16-17 What’s the big deal about an appendix anyway? I don’t mean the one at the end of a book, but the one that sometimes is removed by a surgeon. It really isn’t ‘important and goes unnoticed until it becomes a pain....

2 Kings 22-23, John 4:31—54 • Key Verse: 2 Kings 22:13 Has a friend ever said to you, “You know that makes me mad”? That . person is speaking to you because you know him, and you know him well enough to realize what upsets him. You also know to...

2 Kings 19-21, John 4:1-30 • Key Verse: John 4:23 There are few things that the Bible says God actively seeks. So if God seeks something, it must be important to Him and ought to be important to us. Luke 15 portrays God as seeking the lost. Lost people matter...

2 Kings 17-18, John 3:19-36 • Key Verse: 2 Kings 17:28 In a general sense, worship comes naturally to us. We do know how to worship—that is, to respond to someone or something with praise. We respond to a beautiful sunset, a tasty dessert or a winning team. Our struggle...

2 Kings 15-16, John 3:1-18 • Key Verse: John 3:3 The bride and groom step up to the wedding cake holding a knife. They slice a piece from the top tier and lovingly “feed” a bite to each other, perhaps getting frosting on each other’s face. In reality, the cake...

2 Kings 13-14, John 2 • Key Verse: John 2:16 The sign in the front lawn said, “For Sale by Owner.” What made this particular for-sale item interesting is that it was a church! It made me think—just who was the owner of this building that had been called “the...

2 Kings 10-12, John 1:29-51 • Key Verse: 2 Kings 12:3 “Done” can be a nice word. Sometimes I write the word “do” on a list and then later enjoy going back, adding two letters and making it “done.” Its a nice word, if it stands alone. When it begins...

2 Kings 7—9, John 1:1-28 • Key Verse: 2 Kings 7:9 Early one Saturday there was a knock on the door. The friend standing there asked, “What size suit do you wear?” I told him. He then said, “There? a garage sale two streets over and they are selling suits...