2 Samuel 21—22, Luke 18:24—43 • Key Verse: 2 Samuel 22:2 Near the Dead Sea in southern Israel is an immense flat-topped plateau called Masada. It is one of the most visited archeological sites in Israel today. A palace and fortress built by Herod the Great sits atop the plateau....

2 Samuel 19-20, Luke 18; 1-23 • Key Verse: Luke 18:1 When the starting gun is fired at the beginning of a marathon, it is anticipated that fewer runners will finish than will start. And that is not even considering those who one day decided to run a maratho’n and...

2 Samuel 16 – 18, Luke 17:20-37 • Key Verse: 2 Samuel 16:15 One of the most grateful testimonies of the joy of forgiveness is Psalm 32, in which David expresses both the pain of unforgiven sin and the pleasure of forgiveness. He suffered greatly for his sins of adultery,...

2 Samuel 14 – 15, Luke 17:1-19 • Key Verse: Luke 17:1 Have you ever been influenced? Of course you have. If people weren’t susceptible to being influenced, the entire advertising industry would collapse. Sometimes when filling out the registration card on a purchase you are asked, “Where did you...

2 Samuel 12—13, Luke 16 • Key Verse: Luke 16:29 I always have trouble seeing the 3-D images in those pictures that look like nothing more than colorful patterns. You hold them at nose length, stare through them as you slowly move it away from your face and, voilal, the...

2 Samuel 9—11, Luke 15:11-32 • Key Verse: 2 Samuel 11:2 Many times what we see gets us into trouble. The apostle John noted that the lust of the eyes does not come from God but from the world (1 John 2:16). The childrens chorus “Oh, be careful little eyes...

2 Samuel 6-8, Luke 15:1—10 • Key Verse: 2 Samuel 6:7 The more we focus on doing what pleases us, the less we will please God. That truth applies to many things, including worship. How we worship God is not a matter of “anything goes.” It especially is not to...

2 Samuel 3-5, Luke 14:25—35 Key Verses: Luke 14:34-35 Expiration dates are printed on just about everything nowadays, even on soda pop cans. One place you will not find an expiration date, however, is on salt. Ever hear anyone say, “This salt tastes old. It must not be very fresh”?...

2 Samuel 1-2, Luke 14:1-24 • Key Verses: Luke 14:13-14 We always like to get something back from our investments. Money we put in the stock market is done so with the hope of gain. A gift sent to a client is given with the hope of gaining more business....

1 Samuel 30-31, Luke 13:23-35 • Key Verse: 1 Samuel 30:6 A key component of any successful athletic program is strength training. The willing team or performer must have not only ability but strength and endurance as well. Sometimes we can find our strength stretched to the limit, leaving us...