Faith Works Summer Devotions

Daniel: Prophet Profile · 605 B.C. – 535 B.C, Daniel’s life and ministry bridge most of the 70-year period of Babylonian captivity. · Daniel was a young man is born into a noble Judean family and then is carried off in exile at age 16 to serve the Babylonian Empire in their program of assimilating the best and brightest of their vassal states. Daniel serves the remainder of his life in exile. · Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel who mentioned him three times (9:23, 10:11,19) as an example of righteousness. While Ezekiel emphasizes the nation’s religious restoration, Daniel concentrates on its political restoration. · Daniel’s name means “God is my judge.” · He is one of the few well-known biblical characters about whom nothing negative is recorded. His life was characterized by faith, prayer, courage, consistency, and lack of compromise. Jesus calls Daniel a prophet (Matt. 24:15).

Ezekiel: Prophet Profile · Prophets are given by God the ability to see through things: such as time, space, and…pretense. These words are certainly true for Zeke. · The name Ezekiel (Yehezke’l) means “STRENGTHENED by God.” · Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was a priest who became a prophet during some of Judah’s darkest days. He was privileged to receive visions of the power and plan of God and he was careful and artistic in his written presentation. His wife died as a sign to Judah when the final siege on Jerusalem began (24:16-24). · Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in the second deportation from Jerusalem in 597 B.C. He received his first vision five years later. Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry spanned about 25 years, from approximately 592-570 B.C. He died in 560 B.C. · Ezekiel preached and wrote to the exiles in Babylon, compared with Jeremiah who remained in Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s Babylonian home was Tel Abib, the colony/refugee settlement of the Jewish people in Babylon along the Chebar River, also known as the “Grand

Jeremiah: Prophet Profile · The son of Hilkiah the priest from a village about 2 miles north of Jerusalem (Anathoth) · His name means “Yahweh throws” in the sense of laying a foundation. It can also mean “Yahweh establishes, appoints, or sends.” · His ministry started around 627 under King Josiah and stretched to about 580 B.C. · Three Stages to His Ministry: o 627-605 B.C. – He prophesied while Judah was threatened by Assyria and Egypt o 605-586 B.C. – He proclaimed God’s judgment while Judah was threatened and besieged by Babylon o 586-580 B.C. – He ministered in Jerusalem and Egypt after Judah’s downfall · He was a contemporary of Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Daniel and Ezekiel. · His nickname is the “weeping prophet” (9:1) because he often bathed his harsh prophecies in tears of compassion. Jeremiah’s life was difficult: he wasn’t allowed to marry, he faced opposition from his hometown, beatings, punishment in stocks, isolation and imprisonment. He preached forty years without a single “convert.” · He had a secre

· God’s People are now divided, and the Northern Kingdom (usually called “Israel” has been conquered by the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom “Judah” (also Jerusalem) is struggling with faithfulness as the Assyrians fade and Babylonians rise in power. · God raises up prophets to indict and convict the people for breaking both the covenant as well as His commands. The Ten Commandments are organized into two “tables.” The first table deals with right relationship with God. Sadly, the Israelites often falter here and worship many idols. The second table emphasizes right relationships with others, because justice, integrity, and truth matter to God. The people typically fail at these too. God appoints prophets to challenge the religious and political leaders. This makes them unpopular figures in their own day and age. · These prophets are usually categorized into “major” and “minor.” This does not have to do with their importance or reliability, but rather their length. · The prophets are some of the of the most mi

Introduction: “Descendants of David continue to reign in Jerusalem. Judah struggles to retain independence amid the swirling change of political superpowers. Two kings stand tall for the Lord: Hezekiah and Josiah. Many others fall into idolatry. Mighty Assyria crumples before resurgent Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar enters the world stage and attacks Judah. During this scene God’s prophets continue the dire warnings of their predecessors. Isaiah and Jeremiah are the best known. They also foretell events both near and remote. Isaiah’s word about the Suffering Servant and Jeremiah’s prophecy of a new covenant wait to be fulfilled in the first coming of the messianic King, recounted early in Act 3.“ - Guthrie, George H.. Reading God's Story

Introduction: · God’s People are now divided: The Northern Kingdom is usually called “Israel” (also Samaria or Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom “Judah” (also Jerusalem). Israel has no “good” kings. Judah has only a few. · God raises up prophets to indict and convict the people for breaking both the covenant as well as His commands. The Ten Commandments are organized into two “tables.” The first table deals with right relationship with God. Sadly, the Israelites often falter here and worship many idols. The second table emphasizes right relationships with others, because justice, integrity, and truth matter to God. The people typically fail at these too. God appoints prophets to challenge the religious and political leaders. This makes them unpopular figures in their own day and age. · These prophets are usually categorized into “major” and “minor.” This does not have to do with their importance or reliability, but rather their length. · The prophets are some of the of the most misunderstood and overlooked bo

The Ten Commandments are organized into two “tables.” The first table deals with right relationship with God. Sadly, the Israelites often falter here and worship many idols. The second table emphasizes right relationships with others, because justice, integrity, and truth matter to God. The people typically fail at these too. In this extended scene, God responds. He divides Israel, diminishing the power of the remaining kingdoms. Then He sends Assyria to destroy the northern kingdom. Furthermore, He appoints prophets to challenge the religious and political leaders. Read Amos, Hosea and Micah with an ear for how they address God’s concerns for both tables of the Law.

Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes

Today is a historic day!  For the first time ever, Coffeehouse Theology isn’t taking a break over the summer.  Instead, for our “summer edition” we are going bi-weekly and shorter (35 minutes or so).  Why?  We’re going all the way through the Bible in 2020 and we didn’t want to miss a single book of the Bible.  We hope giving you the “big picture” of each book as well as looking at a handful of key Scriptures will help you stay connected and engaged.  This week’s conversation covers 1 Chronicles and Psalms.

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference:

From the series Coffeehouse Theology | Scripture Reference: