Stonebridge Bible Church Sermons

Michael digs into the book of Malachi, the final book in the Old Testament. According to Wilkinson’s & Boa’s Talk Thru the Bible: “Malachi marks the close of the Old Testament prophecy, and the beginning of 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments. Having learned little from their captivity, the people soon lapse into many of the same sins that resulted in their exile in the first place. Covetousness, idolatry, mixed-marriages with pagan people, abuse of the poor, calloused hearts. In a question-and-answer format, Malachi answers Judah’s hardheartedness and pronounces God’s curse upon all who practice such things… It will remain for John the Baptist, the promised forerunner who would come in the power and spirit of Elijah to bring a hope-filled message: Behold! The Lamb of God.”

We rarely have answers to our "why" or "how long" questions, but we have clear instructions from the Lord: Trust Him. Join us for another remarkably timely reminder from an ancient prophet whose words to his original audience point them, and us, to timeless truth about the God we serve. Michael teaches on the book of Zechariah.  

Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 586BC and many Jews lived in exile in Babylon. Around 538BC, Cyrus came to the throne in Persia and offered some relief, permitting some Israelites to return to their land. As the Israelites come home, they have major projects they must attend to -- they have to rebuild, beginning with the temple complex. They started rebuilding but then stopped and there was a 16-year halt in the rebuilding process. This is where Haggai comes in to offer four oracles encouraging the completion of the rebuilding projects. Michael teaches an overview of the book of Haggai, the second-shortest book in the Bible.

Some translate Zephaniah “Jehovah has concealed,” “Jehovah has hidden” or “Jehovah has covered”-in terms of protection. We have to look at what “hidden” means in this context. Consider Moses hidden for three months after he was born, protecting him from Pharaoh’s orders to murder every Hebrew boy. The wicked also hide – they hide themselves and prey upon the innocent, but cannot hide their sins from God. Scripture tells us Zephaniah was the son of Cushi (‘KYOO-shigh’) and the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. He was a contemporary of King Josiah of Judah and the prophet Jeremiah. We don’t have a ton of background on Zephaniah, or many of the prophets, but maybe God wants us to be less focused on the man and more focused on the message. Join us as Michael teaches through the book of Zephaniah, a book of warning and encouragement with practical application fitting for our time.

Dr. Michael Easley preaches on the Resurrection.

Men have always had the same responses to crisis: How long? How can this go on? Why do the righteous suffer? Why do the wicked prosper? God, why aren’t You doing something? Unlike most prophets who spoke to Judah, Israel, Assyria, the Babylonians–some people group–this is a conversation between a prophet and God. Join us as we study this unique prophetic text of Habakkuk.

In the second week of Stonebridge’s Sunday morning live stream amid Covid-19 forcing churches to cease holding in-person worship services, Michael and Wayne discuss how the church is persevering and Michael offers listeners encouragement in Christ, moving beyond the fear.

Michael and Executive Pastor Wayne Wolf update Stonebridgers in the church's first Sunday morning live stream broadcast to how the church is reacting to Covid-19 and its effect on members, Franklin, Nashville and the nation.  Michael offers words of encouragement from Psalm 18.

Michael teaches on the book of Nahum, which delivered a potent decree of God's judgment in three short chapters. Nahum's message is clear: God is indeed a God of wrath. Is it possible, however, that God's wrath demonstrates His love?   Nahum prophesies to the Ninevites 100-150 years after Jonah’s reluctant ministry, which resulted in the greatest “revival” in Old Testament record. Nineveh is an interesting chapter because it was a serious capital. It was surrounded by massive 100-foot walls, 200 towers set around the wall for defense, 150-foot wide, 60-foot deep moat surrounded this incredible fortress. The city was massive. Its grandeur couldn’t rival Jerusalem’s at its zenith. Nineveh responded to Jonah’s message in 760BC. However, In less than 40 years (by 722BC) they had regressed completely back to their old ways. Sargon II destroyed Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at that time. 10 tribes were dispersed in that area, and under Sennacherib the Assyrians nearly captured Jerusalem, then under King Hezekiah’s reign, in 701 BC. By the time of Nahum, circa 660BC, Assyria was at the height of its power and wealth under Ashurbanipal, whose reign from 669-633BC exceeded all other Assyrian kings. Nineveh was his capital and fortress, but Ashurbanipal’s sons were no match for the future their father had established and their power failed. Nahum is God’s voice of an overflowing flood (Nahum 1:8), which literally came true when the Tigris overflowed and destroyed part of Nineveh’s wall. Babylonians took advantage of the opportunity, breached the wall through the destroyed sections and invaded, plundered, burned, and destroyed the city. Nahum 3:11 prophesied that Nineveh would “be hidden” and indeed it was until the site was discovered in 1842. Nahum stated that God was coming not with a call to repentance, but with the sword of judgment. While Jonah brought God’s warning of judgment unless they repented, Nahum brings God’s vice of judgment in cold terms, a pronouncement of death.

Michael teaches an overview of the book of Micah, a reminder of God's Word, His coming judgment, and His gracious goodness. From Bruce Wilkinson's and Kenneth Boa's, Talk Thru the Bible: “Micah prophesied during a period of intense social injustice in Judah. False prophets preached for riches, not for righteousness. Princes thrived on cruelty, violence, and corruption. Priests ministered more for greed than for God. Landlords stole from the poor and evicted widows. Judges lusted after bribes. Businessmen used deceitful scales and weights. Sin had infiltrated every segment of society. A word from God was mandatory.  Micah enumerates the sins of the nation, sins which will ultimately lead to destruction and captivity. But in the midst of blackness there is hope. A Divine Deliverer will appear and righteousness will prevail. Though justice is now trampled underfoot, it will one day triumph.”