Stonebridge Bible Church Sermons

Michael teaches on the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a contemporary of Ezra’s. Where Ezra is moving the exiles back to Jerusalem, most of Nehemiah’s account is in Jerusalem as he attempts to repair the wall around the city to prevent enemies from entering who would physically and spiritually destroy Israel’s newly reestablished temple complex.  Nehemiah’s task is a restoration project not unlike Ezra’s attempts to reform the Jews who had fallen away from YHWH.

Join us as Michael continues our series The Big Book – Cover to Cover with the book about Ezra, scribe and priest who played a pivotal role in Israel’s history. This book continues the account from 2 Chronicles 36:21-23 and covers about 23 years, with a 60 year gap between the 22nd and 23rd year. It begs the question: What have we set our hearts on? 

Michael continues his survey of the Bible with 2 Chronicles.  While 1 and 2 Chronicles tell a continuous story, 2 Chronicles has a different emphasis. In 1 Chronicles, the emphasis is the importance of the temple in national life – but in 2 Chronicles, the emphasis is the impotence of the temple in national life.  2 Chronicles condemns ritualism, the idea that what satisfies God is external conformity rather than internal reality.  While 1 Chronicles emphasizes the importance of recognizing God as a nation, 2 Chronicles emphasizes the importance of following formal recognition with actual recognition in attitudes and actions.  Tragically, we see in 2 Chronicles that Israel’s recognition of God was only formal, not actual. Listen in as Michael helps us see the lessons we can apply to our lives as we read about the failures of the Israelites.

Michael continues his survey of the Bible with 1 Chronicles.  1-2 Chronicles cover the same time period as 2 Samuel-2 Kings, but offers more and different detail because it was written for a different purpose. What we know of the past shapes how we view our present and plan our future. What we know of our theological history will affect the way we understand and live out our faith.  First Chronicles helps us to fill out our understanding of the history of our theological roots.

Wayne Wolf preaches on Psalm 90.

Dr. Bill Brown continues his study on prayer in Psalm 23.

Dr. Bill Brown shares part 1 in his study of prayer from Matthew 6:5-15. 

Michael continues his survey of the Bible with the book of Second Kings.  In this book we see the reign of 19 more kings in the Divided Kingdom, the transfer of leadership between Elijah and Elisha, and are introduced to a new prophet: Isaiah. As we read about the faith of the prophets and failures of many of these kings, we’re prompted to ask: where do we turn in times of trouble? Do we seek answers from our own resources, worldview, network, friends? May we learn to first inquire of the Lord when we find ourselves in need of guidance.

Dr. Easley preaches on the book of First Kings, which begins with a portrait of the king we’re all longing for... and ends in disaster. Power un-checked and un-submitted to the Lord breeds injustice and corruption. The nation of Israel splits into the Divided Kingdom and we are left longing for the King who will rule justly, mercifully, perfectly.

Michael teaches on the book of 2 Samuel, which takes place at about the mid-way point in the timeline between Abraham and Jesus Christ. It’s here that we come to know David, the man after God’s own heart, whose reign is mired by his great failures – and redeemed by God’s great graciousness to him.