Moses and the People of Israel – Dave Rogers
Moses stood in the minds of ancient Israelites as “THE” prophet, greatest among all those who followed him because of his role as deliverer and lawgiver for his people. After assembling Israel on Mt. Ebal and Gerizim to recite the blessings and curses prescribed by God, Joshua read to all the people every word Moses had commanded them (Josh. 8:35). First-century Jews referred to the five books of the Pentateuch as simply “the book of Moses” (Mark 12:26), and in…
Moses and the False Prophet – John Baker
Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22 is a well-defined section of Scripture focused on leadership in Israel. The question under consideration is, “How will Israel get along without Moses?” After all, Moses had been clearly attested by God to be His spokesman both to Pharaoh (Ex. 7:9-12) and to Israel (Num. 16:28-33). But Moses knew that the time of his death was drawing near (Deu. 31:14), and God had not yet finished saying everything He intended to say to Israel. More revelation would be…
Moses and the Christ – Cliff Goodwin
There must have been excitement in Philip’s voice when he said to Nathanael, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write…” (John 1:45). Not only did Moses write of Jesus in various passages throughout the Pentateuch, he also prefigured (foreshadowed) the Christ personally. Both of these realities are brought out in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. The apostle John gives clear evidence in his gospel account that the Jewish people of the first century were looking…
Moses and Pharaoh – Wade Webster
We often talk about David and Goliath, and we should. It is an amazing story. It has been used in sports, in business, in politics, and in many other arenas to speak of a contest where one of the participants is at a decided disadvantage. For sure, that was the case with David and Goliath. David was a shepherd. Goliath was a soldier. Not only did Goliath think that David had no chance, so did David’s kin and David’s king…
Moses, Like No Other Prophet
The unique character and work of Moses is well summarized in Deuteronomy 34:10-12. But since then there has not raised in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of…
Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
One of the most thought-provoking questions in the Bible is the one asked by Cain. When the Lord questioned Cain concerning the brother whom he murdered, Abel, his response was: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen. 4:9). This is a question we need to ask ourselves today. Do we have a responsibility to watch out for and care for one another? When we turn to the New Testament, it becomes clear that the answer is absolutely Consider our responsibilities to…
Thank You for Your Service!
Another year of Camp Hensel has come and gone, and it was a success! For more than 50 years the Southwest congregation has conducted the Hensel camp session with the help of our sister congregations from near and far. In that time we have seen hundreds of campers and staff members whose lives have been forever changed because of their time at camp. Every year friendships are born, problems are solved, and the bonds of fellowship are strengthened. It is…
Submit Not to Temptation
A wonderful blessing that we receive, when we become Christians, is the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ in baptism (Acts 22:16), but this does not mean that our problem with sin is over. In matter of fact, we still sin at times (1 John 1:8, 10). Thankfully, the Scriptures outlines the development of sin and how to overcome (James 1:12-15). The first stage is temptation (James 1:14). It includes two things: desire and enticement (an opportunity…
The Problem with False Doctrine
What is the core problem with false doctrine? False teaching is destructive (2 Pet. 2:1), but that is a result. It is empty (Matt. 15:9) but that speaks to quality. False doctrine is of the Devil (2 Cor. 11:3-4; 13-15), yes, but that has to do with origin. At its heart, the primary issue with false doctrine is that it denigrates the Cross of Christ. Consider Galatians 5:1-2, Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us…
From the Director’s Desk (May 2024) – Trent Kennedy
What are your high school students doing June 23-28? I know that the summer is a busy time with many great opportunities to learn, serve, and grow. There will be baseball camps and math camps and fine arts camps and more. But, there are also many opportunities for spiritual growth this summer. Did you know that the Southwest School of Bible Studies offers a Servants’ Academy the last week of June? This week is part camp, part future preachers training,…
The Prophets and Sin – Richard Massey
In past ages God used His holy prophets to deliver messages to mankind (Heb. 1:1). Whatever the prophets said, both vocally and with the pen, was designed to guide people into acceptable behavior before God. The Lord demands that human conduct be righteous, holy, and just. This would aptly describe moral behavior. A moral life is one that is clean, pure, and the which seeks the good of all men. On the other hand, immoral, or sinful behavior is detested…
The Prophets and the Church – Wayne Robbins
The personal words I share today may not be remembered or quoted a century from now. However, the words of the prophets, spoken thousands of years ago, still resonate and are frequently cited today. Unlike the prophets, I have never been guided by the Holy Spirit to write (2 Pet. 1:21). When the creator of all existence communicates a word to this earth, and it is recorded for us to read, it demands our attention. The prophets were God’s chosen…