Buffalo City Church

Caleb Drahosh \\ Now that Paul has expressed the thanks he gives to God for the faith and love of the Colossians, he states how his prayers also present a request to God. Paul desires that the Colossians keep going on the road they have started down; that they would continue to discern their direction according to the truth.

Caleb Drahosh \\ When the gospel is heard and received it produces fruit and that fruit increases. All of this is grace: hearing, receiving, producing, and increasing. God uses human agents to deliver the gospel who also bear witness to its effect: love.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Paul begins his letter to the Colossians with a traditional greeting and expresses gratitude for the church. Paul – who was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this letter – had never visited the church in Colossae, but he wanted to send encouragement to them after receiving a report from Epaphras about potentially problematic teaching that threatened the church. The gratitude Paul c...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Now delivered from their enemies, the Jews set aside two days for celebration known as the feast of Purim. Not even the acts that are seemingly the most random are outside of God's control; those who seek supernatural guidance against God's people are foiled. Fully free of the enemy's plot against us, we are to remember all God's wonderful works.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Once Haman is exposed and executed, the king gives Mordecai his signet ring and tells him to write a new edict in the king's name. The Jews are allowed to defend themselves against the original edict established by Haman. In this way, the Jews were saved from their enemies. The new edict did not revoke the first, but established conditions that made it possible for God's people to...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Esther, having garnered favor with the king, reveals Haman's wicked manipulation of the king. Haman begs the queen to speak on his behalf, but compromises himself further in the process. The man who sought to destroy God's people is himself condemned and is executed in the very manner that he sought to end Mordecai.

John Baumgartner \\ Evil is at work in the world. Haman is growing more and more in favor with the king, and he has plans to kill Mordecai in a most public and painful way. But God is at work for good, turning all the evil devices of Haman into deliverance for His people. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Haman’s pride comes before his destruction. In humility, Mordecai trust...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Haman's plot goes public and when it reaches Mordecai and Esther they are deeply distressed. According to the law, no one could come before the king without being summoned. The punishment for doing so was death. Mordecai appeals to Esther to make an attempt on behalf of the Jews. If the king looks upon her request with favor, they will be saved. If not, she and all her people are...

Caleb Drahosh \\ After Esther is named queen, a plot against the king is made known to her by Mordecai. She informs the king and the plot is foiled. Later, King Ahasuerus promotes Haman the Agagite. Mordecai does not pay homage to Haman. Haman seeks to destroy Mordecai – and all the Jews – by taking the matter to the king who grants Haman the authority to do so. The threat is dire, but God has alr...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Kings and rulers of this earth go to great lengths to glorify themselves. King Ahasuerus of Persia was no different. In his excessive feasting and celebration of self, Ahasuerus calls for his queen, Vashti, who refuses. Fearing kingdom insubordination, the king relieves her of her role as queen. Ahasuerus now seeks a new queen. Esther, the niece of Mordecai, a Jew, is chosen.

John Baumgartner \\ Prayer is calling upon God for all He has commanded us to ask Him for, humbly acknowledging our deep need of His grace, resting upon the sure promises He has made that are “Yes and Amen” to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us how to ask for everything we need both in body and soul.

Blaze Culliton \\ Rejoicing in the Lord always and not being anxious about anything are postures toward God that are the results of the access we have to God through prayer. In prayer, we make our requests known to God humbly with thanksgiving as an acknowledgement of His power and holiness and our hearts and minds are guarded by the peace of God.

John Baumgartner \\ Jesus was always praying and seeking communion with His Father, and He has given us the same Spirit of adoption that we too cry out, “Abba! Father!” Prayer is the most natural act of the new creation we are in Christ, but also the most difficult for sinners. We are afraid to show our sins to God and instead try to hide from Him. We imagine that He would be angry to see us, but...

Caleb Drahosh \\ On Sunday morning, three women come to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. They quickly discover that the stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty. A man in white instructs the women to go tell the disciples. The disciples do not believe two eyewitness accounts of Jesus' resurrection. Then Jesus appears to His disciples and rebukes their unbelief. He commissions them to preach the g...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Now that Jesus has been persecuted as a prophet and crowned as king, He takes up His priestly work of offering sacrifice for the sins of God's people. But it's not the blood of animals that is offered, but His own. His sacrifice is once for all. And the curtain in the temple was torn in two; the debt of sin that separated God from man had now been paid.

John Baumgartner \\ Jesus now stands accused before Pilate the Roman governor of Judea. He does not plead for His life, nor waver at all in the face of death. Keeping the will of His Father is far greater joy than all the suffering He will face. Jesus remains a conquering victor by His courage in the face of death.

Caleb Drahosh \\ Checking in with Peter we find him at a distance from Jesus, outside in the courtyard. Three different times, it is said by others that Peter had been with Jesus. In every instance Peter denies association with Jesus. Jesus remains silent when charges are brought against Him; Peter buckles and denies Jesus. Jesus said that His disciples were to deny themselves, take up their cross...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Jesus is taken to the high priest and is tried by the chief priests, elders, and scribes. False testimonies were given, and the testimonies didn't agree. They were hunting for a reason to kill Jesus. They land on blasphemy and condemn Him to die. Even though all His followers have fled at this point, Jesus stays resolute. And those who follow Jesus closely can expect similar thing...

Caleb Drahosh \\ As Jesus enters Gethsemane, the hour of His death is near. He tells His disciples to sit and pray, and takes Peter, James, and John into the garden further. There He tells them to watch. They fall asleep. He tells them to watch again. They fall asleep again. The time is now. Judas came with a crowd to arrest Jesus. The shepherd is stuck and the sheep scatter. Often our intent is t...

Micah Hoke \\ The world teaches us many ways of love that are not Biblical. Mary, on the other hand, showed true love and devotion to Jesus and set an example for us to follow. Judas did not understand this love and chose to betray Jesus instead. We, as a Church, must be ready to give everything to Jesus and be reverent of Him. Even if it means we lose our very lives.

Caleb Drahosh \\ The realization of Jesus' kingly reign was imminent as He spoke to His disciples. The judgments that come upon the kingdoms of the earth aren't meant to scare His people, but embolden them that His authority is absolute. The old is giving way to the new. Although the day and the hour of the full revelation of Jesus' kingship is not known, history is moving toward it. Therefore, Hi...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Tuesday of Holy Week is drawing to a close and Jesus leaves the Temple. One of the disciples comments on the beauty of the Temple and Jesus takes the opportunity to go into greater detail about what is to become of it. What is old is about to give way to the new. And that will result in suffering and persecution for Jesus' disciples. But the disciples are warned. They are able now...

Caleb Drahosh \\\ As Jesus' public teaching ministry comes to an end and He has a seat in the temple. He observes people bringing in their offerings. Rich people put in large amounts, but an impoverished widow drops a very small amount. Jesus remarks that her gift is extraordinary because it's all she has. Giving is done before the face of God and is reflective of what we believe about Him. How wi...

Caleb Drahosh \\ Now Jesus poses a question regarding the scribes’ claims to highlight His own deity and humanity. Jesus flies in the face of the expectations of the religious leadership. And the crowds were glad to hear Him. But much like the scribe in the previous passage, would they submit to Him? Jesus then issues a warning against the scribes and their performative practices, their predatory...

Caleb Drahosh \\ When the Pharisees, Herodians, and the Sadducees approach Jesus, they do so out of antagonism. Jesus keeps turning the tables on them, showing that He's the One who is over them. Jesus doesn't go into His final days with His back up against the wall; He goes to the cross in full control, completely unrivaled. But now a scribe comes questioning Jesus. Unlike the others, the scribe...