God's Word with Pastor Tom Smith

A central theme throughout the Bible is caring for the poor or those who have a need. Jesus talks about the foolishness of storing up excess treasures on earth for tomorrow and missing the joy of being generous today.

The Parable of the Talents shows that God gives to each person and we are accountable to our Master in how we use his gifts. Jesus teaches us about stewardship.

As the trumpet judgments unfold, we see God's all consuming fire for judgment and purification as well as his sovereign authority. Learning to read these judgments as apocolyptic literature using Old Testament imagery is the key to understanding what's taking place.

Jesus warns us to be on guard against greed because he knows that greed tells us lies that it can’t fulfill and chokes our trust in God and ability to live generously.

As the 7th seal is broken, worship and prayers are transformed into judgment as God acts and prepares to unleash the trumpet judgments.

Jesus turns assumptions upside down and one of his most counter intuitive statements was “It is better to give than receive.” Living a generous life glorifies God, reflects God’s generous nature, and brings us joy.

Understanding how the series of judgments are not chronologically ordered but are progressive intensification of the same events is a key to properly understanding Revelation.

Worry about nothing. Pray about everything. The Psalms can guide our prayers when we face life’s difficulties. Our prayers should lead us to gratitude and praise for who God is and what God has done, is doing, and will do. Psalm 107 is our guide for bringing gratitude to God.

John is given an image as to the full extent of the church and the praise and worship in heaven due Christ because he has brought his people through the great tribulation and safely into their heavenly home with him.

What do we pray when sickness strikes? Why do we get sick? Was sickness and death part of God’s design or is there something else at work? Jesus came not just to provide temporary relief, but to defeat the root cause of sickness.

Loneliness is real and very painful. Psalm 42-43 gives voice to the isolation, loss, opposition, and fear of loneliness but also provides a path to move forward.

In an age of technology and services, we are more worn out than ever. What we need is true spiritual rest and Psalm 62 is our guide to finding rest in God alone.

In this first interlude, John is shown two visions that answer the question from Chapter 6 of who can stand under these judgments. 

There is justified anger when it is modeled after Christ’s heart. But how that anger is handled determines whether it is honoring of God. Psalm 4 serves as our guide to take our anger to God.

Jesus has broken the first four seals and unleashed trials and tribulations upon the earth for the purpose of bringing judgment to the unfaithful and persecutors and to purify the faithful. Those who have live a martyred life now cry for God's justice to be done and John is given imagery of future judgment that will come.

Psalm 32 helps guide our prayers when we’re experiencing the guilt of sin into confession and renewal.

Revelation 6 shows Jesus' authority over evil forces. What they meant for evil, he used for good by bringing judgment to the unfaithful and purifying the saints.

When our desires don’t align with God’s will, it is natural to feel disappointed. How do we take our disappointment to God? There’s a Psalm for that. Psalm 74 guides us in praying honestly and remembering God’s faithfulness so we can move forward with trust in God.

John's vision in the throne room of God now shifts focus from the One seated on the throne to the Slain Lamb who is worthy of all authority and worship because of his sacrifice.

The Psalms provide an opportunity to pray God’s words back to Him. Fear is a common and universal emotion. Psalm 27 provides the truths we need to take our prayers to Jesus to overcome our fears.

Do you live each moment of your life with the imminent return of Jesus in mind? This time we have has been ordained by God for his purposes. The hyphen between Jesus’s first coming and his return matters to God, so it had better matter to us.

A group of shepherds were the first to share the good news of Jesus’s birth. The gift of Jesus is a gift we need to share with others.

John is taken to the throne room of heaven where he is shown that God alone is worthy of worship and praise because he is sovereignly in control of history.

What do we do when our plans are interrupted? God can use the interruption or God might be the interruption to move us from our plans to his purpose.

We see Jesus's willingness to protect his true followers during trials and how Jesus never gives up on a Christian but desires to have fellowship.