LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching

The Apostle Paul’s love for God’s people shines brightly in his communication with Philemon, offering us an exemplary model of Christian love and leadership to emulate. This letter, penned towards the end of Paul’s life, exemplifies his unwavering love and faithfulness to the very end. Luke 10:25-37 A powerful story illustrating compassion to completeness The epistle of Philemon...

At the end of 2024, we want to take a moment and review what has happened over the past year. Additionally, we’d like to look forward to 2025 with you and share what God is putting on our hearts. 1. People Romans 12:4-5, 15-16 We are a community of believers who weep together and rejoice together, supporting each other through the ups and downs of life. 2. Events Mark 6:30-32 Getting away for a ti...

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in accordance with the prophecies of the Old Testament. The first to come and give honor to Jesus as the Messiah were shepherds and wise men. We celebrate with them in the coming of the Savior and the joy and hope that he brings to the world. 1. Jesus was born! Luke 2:1-7 Mary and Joseph left Nazareth in Galilee and traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was then born. Jesus...

When we read the birth narratives of Jesus, we see that God chooses to work through human beings to bring about His plan of salvation. Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph are the stars of the show. When the child comes, he is a human being too. Strikingly absent from Scripture is any indication that the baby had dual natures or was a hybrid “God-man.” Instead, God ordained that a man would be b...

The Messianic prophecies when compared with the historical events that occurred have impact in several ways. They validate the Messiah; affirm God’s integrity; encourage hope; reveal Yahweh’s eternal plan; and unite the Old and New Testaments. Genesis 3:15 A brief introduction to the rest of the Bible and history Seed of the woman – Matthew 1:16 Joseph, the husband [father] of Mary Mat...

Pastor Sean Finnegan and Sean Kelly share about their trip to the Philippines and New Zealand. The post Every Neighbor. Every Nation. first appeared on Living Hope .

Revelation 6:8; 9:15 Catastrophic events and judgments will affect the earth and its inhabitants, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life. Revelation 6:12-21; 20:11 Catastrophic destruction of the earth’s surface Revelation 16:16 “Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Philip...

Galatians 6:9-10 We are supposed to do what is good toward everyone but do what is extra good toward fellow believers. Doing good is easy when everyone is being nice, but it can be challenging when there is tension or conflict. Acts 15:36-41 Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement. To resolve the issue, their mutual decision was to continue the work of the ministry independently. Sometimes, if we hav...

Jesus’ teaching to love our enemies is as controversial and ignored today as it was in the first century when he originally gave it. Even so, enemy love is a key distinction that sets Christianity apart from the other world religions and non-religions. Seeing this teaching foreshadowed in the Old Testament and then repeated by Paul and Peter, we can be confident that it is, in fact, how God wants...

We are called to love our neighbors, whether they are enemies or family. Our love, like Jesus’, is motivated by God’s love for us, not by how others treat us. Those who seem least deserving of love need it the most. Being right is not always loving; being loving is always right. Luke 10:25-37 The most important question ever asked is followed by a foolish question. Galatians 5:13-16, 22 To walk by...

To love your neighbor as yourself, you must first love yourself. Although sometimes it may be hard, you should love yourself because you’re made in God’s image, you are an awesome human, and you are loved by God. Instead of falling into arrogance or self-loathing, focus on others without neglecting self-care, and you’ll strike the right balance. Mark 12:29-31 Rabbi Jesus said the greatest commandm...

The more accurately we know God, the more fully we can love Him.  Ignorance, wrong knowledge, and mischaracterization undermine our love relationship with Yahweh. Keeping Jesus’ commandments is paramount to loving God which  includes love each other. Deuteronomy 6:4-5   Wholehearted devotion, obedience, mindfulness, passion and concern for how others perceive God are involved in loving God.   Matt...

Like Isaiah and Daniel, Ezekiel saw God. In Ezekiel’s vision, God was with strange spiritual creatures that were hard for him to describe. The whole experience clearly communicates how transcendent God is. Ezekiel 1:4-28 The prophet Ezekiel has a vision of four-winged living creatures with a fire in their midst, huge gleaming wheels, and God Himself sitting on a throne above them. He struggled mig...

Daniel 7:9-10  The Ancient One takes his seat as judge upon the throne. Thousands of attendants wait on him while fire rushes out everywhere. The scene bespeaks God’s awesome sovereign authority over all. Daniel 7:8 The dream portrays the little horn as a mighty leader who opposes God and wreaks havoc against the saints. Daniel 7:9-12 Amazingly, we find no struggle, no prolonged battle, no hint of...

Exodus 33:20-23 No man can see God and live. John 1:18 No man has seen God. We can know God through His creation (Romans 1:19-20), through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119), through His Son (John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1-2), through the holy spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10), through prayer  Psalm 145:18), and through personal experience (Psalm 34:8). Psalm 27:7-8 We are made in the image of God, and He...

Light has always been an interest for humankind. We desire light so that we can see. But one day, we won’t need to search for light as God’s light will fill the whole world. The post God’s Light Will Fill the World first appeared on Living Hope .

The Bereans were noble-minded because they searched the Scriptures daily to test the message Paul was preaching. Today, separated by so much time, our only sure bet to understand and practice authentic Christianity is to continually evaluate our beliefs and traditions in light of Scripture. Those who adopt this approach to Christian truth-seeking are Restorationists. Acts 17:10-12 When Paul visite...

Restorationism is a movement within Christianity that seeks to restore authentic Christianity and live it out today. King Josiah serves as a premium example of someone who discovered his beliefs and practices diverged significantly from scripture. He initiated reforms to restore true worship. Should we be content with our received traditions and comfortable beliefs or courageously unleash the Bibl...

Vince and Mimi Finnegan celebrate 50 years of marriage by sharing how God blessed their marriage and the biblical principles they apply. Marriage is an example of Christ and the church, so the same principles are applicable. By the grace of God and His blessing have we had these wonderful years together. Ephesians 5:21-33.  Marriage is an example for Christ and the church. Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:...

Although not a commonly used word today, “prudence” is an important virtue to cultivate in our lives. The prudent person thinks before acting, considers the consequences, anticipates potential needs, and prepares him or herself for what lies ahead. The result is managing one’s affairs well. Genesis 41:33-46. Pharaoh selected Joseph not only because he interpreted his dream, but also because of his...

Patience is a Virtue. Wait on the LORD. Psalm 37:7a. “Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him…” Psalm 40:1. “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” Lamentations 3:26. “It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Romans 12:12. “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.” James 1:3. “For you know that...

Diligence refers to a consistent, intentional, and careful effort to accomplish something, and therefore, it is multifaceted. Diligence is characterized by: Persistence—being determined to continue towards a goal despite difficulties, opposition, or setbacks Attentiveness—being thorough and meticulous in accomplishing a task Hard work—applying significant effort and time to achieve a goal Commitme...

God is merciful in His character. He supremely demonstrated His mercy in what His Son did for humanity on the cross. As a result, we should show mercy to others. Still, we need wisdom to know when to show mercy and when not to. Exo 34:6. God is merciful and gracious in His character. These attributes often occur together throughout the Old Testament. See 2 Chron 30:9; Neh 9:17, 31; Psalms 86:15; 1...

As demonstrated by how we cringe when we see someone disrespect another, God designed humans to crave and expect a certain amount of basic respect. As Christians we should live in a respectable way and show respect to others, even when they haven’t earned it. God calls us to be respectful. 1 Peter 2:17; Matthew 7:12 We all need respect. We need others to value us. 2 Samuel 10:1-5 A disrespec...

Matthew 18:7    Skandalon – the trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed, wand which, when touched by the animal, springs and causes it to close causing entrapment. Revelation 2:14    The Moabite women sexually seduced the men of Israel. Matthew 18:8    “Hand” – what you do; “foot” – where you go; and “eye” – what you look at James 1:14    Self-awareness :  Individuals...