Wednesday Bible Study | Evergreen Church

“A wise man learns by the experience of others. An ordinary man learns by his own experience. A fool learns by nobody’s experience.” --Anonymous

The Book of Proverbs is not merely an anthology of pithy sayings. It is, rather, an Eastern textbook teaching (young men, particularly) wise living by repetition of wise thoughts. Wisdom is distilled into short , sharp phrases...dramatic contrasts...unforgettable scenes from daily life. Not just a slick formula for success, Proverbs offers wisdom grounded in reverence for God and obedience to His...

Contending for the Faith is not the most pleasant of spiritual duties, but it is action required of particular generations of believers at moments of intense spiritual warfare. Jude writes at just such an historical moment. His words are disturbingly relevant for our time.

One of the few NT letters addressed to an individual, 3 John bears a striking resemblance to 2 John. Yet, the differences are startling as well. This “postcard” provides insight into the life of early believers and the challenges they faced, amazingly similar to the issues of our day. Truth, in the first century and today, is continuously in danger.

John the Elder calls his congregation to endurance in the most basic of all Christian disciplines: love. He encourages them in truth and warns them against false teachers, but always in the context of love for one another. This NT “postcard” reveals the sincere heart of a pastor for his church family. Evergreen shares these realities of the faith today as well.

Though the account of Hezekiah’s reign is positive and favorable overall, his story finishes on a low note—a man too impressed with his success, too proud of his possessions, and too comfortable to pass on his faith intentionally. Question: Do believers succeed best in comfort or under pressure? What, then, does the answer mean for Evergreen?

Pastor Zach Dietz walks us through the martyrdom of Stephen and beings us a word for today.

The key to victory in life is the discernment to recognize the spiritual nature of every battle and the willingness to engage the battle with spiritual means. Hezekiah understood his own inadequacies in the face of Assyrian invasion. He also recognized the supreme sufficiency of God. What cultural, family, or personal battle should you be releasing into God’s hands?

A legendary football coach once said, “Before you can learn how to win, you must learn how not to lose.” A certain prescription for defeat is to be unaware of your enemy and his methods. Spiritual successes are always accompanied by confrontation with spiritual enemies. Therefore, preparation for battle is essential!

Throughout 2 Corinthians Paul lovingly challenges the Corinthians’ authority to question his apostleship. He stands firm on the authority given to him by Christ and helps the Corinthians to understand their status in God’s economy.

The national revival of Judah (and the remnant of Israel) was followed by a reformation of Temple practices to solidify the renewed commitment of God’s people to His ways. These spiritual changes were crucial because the existential threat of a generation was on the horizon—Assyrian invasion. From what strength could Judah draw to face this challenge?

Pastor Taylor Gabbert walks through the story of Balaam as he looks at finding God's will. 

With the Temple cleansed and restored, Hezekiah proceeds with the greatest Passover celebration since the days of King Solomon (30:26). His concern was for all Israel and his priority was the proper approach to God. Revival is a sovereign movement of God among His people, but it, nevertheless, requires human yearning and attention to repentance.

Hezekiah reigned at a time in his nation’s history when God was relegated to the periphery of national life. However, Hezekiah was committed to restoring God to a place of primacy. He determined to move his backslidden nation from mediocrity and half-hearted devotion to fervency in worship and service. The King led Judah from status quo to spiritual reformation.

Pastor Philip Jackson completes his study in Jonah with chapter 4.

Pastor Philip Jackson continutes in Jonah as we look at Chapter 3. 

Pastor Philip Jackson continues his study through Jonah as we look at Chapter 2. 

Pastor Philip Jackson begins a 4-week study in the book of Jonah. 

Our Media Director Andrew Gabbert brings a word from Psalm 33. Listen in. 

Pastor Nick Dyer brings us a word about the importance of Scripture memory. 

Pastor Emilio Lartigue takes us through Psalm 107 as he examines 6 circumstances where God makes himself known.

Every generation faces the common dilemma of financial resource management. Whether in time of depression or prosperity, money commands our attention. Psalm 49 is a “song for finances,” ancient wisdom for a very modern issue. Spiritual growth requires that the issue of money be settled for good in the mind of a Jesus-follower.

Psalm 78 is the voice of a parent and grandparent. The writer knows that the continuing existence of the people of God hinges on the faithful remembering and telling of what God has done among us. The church is a family maintained across generations by parents and grandparents who intentionally pass along the stories of faith, a spiritual legacy.

In these psalms, the poet expresses three times that he is “down.” If you have never suffered depression, then you do not share the experience of Moses, David, Jeremiah, and even Paul. This song articulates the tension of despair fighting against faith…and the way of escape for the believer.

Our ability to evaluate and decide clearly about sin is often compromised by the immediate pressures of temptation and emotional investment in the circumstances of the moment. Reflection on sin from a safe distance is the better way to analyze the cycle of sin, confession, and restoration in order to avoid the crash of moral failure and preserve the freshness of life.