Author Archives: Jefferson Vann
under control?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 We began the year looking at this text and thinking about how we do not know what is going to happen. We have no control over the events, but do we have control over our reactions to them? … Continue reading
which assembly?
Zephaniah 3:1-8 Nation after nation were destroyed by God’s judgment, yet the peoples continued to walk in corruption, never fearing his great wrath. Therefore he made a decision. He will gather all the nations and assemble all the kingdoms for … Continue reading
Posted in church, destruction in hell, eternal life, judgment, Zephaniah
Tagged Zephaniah 3
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given the business
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 The Preacher had discovered that he could waste his life accumulating things only to lose them all at the end. His experiment in seeking pleasure by means of pouring himself into productive work – had reached its result. … Continue reading
Posted in discernment, money, relationship with God, Solomon, wisdom
Tagged Ecclesiastes 2
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how to starve a god
Zephaniah 2:4-15 How do you starve a god? You take away the people who worship him. That is what the LORD promises to do to all the false gods which the inhabitants of the nations worship. Instead, to the LORD … Continue reading
relay race
Ecclesiastes 2:18-23 The preacher considered all his hard work and discovered a problem. Even if he built a great empire by forcing himself to work hard, he had no guarantee that his work would survive the generation. He could not … Continue reading
perhaps you may be hidden
Zephaniah 1:1-2:3 Judgment is going to take place. There is no doubt about that. But God’s people are challenged to gather and seek him and his righteousness in humility. Perhaps they will be spared on that great and terrible day … Continue reading
Posted in destruction in hell, forgiveness, Zephaniah
Tagged Zephaniah 1, Zephaniah 2
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wise, crazy, or stupid?
Ecclesiastes 2:12-17 The Preacher’s second experiment was to focus on making himself a wiser man. He considered three options: being wise, being crazy, or being stupid. Part of learning wisdom is the acceptance that even it made no difference in … Continue reading
Nineveh gets hers
Nahum 3:5-19 Shame, fear and destruction will come to Nineveh: the same shame, fear and destruction that she has meted out to her neighbor nations. Why should the God of Israel waste time sending this message from his prophet? He … Continue reading
not enough
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 The preacher’s first experiment was to do whatever he wanted to do. Personal pleasure in accomplishment was his objective. He set his mind to build, to get richer, and to add more and more to his possessions. He … Continue reading
the bloody city
Nahum 2:1-3:4 Nahum calls Nineveh the bloody city, which was probably the name given it by the Israelites and others who had felt the violence of its attacks. The prophet described in vivid detail one of its attacks, but with … Continue reading
