Jesus spoke to a large crowd of people from a boat, and after finishing his teaching, told his the fishermen to cast their nets for a catch. Although they knew it wasn't a good time or place to fish, they obeyed Jesus, and miraculously caught many fish! They gladly left their nets behind and began to follow Jesus instead.
Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding, but before long, the wine was gone. This would bring great shame to the bridegroom! Jesus, in his great mercy, turned water into the best wine, saving the family from great humiliation.
As Jesus taught, some people said they believed in him, but their actions didn't match their words. He wanted followers who weren't merely listeners but were doers of the word.
Jesus chose 12 people to be his closest followers, his disciples or apostles. He didn't choose them from the rich and famous, but chose fishermen, and even tax collectors!
Jesus's kingdom was a spiritual one, a heavenly one. So he warned his followers not to put their trust in the treasures of the earth, but to store up for themselves treasure in heaven. For where their treasure was, there heart was also.
Jesus had much to say about his kingdom. It was not what the people expected, a kingdom of the world. But he was pointing to a spiritual, heavenly kingdom that would last forever!
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Unlike the first Adam, Jesus resisted the temptations of Satan, using scripture to defend himself, thus proving his perfection.
After Mary, Joseph, and Jesus went to Jerusalem, Jesus stayed behind at the temple. His parents started for home but didn't realize he stayed behind and spent 3 days looking for him, only to find him in his "Father's house".
After Jesus was born, Herod tried to kill Jesus by killing all the baby boys under two years old in Bethlehem. God warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt to keep Jesus safe, and only came back when told in another dream that he could return.
On seeing a star in the East, some wise men made a long journey to see the new King, Jesus. Yet the scribes and Pharisees who lived so close couldn't be bothered to see this long-promised messiah. And Herod tried to find a way to kill Jesus so he wouldn't have a challenger to his throne.
In the great central event of the whole Bible, God himself came down in the form of a man by sending Jesus to earth to be born of the virgin Mary. And yet the King of Heaven was born in a lowly stable.
The angel Gabriel went to Mary with the great news that she was to bear the Messiah as her son! In awe, she asked Gabriel how that was possible, and he relayed the news that even her relative, Elizabeth, was expecting a child even in her advanced age.
John the Baptist spent his life pointing to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. He was even witness to Jesus's baptism where the Father proclaimed that Jesus was his son and the Holy Spirit came on him.
Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth were given a great surprise in their old age. They would have a son who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah! Not only would they have a son, but the long-promised Messiah was finally about to come!
In this hundredth episode (!!), Haggai warns the people of Israel that they need to rebuild God's temple. The people thought they were too poor to do it, but it turns out that they were poor because they hadn't served God by rebuilding the temple!
After Jonah ran away, God quickly brought him to repentance, and Jonah went straight to Ninevah. Surprisingly, the Ninevites repented! Jonah, however, was upset and complained to God. However, God had another lesson to teach Jonah about how important even sinful people who come to repentance are to him.
God gave Jonah a big task - preach the Gospel to the sinful city of Ninevah! Jonah was so sure the people of the city would hate his message, that he ran away. But God wasn't pleased with this and sent a terrible storm to bring him to repentance.
In another well-known Bible story, God shows his power over all creation by saving Daniel from the hungry lions! Even though evil men want to kill Daniel and even go as far as having him thrown to the lions, God saves Daniel in a most remarkable way.
In this well-known story, God demonstrates his love and power to Daniel's 3 friends by preserving their lives as they found the courage to disobey the king's sinful command, even though it meant certain death for them.
God showed his everlasting love to Israel by giving Ezekiel a vision. In this vision, Ezekiel saw a valley full of dry bones. God, through his mighty life-giving power, brought these dry bones to life, just as he would bring Israel, who was dead in their sins, back to life.
God had been warning the people through the prophet Jeremiah, and many others, to turn from their idol worship and to turn back to God. But rather than listening to the warnings, the king cut out each piece of the scroll with the words of warning and burned it.
Hundreds of years before Jesus died on the cross, his suffering and death was prophesied in many ways. Isaiah foretold that Jesus had to die, yet not because of his own sins - because he was perfect! - but for our sins and our salvation!
God created all things, but instead of just letting things happen on their own, God is still sovereign over everything! God provides for the smallest animals and also guides and directs great nations. What a wonderful God we serve!
David sinned greatly while he was king. When God sent a prophet to him to point out his sin, David repented and gave us one of the most beautiful Psalms of repentance. Thankfully, through Jesus, all our sins can also be forgiven!
In David's most well-known 23rd Psalm, he tells about God's faithful care over him. Just as David cared for his sheep when he was young, he tells about how God provides for him, protects him, and guides him throughout his life.
In great faith, Queen Esther fearfully went before King Ahasuerus. After inviting him to two banquets, she made her request to help save her people. The King, furious with Haman for coming up with the decree to kill all the Jews, gave all the Jews special permission to defend themselves and had Haman hanged. God, through Esther's bravery, once again saved his people from harm.
Haman, the wicked advisor to King Ahasuerus, plotted to kill all the Jews living in Persia. Mordechai encouraged Esther, a brave Jewess, to use her position to save all the Jews. In great faith and trust in God, she began to plan how to make her request to the king.
God also placed it on the heart of King Cyrus to allow Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. With careful planning, cunning use of some soldiers, and God's abundant blessing, the people finished building the wall in record time.
God, who is sovereign even over the heathen nations, put it in the heart of King Cyrus to let some of the people of Judah return to their country to rebuild the temple. God blessed their efforts and provided abundantly for them.
Israel and Judah had many enemies who wanted to destroy them. Israel never trusted God and was severely punished. King Hezekiah, king of Judah, however, obeyed God and prayed to him for help when they were surrounded by enemies. God, in his great mercy, protected Judah and saved them.
