Awake Us Now

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Bible In A Year - Week 25 - Proverbs.

The Book of Proverbs is the truth of the Living God applied to daily life. It contains some of the most beautiful Hebrew poetry in existence, and conveys in poetic form powerful, fundamental truths that are absolutely life-changing.

Proverbs:
Solomon . Primary author (1 Proverbs 1:1 and 1 Kings 4:29-34)
Academic controversy over authorship - but internal evidence along with linguistic and historical evidence makes it very likely that Solomon is the author and that is what it says in Proverbs 1:1.
Proverbs is part of the Wisdom Literature: Practical, applied knowledge that impacts every area of one’s life. Job, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes are also in this category. Biblical Wisdom is more than information, it is transformation, it is the truth of the living God applied to daily life. This is what is found in Proverbs. It is filled with life-changing, fundamental truths.
Distinction between: “Proverbs” and “Torah” Torah is the 5 Books of Moses and means “instruction”. Torah is direct and clear. Proverbs are general. They give an overall view of what is godly, good, practical and pure. Proverbs are general statements of how the way things normally are and general principles. General truths not absolute promises. Basic truths in memorable form.

Proverbs:
Has three characters
Wise - embraces the things of God
Fool - opposes the things of God
Simple - on the fence, uncommitted
Proverbs Outline:
Theme (1:1-7) The “FEAR” of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fear in Biblical Hebrew is better translated to “be in awe of.” So the verse = The AWE of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Wisdom Poems (1:8-9:18) these are life-changing poems that give direction.
Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)
30 Sayings of “the Wise” (22:17-24:22)
Further Sayings of “the Wise” (24:23-34)
Hezekiah’s Collection (a collection of Solomon’s proverbs collected by Hezekiah (25:1-29:27)
Sayings of Agur - it has been suggested that Agur is Solomon based on what the rabbi’s had to say. (30:1-33)
Sayings of King Lemuel - Solomon had around 7 names - it’s a possibility that this is also Solomon (31:1-9)
Acrostic of the Nobel Wife (31:10-31) each saying begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The book of Proverbs is filled with powerful Wisdom that teaches us how to live as believers. It’s a book about trusting God explicitly. It’s a book that shows us that God is god. He will show us the way to go because He desires to lead and guide us. This book also encourages us to learn from God’s discipline and allow Him to shape and mould us. God uses trials to refine and teach us so that we will rely on Him. In the Proverbs we are encouraged to protect and guard our hearts and to not allow the world and others to corrupt or influence us. When we are in awe of the Lord it is a place of refuge.

Pastor talked about the best way to read the Proverbs is slowly with just a few passages at a time and to savor the verses and think on them and allow what they say to wash over us.

Join us next week for our continued study of the Job.

For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://t.co/2Sk6DGuvu9

Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today!

Our website – https://t.co/rRi2OhAwcP

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

Join us for a study of Proverbs with Pastor Chris Dodge's Bible in a Year class. https://t.co/iNIJZ62PQP

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

Notes for Sunday, June 14, 2026
​
“What is the Holy Spirit?” Week 15 of the series, “What’s the Answer?”
​
This question is often asked this way:
Is the Holy Spirit an impersonal force?
What does the Bible say about this?
What does the Holy Spirit do?
Why are some afraid of the Holy Spirit?
​
Let us consider:
Is the Holy Spirit a “Force” or a “Person” 
​
Marks of Personality:
Intellect
Emotion
Will
Are these evident in the Holy Spirit? Let’s look in the Bible and see what we find, as there is so much confusion about the Holy Spirit. 
​
The Holy Spirit
Speaks  - Acts 13:2 (….the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Forbids certain things - Acts 16:6-7 (….having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching….but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” 
Guides - gives direction - John 16:13 Jesus says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth….”
Teaches - John 14:26 Jesus says, “but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my team, will teach you all things….”
Helps - John 14:16-17 Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of truth…..”
Predicts - insight and prophetic revelation - Acts 21:11 “Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ’In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’“ And this is something that did happen to Paul.
Can Be Lied to - Acts 5:3-4 The story of Ananias and Sepphira selling property. Peter says, “Ananias how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit ….. You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
Can be Grieved - disappointed by our behavior or when we do not listen to God - Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holt Spirit of God…”
Intercedes for us - he prays - Romans 8:27 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”  
Testifies - bears witness to Jesus and makes Jesus known - John 15:26 Jesus says, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about the Me.” The Holy Spirit testifies to who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. The Holy Spirit testifies to each one of us that Jesus is our only Hope, and our Messiah.
​
Back to the question of why be afraid of the Holy Spirit? 
Father - Son - Spirit = three in One.
The Holy Spirit is real and is part of the essence of the One True Living God. And Holy Spirit desires to move in power in our lives and desires that we experience a real and personal relationship with Him. It is only in the Living God that we have life forever.
​
Pastor closes with: The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him. That’s a promise for each one of us.(Luke 11:13 “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”)

Now What? Learn about God at https://t.co/rRi2OhAwcP EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.
​
Check out this video series from our website: https://t.co/7yUZLFIt4p
​
Join us Sundays 
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Sunday blessings! Join us for a message from Pastor Dodge. https://t.co/Fivz3Mwdcf

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Bible In A Year - Week 24 - Psalms part 3.

This study is part 3 of our study of the Book of Psalms.
Psalms

Messianic Psalms - 2, 22, 110, 118
Penitential Psalms - 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143
Imprecatory Psalm - 137
Egyptian Hallel - 113-118
Acrostic Psalm - 119
Song of Ascents - 120-134
In this our final study of the Book of Psalms, Pastor kicks off the class with a look at Psalm 34. Saul is after David, so David leaves and goes to Philistine (enemy territory) and he acts like he has lost his mind so that he will preserve his life from the king of Philistine. It is at this point that David writes this Psalm. As David so often does, he starts this Psalm with praises to the Lord. He remembers all the Lord has done for him and how He has gotten him through trial and there’s that realization of knowing that God is trustworthy.

Pastor shares a very difficult time in his life when God ministered to him in amazing and powerful ways and how God showed His nearness. God doesn’t promise a life without troubles, but He does promise to be with us throughout those troubles. At the very time when we feel we are on our own and everything is lost, God says, “No, at those times I am even closer to you, because I am near to the brokenhearted.” We can depend on God!

Then Pastor takes us to the Imprecatory Psalm 137. A psalm asking for judgement over evil. It was written after the Israelites had been taken into captivity in Babylon. Pastor talks about how judgement always starts with the household of God, with those who know God. God is just and Judgement does come to the unbelieving enemies, too. This is a raw psalm that expresses the anguish of the heart. Judgement does come against Babylon and God’s people are freed from Babylon.

The Egyptian Hallel Psalms (113-118) are a group of songs that are sung one after another. These psalms are a medley of Psalms that Jesus would have known and sung these throughout His life and most likely sang them with His disciples the evening of His Last Supper. It’s a fun exercise to read through these Psalms with the picture in our minds of Jesus singing these songs with His disciples just days before His crucifixion and Him knowing all that is coming His way.

Pastor takes us through Psalm 119 an Acrostic Psalm. We can’t see that in English, but in the original Hebrew there are 22 sections of 8 verses each in this psalm. Each set of 8 begins with the same letter. Each set takes the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Then we move into the Psalms of Ascent (120-134). These are the songs they sang on the journey to the Temple for the festivals.

The final Psalm we look at is Psalm 23 and Pastor teaches us about sheep and shares some very interesting insights and facts about them that really bring the picture of us as “sheep” and Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” into a new light.

Join us next week for our continued study of the Proverbs.

For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://t.co/2Sk6DGuvu9

Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today!

Our website – https://t.co/rRi2OhAwcP

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

join Pastor Dodge for Bible in a Year week 24 - as we finish up our study of the Book of Psalms.https://t.co/HdSVV5kkVb

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

Bible In A Year - Week 24 - Psalms part 3.

This study is part 3 of our study of the Book of Psalms.
Psalms

Messianic Psalms - 2, 22, 110, 118
Penitential Psalms - 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143
Imprecatory Psalm - 137
Egyptian Hallel - 113-118
Acrostic Psalm - 119
Song of Ascents - 120-134
In this our final study of the Book of Psalms, Pastor kicks off the class with a look at Psalm 34. Saul is after David, so David leaves and goes to Philistine (enemy territory) and he acts like he has lost his mind so that he will preserve his life from the king of Philistine. It is at this point that David writes this Psalm. As David so often does, he starts this Psalm with praises to the Lord. He remembers all the Lord has done for him and how He has gotten him through trial and there’s that realization of knowing that God is trustworthy.

Pastor shares a very difficult time in his life when God ministered to him in amazing and powerful ways and how God showed His nearness. God doesn’t promise a life without troubles, but He does promise to be with us throughout those troubles. At the very time when we feel we are on our own and everything is lost, God says, “No, at those times I am even closer to you, because I am near to the brokenhearted.” We can depend on God!

Then Pastor takes us to the Imprecatory Psalm 137. A psalm asking for judgement over evil. It was written after the Israelites had been taken into captivity in Babylon. Pastor talks about how judgement always starts with the household of God, with those who know God. God is just and Judgement does come to the unbelieving enemies, too. This is a raw psalm that expresses the anguish of the heart. Judgement does come against Babylon and God’s people are freed from Babylon.

The Egyptian Hallel Psalms (113-118) are a group of songs that are sung one after another. These psalms are a medley of Psalms that Jesus would have known and sung these throughout His life and most likely sang them with His disciples the evening of His Last Supper. It’s a fun exercise to read through these Psalms with the picture in our minds of Jesus singing these songs with His disciples just days before His crucifixion and Him knowing all that is coming His way.

Pastor takes us through Psalm 119 an Acrostic Psalm. We can’t see that in English, but in the original Hebrew there are 22 sections of 8 verses each in this psalm. Each set of 8 begins with the same letter. Each set takes the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Then we move into the Psalms of Ascent (120-134). These are the songs they sang on the journey to the Temple for the festivals.

The final Psalm we look at is Psalm 23 and Pastor teaches us about sheep and shares some very interesting insights and facts about them that really bring the picture of us as “sheep” and Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” into a new light.

Join us next week for our continued study of the Proverbs.

For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://t.co/2Sk6DGuvu9

Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today!

Our website – https://t.co/rRi2OhAwcP

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

Bible in a Year with Pastor Christopher Dodge - week 24 - Psalms pt 3. https://t.co/yOIi5zJzDZ

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Notes for Sunday, June 7, 2026

God Acts: Then and Now: Chapter 4

The story in chapter 3 continues in chapter 4.

Pastor reminds us of the story from last week and the miraculous healing of the lame man. After the healing the people, the healed man and Peter and John, they all gathered in Solomon’s Colonnade - an area inside the Temple walls.

Chapter 4
As Peter and John were talking to the multitude teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus’ name the resurrection of the dead, the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees come and they are greatly disturbed by what Peter and John are preaching. So they seize Peter and John and put them in jail until the next day. Yet many who had heard their message believed and the number of believers grows. The message of Jesus is spreading quickly.

Prophecy
Then: using the prophetic scripture they tell people the gospel message quoting Genesis and Isaiah showing them that Jesus was the fulfillment of the scriptures. God’s prophecies of a Savior were fulfilled in their lifetimes. In Luke 12:11-12 Jesus’ prophetic word to His disciples were not to worry when brought to authorities because the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say. In verses 5-9 we see Peter and John brought before authorities and “then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit” just as Jesus had predicted.
Now: Today in our lifetimes we’ve not only seen these same prophecies fulfilled in the scriptures by Jesus, but also we see those things spoken by Jesus coming to fulfillment. And like Peter we too are filled with the Spirit as Jesus prophesied would happen.
Power
Then: Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and accomplished God’s divine purposes through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now: We too are filled with the Holy Spirit and are to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. We are to allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives because that is how we accomplish divine purposes through the Holy Spirit’s power.
Proclamation
Then: Peter proclaims to the authorities and the people that it is by the name of Jesus Christ, whom they crucified (but God raised from the dead), that the man was healed. He tells them that they have rejected the Cornerstone (Jesus). Peter ends with, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 Peter shares the gospel message. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice who saves us. Peter proclaims the Name of Jesus and the gospel message: Death, Deity and Resurrection.
Pastor does a dive into “the Name” used in the chapters 2-4 of Acts. There is power in the name of Jesus and no name above the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11)
Now: We are to proclaim the gospel today. Have we received the proclamation in our own lives? Because everyone who calls on Jesus’ name will be saved. Is that proclamation guiding and controlling and directing our attitude and speech? Is it how we deal with others? Jesus’ name is a powerful name that brings healing and forgiveness and gives certain and sure hope for all eternity. We are called to respond to the proclamation - the gospel message. The gospel message always demands a response.

The Dilemma
Acts 4:13-18 - what could the authorities do with Peter and John? They decide to warn them not to speak to anyone any further in “the Name.”

Passion
Then: in Acts 4:19 Peter and John reply “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you or to Him… As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (They were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life on earth) Peter and John have given everything for the Lord Jesus.
Now: We too are called to do the same, to yield and surrender our lives to Him. To be filled daily with the Holy Spirit and live a life of service, joy and peace even in opposition.

In the end the authorities could not decide how to punish them so they let them go, because the people were praising God for the miraculous healing of the man who had been lame for 40 years.

There’s more to this chapter! There’s a 5th “P” to go along with the four P’s Pastor shares today. If you are wondering what the 5th “P”is check out our Bible Class Dig Deeper playlist for the title: “Together in Prayer” https://t.co/BkAqhmHX03

This week’s READING ASSIGNMENT:

Acts chapter 3-4 (read and reflect on these two chapters together)

Now What? Learn about God at https://t.co/rRi2OhAwcP EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

Check out this video series from our website: https://t.co/bGip2nebpN

Or watch from our Youtube channel https://t.co/UpclaW13IE

Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website
https://t.co/gw1M6U8p6P

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Sunday blessings! Today Pastor Dodge continues with our study of God ACTS! with a dive into chapter 4: Prophecy, Power, Proclamation and Passion. https://t.co/SxycaMjrB4

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

Bible In A Year - Week 23 - Psalms part 2.

This study is part 2 of our study of the Book of Psalms.
Psalms

The oldest psalm is psalm 90 - written by Moses.
While they are “old” they speak to us today
They convey incredible depth of feeling and heart-felt emotion. God tells us to rejoice in Him, to celebrate, to praise His name, but also invites us to weep before Him and to cry out to Him in distress.
The Psalms speak incredible truth.
Tehilim: The Book of Psalms

Divided / Organized into the following:
Book 1: Psalms 1-41
Book 2: Psalms 42-72
Book 3: Psalms 73-89
Book 4: Psalms 90-106
Book 5: Psalms 107-150
Psalmists - # of Psalms

Moses - 1 Psalm 90
David - 73+ esp Books 1 and 2
Asaph - 12 Psalms 50, 73-83
Solomon - 2 Psalms 72 and 127
Sons of Korah - 11 Psalms 42,44-49, 84,87-88 (Pastor shares the story of Korah and about the descendants of Korah)
Heman - 1* Psalm 88 (also sons of Korah)
Ethan - 1 Psalm 89
Psalms

Messianic Psalms (2, 22, 110, 118) Psalms that talk about Jesus the Anointed One
Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)
Imprecatory Psalm (137)
The Psalms open with: Psalm 1:1-2

“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.”
Pastor shares that the word for law in the original text is “torah” and that torah is far more than our English understand of the word law. Law is probably better rendered as “instruction.” And that it’s important to understand and to see the law as God’s instruction. (His demands show our sin but He also shows us His will and shows us His mercy and His grace.) The first 5 books - the Torah - are filled with more than law they are filled with the grace and mercy of God. When we read these first 2 opening verses of Psalm 1 with a broader understanding of the word “law” AKA “torah” we see it this way: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the “torah” (instructions) of the Lord, and who meditates on his “torah” (instructions) day and night.”

Pastor encourages us to read the Psalms and to allow them to really percolate in us, to really soak in them and soak in what we are reading, to allow God’s Word to really wash over us. Pastor encourages us to read the psalms slowly and meditate on God’s Word. God still speaks today and the psalms are powerful words. We are to let God’s word take root in our lives, to let it into our hearts and minds and lives.

The Psalms end with Psalm 150 - a psalm of praise to God for everything. Psalm 1 and 150 truly book end the Psalms with encouragement to be open to His instruction and then to praise Him. The Psalms start with a call to be meditating on God’s instructions and end with a call to praise God in every circumstance.

The psalms were hymns that were memorized and sung by heart. What must it have been like to be at the foot of the cross and hear Jesus say these memorized words from Psalm 22 “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” They would have immediately remembered the rest of the Psalm “they mock me… the dogs encompass me… evildoers encircle me… they have pierced my hands and feet….they divide my garments… and for my clothing they cast lots…” It would have immediately made them realize they were looking at the One to whom this Psalm was written about. Did it cause doubters to understand who Jesus truly was as their minds went to these verses.

Pastor talks about a how brutal a Roman execution was. Such horrendous suffering and excruciating pain our Lord Jesus endured.

Pastor walks us through the list of Messianic Psalms and we clearly see Jesus in them. He ends class with an exploration of the penitential psalms - especially spending time on Psalm 51 in which David pours out his heart, admitting sin and guilt and asking for God to cleanse him and purify him.

Join us next week for our continued study of the Psalms.

For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://t.co/2Sk6DGuvu9

Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today!

Our website – https://t.co/rRi2OhAwcP

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

Join us for Bible in a Year week 23 - part 2 of our study of the Book of Psalms https://t.co/xWzBIVJ8Kr

[Awake Us Now @Awake_Us_Now]

Notes for Bible Class Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Pastor digs deeper into the question "where was the temple gate that was called the 'Beautiful Gate' located?"

In Acts 3:1-2 we see that there was a lame man begging for alms at the Beautiful Gate. Pastor opens with stating that we are not sure exactly where it was located, but that there are several theories on its location.

Several locations have been proposed:

One of the earliest proposed locations is that it may have been the Eastern Gate or the Sushan Gate. However, surviving literature says this gate was not used by the people to go in and out of the Temple Complex, but was used for the religious practices like taking sacrifices out. Without the coming and going of people the lame man would not have been begging there.
Another proposal is the Nicanor Gate made of bronze. It was one of the gates in a secondary wall that surrounded the Sanctuary area within the Temple Complex, but there is a good deal of evidence that it was not a practice to allow the lame into the inner court area.
The third proposal has been suggested by many as the gate the lame man would have used. It is a gate located at the southern end of the Complex and known as the Double Gate, the main gate through which the people would have entered the Temple Complex. Pastor Dodge references a book by archeologist and architect, Leen Ritmeyer, entitled "The Quest: Revealing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem." Ritmeyer suggests that the Double Gate is where the lame man would have been. Pastor shares recent archeological work exposing the massive pilgrim route from the Pool of Saloam up to the Double Gate entrance of the Temple Complex. Some of the "Southern Steps" leading up to the Double Gate from Jesus' day and before, can still be seen today.

While we do not know exactly where the lame man was that day, what we do know is that he was changed. In the hours after the lame man's miraculous healing remarkable things followed and that's what we will look at in our exploration of Acts chapter 4 of our study "God ACTS! Then and Now." ( https://t.co/bGip2nebpN )

Now What? Learn about God at https://t.co/rRi2OhAwcP EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.

View live or on demand: https://t.co/ESJF0NRUM2

For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://t.co/BkAqhmHX03

For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://t.co/bGip2nebpN

Join us Sundays
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Or watch from our Youtube channel https://t.co/UpclaW13IE

Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

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Tuesday Bible class - Dig Deeper: Where was the Beautiful Gate?
https://t.co/yZPimd2a0i

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Notes for Sunday, May 31, 2026

God Acts: Then and Now: Chapter 3

Acts Chapter 3:
The Setting - Acts 3:1-5. The chapter takes place in the late afternoon at 3 pm, the time of the evening sacrifice. Peter and John are headed to the temple for prayer and worship and on the way they see a lame man who has been lame since birth collecting alms at the Beautiful gate. He asks Peter and John for money and Peter and John respond.
What we learn from this setting is that prayer and worship were important. We also see their attentiveness to the hurting as an example for ourselves.

The Miracle - Acts 3:6-11. Peter responds to the lame man, “silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter takes the lame man’s hand and helps him up. Right away the man’s feet and ankles became strong and he jumps to his feet and walks. He goes with them into the Temple courts jumping and praising God. People see the lame man walking and are filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. They all begin to gather at Solomon’s Colonnade.
The word that’s translated “jumping” is the very word in the book of Isaiah about what will happen when the Savior comes. See Isaiah 35:6.

What do we learn from the miracle? We see humility before God from Peter and John and they took no credit for the healing. They also spoke healing in the name of Jesus. Additionally, we see the power of Jesus’ name. Jesus’ name has the power to restore the broken and bitter, to break the chains of bondage, to transform minds and hearts. Jesus’ name is powerful then and now.

The Message - Act 3:12-26. Peter tells the crowd it was not by their own power or godliness that made the man walk but that it was Jesus. He tells them how they had disowned Jesus, plotted to murder Him and then crucified Him. Peter goes on to tell of Jesus’ resurrection and how they were witnesses. Peter also tells of Jesus’ authority. Peter goes on to tell them that he understands that they acted against Jesus in ignorance and that it is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through the prophets - in saying that the Messiah would suffer. Then Peter calls them to repent and turn to God so that their sins would be forgiven. He calls them to turn to Jesus and prepare for the Second Coming, and calls them to a life-defining moment because God desires a change of heart.

What do we learn from Peter’s message? We learn again of John and Peter’s humility before God - taking no credit for the healing. They proclaimed Jesus to the crowd and the importance of knowing why He came and what He did for each one of us. Peter shares what the Scriptures tell us and how they point to Jesus as the fulfillment. Lastly, we see the call to repentance. Repentance is not a one time event, we are called to live a repentant life and to daily turn our hearts over to God.

This week’s READING ASSIGNMENT:

Acts chapter 3 (if you want to read ahead, read chapter 4 as well)

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Sunday message with Pastor Christopher Dodge -
05-31-26 "God Acts: Then and Now: Chapter 3"
https://t.co/uri3MDggKz

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Bible In A Year - Week 22 - Zechariah, Malachi and part 1 of Psalms.

This study is part 4 of our study of the twelve Minor Prophets. Minor not because they are of minor importance, but rather minor because they are shorter than other books of prophecy like Isaiah and Jeremiah. We will also take our first look at the Psalms.
Zechariah

We see that when God pushes in - there’s pushback from the enemy, but there is also another reaction and that is when the enemy pushes back, God pushes back even harder. It doesn’t mean everything will go well, it does mean that the Lord gets the final victory.
The Lord calls Zechariah in late 520 BC. He is given prophetic word for the people in his day but also clear dramatic predictive prophecies that point to the coming of Jesus 500 years later.
Zechariah is a contemporary of Haggai
He’s called as a Prophet and Priest
Shares Messianic and Apocalyptic message
Speaks remarkable prophecies of Jesus’ first coming
The book ends by pointing to a glorious future - giving hope - because in the end God wins!
A word to Zerubbabel is that we are to do things in God’s power and God’s way. Not by our own strength and power but in the Spirit’s strength and power alone.

Pastor helps us see the book of Zechariah as God’s preview to what is to come: The Branch, the King, and what He will be like.

Pastor also spends considerable time exploring the prophetic words about Jesus in Zechariah and showing how Jesus fits the prophetic word that’s spoken there.

Zechariah gives us insight into God the Father’s plan - a plan of Grace.

Malachi

The last of the written prophets

Active during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah
Prophesied ca 470 or 430 BC
His name means “My messenger”
Malachi’s message is a call to us to honor God and not to give God our leftovers! God wants our firstfruits and He wants us to worship Him with our whole hearts. God deserves our all.
Malachi also shares the One who is promised, the One who is prophesied, is coming soon.
Malachi opens with a plea from God to us to receive His love and that His name will be great not only among the Jewish people but also among the Gentiles - All nations!
Malachi also prophecies that one like Elijah would come before the Promised One comes. This “Elijah” is John the Baptist. The Promised One is Jesus - the Promised Savior.
Note: Malachi is the ending of the books of the Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. (Nevi’im)
Pastor ties what Malachi says to Jesus’ Transfiguration in Luke 9:28-36. And ties several other pieces of prophecy together.

Psalms Pastor introduces the Psalms and will continue for several more weeks exploring the Psalms

Pronunciation: sahm
Antiquity of Tehilim - the Book of Psalms
Superscriptions (cf. 2 Samuel 22:1; Isaiah 38:8 and Habbakuk 3:1) These superscriptions give us insight to the psalm and to who wrote a particular psalm.
Ancient technical terms, eg “selah” are found throughout the Psalms. Selah appears 71 times in psalms, but we do not know what it means. The guess is that it is suggesting a time of reflection and quiet.
The psalms are filled with raw emotion.
They can be broken down into 2 Categories
Petitions (pleas/complaints)
Praises (hymns/thanksgiving)
Join us next week our continued study of the Psalms.

For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://t.co/2Sk6DGuvu9

Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today!

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In Bible in a Year with Pastor Dodge, he finishes the study of the minor prophets of Zechariah and Malachi and then begins part 1 of the study of Psalms. https://t.co/9WqygEQCqq

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Notes for Bible Class Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Pastor digs deeper into being “Devoted.

Acts 2:42 “They DEVOTED themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

They understood that the message of Jesus and the biblical faith is not an “add on” in our lives. It is the heart and center of our lives and influences how we look at God, others and the world.

God broke in, in person, in the Person of Jesus Christ through His life, death, resurrection and pouring out of the Holy Spirit. And they realized this changes everything. And so they devoted themselves to:
The apostles’ teachings - We still have those teachings - The New Testament! And it still speaks to us today. It is why we need to be in God’s word.
Fellowship - with those with whom they had things in common. Believers together, sharing a common faith, caring for each other, a bond, unity through faith, in the family of God.
Breaking of bread - Met together in homes and eat together and shared the “Lord’s Supper” together.
Prayer - prayerful worship of God. They prayer for God’s will, for the world to know God and for all nations to come to God.

When we are changed and live out devotion it changes others.

The result of their devotion was that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

God moved mighty. God is moving mightily today. God desires to move mightily in and through each of us today.

Let’s be like those early believers. Let’s be devoted and change the world!

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Join us for a look at the type of devotion the early beleivers had and how it impacted them and the world! https://t.co/dVqamFZL9j