Conversation With God
Matthew 6:5-13
Peace Fellowship Sermons
Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, MDiv, MA, PhD
Sermon Audio: Conversation With God
November 8, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchSermon Audio: Reformation
November 1, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchReformation
Romans 3:21-26
Nov. 1, 2009
Peace Fellowship Church
Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards MDiv, MA, PhD
Sermon Audio: The LORD’s Ugly Beautiful Day
October 25, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchThe LORD’s Ugly Beautiful Day
Zechariah 14
Oct. 25, 2009
Peace Fellowship Sermons
Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards MA, MDiv, PhD
Study Questions for Zechariah 14
October 25, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchby Sean Mills
This week’s questions:
Read Zechariah 14
1. Zechariah’s prophecy ends by exclaiming what the ultimate Day of the LORD will be like. This concept is noted frequently in the Bible’s prophetic literature (cf. Isa 2:12 & Joel 1:15). It typically involves judgement against unbelievers (or other nations), washing away sin from God’s people and salvation for believers. Compare Zech 14:1-9 with Isa 27 and Amos 5:18-20. Describe the situation of the God’s people ‘on that day.’ Describe the situation of the enemies of God.
2. Verse twelve says, “And the LORD will send a plague on all the nations that fought against Jerusalem. Their people will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away.” Perhaps used in a more figurative sense here, this is not the first time God used the ‘plague’ against His people’s enemies (see Ex 7-10). Zechariah’s plague seems to set Jerusalem’s enemies against one another instead of her (vv. 13, 15). In the context of the ‘Day of the LORD’ this presents an even darker situation for God’s enemies. Are there any similarities between the way Pharaoh treated God’s people and the way the the various nations of Zechariah’s time treated them (Assyria, Babylon, Persia)? Are there parts of the world where Christians suffer for the sake of their faith today? Do you presume their enemies’ situation will be as dire as that predicted in the prophets?
3. Zechariah’s prophecy uses a common epithet to refer to God. He refers to God as ‘the LORD of Heaven’s Armies’ (lit. Yahweh of Hosts or Yahweh’s Armies) fifty-three times. His use is only rivaled by Jeremiah (fifty-six times). Scholars debate the precise meaning of the phrase but most agree that it refers to God’s power or might; a theme certainly not lost on Zechariah. How has Zechariah’s prophecy depicted God’s power and might? How has his prophecy depicted it concerning the Day of the LORD? What does His power mean to you personally? How has He been a powerful Presence in your life?
Sermon Audio: Restoration
October 18, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchRestoration
Zechariah 12:1-13:6
Oct. 18, 2009
Peace Fellowship Sermons
Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, MA, MDiv, PhD
Study Questions for Zechariah 12 and 13
October 18, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchby Sean Mills
This week’s questions:
Read Zechariah 12 & 13
1. In chapter one we saw how God used ‘the nations’ to discipline His people (v. 15). In chapter twelve, it is the nations who are under divine rebuke and the people of God, Judah and Jerusalem, are His agents of justice (v. 6). What do you think about God’s method of discipline? Why do you think He used the various world powers of the day to bring about His justice? How does He use His people now? Are we agents of justice? Does He use unbelievers as a means of justice also? Are they a source of discipline to believers?
2. Chapter twelve also illustrates how God protects His people (vv. 7-9). Although Judah is the object of scorn for the surrounding nations, they will be no match against God’s protective hand. He promises to shield them from their enemies’ violence. Recently, there has been a lot of violence in our community. Does God still promise to protect His people? How do we begin to make sense of the violence in our neighborhoods in light of children being killed by other children? Does God still care?
3. Personal and communal reflection: At the end of chapter twelve (vv. 10-14) and the beginning of chapter thirteen (v. 1) we have the classic repentance and forgiveness formula (cf. 1 John 1: 9). The Scriptures say God gave the people a spirit of ‘grace and prayer’ (lit. grace and prayer for mercy) (12: 10). Has God been convicting you of any personal sin? On a more communal level, have we been neglecting any areas of ministry or our core values that we committed ourselves to?
Sermon Audio: Two Blessings for Every Problem
October 11, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchTwo Blessings for Every Problem
Zechariah 9:9-17
Oct. 11, 2009
Peace Fellowship Sermons
Rev. Dennis Edwards MDiv, MA, PhD
Zechariah 9 Study Questions
October 10, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchby Sean Mills
This week’s questions:
Read Zechariah 9
1. In verses one through nine the prophet uses picturesque language to describe how God will annihilate Judah’s enemies. Hamath is doomed and Tyre’s possessions will be consumed by fire (vv. 2, 4). In addition, Gaza’s king will perish and Philistia will be humbled (vv. 5-7). What do you think about the violence these ‘other’ nations will endure? Does it teach us anything about God? Are you comforted by God’s vengeance or is this passage unsettling?
2. Verse nine says, “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt.” In the New Testament both Matthew and John apply these words to Jesus during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Though they stop short of verse ten (which in context would also apply to Jesus) how does He “destroys the weapons of battle and bring peace to the nations?” Does this happen during the present age or is it going to happen in the age to come?
3. In verse twelve God promised to bless His people twice as much as their troubles had been; quite a promise in light of being in exile! In Romans eight, Paul says, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (v. 18). In the Zechariah passage, the blessings seemed to be coming very soon, ‘this very day.’ In the Romans passage, however, ultimate blessing and restoration will come in the future. How does God bless His people? Do we still get a 2 for 1 deal? Discuss.
Sermon Audio: Letting the Blessing Rub Off
October 4, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchLetting the Blessing Rub Off
Zechariah 8:1-28
Oct. 4, 2009
Peace Fellowship Sermons
Rev. Dennis Edwards, MA, MDiv, PhD
Zechariah 8 Study Questions
October 3, 2009 by peacefellowshipchurchby Sean Mills
This week’s questions:
Read Zechariah 8
1. Chapter eight begins with a rather idyllic scene of Jerusalem after God grants His blessing upon it. “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play” (vv. 4 and 5). The image represents a time when life will be as it should be in Jerusalem. Justice will prevail and the people of God will live harmoniously with one another. Are there issues in our city that prevent certain people from living up to their fullest potential? If so, what are they? How can we address these concerns? Do you think God’s love for our community is ‘passionate and strong’ (see v. 2)?
2. In verse seventeen we discover things that God hates. He says, “Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the LORD.” In the book of Proverbs there is recorded seven things that God hates. They are haughty eyes (pride/arrogance), a lying tongue (lies), hands that kill the innocent (murder), evil hearts (bad intentions/motivations), feet that race to do wrong (intentional sin), a false witness who pours out lies (false testimony) and a person who sows discord in a family (creating strife) [see Pr 6: 16-19]. Though these things can happen on the individual, one-on-one level, how have we witnessed them in the broader context of American society? Washington, DC? What were the negative results of these instances? How many people were affected?
3. You may remember from chapter seven the people’s plea to God regarding their fasts that they held every year while in exile (7: 3). They wanted to know if they should keep fasting and mourning in an effort to incite divine intervention on their behalf. God essentially told them that their fasts and acts of mourning were self-serving and that they continually neglected the more important matters of making sure righteousness and justice permeated the land. In chapter eight God transformed those periods of mourning and fasting into ‘festivals of joy and celebration.’ However, the celebration is closely connected with the instruction to love truth and peace (v. 19). Why weren’t their prayers and fasts not being heard on High? What is most important to God? Is fasting now obsolete?
