Sermon by Brandon Clements on July 28, 2024.
In our time, there are many competing ideas regarding how we think of children. And yet, Psalm 127 cuts through the noise to offer a vision for thinking about the next generation.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Michael Bailey on July 21, 2024.
What makes for a stable, flourishing and truly blessed life? The introduction to the book of Psalms gives us an important clue. This week, we’ll explore Psalm 1 and the power Scripture has to transform us.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Taylor Schombert on July 14, 2024.
Emotions are strong. And if we’re not careful, they can begin to control us. Psalm 77 offers us a different path—of engaging our emotions by bringing them to God.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Brandon Clements on July 7, 2024.
The Psalms are a unique collection in the Old Testament: 150 poems, songs, and prayers covering approximately 1,000 years of Israel’s history. The writers cover everything from hatred to pure joy and nearly everything in between. Some of the language and honesty in the Psalms are shocking–even uncomfortable to hear–because of how unfiltered they come across.
Amidst the raw emotions, the Psalms offer a beacon of hope. They guide us to understand what’s going on in our hearts and how to realign ourselves with reality, offering a path to transformation and spiritual growth.
In this series, we’ll spend six weeks looking at specific chapters as we ask how God wants us to shape us as His people.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 30, 2024.
The last chapter of Habakkuk culminates in a song that ties in all the themes we’ve looked at previously. In many ways, this song is a picture of Christian maturity, showcasing confidence in God even in the face of evil, pain, and suffering.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 23, 2024.
In Habakkuk, we see God doing something seemingly unthinkable - He will use Babylon, a nation more wicked than Judah, to bring justice. But what about Babylon’s sin? Will God just let that injustice happen, or will He step in?
Last week, we started looking at God’s response; this week, we dive into that more.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Timestamps:
2:42 - What is the office of the prophet?
11:52 - What is the historical context of the prophetic books?
20:03 - How do we start when it comes to reading these books?
Check out MidtownBiblicalLiteracy.com for videos, book recommendations, and Bible reading plans
Dominion and Dynasty: A Theology of the Hebrew Bible by Stephen Dempster
Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey by Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer
Ghosts and Ancestors sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Ruth sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Wisdom sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
How Long O LORD series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Throughout the year, we want to know the concepts and passages you wrestle with. We'll answer some of these questions in podcast episodes throughout the year.
To submit your topic or question, text either "DOWNTOWN", “LEXINGTON”, OR “TWO NOTCH” followed by your topic to 855-855-0655.
Music by Levvy and Midtown Music
Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 16, 2024.
As we study the Bible, many Christians notice God doing things that we don't think He should do. Last week, Habakkuk wrestled with how God was allowing evil and injustice to occur in the world around him.
This week, we'll see him wrestle with how God responds to that evil and injustice, and we'll answer the question, "What do I do, when God's actions don't seem to align with His attributes?"
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Michael Bailey on June 9, 2024.
The prophets are a diverse group of writings. They come from different periods, face different issues, and are written in different genres.
The book of Habakkuk, in particular, speaks to us on our journey to Christian maturity. It mirrors the moments we all encounter—when our understanding of God’s character seems at odds with our current circumstances, when we question God’s plans, and when injustice, both individually and collectively, seems to prevail.
When that happens, what do we do? How do we respond? How can we trust God is still in control of it all? We’ll spend the next four weeks in Habakkuk exploring these questions.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Andrew Flowers on June 2, 2024.
As we finish this series, we’ll dive into practically one of the most challenging areas to live with biblical wisdom. The Scriptures will call at times a source of healing and blessing and at other times a “raging fire” and a “restless evil” — our words.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Brandon Clements on May 26, 2024.
Underneath so many topics covered in Proverbs is the need for self-mastery-whether in refraining from destructive behaviors or pursuing the good even when it's hard. This week, we will look at the picture of the ant and the sluggard to gain insight on what we may need to stop (or start) to pursue a life of wisdom.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Timestamps:
2:45 - What exactly is the Ketuviim?
7:00 - What is the Wisdom literature (in this case: Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs) all about?
14:23 - How should we read the Wisdom literature?
25:12 - So Song of Songs…what are we supposed to do with this book?
29:33 - How do these books connect to Jesus?
Check out MidtownBiblicalLiteracy.com for videos, book recommendations, and Bible reading plans
God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs by Tim Keller
Dominion and Dynasty: A Theology of the Hebrew Bible by Stephen Dempster
Ghosts and Ancestors: Torah Stories sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Ruth sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Wisdom sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Throughout the year, we want to know the concepts and passages you wrestle with. We'll answer some of these questions in podcast episodes throughout the year.
To submit your topic or question, text either "DOWNTOWN", “LEXINGTON”, OR “TWO NOTCH” followed by your topic to 855-855-0655.
Music by Levvy and Midtown Music
Sermon by Brandon Clements on May 19, 2024.
Last week, we discussed wisdom and friendships. This week, we discuss the inevitable outworking of that: conflict. What does the wisdom literature teach us about living in unity and handling confrontation?
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Andrew Flowers on May 12, 2024.
We’re living in what has been dubbed “the loneliness epidemic.” 60% of US adults report feeling lonely regularly, 15% of men and 10% of women report having no close friends, and 1/3 of both report only having two close friends or less.
This week, as we examine the wisdom literature, we will discuss what it means to be a good friend.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Brandon Clements on May 5, 2024.
This week, we discuss Proverbs 5 and 7, one of the most comprehensive sections of Scripture regarding the biblical vision for sex. It’s one of the few subjects that Solomon devotes extended airtime to in the book of Proverbs. What is its purpose? What does God intend for sex to accomplish? How are we to think about it?
For parents, as a reminder, Kidtown is available for 3rd grade and under. If you are uncomfortable having your preteen in the Gathering they are welcome to serve in Kidtown this week.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Michael Bailey on April 28, 2024.
The Bible is deeply aware of life's complexities and difficulties. This reality requires us to think well and wisely. Who we are and what we do shape the trajectory and person we become. Money is no exception. This week, we explore what the wisdom literature says about money.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Timestamps:
1:21 - What do we mean by the “history books” of the Old Testament?
11:28—What does Deuteronomy have to do with these books? And what is the overall message of the History/Former Prophets?
16:35 - How does the book of Joshua fit into the History/Former Prophets?
18:00 - How does the book of Judges fit into the History/Former Prophets?
20:25 - How does the book of Samuel fit into the History/Former Prophets?
23:38 - How does the book of Kings fit into the History/Former Prophets?
28:07 - Why do the History/Former Prophets matter within the scope of the Bible?
Check out MidtownBiblicalLiteracy.com for videos, book recommendations, and Bible reading plans
Dominion and Dynasty: A Theology of the Hebrew Bible by Stephen Dempster
Old Testament Narrative Books: The Israel Story by Gary Edward Schnittjer
Ghosts and Ancestors: Torah Stories sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Ruth sermon series - Lexington | Downtown | Two Notch
Throughout the year, we want to know the concepts and passages you wrestle with. We'll answer some of these questions in podcast episodes throughout the year.
To submit your topic or question, text either "DOWNTOWN", “LEXINGTON”, OR “TWO NOTCH” followed by your topic to 855-855-0655.
Music by Levvy and Midtown Music
Sermon by Brandon Clements on April 21, 2024.
This week, we discuss something that has the power to destroy your life and keep you from becoming a wise person: pride. Thankfully, the book of Proverbs offers us a framework to think about pride’s destructive nature and, ultimately, its solution.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Michael Bailey on April 14, 2024.
Last week we began exploring what it means to be a person of wisdom. This week we look at Proverbs 16:1-3 and ask ourselves, how exactly do we make wise decisions and what resources does God give us to become these sorts of people?
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
Sermon by Brandon Clements on April 7, 2024.
How do we become people who build our lives on God’s wisdom rather than ruining them? How do we navigate life and all its complexities? How do we make sense of death and suffering? How about friendships, wealth, and decision-making? What about sex and marriage?
These questions are where the Old Testament’s wisdom books come in. Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs depict how to navigate life’s complexity. Through poetry and narrative, the Bible shows us following Jesus is more than just acquiring knowledge. It’s about seeing reality the way God sees it and learning how to live within it—in short, it’s about becoming a person of wisdom. And the book of Proverbs is clear: wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.
This series is part of our Year of Biblical Literacy initiative.
