The Whole Counsel With Pastor Thom

Rebuilding the Lord’s House - Haggai

About six hundred years before the coming of Christ, the kingdom of Judah was carried away into Babylonian captivity. Jerusalem was devastated. The walls were broken down. The temple — once filled with worship, sacrifice, and the presence of God among His people — was plundered, burned, and left in ruins. But God had not forgotten His people. After seventy years, the Lord stirred the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, and opened the door for the Jewish people to return home and rebuild the house of God. What a moment that must have been — hearts filled with hope, minds consumed with restoration, and eyes fixed on the future. Yet when they arrived back in Jerusalem, their priorities began to change. The work of God was delayed while personal comfort took center stage. The people rebuilt their own homes while the house of the Lord sat in ruins. Worship was replaced with distraction. Passion gave way to complacency. So God raised up a prophet named Haggai with a message that was direct, urgent, and impossible to ignore: “Build the temple.” And thousands of years later, that message still speaks.

Choose This Day - Zephaniah

The prophet Zephaniah preached during a moment of choice in Israel’s history. For more than fifty years the nation had drifted spiritually under the leadership of Manasseh and Amon. Idolatry filled the land and complacency filled the hearts of the people. Then God raised up King Josiah, a ruler who desired reform and repentance. During his reign the Lord sent Zephaniah to call the nation back before judgment fell. His message still speaks with urgency today because every person must choose whom they will serve.

When Faith Speaks Honestly to God - Habakkuk

Habakkuk is not a record of sermons preached to the people. It is a record of a conversation between a prophet and his God. It is one of the most honest conversations recorded anywhere in Scripture. It reminds us that faith does not become silent in the face of questions. Faith brings questions into the presence of the Lord.

When God Exposes Sin - Micah

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is not always open rebellion against God. Often the greater danger is believing lies that make sin appear acceptable. Throughout history people have convinced themselves that wrong things were right. They have justified greed, pride, and selfishness while still claiming to follow God. The prophet Micah was sent by God to confront a nation that had begun to believe lies instead of truth.

God's Grace in the Dark, God's Mercy in the Mission - Jonah

There are moments in life when we find ourselves in places we never imagined we would be. Sometimes those places are created by the brokenness of this world. Sometimes they are the result of the choices of others. And sometimes, if we are honest, those places are the result of our own decisions. The story of Jonah reminds us that even when we find ourselves in dark places, God is still present, God is still working, and God is still pursuing His purpose.