We reviewed that righteousness is the perfect conformity to God's holy standard in character and action. Job 4:17 reminds us that none are righteous like God. Scripture attests to God's supreme righteousness. Our sin highlights God's righteousness. And His righteousness is why I am condemned, but it is also why I am saved.

The apostle Paul made his ministry plans with Christian integrity but changed those plans when a better way to build up the Corinthians came into view. Paul spoke to the Corinthian church in a way that mirrored God's gospel promises in Christ--not ambiguously or equivocally but clearly, in accordance with how God speaks to us, with promises that are sure and unbreakable. But he realized that his two-stop double-blessing plan to visit the Corinthians was not actually the best way to resolve the challenges that were going on there, so he changed his approach. We learned how to interact with people in difficult circumstances, being people of our word, and how to reconsider our corrective efforts when a better approach is available.

We studied the Christian character trait of compassion. The word compassion has the prefix "com" which means with or together. The second part is "passion," having to do with feelings. Compassion is therefore "co-feeling." It is defined by Webster as a "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it." A synonym ius "pity." It is concern for the troubles, trials, or misfortunes of other people.

In this message, we learn three lessons from the call of wisdom. First, wisdom is readily available to all people (v. 20-21). Second, wisdom comes to those willing to listen (v. 22-23, 30). Third, Refusing wisdom results in distress and anguish (v. 24-29).

Peter pens his epistle as an urgent reminder as one who knows his life is nearing its end. He declares himself an eye-witness of Christ's Kingdom, which is of great comfort to him, but above all, he is comforted by the true and infinitely authoritative words of scripture. All we like grass. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Missionary Jack McMahan challenged our church today with these five key elements in any church that reaches the world: evangelism, discipleship, faithful leadership, faithfulness to Christ, and Christ-dependence.

Like in the book of Acts, our missionaries Jack and Bev McMahan report on the progress of their ministry. They are working with two churches, particularly in the areas of leadership development.

Leviticus continues the account of how God created the nation of Israel for its significant role in redemption and world history. Leviticus delineates the regulations for the people of God in Israel to interact properly with Him now that they have a basic constitution and the central worship site has been constructed and is operational. He required them to follow precise instructions as to various offerings at the tabernacle, the annual feast calendar, the life of the priests, and ceremonial cleanliness (for example, with childbirth, leprosy, and sexual purity). If they followed these instructions, they could be forgiven for their offenses against the theocracy and live in a way that pleased God.