Everyday Truth with Kurt Skelly

Monday, June 10 | Dumb donkeys make dumb decisions! (Hosea 8:9-14)

Hosea 8:9-14

Deer hunters understand that a buck will make risky and dangerous choices when he is on the prowl for a doe. The “rut” season is the best time to hunt because the otherwise cautious deer will put himself in a vulnerable place. God likened the nation of Israel to a dumb donkey who ventured alone into a very dangerous place!

Nehemiah 7 | Now What? | Weekend Pulpit

Nehemiah 7

from the series "When God Interrupts Your Life"

Friday, June 7 | Sowing the Wind and Reaping the Whirlwind! (Hosea 8:6-8)

Hosea 8:6-8

Small bad decisions will create a tornado of consequence eventually. Israel learned this the hard way. They sowed the wind; i.e., they made seemingly insignificant evil choices over a long period of time. But those choices—all put together—created a whirlwind of hurt and despair.

Thursday, June 6 | Knowing God is more than knowing about God. (Hosea 8:1-5)

Hosea 8:1-5

The people of Israel claimed to know God. When the consequences of their sin caught up with them, they protested that they couldn’t possibly deserve such calamity—they know God! But the colossal mistake they made was this: knowing God is a lot different than merely knowing about God.

Wednesday, June 5 | Crooked bows shoot off-target arrows! (Hosea 7:8-14)

Hosea 7:8-14

Your likelihood to hit a target’s bullseye is only as good as the accuracy of the weapon you choose to use. If the barrel on the rifle is bent, the bullet will not fly straight. If the bow is crooked, the arrow will miss the mark. God called Israel a “crooked bow” who missed the mark. How so? Listen in!

Tuesday, June 4 | God has a good memory! (Hosea 7:1-7)

Hosea 7:1-7

The people of Hosea’s day were not considering that God remembered everything they did. In fact, their sins had surrounded them! If God remembers our sins, then there can be no hope for any of us, right? Wrong! Because God has also provided a way by which He can forget our sins!

Monday, June 3 | God wants your heart, not your “impressive” religious exercises! (Hosea 6:1-11)

Hosea 6:1-11

In this chapter, Hosea assumes the role of an encourager. He has already carefully conveyed the primarily negative message of God’s displeasure and coming judgment. Now he pleads with the people to “return to the Lord.” The God who is judging you is doing so in love! He wants to heal and restore you. Come back!

Nehemiah 6 | A Final Barrage | Weekend Pulpit

Nehemiah 6

From the series "When God Interrupts Your Life"

Friday, May 31 | The Tragedy of Strange Children! (Hosea 5:6-15)

Hosea 5:6-15

The people of Israel had dealt treacherously with the Lord. How so? They had intermarried with unbelievers and raised children that did not even know God. In that sense, they had raised children as foreigners (strangers) to the knowledge of God and the practice of serving Him.

Thursday, May 30 | The Framework for Turning to God (Hosea 5:1-5)

Hosea 5:1-5

Behavior and works alone do not indicate a sincere faith, but there certainly are certain habits that we can practice that can fertilize a more ready turning to God. The people of Israel did not “frame their doings” to turn to God; rather, they allowed a heart bent toward idolatry and sensuality to guide their decision-making.