Sermon Tone Analysis

The Solas

The Solas are often mentioned by those who believe the Bible to be the word of God and who believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone by the Spirit alone for the glory of God alone based on Scripture alone

Sola Gratia

Sola Fide

Sola Christus

Sola Spiritus Sanctus

Sola Scriptura

Sola Deo Gloria

Ezekiel, a prophet and priest, was exiled to Babylon in 597 B.C. His ministry extended over at least twenty-three years.

The book opens with his first dramatic vision of the “likeness” of the Lord himself.

Ezekiel was keenly aware of God’s presence and power in human affairs.

He addressed both the exiles and the people left in Judah with messages of warning and judgment, predicting the fall of Jerusalem.

After Jerusalem’s fall (in 586), Ezekiel prophesied hope and reassurance for the people of Judah, who had then lost the focus of God’s covenant, the temple in Jerusalem.

His vision of the valley of dry bones (ch.

37) is a classic picture of God’s ability to renew his people.

If the “thirtieth year” of 1:1 refers to Ezekiel’s age; he was twenty-five when taken captive and thirty when called into ministry.

Thirty was the age when priests began their office, so it was a notable year for Ezekiel.

His ministry began in 593/92 B.C. and extended at least twenty-two years until 571/70 B.C. (cf.

29:17).

He was a contemporary of both Jeremiah (who was about twenty years older) and Daniel (who was about the same age), whom he names in 14:14, 20; 28:3 as an already well-known prophet.

Like Jeremiah (Jer.

1:1) and Zechariah (cf.

Zech.

1:1 with Neh.

12:16), Ezekiel was both a prophet and a priest (1:3).

Because of his priestly background, he was particularly interested in and familiar with the temple details, so God used him to write much about them (8:1–11:25; 40:1–47:12).

Ezekiel and his wife (who is mentioned in 24:15–27) were among ten thousand Jews taken captive to Babylon in 597 B.C. (2 Kin.

24:11–18).

They lived in Tel-Abib (3:15) on the bank of the Chebar River, probably southeast of Babylon.

Ezekiel in the New Testament

The Book of Revelation quotes Ezekiel more than any other OT Book

The Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37 - The Lord’s ability to renew his people

The Glory of the Lord

The glory of God

The Shekinah glory

Exodus 24:16–18

The awe-inspiring sight of God’s glory cloud, the Shekinah, resting on the mountain and into which Moses disappeared for forty days and nights, impressed everyone with the singular importance of this event in Israel’s history.

Exodus 24:16–18

The settling of the Shekinah upon the tabernacle at its completion impressed the Israelites with the singular importance of this structure in Israel’s worship of and relationship to Yahweh (40:34–38).

The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Historical and Theological Themes)

The “glory of the Lord” is central to Ezekiel, appearing in 1:28; 3:12, 23; 10:4, 18; 11:23; 43:4, 5; 44:4.

The glorifying believer

The glory of Christ

Ezekiel’s vision

Financial update from eNews

2021: Offerings + Rental:  $571,835.03

Expenses: $672,015.44

Paid off mortgage of $231,500 on 8/17

February Offering:                 $15.022.44

Year to Date Offerings:          $39,792.20

February Rental:                      $6,000.00

YTD Offerings + Rental:         $51,792.20

February Expenses:                $24,964.64

YTD Expenses:                       $52,912.58

General Fund:     Alliance Missions:     Other Missions:

Offering 2/27:        $5,395.00

$0.00

$0.00

February Total:     $15,022.44

$350.00

$300.00

West Hills update

Meeting with district supt

Not merging

Property transfer

West Hills have moved offices to the campus