Bible Studies



October 2024

"Our Reformation Inheritance"

by Pastor Dolby

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

 – James 5:8

When you hear the word “inheritance” what synonyms come to mind? Perhaps words like heritage or heirloom. There are a few other words that struck me when I went beyond the synonyms I was most familiar with: 1) Ancestry, 2) Birthright, 3) Culture.

When I hear the word ancestry, I think of that which I received from family who came before me and those I have the blessing of passing on family traditions, genetics, etc. to the generations after me.

When I hear the word birthright, I think of a blessing that was intended for me from the beginning. I admit that “birthright” has a bit of baggage for me because of the sad story of Jacob and Esau. Isn’t it ironic that the story is remembered in that order rather than Esau and Jacob, since Esau is the eldest son of Isaac and Rebekah? It is good to put that historical narrative to the side for now and focus on the intention God has for our birthright as his redeemed children, adopted through the gift of faith.

A birthright is a particular right of possession or privilege one has from birth. The blessing of our Reformation Inheritance, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is that it is a gift God intends to go beyond ourselves.

This leads to that third synonym for inheritance: culture. God has given us a new family by his eternal gifts of grace, faith, and hope of everlasting life with him. This culture we are brought into is not limited to life after death, but rather spills over into a joyful, hope-filled earthly life. God has given us a new culture to offer to our neighbors, the world all around us. We have inherited a culture of light in the middle of today’s culture, which is like every culture before it, a culture drowning in the mire of spiritual darkness.

In this month of remembering our Reformation Inheritance, we rejoice that this is not something that had its genesis in Martin Luther or any blessed Reformers of the 16th Century, but it has always been from the LORD our God who desires to give us a heritage of salvation. Through Scripture alone, God opens up to us the glorious inheritance we receive by his Grace alone. God reassures us of his justifying work in Christ alone and we receive this eternal inheritance by faith alone. Finally, this causes us to thank God alone and not have any room to brag or boast about our contributions…it really is all about God for us!

The monthly memory work from Saint James is a gift from the Holy Spirit to instruct how to wisely spend our days on earth. 

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. – James 5:8

To be patient as a Christian on earth does not mean we hide away from the world and hoard our inheritance. God meant for this Reformation Gospel Inheritance to bless us and be shared by us. Establishing our hearts on the foundation of Jesus’ eternal victory makes it clear that time is precious and other human beings are who God is calling us to serve and engage with the only hope there is for us…this gift in Christ alone. The joy in knowing that Jesus is coming again to usher in the new heavens and the new earth, that epic 8th Day of Creation, the Resurrection – that is our Reformation Inheritance, but it is not meant for us and no one else. May this assure and inspire us into daily action for our fellow man and woman.

Now, when you hear the word “inheritance” I pray you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to share the faith of your spiritual ancestors which God alone gave to you. I pray you are as eager in sharing the birthright of the Gospel, sharing Jesus with others as if you were surprising your best friend with a Christmas present…something you can’t wait for them to receive and realize what they’re getting.

In conclusion, may God bless us with the wisdom and boldness of his Holy Spirit as we share our cultural inheritance, the eternal riches we’ve received in Christ Jesus alone. May our neighbors discover joy as we look to intentionally give them freely, just as we have freely received from our good and gracious God: the eternal gifts of salvation, forgiveness, authentic joy in life on earth because of what Jesus has accomplished for the sake of all.

A mighty fortress is our God. This is a glorious inheritance. May the world hear it from our lips and our lifestyle of engaging them. In his Name. Amen!

In Christ,

Pastor Dolby


September 2024

"Joy Cannot Stand Still"

by Pastor Dolby

This September is a special time to remember, recognize, and celebrate all God has done for and through his people of All Saints over the past 50 years. We are given opportunity to marvel at the home God has provided for us through the dedication and devotion of members and pastors of All Saints’ history.

We have a responsibility to honor and celebrate those who have gone before us. Like runners in a relay race, we Christians have received this “baton” of faith from God and his people before us. It would be strange to watch a relay race at a track meet and the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th runner stopped running as soon as they received the baton.

How will we celebrate this “baton of faith” from those past members and pastors? This joy of the Gospel we have received cannot stand still. The race continues. The “baton of faith” must be passed on according to Jesus’ command and God’s design.

This celebration is not a stagnation.

As your pastor, I invite you to pray and prepare for our future work with authentic hope and biblically based determination. We begin with the only source of hope we have, God and his Holy Word. Consider our monthly memory work.

But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. - Isaiah 50:7

This verse is part of an amazing chapter God’s Holy Spirit divinely inspires the prophet Isaiah to write. Chapter fifty alongside the previous chapter has the LORD directing us to his promises, namely, the promised Redeemer for the exiles of Israel and for all of exiles hopeless against the reality of sin.

Verse seven instills the tangible and concrete hope that death is not defeat for the Servant (the Redeemer, the Messiah, Jesus). The Servant displays ultimate trust in the Father’s provision. When Jesus makes his final journey to Jerusalem, he does so in unwavering faith. He is so determined and set in God’s way that he sets his face like a flint. This undeniable fact is confirmed in Luke 18:31 and Luke 24:44 when Jesus is determined to fulfill everything written by the prophets…because of his love and the Father’s love for you.

I am thankful we have received an incredible Gospel message and mission from the Father, through his Son upon the Cross, and his Holy Spirit – who together as the One True God, provided for all the saints who have come before us. 

God calls on us to remember his promises. God’s promises are like gifts meant to be shared. It would be strange (and against God’s will) for us to keep the gift for ourselves.

What will that look like to share God’s promises in our actions as the All Saints family this fall and over the coming years? We have this blessed God-given opportunity to pass on to our neighbors, near and far, what we have received from devoted members and pastors who came before us.

The celebration of All Saints this month is not stagnation. Joy cannot stand still.

May the grace and provision of our Maker, our Redeemer, our Helper be a gift that flows out from us to bless others as they see and hear the love of Jesus in our actions towards them. By God’s grace, may we set our faces like a flint, in joyful determination to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to others so they can be blessed like we have been blessed by God and his saints before us.

I pray this is accomplished as God designs it, for his glory alone and for the sake of our neighbors, all of them – because Jesus died and rose from the dead for all of them. God bless you and keep you as you carry on this “baton of faith” to those who come after us! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Dolby


August 2024

"Psalms and Proverbs: Growing up in Christ"

By Pastor Dolby

Our August memory work is from the fourth chapter of Saint Paul’s letter to the Christians at Ephesus. I want to begin my devotional reflection for August a bit earlier in the chapter.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:1-3

As the summer begins to make way for the fall season to come, many of us begin to sense the urgency or internal pressure to have a strong start to the new academic calendar regardless of whether we are a student, parent, teacher or any other position. The truth is, we are all continually learning and growing: We are always students!

It is certainly good to have a strong sense of personal responsibility and ask oneself, “Where can I grow this year? What can I try a little bit differently than how I approached my duties last fall?”

I want to put a warning in each of our hearts to not use this good sense of responsibility to try to do “too much” … and how much is too much? The answer is as unique as each of us. I pray that you and I take time to honestly assess where we can try more, less, or even consider a different approach.

I would like to offer each of you a challenge from my calling as your pastor: Growing up in our faith does not mean we need to add more to what we are already pursuing! It does not require the gift like the Old Testament prophets to confidently declare that most (if not all!) of us already have sufficient (or too much?) on our plate of personal responsibility.

So I want to close with an invitation: Do not be afraid to stick to one simple, peaceful subject to become more disciplined from September 2024 to June of 2025.

I want to offer you an example in what I am practicing in August so I can be all about this simple, daily task from September to June for my family to see and join me in. Like most good ideas I come across, this one is not mine! It is based on something a fellow pastor has shared quietly in recent years: https://sonsofsolomon.net 

Praying the Psalms in Jesus’ Name.

In the morning, I will rotate reading one of three Psalms: Psalm 123, 125, 127.

In the mid-day, I will rotate two Psalms: 124 & 129

In the early evening, I will rotate two Psalms: 126 & 128

Before I go to bed, I will rotate two Psalms 130 & 131.

Finally, every day I will read one of the 31 chapters of Proverbs.

*You do NOT have to follow this exact formula. But what can you put on your daily schedule to show yourself and others close to you that God’s Word is of utmost importance to your daily health, spiritually and otherwise?

Our monthly memory work is Ephesians 4:15, Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

My desire for this academic year is to allow myself more space rather than taking on “too much” and not really growing as effectively or responsibly as I should. I want to improve in speaking the truth in love whether I am preaching, teaching, or find myself in an unexpected witnessing opportunity. I can only do this if I am being filled with God’s Word daily, intentionally. I am excited to see how a simple walk in a few Psalms and the book of Proverbs will be used by the LORD’s Holy Spirit to help me grow up in every way into the One who is my King, Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Pastor Dolby


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