Posted: September 5, 2024
Jesus told many parables to the Pharisees and the grumbling scribes. A favorite of mine starts this way: “There was a man who had two sons.”1 My ESV Bible has the heading The Parable of the Prodigal Son for this story. But Jesus didn’t label the younger son that way. And, by the way, the
Continue Reading “Reckless living”
Category: Blog
Posted: August 29, 2024
It seems we have incessant questions for God about what to do and where to go. Our common mistake is that we are mostly concerned with instructions and directions. But God rarely gives us a map, not even a good list. Jesus tried to explain this concept to his disciples but it was a hard
Continue Reading “The Way to Go”
Category: Blog
Posted: August 22, 2024
“And a ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher,’ what must I do to inherit eternal life.’”1 It’s a good question. But I imagine that if this ruler had discussed these theological and philosophical matters with all his good friends—which he probably did—they would have reassured him by saying, Brother, you have nothing to worry about there.
Category: Blog
Posted: August 15, 2024
God called on Moses to do a mighty task: “Bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”1 But Moses had been gone from Egypt 40 years. And when God spoke this to him, Moses was a lowly sheep herder. And so, his response was, “Who am I?”2 Which seems like a very reasonable
Continue Reading “It’s Not About Us!”
Category: Blog
Posted: August 8, 2024
“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”1 “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But then let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”2 Okay. So, let’s review. Paul
Continue Reading “Stop Working So Hard!”
Category: Blog
Posted: August 1, 2024
“And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.”1 I have this theory about pain.
Continue Reading “Rocky Ground”
Category: Blog
Posted: July 25, 2024
Peter writes that we believers have been given everything we need “that pertain to life and godliness.”1 And these things allow us to “become partakers of the divine nature!”2 In other words, we can possess the characteristics of Jesus! Although we describe it as becoming more like him, the truth is that Jesus takes over
Continue Reading “The Problem of Nearsightedness”
Category: Blog
Posted: July 18, 2024
Our question is what part of the body of Christ is our part? What gift have we been given by God in order to fulfill our service and find our place and purpose in the world? The list of gifts is found primarily in 1 Corinthians 12 but then alluded to in other books. If
Continue Reading “Our Gifts: Part Two”
Category: Blog
Posted: July 11, 2024
Sometimes we feel out of place in our world. We look around and think, I do not belong. And this is not merely a 21st century feeling. There were some people in the church at Corinth who felt the same way. They examined themselves and said, “I do not belong.”1 Why do we feel that
Continue Reading “Our Gifts: Part One”
Category: Blog
Posted: July 4, 2024
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”1 And then “the Jews who had believed him” proceeded to argue with Jesus—even though they “believed him.” In this particular scenario,
Category: Blog
