Love Your Bible
I Timothy 3:13-17 shows us that scripture is important for both salvation (pointing to Jesus) and spiritual development (as “God-breathed”instruction). A healthy practice involves reading often, prioritizing quality (reading with purpose and a “needy attitude”) over speed, and making an effort to internalize scripture (memorization and meditation/murmuring).
Beginning Galatians
The church at Jerusalem, where Christianity began, was composed entirely of Jewish Christians. Peter had preached the Gospel to the Gentile Centurion Cornelius, which opened the Gospel to Gentiles. The question, then, was whether Gentile Christians were required to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Galatians addresses this issue. Paul begins his discussion... Read More
Are You Running Hard
Running hard is not just for the gifted or the strong. It is for all of us, and we are running a race where every one of us can win. The great enemy of running hard is not failure but apathy, that slow drift where we stop caring, stop feeding on what is good, and... Read More
Deathbed Prophecies
Jacob's deathbed prophecies are recorded in Genesis 48-49. The Jews believed deathbed blessings had special powers. These prophecies were prophetic in their own way but didn't change the future. First Jacob blessed Joseph's two sons, after which he blessed his own sons. The applications of the story of Jacob's deathbed prophecies are: Nothing that happens... Read More
The New Covenant
A covenant is more than a contract. Contracts are about “I.” Covenants are about “we.” Covenants are moral commitments sustained by loyalty and fidelity. The Old Covenant included endless sacrifices that looked forward to the New Covenant and the final sacrifice of Jesus Christ. At communion we look back at Christ’s suffering and sacrifice and... Read More
Citizenship
Our true citizenship is not in any country on earth—it’s in the kingdom of God. We may be born in one nation and hold a passport from it, but we are not born into God’s kingdom. That takes a choice. When we follow Jesus, we are choosing a new identity, one that doesn't depend on... Read More
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