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He is KING Jesus
Jesus isn’t someone we “elected” and now we present him with a list of our expectations. It is HIS Kingdom. He sets the priorities and our greatest joys aren’t found in him fulfilling our expectations, but in us fulfilling his expectations.
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One thing you lack
Mark 10:17-22 gives us the story of the rich man asking about eternal life. One big thing that continually stands out to me from Mark and Matthew on this story: When asked point blank what was needed to inherit eternal life, Jesus did NOT point to himself in a way we would think. He did NOT say, “Well, believe in me! DUH!” He…
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Jesus is coming after YOU
I am preparing for Palm Sunday and part of that is reading the text in Matthew 21:1-11. I couldn’t stop there. What did he do AFTER making that triumphal entry? He ransacked the Temple. He healed IN the Temple, drawing the weak in… and he blessed children. This is a powerful statement. He is NOT going after Rome, like everyone…
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There is no “retirement” from the work of the Kingdom
The work of the Kingdom isn’t just for the young up and coming. We need to realize the fruit of ministry that can be produced at any age. 14 In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap, 15 showing that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. (Ps. 92:14-15)
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Learning to chew on the Word
It’s that evil word so many evangelical/fundamentalists don’t like: meditation. Simon Chan in his book, Spiritual Theology, reflects deeply on the need for scripture meditation. We are given too quickly to analysis in our Western mindset. We see a text and think one of two things: “I need to do a word study and historical background and cultural background and literary analysis on…
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Love that will not let us go
I am preaching on Jacob this morning in a series called “Anchored in God.” The anchor I have observed in the life of Jacob is we see a love that will not let us go. We need to understand the pursuit of a holy God. It’s not the holy pursuit of God on our part I think about when it comes to…
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Using online Bible tools
One of my favorite “go-to” sites for quickly accessing translations is BibleGateway. They also have apps for your smartphone. I like it on my computer because when I need a quick reference to view a verse in several different translations, this site is the easiest for me. I can type in the reference and go to it, then add parallel…
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Anchor of our soul
We need the tie of generations in the faith because each generation can demonstration the depth of faith that is possible. We can observe that in the generations that came before. We can learn from them. When we demonstrate the depth of faith, a faith that cannot be shaken, and demonstrate the faithfulness of God, we can then explain that to the next…
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Paul’s “big hairy audacious goal” for believers
We really want to believe Christianity is about “go big or go home.” We really do. We say it “isn’t about the numbers”… but it’s exactly about the numbers. In church circles we figure out other ways to say, “How many ya runnin’?” without saying exactly that, but still shaming pastors who aren’t in that “big gun” territory. So, we talk about…
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I dream of a day when we quit ranking sins
It’s not about particular sins. It’s about SIN. It’s about our rebellion against God. It’s about our desire to be our own little gods. But when we are in our own little rebellions, we feel better about pointing out someone else’s “worse” sin. I pray for the day, just in my own life, when I’m done to ranking sin. 9 So what…
Category: Bible Study
