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The Prayer Problem
Over the years I have worked hard to maintain a commitment to study of the Scriptures. I will visit passages over and over. I find different ways to make my way methodically through Scripture, trying hard not to “skim over” places. I know it happens, so I’ve tried to dedicate my life to continually plowing through so I can make…
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It’s not a “harvest” problem, it’s a “worker” problem
When Jesus commissioned the 72 to go proclaim the Kingdom, he made an interesting observation. The harvest is huge. “It’s bigger than you can imagine.” His command isn’t to go “find” harvest. It’s to pray for more workers. This isn’t such a hard thing for believers in other countries to understand. In many countries where their faith puts a spotlight on…
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Jesus may NOT “want you”
I have been walking through Luke 9 the past few days. It is a roller coaster ride of the disciples “getting it,” then NOT “getting it.” They can’t transfer the power of one day to the next. They wake up and it’s like their minds are erased! I am not trying to be too hard on them because I know…
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Living “in the moment” is like having ADHD Christianity
In my particular “tribe” of Christianity, there are good things about the experiential. We really do believe, or want to believe, that we can pray for healing (for example) and healing is possible. A particular “downside” is we tend to live for the “event.” We live for that powerful moment in a church service, a powerful worship song… something that…
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Refusing the ADHD of our culture
We are entirely too distracted in our world. We have too many things coming at us and it makes it incredibly difficult to… SQUIRREL!!! See what I mean? I just can’t seem… to… focus… While we certainly take into account how we are made (as to biological realities), another thing we need to emphasize all over again is this: we have abilities TO…
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Anchored in the Creation Story
This week I will begin a sermon series tentatively called “Anchor in God.” It has morphed into several forms, but all of them begin in Genesis. At this point, it may only be a series out of Genesis to take us to Lent. The more I teach the Old Testament as an adjunct the more I am deeply aware of…
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Remember the poor
Paul writing in Galatians brings verification of his preaching by retelling the story of his visit to the apostles. The big issue, of course, was the gospel coming to the Gentiles, but the one piece of common theological ground they had to have from Paul was this: They asked only that we would remember the poor, which was certainly something…
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Living in Jubilee
I am reading prayerfully through the Gospel of Luke and today found me in Chapter 7. It has been a chapter I’ve slowly worked through in prayer the last couple of days, and I imagine I may be here a little longer. It is a wonderful place to start a New Year. As I reflect on life and ministry, the…
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May 2014 be a year of speaking and ACTING in power
In Luke 7 there is the story of Jesus raising up the son of the widow in Nain. The story here is not that Jesus had compassion because a woman lost her son… alone. It was not just a matter of a touching scene. It was a matter of justice as well. The widow would have nothing. She was without any source…
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The difference of the Kingdom’s power
Resolution for 2014: Live out the power of the Kingdom. Subset: Love those who have no desire to love you. Drive them crazy in the process. It may be a “win/win.” It may also cost you a lot. Either way, live out the Kingdom’s power.
Category: Bible Study
