Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” — Matthew 22:37-40 Continue reading “The power of the greatest commandments”
Category: Discipleship/Spiritual Formation
The greatest examples we carry
I have reached a place in the Gospel of John that causes me to walk slowly. It’s difficult for me when I think I’m in some sort of time crunch, or in a “check off” mode. But this is holy ground. Continue reading “The greatest examples we carry”
The difficulty of discipleship
John 6 is at once one of my favorite chapters to chew on… and the most frustrating chapter to read. It is the deep call to discipleship and full participation in Christ.
This is the place where Jesus drives a crowd AWAY. In our world, that’s utter foolishness. We are so thirsty for big crowds! We celebrate big crowds! And Jesus is here thinning things out! Continue reading “The difficulty of discipleship”
The community of the saints and sanctification
“The sanctification of the church-community consists in its being separated by God from that which is unholy, from sin… For the community of saints this implies three things. First, its sanctification will manifest itself in a clear separation from the world. Its sanctification will, second, prove itself through conduct that is worthy of God’s realm of holiness. And, third, its sanctification will be hidden in waiting for day of Jesus Christ.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship
How to live with others
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matt. 7:12) Continue reading “How to live with others”
The heart of the Great Commission
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:18-20, NIV) Continue reading “The heart of the Great Commission”
Heaven… on earth
“The earth is preserved by salt; the world lives because of these poor, ignoble, and weak people, whom the world rejects… (This salt) penetrates the entire earth. It is the earth’s substance. Thus, the disciples are focused not only on heaven, but are reminded of their mission on earth… (Christ) brings them into his work… The community of disciples must remain what Christ’s call has made them. That will be their true efficacy on earth and their preserving strength.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship
