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We May Just Be On to Something…
Our first Sunday in our journey of “Eat This Book” where we weren’t out at the lake for a baptism, and it appears we may be onto something. The “sermon” time was our church this morning was by… everyone. Our goal each week is to read through assigned New Testament books. This week was Acts and 1-2 Thessalonians. To start the…
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Am I Immersed in the Mission?
“Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus, immersing them in the trinitarian LIFE in the Kingdom of God, teaching them to do what Jesus said.” — Dallas Willard
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Are You Ready for the Invitation?
In Luke 14 someone declares to Jesus, “Happy are those who will feast in God’s kingdom!” Jesus’ illustration that follows gives a chilling thought: Not all will feast. Some will just refuse. They are invited. The invitations are given without hiding anything. The invitations are given ahead of time. But people find all kinds of excuses not to come. Those…
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The Costs are so Clear
We are on our way at our church as we journey to read through the New Testament this summer. Our assignment for next Sunday is the Gospel of Luke. One of the striking movements in Luke is how at the beginning of the Gospel there is such joy at the prospect of following Jesus. Men and women are dropping what…
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Jesus is Honest About the Cost of the Kingdom… Why Aren’t We?
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he…
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We Don’t Have It All Figured Out
We should really come to the realization that Christians just don’t have it all figured out. What we DO know is the One who HAS figured it all out. He may tell us a few things along the way. He may not reveal everything. The thing is this: we follow Christ. And we do it as best we can. Warts and…
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What Holds You Back?
Two books I’ve read lately are stirring me from my complacency. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible The question is this: “What holds me back?” In Mark 10 the wealthy man comes to Jesus to ask what he needs to do to inherit…
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Disciples vs. Followers Follow Up
I had these thoughts on disciples or followers HERE. The seed thought came from my wife, and her thoughts are HERE. Her thoughts are much better… of course! 😉
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How to Be Labeled Insane
We carry labels in our lives. We like to slap labels on others. Jesus had some labels of his own. They weren’t ones he necessarily put on voluntarily. “Insane” was one of those labels. 20 Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. 21 When his…
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Disciples vs. Followers
13 Jesus went out beside the lake again. The whole crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he continued along, he saw Levi, Alphaeus’ son, sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up and followed him. (Mark 2:13-14, CEB) My wife takes Tai Chi classes. For the past two years we have…
Category: Discipleship/Spiritual Formation
