Category: Discipleship/Spiritual Formation

  • 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…

  • Simple obedience

    When Jesus demanded voluntary poverty of the rich young man, the young man knew that his only choices were obedience or disobedience…

  • The standard of judgment

    “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly…

  • Take up the high calling

    “Whoever you are, the land to which God has brought you is not like the land of Egypt from which you came out. You can no longer live there. Your old life and your former ways are crucified now, and you must not seek to live any more for your own gratification, but give up your own judgement into the hands…

  • Three Key Words in Kingdom Life

    We are working our way through the Gospel of Luke this week. In Luke 6 is a version of Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount.” In this part I find three key ways we are called to live in Kingdom power in this world. 

  • What to teach and proclaim

    Ministry shouldn’t get “over” complicated. Paul keeps it simple when writing to Titus:

  • The diligence of discipleship — Part 2

    We need a more purposeful pursuit of Christ. We need to be more engaged with our own personal pursuits, but joined with other believers as well. Not just from a distance, like a book or podcast… but face to face. Challenge yourself to grow… and to do so with others in your life. 

  • Diligence in discipleship

    We are reading through 1-2 Timothy and Titus this week. The early reading has this thought anchored in my mind: “We must be purposeful in our discipleship.“

  • The impossible task of defining “love”

    We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our biggest question then becomes, “Well, what do you mean by ‘love’?” 

  • The fireworks of salvation

    “When we hear the word miracle, we must not imagine fireworks and drum rolls and trumpet blasts and then, presto, a piece of heavenly magic that sends us reeling. That is fun but it is not gospel.” — Eugene Peterson, When Kingfishers Catch Fire