This week we are exploring 1-2 Thessalonians and Philemon at Heights Church.
There are two “big” questions that probably jump out in our reading. But I don’t want to go there. Continue reading “Praying the Scripture”
Category: Spiritual Formation
The Kingdom of God belongs to the seriously messed up
“When Jesus described himself as a physician to sinners, a healer of the inner life, he was calling himself much more than one who associated with the broken, more even than one who could and would forgive them for the damage they had wreaked in their relationships with God and with one another. He was claiming to be one who could take damaged souls and restore them to health… He actively sought out the broken, not to pity them but to transform them.” — Chris Webb, God Soaked Life
To repent
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15, NIV)
There is a simple, literal rendering of this word meaning “to change one’s mind.” That doesn’t capture what Jesus is asking of us. Continue reading “To repent”
Defining the Kingdom of God
“The kingdom Jesus proclaimed was neither Christianity, church, nor Christendom (words that carry all kinds of unhelpful associations in the minds of many people…). Above all else, Jesus understood the kingdom to be a community — that amazing divine and human community of loving friendship that God had envisioned from the beginning of all creation, and that has remained his constant and central purpose through all the unfolding ages since.” — Chris Webb, God Soaked Life: Discovering a Kingdom Spirituality
The beautiful promise of walking with God
“The mightiest cities will one day crumble, and the most noble societies will pass. But God’s purpose remains steadfast and cannot be frustrated. God, whose presence fills all creation, is calling people to life in a community built on eternal foundations. He is calling you.” — Chris Webb, God Soaked Life: Discovering a Kingdom Spirituality
We only see what we want to see
Our perpetual struggle is blindness. Not physical blindness. Mental or spiritual blindness. From claims of conspiracy theories to fake news, we don’t like hearing what is counter to what we hold dear. And here is some news that isn’t fake: it is like this all the time. Everywhere. Continue reading “We only see what we want to see”
Why do we have to keep asking for miracles?
Reading and praying through the Gospel of Mark, I am interested in 2 stories: the feeding of the 5,000 then the feeding of the 4,000. Two miracles where each time the disciples are baffled as to what to do. Why can’t they remember what Jesus did the last time?
Continue reading “Why do we have to keep asking for miracles?”
