Apprentice 2 Jesus

Spiritual Formation

  • TRULY Loving Our Neighbor

    One of our texts for Sunday is Romans 13:8-14. As I walk through this passage I am struck by the attitude we are to take toward people we really don’t like. This follows on the heels of Paul’s admonition to pray for those in authority over us in vv. 1-7. In a society like ours… Read more

  • Familiar Passages That Bring Life

    I realized after preaching last Sunday that I refer quite a bit to a list of Bible passages I call “Ancient Wells.” These are familiar passages of Scripture that call out to me every time I read them. When I am “stuck” in my Bible reading, I turn to these passages again to help renew… Read more

  • Thoughts on Transformation and the Cross

    If we are going to live transformed lives, If we are going to live lives as true believers in Jesus Christ, We must have the Kingdom agenda in mind. That Kingdom’s agenda will clash with our own worldview and our definitions of success. In that moment we find the Cross of Jesus Christ. That is where… Read more

  • The Still Small Voice

    The call of God doesn’t often come in the news. Direction from God may not come in the “action” of the day, or the “action” of our lives. I love Elijah’s call in 1 Kings 19. God needed to give him new direction. When Elijah was at Horeb, there was the wind that came through,… Read more

  • Bible Memorization

    I grew up memorizing Scripture. I was in Bible Quiz in high school and memorized huge chunks of the New Testament. I miss my memory! In thinking of Bible memory, it is also important to understand that just having the verses down in your head doesn’t mean you’re letting the Word cultivate in your heart.… Read more

  • Does the Kingdom Truly Transform?

    I am continuing to digest Walter Brueggemann’s interview (found here). His work in the Old Testament draws out the explosiveness of the prophets (which he prefers to call poets). The imagery of the Old Testament is explosive. It is meant to invade our senses and disrupt our lives. Brueggemann’s contention is the Church over the… Read more

  • Salt and Subversiveness

    The call of Jesus is to be the salt of the earth. Bonhoeffer has some insightful thoughts on salt in Discipleship. They are some good reminders for us. Too often, as conservative evangelicals (my “tribe”, so to speak), the focus has been on heaven. Basically it’s an attitude of “Just get me out of here!”… Read more

  • How Much of the Gospel Would I Like?

    I am not sure of the original author (there might be some clarification HERE), but this poem summarizes well our modern attitude in following Christ. Three Dollars Worth of God I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal… Read more

  • Following Jesus… Let the Negotiations Begin!

    In Discipleship by Bonhoeffer, the focus is on obedience. Jesus calls… respond. We hear the call of Jesus and we want him to get in touch with our legal department. One classic parable on the call to obedience and the human desire to negotiate is the parable of the rich young ruler. He wants to… Read more

  • Christless Christianity — Bonhoeffer

    Christianity isn’t about adhering to a set of doctrinal beliefs as much as it is simply following Christ. “Discipleship is commitment to Christ, because Christ exists, he must be followed.” Bonhoeffer saw a Christless Christianity in his day. He came to recognize that following Christ was the very root of true Christianity “…a Christianity without… Read more