Cross of Christ – Apprentice 2 Jesus

Exhaustion

David French gets to the heart of most things culturally and politically in a way that speak volumes to me. His free weekly comments are spot on this week as well when it comes to our nation and the Fourth of July.

Good Friday — Judgment and Mercy

The cross of Christ is critical in the life of the believer. This year, it is a stark symbol for our time. We need to pay attention. The way of the Cross is the way of humiliation. Our God is not the vengeful, warrior God. He is not about “conquering” the way we think inContinue reading “Good Friday — Judgment and Mercy”

Domesticating the Cross of Christ

“It is startling to reflect on just how diminished the average modern Western Christian vision of ‘hope,’ of ‘inheritance,’ or indeed of ‘forgiveness’ itself has become. We have exchanged the glory of God for a mess of spiritualized, individualistic and moralistic pottage.And in the middle of it we have radically distorted the meaning of theContinue reading “Domesticating the Cross of Christ”

When does the cross of Christ matter?

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Cor. 2:2)

We can’t glorify the cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18, NIV)

The cultural status of our Christianity

I am taking a bit of a break from my normal daily lectionary reading and going back to something I have enjoyed my adult life walking with Christ. It is to walk slowly through a book of the Bible and pray. I like walking through a book of the Bible and study, pray, think devotionally,Continue reading “The cultural status of our Christianity”

The continuous lessons of the cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it forContinue reading “The continuous lessons of the cross”

The focus of the journey is the cross

Ps 22, 141, 143 Exodus 9:13-35 2 Cor. 4:1-12 Mark 10:32-45 One of the feature’s of Paul’s writings that captivates my thinking the most is his focus on the cross.

The power of self-giving love

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45, NIV) Self-giving love is the key. This is the power set loose on the world. This is the heart of the revolution launched on Good Friday. (NT Wright, “TheContinue reading “The power of self-giving love”

The hard road of the cross is still beautiful

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) I can remember a professor New Testament in seminary saying these beautiful words: “When Jesus calls us to take up our cross, weContinue reading “The hard road of the cross is still beautiful”