Learning to love others the way Jesus loves us
Jonah 4 So, one might think Jonah would get excited when the whole city of Nineveh repented of their violence and false religions. But no. Jonah was ticked off. Why? Because he decided the God was too gracious, too merciful, too patient, and too loving. He certainly didn't think so when he was surrounded by… Continue reading Jonah’s drama, God’s mercy
Jonah 3 Chapter 3 starts off in much the same way as chapter 1: "The word of the Lord came to Jonah." It's almost like God says, okay, let's try this again, a second chance to get it right. I am so grateful for second chances! Even in teaching, I find I improve so much… Continue reading A do-over.
The Day of the Lord, Gospels and Epistles. The Day of the Lord is a sure thing. The prophets of both Old and New Testaments describe the utter destruction of evil and everything attached to it. The letters to the Church describe the precursors. Jesus Himself said that Sodom and Gomorrah got off easy by… Continue reading No one knows the time.
1 Thessalonians 2 Paul made clear in this chapter that the gospel is entrusted to us, not for our reputations, but for His glory and pleasure. Entrusting the most important news ever to fallible, mistake-prone people delights the Father; almost like handing down a family heirloom from one generation to another. Treating the gospel as… Continue reading Be who you say you are
1 Thessalonians 1 The church of Thessalonica was made up of people who were consistent in their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope, so much so that their reputation spread well beyond the borders of their city. They lived out their conviction without compromise. Thessalonica was a port city influenced by… Continue reading Consistent conviction
Joel 1:1-3:21 Joel's word from the Lord opens with a dire warning. I had to look up the context of the book and I learned that it was written after a massive natural disaster: locusts that consumed everything (insightforliving.org). Joel starts by telling the people to remember this disaster, and to prepare for even worse.… Continue reading Yet, even now
Galatians 6 Paul is adamant that the Galatians get his point: what you do doesn't save you, only Jesus. However, salvation is not an excuse to be useless; there is still good work that needs to be done. The work isn't the issue, but our reason for doing the work matters. If we participate in… Continue reading One last thing
There is a really cool percussive dance genre called Stepping. When I read Galatians 5 this morning, all I could imagine was a team of people using their whole bodies and their voices to create complex rhythms with a message. Stepping requires coordination, discipline, practice, unity, and commitment for the routine to have its full… Continue reading Keep in step
Why would anyone go back to something that doesn't work?Galatians 4 Why Jesus? Why did he relinquish his divine authority and be born as a human to live in an oppressed population under the Roman government? Paul says it plainly, " to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption… Continue reading Why go back?
One of the criticisms of the evangelical, mission-minded Church is that people go into other countries with the intent to share the gospel and then change the culture and social structure of that community. It is a legitimate critique. But Paul reprimanded the Apostles, naming Peter specifically, saying that forcing cultural change on new believers… Continue reading Jesus culture is multicultural
Defaulting to Grace 