Learning to love others the way Jesus loves us
1 Thessalonians 1:3 A labor of love is work done for the benefit of someone else, not for personal gain. Thus defined, the truest labor of love is Jesus' atonement for us, taking the penalty of sin on our behalf. The Apostle John focused on the love of God, giving us John 3:16, probably the… Continue reading Labor of love
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
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
January 15 Good works are always to be part of the believer's life (James 2:14-36). So what is the difference between people who try to do the right thing and believers who walk in the will of God through their work? I think it is a matter of motivation and resource. The natural inclination of… Continue reading Rooted and grounded
But God. Two words that change everything. Circumstances, heartbreak, discouragement, and anxiety about the future might destroy us -- But God.Rich in mercyWith great loveThrough immeasurable graceSaved us, made us alive, and situated us in the heavenly places with Christ. Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked,… Continue reading But God
January 9 Point of view changes how people receive a message. In Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon described the folly of superficial living, saying that the day of death and sorrow are better than the day of birth and laughter. What?!? Reading a little deeper reveals what he meant: dwelling on the party and dreaming about the… Continue reading Point of View
Words without intention are nothing more than mists that burn off at the first sign of the sun.
Ecclesiastes 4 starts off with Solomon's distress over oppression and his recognition that humanity would never see the end of it. He saw that power and envy are the root of all oppression. This got me thinking about social justice. It's become a buzzword in our culture with plenty of talk about it, but no… Continue reading Ecclesiastes 4
There can be no question that Western culture stands on the precipice of an anti-Christian era. Many people, particularly in academia, have already dismissed Christianity as a nonsense philosophy that is dangerous to democracy. Incorrect assumptions abound, particularly regarding Jesus and the gospel. The assumptions are sometimes based in how people in the Church act… Continue reading Why grace as default?
Defaulting to Grace 