A few years ago, I ran into a friend who was going through some tough family times. I asked him if there was anything…
Tag: Gospel of Matthew
Social Media & Holiness
Social media was not helping me love God and my neighbor. This was not contributing to my holiness. We can’t live in a way that tears down fellow humans.
Doubts & the Mission of Jesus
Jesus saw them. He sent them. They were still part of his team, his flock, his people. Their doubts did not exclude them from the mission.
Aaron Perry ~ What a Baby Uncovers: The Judgment of Advent
“Advent is not simply an invitation to set our houses in order for his birth. Advent is an urgent opportunity to set our houses in order for Jesus’ return. By taking the opportunity to rightly order our lives, we may anticipate the glorious return of Jesus joyfully.”
Otis T. McMillan ~ Engaging with Today Like Jesus
“Today, patience is one of the greatest gifts we can give others.”
Suzanne Nicholson ~ Which Story Will You Tell?
And the soldiers—the protectors of civil order— decide to bury the truth. They take their bribe and the promise of protection from Pilate’s wrath, and they toe the party line. They protect the power of a broken world.But the women—the ones with little influence, the ones who are least likely to be believed—they run from the empty tomb with great joy. It is only as they are obedient to the angel’s command that Jesus himself appears to them.
Maxie Dunnam ~ Serving Like Jesus
As we practice the disciplines of submission and serving, we are freed from the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way, and we find the freedom to value and serve others.
Jackson Lashier ~ The Story of Two Mountains: A Transfiguration Meditation
In this mysterious moment, known to history as “the Transfiguration,” Jesus reveals to the disciples his true nature. And to their shock, his true nature is the glory of God shining from his face. Present with the disciples, and beholding the same incredible sight, is Moses, the prophet who had asked on Mt. Sinai to see God’s glory. Only now, on Mt. Tabor, does he get what he hoped for. Only in Jesus does he see God face to face.
Michael Smith ~ Of Pirates and Preserving Grace: Jonah’s Reluctance
He tells the sailors to toss him overboard, because he believes that his God is acting like all the other gods, punishing him and them in the process. After Jonah says, “hurl me into the sea,” something strange happens. The sailors start rowing to dry land. Though it’s easy to skip ahead and assume that they picked him up and tossed him right in – they didn’t. These outsider sailors are acting in a gracious way.
Priscilla Hammond ~ How Church Personalities Reveal Epiphany Living
Churches have personalities, expressed through their organization, Christian education
processes, preaching, and worship. Each can have strengths and challenges, but the diversity is reflective of the differences we see in people, including the
Apostles.
Instead of focusing on which
organizational structure or form of worship we prefer, we need to ask if our church is manifesting Christ to the world.