Bible Thoughts
-
CrossWay On Purpose – Session 2
Last night we held the second session of our church-wide Bible study, CrossWay On Purpose. Attendance was up, as we had 16 people. We got through more Bible passages than last week–all the way through the Gospels. We started out by passing around some cookbooks that I brought from home. Right away people noticed how Continue reading
-
Major Props to My Homies
On Sunday we had a guest preacher, Butch Marvin, from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. He’s been ministering here for over a year, coming down to preach once a month. Carolyn and I had the privelege of having breakfast on Sunday morning with Butch and his wife, Mary. He’s a really neat guy, and it’s uncanny Continue reading
-
More On Love & Leadership
Every church is called to love. This particular congregation, I’m convinced, has a special calling to excel at love. There are several vital love relationships to consider: God’s love for us. Our love for God. Our love for others in the Church. God’s love for others in the Church. Our love for those outside the Continue reading
-
End of Self, Beginning of God
It seems like every preacher has a story about the time God changed up the sermon at the last minute. I always hoped it would never happen to me. It did–my first Sunday at my new post. All week long I’d had a stinky attitude. All sorts of little things were going wrong, and the Continue reading
-
The Apostles Who Didn’t Believe in Jesus
In the series that we’re finishing up at SonRise tomorrow, called “Just Walk Across the Room,” one of the things we’ve heard about frequently is that most people hear the Gospel a number of times before they cross the line of belief. Most Christians hear about salvation through Jesus Christ somewhere around a dozen times Continue reading
-
Risky Business
Reading the Bible in a different translation than you’re used to can really help to round out your understanding of a passage. This happened for me this week as I was reading Mark 15:43 in the New Living Translation. This passage tells us how after Jesus had died on the cross, a man from Arimathea Continue reading
-
Jesus Christ and the DSM-IV
People couldn’t decide if Jesus was insane or possessed. In Mark 3:21, His own family claimed, “He’s out of His mind”! But the Pharisees argued, “He’s possessed by Satan, the prince of demons.” Not exactly a flattering argument. How ’bout a third possibility: Maybe He’s the Son of God? I have to wonder about Mary’s Continue reading
-
Mission Miraculous
One of the most unique missions in history was given to the women who first arrived at Jesus’ empty tomb. In Matthew 28:7, an angel instructs these women, “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead.” Jesus’ disciples would die for spreading the message that He rose from the dead. Continue reading
-
Aww…Awe
The past few days I’ve been reading the Gospel of Matthew. The stuff that Jesus’ disciples witnessed during their brief years with Him must have been overwhelming. I mean, think about it–if I saw someone give sight to a blind guy, or lay the smackdown on a bunch of religious big shots right in the Continue reading
-
What Delights God
Recently I was reading Micah and hit a verse that hit me back. In Micah 7:18, the prophet says to God, “You will not stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing unfailing love.” What delights me? Lots of things: Mexican food, Dr. Pepper, watching a good game of football or baseball Continue reading
Surfing the Inner N8 