Re-envisioning the Manger: 7 Common Misconceptions about the Nativity of Jesus
A few fun facts about the ancient world and the birth of Jesus. 1. Mary wasn’t necessarily about to give birth any moment on her way to Bethlehem. The classic image of Mary riding on a donkey about 11 months pregnant probably wasn’t the case. Luke 2:4-6 – “4 So Joseph also went up from the […]
Getting to Know Jesus
More and more I feel the desire to get to know Jesus better. I have known about Him my whole life. I committed my life to being a disciple of Jesus years ago. I remember him every week around the Lord’s table. My desire to get to know Jesus only grows. I want his thoughts […]
Is This The Most Faith-Full Moment in Jesus’ Ministry?
When you say John 4 your first thought probably goes the woman at the well. There is another story in that chapter that I find one of the most moving and faith-full moments in the Gospels. I don’t know that I need to get into the business of comparing people’s faith. That just doesn’t seem […]
The Holy Spirit’s Role in Jesus’ Miracles
Throughout scripture the Holy Spirit has enabled people to do amazing things. The Spirit empowered several of the judges to do the mighty things God called them to do (Samson and Gideon to name a few). The Holy Spirit came on Saul and enabled him to prophesy (1 Sam 10:6-10). The Holy Spirit enabled the […]
Sermon on the Mount: Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets
In Jesus’ day the phrase Law and Prophets was shorthand for their Bible which we call the Old Testament. The Law included Genesis-Deuteronomy. The prophets included the historical books (Joshua-Esther) and the prophets as we know them (Isaiah-Malachi). What is not included specifically in that phrase are the wisdom and poetry books. There are a […]
Sermon on the Mount – Salt and Light
Jesus starts the sermon on the mount with some lessons on being instead of lessons on doing. Blessed are the…You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world. The apostle Paul picked up this same approach in several of his letters, reminding people of who they are before telling them […]
The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes Part 2
Last Sunday I spent some time unpacking the meaning and application of Jesus’ beatitudes in the sermon on the mount. When you have a moment give it a listen. I believe you will be blessed and encouraged as you listen to just how much God loves you.
The Sermon on the Mount – Beatitudes
The greatest sermon ever preached actually did end with an invitation. The parable of the wise and foolish builders closes the sermon and invites the hearers to participate in the kind of life Jesus described in the sermon. That is how the sermon ends. How does the sermon begin? It doesn’t start with a list […]
Jesus Came Proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom – What is the Gospel?
We have been following through the ministry of Jesus and are just now only in the very beginning stages. I have written an article on the beginning of Jesus’ ministry over at Wineskins that will serve as the next post in this series. You can read it here. Jesus Came Proclaiming the Gospel of the […]
Striking Parallels Between Jesus’ & His Disciples’ Ministry in Matthew
I am working through the Gospels in the Sunday morning sermons right now because I believe Jesus is to be our single, solitary focus and that everything else must find its place around him. We have been through his birth, his baptism and his temptation. At this point in the Gospels, Jesus launches into his […]