What is the Goal of the Human Life? The Answer May Surprise You
One might think the goal of the human life is to die and go to heaven. To go and get our eternal reward! The goal of the human life is not to die and go to heaven. The goal of the human life is to be like Jesus. One cannot be like Jesus without the […]
What is the “Perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13? It Has Nothing to do with the Completion of the Bible
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (KJV) For as far back as I can remember the popular interpretation of this verse was that the perfect was the completed New Testament. […]
Past, Present and Future Components of the Lord’s Supper & Our Spiritual Formation
Past “This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.” – Exodus 12:14 “and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do […]
God Doesn’t Give Us More Than We Can Handle?
I hear this from time to time and I see that for some people it is a faith builder while for others it is a faith destroyer. For the faith builder this statement is a reminder that it is all going to be alright because God must certainly think they can handle whatever comes their […]
Complete agreement of word, mind and thought in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Is this entirely possible? “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10 I often […]
The Power of God’s Possession
One of the things that has been really helpful to me over the last few years has been the little word “of.” When you use that word you are talking about belonging. If something or someone is “of” something or someone…then it belongs to them. That little word of is in the phrase/name “Church of […]
Reconciliation Gone Wrong: The Mistake of Seeing Ourselves as the Reconciler
I shared a story over at Wineskins today that I think is helpful in understanding the core of reconciliation. Reconciliation is all about God and His purposes. We are merely tools in His hands. Reconciliation Gone Wrong: The Mistake of Seeing Ourselves as the Reconciler
Bio Sketch of James the Brother of Jesus
In studying for a class on the book of James I ran down some information on the author, James the half-brother of Jesus that I found extremely helpful in understanding the letter itself. James is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Jacob. His mother was Mary (Mark 6:3), his half brother was Jesus […]
Reading the Bible Contextually: Pay Attention to the Whole Point
When we read Paul’s letters they are meticulously crafted and full of rhetoric (the art of making a persuasive argument). There have been entire commentaries devoted to unpacking the rhetoric of the New Testament documents and rightfully so…it is how they made their case in those days. The obstacle we face today is that the […]
1 Corinthians 13 Young Adult Remix
If you want to reach 20 Somethings, here is the key – Love them and let them know it. You may not have all the “right” programs (as if there is a giant cookie cutter you can press into your congregation and make it work). Your worship may not be flashy. Your members may be […]