Jesus Clears the Temple (and What He’ll Do to You Too)
Have you ever seen somebody get really angry who normally doesn’t get angry? It’s a little like, “Oh! Never seen that side of you.” You realize it must be really […]
Was Jesus Jewish? A Summary of the Jewishness of Jesus’ Life and Ministry
Was Jesus Jewish? There are four ways in which Jesus’ life and ministry were thoroughly influenced by his Jewishness. He grew up and lived in a thoroughly Jewish world. His […]
What Was Jesus’ Teaching? Rediscovering Jesus’ Primary Message
It would be a glaring understatement to say that the Church today is in deep crisis. And not just local churches and their leaders—but the whole enterprise of global Christianity. […]
What Is the Kingdom of Heaven?
We see throughout the Gospel of Matthew that the kingdom of God is a major theme in Jesus’ message. Kingdom can be thought of as a word made up of […]
What Prevents Us from Life Transformation?
At a ministry conference recently, I commented that, when measured against the heart of God in the Sermon on the Mount, large segments of American Christianity seem to be going […]
Does Jesus Lower the Bar for Righteousness?
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17, NIV) We tend […]
Take My Yoke Upon You
Living in the world is tiring. From work, to school, to familial duties, to just living life, it can all be so much. The good news is that our God […]
‘Why the Gospel’ by Matthew Bates Book Review
As disciples of Jesus, we believe, obey, and share the gospel. But what is the point of the gospel? Author, theologian, and educator Matthew Bates’s newest book is Why the […]