Looking for a Discipleship Pathway? Check Out John 1.
Have you ever pondered the thought, “If Jesus started a discipleship plan, what would it look like?” Now, if you have been in ministry long enough, I am sure that at some point the question of how to do discipleship has arisen. Whether from local members, board members, or even new believers, the question of […]
Who Was Barnabas in the Bible? Reflections on Being a Man of Encouragement
“A personal relationship with Jesus Christ” has been a popular catchphrase in Western Christian circles for over a century. Theologically, there is merit in the phrase as we all must stand before God personally and cannot secure our salvation through the faith of others or our religious law keeping. We all must decide, on our […]
The Book of Revelation Explained Simply
Do you ever like to experience the thrill of a good scare? For some of us growing up, that was what the book of Revelation was for. Perhaps as a kid, there were times you would be glancing through a Bible, and then—after checking to see if anyone was watching—you’d quickly flip to the end […]
Sermon on the Mount: What Is Love in Christianity?
What is love in Christianity? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us about the love God has for us and we are called to have for each other. If you made a list of “The Top 10 Greek Words Normal Churchgoers Know,” agape would be on that list. It’s the word Jesus uses […]
Good News for the City
We know that gospel means good news, but what does that mean? The gospel has too often been reduced, personalized, and spiritualized so that it’s merely about acknowledging sin, accepting Christ, and securing a spot in heaven. This is tidy; but it’s not easily found in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Paul focuses in on a different […]
Powerless Authority: A Retelling of the Jesus-Pilate Dialogues
Drugged with sleep, Pontius didn’t stir at his servant’s words: “Sir, Caiaphas and his priests are here to see you.” “I don’t care,” he snarled from the corner of his mouth. “Tell them to come back later.” “No, it can’t wait, sir. They have a prisoner they want crucified and buried before sundown.” Pilate replied […]
Discipling Lost People into Salvation
“Metanoesein kai pistos emoi genesesthai!” These were the words of Flavius Josephus to a group of Jewish rebels in 66 A.D., commanding them to abandon their current course of action and to instead come under His command and direction. In English, we recognize His words as, “Repent and believe in me!” To the Christian, this is reminiscent […]
Four Rules for Christian Friendship
We know integrity when we’re around it, but what does the word “integrity” actually mean? It’s got the same root word as the one found in “integrate,” “integrated,” and “integral.” The idea is wholeness. It’s bringing the parts together into one whole. So, what would a friend with integrity be like? A friend with integrity […]
