Read 1 Peter 2:4-10 … In the book These Things are Written by speaker, instructor, and writer Jack Lewis – received as a gift from a good friend – there was this statement about the role of the Priest as the “man who represents the people to God. He is a cult official who serves … Continue reading The Christian Priest
Romans 12
Is Talent Enough?
Read Rom. 12:3-8 … One of the better known parables told by Jesus is the parable of the Talents. A similar version of this parable occurs in both Matthew and Luke with the major differences being the number of servants and the amount of money given to each. In Luke there are 10 servants each … Continue reading Is Talent Enough?
Metamorphosis
Read Colossians 3:1-17 … Sometimes folks get into a rut and a well-meaning friend might give the unsolicited advice of – “Why don’t you (fill in the blank)? The change will do you good.” While there is value to being in a rut at times: it gives one stability, it makes life more navigable, it … Continue reading Metamorphosis
Don’t Be a Grinch
Read John 14:7-11; Romans 12:1-2 … It’s a very popular movie during the Christmas season. Of all the books in the Dr. Seuss’ catalogue, reported to be more than 60, How the Grinch Stole Christmas typically ends up in the top five. The story has been made into short and long cartoon movies and even … Continue reading Don’t Be a Grinch
Sacrifices
Read Matthew 6:19-21 … Sacrifices were a common part of worship in the OT period – from Job offering sacrifices on behalf of his children as a patriarch (Job 1:5) to the priests of God offering morning and evening sacrifices for the nation of Israel (Exod. 29:38-41; Num. 28:3-8). Sacrifices were an integral part of … Continue reading Sacrifices
Don’t Go to Church
Read Ephesians 5:25-31 … So, hang on … before the tar, feathers, rails, and torches are retrieved from the dark corners of back closets … this is not about not going to Church, but this is about understanding who we are as Christians. Please, by any means possible and with great pleading, I would encourage … Continue reading Don’t Go to Church
God’s Will
Read Ephesians 5:15-21 … In Ephesians 5 Paul begins a section about being an imitator of God. There are some familiar themes: being a person that reflects the sacrificial life that Jesus gave for us; setting aside immorality from our lives; being one that lights the world for God; and being filled with the Spirit. … Continue reading God’s Will
Soul of the World
Read 1 Pet. 2:9-17 … Recently, while reading Early Christians Speak by Everett Ferguson, there was a portion which came from the Epistle to Diognetus. This Epistle is noted to be “an anonymous apology for Christianity of uncertain date but usually placed in the second century.”[i] From the chapter on “Christian Living in the Second … Continue reading Soul of the World
The Scandal of Christianity
Read Ephesians 4:1-6 … One of the things to remember about the early years of the Church – the first century or two – was that the Roman Empire didn’t prohibit Christians from worshipping God; the objection was that the Christians didn’t worship the Roman gods as well. There was the claim by the Christians … Continue reading The Scandal of Christianity
The Higher Law
Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 … In his book The Gagging of God, D. A. Carson reminds us of something the Founding Fathers of the United States recognized. “The Federalist Papers show that limited government was widely understood to be possible only where society was largely constrained by a moral consensus. John Adams went so far … Continue reading The Higher Law
the odd weekend preacher 