THE STORY OF JESUS: Philippians 1-2 “What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12) Life can be hard, and for many people life is too hard. Tragedy and disappointment, injustice and cruelty, broken promises and relationships. It might lead some to say, “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) Paul does not…
Author: Norm
Jesus greater than our views on baptism!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 10:44-48 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.” (Acts 10:47) I have a very simple view on the symbol of baptism. Grace is not bound to the symbol, as we see here in this story. There’s nothing supernatural about the water, it is not ‘holy…
Changing how I think of others?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 10:23-43 “God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.” (Acts 10:28) Peter is acting on what God has shown him. Cornelius also acted on what God showed him. What has God shown us, and are we acting on it? Do we treat some people as clean, and…
New testament believers!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 10:9-23a “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:15) This story challenges the way we read the bible today. The bible contains an old covenant (or testament), and a new. In the old covenant, God declared certain animals clean or unclean (Leviticus 11). Now in this vision, God tells…
A heart like Cornelius!?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 10:1-8 “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”(Acts 10:5) Cornelius was not a Jew, but he did believe that there was only one God. He was a Roman centurion, but he was also a humble, generous man. His understanding of God led him…
Different tribes, one family!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 133 “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1) In what follows Genesis 3, we see the breakdown of God’s family. From the division between Adam and Eve, their children, to the division of Babel. Family breakdown, separating into like-minded tribes that attack others. God sent…
Called to better living!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ephesians 4-6 “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) Paul has just described (ch.1-3) the amazing calling we have received. Saved by grace, and called by grace, we are to live by grace as well. In these chapters Paul applies grace to all aspects of life. How we…
Let the truth sink in!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Ephesians 1-3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Ephesians 1:3) Paul can’t seem to praise God enough, he repeats himself in many ways. God is the source of every spiritual blessing, and Jesus is the means. Through Jesus we are forgiven, reconciled, restored and blessed. This blessing…
Simple faith, hope and love!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 9:32-43 “Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.’” (Acts 9:40) I have prayed for a dead person to come back to life… he didn’t. How do we read this story (and others like it) today? ‘That was then, Jesus doesn’t do that anymore…’ ‘I’m doing it wrong, I need…
To kneel and to jump at the same time!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 9:19b-31 “Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 9:31) I love the combination of ideas in this verse: fear and encouragement. This is the difference that knowing Jesus makes. He shows us that God is still sovereign and holy and mighty. But He infuses us…