SCRIPTURE: Genesis 45 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’ (Mark 14:35-36). Jesus is confident in the greatness and the…
Author: Norm
greater love
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 44 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Judah exhibits a sacrificial love here. He is essentially offering himself to ‘hell’, because that is what prison on Egypt would have been. For the sake of his father and his brother, he is willing…
selling ‘church’ to be church?
Hiam Shatir may look like your average pastor, but he’s not acting like one. In a nation filled with expensive mega-church buildings popping up, Hiam instead chose to sell his mega-church, Crestview Community Church, and attempt to live into what he says is the call to “be the church.” And although many doubt him, Hiam…
spiritual heart burn
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 43 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with…
I need Jesus!
Yesterday I encouraged the crossroads community to spend some time reflecting on the 5 qualities of a Jesus-follower (and of a dynamic church). I decided I should probably do this for myself. The first and foundational quality needed to be a disciple is… A deep awareness of our need for Jesus. Do I sense that I…
vintage theological comedy
How about a little theological comedy. Check out this parody of an Abbott and Costello routine. These are great clips from belairdrama, part of the Bel Air Presbyterian Church, LA California (and a great source of video clips for sermons). Enjoy!
our brother in disguise
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 42 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:40) Jesus explain that on judgment day, we will be judged by how we responded to Him as He was invisibly…
invisible hand
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 41 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. (John 19:11) In this pivotal stage of history when Obama is president-elect of the United States, we are reminded that behind what we see, there is God. God is the invisible hand guiding…
Jesus, the epicenter
Its cool when the Lord speaks to something I’ve been reflecting on. After writing “Jesus-shaped preaching”, I read this paragraph from Alan Hirsch’s “The Forgotten Ways”: I wish to briefly restate here what seems to be an obvious fact, but one that is often overlooked. For authentic missional Christianity, Jesus the Messiah plays an…
where He wants me to be
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 40 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” (Mark 5:18-29) Where would you be right now if…