THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 12:1-11 “Herod had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.” (Acts 12:2) This story is about how the Lord miraculously rescues Peter from prison. But what I notice is how James is NOT miraculously rescued. James and John had asked to sit at Jesus’s right hand in His…
Scattered witnesses!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 11:19-30 “Those who had been scattered… began to speak to the Greeks also” (Acts 11:19-20) God has made us to be His voice, His hands, His feet. When humanity sinned, He has been sending people as messengers to call us back. But God’s messengers are not always eager or willing (like Jonah)….
Very helpful videos!
This coming Sunday I am speaking on Genesis 38, the sad story of Tamar. I have found the “Read Scripture” videos from Bible Project very helpful for understand the bible. Watch these videos if you want to get a sense of how the story of Genesis 38 fits into the rest of the book, and the rest…
Even to… THEM!?!?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 11:1-18 “Even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18) Can you think of someone that you would be surprised if they repented? Someone so immoral, so impossibly stubborn or so different? What stands out for me here is the words ‘God has granted repentance’. Literally ‘given’, God…
Praise God on the night shift!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 134 “Servants who minister by night in the house of the Lord!” (Psalm 134:1) This psalm urges the priests not to stop working in the night shift. When no one is around, or no one is looking, or things are dark and scary. In those times too, praise the Lord and anticipate…
To know Jesus like THIS!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Philippians 3-4 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) As far as his worldly situation and struggles, Paul is content. He doesn’t worry himself about food or money or possessions or being in prison. But when it comes to desire for God’s best and blessing, he is driven. “I…
Hope and joy… whatever happens!
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…
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…