Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. Matthew 10:34 This statement seems a bit odd coming from the Prince of Peace, right? After all,… Read More »“I Have Not Come to Bring Peace”
In my podcast Exploring Faith, Pursuing Grace, I asked my listeners to give some thoughts on what I might do an episode on. One of the questions was about elderships. All of the elders I have known and personally served… Read More »Some Thoughts on Elders: Qualifications (1/)
The Stories We Tell How we think about the world around us comes a lot from the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves, others, the universe, and, of course, God. Is there an abundance of good things available to us,… Read More »Old Interpretations Still Influence How You Think
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:15, KJV This… Read More »Always Be Ready to Give an Answer
Here’s a cool one: Remember this and consider; recall it to mind, you transgressors… Isaiah 46:8 God starts off pretty strong here – “you transgressors!” I feel like if I started a sermon calling everyone transgressors, they might not listen,… Read More »Knowing The End from the Beginning
This morning I was reading the second volume of James Wm. McClendon’s systematic theology entitled Doctrine when something dawned on me. It wasn’t really about what I was reading – if it was, I would quote it here – but… Read More »A Church Where Unbelievers Worship God
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8) “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in… Read More »Pretending We have No Sin
Carl said, “Hey I don’t think you should judge me. You know Jesus said, ‘Judge not that ye be not judged.’” Jasmine replied, “Well, Jesus also told us to ‘judge righteous judgment.’” If you’re like me, then you have probably… Read More »Judge Righteous Judgment?
There are times when love takes precedent over traditions, even traditions we deem biblical or scriptural. Jesus talked about this in the following dialogue: At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and… Read More »I Desire Mercy and Not Baptism
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did… Read More »Upon this Rock: Reevaluating Matthew 16:18