Revelation Reveals Jesus
April 23, 2020
If your reading of Revelation doesn’t reveal the same Jesus you know from the four Gospels, then start again. You’re misreading it. … More Revelation Reveals Jesus
Category: Bible Commentary
Last Words 4: Honest to God
April 10, 2020
In his cry of desperation tinged with fear, pain and even some anger, Jesus gave us all permission to express our deepest feelings before God. … More Last Words 4: Honest to God
Daily Spark: “Carry Each Other” (Jeremy)
March 30, 2020
How can we creatively and compassionately carry one another in times of need? … More Daily Spark: “Carry Each Other” (Jeremy)
Quarantine Letters: Get A Grip!
March 24, 2020
As the COVID-19 virus is spreads across our land and people practice social distancing, I’m reading about how the news of Jesus’ healing power spread so rapidly across Galilee, forcing Jesus to seek some social distance from the crushing crowds! … More Quarantine Letters: Get A Grip!
Daily Spark: “Breathe Peace” (Jeremy)
March 21, 2020
Jesus wants to breathe peace into our hearts and homes, so we can exhale worry and fear. … More Daily Spark: “Breathe Peace” (Jeremy)
Quarantine Letters: Peter’s Challenge
March 20, 2020
This spreading virus will reveal a lot about our national infrastructure, the strength of our healthcare system, the resilience of our economy, and the character and strength of our government leaders. Yet, for Christians, it will reveal just the “stuff” of which our faith is made. … More Quarantine Letters: Peter’s Challenge
When Pigs Fly: 7 Words & 7 Miles
March 10, 2020
Standing there by the shore, the ancient breeze tickling the back of my neck, I pointed to the other side. Seven words got them into the boat and seven miles got them across the sea to the heart of Jesus’ mission to save a life hanging in the balance. … More When Pigs Fly: 7 Words & 7 Miles
The Feast is Ready! Come and Get it!
January 28, 2020
“Every wise teacher trained in the kingdom is like the homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new and old things” (Matt 13:52). Jesus warned against trying to pour new wine into old wineskins—a constant warning to Christians and church leaders down through the ages not to get too attached to our ministry models … More The Feast is Ready! Come and Get it!
A ‘Set Apart’ People in a Partisan Culture
December 21, 2019
To all God’s beloved living in the United States today, Paul would write urging us, like the church in ancient Rome, to be a set-apart people, setting up little beachheads of Christ’s eternal kingdom right here and now in the swamp of partisan politics and idolatrous nationalistic sentiment. … More A ‘Set Apart’ People in a Partisan Culture
A Christmas Prayer (Isaiah 9:6)
December 18, 2019
Do you struggle to pray? Does your mind drift and wander off? Let’s turn one of the most familiar Scriptures of the Christmas season into a prayer. … More A Christmas Prayer (Isaiah 9:6)
Christ Our Champion (Mike Fox)
December 11, 2019
Sometimes we need the advice of a wise and trusted counselor, sometimes the comforting arms of a loving father, sometimes the stability from a benevolent leader and sometimes we need the protection of a strong champion. This week we will look at the title “Mighty God”. … More Christ Our Champion (Mike Fox)
Junk Drawer Spirituality (Huddle Qs)
December 2, 2019
We shove all these disappointments and confusions into a spiritual junk drawer – we don’t know where else to put them. We tell ourselves, “I’ll deal with it later.” … More Junk Drawer Spirituality (Huddle Qs)
Why ‘God-with-Us’ Seems Far Away
December 1, 2019
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Andy Williams sings in the background while we scrap and scramble about, trying to hold ourselves together and not lose our minds in all the wonderful-ness. While many are weighed down by the external busyness of the season, I want to speak to those of us who … More Why ‘God-with-Us’ Seems Far Away
Your True Name (Skye Jethani)
November 24, 2019
Today most names are chosen based on a parent’s preference or popularity. But in the ancient world, a person’s name was believed to be the essence of their identity. … More Your True Name (Skye Jethani)
The 21st Century Areopagus
November 20, 2019
People are being shaped and “discipled” far more effectively by the secular media they consume all week long than by any Sunday sermon they might hear twice a month. … More The 21st Century Areopagus
Apostle Paul at Starbucks
November 15, 2019
You know you’ve successfully launched a social revolution when even non-coffee drinkers like me are regularly heard saying, “Hey, wanna grab coffee this week?” … More Apostle Paul at Starbucks
The Writing is on the Wall
November 13, 2019
While other Jewish teachers were content to spend their time teaching in the synagogue, here is Paul sipping coffee at the ancient equivalent of a Starbucks in the ancient equivalent of Time Square in the ancient equivalent of New York City. … More The Writing is on the Wall
We’re Not In Mayberry Anymore
November 12, 2019
While most churches are trying to attract people to their Sunday services, where are the churches finding new ways to engage spiritual seekers where they are? … More We’re Not In Mayberry Anymore
Mission Begins with a Broken Heart
November 10, 2019
Twenty-first century America is rampant with every conceivable form of idolatry and ripe for a kingdom harvest. But ‘motive’ is monumental for every missional endeavor. Paul shows us that all ministry should begin with a broken heart.
Job’s Digital Footprint
November 6, 2019
On Facebook and Instagram, we’re voluntarily inscribing the details of our lives in a book for the whole world to read. We’re leaving digital footprints in the social media sand that will someday, when we’re gone, reveal a lot about who we were and the kind of life we led. … More Job’s Digital Footprint
Bread on the Waters
November 5, 2019
A sermon I gave at a beachside service this summer as we prepared to receive holy communion. “Cast your bread upon the waters and you will get it back in a few days. Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2) The traditional … More Bread on the Waters
The Journey Home
November 1, 2019
Wise people have observed that we spend the first half of life living out the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14–30), investing our time, talent and treasures in hopes of yielding a satisfying return that benefits ourselves and the greater good. This is largely an outward project of the Ego, as we try to prove … More The Journey Home
A New Vantage Point
October 29, 2019
As a 6′-7″ tall dude, I’ve had a hard time relating to Zacchaeus, the “wee little man” who couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd. In a crowd of people, I am the “tree” that many are trying to see around! … More A New Vantage Point
One Body, Many Ethnic Parts
October 26, 2019
Anyone interested in a sample of my academic work, here’s a full essay on race and ethnicity in the ancient world and today. (I shared a few sections a few weeks back.) Dr. Dennis Edwards said of it, “This is great, dare I say prophetic!” Unfortunately, the formatting and footnotes did not transfer to the … More One Body, Many Ethnic Parts
A Parable Retold
October 23, 2019
Here’s a retelling of a parable through the lenses of the Enneagram. Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in their False Self, thinking they were the better personality Type and regarded other Enneagram Types with contempt: “Two different personality types went up to the temple to pray, one a self-righteous Type One and … More A Parable Retold
Kingdom Harbor 