Originally posted on Kingdom Harbor:
I’m reposting this article as we begin our series on the Sermon on the Mount. Every time I go back to this Kingdom Manifesto, I’m reminded by how easily Christians today boil Christianity down to private piety, overlooking the fact that Jesus calls his followers, the church, to be a…
“God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. . . . The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you’re … More Gospeling in Corinth 4: God-Taught
1-2You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. 3-5I was unsure of … More Gospeling in Corinth 3: God-Empowered
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose … More Gospeling in Corinth 2: God-Chosen
Peter shares the purpose of his letter in 5:12 to encourage believers to “stand firm in the true grace of God.” The letter aims to ground us in a rock-solid faith that can withstand the trials that come our way, and to let God’s grace shape the way we interact with others as we live out … More Faith Proved Genuine (1 Peter 1:3-9)
I’m reposting a short series of reflections on Paul’s ministry in the pagan metropolis of Corinth and how he went about proclaiming the gospel and making disciples in a very unbelieving culture. The apostle Paul writes (using The Message paraphrase): “The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent … More Gospeling in Corinth 1: God-Logic
You can’t even get through one verse in 1 Peter before coming across an enormously controversial theological issue: divine election and foreknowledge. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect…who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…” I didn’t even try to wade into these choppy waters in my sermon this past … More God’s Chosen ‘Elect’? (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Radical, unquestioning obedience to God is not in vogue in the church today. We’ve moved beyond that bossy God of the Old Testament, preferring the more gentle, easy-going Jesus who fits conveniently in our own hearts. We prefer t-shirts that say “Jesus is my homeboy” over ones that say “Jesus is my master.” Muslims approach … More Recovering Obedience at the Heart of Discipleship
Originally posted on Kingdom Harbor:
Our first born is named Peter. This means, among other things, that we’ve been given many copies of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit books. I can’t count how many times I’ve read the tale of that fluffy, nosey rabbit sneaking into Farmer McGregor’s garden only to steal a carrot and barely…
A repost from 2009. -JB This is a thought experiment. Please be gracious and try to understand my line of thinking and let me know if there’s some validity to it. Please also hear what I am NOT saying. I have long been bothered by a common critique or complaint people have after listening to a … More The Dark Side of Personal Application
Jeremy begins a new study series through the First Letter of Peter. Join us for the adventure! … More Strangers in a Foreign Land (1 Peter 1:1-2)
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved….” (Eph. 2:4-5). I have trouble finishing an entire piece of french silk or pecan pie. Not because I don’t like it enough. … More EPHESIANS 11: A Truth Too Rich to Swallow
It’s easy to get obsessed with numbers in our world. The more the merrier. The bigger the better. A packed room makes a fun party, and a poor turnout has us asking, “What’s wrong?” Make no mistake about it, numbers do matter. Especially when it concerns the spreading of the gospel and reaching people for … More Counting on God: Kingdom Mathematics
Repost from 2010. -JB The biggest things I’ve done for the Kingdom have usually looked pitifully small by the world’s standards. The most heroic acts of faithfulness have usually looked like stupid acts of irrelevance to the watching world. Following Jesus and investing your life in Kingdom impacting efforts may sometimes cost you. Is the … More With Jesus Small is Really Big
I wrote this blessing for an outstanding young Christian graduate and musician friend. But it is a good challenge to all. -JB Dear young Christian graduate, As you graduate from high school and prepare for the chapter of your life (“adulthood”), allow me to offer this blessing and challenge. From one musician to another, we … More A Graduate Blessing: Live A Love Song
When the church bells ring on Sunday morning, July 31, you’ll find several local church sanctuaries empty. But this doesn’t mean they won’t be worshiping. “Most Sundays we worship God with words and music,” says Pastor Meg Newswanger of First Presbyterian in Maple Plain. “On July 31 we will worship God with our hands and … More Sunday2Serve: The Church has Left the Building!
Light of lights! All gloom dispelling, Thou didst come to make thy dwelling Here within our world of sight. Lord, in pity and in power, Thou didst in our darkest hour Rend the clouds and how thy light. Praise to thee in earth and heaven Now and evermore be given, Christ, who art our sun … More Quotables: St. Thomas Aquinas
Martin Luff, the Deliberate Disciple (a great blog I recommend!), pointed out this great article by David Fitch about finding space in our busy lives to meet with God. This is especially timely for this season of Advent: Recently, I was meeting in the corner booth (of the local McDonald’s) with the men in my … More Bore the Hell out of ’em this Christmas
We’ve all heard the song “Three Blind Mice,” but I hear the tune of “Two Blind Disciples” more often these days. Max Lucado sets the scene: “Were the scene not so common it would be comical. Two heavy-hearted disciples slouching their way home to Emmaus. By the slump in their shoulders, you’d never know today was Resurrection Sunday. By … More Two Blind Disciples
I’ve recently rediscovered the powerful grace-centered ministry of the late Brennan Manning who passed away a couple years ago. What a life, what a story, what a message he brought to so many people in need of an accurate image of the true God revealed in Jesus, and to the many in need of an … More Brennan Manning & Scandalous Grace
This past week we hosted an appreciation event for all our MainStreet supporters. We shared testimonies and celebrated all the lives impacted at MainStreet the past few years. Here’s some videos giving a glimpse of what is happening at MainStreet. So grateful for this beautiful church!
This post by Pastor Daniel Henderson struck a chord with me this week. I read it a couple days after confessing to my congregation a deep desire to lead them into the kind of discipleship that would lead to “abiding in Him”, connected to the vine, and really producing fruit. It seems like the main … More Just “Good Enough”? (by Daniel Henderson)
“I think a lot of us need to forget about God’s will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit’s leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which … More QUOTABLES: Francis Chan
Over 5 Years ago I sat on this rock feeling extremely lonely and scared. God called Keri and I to start a church in Mound, and I often came to pour out my doubts to the LORD in prayer on this rock. Then one night I heard God speak Matthew 16 directly to me, “Jeremy, upon … More On Christ the Solid Rock We Stand
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s courage and determination and rootedness in Scripture is one of the reasons I didn’t give up during the difficult times in starting a new church. I was depleted and discouraged and lonely above all. I found a true friend and hero in Bonhoeffer. I read a couple biographies during this time and was … More QUOTABLES: Dietrich Bonhoeffer – 12 Essential Quotes
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