My heart breaks for our country and world today. Racial inequality, deep seated mistrust, increasing violence and boiling hatred fill our headlines daily. I write this in the aftermath of the horrific white nationalist rally and car crash in Charlottesville. Followers of Jesus must denounce such evils clearly and in the strongest terms. (Read statement from … More Ekklesia: A Radical Social Experiment
Jesus’ parables, in the words of my teacher Scot McKnight, invite hearers to “imagine a world like this…” Like a good novel or film, you get swept up into another world for a moment and when its over you’re dropped back into our world pondering what you just saw, heard, experienced or imagined. Jesus’ parables fire … More Imagine a World: Grateful Stewards (Matt 21:33-40)
This is from a Bible Study series I wrote called Christ Encounters exploring some of the most well-known encounters with Christ in the Gospels. Each study provides (1) initial observations/questions, (2) interpretation & exegesis, and (3) practical life application questions. 27Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked … More Christ Encounter #5: Who am I Really?
I’m reposting this in light of recent conversation in our Heaven LifeCourse about the nature of heaven and hell, freedom of choice, being ‘given over’ to the destructive consequences of sin, and how we are daily becoming creatures more fit for heaven and hell. -JB _________ This post is in memory of Robin Williams and a … More Cabin 16: The Neighbor’s Well
“Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will reap a crop of my love; plow the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord. HOSEA 10:12 Jesus spent his entire ministry teaching one main message: Open your eyes and see a new way of being human available to … More Going Green with Jesus
I’ve been studying the raising of Lazarus recently. I love how a closer examination of a very familiar passage can reveal new spiritual truths. Here are a few little insights I’ve gleaned. First, this story is full of deep emotions and coated with tears, grief, loss and longing. Just think of the last funeral visitation you … More Move the Stone, Come Out & Be Unwrapped
The Christian life is filled with counterintuitive paradoxical truths. One of my favorites is Jesus’ strange warning that “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33). On the surface this is ludicrous. I mean the last time I lost $10 I was poorer and … More Re-Born Identity: “Kingdom Exchange Principle”
A repost from 2014. I completely broke down during worship recently. I was overcome with emotion — kind of out of the blue. I was speaking and just lost it and could not compose myself. If you were there, you know how long I wept up front… (Aaaaaawkward.) When I finally pulled myself together I … More Just 33 Years
During Advent in 2013 we examined Psalm 23 in a sermon series entitled Who’s Your Shepherd? It remains one of my favorite series we’ve done to date. I contended that when we let God be the guide, or shepherd, directing our lives and influencing our decisions, He leads us to green pastures of the “abundant […]
This academic essay explores the character of Christ’s Second Coming in light of the Jesus-shaped theology of Jurgen Moltmann. Introduction For most of Christian history, the doctrine of the parousia of Christ (his “coming” or “effective presence”, i.e., Second Coming) in glory and judgment has been neglected and pushed to the margins of Christian theology and … More Moltmann & the Parousia: Who Exactly is Coming Again?
During Advent in 2013 we examined Psalm 23 in a sermon series entitled Who’s Your Shepherd? It remains one of my favorite series we’ve done to date. I contended that when we let God be the guide, or shepherd, directing our lives and influencing our decisions, He leads us to green pastures of the “abundant … More Who’s Your Shepherd? (1)
One reason I resisted being a “pastor” for so long was all the stereotypes I had in my head for what pastors are supposed to be like. My image always looked something like Mr. Rogers in a sweater and khakis. Warm, personable, emotionally steady, gentle and never, EVER moody. I don’t know where I picked … More Hope for Moody Pastors (Mark 3:3-6)
A couple summers ago, I wrote about an imaginative trip to The Father’s Cabin to spend the weekend with Jesus. I wrote out of desperation, from a spiritually dry place, in hopes that the creative writing process would force me into a real conversation with Jesus. It worked! My soul was nourished as I spent time chatting … More Cabin 18: Frozen Waters
This Sunday I have the honor of preaching a message on one of the most significant truths and experiences in all the universe: God’s supernatural work of New Birth in the human heart. “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again/from above” (John 3:3). How do you talk about something … More Nic @ Night 4: Talking about “New Birth”
Nicodemus was very religious. And this was a major obstacle preventing him from receiving the teaching and understanding the message of Jesus. Here’s a wonderful contrast between RELIGION and THE GOSPEL by Tim Keller: RELIGION: I obey, therefore I’m accepted. THE GOSPEL: I’m accepted, therefore I obey. RELIGION: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity. THE GOSPEL: Motivation is … More Nic @ Night 3: Religion vs. Gospel
In the OT we find “Wisdom” personified as a Lady calling out on the street corners, trying to get a hearing in order to lead people onto paths of righteousness. We can heed her warnings and find “the good life”; or we can ignore her and find ourselves on the path to ruin and folly. … … More Jesus: Wisdom From God
I just updated this chapter, greatly expanding it. Enjoy! By the time the morning clouds were burned away by the midday sun, I was good and hungry for lunch. Jesus suggested we head to the lake to catch our meal. “Jesus, I’m no fisherman, but my brother is a pro and he’s told me the fish bite best … More Cabin 17: Row, Row Your Boat
I found this invitation to pursue WISDOM in our relationships as very timely in light of our current national situation. I hope to do a sermon series on Biblical Wisdom very soon! Henderson’s new book on this is called The Prayer the God Loves to Answer: Accessing Christ’s Wisdom to Address Your Greatest Needs. Enjoy! -JB We’ve … More Wisdom That Revolutionizes Relationships (Daniel Henderson)
As the rain let up and the sun returned, Jesus led me around the cabin where we entered a gated path with a sign over it that read: “LET ME SING FOR MY BELOVED MY LOVE SONG CONCERNING HIS VINEYARD.” -Isaiah 5:1 The path weaved to and fro through what must be the Father’s gardens. We passed by rows … More Cabin 15: The Father’s Vineyard
Jeremy Berg 