My friend John Phelps shared a powerful sermonette in Israel that brought many to tears. Standing in the Garden of Gethsemane he said, “This is my first time standing in this place, and yet I’ve been here many times.” He shared wisdom on how to face our own suffering, and now he’s battling brain cancer and practicing what he preached. … More Facing Your Own Gethsemane
Rigid traditions create small boxes with well defined borders. Small boxes define a world where some are in (us) and some are out (the outcast). We see this portrayed in this video; we see this in scripture, and, unfortunately, we see this in the world we live in today. … More Chosen 6 – The Spiritual Toxicity of Fear & Rigidity
We think the kingdom comes by taking responsibility, putting in the blood, sweat and tears, grabbing life (and faith) by the horns. This is life, faith, and ministry under the heavy yoke. This is the pathway to burnout, bitterness, and disillusionment with God and religion. This is doing God’s work without God’s presence and power. … More I Am Nicodemus
“I no longer go by that name.” These are the words out of Mary of Magdala’s mouth as she is stopped by Nicodemus in the street, recently healed from her demonic affliction in episode one. Her healing was set into motion when Jesus called her by her true name, and she threw off her false identity – “Lilith.” The same healing awaits us. … More Chosen 2 – “I No Longer Go By That Name”
What happens when the words about Jesus in the Bible leap off the page and become “living and active” among us? We have a fresh encounter with the real Jesus. This has happened to me this summer, and for millions of viewers around the world through the TV series The Chosen. … More The Chosen: The Sermon Goes Visual this Fall
What message does a father preach at his firstborn’s baptism? Well, if his name is Peter, he loves adventurous sea stories, and desires to be a bold disciple, how about Matthew 14:22-33? … More Waters of Faith: A Baptism Sermon
Today’s episode explores the Exodus and the God of the oppressed in our ongoing series, “Spirit on the Water.” Let’s drop anchor and explore the biblical vision for “social justice.” … More Podcast: “Is the Bible Too Woke For Many Christians?”
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus drew huge crowds. There was an irresistible enigma to him. He is the ultimate charismatic teacher and leader. What is it about Jesus’ teaching and his style of teaching that was so attractive? … More Wise Teaching
If people could open up my mind and peek into my thought-world, they’d find an amusement park full of wild ideas rising and falling like rollercoasters, a hyper-colored circus full of spiritual insights roaming like elephants a under the big tent, and outside the box ministry visions shooting across my mind like clowns out of a cannon. … More A Mustard Seed Future For the Church
Like Jesus, every preacher should have a story of being pressed into a corner and seeing fire in the eyes of an offended congregant after a sermon, unless they are in the ear-tickling business. … More How A Preacher Gets Thrown Off a Cliff Then & Now
“Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” LUKE 15 Just a reminder that I am breathing new life into many old devotionals with my Daily Illumination Audio podcast. It’s a lot of fun to “perform” these old stories in audio format. This past week, for example, I shared this piece on Chasing Lambs. … More Chasing Lambs
Michael Wilkins introduces the rabbinic concept of shimmush which means “attending upon and coming under the personal influence of the teacher and learning from his deportment. “But shimmush itself was a study of Torah,” Wilkins continues, “because the rabbi’s life was to be an embodiment of Torah.” … More Jesus, Shimmush, and the Torah
In our 21st century context where students are primarily focused on the teacher’s content, and the teacher is just a vehicle for delivering “the goods,” we are far from the teacher-centric world of first century Judaism. … More Adherence to the Master
Why is the world so messed up? Where is God in all of this? What role, if any, do Satan, angels and demons play in all this? How do we face evil and suffering in a Christ-centered way? Join us for a 6-week course on “God, Evil, & Spiritual Warfare” kicking off this Sunday! … More 6-Week Course: God, Evil, & Spiritual Warfare
Don’t follow the disciples’ example in this passage and seek Truth in gossip, rumor and conspiracies. Turn to the source of Truth. Turn to Christ. … More Who Is This Man?
This Easter we explore Resurrection through the lenses of the Jonah story and hear a sermon we’ll not soon forget, “Resurrection Vomit.” … More WATCH: “Resurrection Vomit” (Easter 2021)
Like Jonah’s experience in the belly, the past year can be summed up as “Dark, Cramped, & Stinky.” This Good Friday let us join Jonah in the belly of the fish, to imaginatively enter into his experience and ponder his prayer from the depths. And anticipate Resurrection! … More Dark, Cramped, & Stinky (Good Friday Vigil)
I’m excited to release today a new audio dramatization of my “Tale of the Cursed Fig Tree.” What if the fig tree that Jesus cursed could tell his side of the story? This is an imaginative retelling of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna!” during his last week, and how his fate … More The Tale of the Cursed Fig Tree (Audio Drama)
Her life was forever changed the night the Living Waters came looking for her in a lonely laundromat on the wrong side of the tracks in the pouring rain at midnight. … More The Woman at the Laundromat
In the midst of all the “alternative facts” and “fake news” and outrageous conspiracy theories being proffered, I wanted to cut through all the crap and simplify things for those who claim to follow Jesus. … More Truth is a Slippery Thing
This week we observe Epiphany and commemorate the Baptism of the Lord with a message on the song God placed in our heart at our own baptism, and the need for “godparent” figures in our lives (friends, mentors, pastors, parents) who will remind us of the song when we forget or lose our way. … More WATCH: God’s Song in Your Heart
Tonight we watch the clock tick-tock until we turn, turn, turn the page to a New Year and lay to rest a difficult one! I was inspired to adapt Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 made memorable by the 60’s hippy band “The Byrds.” Here’s my remix for Kingdom disciples. … More ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ – A Kingdom Remix
This Christmas we need more than a sermon, more than words, more than a heart-warming thought that will dissipate by Christmas morning. We need the gift of Christ’s peace to fill our hearts—not a sentimental idea of peace, but a lived and deeply felt reality of Christ’s abiding presence. … More Blessed is the Prince of Peacemakers
While the “Most Likely To Succeed” badge may come with a superstitious curse attached, the “Class Mooch” has a very real cultural curse attached to it. In America we celebrate self-made successful people, and look down on the moochers who are dependent on others. What do we make of Jesus’s 3rd Beatitude that seems to promise the farm to the underachieving brother? … More Blessed are the Underachievers
Beneath the surface, sometimes even hidden from our own awareness, may lurk a more manipulative intent behind our gratitude. The believer sometimes thinks — If I offer these prayers, if I give these sacrifices, and if I show my gratitude for past blessings, then God will bless me again. … More Pure Thanksgiving (Skye Jethani)
Kingdom Harbor 