Maybe it sounds like a strange suggestion, but I think that when we talk about Jesus we should do it more frequently in the present tense. Instead of always saying that “Jesus said” such-and-such, why not say that “Jesus says” such-and-such. For example, Jesus says that we should love our enemies. Jesus says that we … Continue reading Speaking about Jesus in the present tense
word of God
Un-broken promises
Hebrews 6:18 says: “it is impossible for God to lie…” We sometimes say that “all things are possible with God.” As we should. After all, Jesus said it in Matthew 19:26! When we say that we need to remember the kinds of things we’re talking about: good things which are consistent with his character. They … Continue reading Un-broken promises
Read the Bible… out loud
I once heard a story about a man who entered a room to discover another man looking at some words on a page. But he wasn’t saying anything. “What are you doing?” he asked. “I’m reading,” he replied. I don’t know how old the story is, but apparently at that time in history (perhaps the … Continue reading Read the Bible… out loud
Sustained by his powerful word
Bible scholar Luke Timothy Johnson says the most important question we need to answer is whether or not Jesus is alive. Not only do we believe in the Jesus of history, but in the Jesus who was raised and continues to be alive—reigning and ruling at God’s right hand. See Hebrews 1:3: “The Son [i.e. … Continue reading Sustained by his powerful word
If you don’t know them personally
There are a lot of speeches in the book of Acts. Stephen’s is the longest. He begins at chapter 7, verse 2: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham…” He continues for 52 verses. After testifying to the un-thwartability of God’s plans through human history he gets … Continue reading If you don’t know them personally
Signs at football games
Have you ever noticed that some people hold up signs with Bible verses at football games? If so, perhaps you think that’s weird. There was a time when I would have agreed with you. But Tony Campolo tells a story that makes us think again. A man was sitting at home watching the Superbowl. At … Continue reading Signs at football games
Don’t give up
We’ve been talking about the parable of the sower in Luke 8. A farmer sows some seed which Jesus has explained represents the word of God. The seed doesn’t always land on receptive soil. But it does in verse 15: “the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who … Continue reading Don’t give up
The primacy it requires
In the previous devotional we talked about the parable of the sower. In it, Jesus describes a farmer sowing seed. Some of it is snatched away, some lands on rocky soil, and some is choked out by thorns. But then in verse 8 we learn how “other seed fell on good soil. It came up … Continue reading The primacy it requires
Inseparable
In the parable of the sower, Jesus talks about a farmer sowing seed. Some of the seed is snatched away, some lands on rocky soil and doesn’t take deep root, and some starts to grow but is choked out by thorns. In verse 15 he says: “But the seed on good soil stands for those … Continue reading Inseparable
Liberal and conservative fundamentalisms
In my experience, when someone calls someone else a “fundamentalist,” they don’t usually seem to know what they’re saying. It’s become a kind of shorthand for “ultra conservative.” But since many people think that being a “fundamentalist” in our wealthy, western, liberal society is a very bad thing, name-calling in this way seems to have … Continue reading Liberal and conservative fundamentalisms
