“Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the communal life, is not the sinning brother still a brother, with whom I, too, stand under the Word of Christ? Will not his sin be a constant occasion for me to give thanks that both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ?… Read more »
Resources: “Matthew’s Gospel”
(SERMONS ARE AVAILABLE HERE) Matthew uses the word “kingdom” more than 50 times in his Gospel as he records the life and teachings of Jesus. Jesus preached “the gospel (good news) of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). He spoke of the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God. The Hebrew Scriptures had foretold that he would… Read more »
Resources: “Ecclesiastes”
(SERMONS ARE AVAILABLE HERE) Many people are confused—or even put off—by Ecclesiastes. It seems to resonate a little too much with our darkest thoughts and fears about life, with our cynicism and despair. Is there anything truly meaningful, substantial, and lasting in life? The emphatic and resounding answer of Ecclesiastes is, No, “under the sun”… Read more »
Resources: “The Fruit of the Spirit”
(SERMONS AVAILABLE HERE) Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23, “The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” This Fruit perfectly characterizes the life of Jesus Christ, who has given us his own Spirit so that the same Fruit can also characterize our lives. As the Christ-centered Spirit helps us… Read more »
Resources: “Revelation”
Image Credit: Adam Kossowski“Sgraffito Murals of the Book of Revelation,” 1964St. Benet’s Chaplaincy, Queen Mary’s University, London (SERMONS AVAILABLE HERE) Revelation, the last book of the Scriptures, is gorgeous, riveting, compelling, and… perhaps somewhat difficult to understand! God gave it to his people, not to obscure but to reveal spiritual realities. It does so in… Read more »
Resources: “The Psalms”
For thousands of years God’s people have used the Psalms to express themselves to God in song and prayer. But the Psalms aren’t just any old prayer songs—they’re God’s own Word, spoken so that humans might speak to God with his own Speech. The Psalms teach us that life is conversation with God, and… Read more »
Resources: “John’s Gospel”
John wrote his beautiful Gospel “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (20:31). This book has served as a life-transforming introduction to Jesus for countless skeptics and new believers throughout history. Seasoned lovers of Scripture return to it with joy,… Read more »
Resources: “The Holy Spirit”
The God of the Christian Scriptures has revealed himself to be Triune—one God in three Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and… the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity; he is God himself, fully God, the whole God. That sounds important! So why does it seem like we know… Read more »