As I’ve been thinking about the Christmas event the past few days, this dimension of what’s at the heart of it has been circling in my head.
One of the most overlooked and ignored passages in the Christmas narrative has a couple of impactful and insightful lessons to teach us.
While there is some sense of interrelatedness and connection between the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation, they are not inextricably linked. And a poignant story from the Old Testament helps us understand.
A number of things in the Old Testament are difficult to read. But there’s one story that, while on its surface is incredibly difficult, is wonderfully encouraging and affirming when looked at from a broader perspective.
An event at the outset of Jesus’ adult life has significant implications for those of us who are called to pastoral ministry.
The “blessed life” and the “good life” are very different things. To commit to living the former is often at the expense of what society says accompanies the latter.
Of all the prayers in the Bible, perhaps the single most dangerous one is one of the shortest and most succinct … and it’s one that Jesus taught us to pray.
A recent clip on SportsCenter gave us all a compelling demonstration of what leadership looks like in real life.
Peter’s high-profile failure on the night Jesus was apprehended gives us an exceptionally clear picture of a key function of the church.
Is a “Christian nation” the same as a “nation of Christians”? I don’t think so. The difference can be seen in the rallying point of our efforts.
The Jesus who made a number of incredibly exclusive statements was perhaps the most inclusive person ever in terms of how he related to people. We are to follow His example.
Two stories from the Bible, that you wouldn’t think would be at all connected, teach us a valuable lesson about the topic of unity.
It was a great football game. But something happened shortly after it ended that was just as great, if not an extraordinary, lesson in leadership.
Pastoral ministry creates a unique dynamic that, while it fosters the emergence of numerous relationships, makes the development of genuine friendships really hard.
Of all the incredible and miraculous things God ever did, the single most amazing is what He did at Christmas. He just showed up!
At Thanksgiving, we are encouraged to inventory our life and express our gratitude and thanks to God. Here’s a segment I developed for use in our worship service to “prime the pump” on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
Freedom doesn’t mean living a life void of restriction and restraint; it’s much more involved than that. But when a group of God’s people do it, it’s a beautiful thing!
Just as lying and dishonesty undermines the health and vitality of the church, so does exaggeration and hyperbole.