Bible 101
Want to learn more about the Bible? about God? about Jesus? Dig into these resources for the basics.
Light drives away the shadows
I recently read a children’s book to my kids about a bear who wanted to get rid of his shadow. He didn’t like having…
When stuff owns you
I remember the garage sale of garage sales. The big day came. After people came and went, most of my stuff was still sitting…
The beauty around you
It may be in the eye of the beholder, but this beholder sees beauty in the world God created. The colors, shapes, and birdsongs…
No exclusions on grace
There are always exclusions, right? Everything comes with fine print. You go to the doctor and have to sign forms—lots of forms! You rent…
Your baptism is a big deal
Do you think your baptism is a big deal? Big enough to stand up and clap for, to shed a tear over, to annually…
Tired and frozen to the sword
Eleazar might be one of the most famous warriors in Israel whom we’ve never heard of. “As one of the three mighty warriors, [Eleazar]…
Government according to Jesus
Caesar, a pagan politician who claimed divine powers for himself that belong only to God, deserved obedience from Christians according to Jesus: “Give back…
The most useful book ever
Americans, for the most part, are practical people. I’ve noticed that when I preach a message at church, my listeners (mostly, but not all,…
Doubt or belief
When it was almost time for Jesus to be born, the central figures in his birth story got some news. Here’s how it went…
Impractical preaching
I try to be a practical preacher. After I unpack a section of Scripture, I like to suggest a simple next step to help…
But Jesus resisted
Seeing the homeless men who hang out near our church makes me appreciate just how intense Jesus’ temptation must have been. “The devil led…
Red for redemption
I admit it: I don’t always love reading through the Bible’s Old Testament. Some books are just so … Leviticusy (read: full of boils…