Have you ever gone through a life change, and that change affected your friendships? You know who your real friends are when you start changing. Perhaps you believe new things, or maybe you have shed a long-held belief, and your friends are pushing back. It could be that you have stopped doing something that youContinue reading “When you start to change and your friends don’t like it”
Monthly Archives: August 2018
Christians, has Jesus transformed your life? Here’s how you can tell.
A question for any of you who consider yourselves Christians, followers of Jesus: would you say that Jesus has transformed your life? Yesterday we saw that Jesus transformed Peter’s life. It wouldn’t surprise me if Peter has that memory in mind as he continues his teaching in 1 Peter 4:1-6. In verse 3 he buildsContinue reading “Christians, has Jesus transformed your life? Here’s how you can tell.”
The one crucial step that must come before doing God’s will
What is the will of God? Yesterday we looked at the surprising weapon Christians are to arm themselves with: the attitude of Jesus, which was an attitude of following the will of God for his life no matter what. As we continue studying 1 Peter 4:1-6, Peter goes on to say in verse 2 thatContinue reading “The one crucial step that must come before doing God’s will”
The surprising weapon followers of Jesus arm themselves with
One of the biggest questions followers of Jesus ask is: how much should we be in the world, exposing ourselves to the world, participating in activities or behaviors that are considered normative in the world? And by contrast, how much should we remove ourselves from the world? Which behaviors should we stop? How much shouldContinue reading “The surprising weapon followers of Jesus arm themselves with”
Can we experience Jesus’ victory now…or do we have to wait till we get to heaven?
What is heaven like? There is much speculation. I wish the Bible was much more clear than it is. Sometimes it talks about a supernatural dwelling place of God. In the New Testament the word for “heaven” can also mean “sky”. Is heaven up there somewhere? But then other times the Bible talks about heavenContinue reading “Can we experience Jesus’ victory now…or do we have to wait till we get to heaven?”
The important connection between Noah’s flood…and baptism?
Do you know how those two concepts might be connected? Baptism. Noah’s flood. What might they have to do with one another? Water, right? Anything else come to mind? All week long we have been studying what some scholars believe is the most confusing passage in the New Testament, 1 Peter 3:18-22. Please see theContinue reading “The important connection between Noah’s flood…and baptism?”
An attempt to explain the Apostle’s Creed phrase “he descended into hell” and why it matters
“He descended into hell”? Jesus did what? Remember that phrase from the Apostle’s Creed? As I said in my first post on 1 Peter 3:18-22, could this be the passage from which the Apostle’s Creed bases its phrase, “he descended into hell”? That’s what I thought when I read 1 Peter 3:18-22. See for yourself. Continue reading “An attempt to explain the Apostle’s Creed phrase “he descended into hell” and why it matters”
Feeling distant from God? There is good news!
Yesterday I introduced 1 Peter 3:18-22 by asking, can one of the most mysterious passages in the New Testament help people who are feeling defeated in life? Today we are going to start studying Peter’s teaching in that passage to try to answer that question. We have to remember that Peter is talking to ChristiansContinue reading “Feeling distant from God? There is good news!”
Can a mysterious Bible passage help those feeling defeated in life?
Are there any areas of life where you just feel defeated? Work? Parenting? A relationship? Finances? Health? Think about the last few weeks or months. How has it been? Do you ever feel like the waters are rising up around you? Like you are drowning? Sometimes I think life can be a journey in managingContinue reading “Can a mysterious Bible passage help those feeling defeated in life?”
What to do when talking about faith is scary or difficult
Have you ever been made fun of for your faith? It can feel awful, making you want to crawl into the closest hole and hide. That feeling of shame is often so powerful that it gets stuck inside us, and we fear talking about our faith ever again. What should we do about this? InsteadContinue reading “What to do when talking about faith is scary or difficult”
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