In the first century when Jesus was alive, the land of Israel was controlled by the Roman Empire. Rome was the superpower of the day, and they had an ideology called the Pax Romana. Roman Peace. They wanted peace in their empire. And largely they achieved peace. Do you know how the Romans achieved peace? Continue reading “The importance of free will – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 1”
Monthly Archives: June 2025
What can we do to allow Jesus’ love to bring peace to America? Post the Ten Commandments in all school classrooms? – Preview
Next week is another Q & A week. Once per quarter I ask people in my congregation for questions or current events suggestions that they would like me to preach about. My goal is to bring biblical theology to bear on that subject to help us think Christianly about the headlines of the day. IContinue reading “What can we do to allow Jesus’ love to bring peace to America? Post the Ten Commandments in all school classrooms? – Preview”
Behind the scenes serving is just as important as up-front serving – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 5
Some people might think that because they aren’t public speakers and don’t teach a class or lead a ministry team, they are not as valuable to the mission of Jesus. But think about people who come in during the week and clean the toys in the church nursery? Those people are just as important asContinue reading “Behind the scenes serving is just as important as up-front serving – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 5”
What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says there are “greater” gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 4
As we continue studying 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, in verse 28 Paul puts the gifts of the Spirit in an order appointed by God. FIRST – Apostles SECOND – Prophets THIRD – Teachers Then, workers of miracles, gifts of healing, help others, administration, speaking in tongues. If you’re reading that thinking “Time out,Continue reading “What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says there are “greater” gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 4″
Corrective lenses and the church – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 3
I first got glasses in 3rd grade, and then contacts since I was 16 yrs old. My eyes are terribly near-sighted. If I don’t have my contacts in or my glasses on, it feels like my entire world is out of focus, a blur. For the last couple years I’ve also needed reading glasses. ContactsContinue reading “Corrective lenses and the church – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 3”
What you can learn from that part of your body you don’t like – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 2
Do you have a part of your body that you don’t like? Some people don’t like feet. Another famously disdained part of the body is the nose. I suspect that nearly all humans have a part of their body they don’t like. That fact is what Paul talks about in 1st Corinthians 12:12. First, PaulContinue reading “What you can learn from that part of your body you don’t like – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 2”
Do you feel the Holy Spirit passed you by when handing out gifts? – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 1
A person once told me they felt they didn’t have any spiritual gifts. I wonder if you have ever felt that way? You look around church on a Sunday morning, and it is easy to just see teachers, worship leaders, singers, musicians, and preachers. Did God pass you by? Are some gifts more important thanContinue reading “Do you feel the Holy Spirit passed you by when handing out gifts? – 1 Corinthians 12:12–31, Part 1”
Off the field practices to help you experience flourishing – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 5
I played soccer in college. Admittedly, it was not high quality college soccer. In fact, with the exception of my very good freshman year college team, I have a feeling my high school team could have beaten my college team every other year. Still, just about all of the players on that college team, allContinue reading “Off the field practices to help you experience flourishing – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 5”
Easy Off and the grace of God – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 4
In my first post this week, I mentioned that I received a used grill, but it was dirty and some parts were broken. It needed rehab, and rehab takes work. I wish I could snap my fingers and the grill would be magically repaired. But instead, I had to do the work. And that bringsContinue reading “Easy Off and the grace of God – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 4”
How thoroughly God wants us to be changed – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 3
In our study this week through 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Paul writes that God desires to thoroughly our whole being: spirit, soul, and body. God wants all of it to be blameless. There have long been debates among Christian theologians about what the writers of Scripture meant by spirit and soul. Body we get. We engageContinue reading “How thoroughly God wants us to be changed – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 