Would Jesus make you angry? – John 10:22-42, Preview

Imagine with me that Jesus shows up in the flesh in your community. I live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA, and I’m writing this in April 2023. What would it be like if Jesus lived here?  I’m not talking about his second coming.  I’m talking about a fictional scenario.  A thought project.  Just as JesusContinue reading “Would Jesus make you angry? – John 10:22-42, Preview”

Jesus’ disciples followed his lead in…Creating Culture, Part 4

Enlivened by his Spirit, Jesus’ new community launched on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).  On that day, Jesus’ disciples preached to the descendants of Israel, Jewish pilgrims from many lands who gathered in the city of Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost.  What started as a Christian community of 120 men and women, led by Jesus’,Continue reading “Jesus’ disciples followed his lead in…Creating Culture, Part 4”

A uniquely Christian approach to…Creating Culture, Part 3

“What is a uniquely Christian approach to changing culture?”  The answer is found in looking at Jesus!  As we will see, he created a new culture, a culture in which people flourished.  Jesus’ new culture had it’s roots long before he became a human. In fact, this new culture started with a family. To aContinue reading “A uniquely Christian approach to…Creating Culture, Part 3”

Some important definitions and cautions about… – Creating Culture, Part 2

In his book Culture Making, Andy Crouch suggests that “the only way to change culture is to create more of it.”[1]  If he is right, the Christian approach to changing culture is to create new culture. So in this post, let’s take a look at some definitions and cautions to help us think Christianly about creatingContinue reading “Some important definitions and cautions about… – Creating Culture, Part 2”

Does our culture need to change? – Creating Culture, Part 1

What is a uniquely Christian approach to bringing change our culture?  It’s a big question.  Christians have many opinions about how to answer it.  Often very different opinions.  Before we can attempt an answer to the question, I think we need to examine the question.  The question, “What is Christian approach to changing culture?” assumesContinue reading “Does our culture need to change? – Creating Culture, Part 1”

We do not shape the viewpoints of the news outlets we watch.  They shape us. – A Uniquely Christian Approach to Culture Change, Preview

How do you normally get your news? Major network TV stations?  Cable news networks?  The newspaper?  Social media?  YouTube?  Email updates? Thinking about your preferred news outlet, is it biased? Of course not, right?  In a world of fake news, every news outlet now says that they are the one and only who is tellingContinue reading “We do not shape the viewpoints of the news outlets we watch.  They shape us. – A Uniquely Christian Approach to Culture Change, Preview”

We are witnesses to the power of Jesus – John 11:1-45, Part 5

Now the moment has come.  We’ve been studying John 11 this week, and we’ve observed Jesus talking with his disciples and his friends, Mary and Martha, about their brother Lazarus’ sickness and death. Jesus made the trip to Judea to the town of Bethany to visit that sisters, as Lazarus lay in a grave forContinue reading “We are witnesses to the power of Jesus – John 11:1-45, Part 5”

What we can learn from Jesus weeping – John 11:1-45, Part 4

Martha’s brother, Lazarus, still dead.  Martha believes Jesus can do something about it because he is the promised Messiah, the bringer of life. But instead of pleading with Jesus, Martha now goes to find her sister, Mary.  In John 11, verses 28-37, we read about the result of the sisters’ conversation. “And after she hadContinue reading “What we can learn from Jesus weeping – John 11:1-45, Part 4”

How to experience the life that is truly life – John 11:1-45, Part 3

Jesus regularly said very important things. What he says in John 11:25-27 is of utmost importance, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ sheContinue reading “How to experience the life that is truly life – John 11:1-45, Part 3”

The fallacy of the slippery slope argument in helping us become more like Jesus – John 7:53-8:11, Part 3

Did you know that Jesus once stayed an execution? He actually decided to not do what the Mosaic Law said to do. The religious leaders brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, asking him, “The Mosaic Law says this sinful woman should receive the death penalty. What do you say, Jesus?”Continue reading “The fallacy of the slippery slope argument in helping us become more like Jesus – John 7:53-8:11, Part 3”