Jesus has just told a crowd of his followers that they need to eat his flesh and drink his blood. How did the crowd feel about this bizarre teaching? I think they felt disappointment, confusion, frustration, and maybe some disillusionment. Just the day before he had miraculously fed a crowd of 5000+ people, and theyContinue reading “Decoding Jesus’ disgusting “eat my flesh, drink my blood” teaching – John 6:52-71, Part 4″
Tag Archives: disciples
The failure of the American church’s educational model of discipleship – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 3
We’ve been talking about what Jesus meant in Matthew 7, verse 21, when he says that the only ones who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven are those who do the will of the father in heaven. What is his will? Jump ahead to Matthew 16:24-28. Jesus says it clear as day: “If anyone wouldContinue reading “The failure of the American church’s educational model of discipleship – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 3”
The time Jesus told people “Depart from me!” – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 2
What is discipleship? It is crossing The Matthew 7 line. Our Faith Church logo has four squares, with a vertical line in the middle. We call that the Matthew 7 line. Let me explain. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus teaches one of his most important, I think, and revealing parables. What he says there, I callContinue reading “The time Jesus told people “Depart from me!” – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 2″
What discipleship is and isn’t – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 1
In our study through the Gospel of John, we have seen Jesus interact with his disciples. Their relationship began in chapter 1 when Jesus showed up to be baptized by John. Then the disciples watch him at the wedding in Cana in chapter 2. They’re with him when he clears out the temple. In chaptersContinue reading “What discipleship is and isn’t – Becoming Disciplemakers, Part 1”
Are church buildings God’s houses? – John 4:1-26, Part 4
Sometimes Christians call church buildings, “God’s house.” I hear adults from time to time say, “Kids, stop running in God’s house.” I cringe when I hear that. I cringe because it reminds me of something Jesus said when he and the Samaritan woman were having a conversation around the well. You can read about theirContinue reading “Are church buildings God’s houses? – John 4:1-26, Part 4”
When Jesus and John the Baptist had competing ministries – John 3:22-36, Part 2
As Jesus’ ministry was getting underway, we learn in John 3:23 that John the Baptist’s ministry was still going strong too. John hadn’t stopped his ministry just because Jesus was now on the scene. How much time had passed since John baptized Jesus in John 1? If you scan through the days mentioned in JohnContinue reading “When Jesus and John the Baptist had competing ministries – John 3:22-36, Part 2”
Two very different viewpoints on Jesus’ cleansing of the temple – John 2:12-25, Part 3
When Jesus’ disciples thought about Jesus’ wild actions of cleansing the temple, believe or not, it makes them think about a poem, a song, Psalm 69. Only Psalm 22 is quoted more frequently in by the New Testament writers. That means the earliest Christians saw in Psalm 69 numerous connections to the Messiah. If youContinue reading “Two very different viewpoints on Jesus’ cleansing of the temple – John 2:12-25, Part 3”
Three things Jesus’ disciples saw when they observed him – John 2:1-11, Part 4
What do you see when you see Jesus? When you read the stories about his life, or maybe watch a dramatic presentation of the Gospels, what do you notice about Jesus? Perhaps the best place to get information about Jesus is from the people who were eyewitnesses of his life. His disciples walked with JesusContinue reading “Three things Jesus’ disciples saw when they observed him – John 2:1-11, Part 4”
Discipleship begins with the spiritual practice of questioning – John 1:35-42, Part 2
After hearing John the Baptist declare two days in a row that Jesus is the Lamb of God, in John 1, verse 37 we read that John’s disciples stop following John, and they start following Jesus. Jesus hasn’t uttered a word. And because of that, the scene strikes me as humorous. The two disciples justContinue reading “Discipleship begins with the spiritual practice of questioning – John 1:35-42, Part 2”
The backstory of John the Apostle…continued – Gospel of John Into, Part 3
The fisherman we met in the first post of this blog series on the backstory of the Apostle John, brothers James and John, crank out the daily grind of trying to make ends meet in a job that is not very profitable. Day after day goes by. A week here a week there. People areContinue reading “The backstory of John the Apostle…continued – Gospel of John Into, Part 3”
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