When you travel, you pack, you get ready to leave. You’re thinking about where you are going. You might need transportation like plane tickets. You might need a passport. You might need clothing for a different climate. You have an intinerary including lodging and meals. Everything is focused on where you will be going, andContinue reading “How to be ready for Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 2:1–3:5, Part 4”
Tag Archives: eternal life
What eternal really means – John 17:1-5, Part 3
If you’re tracking the first part of Jesus’ prayer (John 17:1-5), which we’ve been studying this week, you might have noticed I didn’t talk about another theme he mentions. Eternal life. Look again at verses 2-3, “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you haveContinue reading “What eternal really means – John 17:1-5, Part 3”
Do you have to die to experience eternal life? – John 14:1-14, Preview
Do you have to die to experience eternal life? You might think, “Yes, of course…isn’t that the definition of eternal life: ‘Life after death’?” Maybe not. Think about it this way: Does Jesus really just want us all to die so we can experience eternal life? Is there another way to think about it? I believeContinue reading “Do you have to die to experience eternal life? – John 14:1-14, Preview”
The time Jesus seems to condemn people, but actually isn’t – John 10:22-42, Part 3
In John 10, verse 26, Jesus makes a curious accusation to the religious leaders who are confronting him: “You don’t believe because you are not my sheep.” What does he mean? Is he condemning them forever? No. We know that he cannot mean that it is impossible for them to be his sheep. Why? BecauseContinue reading “The time Jesus seems to condemn people, but actually isn’t – John 10:22-42, Part 3”
How Indiana Jones got Jesus wrong – John 6:52-71, Part 2
In the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy is trying to find the Holy Grail. A legend states that the Grail is the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper. The legend goes on to say that Jesus’ followers collected some of his blood the next day when he was on theContinue reading “How Indiana Jones got Jesus wrong – John 6:52-71, Part 2”
Selfish Christian views about Jesus, worship and church – John 6:22-51, Part 3
Would you be surprised to learn that some people weren’t buying what Jesus was selling? I’m not talking about the religious leaders who often confronted him. I’m talking about the crowds of people who followed him. As we continue studying John 6, the people who just the day before wanted to make him king, nowContinue reading “Selfish Christian views about Jesus, worship and church – John 6:22-51, Part 3”
Jesus’ surprising idea about work – John 6:22-51, Part 2
In our study this week, Jesus doesn’t seem too thrilled with the idea that people want more of him. You’d think Jesus would be ecstatic that a crowd was seeking after him, right? Isn’t that the goal? That more people would want Jesus in their lives? As we continue with the rest of the passage,Continue reading “Jesus’ surprising idea about work – John 6:22-51, Part 2”
How to know if you are a true believer – John 5:16-30, Part 5
How do you know if you are a true believer? Many people have wondered, and sometimes their wondering has caused anxiety. Some of have said, “Well, we won’t know until we get heaven.” But is that true? Thankfully, no. Jesus says there is a way to know now if a person is a true believer.Continue reading “How to know if you are a true believer – John 5:16-30, Part 5”
Jesus’ testy conversation about water – John 4:1-26, Part 3
At my house, we have a well, so my family knows about wells running dry. We know about sediment filters getting clogged. We know about low water pressure, or no water at all. But if you are on public water, you can pretty much leave your water on all the time, and it will neverContinue reading “Jesus’ testy conversation about water – John 4:1-26, Part 3”
What I learned about God’s wrath – John 3:22-36, Part 5
If you’ve been a Christian for a few months, and during that time you’ve attended worship services at a church, my guess is that you’ve heard songs that mention God’s wrath. The song, “In Christ Alone,” says “the wrath of God was satisfied” when Jesus died on the cross. And “The Battle Hymn of theContinue reading “What I learned about God’s wrath – John 3:22-36, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 