In the previous post we learned that suffering is the way to glory. I have to admit that I don’t like the sound of that. I would rather glory come by way of ease, comfort and fun. This is precisely why Paul says what he says next in our ongoing study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. Continue reading “God’s promise of hope and strength for those who are suffering – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Part 5”
Tag Archives: Gospel
How to experience glory – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Part 4
This week in our study of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Paul writes that Christians are people who are saved. In the previous post we examined how we are saved from separation from God. In today’s post we try to understand how we are also saved for something. As Jesus taught it, we are saved to beContinue reading “How to experience glory – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, Part 4”
Gospel and Social Justice…is it one or the other? – Ezekiel 21-23, Part 1
When my wife Michelle was running Imagine Goods, she made about 30 trips to Cambodia, primarily to work with women who were survivors of trafficking, helping them have employment as seamstresses, thus lifting them out of the precarious economic and cultural situation that initially made them vulnerable to being trafficked. Every now and then whenContinue reading “Gospel and Social Justice…is it one or the other? – Ezekiel 21-23, Part 1”
Our mission of reconciliation – Ezekiel 20, Part 5
Editor’s Note: Thanks to guest blogger David Hundert for continuing the Ezekiel series this week. I believe there are at least two things that we can learn from Ezekiel 20 and apply to our lives. If you have read the previous four posts, in which we studied Ezekiel 20:1-44, you can do so starting here.Continue reading “Our mission of reconciliation – Ezekiel 20, Part 5”
How to change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh (and help others do the same) – Ezekiel 11, Part 5
Editor’s Note: Thanks to David Hundert who is our guest blogger this week, continuing our series through Ezekiel. Think about your heart. Not your actual blood pumper…but your inner being. Would you say you have a heart of stone or a heart of flesh? Do you feel somewhat cold or dead inside? Is there hopeContinue reading “How to change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh (and help others do the same) – Ezekiel 11, Part 5”
What to pray for yourself and others – Colossians 4:2-6, Part 4
Think about the content of your prayer requests. Often the prayer requests in my church family are health-related. There’s nothing wrong with asking God to heal us. But I do get concerned when it seems we have a fixation on health. While it is okay to pray for health-related concerns, that should not be ourContinue reading “What to pray for yourself and others – Colossians 4:2-6, Part 4”
Why I believe Jesus’ resurrection is not only true, but matters – Easter 2021, Part 5
So is the resurrection truly true? If you want a scientific answer, with insurmountable proof, I’m sorry but I’m not able to give that. I hope you heard in the previous post some strong evidence for the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. People who had very good reason to kill the Christian movement only had toContinue reading “Why I believe Jesus’ resurrection is not only true, but matters – Easter 2021, Part 5”
If Trumpism and White Christian Nationalism are heresy, what is true? – Colossians 2:8-15, Part 4
This week we’ve been studying Colossians 2:8-15, starting here, and Paul has commanded the Christians not to be held captive by empty philosophy based on the traditions of humankind. I suggested in part 3 of this week’s series of posts that a couple of those empty philosophies impacting contemporary evangelical Christians in America are TrumpismContinue reading “If Trumpism and White Christian Nationalism are heresy, what is true? – Colossians 2:8-15, Part 4”
Should we “fill our body with affliction”? – Colossians 1:24-2:5, Part 2
In the previous post Paul reminded us that we can learn to rejoice in the Lord, even amid difficult circumstances. But as we continue to trace his teaching in Colossians 1:24-2:5, Paul writes something that seems bizarre to me. In fact, it seems wrong. Paul writes that he fills up in his body what isContinue reading “Should we “fill our body with affliction”? – Colossians 1:24-2:5, Part 2″
What I learned about reconciliation from a guy who drove through my mailbox – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 4
A year or so ago, we were in our living room at night watching TV, and we heard a loud crashing sound out front. I went to the front porch, opened the door, and saw a car had skidded off the road, right through our mailbox, across our front lawn, tearing up two tire-streaks ofContinue reading “What I learned about reconciliation from a guy who drove through my mailbox – Colossians 1:20-23, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 