Trust and Obey, Week 3: Luke 6, Part 4 In Luke 6, Jesus makes the shocking assertion that the poor are in favorable circumstances, because theirs is the Kingdom of God. The people in the crowd that day listening to his Sermon on the Plain would have been blown away by this. Jesus’ ideas soundedContinue reading “Your physical circumstances do not reveal what God thinks of you”
Tag Archives: Kingdom of God
What Jesus’ kingdom looks like (hint: it’s not church buildings)
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 4 Can you recite the Lord’s Prayer? Our Father who art in heaven… In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus not only teaches his disciples how to pray, but also what to pray for. What he taught us to pray for has everything to do with thisContinue reading “What Jesus’ kingdom looks like (hint: it’s not church buildings)”
There is no one obvious biblical way to vote – Q & A Oct 2024, Part 4
Is it acceptable for a Christian to vote one way on a measure, not because they think it is biblical, but because they think it should be a function of government? Because we are citizens of the Kingdom of Jesus, my opinion is that there could be many ballot measures for which it could beContinue reading “There is no one obvious biblical way to vote – Q & A Oct 2024, Part 4”
What Jesus says about paying taxes and separation of church and state – Q & A Oct 2024, Part 3
In light of upcoming ballot measures in some states, is Matthew 22:18-21 actually arguing for a separation of church and state? Is it acceptable for a Christian to vote one way on a measure, not because they think it is biblical, but because they think it should be a function of government? Are there otherContinue reading “What Jesus says about paying taxes and separation of church and state – Q & A Oct 2024, Part 3”
Jesus’ instructions for how to enter the Kingdom of God – Breastplate of Righteous, Part 3
For centuries, one of the primary questions that has been the concern of many, if not most, humans is: How do people enter the Kingdom of God? In Matthew 5, verse 20, Jesus has a surprising answer to that question. Jesus says that we need a kind of righteousness that goes beyond the righteousness ofContinue reading “Jesus’ instructions for how to enter the Kingdom of God – Breastplate of Righteous, Part 3”
Falling asleep during prayer and the surprising act that brings glory to God – John 17:1-5, Part 1
On family vacation, we were having a prayer time where one person would share a prayer request, and then another person would pray for them. It was getting late into the evening, and I was sitting next to my wife, Michelle, on a sofa. Someone shared a prayer request, and Michelle volunteered to be theContinue reading “Falling asleep during prayer and the surprising act that brings glory to God – John 17:1-5, Part 1”
How God’s upside-down Kingdom helps us make sense of Jesus’ death – John 12:12-50, Part 3
Jesus is just days from his death. So it’s no surprise that in John 12 verses 27-28 Jesus becomes introspective: “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Jesus chose toContinue reading “How God’s upside-down Kingdom helps us make sense of Jesus’ death – John 12:12-50, Part 3”
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”
The food that gives Jesus life – John 4:27-42, Part 3
What gives you life? Being with friends or family? Your job? Perhaps a hobby? Serving as a volunteer? Reading? Exercise? Art? Music? As we continue studying John 4:27-42, we learn what gives Jesus life. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus had a thought-provoking conversation with a Samaritan woman. They had a chance meeting around a wellContinue reading “The food that gives Jesus life – John 4:27-42, Part 3”
How you can see and enter God’s Kingdom – John 3:1-21, Part 3
I first saw the Epcot globe in the summer of 1984 when my family visited on a vacation. It was still a new feature in a new theme park at Disney World in Florida, having opened in 1982. That huge globe, pictured above, was for me, an impressionable ten-year old, an amazing sight to see.Continue reading “How you can see and enter God’s Kingdom – John 3:1-21, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 