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”
Tag Archives: ministry
How some Christians today might be like the religious leaders in Jesus’ story – John 10:22-42, Part 2
The Jewish leaders have Jesus cornered on their home turf, the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus’ disciples had to be nervous. Look what happens in verse 24: “The Jews gathered around him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly’.” I find it interesting that the religiousContinue reading “How some Christians today might be like the religious leaders in Jesus’ story – John 10:22-42, Part 2”
We need flourishing-producing togetherness for…Creating Culture, Part 5
I traveled with my wife Michelle to Cambodia in 2016. We visited the town where an organization named Agape is located. Agape rescues formerly trafficked women, helps them find healing, introduces them to Jesus, and gives them job training in a steady, safe employment environment. Michelle’s company employed the women to make a variety ofContinue reading “We need flourishing-producing togetherness for…Creating Culture, Part 5”
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”
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”
The kind of belief God really wants – John 11:1-45, Part 2
Jesus has received an urgent message from some of his closest friends, Mary and Martha. Their brother Lazarus, also one of Jesus’ best friends, is sick. Very sick. Deathly sick. What does Jesus do in response? He waits…two more days. He doesn’t immediately gather up his disciples and head out on the road. He waits. Continue reading “The kind of belief God really wants – John 11:1-45, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 