What makes you grumpy? Many situations make me grumpy, but it is probably home repairs that hit me the worst. When something breaks in our house, or something needs updated, it really stresses me out, and I can get so grumpy. For other people, it is bad drivers. Some of you hate mornings, and youContinue reading “Overcoming the grumps – John 6:22-51, Part 4”
Tag Archives: Pharisees
Does Jesus have authority to break the law? – John 5:31-47, Part 1
I often wonder if our church’s outdoor sign has any impact. While I think it is good to have a sign with basic information such as our name and website, we don’t need to have a sign with a message board. Most people learn about us online anyway. But the message board is a smallContinue reading “Does Jesus have authority to break the law? – John 5:31-47, Part 1”
Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3
Did you know Jesus was a law-breaker? In fact, he broke the law so much, it got him in big trouble. In the previous post about John 5, verse 16, we read that the religious leaders are persecuting Jesus. When you read that word, “persecute,” don’t think of it as extreme. They’re not whipping him,Continue reading “Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3”
What is the Sabbath? – John 5:16-30, Part 2
What is the Sabbath? It goes back to Genesis chapter 2, verses 1-3. Page #2 of your pew Bibles, so you know this is going back to the beginning. Well, almost. Actually, we’re going back to the story of creation, and we read it described like a week. God creates the universe on the firstContinue reading “What is the Sabbath? – John 5:16-30, Part 2”
Vulnerability means saying, “I don’t get it.” – Honest Advent Week 1, Part 2
For Advent 2020, we are following the themes in the book Honest Advent as we think about the gifts we can give Jesus in celebration of his birthday. As we saw in the previous post, in Week 1, we are giving him the gift of our vulnerability. To understand what vulnerability looks like, and howContinue reading “Vulnerability means saying, “I don’t get it.” – Honest Advent Week 1, Part 2″
Getting out of a Lose – Lose Situation
Ever been in a lose-lose situation? They make you feel trapped. No answer seems good. Mutually Assured Destruction. You shoot an arsenal of nuclear bombs at me, and I will shoot my arsenal of nuclear bombs at you. Boom. Not a good solution. What about other lose-lose situations that are more a part of ourContinue reading “Getting out of a Lose – Lose Situation”
That time Jesus told us to do evil
Yeah. That time Jesus told us to be evil. For real. He did. Is there a catch? Though I’ve barely written ten words, you’re probably suspecting that there’s a catch. There’s no way I would believe that Jesus told us to do evil, would I? Except that this is what he Jesus said: “I tellContinue reading “That time Jesus told us to do evil”
Woe to you, Christians – Part 2 – How to stop the two main things that will cause your death
Imagine you have been invited to your pastor’s house for dinner and some leaders of the church are there. It is a nice meal with pleasant dinner conversation. Do you think you would take this time to point out all the things you didn’t like about the people around the table? Some of you might! Continue reading “Woe to you, Christians – Part 2 – How to stop the two main things that will cause your death”
Woe to you, Christians! – Part 1: How a woe oracle could save the church from death
“Woe!” but not “Woah!” What’s the difference? “Woah” is an utterance of surprise, or a command to “Stop!” But “Woe” is a wailing of sadness. In the Bible there are Woe Oracles in the Old Testament. That word “woe” was used in Israel primarily at funerals. People would loudly proclaim “woe” at the passing ofContinue reading “Woe to you, Christians! – Part 1: How a woe oracle could save the church from death”
What happens when Jesus tells the Bible scholars they don’t know the Bible?
The religious establishment is on him. They’ve been following him ever since he splashed onto the scene months earlier, healing people and preaching and gaining a following of large crowds. These Bible teachers, these Pharisees, are the religion police of their day, and they have dispatched some agents to check Jesus out. Now they’re followingContinue reading “What happens when Jesus tells the Bible scholars they don’t know the Bible?”
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