As I’m typing this, my wife is at Refreshing Recreation. The program is an effort her organization started to provide a place for local families living in hotels to have a delicious meal and a gym for their kids to play sports and other games. Our school district has so many families living in localContinue reading “The second movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 5”
Tag Archives: Philippians 2
The first movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 4
I recently heard a person in my church family claim that it is wrong for the rainbow to be used by those who promote gay pride. I suggested to this person that the Scriptures do not delineate how the rainbow can be used as a symbol. They agreed, but still felt it was wrong. IContinue reading “The first movement to bring peace – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 4”
You likely can’t change America, but you can change how you live in your own community – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 3
Purple Church is just about the church. The question of the week, however, “How do we allow the love of Jesus to bring peace to America?” is talking about the wider society. Not just the church. And yet, the inclusion of “the love of Jesus” in the question narrows the answer primarily to Christians. Furthermore, myContinue reading “You likely can’t change America, but you can change how you live in your own community – Jesus’ love and peace, Part 3”
What can we do to allow Jesus’ love to bring peace to America? Post the Ten Commandments in all school classrooms? – Preview
Next week is another Q & A week. Once per quarter I ask people in my congregation for questions or current events suggestions that they would like me to preach about. My goal is to bring biblical theology to bear on that subject to help us think Christianly about the headlines of the day. IContinue reading “What can we do to allow Jesus’ love to bring peace to America? Post the Ten Commandments in all school classrooms? – Preview”
The model for healthy church families – Relationships: In the Church, Part 3
In Acts 2:42-27, we read about the marks of church family relationships. First, the earliest Christians were devoted to the Apostle’s teaching. This is the beauty of having the apostles’ teachings preserved in Scripture. Church family relationships are guided by the teaching of the Bible. We, too, even though we live 2000 years later, canContinue reading “The model for healthy church families – Relationships: In the Church, Part 3”
How Christians need to be like the Human Carpet after the election – Current Events 2020 Q4, Part 5
Have you heard of the Human Carpet? He gets paid to go to parties where people can walk all over him. They can jump on him. Sit on him for hours. Surf on him. One time he did this for 11 straight hours! He wraps himself in a carpet, lays down and has never been hurtContinue reading “How Christians need to be like the Human Carpet after the election – Current Events 2020 Q4, Part 5”
How to respond when your world is suddenly shattered – Acts 16, Part 3
Have you had one of those days where things are going so well, and all of a sudden, something happens and your life is turned upside-down? Maybe it is when the boss walks in, says “We’re letting you go, please turn in your key and company credit card, and collect your things.” Maybe it isContinue reading “How to respond when your world is suddenly shattered – Acts 16, Part 3”
How to welcome those who are difficult for you – Philemon 8-25, Part 5
Who is difficult for you? Think about it. Who are the people you really struggle with? Does it seem like it would be awful to welcome them into your life? How should you treat them? If Paul’s message to Philemon is our guide, then what we do will be self-sacrificial, it will be radical, itContinue reading “How to welcome those who are difficult for you – Philemon 8-25, Part 5”
Guest Post: Responding to Jesus’ Name
((This weekend we welcome Phil Bartelt once again to Faith Church. Here’s some thoughts that Phil shared to help prepare for worship tomorrow.)) Philippians 2:9-11 tells us there is an appropriate response to Jesus’ name. Here is a poem that may help us as we prepare to explore our response. Let not my humble presence affrontContinue reading “Guest Post: Responding to Jesus’ Name”
Engaging Scripture 