Have you felt as though some people are just too far gone, as if there is no hope for them? Maybe it is a relative who has made a series of poor choices. Maybe it is a friend who has struggled for years. Maybe you wonder about yourself. It could be the person who isContinue reading “Are people ever too far gone? – John 13:18-38, Preview”
Tag Archives: relationships
When we should trust others…and when we shouldn’t – Jeremiah 40-41
Blog Note: If you are a regular reader of the blog, you know that we are in a series through the Gospel of John. Most weeks, I blog the sermons I preach at Faith Church, breaking each sermon into five posts, a kind of daily devotional, Monday through Friday. You haven’t seen any posts soContinue reading “When we should trust others…and when we shouldn’t – Jeremiah 40-41”
Would Jesus agree with a love bomb? – John 11:46-12:11, Preview
Have you heard of a “love bomb”? I just learned the term this past week while watching the most recent episode (4/26/23) of the Apple+ show Ted Lasso. In this episode one character expresses their love for another character by giving them extravagant gifts. That’s a love bomb. One gift is a signed first editionContinue reading “Would Jesus agree with a love bomb? – John 11:46-12:11, Preview”
The fallacy of the slippery slope argument in helping us become more like Jesus – John 7:53-8:11, Part 3
Did you know that Jesus once stayed an execution? He actually decided to not do what the Mosaic Law said to do. The religious leaders brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, asking him, “The Mosaic Law says this sinful woman should receive the death penalty. What do you say, Jesus?”Continue reading “The fallacy of the slippery slope argument in helping us become more like Jesus – John 7:53-8:11, Part 3”
Dealing with that difficult family member – John 7:1-52, Part 1
What does your Jesus box look like? You all have one. In fact, it is something that you created. It has a unique shape and size, based on what you think Jesus is like. Take a moment and think about it. What do you think Jesus is like? Is your perception of Jesus correct? AsContinue reading “Dealing with that difficult family member – John 7:1-52, Part 1”
Overcoming the grumps – John 6:22-51, Part 4
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”
Have you ever felt like a relational vending machine? – John 6:22-51, Preview
How would you like to be a human vending machine? I’m talking about a situation in which you feel used. It can happen to all of us, and we usually don’t like it. Maybe in your job, you feel like people are constantly asking more and more of you. Parents can really slip into thisContinue reading “Have you ever felt like a relational vending machine? – John 6:22-51, Preview”
God’s heart for the foreigner, immigrant, and the stranger – Relationships: with the world, Part 2
When my grandmother was a little girl, the picture above was likely one of her first views of the United States of America. Edna Lewis was an immigrant from Wales, England. My family tree farther back also includes immigrants from Ireland, Germany, and the Netherlands. But the only immigrant in my family that I actuallyContinue reading “God’s heart for the foreigner, immigrant, and the stranger – Relationships: with the world, Part 2”
Baseball and God’s heart for the world – Relationships: with the world, Preview
My freshman year of high school I tried out for my high school baseball team, as I thought baseball was my best sport. I had played soccer the previous fall, making the Jr. High team as a 9th grader, and I enjoyed it. I also considered trying out for the basketball team, another sport IContinue reading “Baseball and God’s heart for the world – Relationships: with the world, Preview”
Christian, what aroma does your manner, method and message give off? – Relationships: In the community, Part 5
My wife, Michelle, works at a local café. She and the other servers say that the Sunday, after-church crowd are some of their least favorite to serve. Why? Their manner, message and method stink. They can be demanding. They can treat their servers coldly or disrespectfully. They can lack polite manners. They can barely tip,Continue reading “Christian, what aroma does your manner, method and message give off? – Relationships: In the community, Part 5”
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