This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 30 years who now works in international fair trade. Are you feeling any hopelessness about something in your life? Maybe you feel you’re losing hope within. If so, even if just a little bit, you might resonate with theContinue reading “Two words that transform our hopelessness – Advent Hope, Part 5”
Tag Archives: resurrection
Does evil and suffering in the world negate a loving, all-powerful God? – Q & A, Part 3
This week we take a break from our Relationships in the Church series. At Faith Church this past week I gave a Q & A sermon. I asked the congregation for questions ahead of time, and then I attempted to bring biblical theology to bear on their questions. Here’s the next question: As Christians, howContinue reading “Does evil and suffering in the world negate a loving, all-powerful God? – Q & A, Part 3”
How Jesus’ resurrection can give us new life – John 20, Part 5
After assuring doubting Thomas that he, Jesus, truly has a body that is alive, Jesus makes a powerful remark that I love. Jesus talks about you and me. Look at John 20, verse 29. “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yetContinue reading “How Jesus’ resurrection can give us new life – John 20, Part 5”
The mission of forgiveness and the faithfulness of doubt – John 20, Part 4
After first appearing to Mary, Jesus next appears to the disciples. Look at John 20, verse 19, “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” AfterContinue reading “The mission of forgiveness and the faithfulness of doubt – John 20, Part 4”
How Jesus’ resurrection brings new life to female voices – John 20, Part 3
In John 20, right after his resurrection, Mary Magdalene is at the garden tomb, weeping. The past few days have been horrible, with Jesus’ arrest, beating, and crucifixion. Now his body is missing. As we learned in the previous post, Jesus is alive and meets Mary there in the garden, simply saying her name, “Mary.”Continue reading “How Jesus’ resurrection brings new life to female voices – John 20, Part 3”
The moment that changes everything – John 20, Part 2
Mary Magdalene has been having a difficult morning. What happens next is nothing short of world-changing. “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at theContinue reading “The moment that changes everything – John 20, Part 2”
A confusing beginning to Jesus’ resurrection – John 20, Part 1
We make a big deal about Jesus’ resurrection on Easter. But I wonder how much you have thought about the resurrection since Easter? Do you think about the resurrection much? I suspect most of us, me included, think about it around Easter, and maybe every now and then when a song mentions it. But IContinue reading “A confusing beginning to Jesus’ resurrection – John 20, Part 1”
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”
How to experience the life that is truly life – John 11:1-45, Part 3
Jesus regularly said very important things. What he says in John 11:25-27 is of utmost importance, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ sheContinue reading “How to experience the life that is truly life – John 11:1-45, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 