Jesus enters Jerusalem alongside a frenzied crowd full of excitement. Palm Sunday is a parade, but it’s not the Macy’s parade with 2-story balloons of Elmo & Clifford. Palm Sunday feels like a coronation. But it’s not like the crowning of King Charles where everything was scripted according to centuries ...
The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 begin … Blessed are the poor in spirit Blessed are those who mourn Blessed are the meek This is not the wisdom proclaimed by our secular age. I remember NT Wright saying during the COVID pandemic the church has forgotten how to lament. To lament ...
Three summary statements from BibleProject about peacemaking and the Kingdom of God. “When God’s Kingdom arrives in full one day, it will bring peace between all people. And so anyone entering God’s Kingdom now is called to work as a peacemaker. That means entering into conflicts and working creatively to ...
Were you taught Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible (Genesis-Deuteronomy)? I was. This is funny. Numbers 12:3 says, “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” Do you think the “meekest” man on earth would say ...
Do you know which city? The city has been called the “holy city” because of its religious heritage and the numerous church steeples that make up the city skyline. It became the nation’s “slave capital” because approximately 40% of all Africans brought to America and sold as slaves came through ...
What about a deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount? Matthew 5-6-7 are three very significant chapters. Lots of people say that about lots of Bible passages – usually our favorite Bible verses. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is different. Matthew 5 begins, “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, ...
4th Week of Advent: LOVE The Apostle John said, the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us... (John 1:14). John later said, God is love. (1 John 4:8) Praise the name of Jesus who is love personified. Love on display. Love, literally, in the flesh. As we gather ...
My wife recently asked; do you think God is pruning us? The past 12 months have been difficult. She has dealt with several health issues. The Mission Church is in transition too. We walk by faith & live with hope into a future we cannot see. We all do. Will ...
Advent is a time of reflection and preparation for the arrival of the Son of God at Christmas. Advent begins with hope. 1 Corinthians 13 is a famous Bible chapter. It concludes, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” This sounds ...
Do you think Thankfulness & Hope are closely connected? I do. Thankfulness looks back in time. Hope looks ahead. Both are focused on the grace and mercy of Jesus extended to us. It is God’s faithfulness in the past – the Holy Spirit at work in our lives and being ...