Matthew offers us several beginnings regarding Jesus in the introductory portion of his gospel (1:1-4:16). There’s the beginning of the preaching concerning the kingdom Christ is bringing in the work of John the Baptist (3:1ff). Then there’s the beginning of Jesus’ public life marked by His baptism (3:13ff) and the beginning of His ministry inContinue reading “The Genesis Of Jesus”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
The Blessing Of Mourning
Preachers are privileged to see life in all of its rawness as well as refinement. The refinement part tends to be the Sunday pageantry you see—people in their best and at their best. I have no problem with that. I know the good people against organized religion tend to think it’s all hypocrisy. It can be and sometimes isContinue reading “The Blessing Of Mourning”
Securing Your Treasure
Early one winter morning in 1994, two men pull up to the National Art Gallery in Oslo, Norway. From the trunk of their car, they withdraw a ladder they have stolen just minutes earlier from a construction site and prop it against the wall of the museum. One of the men starts up the ladder only toContinue reading “Securing Your Treasure”
Streamlining For The Kingdom
In 1981, three people got together at a restaurant and sketched out on a napkin an idea for an airplane. But it wasn’t just any airplane that Dick Rutan, his brother Burt, and Jeana Yeager had in mind. This one would be capable of doing what no plane had ever done before—fly around the worldContinue reading “Streamlining For The Kingdom”
Standing In The Storm
Followers of Jesus are no strangers to storms! They struggle with illness and disease, disability, hardship, discouragement, and every other affliction that is known to man. Belonging to Christ does not grant them immunity or exemption from any of these (though you wouldn’t always get that impression by listening to some of our prayers). There may be no atheistsContinue reading “Standing In The Storm”
Sharing God In Prayer
One of the best things our parents ever did for those of us who had siblings was to let us know they loved our brother(s) or sister(s) as much as they loved us. Think of how bent and distorted we would have grown up to be if we thought we were loved more or wereContinue reading “Sharing God In Prayer”
Say What You Mean
You have my word on it. Does that mean anything today? Hopefully, it does. Hopefully, it means that you meant what you said, that you can be trusted, that people can count on you. The sad truth though is that we live in a world where the truth isn’t always the truth. We live in a world ofContinue reading “Say What You Mean”
Righteousness And The Kingdom Of Heaven
The Sermon on the Mount is an extended conversation about righteousness. Jesus uses the word five times in the three chapters that comprise the SOTM but in actuality the idea is in just about every verse. The righteousness He is speaking of is what happens when God’s kingdom comes and His will is done onContinue reading “Righteousness And The Kingdom Of Heaven”
Pure In Heart, Powerful In Vision
What did Christ mean when He spoke of being pure in heart? (Matthew 5:8)? Was He saying that if and when our heart becomes morally pure enough, we’ll get to see our Father? Did He mean for us to grit our teeth, confess our present unworthiness, and resolve to become more pure—all the while realizing that we’ll neverContinue reading “Pure In Heart, Powerful In Vision”
Pondering The Parables
The parables of Jesus offer us yet another dimension of His teaching. But knowing what we know about Christ, should we really be surprised that He found so many creative ways to talk about the kingdom of heaven? After all, doesn’t the subject matter lend itself to the highest and most powerful expressions we know?Continue reading “Pondering The Parables”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 