I suppose just about everyone can relate to the story of Jesus returning to his home town of Nazareth (Luke 4:14ff), but especially those who have been away from the place where they grew up for a significant amount of time. Just as it’s hard for us not to think of our hometown in theContinue reading “When Church is Over”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
The Strength of the Insignificant
The book of Judges prepares us for the monarchy. In 17:6 and again in 21:25 we hear, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Rather than there being a central human authority who united everyone and led them in the same direction, tribalism prevailed in Israel. We see thisContinue reading “The Strength of the Insignificant”
The Reaching Hand of the Flawed Man
The psalms are different than the bulk of Scripture in that they are the record of people speaking to God rather than God speaking to people. Under the guidance and oversight of the Spirit, they have become part of the biblical witness. That doesn’t mean everything in them is in line with God’s will orContinue reading “The Reaching Hand of the Flawed Man”
Blessed
Psalm 128 begins in a way familiar to the psalter—with the word Blessed. Half a dozen psalms start this way and another thirty-seven pronounce this desired state of being at some point in their writing. This much should be clear—God is in the business of blessing people! That’s not just what He does—it’s who He is.Continue reading “Blessed”
I’ve Been to Church!
In Psalms, there is the principle I like to think of as the “I’ve been to church” principle. (Yes, I know disciples are “the church,” but there is also something to the idea of “coming together as a church” – 1 Corinthians 11:18 and I’m after something like that here). You’ve “been to church” when you’veContinue reading “I’ve Been to Church!”
Will God Reign in the Rain?
Chapters 1-4 of 1 Corinthians are a unit where Paul takes aim at the divisiveness and fragmentation of the church. This discord was reflected in the alliances they had formed over different teachers. It was all quite competitive—and equally unhealthy. We tend to align ourselves with someone or something because it reflects our own likesContinue reading “Will God Reign in the Rain?”
I Marvel at the Wisdom of my God
There was no shortage of wisdom at Corinth! Their philosophers, poets, statesmen, and orators were brimming over with it. There was the wisdom of their gods. Corinth was a seaport and only fifty miles from Athens so like them, they would have had a god for every occasion and just to be safe—they probably also hadContinue reading “I Marvel at the Wisdom of my God”
A Kingdom Divided Against Itself
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2) Things had gotten sideways at Corinth. Not only had the disciples gone rogue in following different teachers, it appearsContinue reading “A Kingdom Divided Against Itself”
Rooting ourselves in community
It’s no secret to anyone who spends any time in 1 Corinthians that the disciples at Corinth were experiencing some serious problems due to their divisiveness. Paul points this out at the start (1:10ff) and returns to it frequently throughout the letter. It is one of the major themes of 1 Corinthians. I suppose thereContinue reading “Rooting ourselves in community”
Romans Review
Here’s an acrostic of Romans to remind us about some of the big things we learn from Paul’s letter. The R in Romans is for rich. Romans doesn’t teach us this, but it’s certainly something we learn from spending time in the book. It is one of the richest books in Scripture. What makes it that way? Continue reading “Romans Review”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 