Opening the Bible – Page 4 – A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green

How Great is our God

Through the paise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger” (Psalm 8:3). Psalm 8 is a psalm that resonates with us in our era of space exploration. We’ve put people on the moon, launched innumerable satellites, and even put huge telescopes like the HubbleContinue reading “How Great is our God”

Reflecting on Jesus’ Passion

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15) The Passion of the Christ, the passion play—mostContinue reading “Reflecting on Jesus’ Passion”

High Touch or High Truth?

Unlike the synoptic writers who start with events surrounding Jesus’ birth (Matthew and Luke), or with the ministry of John the Baptizer (Mark), John’s gospel sets a cosmic tone as he goes all of the way back to the beginning. We hear echoes of Genesis 1 as he writes about the beginning, the word, and light. Some have suggestedContinue reading “High Touch or High Truth?”

The Pain of Failure and the Power of Love

All roads eventually end. For some, it’s a dead end (no fun for the driver), but most provide us with an option of some kind—we can go left or right. The best roads though, merge onto other roads and we never have to stop. That’s the way we should think of John 21, as wellContinue reading “The Pain of Failure and the Power of Love”

The Work of Peace

As the pilgrims journeyed toward the holy city, they were thirsty for peace. It was more than just a passing concern for them; peace is a steady theme throughout the ascent psalms (122:6-8, 125:5, 128:6). It’s fitting that as they approached Jerusalem (“the city of peace”), they sought the greater, higher peace of God. InContinue reading “The Work of Peace”

Traveling Mercies

I suppose prayer language is a bit like barbecue—each region has its own distinctive flavor. Some phrases seem to have made the circuit and are employed everywhere (guide, guard and direct, until the next appointed time, well-pleasing in Thy sight). Then there’s one I’ve only heard a handful of times, but I really gravitate toward: traveling mercies. It’sContinue reading “Traveling Mercies”

Rescue from the Heart of Darkness

In the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples, we are told to pray that God will “lead us not into temptation.” This strikes many people as a little strange because it seems to suggest that without this petition, God would lead us into temptation—a conclusion that is clearly out of sync with God’s character (1 JohnContinue reading “Rescue from the Heart of Darkness”

Falling Into Fruitfulness

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (Jesus in John 12:24). We are born with two fears—the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. The sensation of falling is an uncomfortable one. Think ofContinue reading “Falling Into Fruitfulness”

Great Or Small?

Our need for God’s forgiveness (as well as its relationship to us forgiving others), is brought home in a major way in a story that Luke records in 7:36-50 of his gospel. Following Tiede (Augsburg Commentary), it seems that having shown Jesus’ teaching (“When Jesus has finished saying all of this” – v. 1), LukeContinue reading “Great Or Small?”

The Subversive Gospel

SUB-VER-SIVE – adj. Intending or intended to subvert an established order, especially to undermine or overthrow an established government. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language) We don’t normally think of the message about Jesus as being subversive. That’s to our poverty because it absolutely is. After all, becoming a follower is spoken ofContinue reading “The Subversive Gospel”