I was preaching/teaching through Revelation on Sunday nights. We had just looked at the first part of chapter 21 and talked about how although this text is commonly applied to heaven, it’s really about the exalted church that has just been delivered from Roman oppression. On the way home Janice made the comment, “That’s really not that hard to see ifContinue reading “A Bookish Approach To The Bible”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Seeing and Seeking
Moses had pleaded with God to see His glory (Exodus 33:18). If you read the chapter you’ll see it wasn’t a frivolous, fawning request for a cool spiritual experience—it was the fervent appeal of a desperate man thrust into leading a stubborn and obstinate generation of people into a strange, new land. Moses is sureContinue reading “Seeing and Seeking”
Getting Started in 2 Thessalonians
Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians was written not long after his first one. It’s brief (47 verses) but has at least three objectives. The one that usually gets the most attention has to do with his desire to correct the mistaken view some had formed regarding the return of Jesus (2:1ff). Paul’s subsequent discussionContinue reading “Getting Started in 2 Thessalonians”
Water into Wine
Numerous contemporaries of Jesus speak of good wine not possessing intoxicating qualities (Pliny, Plutarch, Horace, etc.). In fact, they describe in detail the measures taken to produce such a drink. There’s no reason then, other than cultural bias or biblical ignorance, for insisting that when the master of the banquet spoke of what Jesus made as “choiceContinue reading “Water into Wine”
Life at the Tomb
If you want to have some fun, ask a husband and wife to tell you about something memorable—their wedding, the birth of a child, a vacation story, etc. Then just back away and enjoy the moment. It doesn’t matter who starts telling the story, they won’t get too far before the other breaks in toContinue reading “Life at the Tomb”
The Day The Gates Were Carried Off
One of my favorite pictures of the resurrection comes from the Old Testament book of Judges. It is the story where Samson is inside the city of Gaza (Judges 16). His enemies are outside the gates of the city. They are convinced they finally have Samson cornered—they’ll just wait by the gates until he comes out the nextContinue reading “The Day The Gates Were Carried Off”
Our Sins Were There
When Paul is proclaiming matters of “first importance” in 1 Corinthians 15, he begins with the bedrock truth that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures” (v. 3). Jesus’ death was for all sin and that includes ours. Even though our sins were committed centuries after His death, they nonetheless made HisContinue reading “Our Sins Were There”
Where God is Leading Us
. . . On the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:10) We now know that in the first three years of a newborn’s life, their brain is developing at warp speed. Their brain makes over a million neural connections each ____________Continue reading “Where God is Leading Us”
Jesus, John and Mary
“Here is your son” (v. 26), Jesus said to His mother. In contrast to Pilate’s abdication of his responsibility to Jesus and justice (“Here is the man” – v. 5, “Here is your king” – v. 14), Christ took control regarding His mother’s care. It’s an interesting situation we don’t know as much about asContinue reading “Jesus, John and Mary”
How to Eat an Elephant
Do you remember the riddle, “How do you eat an elephant?” In case you don’t, the answer is, “One bite at a time.” Now I’ve never heard of anyone actually eating elephant, but that’s not really the point of the riddle—it’s aimed at helping us see that the way to tackle any big, daunting project is by breakingContinue reading “How to Eat an Elephant”
