It would be hard to read 1 & 2 Samuel (originally just one book), without getting the idea that the writer’s intent is to convey the events leading to a monarchy in Israel. Even more to the point, he would have us to understand how the Davidic kingship was established. That being the case, we see this theme pursued and developed through atContinue reading “Two Kings And The School Of Suffering”
Tag Archives: Jesus
The Chicken Sandwich Skirmishes
It’s been interesting to observe the chicken sandwich skirmishes, which are part of the marriage battle, which is part of what is incorrectly referred to as the cultural war. There is no such thing. It is the war between darkness and light. One of the things that continues to amaze me is how surprised disciples are in regardContinue reading “The Chicken Sandwich Skirmishes”
Scattered
I had been at the hospital visiting a dear friend who didn’t have much longer to live. As I stepped out into the parking lot, the cold bleak sky mirrored what seemed to me to be the mood of the world. Scattered across the pavement was what looked like a complete deck of playing cards. It struck meContinue reading “Scattered”
Drinking Or Pouring?
I heard someone relate his grandmother’s wisdom regarding the half full/empty glass. She said, “People want to know if the glass is half-empty of half-full. Well, to my way of thinking, it all depends upon whether you’re drinking or pouring!” There’s much in these words for the disciple of Jesus! If we take our behavioral cues from ourContinue reading “Drinking Or Pouring?”
The Joy That Jesus Brings
It’s an understatement to that the Pharisees and teachers of the law didn’t know what to make of Jesus. They didn’t come anywhere close to seeing Him for what He was. He wasn’t Someone who had come tweak their system a bit here and there—He called for a radical revisioning of things (Mark 2:21-22 and the Sermon onContinue reading “The Joy That Jesus Brings”
Learning To Listen To God (2)
Our distraction bubble is the sum total of things that are competing for our attention. It is sights, sounds and screens to be sure, but it is more than environmental noise. It consists of our inner voice—you know, the one that is constantly telling you what you what you should or shouldn’t be doing rightContinue reading “Learning To Listen To God (2)”
What Happened In The Wilderness
It’s easy to think of Jesus resisting temptation in quantitative terms—He was able to do more than we could. We could have resisted up to a point, but Jesus resisted all of the way. There’s truth to this of course, but it’s not the whole truth and consequently if we treat it like the whole truth itContinue reading “What Happened In The Wilderness”
Letting God Be God
Coming up with a comprehensive picture of the Sadducees isn’t easy. We have no writings from them. Aside from Scripture, our information about who they were and what they believed comes from outside sources (primarily Josephus and the Mishnah). And there’s a sparseness in these that makes almost everything they say more conjecture than conclusion.Continue reading “Letting God Be God”
A Heart Set On Worship
Matthew tells us of Magi from the east who came to see the Christ child. They brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. William Barclay suggests that gold is what you would give a king; frankincense is for a priest (it was offered on the altar of incense in the holy place—Exodus 30:34); andContinue reading “A Heart Set On Worship”
Overwhelmed By Jesus
Since Hebrews is more a first-century sermon than letter, it begins not with a greeting but rather with an enormously staggering statement about Jesus (1:1-4). This introduction is like the lavish entrance to a magnificent estate. The writer wants his audience to (once again) be overwhelmed with Him. They had been that way before (10:34-35),Continue reading “Overwhelmed By Jesus”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 