As we light the Candle of Hope in our Advent wreath, we look at Luke's accounts of hope coming into the world: the first spark with the birth of John and the ongoing light with the birth of Jesus. Like newly born infants, hope needs to be fed, nurtured and sustained in order to grow and flourish in the world. We look at ways in which we can do exactly that during Advent and Christmas this year.
As we light the Candle of Hope in our Advent wreath, we look at Luke's accounts of hope coming into the world: the first spark with the birth of John and the ongoing light with the birth of Jesus. Like newly born infants, hope needs to be fed, nurtured and sustained in order to grow and flourish in the world. We look at ways in which we can do exactly that during Advent and Christmas this year.
Paul invites his readers to, "Consider your own call." The concept of call in the Biblical narrative is multifaceted. Primarily, it is a call by Someone and only secondarily a call to do something, somewhere. When we confuse the Someone with the something and somewhere, various distortions occur. We begin to look at Advent and Christmas through the lens of being a people called by Someone. [With thanks to Os Guinness for the Someone, something, somewhere terminology].
Paul invites his readers to, "Consider your own call." The concept of call in the Biblical narrative is multifaceted. Primarily, it is a call by Someone and only secondarily a call to do something, somewhere. When we confuse the Someone with the something and somewhere, various distortions occur. We begin to look at Advent and Christmas through the lens of being a people called by Someone. [With thanks to Os Guinness for the Someone, something, somewhere terminology].
Paul shows how the message about the cross - a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles - is actually the power to save all people. He relates the message in a way that connects with the past, present and future of his audience, and this challenges us to do the same today.
Paul shows how the message about the cross - a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles - is actually the power to save all people. He relates the message in a way that connects with the past, present and future of his audience, and this challenges us to do the same today.
In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul identifies unity and clarity of purpose as two of the key issues that need to be addressed in the life of this community. We look at our own community and examine ourselves in the light of Paul's words. How do we measure up when it comes to unity and clarity of purpose?
In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul identifies unity and clarity of purpose as two of the key issues that need to be addressed in the life of this community. We look at our own community and examine ourselves in the light of Paul's words. How do we measure up when it comes to unity and clarity of purpose?
As we examine the early Corinthian church and how it fared in its efforts to follow the teachings of Jesus we are drawn to ask the same question of our church today: How well are we following Jesus' teachings? What could we be doing better and is there hope for a more Christocentric future?
Today we look at some practical advice from the letter to the Ephesians about how we should behave, as Christians, with one another. Topic: Communication
In the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus re-emphasizes the importance of not simply hearing his words but also acting upon them in the world. The underlying message is shocking in its simplicity: Love like Jesus loved.
In the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus re-emphasizes the importance of not simply hearing his words but also acting upon them in the world. The underlying message is shocking in its simplicity: Love like Jesus loved.
At this point in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks against false prophets. True prophets share a number of characteristics in the Biblical narrative and one of them is speaking out against injustice. We examine how we can collude with "false prophets" simply by remaining silent in the face of injustice and oppression.
At this point in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks against false prophets. True prophets share a number of characteristics in the Biblical narrative and one of them is speaking out against injustice. We examine how we can collude with "false prophets" simply by remaining silent in the face of injustice and oppression.
Jesus describes two paths in life: one is worthwhile but not so easy, the other is easy but not so worthwhile. He makes clear a way of life that is God-centered and embracing of both the self and others. Let's see how our own lives line up with these teachings of Jesus.
Jesus describes two paths in life: one is worthwhile but not so easy, the other is easy but not so worthwhile. He makes clear a way of life that is God-centered and embracing of both the self and others. Let's see how our own lives line up with these teachings of Jesus.
Jesus provides guidelines for how we should interact with each other, culminating in the Golden Rule, which he describes as summarizing the entirety of the law and the prophets. Jesus sets a high standard for our interactions with each other.
Jesus provides guidelines for how we should interact with each other, culminating in the Golden Rule, which he describes as summarizing the entirety of the law and the prophets. Jesus sets a high standard for our interactions with each other.
After his warning that a person cannot serve both God and mammon (wealth), Jesus moves directly to consideration of the other great distraction that can ruin a person's life: worry! He suggests strategies for dealing with excessive worrying that move beyond the catchy saying, "Don't worry. Be happy."
After his warning that a person cannot serve both God and mammon (wealth), Jesus moves directly to consideration of the other great distraction that can ruin a person's life: worry! He suggests strategies for dealing with excessive worrying that move beyond the catchy saying, "Don't worry. Be happy."
When Jesus teaches about money, these teachings are actually about the Kingdom of God. How we view people with money and people who have none, says a lot about how we see the world and whether or not the teachings of Jesus have impacted us.
When Jesus teaches about money, these teachings are actually about the Kingdom of God. How we view people with money and people who have none, says a lot about how we see the world and whether or not the teachings of Jesus have impacted us.
Jesus talks about fasting alongside prayer and alms-giving with an assumption that people simply fast! Today the connection between fasting and prayer and alms-giving might seem a little remote until we approach the subject in the way that Jesus does.
Jesus talks about fasting alongside prayer and alms-giving with an assumption that people simply fast! Today the connection between fasting and prayer and alms-giving might seem a little remote until we approach the subject in the way that Jesus does.
Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount with words on alms-giving, prayer and fasting. We look especially at the sections on alms-giving and prayer (fasting will be our subject next week) and we examine the Lord's Prayer. We see how Jesus provides in this prayer an example of how motivation, authenticity and involvement are central to piety. We see how the prayer looks to those who are active participants with God in building the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a prayer for participants, not spectators...
Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount with words on alms-giving, prayer and fasting. We look especially at the sections on alms-giving and prayer (fasting will be our subject next week) and we examine the Lord's Prayer. We see how Jesus provides in this prayer an example of how motivation, authenticity and involvement are central to piety. We see how the prayer looks to those who are active participants with God in building the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a prayer for participants, not spectators...
In this section of "The Sermon On The Mount," Jesus shows how to relate the Torah, the story of the people of Israel, his own life and teaching, and the Kingdom of Heaven. If we are to treat seriously the narrative of Hebrew Scripture then these words of Jesus will show us how to encounter the Torah and the overarching story of the people of Israel.
In this section of "The Sermon On The Mount," Jesus shows how to relate the Torah, the story of the people of Israel, his own life and teaching, and the Kingdom of Heaven. If we are to treat seriously the narrative of Hebrew Scripture then these words of Jesus will show us how to encounter the Torah and the overarching story of the people of Israel.
Following the beatitudes (makarisms), Jesus presents two new images: salt and light. He tells his listeners that they are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." What could he have had in mind? How do the images of salt and light function in the narrative and how can these images guide us in our discipleship today?
Following the beatitudes (makarisms), Jesus presents two new images: salt and light. He tells his listeners that they are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world." What could he have had in mind? How do the images of salt and light function in the narrative and how can these images guide us in our discipleship today?
