As he tells us that, "No one can serve two masters," Jesus continues in the Sermon on the Mount with encouragement for those of us who worry about what the future might hold. He tells us, "So do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring worries of its own." and observes that, "Today’s trouble is enough for today." We look at the words of Jesus as urging us to focus on the here and now, and not to construct imaginary futures that keep us awake at night and which distract us from moving tow...
Oct 20, 2019
As he tells us that, "No one can serve two masters," Jesus continues in the Sermon on the Mount with encouragement for those of us who worry about what the future might hold. He tells us, "So do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring worries of its own." and observes that, "Today’s trouble is enough for today." We look at the words of Jesus as urging us to focus on the here and now, and not to construct imaginary futures that keep us awake at night and which distract us from moving tow...
Oct 20, 2019•27 min
As we read the Sermon on the Mount, we encounter Jesus speaking of fasting, along with prayer and alms-giving. While prayer and alms-giving continue to be regular features of current-day church life, fasting, at least in Protestant circles, seems to have fallen off the radar! We examine the teachings about, and examples of, fasting in the Hebrew Bible and look to the teachings of Jesus to see how fasting, prayer and alms-giving come together as a whole in the life of the individual and community...
Oct 06, 2019
As we read the Sermon on the Mount, we encounter Jesus speaking of fasting, along with prayer and alms-giving. While prayer and alms-giving continue to be regular features of current-day church life, fasting, at least in Protestant circles, seems to have fallen off the radar! We examine the teachings about, and examples of, fasting in the Hebrew Bible and look to the teachings of Jesus to see how fasting, prayer and alms-giving come together as a whole in the life of the individual and community...
Oct 06, 2019•29 min
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of piety using three main examples: prayer, alms giving, and fasting. This wee we focus on prayer and how Jesus teaches the Lord's Prayer. Appropriate practice of piety leads us towards the Kingdom while inappropriate practice of piety leads us away from the Kingdom. And, Jesus teaches, appropriateness is related to motivation and authenticity.
Sep 29, 2019
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of piety using three main examples: prayer, alms giving, and fasting. This wee we focus on prayer and how Jesus teaches the Lord's Prayer. Appropriate practice of piety leads us towards the Kingdom while inappropriate practice of piety leads us away from the Kingdom. And, Jesus teaches, appropriateness is related to motivation and authenticity.
Sep 29, 2019•30 min
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains how the law is to read through the lens of his life and teaching. His life and teaching do not abolish the law but rather fulfill it.
Sep 22, 2019
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains how the law is to read through the lens of his life and teaching. His life and teaching do not abolish the law but rather fulfill it.
Sep 22, 2019•31 min
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses the images of salt and light in addressing his audience. We explore how these images might have been understood and look to what this understanding teaches us about the nature of discipleship today.
Sep 15, 2019
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses the images of salt and light in addressing his audience. We explore how these images might have been understood and look to what this understanding teaches us about the nature of discipleship today.
Sep 15, 2019•28 min
In the final beatitudes we look to see how Jesus speaks of purity of heart, the concept of shalom, and how his followers can act in the face of persecution.
Sep 08, 2019
In the final beatitudes we look to see how Jesus speaks of purity of heart, the concept of shalom, and how his followers can act in the face of persecution.
Sep 08, 2019•28 min
In our reading of the Sermon on the Mount we look to the third, fourth and fifth beatitudes through the lens of grace, understood in terms of the patron-client relationships that were in effect at the time of Jesus.
Sep 01, 2019
In our reading of the Sermon on the Mount we look to the third, fourth and fifth beatitudes through the lens of grace, understood in terms of the patron-client relationships that were in effect at the time of Jesus.
Sep 01, 2019•23 min
As we celebrate the Blessing of the Backpacks we are reminded that God chooses us, both children and adults, regardless of who we are, to be part of his ongoing story.
Aug 18, 2019
As we celebrate the Blessing of the Backpacks we are reminded that God chooses us, both children and adults, regardless of who we are, to be part of his ongoing story.
Aug 18, 2019•16 min
In the final chapter of the Epistle of James, we see how the hoarding of excess wealth leads to disruption across the relational spectrum of God - Neighbor - Self.
Aug 11, 2019
In the final chapter of the Epistle of James, we see how the hoarding of excess wealth leads to disruption across the relational spectrum of God - Neighbor - Self.
Aug 11, 2019•28 min
James explores the question of control in the latter part of chapter 4 of his epistle, writing ‘If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.’ The conditio Jacobaea (the Jacobean reservation) became a Christian devotional to remind us, in humility and hope, that the future and, in particular, planned events are subject to the will of God.
Aug 04, 2019
James explores the question of control in the latter part of chapter 4 of his epistle, writing ‘If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.’ The conditio Jacobaea (the Jacobean reservation) became a Christian devotional to remind us, in humility and hope, that the future and, in particular, planned events are subject to the will of God.
Aug 04, 2019•17 min
In the third chapter of James, we see how language can be a double-edged sword, capable of being used both to praise God and to assault those made in the Image of God. James encourages us to show each other what faith looks like in the world rather than to rely exclusively on language as a means of expressing ourselves.
Jul 28, 2019
In the third chapter of James, we see how language can be a double-edged sword, capable of being used both to praise God and to assault those made in the Image of God. James encourages us to show each other what faith looks like in the world rather than to rely exclusively on language as a means of expressing ourselves.
Jul 28, 2019•26 min
In chapter 2 of James, we read of the role of works in salvation and see how John Wesley linked together faith, with a very specific meaning, and the works which result from such faith.
Jul 21, 2019
In chapter 2 of James, we read of the role of works in salvation and see how John Wesley linked together faith, with a very specific meaning, and the works which result from such faith.
Jul 21, 2019•34 min
In the first chapter of the Epistle of James, we see an emphasis on "doing" (For if any are hearers of the word and not doers ...) that might appear to be an endorsement of works righteousness. We look to the work of Søren Kierkegaard on James to see how to integrate hearing and doing in a way that maintains the primacy of grace.
Jul 14, 2019
In the first chapter of the Epistle of James, we see an emphasis on "doing" (For if any are hearers of the word and not doers ...) that might appear to be an endorsement of works righteousness. We look to the work of Søren Kierkegaard on James to see how to integrate hearing and doing in a way that maintains the primacy of grace.
Jul 14, 2019•34 min
On the heels of Trinity Sunday, we look to the Athanasian Creed to understand Christology and its connection to Trinitarian theology. The fully divine and fully human Jesus, the Christ, shows us how we can be perfected by the love of God to recover the Imago Dei, individually and communally.
Jun 23, 2019
On the heels of Trinity Sunday, we look to the Athanasian Creed to understand Christology and its connection to Trinitarian theology. The fully divine and fully human Jesus, the Christ, shows us how we can be perfected by the love of God to recover the Imago Dei, individually and communally.
Jun 23, 2019•29 min
On this Trinity Sunday we look to the Athanasian Creed to help us discern the nature of God and hence what it means to be made in the Image of God and to be seeking to recover that image in our individual and corporate lives.
Jun 16, 2019
On this Trinity Sunday we look to the Athanasian Creed to help us discern the nature of God and hence what it means to be made in the Image of God and to be seeking to recover that image in our individual and corporate lives.
Jun 16, 2019•28 min
