ecclesiology, ethics, exegesis/exposition, grace, Jesus, teachings of
Introduction Because of its detail and sequence, Matthew 18:15-20 has long been recognized as a central passage in dealing with sin, conflict resolution, and discipline in the church. In these verses Jesus provides His disciples a pattern for dealing with a sinning...
exegesis/exposition, hermeneutics, Jesus, teachings of
It may seem odd to suggest that the book entitled Apocalupsis does not belong to the genre of literature commonly referred to as apocalyptic, nonetheless that is my suggestion here. The term employed in the title of the book denotes a revelation or disclosure.[1]...
exegesis/exposition, Jesus, teachings of
Years ago, inaugural Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Coach John McKay was asked, after yet another loss, about his team’s execution. He quipped without hesitation, “I’m all for it.” McKay had the ability to quickly recognize not only the original, intended meaning of a...
Jesus, teachings of, theology
In John 6:53-56 we find a strange statement by Jesus that troubled even His disciples (6:60): 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 “He who...
death, eternal punishment, grace, hope, Jesus, teachings of, salvation, theology
In the third installment of the Indiana Jones franchise (spoiler alert), the guardian of the “holy grail” warned Jones to “choose wisely, as the real grail brings eternal life, the false grail brings death.” Jones proves his wise choice by not...
Jesus, teachings of, philosophy, theology, worldview
Loyalty is a beautiful thing. Loyalty to loved ones, family members, and even noble ideas, for example, is generally perceived as admirable. But loyalty to unworthy ideas is unbecoming, and even destructive. While not all belief systems are particularly concerned...
ecclesiology, Jesus, teachings of, spiritual gifts, theology
With over 40,000 members, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas is the largest church in the United States. For better or for worse, Lakewood and its leader Joel Osteen are profoundly influential. One significant area of influence is in the realm of spiritual gifts. A...
eschatology, ethics, Jesus, teachings of, politics, social justice, worldview
A long time ago, in a galaxy not far away, Jesus tells a man, “Follow me.” The man responds with hesitation – but for good reason. “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” Noble request right? Before the man could be totally committed to following Jesus, he...
ethics, Jesus, teachings of, leadership, prayer
Imprecatory is from the Latin imprecari, meaning to invoke or to pray for, and usually has the connotation of invoking or praying for evil or a curse on someone. When the Psalmist asks God to “shatter their teeth in their mouth” (Ps 58:6), or “as wax melts before the...
Jesus, teachings of, parenting
“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” With these words from his third letter (3 John 4), John shows us what fatherhood is really all about. He underscores the endgame for fathers, and it is much simpler than we often consider...
