Some years ago I taught a course on the life and teachings of Jesus in the Church of the Brethren. We spent a lot of time on the Kingdom of God since every New Testament scholar agrees that Jesus’ message was the Kingdom of God. Part of what Jesus meant… Continue reading
Paul says we are wrestling not with human flesh, but with principalities and powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, and with the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. This passage may not be unfamiliar to those who read their bibles and attend church on a… Continue reading
(7 minutes) As I reflect on my spiritual journey, I realize that my concept of prayer is very different from what it was many years ago. I hope that this is a result of some maturing in the faith. So often we are tempted to think of prayer as our… Continue reading
In solitude we heard the voice of God calling us God’s beloved. We experienced unconditional love as God embraced us as we are. And we realized our solidarity with the rest of humanity. We are far more alike than we are different, and by the grace of God our salvation… Continue reading
Four decades ago as an idealistic seminary student I assumed that by the beginning of the third millennium we would have moved beyond prejudice, racism, ethnic slurs, discrimination, and economic disenfranchisement. But here we are in 2019 with racism very much with us as well as a deep suspicion toward… Continue reading
With this parable Jesus deals with a very serious subject by means of a humorous story–one which at first tickles our fancy, then with the use of imagination results in some hearty chuckles, and finally with some insight brings us to profound truth. When God’s Kingdom seems to be painfully… Continue reading
I love Clarence Jordan’s translation of this verse from Hebrews: “Faith is the activation of our aspirations, the life based on unseen realities. It is conviction translated into deeds. In short, it is the word become flesh.” Today, as we look at the concept of faith, we need to begin… Continue reading
(8 minutes) I believe it was the homiletics professor and minister John Killinger who once said that “Jesus is God’s answer to a bad reputation.” I have often thought of the truth of that pithy statement, especially when I consider the way God is used and abused in our world…. Continue reading
(16 minutes) An impressive television preacher equates faith with positive thinking and promises happiness, success, wealth, and health to those who live by his formula. A faith healer explains to a family which has just lost a mother that if she had just had enough faith, she would have lived…. Continue reading
In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul says that three abide: faith, hope, and love. Perhaps few words are as precious to us as followers of Jesus as these three terms. But what do they mean? Even these wonderful words have been distorted in our culture and unfortunately by some Christians over… Continue reading
