The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson

We explore five essential attributes of a great man found in Matthew 20, challenging cultural definitions of masculinity with Jesus' counter-cultural teaching on true greatness. • A great man puts Jesus first, including prioritizing Sabbath rest • A great man knows how to endure suffering that comes from pushing back darkness • A great man lives under authority before expecting to receive aut...

Jesus radically redefines greatness through the fourth characteristic we explore from Matthew 20: a great man serves. In stark contrast to worldly leadership that lords authority over others, Jesus calls his followers to a completely different model where true greatness is found in becoming a servant. • Examining how Jesus confronts the mother of James and John when she asks for positions of honor...

Our rebellious culture celebrates individualism, but true greatness comes through living under authority, just as Jesus submitted to his Father's will. • Great men know how to live under authority • Jesus demonstrates submission to the Father in Matthew 20:20-28 • God will not bless rebellion against established authorities • Personal testimony of honoring pastoral authority when planting Chu...

True greatness in God's kingdom comes through suffering, not worldly power or position. The desire for greatness isn't inherently wrong, but it must be pursued God's way, following Christ's example on the cross. • Matthew 20 reveals that great men know how to suffer • Direct correlation between suffering endured and responsibility God entrusts • Jesus asked disciples if they co...

Jesus redefines greatness for his disciples by flipping worldly values upside down and establishing a new kingdom paradigm based on serving others rather than seeking power. • The first sign of kingdom greatness is finding proximity to Jesus rather than pursuing positional power • Jesus never scolded his disciples for wanting greatness, but completely redefined what it means to be great • True gre...

The journey to Golgotha reveals God's masterful plan of redemption across millennia, connecting Abraham's near-sacrifice, David's victory over Goliath, and Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection at the place of the skull. • Mount Moriah: Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac, stopped by God who provided a substitutionary ram with its head caught in thorns • Battle of Elah: David...

We explore how biblical narratives across thousands of years connect at a single sacred location, Golgotha, revealing God's redemptive plan unfolding throughout history. • Connection between Abraham's sacrifice on Mount Moriah and David's battle with Goliath • David's confidence in God rather than weapons when facing the Philistine giant • Why David took five stones (Goliath ha...

David's journey from shepherd boy to giant-slayer unfolds against the backdrop of God's rejection of King Saul and the anointing of a new king. This dramatic story reveals how a teenager's fierce faith propelled him to confront the massive Philistine warrior who had terrorized Israel's army for 40 days. • God rejects Saul as king and sends Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's s...

The story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah reveals profound foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice when Abraham discovers a ram caught by its horns in a thicket of thorns—essentially wearing a "crown of thorns" as the substitutionary sacrifice God provided. • Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his promised son Isaac on Mount Moriah • Isaac was likely a teenager or young adult who w...

We begin our week-long journey to Golgotha by examining its Old Testament foundations in the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus form the bedrock of Christianity, but understanding their significance requires exploring biblical history that points to this ultimate sacrifice. • Abram's journey begins in Genesis 12 when God promises to make him...

John 5 challenges us to examine whether we rejoice in God's miracles or criticize them like the Pharisees did when Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The passage reveals how religious leaders missed the miracle by focusing on rule-breaking rather than celebrating a life transformed after 38 years of disability. • Jesus heals a man who had been disabled for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda • The rel...

Jesus encounters a man at the Pool of Bethesda who had been paralyzed for 38 years, asking him a simple yet profound question: "Do you want to be healed?" The man responds with excuses rather than a direct answer, revealing our human tendency to blame circumstances rather than take responsibility. • Making excuses versus making things happen in our Christian life • The paralyzed man&apos...

Jesus asks a seemingly obvious question at the Pool of Bethesda: "Do you want to be healed?" This profound inquiry reveals that many people don't actually want healing because they've built their identity around their wounds. • Many resist healing because wounds have become their identity • Some cling to injuries as excuses for destructive behaviors • Others avoid healing becau...

Jesus visits the pool of Bethesda by Jerusalem's Sheep Gate, where society's "invalids" gathered, and demonstrates how our true identity comes not from worldly labels but from Christ's validation. • Sheep Gate was the easternmost gate on Jerusalem's northern wall where sacrificial animals entered • The location was symbolic—people treated like animals gathered at pool...

Jesus reveals the true nature of miracles by performing signs that point to God's greater redemptive story, not just displays of raw power. His healing of a man at the Pool of Bethesda demonstrates how miracles often require a step of faith or obedience from those receiving them. • Miracles in John's gospel are always called "signs" because they point to something greater than...

God reveals seven key attributes of Himself in Exodus 34:6-7, providing a comprehensive self-description that balances divine mercy with perfect justice. We explore the final attribute—God's justice—and how it works together with His compassion, grace, patience, loving-kindness, faithfulness, and forgiveness to form His complete character. • God's justice requires that sin must be punish...

We explore God's attributes in Exodus 34:6-7, focusing on His faithfulness and forgiveness as revealed directly by God to Moses. These divine qualities provide a foundation for understanding God's character and how we should respond to others. • God is faithful, meaning He overflows with truth and always fulfills His promises • God's faithfulness demonstrated through promises to Abr...

God reveals seven attributes of His character in Exodus 34:6-7, providing a powerful description of divine nature through His own words to Moses. We explore four of these attributes: God's compassion, graciousness, patience (slowness to anger), and His unfailing loving kindness (chesed). • God describes Himself as "slow to anger" – demonstrating incredible patience with humanity • T...

God describes seven distinct attributes of himself in Exodus 34:6-7, revealing his true nature and character to Moses after the Israelites' rebellion with the golden calf. • Compassion is the first attribute God reveals, sharing its root with the Hebrew word for "womb," showing the depth of God's protective care • The word gracious means "to bend or stoop down," illus...

God provides a list of His attributes in Exodus 34:6-7, offering a unique opportunity to understand how He describes Himself. Before revealing His attributes, God established four protective barriers for Moses, demonstrating that while He desires to reveal Himself, our finite nature requires protection from His full glory. • Understanding God's attributes can be challenging without His direct...

We examine one of Christianity's most misunderstood teachings: Jesus' command to "turn the other cheek," revealing why this verse doesn't prohibit self-defense as commonly believed. • Part of our "Yeah, That's Not What That Means" series covering misapplied scriptures • Matthew 5:38-39 refers to verbal slights, not physical assaults requiring self-defense •...

The second episode in our "Yeah, That's Not What That Means" series tackles two commonly misinterpreted Bible verses: Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11, revealing how prosperity preachers have twisted these passages to falsely promise believers guaranteed success and material prosperity. • Clarifying that Jeremiah 29:11 was specifically addressed to Jewish exiles in Babylon, promising...

We're exploring commonly misunderstood scriptures in our series "Yeah, That's Not What That Means," tackling Philippians 4:13 and revealing its true context as a teaching about contentment rather than personal achievement. • Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me") is frequently misused as motivation for personal success • The verse a...

We dive into another commonly misunderstood scripture, Luke 17:1-2, where Jesus uses the terrifying image of drowning with a millstone to warn against causing spiritual stumbling. • Exploring the fifth installment in our series "Yeah, That's Not What That Means" • Clarifying that "little ones" refers to people young in their faith, not just children • Explaining how the Gr...

The most misapplied verse in Scripture might be Jesus' words on judging others, as Christians and non-Christians alike quote "Do not judge" without understanding its true context. When properly understood, Jesus wasn't prohibiting all judgment but was warning specifically against hypocritical judgment that ignores our own failings while criticizing others. • Introduction to &qu...