Word and Testimony

Paul challenges us to walk worthy of Christ in our character and in our unity.

There seem to be two competing rhythms in the Bible about retreat and rest and engagement in the ministry to which God calls us. Which one should we listen to more?

Here we explore how Paul links his metaphors of walking and what he means as he builds them together to create a full picture of the life to which we are called as Christians.

God wants his Church to be one family of faith, one body of Christ in the world, one Church through whom the world sees Christ our Lord.

Talking through how we live as one family of faith in light of the current injustice in Ukraine.

Paul’s emphasis on unity and being the one family of faith takes on a participatory shift in Ephesians 4:1-6.

Paul’s emphasis on unity in the Church has me thinking about how I live in the family of faith.

Does God change his mind or is Moses in authority over God? What about partnering with God and God’s willingness to be merciful and gracious instead of bring the fullness of his justice?

Looking at Paul’s reasons and mystery in the Gospel and the letter to Ephesus.

Answering my sister-in-law’s questions about the 10 Commandments and the relevance for us as Christians today.

God has made us his workmanship in Christ Jesus and prepared good works for us in advance. First among those works is being the unified body of Christ.

The Bible is a story, one that runs from Genesis through Revelation. It puts context to everything we encounter and shapes how we should look at the truth it provides us.

Looking at Ephesians 2:1-10, and thinking about the riches of his mercy and grace.

I discuss an introduction to how we look for and hold onto key themes and ideas in Paul’s letters.

A look at Ephesians 1 and how the idea of Christ’s reign as the head of the Church shapes us and the rest of the letter.

Starting a deep dive in Ephesians

Scripture tells us a story of creation and recreation. How will we participate in God’s work of recreation?

How do we respond to our calling? God calls us all to follow Christ Jesus, to live like Christ Jesus, and lead like Christ Jesus.

God bring us a community as we seek refuge with him. That community becomes refuge for itself as it begins to rise to the occasion of the call of the Gospel. David and Bonhoeffer highlight that for us.

This abbreviated version of my message with a group of young men is about David’s refuge in the cave of Adullam. While hiding from Saul, David becomes a hiding place for others.

Jesus Christ lived obedient to the Father and as an offering for our benefit. As we come to Christmas, can we follow him in living obedient to the Father and giving ourselves sacrificially in a life committed to Christ Jesus our Lord?

Looking at the accomplishment of the Law and how it deals with sin in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

What are we to make of myrrh as a gift given to Jesus at his birth?

What was the task of the Mosaic Law, how was it supposed to change us?  How did Jesus understand his own teaching and how it relates to the Law God gave through Moses?

Taking a look at the gift of frankincense given to Jesus and why it matters for us at Christmas.