Read: Luke 6:1-11 When we look at Jesus’ central message, particularly in the Gospel of Luke, it initially comes across as a bit harsh, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). It’s not what we typically think of in a gospel […]

Read: Galatians Have you ever struggled to understand the relationship between faith and good works? You’re not alone. In fact, it is a problem that has plagued believers since the beginning of time.  This is the issue at the core of Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia. Certain individuals, claiming to be Jewish followers […]

I think it’s common—and it’s common because it’s natural—to think that when we sin and we’ve done something wrong, that we incur guilt and that God’s not pleased with us. We have a conscience. God made us that way. We have minds informed by the Word of God and we know who God is. We […]

How do we change and grow as Christians? In the same way we became Christians. That’s why in Galatians 3:1-3, Paul reminds the Galatian Christians how it was that they came to Christ. And in essence, “Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified” (v. 1). This portrayal was achieved through preaching, through “what you heard” […]

Read: Psalm 83 When I was in college, I had a roommate who enjoyed listening to angry rock music. After he had become a Christian, he sought out an alternative Christian version of the same genre. Believe it or not, there is such a thing. Imagine listening to the lyrics from “Amazing Grace” sung with […]

The children in our church love to sing the song, “Father Abraham.” They like it because of all of the silly motions. It’s like a Christian version of the “Hokey Pokey.” I like it because it teaches a crucial doctrine: we are the offspring of Abraham, not by direct physical lineage, but as heirs of […]