August 2017 – The Nexus

Digging in Deeper: 1 Corinthians 14:1-3

August 30, 2017August 28, 2017Leave a comment

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Here in this letter Paul raises the issue of the spiritual gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues. The latter has apparently always been the more popular and interesting of the two. Still, there is a fair bit of ambiguity regarding what exactly these two gifts entail. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 1 Corinthians 14:20

August 30, 2017August 29, 2017Leave a comment

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Christians are often accused of being a naïve lot. We don’t know enough about the world because we haven’t experienced enough of it. How can we say this or that is really bad until we have walked those roads ourselves? Perhaps there is some good in the things we roundly condemn. We just haven’t encountered it because we are too clueless about it. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 2 Chronicles 10:6-8

August 30, 2017August 29, 2017Leave a comment

“Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, ‘How do you advise me to answer this people?’ And they said to him, ‘If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.’ But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Rehoboam was an idiot. But, he was an idiot with a lot of copycats around today. We live in a culture that celebrates youth as one of the highest goods a person can achieve. For those who don’t have it by calendar years, there are many measures that can be taken to maintain its appearance. For those who do have it, though, they are given a seat at the cultural table that tends to be far closer to the head than they should be given. See how many of the cable news channels have as anchors folks who are in their early 30s or even into their 20s. While there are very many young people who are incredibly intelligent and articulate, there is something important and powerful to be said for the perspective and even wisdom that can only be attained by a breadth of experience that only comes with years. Read the rest…

Good Little Children

August 28, 2017August 28, 2017Leave a comment

This past Sunday as we continued our journey in 1 John, A Word on Reality, we looked at both the blessings and the expectations of being called the children of God. The blessings are incredible beyond our ability to comprehend, but we are at the same time called to live up to a standard consonant with our confession. What is this standard? Keep reading to find out. Read the Rest…

Morning Musings: 1 Corinthians 12:31

August 28, 2017August 28, 2017Leave a comment

“But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (ESV)

Verse 31 here of chapter 12 offers important context for understanding chapter 13 that most folks ignore. Chapter 13 is, of course, the famous “love chapter.” Paul offers us a beautiful and vaunted description of what love looks like and the necessity of its centrality in our lives. And while it is certainly and obviously generally applicable, it’s context is advice on how to get our practice of the spiritual gifts right in the church body. Read the rest…