A Good Start

This past Sunday we kicked off a brand new teaching series called, The Big Story.  Over the next few weeks we are going to look at the story of Scripture.  We often spend a lot of time studying the details of the Bible, and that’s not a bad thing.  But if we don’t know the much bigger context in which those details are situated, we run the risk of misunderstanding them.  The goal of this series is to help us understand the big story of Scripture more so we can better understand and know the God who is writing it.

 

A Good Start

Around parts like these where most everybody’s a “from here,” when folks meet someone new there are two primary questions they ask.  Anybody know what these are?  Where are you from and who’s your daddy?  The first question will tell them important things like whether or not you’re a Yankee.  It lets them know whether you’re a Tar Heel, a Blue Devil, or some other strange species…like a Jayhawk.  It gives them a sense of what kind of culture you bring to the area with you.  The second question—especially if you’re not a “come here”—gives them more of a sense of who you are.  If your daddy was well-respected in the community, you’ll probably be given the benefit of the doubt in a lot of things.  If your daddy was generally considered a scoundrel, though, you’re going to be treated with at least a bit of suspicion whether you deserve it or not. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Ephesians 6:12

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Does it feel like it is more and more of a battle to be a follower of Jesus in the U.S. these days?  Welcome to life for most of the rest of your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world and throughout history.  Jesus followers have always tended to be more of a persecuted group than not.  This really shouldn’t be much of a surprise either.  Jesus Himself guaranteed it would happen. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Paul’s focus here is on our words which is pretty important.  Most of us have a tough time staying out of trouble there.  James makes a convincing case for this in his letter (read it here).  We are able in most cases to whip up a mean batch of foot stew at a moment’s notice. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Ephesians 6:4

“Father, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

As a father of three boys, this verse has always struck me with a particularly strong force.  The first part of this little section important, to be sure.  My children should obey me because that is right and life will go better for them if they do.  But, am I being the kind of father who invites obedience? Read the rest…

Digging Deeper: Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (ESV – Read the chapter)

We are not God.  That should be basic, but it’s not.  A reversal of that fact is the fundamental deceit of the fall.  We forget it all the time, in fact.  We regularly are guilty of thinking we know better than God how to run His world.  Things happen a certain way and we almost immediately start Monday-morning-quarterbacking the creator and sustainer of the whole cosmos.  When was the last time you consciously processed a thought which began with, “Well, if I were God…”? Read the rest…