Following Jesus – Page 93

Steep Rates

June 25, 2018June 21, 2018Leave a comment

This past Sunday we began a new teaching series called Hard Sayings. For the next few weeks we are going to be examining some of the hard things Jesus said to see if we can’t make some sense out of them. We’ll see if perhaps even though they are hard, they’re also just as important for us to know as some of the easier things like, “For God so loved the world…” Stay tuned in the weeks ahead as we journey together to see that everything Jesus said is important…even if we don’t like the way it sounds at first.

Steep Rates

What are some of your favorite sayings of Jesus? Just shout them out as you think of them if you are willing. As I was sitting writing this a few stood out to me: “I am the good shepherd;” “I will be with you always, even to the very end of the age;” “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest;” “Do not be anxious about your life;” “For God so loved the world…” “Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do;” “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it;” and there are probably more, but these are what came to mind first. Those are all really nice and encouraging sayings. It would be great if the things Jesus said were pretty much limited to these kinds of things. You know what I’m talking about: things such as, “I love you,” “I’ll take care of you,” “I’ll give you eternal life,” and the like. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: John 8:31-32

May 28, 2018May 22, 2018Leave a comment

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Jesus says two really important things here. The first gives us the rubric for having confidence in our fellowship. The second gives us the dual result of this state of affairs. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: 2 Corinthians 1:5

May 18, 2018May 17, 2018Leave a comment

“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Here’s an important principle that radiates from the pages of the New Testament: If we do what Jesus did, we will experience what Jesus did. Put another way: If we walk the path Jesus did, we will receive what Jesus did. This is at one and the same time incredibly challenging and also incredibly encouraging. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Galatians 2:20

May 7, 2018May 3, 2018Leave a comment

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

At first read, this is a pretty far-out there claim for Paul to make. I mean, as far as an objective fact goes it is totally false. He was not crucified with Christ. As far as we know, he was not anywhere nearby when Jesus was crucified. More than that, given where he was theologically then, he would have been part of the crowd cheering on the event. He would likely have been glad to have been able to drive the nails into His hands and feet himself. So what does he mean? Read the rest…

Morning Musings: John 14:26

April 30, 2018April 30, 2018Leave a comment

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Living the life of Christ day-in-and day-out is a tall order. It’s a huge task. If we let it, the thought that we are to live each day following after the pattern of Christ and doing what He said can be an overwhelming thought. If we think about it in the wrong way, it can leave us wondering whether it’s really all worth it. How are we supposed to do this on our own? Read the rest…