Until Jesus returns, there will always be evil and hatred in the world. This is the human condition. People will always have bitterness and hatred in their hearts as long as the world separates itself from the healing love of God. The absence of...
June 1 from My Utmost For His Highest (John 21:16) by Oswald Chambers (emphasis added) Jesus did not say—Make converts to your way of thinking, but look after My sheep, see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Me. We count as service what we...
I’m on vacation (Outer Banks, NC). So here’s a great devo from the classically dependent Oswald Chambers. Judge not, that ye be not judged. –Matthew 7:1. Jesus says regarding judging—Don’t. The average Christian is the most penetratingly...
I’m a huge advocate of corporate worship and communal Christianity. My personal MO is shaped by the fact that salvation is for a people through a people. I make it a habit of pointing out that too often in contemporary mainstream Christianity we...
In this post, I wrote about the fact that Jesus’ most important and powerful lesson (the cross) was a form of “act-speech.” That is, he teaches a deep theological truth, not through words, but through action. I also noted that the...
Forgiveness (and forgivingness) is at the heart of the gospel. We can only truly love when we accept forgiveness. Forgiveness releases in us the capacity to be free from condemnation to be given over the reckless love. All throughout the gospel...
Jesus used a number of pedagogical methods for teaching his disciples (and the crowds). At times, he went into theological discourse (John 3, with Nicodemus), other times he used parables. There were even times still he taught using “act...
I just received a string of testimonies from students at EBS who are participating in an orality-based discipleship program developed by EBS friend and co-worker, Dr. Charles Lake. Briefly on the program, it includes a solar-powered audio device...
Post-Pentecost we get into the habit of talking about the Holy Spirit. Most people from my tradition (Protestant evangelical), when thinking and talking about the Holy Spirit, have the tendency to talk about the “gifts” associated with...