John 1:1-14 On Christmas Day, we’ll return to the text with which we began the advent season and consider from another angle the wonder of what John tells us about ‘the Word become flesh.’ In our times of heartache and trial, it’s profoundly meaningful to lean on someone who has been through the same difficulty […]
John 8:12-30 Advent Series: One of the emphases of John’s gospel–in fact, the emphasis with which he begins his gospel–is that Jesus existed before the incarnation. Though that’s commonly understood among us as Christians, consider the strangeness and the offense this idea presented to John’s first readers: a man who spoke of existing before he was conceived. […]
John 6:22-59 Advent Series: One of the emphases of John’s gospel–in fact, the emphasis with which he begins his gospel–is that Jesus existed before the incarnation. Though that’s commonly understood among us as Christians, consider the strangeness and the offense this idea presented to John’s first readers: a man who spoke of existing before he was […]
John 3:1-21 Advent Series: One of the emphases of John’s gospel–in fact, the emphasis with which he begins his gospel–is that Jesus existed before the incarnation. Though that’s commonly understood among us as Christians, consider the strangeness and the offense this idea presented to John’s first readers: a man who spoke of existing before he was conceived. […]
John 1:1-18 Advent Series: One of the emphases of John’s gospel–in fact, the emphasis with which he begins his gospel–is that Jesus existed before the incarnation. Though that’s commonly understood among us as Christians, consider the strangeness and the offense this idea presented to John’s first readers: a man who spoke of existing before he was conceived. […]
Psalm 122
Luke 6:27-36 Summary: The sixth commandment certainly means that the church needs to think deeply about the ethics of life and death—whether that’s abortion, medically assisted dying, capital punishment, or warfare. But as Jesus and the catechism state so clearly, the sixth commandment aims even deeper into the heart, forbidding even envy, anger and animosity, […]
Ephesians 6: 1-9 Summary: Authority can be a very difficult reality…both for those under authority and those in authority. And especially when compared to many other civilizations and cultures, 21st century North America doesn’t train us to have a very high view of authority. But authority is precious and important enough to God to have an […]
Exodus 3:7-15 / Lord’s Day 36 (Q&A 99, 100) Summary: Quite naturally, the third commandment most easily brings to mind the responsibility we have to never speak about God in ways that are disrespectful or irreverent. But are there other ways, besides our speech, in which we misuse God’s name? As God revealed to Moses […]
Psalm 65 Summary: Entitlement is the enemy of gratitude. The more we think we deserve something, the less likely we are to be thankful we’ve received it. That’s why it’s good for us to listen to the prayers of saints who’ve gone before us and pay attention to what stirs them to gratitude and praise. […]