Tag Archives: Bible
Refuse to Die to the Status Quo
Do you remember going to Blockbuster Video (or whatever video store was in your community) on Friday Nights? Even my small community of Sheakleyville, PA, had a video rental store (which is saying something.) Friday nights were full of possibilities … Continue reading
Live As Those Prepared to Die
I was up at 5:00 a.m. this past Saturday to prepare for the day, including Abbie’s graduation, a softball tournament, and a soccer match. What really woke me up was a message from a congregant alerting me to the tragic … Continue reading
Finding Hope In Struggles
“I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.” Joel 2:25 “Even when I don’t see it, you’re working.Even when I don’t … Continue reading
The Integrity of Our Witness
In my message at Avenue last week, I said that apprentices (followers/disciples) of Jesus Christ will do what Jesus did. Even a cursory reading of the Gospels will give us clues about what Jesus did during his lifetime: proclaim the … Continue reading
Formed By Love
“Love is the acid test of spiritual formation.”-John Mark Comer Spiritual formation is the act of allowing God to shape us so that our lives look like the life of Jesus. Spiritual formation does not miraculously happen. It takes place … Continue reading
Celebrating Those Who Pass Along the Faith
Sunday is Mother’s Day, and the Bible is filled with stories of women essential to the Gospel. Jesus’ genealogy contains the names of five women central to his story and mission: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Mary Magdalene was … Continue reading
Advent Devotions (Day 5) | The Thin Line
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”Luke 1:38 Read Luke 1:8-38 I grew up near Pittsburgh and always heard about “the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers” to form the Ohio River. … Continue reading
How Do We Go On?
I’ve been preaching through the Book of Acts this spring/summer. It’s been a lot of fun seeing how the Holy Spirit called and equipped ordinary men and women to spread the Good News of Jesus. Yesterday, while I was studying … Continue reading
Sweat Equity and Miracles
I am reading Mark Patterson’s book, The Grave Robber, which takes a look at Jesus’ miracles or “signs” in the Gospel of John. The tagline of the book gives away the purpose of Batterson writing: “How Jesus can make your impossible possible.” … Continue reading
Ruth 1: Leaving the Old Life Behind
I’m posting summaries on our Ruth sermon series throughout Lent. Part 1 can be found here. You can listen to the audio of the sermons (when our recorder works) here. In part one of Ruth, we saw how Ruth’s mother-in-law … Continue reading
Exiled Community 