Sunday: Joy

Most people in this world want to be happy. There may be a few scrooges who relish negativism and pessimism, but in my experience such people are the exception. Are we looking for happiness in the wrong places? Many seek happiness in possessions, experiences, work, relationships, prestige, or popularity. John wrote to struggling Christians near …

Sunday: Thankful For–Thankful Anyway

Life is difficult. Very few people would claim that life is without difficulties and challenges, disappointments and regrets. We would like to change some things about the past. We wish there were “do overs.” Things have not come out as we planned, hoped, dreamed. People, even in our own family and among those closest to …

Sunday: Knowing the Jesus who gives life [John’s Gospel]

John paints a wonderful and amazing portrait of Jesus. Jesus comes to make possible “life.” John’s theme song is not salvation. (In fact salvation is not among the most common New Testament words. Salvation is little and infrequently used in the New Testament–rather interesting given the vocabulary of popular preachers today. Especially for John, Jesus …

Sunday: Knowing the Jesus who came for everyone [Luke’s Gospel]

Do You Know My Jesus? Do you know the Jesus who came for everyone?  Good questions, and foundation for understanding the Gospels of Jesus. Matthew’s portrait of Jesus is of royalty–the Jewish Messiah (Christ, Anointed One) who comes as King in the Kingdom of God, but a different kind of King, benevolent and persuasive rather …

Sunday: Knowing the Jesus who touches people [Gospel of Mark]

When I present seminars on Mark’s Gospel, I like to include a series of lessons I call, “People Jesus Touched.”  Many of these lessons come from Mark 5-8.  [Outline Note: Mark 1-4 answers the question, “Who is Jesus?”  Mark 5:1-8:21 asks, “Who can be a follower of Jesus?”  Mark 8:22-10:52, deals with the question, “What does …

Sunday: Seeking Kingdom Things [Matthew’s Discourses]

What does the Gospel of Matthew reveal about the Kingdom? How does one seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? Matthew’s Gospel has five major discourses or teaching sections. These are clearly marked in the text by parallel concluding phrases (Mt. 7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1). One can easily identify the teaching sections …

Sunday: Life in Christ’s kingdom

For many in churches of Christ, historically evangelism has been primarily a cognitive process focused on the acceptance of certain truths or propositions by an individual. The goal and primary emphasis has been simple–salvation. More recently some of us have been asking about transformed lives and genuine discipleship, seeking to be and help others become …