For those in the church who are having the debate “contemporary v traditional” I simply ask: where is your heart? Can you worship in a van? Can you worship with a fan? Can you worship in a house? Can you worship with a mouse? Can you worship in the dark? Can you worship in a park? Can you worship in a tree? Can you worship . . . (ok you get the point)? The answer to all of these should... Read more
There is a danger in viewing Christianity as a relationship Christianity as a Relationship In order to understand the nature of discipleship it is also important to recognize that Christianity is about a relationship. Many are familiar with the notion that in becoming a Christian one becomes a child of God. We receive God, our Father, who cares for and attends to His children—even more than a loving earthly father.[1] All of this is certainly true. But, there is... Read more
Most churches have replaced discipleship with conversion “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). What is discipleship? Let me state it from the outset of this post: discipleship is the goal of the Christian life and the essence of discipleship is cross-bearing.... Read more
Most Christians have little sense that there is much beyond accepting Jesus as their savior. I would like to take our discussion of what is the Gospel further. In doing so, we need to ask two questions: What is the goal of the Christian life? What is the purpose of the Christian life? The first question pertains to the topic of personal discipleship. The second question to the mission of God’s people. It is essential, however, to note that the... Read more
One cannot separate the proclamation of the Kingdom of God from the acts of the kingdom. The Gospel and the Kingdom To this point we have established that the gospel in its simplest expression is “Jesus is Lord” and that it is to be believed because it is the truth. In order to further our understanding of the Gospel, it is, also, necessary to observe the relationship between the gospel and the kingdom of God! The gospel and the Kingdom... Read more
To proclaim that “Jesus is Lord” begins with the acknowledgement that no one or nothing else is! What is the Gospel? A look into the NT shows that the word “gospel” is used in a basic sense to announce the “good news.” The “gospel” is a proclamation of good news! Now, this is a good start, but we still need to declare what the “good news” is about. In its simplest expression the gospel, or the “good news” is... Read more
A “me” centered definition of the Gospel often leaves out the mission of God’s people! It doesn’t get more basic to Christianity than to ask: “What is the gospel?” The question is pretty simple. Unfortunately, as I mentioned in part 1, I suspect that many Christians would have a hard time coming up with an answer. In addition to the alarming reality that many Christians cannot define the Gospel with any clarity, comes the realization that for many the definition... Read more
I will contend that the Sabbath is indeed an abiding provision. The Sabbath was fulfilled in Jesus, but not abolished by Him. It is through the work of God’s people that the fulfillment of the Sabbath continues. What does this mean for the Church today? 4 Thoughts 1) Just as communion reminds us of what God through Christ has done for us, so also, the Sabbath is a reminder that God has rescued us. In addition, just as taking communion... Read more
“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Jesus’ words mean that the Sabbath was made to protect people from being exploited. We were not made to observe the Sabbath (“not man for the Sabbath”). Instead, the Sabbath was made to be a blessing to humanity (“the Sabbath was made for man”); especially those who were being exploited. If the Sabbath was pointing us to Christ, then, with the coming of Christ, the end... Read more
In Luke 13, Jesus heals a woman who was crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen years. The problem, at least from the perspective of the local synagogue official, was that the healing took place on the Sabbath. The official remarks to the people,[1] “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day” (Luke 13:14). His statement has a clear allusion to Deuteronomy 5:13: “Six... Read more
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