Among the twelve apostles, there were two sets of brothers: Peter and Andrew and James and John, sons of Zebedee. In this column, we will be looking at the second brother of the second set: the Apostle John. So far, we’ve seen the way Peter, Andrew, James (the Greater) and Philip influenced early Christianity, even unto their death. They speak to us about the virtues of ministry leadership. We are inspired by both their humanity and their courage under fire.... Read more
Our examination of the twelve apostles has, so far, revealed the lives and ministries of three of them: Peter, Andrew, and Philip. We’ve seen the incredible journeys they made, moving from people living ordinary lives thrust into a powerful world of Kingdom transformation. They teach us about good leadership, overcoming flaws, and learning to seek faith in a deeper way. In this installment, we will learn about the Apostle James (son of Zebedee). Among apostles with short biographies, the Apostle... Read more
By now, most have heard about Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s speech made at Benedictine College. Between memes, celebrity responses, and social media commentary, his speech hit a nerve among a world that doesn’t quite agree on the future of faith, politics, and the overlap. While some virulently disagree, others defend his views and right to free speech. Others argue the internet’s propensity to malign statements, saying both social and secular media took his statements out of context. In... Read more
So far, we’ve examined the lives and ministries of two apostolic brothers: Peter and Andrew. Among the twelve, Peter and Andrew are both named more than once in the Bible, and don’t have obscure ministry histories. We know much of the work they did and the influence they had on the early church world, even through their martyrdom. They speak to us about the virtues of ministry leadership. But what about others, such as the Apostle Philip? Unfortunately, we don’t... Read more
In our last column, we explored what we know of the life and ministry of the Apostle Peter. As a major figure, Peter is mentioned frequently in the Bible. We are able to learn a few key things about his life, including his marital status and that he had a brother named Andrew. Andrew is also one of the twelve apostles of the lamb, among the first to follow Jesus. The Apostle Andrew’s history is both fascinating and spiritually rich,... Read more
We’ve all heard of the Twelve Apostles: (Simon) Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Jude, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. We hear about a few of these men frequently, and almost never for the others. When it comes to these twelve, we know they walked with Jesus, but what did they do after Christ’s resurrection? The ministry of the original twelve apostles set important foundations for the work of the church in modern days. Where they... Read more
All throughout this month we’ve examined different issues relating to Biblical giving. First we had an overview, then we looked at tithes, and last time we looked at different types of offerings. For this installment, we are going to look at giving that counts: what makes giving count, and why that matters. Do you believe your giving matters? Many feel if they don’t give, their money won’t be missed. When we give to God’s cause and we give God’s way,... Read more
So far, we’ve examined a general concept of Biblical giving and the specifics of tithing. We’ve learned about the different requirements for giving, why tithing was (and remains important), and the different form tithes took in Biblical history. In this installment, we are going to learn about different types of offerings: specifically, firstfruits, almsgiving, and general offerings. In moving between both Old and New Testament giving, we will see the wide variety of options that exist for Christians who seek... Read more
In the first installment of this series, we looked at giving from a Biblical perspective. Rather than sort through the typical verses about how to give, we reviewed the reasons why giving is relevant for God’s people. From the all-important idea of tribute to the way that ministry functions this side of heaven, giving financially is an essential aspect of the spiritual work of God’s people. As God gives us all, He also asks us for all. While giving is... Read more
Whether it’s a birthday fundraiser online, offering time at church, or requests for funding, “giving time” can be an awkward period for Christians of all denominations. For one, it’s easy to feel like everywhere we turn, someone is constantly asking for money. Charities, non-profit organizations, school fundraisers, requests to “round up” at the grocery store, and emails asking to give to one thing or another overwhelm our life experiences. This is in addition to the fact that all major expenses... Read more
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