The Blog
Jesus Is Coming
The point is not to give up living our lives because Jesus is coming back. The point is that we should live our lives to the full in Christ Jesus because Jesus is coming back. … Most Christians seem to understand church as an accessory to their lives. Jesus pleads with us to think differently.
My Rights
Simply to receive our salvation and not collect on our “reward” is to miss out on the fullness of life that Christ promises us—and along with it, trials of many kinds. It’s almost as if the trials of many kinds that we encounter when we take up our own cross is the vehicle or the platform through which we receive the fullness of life that life as a follower of Jesus Christ promises to us.
There’s Always Heaven
In an ironic way, Paul’s refusal to be paid may have done a disservice to all future ministers. Some churches seem to have the expectation that all ministers should serve the church free of charge. Or if some churches do pay their ministers, it may be just enough to live hand to mouth day to day—at least, as long as they can work. When they can no longer work, well … there’s always heaven.
Strong or Weak
The most obvious touch point to our own context might be the consumption of alcohol. … But the issue is not about alcohol, any more than it is about food sacrificed to idols. The issue is our consideration for the other person.
Prehistoric Ideas
Paul acknowledges human sexual needs—not just with respect to men, but also with respect to women—and then restricts sexual relations to the marriage bed, and then further restricts that bed to one man and one woman. Basically, what this is implying is that what ultimately defines the marital union between a man and a woman is not a marriage ceremony or a legal document but sexual relations between the man and woman.
Belonging
Although the lesson about sexual immorality is directly relevant, obviously, we must not stumble into superficial moralism and lose sight of the main spiritual point: Christ owns every part of us. But that spiritual point does not condemn us, either, because of our sin. It is because Christ owns every part of us through faith (fact) that we are saved.
Courts of Humanity
None of us should ever get prideful about the fact that we have never been sued, either. The devil is always at the threshold, roaring like a lion, wanting to get at our throats. If we ever do feel prideful about that fact, we should just ask ourselves Paul’s question, “Why not rather be wronged?”
Caring BASICs
People will always stumble. And sometimes people lack mercy and grace. But the greatest threat to a church community is when people don't really care about the spiritual well-being and vitality of the community.
Putting On Christ
The way of righteousness is a very narrow road lit up with a very bright light.