Praying Our Way into the Lord’s Prayer. “Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As He finished, one of His disciples came to Him and said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just like John taught his disciples.’ Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray. Pray like this:’ ” (Luke 11:1-2). Teach us to …
On the Believer as a Little Christ. “Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity). What does it mean to become a “little Christ,” a human version of the divine Messiah? How do we go about becoming little Christs? We certainly …
When God is Human: A Meditation on the Christ of Sinai Icon. As I gaze through your face, I recall a line from the Te Deum prayer: You did not shun the virgin’s womb. First a fertilized egg, then a floating fetus God in survival mode with a fragile cord of wonder and food …
The Bible and Me: Eleven Observations “I read my Bible often; I try to read it right. Least to my understandin’, it’s nothing but a burning light.” Blind Willie Johnson, What is the Soul of a Man. Scripture is in my bones. I received my first Bible as a Christmas gift from my mom and …
I AM on the Water. “Jesus called out to them, ‘Don’t be afraid! The I AM is here!’” (John 6:20). CONTEXT a. Jesus and His disciples had just crossed the Sea of Galilee, or the Lake, and found themselves on a hill where they could sit down and relax. A huge throng of people was …
Jesus and Sinners: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Barbara Brown Taylor, in her sermon “In the Name of Law and Order,” posed an intriguing question: Who was Jesus thinking of when He asked the Father to forgive “them?” Who is “them?”I decided to take her question and …
“I AM the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener.” (John 15:1) Jesus once again declares the Great I AM in public for all to hear! This isn’t the first time. He has said things like this a lot lately… “Before Abraham was I AM; I AM the Bread of Life; I AM the …
A New Creature. “Oh, but I was so much older then. I’m younger than that now.” (Bob Dylan, My Back Pages). Are we truly new creatures in Christ, or merely improved versions of the old creatures? After we become new, do we just gradually become old again? If we are born again, does that mean …
The Waters of Christ. “On the last day, the great day of the Festival, Jesus stood and cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me! Let anyone who believes in me come and drink!’” (John 7:37-38, NJB) This is biblical theater at its best, so the scene deserves to be set. There are …
Footwork. By Steve and Sheri Larson. “It’s all in the footwork! You won’t be successful without good footwork! said every coach I’ve ever had. “Move your feet, lift them high, move them laterally, quickly! Keep your balance!” This isn’t exactly headline news to the dancer, the quarterback, the goalie and the power forward. That’s logical, …
Joyful Thoughts from Jesus. 1. “If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by his love. My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing …