In various settings over the years, I’ve heard evangelical leaders and pastors claim that the church’s main task is evangelism.  All sorts of evangelism initiatives have been kicked into gear based on this assumed obvious fact regarding the purpose of the church.  Many people raised in evangelical churches can tell tales of guilt-motivated canvassing efforts involving […]

The cross is central in Mark’s Gospel, determining everything about the character of Jesus, God, and discipleship to God’s Son. The cross also orients leadership among God’s people. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you […]

  We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven. Have mercy on us, Lord.   We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been […]

I’ve been claiming that Romans is Paul’s pastoral counsel to a church in crisis.  Rather than referring to events throughout salvation history, Paul’s discussion in Romans 5 has to do with dynamics currently up and running in the Roman Christian community. I wrote yesterday that Paul’s statements in vv. 20-21 have to do with recent […]