Last year I gave these two chapel talks on the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection in the Scriptural narrative, along with some implications for how Easter can configure our lives today. Check ’em out–part 1 and part 2.

Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with […]

*Given at Midtown Christian Community, April 4, 2009 Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk […]

The writer of Hebrews follows a pattern found throughout the New Testament.  He exhorts his readers in highly metaphorical language and then repeats the exhortation in concrete terms, commending actions that embody obedience. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new […]

Joe Posnanski argues that The Masters Championship is the most important of the four golf majors. All I know is that this week is one of my three favorite of the year, beside the weeks of the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.  And this week only gets better — baseball!

*Given at Midtown Christian Community, March 15, 2008 Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk […]

Show us your mercy, O Lord;   And grant us your salvation. Clothe your ministers with righteousness;   Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;   For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;   And guide us in the […]

It seems to me that so much modern Christian thought about the resurrection goes in the wrong direction.  It moves to the resurrection.  That is, we feel the need to think toward it, to establish it, to prove it.  So we argue that it did indeed happen, and once we’ve made our case, we imagine our […]

Last fall, David Brooks asked readers over 70 to send him “life reports,” autobiographical essays evaluating their lives.  He posted many of them and they’re fascinating and insightful to read.  Some have bitter regrets and in almost every case they have to do with broken family relationships (see my post on this).  They chose what […]

A few days ago, I wrote about Jesus’ humanity in Hebrews.  I’ve been thinking over the last few days about obstacles to taking seriously the humanity of Jesus in Hebrews. When I taught undergraduates, I routinely encountered Christian young people who were certain that Luke 2:40-52 was not portraying Jesus as learning anything.  He was […]