Check out the homepage for the blog tour in which my New Testament colleagues and I are participating. Bruce Fisk has written a very interesting travel guide for students making their way through the study of the historical Jesus.  It’s a fascinating and very creative book.  Fisk is both master of the field of historical […]

One other great piece of advice for reading and understanding the Bible came from my friend, Bruce Hansen.  Bruce ministered with InterVarsity for many years and had loads of experience leading group Bible studies with college students.  He suggested copying and pasting whole biblical books (Habbakuk, Mark, Philippians, etc.) into Word documents, making copies, and reading […]

In my first year of college I was consumed with understanding the Bible.  I tried to get my hands on anything and everything that would help me to “get it.”  I remember being at a bookstore and spotting a little booklet called “How to Study the Bible” by John MacArthur.  I had to buy it.  Among a number […]

I’m participating this week in the blog tour for the book, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Jesus by Bruce Fisk, who teaches New Testament at Westmont College.  Check out the other stops on the tour, along with the book giveaway.  I’ll trot out some thoughts on it later in the week. This book is similar in approach to […]

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of […]

When we gathered with Midtown Christian Community, I would sometimes open our services by reading a brief word of welcome that functioned to remind us of our identity.  Like some psalms, this is how Ephesians 1:3-14 functions within that letter, which was meant to be read aloud during worship.  It shaped the identity of the churches to […]

In several recent posts I stated that the gospel calls people to repent and obey Jesus.  Following Jesus by enacting new patterns of life is the instantiation or embodiment of faith. This doesn’t sound right to many evangelicals.  It sounds legalistic.  It sounds like I’m putting the demands of the gospel up front, whereas we’re […]

Last week I began drawing to a close some thoughts I’ve been developing over the last two months.  Today I’ll conclude this discussion, though related themes likely will continue to ride just beneath the surface of much of what I write on this blog.  Just to make things explicit, however, some conclusions and implications in thinking […]

I’ve been thinking this week about the importance of hope for a community, and the necessity of community to sustain hope.  A community must be compelled by a hopeful vision in order to flourish.  And when hope diminishes for individuals, the sustaining power of the community can restore that hopeful vision. This is beautifully depicted in […]

Lord, You have always given bread for the coming day; and though I am poor, today I believe. Lord, You have always given strength for the coming day; and though I am weak, today I believe. Lord, You have always given peace for the coming day; and though of anxious heart, today I believe. Lord, […]