THURSDAY, May 17, 2012: Ephesians 4:17-24 GROWING
The passage points to the “how” and the “how not” of growing. Last Sunday was Mother’s Day. As we consider how our mothers helped us grow – and we honor them for that – we also consider how each of us is called to use our gifts and abilities to build up the body of … Read more
WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2012: Ephesians 4:11-16 USE THE GIFTS
If we don’t use the gifts God has given to us, it’s like using the keys to the car to actually drive the car. It would be ludicrous to read the rules of the road, practice driving, study for the driver’s test, take and pass the test, and, when someone hands you the keys to … Read more
TUESDAY, May 15, 2012: Ephesians 4:7 GIFTS
Here Paul gets very pointed in his call to practical Christian living. What he lays out in these seven verses is summarized the chapter’s opening words: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called … with humility and gentleness … patience … Read more
SUNDAY, May 13, 2012: John 21:15-19
Peter truly loves Jesus. They share stories and live faith together. How did faith grow in you? Was it taught, or did you catch it from someone who simply loved you? As we look at Jesus’ life, we see how faith is more caught than taught and how friendship is the primary bridge Jesus uses … Read more
SATURDAY, May 12, 2012: John 11:32-44
Jesus weeps at his friend’s death. He knows the power of friendship and uses it. Have you ever noticed how often Jesus simply welcomes people into his life, just loves them as they are? That is often the prelude to a symphony of conversation about faith. In Jesus’ day, the relationship between student and rabbi … Read more
FRIDAY, May 11, 2012: John 3:9-21
Are you uncertain about how to strike up a conversation? Let’s return to an idea we learned in January called the “conversation stack.” In the text from John 3, Jesus and Nicodemus have a deep conversation about spiritual things and through this conversation seeds of faith are planted into Nicodemus’ life. The “Conversation Stack” developed … Read more
THURSDAY, May 10, 2012: John 15:12-17
As people whose story is joined to Jesus’ story, we begin by abiding. The disciples are to abide in Jesus just as a branch abides in the vine. While the “how to” of abiding is never laid out, the result of this abiding is: fruit. And the most precious fruit of all is love. Love … Read more
