In this talk, I wrestle with the popular passage often read during weddings, 1 Corinthians 13, often called the love chapter. If Paul’s famous description of love is true, why does it often feel far less perfect than he describes it? This message was also delivered on the day following the worst anti-semitic attack in … [Read more…]
In this message, I unveil the full story surrounding the ever famous passage of scripture, Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you” may be scribed with tasty icing on countless cakes celebrating graduations, promotions, raises, and other exciting occasions, but the true context and original meaning of these ancient words wasn’t … [Read more…]
Whenever we go through tough times, inevitably someone will seek to encourage you by saying, “God never gives us more than we can handle.” Sounds like scripture, right? Sounds true, right? Wrong. In this fourth installment of “Straight Outta Context” I tackle this popular misquote and set the record straight about whether or not you’ll … [Read more…]
John 3:16 is the most FAMOUS passage of scripture but Matthew 7:1 certainly holds the title of the most INFAMOUS passage. Used as a “get out of jail” free card as well as justification for never pursuing a lifestyle of accountability, “judge not yet, lest ye be judged” is one of the most abused and … [Read more…]
Government leaders and politicians throughout history have used Romans 13 to justify unpopular, immoral, and, sometimes, horrendous government programs, laws, and atrocities. What exactly did Paul mean when he declared that the governing authorities are established by God? In this message, I explore the true context of Romans 13 in search of what God truly … [Read more…]
I’m excited by this new series of messages I’ve been working on for a little while now. It’s been a while since I’ve posted any of my lessons or messages here so I figured this new series was a perfect opportunity to start once again.
Stuck near the end of the Lord’s Prayer is the line “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Christians around the world pray this prayer daily. Yet, still, many of us succumb to “temptations” of all types. Is the prayer wrong? Or, have we failed to understand its meaning? I reflect on … [Read more…]
We love grace. For good reason, we all need it. We are all screw ups. We are all failures. We are all rebels going our way, building our kingdom, rather than God’s. We are endless consumers of grace. But, Jesus talked about grace as more than merely something to be consumed. Jesus demanded his disciples … [Read more…]
Every time a tragedy strikes we hear people offering their “thoughts and prayers.” While we have to assume the offering is genuine, why don’t our “thoughts and prayers” seem to change anything? In this second installment of a six-week teaching series based on the Lord’s Prayer, I reflect on the difference between our “thoughts and … [Read more…]
I continue the “Love Does” teaching series by considering one of the biggest reasons many fail to act on the love God calls us to have for others – fear. What are you afraid of? What lines are you afraid to cross? What rules are you afraid to break in the name of love?