An epiphany is an eye-opening “light bulb” experience. It is a burst of clarity and understanding. It is like looking at one of those Magic Eye books. Everything looks blurry. But as you stare at it, the image begins to come together and what you didn’t see before is now made clear. You experience an “Aha! moment.” Today we celebrate Epiphany. We … [Read more...]
Thinking Like a Missionary
The Christmas season provides many natural opportunities to talk about Jesus with co-workers, neighbors, classmates, friends and family. But how can we do this effectively? Lesslie Newbigin was a British theologian who spent the bulk of his ministry as a missionary in India. Below is an adapted list of his suggested ingredients for an effective … [Read more...]
New Sermon Series: Amazing Grace (Advent 2017)
We all have things in our past that we are ashamed of. We might even think that our baggage causes God to look at us with some measure of disdain. But the genealogy of Jesus reminds us that God delights in rescuing desperate sinners. Join us this Advent season for these amazing stories of grace, or catch up with the podcast or video stream. … [Read more...]
The Divine Coup D’état
Fyodor Dostoevsky is most famous for writing Crime and Punishment. But one of his lesser known works, The Idiot, made a more lasting impression on me. The main character is a twenty-six year old Prince Myshkin. He is not the prototypical hero. He seems somewhat naïve. He is very simple in his outlook. And he has some physical infirmities. He … [Read more...]
When the Wicked Prosper, Genesis 4, Advent 2014
Introduction Text: Genesis 4 – All hope seems lost for the line of the redeemer as Cain murders Abel. The First Proclamation of the Gospel "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15 ESV) The Line of the Serpent … [Read more...]