Intentional Faith

Clear Orders

Luke 6:12–27 Let us imagine that you are a schoolteacher. One day, you go out into the school playground, where there are dozens of children kicking footballs around. You go over to where they are, and call for them to gather round. Then you begin, slowly but surely, to select eleven of them. You don’tContinue reading “Clear Orders”

The Key to Your Rest

(Heb. 4:1–13)Have you ever noticed that when you read the Bible, you tend to imagine a tone of voice? Reading some passages, like Psalm 23, we imagine a warm, loving tone. Reading other passages we can almost hear disapproval or anger. Actually, the tone of voice we imagine is most helpful—or harmful—when it comes toContinue reading “The Key to Your Rest”

Understanding the Text

Hebrews 3:1–4:13 “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself” (Heb. 3:3). Heeding the Word of Jesus is our key to rest. OverviewJesus is superior to Moses the Law-giver (3:1–6). The generation Moses led failed to respond to God’sContinue reading “Understanding the Text”

Death Is Not the Worst of It

That death is not to be judged an evil which is the end of a good life; for death becomes evil only by the retribution which follows it. They, then, who are destined to die, need not be careful to inquire what death they are to die, but into what place death will usher them.

The Reward of Faith

You Live at the Hinge

You brood in the night in its fearfulness,You dawn the day in its energy,You move at the edge of nightinto the margin of day.You live at the hinge between fear and energy.You take the feeble night and give us strong day,You take our fatigue and bestow courage,You take our drowsy reluctance and fashion full-blooded zeal.WhatContinue reading “You Live at the Hinge”

Laying Up Words

You’ll never guess where I began learning the scores—hundreds, really—of Bible verses that have filled my mind for about a half century. It was at Eastside Elementary School in Elizabethton, Tennessee. This small redbrick schoolhouse was two blocks from my house, and I spent six happy years of my life there. Thankfully the prohibition againstContinue reading “Laying Up Words”

The Black Dwarf

“Black Dwarf” was the tag his enemies gave him. And the short, dark-skinned Egyptian bishop had plenty of enemies. He was exiled five times by four Roman emperors, spending 17 of the 45 years he served as bishop of Alexandria in exile. Yet in the end, his theological enemies were “exiled” from the church’s teaching,Continue reading “The Black Dwarf”

Jesus Prayed for You

John 17:22–26 I have given them the glory you gave me—the glorious unity of being one, as we are—I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one—so that the world will know you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want themContinue reading “Jesus Prayed for You”

Darkness Makes the Light Shine

Nations are known by their rulers. It is the ruler who determines the might of the people and thus the prowess of its armies. Yet, there is a day of hope on the horizon when all nations will have but one Ruler and Judge. Battles will cease and armies will dissolve under God’s dominion andContinue reading “Darkness Makes the Light Shine”