Don’t settle for a diminished Jesus this Christmas! Let’s wrap our whole selves in worship around the One in whom all divine fullness dwells, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. Let’s approach the manger in amazement that it was the beginning of a faithful life that led all the way to the cross, the empty tomb, and back to glory at the right hand of God. Let’s ponder how the one who created us in his image graciously became one with his creation, displaying all the fullness of God during his life on this earth. Let’s glory in the confidence that when he took on our flesh and blood he destroyed the devil and delivered us from the fear of death. Come, let’s adore him, Christ the Lord.
Seminaries at the Crossroads.3: A Campus-Free Future?
Hopefully many will engage with Matt Ayars’ thought-provoking ideas about theological education. Ongoing conversation is crucial, all the more so because it’s not really a conversation about the future of seminaries. It’s a conversation about the future of the church’s mission in the world, and how the church can more faithfully serve the reigning Lord Jesus Christ by teaching people all over the globe to observe all that he has commanded for all the days until the end of the age.
Giving Thanks with Paul: Colossians.2
While we should always give thanks for the blessings God gives us, our gratitude should ultimately be for the grace that has opened our eyes to realize our need of Christ. Whatever material blessings we have or lack are from the providence of a good and faithful God. Our bounty is not the fruit of our hard work, self-sufficiency, and national superiority.
The Edmund Fitzgerald: Life Lessons from a Lost Anchor
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life? In this post we look at an obscure event in the career of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the loss of an anchor in the Detroit River nearly two years before its tragic demise. We’ll also take a brief look at ancient anchors, and the Bible’s use of nautical imagery in reference to historical storms and as a metaphor for life’s difficulties. All aboard!
Colossians: Complete in Christ.1
Although Colossians is known primarily for its profound teaching about Jesus in chapter 1, it was written to solve a pastoral problem. There was danger! The Colossians were being enticed by counterfeit teachings about angels and rules they needed to follow in order to have a fully satisfying relationship with God.
Just like the Colossians, we hear enticing narratives today that promise us fulfillment but subtly draw us away from our participation in the Easter victory of Jesus, in whom all the fulness of deity dwells. As we study Colossians together, we pray to the Father that the Holy Spirit will exalt Jesus by convincing us that we are complete in him, and that He is sufficient to meet all our needs and to equip us to live out our new identity in Him in our family relationships, in our church, and in the world.
So, let’s study Colossians!
Btw, the image above is courtesy of Priscilla Du Preez at Unsplash.
Seminaries at the Crossroads.2: GRTS
When I came to GRTS in 1986, a high berm pierced by a rather narrow entrance separated the college campus from the busy East Beltline highway. The berm was installed to shield the campus from traffic noise, but some saw it as symbolic of the school’s desire to be separate from the community. Later, the main campus entrance was widened and the berm was lowered. In my mind at least, the new landscaping pictured positive developments in the school’s vision of its constituency.
I’m concerned that the berm is being rebuilt . . .