6/16/24 – Dwindling Discipleship?

Question: “What is the cause of the decline in Christianity in America, and what are we to do about it?”   ——–While you might find this question to be a two-parter, it is actually a three-part question, as we must determine if there is actually a decline in ‘Christianity’ in America, or is it more a

12/26/23 – FULL Agenda?

Galatians 4:4a But when the fullness of time had come, ——— The very first thing to point out about this partial verse is that it is indeed a partial verse, and I intend to deal with it as a totally separate truth of God – His timing, rather than the reason for the verse, the

4/9/23 – WHO is Risen?

1 Peter 1:3  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” ——– I believe you know that there are many Biblical references to the concept and the foundational

2/14/23 – Willing Will

>>> A point of privilege. I began these lectio writings when a friend told me I had become his ‘pastor’. To me, he was better grounded as a Christian than I was, and that made me wonder how he could make such a statement. It made me want to be better in my own faith,

2/12/23 – Pleasing Approval

Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. ——– I think you have heard that Paul was very worried about the church in Galatia, as they

2/11/23 – Infinite Resource

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ——- I was surprised to find I have never written on this verse, as it is the epitome of what Jesus came to point us toward.  In other words, this

2/8/23 – Shiny Examples

Titus 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ——— This is Paul speaking to Titus about the need to discern who should be tapped as elders for the new church.  Paul talks about the contrast between

2/7/23 – Duly “Elect”ed

Mark 13:27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. ——— I think you know this section of Mark is where Jesus is foretelling the end of Time, and of the destruction of the Temple.  This

2/5/23 – Changing Faith?

Romans 14:3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. ——— This section of the letter to the Romans is about the weak and strong in faith. The

2/3/23 – Willful Willingness

Matthew 26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ——– I think any Christian, or even anyone just familiar with Christianity, knows that this verse comes as Jesus

1/31/23 – Testimony “Placement”

Revelation 1:9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. ——— I think you know some background on the

1/30/23 – Slave Results

Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ——- Our writer is intent on anchoring the church’s understanding that they are freed from death through sin because of Jesus’ sacrifice for them. 

1/28/23 – Treasure Jars

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ——- This section of the letter from Paul to the Crointhians is about the treasure of the Life given from the sacrifice by Jesus.  Paul recounts the gift of salvation

1/27/23 – Preplanned Destination

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ——- This section of the letter to the Thessalonians starts out talking about the Day of the Lord, which we know is often used to discuss the ‘day’ that the new heaven and the new

1/18/23 – Singular Source

John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ——– This is a quote from Jesus in the same chapter where He says He has no authority other than what the Father gives Him.  It is also in this section of Jesus’

1/10/23 – Passed Over?

Romans 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ——– This section of the letter to the Romans is all about righteousness, the righteousness of God, the upholding of God’s

1/6/23 – Hell Consigner!

Luke 12:5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! ——— You might want to call the twelfth chapter of the book of Luke as the “Beware” chapter.  The beware points are made by none other

1/5/23 – Graceless Need?

Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ——– You may know that in this section of the letter to the Galatians, Paul is talking about the religion shattering idea that the Law is no longer the way to relationship

1/4/23 – Grumpy Happiness?

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ——— In this section of the letter to the Philippians, Paul is tutoring them on the issue of using Christ as the example for their lives and their interactions in relationship.  Paul speaks about the positive attributes that Christ exhibited and focuses on the aspect of

1/2/23 – Beginning “Re-Newed” [Happy New Year!]

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, you are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your creator. ——— I know you know that Paul is talking about new life in this section of his letter.  It is wholly appropriate for the first day of a new year, and I am

12/29/22 – Love Patiently

2 Thessalonians 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. ——- This is the ending of the letter, and Paul is winding down the writing with a reminder of the important point – that of spreading the Good News, the story of salvation.  Paul

12/28/22 – Guilty !

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ——– The book of Romans is a collection of many themes, and it is suspected by many scholars that it is written by someone other than Paul, and possibly more than one author.  Who wrote it is not as important as

12/27/22 – Uncondemned Life

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ——- The eighth chapter of Romans is something like an executive summary of God’s Plan, and brings into focus the eternal side of our existence as the focus.  It delves deeper by pointing to the true foundation of all things,

12/25/22 – Birthing “Anti-Death”

Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ——- Did you know that certain translations subtitle this section of Romans “Peace with God through Faith”?  It is about the whole of The Tapestry of Creation,

12/20/22 – Story Time

Luke 1:76-78 [Zechariah prophesied concerning John,] “You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God.” ——-