Episodes
Tuesday Jan 30, 2018
Command #44 - Seek First God's Kingdom
Tuesday Jan 30, 2018
Tuesday Jan 30, 2018
Among the "spiritual" Commands, few are so illusive as this. Jesus concludes his Do not be anxious about your life discussion of the birds of the air and lilies of the the field in Matthew 6 with the words: Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
Thursday Jan 25, 2018
Command #43 - Do Good, Be Good
Thursday Jan 25, 2018
Thursday Jan 25, 2018
One of the profound mysteries of the Christian Church is that human goodness has not comprised more focus in its theology. While it is true that greater good has been done throughout history by Christianity than any nation, movement, or creed, one is hard-pressed to find goodness at the center of any doctrinal teaching.
Tuesday Jan 23, 2018
Command #42 - Forgive 70 x 7 Times
Tuesday Jan 23, 2018
Tuesday Jan 23, 2018
If we transplant Peter's question and the Lord's response from Matthew 18 into the sixth chapter where the theme of forgiveness emerges out of the Lord's prayer, we would have a succinct teaching on prayer, forgiveness, and the reach of forgiveness.
Thursday Jan 18, 2018
Command #41 - Forgive
Thursday Jan 18, 2018
Thursday Jan 18, 2018
We noted that forgiveness is one of the least understood components of Christian doctrine. Sadly, it is misunderstood by Christians and non-Christians alike.
Tuesday Jan 16, 2018
Thursday Jan 11, 2018
Command #39 - Pray, Fast, Give, and Do Good in Secret
Thursday Jan 11, 2018
Thursday Jan 11, 2018
It is fearfully easy to read the Do Not Commands and assume, "Oh, I would never do that." Because the context of examples used by Jesus sometimes seems so ludicrously absurd, we too easily overlook our own glaring presence in the midst of the Gospel pages.
Tuesday Jan 09, 2018
Command #38 - Be a Son or Daughter of God
Tuesday Jan 09, 2018
Tuesday Jan 09, 2018
Created by his hand and in his image, all humanity are God's children. Yet we are put upon this earth to become something more, to become true sons and daughters of chosen obedience. Given life and, in time, independence, our destiny is gained by yielding back that independence into the hand of our Creator, and thus, by that relinquishment, discovering eternal childship.
Thursday Jan 04, 2018
Command #37 - Do Not Defraud
Thursday Jan 04, 2018
Thursday Jan 04, 2018
Countless sermons and devotions have been based on Jesus' exchange with the man we know as the "rich young ruler." The first three gospels recount the story using largely identical words and phrases. Indeed, this passage is one of those upon which scholars base their conviction that Matthew and Luke founded their writings upon Mark's gospel.
Tuesday Jan 02, 2018
Command #36 - Be A Servant
Tuesday Jan 02, 2018
Tuesday Jan 02, 2018
From the elusive Command, Lose your life, we now encounter one of the most down to earth of all the Commands: Be a servant. No mystery exists here. We all know what it means to serve, to put someone else's need ahead of our own...the good deed, the kindness shown, the helping hand, the burden shared, the load lifted, the feet washed, the cup for the thirsty wayfarer. Opportunities for service are presented us every moment of every day.