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Episodes
Dedicated to the legacy of bold thinking Christianity through the writings of George MacDonald and Michael Phillips.
Episodes
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
Thursday Dec 07, 2023
There are fewer more perplexing, misunderstood, misappropriated Commands in the Gospel than this. How many disappointments have been based on grandiose prayers for healing, for financial provision, for restored relationships, and for thousands of other good and worthy things... that have not happened? We have all experienced the ache, frustration, and confusion of unanswered prayer.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
It is sometimes difficult to know how to live in the practical reality of Jesus' admonition in the latter half of Matthew 6: Consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. They neither sow nor reap, yet your heavenly father cares for them. So don't worry about what you shall eat or drink. We are all familiar with his words. But do they not often sound just a little too idealistic?
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
Thursday Nov 30, 2023
Jesus does not stop with commanding belief in general, not even belief in God. He zeroes in with yet more precision and specificity by also commanding belief in him. This further dismisses the notion that Christianity may be equated with being a kind person and trying to do good in the world. Those are good things. But they are not Christianity.
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
We find ourselves looking at a series of Commands subject to widely varied interpretation as we attempt to navigate the conundrum between the temporal and spiritual components of the Christian life - Love God, Love man... Give to the poor, Believe.
Thursday Nov 23, 2023
Thursday Nov 23, 2023
From probably the most down-to-earth, if we may even phrase it thus, a most unspiritual among Jesus' Commands, we turn to one of the most spiritual: Believe.
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Observe how much of Jesus' time was spent among the infirm, sick, destitute, crippled, blind, and demon-possessed.
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Thursday Nov 16, 2023
Imbalance has always been the Achilles heel of Christianity. It might truly be said that imbalance in following the Commands of Jesus is responsible for the greater share of the unbelief in the world. Does anyone doubt that if every Command of Jesus had been sacrificially lived by his followers, not only would the world have been largely converted to Christianity, life would be a good and pleasant thing for most of its inhabitants. There is enough food, enough water, enough provision, enough happiness, enough love for all.
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
The first command Jesus issued specifically to his disciples is found in a simple but life-altering challenge: Follow Me.
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Most are familiar with the tradition behind Jesus' words in the above passage. Many sermon illustrations have explained the right of Roman soldiers in Palestine to compel any citizen to carry their equipment for a mile. To enforce the practicality of the life he would have his hearers lead, Jesus said to carry the burden two miles instead.
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Humility in our day has fallen on hard times. Such can be said for most of the attributes of Christlikeness. But humility is especially embattled. The contrast between the world's perspective and that of Jesus is drawn with yet starker clarity when we substitute the word Jesus used to describe humility--meekness.