We humans, we’re just not good at waiting. It’s why we honk at slow drivers, tap our toes as we wait in line, and even shout our impatience at the train blocking the intersection. God, however, is consistently described as patient – slow to anger, and long-suffering. There’s no yelling coming down from heaven whenContinue reading “God of Hope: All-Powerful and Patient”
Tag Archives: Lent
God of Hope: Sovereign and Good
Years ago, I was part of a teaching team that led a Christian “basics” class. One particular session offered discussion prompts around the idea of God’s lordship, such as: “God runs a kingdom not a democracy.” “In a democracy, the leaders represent the people; in a kingdom, the people represent the king.” For many, thisContinue reading “God of Hope: Sovereign and Good”
God of Hope: Holy and Loving
When we give ourselves space to think about who God is, we can sometimes get caught up in a mental game of tug-of-war because we can’t quite discern if He is this or that. Is He full of wrath or slow to anger? Is He to be feared or trusted? Is He holy or loving? Continue reading “God of Hope: Holy and Loving”
God of Hope: Human and Divine
Welcome to Lent. In these next seven weeks leading up to Easter, we will intentionally slow our hearts and minds and bodies so that we can reflect on who God is – especially in the midst of the tensions that exist within us and around us. And, as we do, we will discern God’s wayContinue reading “God of Hope: Human and Divine”
Kingdom Living Now: Inseparable and Intentional
Hauling buckets of water and scooping mounds of sand, we worked hard to build a masterpiece. Our sandcastle had towers and bridges–even a moat that we could never keep filled. In all our efforts, however, we failed to notice that the tide edged closer by the minute. Till the one big wave came crashing in,Continue reading “Kingdom Living Now: Inseparable and Intentional”
Kingdom Living Now: Inhabit
King Jesus stands on the mountain for quite some time, preaching words meant to shape His listeners so they’ll be equipped to inhabit the kingdom He’s prepared for them. Toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks words that differentiate true kingdom dwellers from those who are not: “Not everyone who callsContinue reading “Kingdom Living Now: Inhabit”
Kingdom Living Now: Intimacy and Interaction
We flip the page to Chapter Six of Matthew’s Gospel, recalling that we’re still in Jesus’ great sermon. Staying grounded in our context helps us remember that Jesus is laying a foundation for our faith by teaching us what kingdom living looks like now. Holy Practices This part of the sermon hits on three importantContinue reading “Kingdom Living Now: Intimacy and Interaction”
Kingdom Living Now: Inclusion
The Beatitudes not only give us a glimpse of what life looks like inside the Kingdom of God, but they also flip the world’s values upside-down. As Rev. Jay Smith says, the Beatitudes are a “radical reordering of our values.” That reordering helps us live rightly, but all this right living isn’t in an attemptContinue reading “Kingdom Living Now: Inclusion”
Kingdom Living Now: Inheritance
Just as Moses once stood on Mt. Sinai, Jesus stands on a mountain, delivering a message that describes kingdom living. Moses’ mountain, shrouded by the cloud of God’s presence, shook with thunder as he passed along God’s law–a prescriptive way to live as righteously as possible so that God would remain with them. Jesus’ mountain,Continue reading “Kingdom Living Now: Inheritance”
Kingdom Living Now: An Interactive Life
We know Jesus by lots of names–like, Son of God and Prince of Peace. But there’s one that stands out and comes into focus as we venture into the realm of the Kingdom of God this Lent, and it’s King of Kings (Revelation 19:16). Most of us have only a faint understanding of how kingsContinue reading “Kingdom Living Now: An Interactive Life”
Shelley Johnson 