How do we recognize the Spirit of the ascended Lord? Where can we see his wind blowing? What are the signs of the Spirit’s favor and presence? Where is God at work? Where can his blessing and presence be found? How does his Spirit work...
You might not realize it because of its brevity, but the Lord’s Prayer has a lot to teach us about the Christian faith. One of the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” and in response to this question Jesus taught them this prayer: Our Father in...
1. Declaring the Word of Christ: Comforting the Downcast Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those...
Absolution—that is, the declaration that your sins are forgiven in Jesus Christ—has fallen on hard times. In many churches, you will never hear the words: “Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace!” This is a sad fact, because the grace that God has shown us...
Spirituality is all the rage these days. “I’m spiritual, but not religious!” is a common phrase, even if this kind of saying is impossible to achieve in practice. Even if you practice isolated spirituality, you are still following a religion of your own making. This kind...
Our natural expectation is to die and stay dead. Death proves that there is something wrong in the world, that God is not pleased, and that humanity is guilty and sentenced to death. Yet, Christians believe that by trusting in Jesus Christ, God forgives our sins, declares us...
Ascension Day or Holy Thursday is traditionally celebrated on the fortieth day following Easter (when Jesus Christ was raised from the dead). This year’s celebration on May 5th attempts to follow the account written down for us in Acts 1:3 describing the time after the resurrection and the ascension...
“The good seed cannot flourish when it is repeatedly dug up for the purpose of examining its growth” (J. C. Kromsigt). One of my favorite things about trees, especially mature ones, is the way they provide shade and shelter from the natural elements. Yet, everyone...
If I were going to start a religion—a respectable one—it would sound wise. It would draw crowds. It would work. It would make promises that make sense. It would be a religion of wisdom, power, and glory. It would require all sorts of activities for the worshiper to...
In order to read the Bible, it helps to see the big picture. When my toddler is building a cabin out of Lincoln Logs, it helps to look at the blueprints provided inside the box. Without a diagram, building these cabins can be frustrating, and to...