Jesus: The Most Interesting Priest in the World – Friday – Reflect
Let’s take time to pray and reflect before the workweek ends. Meeting with a Group? Your discussion questions are in this week’s Group Study Guide [permalink append=”#comments”]Discuss the Challenge[/permalink]
Jesus: The Most Interesting Priest in the World – Thursday – Act On It
We’re talking about Jesus as a Priest this week. When you hear priest, you may think of Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican priests in modern times. But these are different from priests in the Jewish world of Jesus’ time. The fact we use the same English word does confuse this issue. The Jewish priests stood […]
Jesus: The Most Interesting Priest in the World – Wednesday – Change It
Yesterday we saw the author of the Book of Hebrews describing how the sacrificial system was temporary – all these animals killed, sacrifices offered year after year, with no lasting change. Still people would sin, sacrifice and repeat. The priests were always trying to make things right with God, at least temporarily, as the people’s […]
Jesus: The Most Interesting Priest in the World – Tuesday – Study It
We asked yesterday about punishments matching crimes. It seems like a natural enough thing to pursue in a system of law, even if it’s challenging in practice. It makes sense and is fairly palatable with more minor infractions, but when we get to really serious crimes, it gets harder. Think of sex crimes and murder. […]
Jesus: The Most Interesting Priest in the World – Monday
When we do something wrong, we’re used the idea of punishment. Some parents might take away treats from children, or give them timeouts, or a stern talking-to. When we get caught speeding, we expect a fine, or demerit points. When someone commits a crime, they can expect punishment in terms of fines, jail time, community […]
Friday – Reflect – Foundation
Let’s take time to pray and reflect before the workweek ends. Meeting with a Group? Your discussion questions are in this week’s Group Study Guide [permalink append=”#comments”]Discuss the Challenge[/permalink]
Thursday – Act On It – Foundation
Spiritual real estate agents will tell you to build your life on their teaching, but you need to know if it’s sandy or solid. I’d encourage you to do a spiritual home inspection. That’s the point of the entire Sermon on the Mount: Don’t just look at the outer appearances…religious membership or observances. Your following […]
Wednesday – Change It – Foundation
Yesterday we saw one truth from Jesus’ story about foundations in life: that we all build on one foundation or another. Truth 2: Difficult times will come to all. We are all subject to the same rains, winds. Both houses face the same problems, but their foundations are differently equipped to withstand such pressures. IF […]
Tuesday – Study It – Foundation
This week, we’re looking at foundations in life. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because […]
Monday – A New Idea – Foundation
In 2009, an entire 13 storey building toppled over in China, killing a construction worker, and leaving homeless hundreds of new tenants who thought they were about to move in to a brand new building. What’s striking about the images is that the building looks modern. It’s not visibly dilapidated. The contractors did all the […]
Friday – Reflect – Forgiver
Let’s take time to pray and reflect before the workweek ends. Meeting with a Group? Your discussion questions are in this week’s Group Study Guide [permalink append=”#comments”]Discuss the Challenge[/permalink]
Thursday – Act On It – Forgiver
Yesterday we read a story about Jesus having a meal at the home of Simon, a Pharisees or religious lawyer. A woman, known to be a sinner (this is probably a euphemism for prostitute), came and washed his feet, and anointed them with oil. This was over the top hospitality, that Simon had not shown […]
Wednesday – Change It – Forgiver
Yesterday we saw Jesus being treated well, really well, by a woman who was a known “sinner”. Now, everyone’s a sinner, so what does that mean? It was probably a euphemism for a prostitute, or she had an affair. IT was likely a sexual sin, and she was known for it. When a religious legal […]
Tuesday – Study It – Forgiver
This week we’re talking about how Jesus was known as a forgiver. Here’s a story where he described himself that way: One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when […]
Monday – A New Idea – Forgiver
I remember a month where I’d made a number of purchases on my credit card. I had the cash to pay it off – I was just using the credit card to earn points. But I went and paid the wrong credit card, and didn’t notice until it was too late. The entire amount was […]