“Whoever obeys and teaches others to obey will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” ~Jesus
Jesus demands that we take His way seriously. There is nothing frivolous about it at all. My job, my mission, …
Jesus demands that we take His way seriously. There is nothing frivolous about it at all. My job, my mission, …
Here is a video that is a part of my “Faith at Work” series. How do we work out our …
Why this is important: Jesus has it all together. All the complexity we see. All we don’t understand. Jesus sees …
Jesus is not after behavior modification. Jesus wants heart and mind transformation. Jesus wants us to repent. That is …
We are to be a light. We should bring out God’s colors into the world. God is not a secret …
Am I desperate for God? Fortunate [Blessed] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. …
But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn …
Fortunate [Blessed] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [1] Matthew 5:3 When there …
Jesus challenges us to be radically different from most Christians and religious types of people. It will get us in …
Love Life. God has given us an abundant life. Jesus wants us to love it. Jesus wants us to have …
Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall …
Jesus warns us in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5 – 7) where we hear Him say Beware of false prophets, …
Jesus has some noticeably clear instructions on marriage and divorce. This is the short version in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew …
I get angry. I say things I should not and clearly regret later on. I say them though. It isn’t …
Why this is important: Jesus continues His manifesto. I have a lot to learn here. Jesus is being clear, as …
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to …
God’s goal for us is to make the right choice and choose the way of Jesus. Admit that doing God’s …
Why this is important: We say something we regret. We excuse it by saying, “I didn’t mean it”. That does …
Jesus sets standards for us based on a whole different world. It is His Father’s world. It is a world …
We know we all do it. We “pretend” nothing is wrong. We pretend we are something we are not. We …
Why this is important: There are people in our lives that simple challenge us. Many times, that challenge clearly brings …
God’s people have always faced persecution. The prophets were reviled, tortured, and killed. History records that ten of Jesus’ disciples …
How often do I act like God is a secret? Unfortunately, more than I want to admit. I take credit …
We miss God’s goal when our goal is to get our own way. Jesus stops us dead in our track by …
The lack of spiritual riches and gifts is seen by Scripture as an especially distressing cause of poverty. Awareness of …
Jesus challenges us to see how corrupt our heart can be, and it is about our heart. Jesus says do …
Why this is important: Jesus continues on with his manifesto (aka sermon on the mountain). Jesus calls on us to …
The word perfect in Matthew 5:48 does not imply sinlessly perfect, for that is impossible in this life. It suggests …
Why this is important: There is right and there is wrong. We all know the difference. We must remember to …
The Jesus Manifesto is radical. Jesus changes the way things work in the new covenant (aka contract, agreement or testament). …
Jesus is a kind, loving King. Jesus is not angry with me. Jesus wants me to be kind and gentle. …
Jesus is ushering in the Kingdom of God. I like to think of Matthew 5 to 7 as his manifesto …
Why it is important: Jesus makes a declaration about His followers in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5 – 7). We …
The big picture: Goodness and good works are acts designed specifically to benefit others, which are characteristic of God. We …
The Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5-7) continues with Jesus laying out for us what we need to be like in this …
Jesus continues His manifesto (found in Matthew 5-7). There is a lot to learn here. Jesus is being clear, as …
‘Mercy’ is compassion for people in need. We can distinguish it from ‘grace’. The Greek noun eleos (mercy) … always …
It is a challenge. I see the homeless. Do I give them some money? Won’t they just use it to …
What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Poor in spirit means that you feel you have no moral riches …
Jesus continues with His radical Manifesto (Matthew 5-7). We all know what it is like to be hungry or thirsty. …
Is it positive? God wants us to be positive. Jesus challenges us to see what God is doing right now. …
Mercifulness is an attitude of compassion and care, grounded in the nature of God himself, made manifest in the life …
In the New Testament, Yeshua [Jesus] extends the Torah even further in terms of justice. He states, “Do not think …
Here is a guest article from Mandy Sweigart-Quinn. Mandy is known as the Blue Collar Theologian (www.bluecollartheologian.blog)! She loves Jesus, His …
What matters the most: Whereas several of the commandments of God prohibit certain actions, such as murder and theft, covetousness …
God’s Plan: The Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5-7) continues. It may seem strange that Jesus should pass from peacemaking to persecution, from …
What matters the most: According to Yeshua [Jesus] hell is just as real as heaven. The Bible clearly and explicitly …
Is my heart pure? That is an essential issue to address. Jesus lays it out in His manifesto (Matthew 5 …
Jesus clearly calls us to do good works! The purpose of our good works is to glorify our amazing and …
Jesus challenges us to go beyond what the rules say. He knows we focus on “what the rule says” and then …
Jesus challenges us to have a GOD World (Kingdom) approach to retaliation. Our normal approach to being sued is to …
Our culture tends to be one of retaliation. Someone hurts us, we envision a way to get them back. There …
How does Jesus expect us to react under persecution? Rejoice and be glad! That is right. Can we jump up and down …
Why this is important: We can’t make peace if we don’t have peace ourselves. That is the first task, …
Why this is important: Jesus doesn’t want us to play a game of hide and go seek. Now think …
Jesus challenges us to not retaliate in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5-7). It is in our core, when someone hurts …
What is our mission? Our mission, given to us by Jesus, is to love. That is it. That should …
Why it matters: Wow. Jesus is direct. Grow up!! OK, that makes sense. We can be very childish. We live in God’s …
What matters the most: Jesus challenges us to look at whether meeting the “letter of the law” means we are …
Why this matters to God: This is tough stuff. It doesn’t feel right. Our natural reactions, in relationships, can get us …
Jesus [Yeshua] challenges us to be the person God wants us to be. Jesus challenges us to grow up. Grow …
In listening to Yeshua [Jesus] , much of what He is saying goes against the grain of what I have …
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer …
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer it …
It happens all the time. Someone uses us for their own advantage. We get upset. It’s just not right. We …
Jesus challenges us to mean what we say. Religious jargon and trite sayings are useless. It is the power of …
Jesus, God’s Son, shows how He completes what was started in the Old Covenant (Testament). Jesus is the completer in …
There are times Jesus will do things and suggest that it not be shared with others. It is a God …
Jesus says: “Happy [blessed] are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” The commendation of peacemakers – …
God means what He says. What God says is important. What He says is not to be trivialized in any …
All heaven is applauding when I get in trouble for speaking the truth of the government of God. God is …
I can trust God. While others may betray me, God will not. God is to be trusted. Now that is …
Jesus doesn’t want us to play a game of hide and go seek. Now think about it. God is light. …
Jesus loves the word of God. He also knows the legalism can be taken to the extreme. I certainly have …
Jesus challenges us to not retaliate. It is in our core, when someone hurts us, to strike back. Some, famously, …
This is tough stuff. It doesn’t feel right. Our natural reactions, in relationships, can get us in trouble. Jesus has …
Jesus challenges us to be the person God wants us to be. Jesus challenges us to grow up. Grow up! …
In listening to Jesus, much of what He is saying goes against the grain of what I have thought brings …
Jesus challenges us to make sure our words are clear and genuine. They should reflect all of His love. Embellishing …
Jesus challenges us to look at whether meeting the “letter of the law” means we are living right in God. …
There is no doubt that poverty’s reach is both widespread and devastating. God’s people cannot be indifferent toward those in …
Jesus, God’s Son, shows how He completes what was started in the Old Covenant (Testament). Jesus is the completer in …
God means what He says. What God says is important. What He says is not to be trivialized in any …
All heaven is applauding when I get in trouble for speaking the truth of the government of God. God is …
My mission, given to me by God, is to love. In order to love, I need to learn how to …
Jesus is clear what love looks like. My words need to reflect His love in me. This is a core …
When I was a young man, we used the phrase “just suck it up”. We used it a lot. We …
The Jesus manifesto continues. Jesus takes on oaths and swearing. Jesus is clear on this. I am to say yes …
I can trust God. While others may betray me, God will not. God is to be trusted. Now that is …
Full disclosure. I have been divorced and have remarried. Jesus has some very clear instructions on marriage and divorce. This …
I get angry. I say things I shouldn’t and clearly regret later on. I say them though. It isn’t pretty. …
Jesus continues His manifesto. I have a lot to learn here. Jesus is being clear, as He always is. …
I sure feel like this some days. I do good (or at least I think I do). What do I …
Jesus is all about forgiveness. That is the reason God sent him to us. I need forgiveness and the good …
Jesus makes a declaration about His followers in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5 – 7). We are the light of …
Can I pass the test? Let’s call it the mercy test. Jesus orders me to be merciful. Am I? Jesus …
We have a great promise from Jesus the Messiah. It is joy and happiness. Jesus wants me to have joy. …
There was a pastor who became involved immorally with a married woman in his congregation. They each divorced their respective …
I avoid some things because they sound very geeky and smack of theology. Jesus talks about sanctification. Maybe I need …
Jesus continues His manifesto. I have a lot to learn here. Jesus is being clear, as He always is. This …