Paul's character and gospel are under attack from critics in the church. At stake is whether people can be Christians without also converting to a form of cultural Judaism. While the issue of whether someone needs to be Jewish to be a Christian isn't an active one in the church these days, it shows us…

In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul tells a story of what God has done in Jesus. This story, the Gospel (or the Good News) forms the identity of God's people, so it is critical that we understand what it means. Getting this right is foundational to being a Christian Community. Paul articulates a…

Jesus' last words to his disciples in Acts call them to witness to him in the power of the Holy Spirit. In this week's teaching, we examine the implications of that command.

Our families shape us in the mundane day-to-day things we do together. In much the same way, the church shapes believers as a Spiritual family. The church gives us a place to generously share our gifts with others. At the same time, it provides us with a place to humbly receive the generosity of others.…

When people see Christians, they make guesses about the kind of God we serve. When they see us behave in ways that are petty or judgmental, they (wrongly) assume that this is a reflection of the character of the God we serve. On the other hand, when our lives display compassion and reconciliation, we represent…

Christians often talk about salvation as primarily a benefit we will enjoy after we have died. We don't always look at it as something that bestows benefits on people in the here and now, but it does. When we encounter Jesus, his salvation changes our lives. We see this sort of transformation in the individual…

How do we understand the God revealed in the Bible and, most especially, on the cross? How does he feel about sinners? Is he looking to settle scores or want to be reconciled? How we understand God will shape how we serve him in significant ways. A gospel that sees God as out for retribution…

Jesus' resurrection on Easter gives us a new perspective on all of the hardships and disappointments we face in our lives. God works through Jesus' death on the cross to bring us salvation. In the same way, God Works in Our Suffering with that same resurrection power. Jesus' followers feel betrayed and disappointed that Jesus…

When Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he enters with tears in his eyes. He knows the people won't accept his claim to kingship when he challenges them to abandon the path of nationalist hostility that eventually leads to war with Rome. He knows that disaster is coming. Welcoming Jesus as King on our own…

God is able to bring life out of the darkest places of death. But, since he works in partnership with human will, God will only bring such life if his people can resist despair enough to ask him to do it. The church's vocation, then, must involve holding onto hope so that we can pray…

A blind man healed by Jesus perceived who he was while the Pharisees, the people with the most knowledge about God were totally blind to his identity. This shocking story is meant as a warning for the religious that pride can blind us to what God is doing, and even lead us to oppose it…

When Jesus rejects Satan's offer of a kingdom in exchange for worship, he's rejecting both Satan's kingdom and its self-elevating vision of coercive power. Jesus instead demonstrates that God's reign comes through self-emptying power. Christians face the same choice: we can use Satan's tools of power--even in pursuit of an agenda we presume to be…