In reading Ecclesiastes, I’ve found a helpful framing from David Gibson: gain or gift? This framing helps me understand what the Preacher is up to at the end of this chapter when he seems to talk about work in two different ways. When we work for gain—that is, when we work to be remembered or... Continue Reading

The Great Commission is the church’s purpose, and this is not a solo task. Disciple-making belongs to the whole church—sent, supported, and sustained together.     The closing scene of Matthew’s Gospel gives us one of the clearest and most compelling pictures of the church’s purpose. In Matthew 28:16–20, the risen Christ meets His disciples—some... Continue Reading

God used the witness of women—unlikely and unbelieved—to compel Peter to search for the risen Christ. Their witness has compelled countless generations to know that the story of Christ’s resurrection is true. We see this theme of women witnesses in a different story in John’s gospel.     On Easter, I read the account of... Continue Reading

When I began studying David, one question that intrigued me was what it meant that he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). When I asked people what they thought this phrase meant, I heard differing opinions. Some were even bothered by the fact that such a sinful person was... Continue Reading

There is a wealth of additional information and visuals including maps, charts, timelines, lists, illustrations, and photographs (see the list pages 25-31) that combine to give a comprehensive presentation of Presbyterian missions in the vast continent of Africa. The header shows the Basel Mission Church and appears to have been published around 1915. The Basel... Continue Reading

While I have resorted to things like doing math in my mind to bore myself to sleep, to answer the unpleasant times that come to us, here are some suggestions.     We know sleep is a good thing, but I want to address what goes on when we wake up in the night. I’ll... Continue Reading

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he said “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What is happening in heaven right now? Worship. The kingdom doing what it was made to do. And Jesus tells us to pray for that to break into the earth.    ... Continue Reading

Is there somewhere in that chain where a link is broken and if so what will it look like to put it right so that you can play your part in building up the church, helping others see Jesus? Paul shows them one way of doing that is through what they sing.  Paul calls the... Continue Reading

Christians must live and speak as those who believe God exists, that God is more than a word and that consequently there is a moral objectivity to the reality in which we live. Without the clarity of the Christian voice, things tend to fall apart under the weight of relativism where man is the measure... Continue Reading

Hebrews 11 and the life of Jacob remind us that true faith is often most clearly seen by an old man, unable to stand on his own, still fiercely clinging to God’s promises.   I want to be like Jacob. That might seem like a strange statement if you know the story of Jacob. Jacob’s... Continue Reading