Creative Space for Wanderers
Read: Following the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus continues to challenge the Jewish leadership by exposing their inability to grasp the fundamental truth that was literally standing right in front of their faces. The reading today includes a wide array of topics presented by Matthew as keys to revealing significant problems with the religious …
Read: The fourth discourse recorded by Matthew provides a wide array of teaching points that continue Jesus’ counter culture concept. It’s interesting that children are mentioned twice, though we may skim over that from our cultural perspective. There is much to learn here. May God speak to you this morning as Jesus teaches through His …
Continue reading “Matthew: Fourth Discourse — Family Matters”
Read: I don’t claim to have a scholarly approach to extensive Bible study, more of an inquisitive Christ-follower method. Every once in awhile I look at the detailed notes in the study Bible of choice for clues and context. Today it seemed fitting. The NIV Study Bible describes the book of Matthew as an artistically …
Continue reading “Matthew: Tough Words as the Third Discourse Concludes”
Read: TheBibleProject.com revealed an important truth in Matthew that I either forgot or failed to pay attention to previously. It’s rather embarrassing when this happens, but I’m trying to be transparent here in this blog. Each day, sitting here reading and wondering, it’s fascinating to learn something practical while listening to hear from God. I’m …
Read: Matthew wants to make sure we are clear on this: Jesus is The Messiah. The blind see, the lame walk, the sick are healed, the dead rise, and the gospel is proclaimed! This is the great news they’ve been waiting to hear, but some can’t understand because Jesus’ yoke is light, He didn’t provide …
Read: In this incredible chapter we read about Jesus sending out his fledgling followers we revere as His amazing disciples. They weren’t so amazing when they started, but they had one major advantage: they knew. They knew Jesus was the Messiah because they walked and talk and watched Him do things beyond their wildest imaginations. …
Continue reading “Matthew: Jesus Sends Out His Disciples; Working Within Your Gifts”
Read: Matthew provides an incredible list of miracles by Jesus throughout the area and some unique ministry challenges in these two chapters. It’s hard to imagine how this news spread around the region, how it was received, etc. I’m sure they were skeptical of the fake-news of their day and I’m confident I would have …
Continue reading “Matthew: A Collection of Miracles and Some Ministry Notes”
Read: There is no way that this simple post can adequately cover the vast material in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Seriously. I have to point back to the primary purpose of this blog at this time: read through the Bible and post thoughts that stick out as significant. With that disclaimer, let’s fly through …
Read: TheBibleProject.org’s video introduction to Matthew helps provide context and a framework within which we gain his perspective on the life of Jesus. Matthew choice of stories depend on some knowledge of what we call the Old Testament, common knowledge for those in his time. Today we read about John the Baptist’s preaching and baptizing …
Continue reading “Matthew: John Prepares the Way; Jesus’ Ministry Begins”
Read: I’m amazed at how Nehemiah focused on the people, individuals and families, through this entire process. Most of the time I see lists of names and numbers and just move on, but this time I saw faces and families, men, women and children–real people living in difficult times. Nehemiah invested a lot of time …
Continue reading “Nehemiah: Individuals and Families Matter”