Creative Space for Wanderers
Sermon for Historic Providence Church, Anderson SC August 9, 2020 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. This is my story. This is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long. Blessed Assurance is one of my favorites hymns. In the old days, we sang hymns crafted from a …
When I look at the Bible, online or a printed edition, I’m one of those who like to see the words of Jesus in red. The red letters prompt me to read a bit slower, be more meticulous, and pay close attention to the terms. Those who first wrote the text we now call the …
The foundation of this series of posts rests on serving those in need. My assumption from the outset is we agree that serving is important, so it’s essential to stop and consider what it means to serve. Why serve? At its core, serving others is focused on giving up the scarce resource we all have …
One of the most amazing things about the Bible is its ability to speak in different voices depending on how you ask a specific question. In this current study, the question we are exploring concerns our responsibility for the least, the lost, and the lonely in our community. When I started the journey, I was …
Continue reading “Giving Presents of Food to One Another and Gifts to the Poor”
Pull up a chair. Sit and listen to the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians: All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. The impact of this single verse fails to convey the powerful punch with which it …
Read 2 John The book of Second John contains a mere 13 verses as labeled by those who divided the Bible neatly for us around 500 years ago. This short epistle manages to expose some controversy for some in the church these days. I’m not going to try to stir the pot intentionally. Instead, I …
Read 1 John 4:7-21 We frequently hear reference to the “love chapter” as 1 Corinthians 13. This may be true, but after re-reading this passage, we might think differently about this assertion. The overwhelming theme of John’s thoughts here is love. Here are some phrases that grab my attention in today’s reading: God is love. …
Continue reading “1John: Whoever Does Not Love Does Not Know God”
Read 1 John 2:12-17 The art of storytelling is an ancient craft. Those who are gifted know how to build tension early to capture the reader’s attention. John knows his audience well. He begins his first letter reminding us that Jesus is the Word of life and just in case you don’t read the whole …
Read 1 John 2:3-11 Once again, John boldly points out the distinction between those walking in light versus darkness, liars, and truthtellers. The lesson is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. When we avoid speaking the truth in love, we fall into a trap. Sometimes this happens when we mistake being kind and …
Read John 13:31-38 Judas Iscariot has exited the very private dinner. While Jesus was able to see what was going on clearly, the Eleven disciples seemed to be confused. The title of this post focuses on the last two verses of chapter 13, but we shouldn’t miss the greater emphasis on God’s glorification and a …