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Rob Bell on How to Read the Bible

rob_bell“I don’t read the Bible like a flat line.” Read More...
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Notes on Colossians 1:25, 26

PaulIn the passage before us, the apostle Paul talks about his own ministry. Read More...
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Ken Schenck: Common Denominator of Scripture

Ken_Schenck-in-officeGuest blog by Ken Schenck, Dean of Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University and Professor of New Testament and Christian Ministry. “What would a hermeneutic look like today that tried to recapture the "inerrancy" of the pre-modern era?” Read More...
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N.T. Wright on Pauline Authorship

paul-and-the-faithfulness-of-godThanks to the Reformedish Derek Rishmawy for this quote from N. T. Wright’s new (and huge) book on the teachings of the apostle Paul, Paul and the Faithfulness of God. Read More...
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Notes on Amos 7:7-17

Amos-vs-AmaziahThis is an interesting face-off. Here we have the representative of official state-sanctioned religion confronting a rough, working class prophet. Read More...
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Notes on Amos 7:1-6

Amos0615Here we see the prophet at prayer. Most often, in the book of Amos, we hear the prophet's voice denouncing the nations and predicting their coming doom. Here we see him at prayer for the nation — pleading for them to be spared. Read More...
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Yes. Jesus Had Female Disciples

meier-johnSome helpful remarks from John P. Meier’s book A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus (Volume 3: Companions and Competitors). Read More...
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Notes on Colossians 1:24

bible-reading"I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church." Read More...
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Notes on John 10:22-30

sheep_face1This is a continuation of Jesus’ claim to be the Good Shepherd. This incident comments on the material that appears in the first part of this chapter. Read More...
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Maddox: Scripture and the Analogy of Faith

Randy-Maddox_methodismsRandy Maddox on John Wesley’s principles for interpreting Scripture. Read More...
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Notes on Amos 3:9-15

Amos0615The prophet calls the surrounding nations to witness against YHWH's Chosen People. Read More...
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Notes on Amos 3:3-8

Amos0615The opening verses of chapter 3 identify the people against whom Amos is prophesying: "the whole family that [God] brought up out of the land of Egypt." Now, in verses 3-8, Amos talks about his own role as a prophet. Read More...
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Notes on Luke 4:1-13

temptation-of-jesusI really like the way Luke tells the story of Jesus’ temptation. Read More...
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Notes on Amos 3:1, 2

Amos0615It is amazing how self-critical the Hebrew Scriptures are. They do not glorify the nation or it's heroes. The nation's critics were remembered — they were remembered as prophets who told them, in advance, of the danger that lay ahead for them. Read More...
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It Matters What God You Trust

psalmsReflections and a Prayer on Psalm 115:8, 9: There is a profound thought here: we become like the God we trust. Read More...
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T. C. Moore: The Father Heart of God: Setting the Lonely in Families

TC_and_Tyson_Fenway_0A Guest blog by T. C. Moore. “But … God … twelve years ago, broke into my life like a home invasion, rescued me, and revealed himself to me. God showed himself to be my true home, my true family. God offered me unconditional love and a new mission to demonstrate that love to the world.” Read More...
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More Notes on Colossians 1:21-23.

crossNice little sermon outline from yesterday’s post, huh? Yes, but it’s missing something. At the time, I was very consciously leaving out point #5: The Means of Reconciliation. Read More...
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Notes on Colossians 1:21-23.

humility_6The apostle Paul has been emphasizing the greatness of Christ. The verses just before this speak of Christ as the Head of the Church. Paul now personalizes the message: reminding his readers of the way Christ has changed their lives: reconciling them to God. Read More...
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Notes on Colossians 1:18-20

Jesus-Body_of_ChristBy virtue of his resurrection, Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. Read More...
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Notes on Colossians 1:16,17

Christ_the_King-12Christ does not belong to us alone. Christ is the Savior of all. Christ is not only found within. Christ is found all around. Read More...
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Notes on Colossians 1:15

candle-drwIn his rebuttal to the Colossian "worship of angels", the apostle Paul directs his readers’ attention to Jesus Christ. Christ is the focus of our faith. Read More...
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Notes on Colossians 1:13, 14

greek-nt-openThe apostle’s prayer is followed by a statement about the Gospel’s effect on his readers’ lives. Read More...
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The NT Authors' Intentions

41nccsyAmGL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-69,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_The New Testament writers would not have been able to be able to envision the New Testament as we currently have it, but they were convinced they were delivering authoritative teaching.
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Reflections on the Song of Solomon

ring+bibleMy beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away….” Read More...
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A Few Notes on Isaiah 6:1-3

hebrew_scrollsA few comments on Isaiah 6:1-3: this text comes up fairly often in the Lectionary. Read More...
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Melchizedek

Meeting_of_abraham_and_melchizadekPlowing through all the nonsense that has been written about the figure of Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews. Read More...
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Adam Clarke on Luke 2:15-21

aclarke02Adam Clarke’s Commentary on Luke 2:15-21. Read More...
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Notes on Isaiah 64:1, 2

Some reflections on Isaiah 64:1,2. Read More...
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