By Adam Francisco

09/15/26

15mins

Josephus on Jesus

Josephus does not tell us that Christianity is true, and Christians do not need Josephus to tell them that Christ is risen. But Christianity makes claims about things that happened in public history under identifiable rulers, priests, and governors. For that reason, testimony from outside the church matters.

Political Polarization and Cultural Christianity

John W. Hoyum

09/18/26

Political Polarization and Cultural Christianity

Today, the longing for cultural Christianity on both the left and the right hearkens back to an older version of Christendom that was a mixed blessing for the church in the western world. The cultural mediation of Christian views on created order has certainly benefitted the civilization we’ve inherited. But the gospel itself isn’t something that can be reduced to cultural mediation either. Instead, the gospel as a message stands apart from all human accomplishments and achievements, no matter how beneficial they might be.

Geography: How the “Where” Impacts the “Why” of the Biblical Story

Mark Duerr

09/16/26

Geography: How the “Where” Impacts the “Why” of the Biblical Story

The student of Scripture should always have a map open next to their Bible as they read. If possible, they should also travel to Israel, not to make a pilgrimage, but to see the context of the land in which these stories took place. These are not fairy tales made up about fictional fantasy lands; these are stories about real people in real places interacting with a real God.

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John W. Hoyum

01/19/21

What Happens When the Gospel Isn’t Threatened

Has the modern world taken too strong a dose of the gospel as its inheritance from the Reformation?

David Schmitt

01/17/21

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20 (Epiphany 3: Series B)

But Jesus comes to us today and reminds us that He has the power to make disciples in the midst of conflict and suffering.

John Bombaro

01/17/21

Epistle: I Corinthians 7:29-31 (32-35) (Epiphany 3: Series B)

Because this life is transient and we already live in the new and eternal age restored in Christ (at least in part), our preoccupations are different to those bound to this world and life.

Jeffrey Pulse

01/17/21

Old Testament: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 (Epiphany 3: Series B)

Jonah rejected his first call and job description and headed in the opposite direction . Now, after spending three days in the belly of the big fish, Jonah is called again.

Chad Bird

01/14/21

Hold on Loosely to Your Politics

Want to do yourself, your family, your friends, and the world a good deed? Hold on loosely to your politics. Don’t drop it. Don’t toss it aside. Don’t privatize it. But, above all, don’t hold on to your politics as if your life, your soul, and your salvation depend on it.

Gretchen Ronnevik

01/14/21

The Secret to Growing Your Faith

In our transactional view of our faith - “If I don’t… then God won’t.” “I need to, so God can” - we are seriously underestimating who we are dealing with.

Sam P. Schuldheisz

01/13/21

A Tale of Two Professors

This tale of two professors has a common theme, plot, and denouement - the good news of the one true story, Jesus Christ crucified for you.

Kathy Morales

01/13/21

What If?

What if I’ve used up God’s forgiveness—he’s given me far too many chances and I’ve blown them all. Maybe his grace is for you but not for me. What if Jesus loved me once, but now regrets everything he’s done for me?

Ken Sundet Jones

01/12/21

Conspiracy Theories, Law, and Salvation

Paul knew, and so do we: the law doesn’t change hearts or heal the world. More demands won’t do the trick.

Robert Kolb

01/10/21

He Doesn’t Make Things Like We’re Used To

God makes all things new. He refashions us from those turned in upon ourselves, turned to idols of our own choice and making, to experience the freedom He gives by pronouncing us His righteous children.

David Schmitt

01/10/21

Gospel: John 2:1-11 (Epiphany 2: Series B)

We like to close with something great. We even have a saying for this behavior: “Saving the best for last.” God Himself has a way of saving the best for last.

John Bombaro

01/10/21

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (Epiphany 2: Series B)

What does being free from sin, which is obviously a good thing, have to do with being free from the Law, which sounds dangerous?

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