Out of Ammo
We expect the world to shoot its wounded. But not even the world expects Christians to shoot their wounded.
Contributors
Brandon Hanson
Brandon Hanson is husband to Becky, father to Hadassah, Delaney, and Athanasius. He served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman for seven years. He has served in children's and youth ministry, jail outreach, and as an officer on boards for evangelism and missions. Modern folk, Indian Pale Ales, Scotch, Cigars and good conversation are some of Brandon's favorite vices. For everything else, there's Jesus' substitutionary life, death, and resurrection for us.
Christ Hold Fast
Ten Thoughts on Law & Gospel from Gerhard Forde
Here’s a little “devotional” for you; some thoughts on Law and Gospel from Gerhard Forde. Drink deep, drink full. These are rich streams of thought.
We Preach Christ Crucified
While the cross of Christ is a stumbling block to our self-righteousness and an offense to our rationalism, this is where God has chosen to reveal His power and wisdom.
Forgive Me... If You Can
Forgiveness. Reconciliation. They are beautiful notions until we have some reconciling and forgiving to do. It is easy to say we believe in forgiveness.
I Believe In Yesterday
For many, “Yesterday" by The Beatles is a poignant and powerful song. It is one of, if not the most, covered songs by the Beatles.
Where Do We Go When We Fall Asleep For the Last Time?
I just visited a dying woman. When I arrived, she was sleeping so deeply that she had to be gently shaken awake.
Whenever Our Heart Condemns Us
He looked me straight in the eye and said these words, almost in a challenging way, “I hate God. I do."
Stop Conflating Caesar With Jesus
With these words, Jesus at the same time acknowledges that earthly government is both divinely sanctioned and, at the same time, not to be conflated with the kingdom of God.
Revelation 2:18-29 | Shrine Of The Sambatha | 018
The danger was not necessarily inside the city. Nor was it from an obvious source. Outside the walls of Thyatira, lay a small shrine of white stone.
Can I Get a Fruit Check?
We’ve all been there, waiting in line to check out, and the person ahead of us questions the price of something that was just rung up.
Revelation 2:12-17 | Bring On The Bull | 017
Pergamum! Oh, Pergamum! Behold the glory of Pergamum! It was not at this time the greatest provincial power, nor was it the most favored in the Roman Empire.
Can Jesus Save A Christian?
We all know that Jesus can save sinners, unbelievers, pagans and heathens, all of them great or small; sinners who have been very good at being sinners. You’ve likely seen it yourself or at least heard of it happening.
Something Greater
When I was a young boy I was constantly trying to assert my superiority over my siblings. I had to be the best at everything, and it was easy to believe I was the best.
Revelation 2:12-17 | To the Church in Pergamum: Part 2 | 016
Many say Balaam was a prophet, but this was not so. Balaam was no prophet. At least, not a prophet of Yahweh.
Revelation 2:12-17 | To the Church in Pergamum: Part 1 | 015
Jesus has a mighty weapon which is the weapon of His warfare, the sword of His mouth, the very Word of God.
Revelation 2:8-11 | To the Church in Smyrna | 014
In the movie, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Jedi Master Yoda recounts the ancient Jedi teaching before a fearful Anakin, “Fear is the path to the dark side.
Revelation 2:1-7 | To the Church in Ephesus | 013
ohn begins transcribing this first letter from Jesus to the Church of Ephesus, the Ephesians, his home congregation. In this letter, out of all seven letters, is contained the highest praise and the lightest rebuke.
Revelation 2-3 | Seven Letters to Seven Churches | 012
My email was once hacked and read, then used to send emails to contacts in my address book.
Revelation 1:10-20 | What Kind of God Is This? Part 3 | 011
Finally, we draw near the end of this three-part article on Revelation 1:10-20.
Revelation 1:10-20 | What Kind of God Is This? Part 2 | 010
The white hair of Jesus’ head teaches us that the Gospel is an ancient mystery.
Revelation 1:10-20 | What Kind of God Is This? Part 1 | 009
John had heard Jesus’ voice countless times and seen Him every day over the course of three years, and yet nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to witness.
Revelation 1:10a | In the Spirit | 008
We’re going to take a little bit of time going through John’s description of the resurrected and exalted Jesus and its significance.
Revelation 1:9 | Enduring the Tribulation | 007
We’re living in the end times. We have been since Pentecost. The earliest Christians believed it, and what’s more, that is what the apostles teach us in Scripture.
Revelation 1:5b-8 | God's Calling, Our Response | 006
Last week we talked about what happens when the Triune God shows up, and how we practice this every week in Sunday worship with the Trinitarian invocation, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Revelation 1:4-5 | What Happens When the Triune God Shows Up? | 005
Amazing things. That’s what happens when the Triune God shows up in Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:4a | What’s Up with Asia? | 004
This is a weekly article series working through the book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:3 | Kept in the Keeping | 003
This is a weekly article series working through the book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:1-2 | It's All About Jesus | 002
It’s the First Century, the early days of the of the Post-Pentecost Church. Something is in the air.
Revelation 1:20 | The End of the Beginning | 001
It may seem like a strange place to begin: the end of the beginning.
Childbearing Now Saves You
I bet you have seen this verse pop up in Bible study before.
The "Matrix" Moment
Have you ever watched The Matrix? Crazy movie, right? The thing that continually keeps reminding me of that movie is the last thing you’d probably think of, even though the movie is rife with motifs, themes, and analogies of it.