Devotions in the Deep End

I've reached a milestone!!  Getting 50 episodes out has been a real adventure of learning and I'm grateful to all who have been listening in.

In this episode, we are looking at some interesting critique of Jesus' observation of certain religious practises, and why he wasn't so obsessed with them like the other religious folk were.  It turns out, you could wash your hands all you liked, but remain dirty at the same time if other things were not being addressed!  Take special note of the difference between 'tradition' and 'command' in this episode, as this does in many ways speak to us today as well.

This is an exploration of a famous and sometimes cliched miracle of Jesus.  I'm hoping that what we look at in this episode gets a little bit away from the cliches and picks up some cool lessons for us - in particular the difference between faith and risk in a situation where the miraculous is what you're depending on for something to work!

This is a little longer than I usually publish, but the link between the two stories of Jesus feeding the 4000 and the 5000 was so profound that bringing them together felt like a good way to go.  I hope this is as challenging to you as I found it to be!

The third and final installment of a trilogy of teaching around the Sending of the Twelve.  This episode explores some of the more difficult parts of Jesus' instructions to them before they depart.

This is the second in a short trilogy of teaching around the sending and commissioning of the twelve disciples.  It explores some of the easier parts of Jesus' instructions to them before they depart.

At this point of the story of Jesus, it is estimated that we're likely crossing into the third and final year of his public ministry.  And this transfer comes at the same time Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for some new missional endeavours.  This episode will introduce us to this process with a look at three key traits that Jesus deems important for those engaged in this activity...

This is the part I left out of last episode - the story known as the "Woman with the Issue of Blood."  I titled it a little differently to perhaps reflect part of the idea that I wanted to bring out of the passage in this episode.  It also completes the idea of "2 case studies in humility" that i began to unpack last time as well.

In this episode we get to explore the first of two case studies which look at humility, as well as a significant miracle. We'll get to explore Jesus' authority over death, and walk away with various forms of hope for both now and the future.

This is a quite well-known passage, but it speaks into so many things when we look at this closely.  There's some significant theological insight in these verses as well as some key things that challenge is about faith and fear.  Hope it helps somebody today!

This is a passage that has captured imaginations and even instilled a bit of fear in some who have encountered it.  Sometimes it gets misunderstood, and there is also a broader message that is being told by Jesus even as he makes these strong statements.  In this episode, I've attempted to both engage with the big picture of the passage, but also tap into this very unique idea of blasphemy that Jesus warns us about.   I hope this helps to clear things up for some, and call others deeper into a life of discipleship by identifying more closely with Christ's Kingdom community!