Paul’s Letter to the Orlandonians: Agonizing for Others In Paul’s letter, he agonizes over people he’s never even met. He wants to be sure people are told the simple truth of Christ and Christ alone, and that this gospel is for everyone. —

Jesus Christ is Supreme Colossians 1:15-23 Here is one of the great doxologies, great words of praise of Jesus Christ. What Paul says here is almost mind-blowing: the work of God in Christ making peace for and with fallen humanity. We are reminded of how much salvation is not our work, but that of God […]

Colossians 1:1-14 By extension, we may think of Paul’s conversation about his prayers for the Colossians as prayers for us. However, are the things he says and praises about the Colossians true about us? How will it impact us to think about the content of this prayer and what we might want for one another […]

Whole Life Church Easter Service – Social Distancing and Socially Distant by Greg Creek and Andy McDonald

FINDING HOPE: Psalm 62: 5-6 How do you move towards hope?  In our current world with all that is going on, there can easily be a move to cynicism. Christians are called to be people of faith and faith, exercised well, leads to hope – a change in direction from cynicism. How can we make […]

Mark 6:30-31 We live in uncertain times, and life isn’t always what we expect. Even during the turmoil currently invading our lives, is it possible to experience rest? Is a day to stop and put our trust wholly in God exactly what we need right now?

Exodus 20:8 It seems clear from the commandment that at least part of what “keeping Sabbath” means has to do with the day being “different” from the other days of the week. Six are designed for working, and one designed for rest. It wasn’t just for the patriarchs, but for the entire household and visiting […]

Matthew 12:1-2, 9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Lue 6:6-11; 13:10-17; 14:1-6; John 5:1-18; 9:1-34 Jesus broke the Sabbath taboos, but he also never sinned, which means he “kept the Sabbath holy.” How do blessings get turned into curses? It seems that the way Jesus related to the Sabbath was to return to its original intent: it was […]

Genesis 1-2:4a; Exodus 20:8-11 It is often thought that the Sabbath is a Jewish construct beginning when the 10 Commandments were given on Mt. Sinai. It is important to remember that, whatever Sabbath would become in the culture of a fallen world, it preceded the fall. The Sabbath finds its roots in the story of […]