Grace & Peace PGH

"The performance of miracles in the absence of faith could only have resulted in the aggravation of human guilt and the hardening of men's hearts against God... Unbelief excluded the people of Nazareth from the dynamic disclosure of God's grace that others had experienced."

"He is not a magician, doing conjuring tricks by some secret power for an amazed but uninvolved audience. He is (though the onlookers don't yet realize this) God's son, the one through whom the living God is remaking Israel, humans, the world. And faith, however much fear and trembling may accompany it, is the first sign of that remaking, that renewal, that new life. Where are you in this story?"

"Affirming that God doesn't love us on the basis of our keeping within his paths does not require us to act as though he has left us without good direction... Grace does not forbid giving directions, promises, corrections, and warnings. Only cruelty would forbid such help."

"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors."

“Fear is endemic to the human situation. Perhaps today you are fearful. Perhaps you fear life in general, that you will not be adequate for the challenges which are coming. It is a sort of amorphous fear, but it is real and continual. Maybe you fear some unspoken problem which has no apparent solution. The winds are howling, and no hope is on the horizon. What should you do? Understand and believe that it is through storms, afflictions, hardships, and challenges that you grow. Without them, you would be captive to the terrible tyranny of self. Understand that Christ wants to develop you through the storms ahead. Know that he is completely capable of delivering you with a word. He is the same Christ who calmed the storm. Know that he is in the boat with you.”

"Your doubts may rob you of your comfort

"For Mark, the parables of Jesus both reveal and conceal. For those who have ears to hear, they convey the good news of God's kingdom; for those who refuse to listen, their message is obscure. The parables are in some ways similar to crossword clues, making sense to those who are prepared to accept their challenge"

"His critics had painted themselves into a corner. Once you label what is in fact the work of the Holy Spirit as the work of the devil, there's no way back. It's like holding a conspiracy theory: all the evidence you see will simply confirm your belief. You will be blind to the truth."

"The appointment of the Twelve marks the formation of the messianic fellowship and anticipates the extension of Jesus' mission through them."

"Any day the time may come to decide for the world or for the Church. We may have to decide, not in some spectacular matter, but in quite trivial, everyday affairs. And then we shall see and discern the good from the bad. In that day the reality will stand the test, not appearances. In such times as these, Jesus requires his disciples to distinguish between appearance and reality, between themselves and pseudo-Christians. They will then rise above all inquisitive examination of others, but they will need a sincere determination to recognize ·the verdict of God when it comes. At any moment the nominal Christians may be separated from the real ones. We may even find that we are nominal Christians ourselves. Here is a challenge to closer fellowship with Jesus and to a more loyal discipleship."