1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.1:19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. There was a voice crying for change, hope, and joy, pointing to the one who was to come that would bring joy and transform hearts and lives. Are you prepared to meet the invading Christ? Are you prepared to be transformed by Him? And if you are, understand your role in being a voice in the wilderness to our world today. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

NT Wright describes hell as the process of a person becoming non-human. Essentially, it’s a process of dehumanizing. The person exists in an ex-human state, no longer reflecting their maker in any meaningful sense, can no longer excite in themselves or others the natural sympathy so feel even for the hardened criminal. Salvation is a humanizing process, or becoming what we were designed to be at creation. Jesus was the exemplar for humanity. If I had to describe the dehumanizing process, it would look like someone with dementia. They lose their identity, forget who they are and often have no idea where they are or what they’re doing. The body breaks down and eventually just stops working. I’ve seen that first hand and it’s not pretty. I pray your life is on a journey back to the Garden (now a city lit by Jesus, but once just a garden) where you can walk and talk with God with complete transparency and wholeness. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

There isn’t a great definition of the Kingdom of God within modern theology. Some simply define it as “the rule and reign of God.” Some equate the kingdom with the Church. Neither of these is an adequate, as in the case of the first definition, nor truth in the case of the second. Patrick Schreiner, Professor of New Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has provided a definition in his book The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross. For him, it has 3 elements, and in a footnote, he stretches it to 5. These are: * Rule * Realm * People * Presence * Law The first 3 are essential to his definition, while the last two are valuable. I would argue that he needs to expand the definition to include the last two. In the Gospel text for the lectionary, Matthew 16:21-28, I think Jesus shows us six elements of the kingdom of God that are essential to living in that kingdom. (Patrick, if you read this, you might consider additional work here.) My list of six include: * A King * A Battle * A Mindset * A People * A Surrender * A Presence Listen to this episode and see how Jesus provides these for us so that we can understand and live in the Kingdom of God. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

Our Christology leads to our Ecclesiology which leads to our Missiology. Matthew 16:13-20 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

14:22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 14:24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 14:25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 14:26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 14:28 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 14:29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 14:30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 14:31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 14:32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 14:33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

The Lectionary text for the third Sunday after Easter are: * Acts 2:14a, 36-41 * Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 * 1 Peter 1:17-23 * Luke 24:13-35 Today, we look at the Gospel text for the 3rd Sunday after Easter, Luke 24:13. It’s the story of the journey to Emmaus. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

For the 3rd Sunday of Lent 2023, the lectionary passages are': * Exodus 17:1-7 * Psalm 95 * Romans 5:1-11 * John 4:5-42 This week, we look at the John 4 passage. It’s the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. There is so much in this text to touch out, but the image or symbol that is so important in the passage is the water jar. She brought it with her to the well, but left it at Jesus’ feet. This was the picture of her letting go of her past and embracing the transformation that comes from meeting Jesus. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

The Lectionary Texts for January 29, 2023: * Micah 6:1-8 * Psalm 15 * 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 * Matthew 5:1-12 Steven Curtis Chapman’s song The Mountain is very appropriate for the Gospel text today. I love these words: You bring me up here on this mountain For me to rest and learn and grow I see the truth up on the mountain And I carry it to the world far below So as I go down to the valley Knowing that You will go with me This is my prayer, Lord Help me to remember what You've shown me Up on the mountain Up on the mountain The Gospel text speaks to the mountain top experience leading into the Sermon on the Mount. The mountain references in the Old Testament and in Matthew help frame the text as a place to meet God, the ruler of the Kingdom of Heaven, and to get instructed on life in the Kingdom. The Gospel text reminds us that the Sermon on the Mount is the New Law from God, for living life in the New Kingdom. And it begins with the Beatitudes, which prepare us for the full expression of what it’s like to live life in the Kingdom of God. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

The Lectionary texts for the week of January 22, 2023: * Isaiah 9:1-4 * Psalm 27:1, 4-9 * 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 * Matthew 4:12-23 This week we look at Matthew 4:12-23 and the restoration of Israel. It starts with the Light coming to Zebulon and Naphtali, the first two tribes of Israel carried into exile. It ends with the calling of 2 pairs of disciples, also reflecting the restoration of Israel. The people lived in a dark and shadowy world, but the Light has come in the form of Jesus and the people who live in that light will find peace, love and justice through repentance. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.

Wisdom is precisely what enables us to stand in the times of trials and which leads us to wholeness. Wisdom in that practical element of living out what one believes. Not knowledge. Thank you for subscribing. Share this episode.