the restoration project. Joshua James. 16 December 2018

In this week's teaching, the lectionary focuses on the work of John the Baptist. Because we've had a couple of recent sermons on his ministry, Josh focuses on one (odd) detail: John's relationship to the powerful people of his time.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 9 December 2018

Sometimes the timing of our assigned text and the experiences of real life coincide quite nicely. This week, the text addresses the jealousy of John's disciples at the emergence of Jesus' ministry.

Though the contexts are quite different, Josh uses the story to address some of his own issues.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 18 November 2018

the restoration project. Joshua James. 11 November 2018

the restoration project. Joshua James. 4 November 2018

In this recurring series, Josh discusses some of the unique traits of The Restoration Project. In this teaching, he talks about the theological openness of the community and its benefits for spiritual growth and discipleship.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 28 October 2018

This is a fun passage. We've got some more differences between John and Matthew, Mark, and Luke to discuss. And we've got the "carefully choreographed street theatre" of the temple cleansing itself. It is theologically loaded. When read together with the miracle at the wedding in Cana, Jesus expands on his initiation of a new work (which includes a powerful critique of the current system of his day).

the restoration project. Joshua James. 21 October 2018

Jesus' first miracle in the book of John isn't just a cool party trick (though I'm sure the party goers were thankful). It's part announcement of a new era, part identification of Jesus as messiah, part advocacy for a family on the brink of social disgrace. It's also worth our consideration.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 14 October 2018

Who doesn't love learning about ancient Jewish interpretive traditions? We sure do! And it's a good thing, because in this week's teaching, Josh explores some of the ways ancient readers understood the story of Jacob's Ladder (Genesis 28). Here's the argument, this background information (completely) informs what the author does with the story of Philip and Nathanael in the New Testament *and* how we should hear it today.

the restoration project. Joshua James. 7 October 2018

This teaching is sort of a two-parter. In the first half, Josh talks about the internal struggle of "teaching with honesty" and "just giving you Jesus." In the second part, he looks at the text and asks the question, "what do you want?"

the restoration project. Joshua James. 30 September 2018