Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ The true treasures of the church are people—people who have no worldly value whatsoever, people who provide no personal benefit or leg up in the world, people who have nothing to offer but their need. Martin Luther says that the rule and reign of God merits us. In other words, people are […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ God refuses to let us settle for anything less than his love. If you’re anything like me, you’ve heard John 3:16 so many times that it’s easy to look right past it; as if God’s love is something we knew already. Something like, “Of course God loves us so much […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ What is church for? Why are we here? Why even bother with church anyway? What’s the point? This question is the elephant in the room when it comes to church. Not too long ago going to church was just what you did. I can still remember seeing all the stores closed on Sunday because most people […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ Jesus is not the one we would pick. Jesus is not the guy we would look to win the day. He’s not the one we would rally behind. If we had to pick someone to get behind and rally around, it would probably be someone who could shout everyone else […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ The glory and splendor of baptism is hard to see sometimes. After all, baptism doesn’t keep us from suffering and struggle. We all know firsthand that it doesn’t. Instead, the magnificence of baptism is hidden behind weakness, suffering, and sacrifice. But that water and the Words of our Lord, they […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ The bible is the historical record of God’s mighty deeds. It’s the written witness to God and his interactions with his creation. And Peter’s no-account mother in-law made it into the bible. Here she is in the cosmic story of what God is doing in and with the world. Wherever in all […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ We’ve been given a higher purpose than getting what we want and having things our own way. We often think that there’s no higher purpose in life than to be free—than to live the life that you choose without anyone else telling you what you can or can’t do. It’s […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ There’s a part of us that can’t stand God’s steadfast love and mercy. You’re probably too self-righteous to admit that. But take our reading from Jonah. There’s a part of us that just like Jonah can’t stand it. The Lord sent Jonah to Nineveh to tell the city to repent of its […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ Christian morality isn’t restrictive; it’s freeing! Christian morality isn’t holding us back from enjoying life. Christian morality is living the new life we’ve been given. It’s living in and enjoying our salvation. It’s easy to think that Christian morality (you know, like the Ten Commandments and all the standards for how we are to […]
Read Today’s Reading » +++++++ Have I got some good news for you! God has predestined you for adoption through Jesus Christ. God has made up his mind about you. He has set his heart on you. And there is no better time to hear the good news that God has predestined us than now—at the start of a new year. Three […]