Generally when people talk about faith or God, it divides people - along religious, cultural, or social lines. Obviously, any of us, if asked about this church, would want to avoid that pitfall and say something sensible and helpful that represents this church well. But how? A parable from Jesus about wheat and weeds and thinking about the difference between a circle and a dot can help...
Read More"Why am I still single?" • "Why can't I catch a break?" • "How could this happen?"... What do you avoid asking God about because you're afraid you'll be dissatisfied with the response or get bad news?... Jesus teaches us to not avoid but engage our unsatisfied curiosities with him, and to expect GOOD news in response!
Read MoreIt's hard work emotionally and psychologically to navigate the families we came from and their impact on us personally. Jesus has lots of help.
Read MoreContinuing our series on Jesus' sermon on the Mount, we come to Jesus' comments on provision and security.
Read MoreThe "Our Father" or "Lord's Prayer" is a tutorial from Jesus on how to pray, and it has in mind some specific misconceptions of prayer, which (maybe unexpectedly) we still fall victim to today.
Read MoreBrown Line's resident spiritual director unpacks for us the rewards of secret generosity, according to Jesus.
Read MoreYou know that terror you feel about letting someone down when you receive an invitation, so you mark "maybe" even though you know your answer is actually "no"? That's the aspirational RSVP, and while it can feel like the better option in the short term, it can leave a communication mess in the end. People in Jesus' day faced their own communication messes, and Jesus' advice was humbling but incredibly helpful.
Read MoreJesus' "you have heard it said... but I say..." statements seem extreme and crazy at first read. But he's actually doing something quite brilliant in making these statements, which allows him to both knock the religious elite of his day (the Pharisees) off their high horses, and also inspiringly point people toward the spiritual, psychological, and emotional health that being humbled brings.
Read MoreProviding an avenue to psychological health. Exposing our tendency to scapegoat others... Just a couple of the things at play in Jesus' meaning-packed statement that he came to fulfill (not abolish) "the Law" of the Ancient Israelites.
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