Where did you say Jesus was?

 Mark 16:1-8 relates the story of three women who tried to attend to the body of Jesus, but were surprised to find He was not in the tomb where they last saw him. Jesus had risen from the dead and had left the tomb. Like the people of His day, we often assume that we know where Jesus is, but He never seems to be where we expect Him to be. Where do you think Jesus is right now? Could you be wrong?

Jesus is Coming! What Does that mean to you?

 

Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem was met with great joy and with great fear. The religious leaders of the day understood that Jesus was dangerous to their power structures and might bring unwanted attention from the Roman government (John 12:12-16). How do you comfort others, when your great joy and triumph comes at their expense? 

Do we know what is right?

Jeremiah 31 speaks of a time when everyone will know who God is and What God wants us to do. Similarly, in Romans 2 Paul describes a kind of natural law which calls our conscience. The shared shame of humanity is that all of us have 'sinned' by not doing what we believe is the right, regardless of how we define 'right.' The good news of the gospel is that we don't have live with that shame.
 

BigGuy gets 'snaked'

Numbers 21 relates the story of God's people being plagued with a snake infestation that resulted in many sicknesses and deaths. The remedy was to simply look at a replica of the problem, a snake. Looking at the bronze image brought immediate relief and healing. Maybe the Church needs to look at Jesus and what He taught so that healing can come. How can you look to Jesus for the love that you need to give today?

The Foolishness of Christ

 The way of Christ is so contrary to the violence and greed of our world that it seems like foolishness to those who don't practice it. Even more disturbing to those around us might be the willingness of Christ to include anyone from any background, even the disagreeable. (1 Co 1:18-26). Is this the 'foolishness of Christ' you see in the Church, or do you see the Church excluding, bickering, and conquering?

Lose Your Life by...What Now?

Peter argued with Jesus over His upcoming death. This lead to the well known verse that states anyone who wants to save their life must give it up (Mark 8:35). Oddly, modern Christians seem to have taken this to mean that they should give their lives to gaining and exercising power instead of sacrificing for the good the others. In what ways do you sacrifice in order to give to others?

The Magic Formula

 

Like the religious leaders of Jesus' time, we might scour the Bible in search of performative actions that will please God and convince Him to give our prayers special consideration (Matt 6). Do you search for special passages that you can use to manipulate God, or do you let the Bible lead you to a greater understanding of the person and work of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ?