It takes encounters with God to know who you are in Him. Before that, you’re left to be defined by others. That’s certainly been my case. It took encounters with God to form an idea of who I am and how God’s nature defines me. Before that, many were accustomed to treating me as convenience […]
Read More KMCD 11: The Lord Who DefinesReading: Mark 4:1-34 Context: Why does Jesus begin teaching in parables at this stage of His ministry? At this stage, the ministry of Jesus is drawing a big crowd. That crowd includes a spectrum of folks when it comes to their interest in Jesus. He has amazed many who are keen to see what He […]
Read More WIWO: Mark – Episode 7: Parables of the KingdomReading: Mark 3:7-35 Context: Why does Jesus need a boat ready and choose twelve specific apostles at this point in His ministry? The boat was to avoid being crushed by the swelling crowd. Jesus needed a place to go for safety’s sake. There may be a correlation between the size of the popularity He was […]
Read More WIWO: Mark – Episode 6: Kingdom CommunityReading: Mark 2:13-3:6 Context: Why would eating with “tax collectors and sinners” be particularly offensive to the Pharisees? As holy people and the standard-bearers of righteousness, the Pharisees had a clear insight into who was acceptable and who was unacceptable. A bit like the issue of the clean and the unclean. So the Pharisees knew […]
Read More WIWO: Mark – Episode 5: Conflict with Religious AuthoritiesBlessed assurance, Jesus is mine, oh a foretaste of glory divine. (written by Fanny Crosby) Connecting with something or someone is about what we believe about the something or the someone. Trust in Jesus is about having faith in who He reveals Himself to be. Faithful, loving, forgiving, encouraging, reliable, concerned, wise, and righteous. Consider […]
Read More Dryden Shorts – AssuranceKing Jesus operated in fascinating ways on the earth. In Matthew 9:9-13, we see Him call Matthew to follow Him and then respond to the disdain of the Pharisees for attending a dinner at Matthew’s house. Here are some reflections on the reach of the King. Who Jesus Chooses to Follow Him – What to […]
Read More KMCD 08: The Reach of the KingReading: Mark 1:35-2:12 Context: Why does Jesus withdraw to solitary places for prayer, especially after successful ministry times? Jesus withdrawal is about knowing when to be in the crowd and when to be alone with God. It’s a breathing pattern. He breathes in the quality time with the Father to receive all there is to […]
Read More WIWO: Mark – Episode 4: Ministry and SolitudePreviously, we considered the marvel of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it influences the Kingsman. Let’s see how it impacts how the marvel is conveyed within and beyond the church. Conveying the marvel within the church The church must be a community where the marvel is celebrated, not assumed. Here’s how that happens. […]
Read More KMCD 07: The Marvel of the Gospel – Part TwoReading: Mark 1:16-34 Context: What does the immediate response of the fishermen tell us about Jesus’ authority and their recognition of it? Is this a recognition by the men of the authority of Jesus? Did they respond to a command or an invitation? The fishermen’s immediate response speaks more to the appeal of Jesus than […]
Read More WIWO: Mark – Episode 3: The Call to DiscipleshipJesus knew what He was doing. Spend some time with the Father, and get an insight into what to do. Then go and serve people and give them expressions of what the Father delights in through word and action. Engaging and interacting with people, serving them with the love of Jesus, and sharing life with […]
Read More Dryden Shorts – Requires Energy
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