We don’t have to be biblical scholars or master interpreters to understand what’s going on in today’s lesson text. John tells us everything we need to know.
Formations 05.28.2023: Unexpected Joy
May 21, 2023 by
My church has a tradition that everyone wears bright colors on Pentecost Sunday. The people who know about liturgical traditions tell us that red is the preferred color for Pentecost.
Formations 05.21.2023: Be Good
May 14, 2023 by
Two thousand years of preaching and teaching have provided ample—though sometimes contradictory—guidance on what “good” looks like.
Formations 05.14.2023: Body vs. Spirit
May 7, 2023 by
Sometimes passages like this one from Paul encourage unhealthy perspectives. If we read this text at face value, we might develop mistrust of our bodies.
Formations 05.07.2023: The Breath of God
April 30, 2023 by
In most Old Testament passages, references to “the spirit” (Hebrew, ruach) describe a force or emanation from God, a powerful yet impersonal presence through which God works in the world.
Formations 04.30.2023: When Our Work Is Done
April 23, 2023 by
This week’s lesson shows us the church from a different angle. Revelation 7 gives us a vision of the “church triumphant,” worshiping God in heaven once their earthly work is done.
Formations 04.23.2023: The Power of Belief
April 16, 2023 by
There is really no way to win an argument against someone’s faith. Atheists and agnostics and others have tried for centuries to discount the beliefs of those who follow Jesus.
Formations 04.16.2023: Where to Begin?
April 9, 2023 by
The title of this unit is “Easter and Onward.” For the last two weeks, we’ve approached and finally arrived at “Easter.” This week we get to the “Onward.”
Formations 04.09.2023: God Isn’t Finished Yet
April 2, 2023 by
We can debate why some in the Corinthian church denied the resurrection of the dead. We can be confident, however, that no one took this stance because they had a scientific worldview.
Formations 04.02.2023: Welcome
March 26, 2023 by
I have always loved the images describing Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem. It truly is triumphal. Crowds of excited people lined the street.
Formations 03.26.2023: Sticking Points
March 19, 2023 by
This week’s passage tells the story of a character conventionally called “the rich, young ruler.” You might be surprised to learn that this is a designation we never actually read in Scripture.
Formations 03.19.2023: The Prodigal’s Brother
March 12, 2023 by
“Joseph,” I asked, addressing the Nigerian seminarian in the Parables of Jesus class I was teaching, “how would someone in your culture react to this parable?”
Formations 03.12.2023: Consider the Cost
March 5, 2023 by
Jesus says some difficult words to the “large crowds” in our lesson text. We may wonder if Jesus was really as callous as he sounds.
Formations 03.05.2023: Come to the Party
February 26, 2023 by
As Tony Campolo described it in the title of his 1992 book, The Kingdom of God Is a Party. Do we really grasp what that means?
Formations 02.26.2023: The Road to Jerusalem
February 19, 2023 by
This section, often called the Lukan Travel Narrative, begins in chapter 9, when Jesus first “sets his face” to go to Jerusalem for the Passover and ends when he finally arrives in chapter 18.
Formations 01.29.2023: Israel’s King
January 22, 2023 by
In this passage, we see the regal David coming into his reign as Israel’s king. He is a strong, popular, comforting leader who makes his people feel safe.
Formations 01.22.2023: An Unexpected Guest
January 15, 2023 by
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how unlikely it is for the centurion in Matthew 8 to have received a warm welcome in Galilee?
Formations 01.15.2023: Expectations
January 8, 2023 by
What does the incarnation mean, practically speaking? Did Jesus know about his divine origin from the start?
Formations 01.08.2023: Jesus’s Humility
January 1, 2023 by
Many leaders in our world, past and present, have come with fanfare and promises, conceit and power, riches and tailored suits. They’re surrounded by bodyguards who will protect them at all costs.
Formations 01.01.2023: Look Who’s Coming to Jesus
December 25, 2022 by
Traditionally, we call these magi “wise men.” The Greek text says “magi” (magoi), or “magus” in the singular.
Formations 12.25.2022: Of Course, She Knew
December 18, 2022 by
If you grew up in a particular kind of Christian subculture, you can’t beat Mark Lowry for quirky humor and good old-fashioned Southern Gospel music.
Formations 12.18.2022: The Blame Game
December 11, 2022 by
David used Bathsheba for his own gain, and Scripture doesn’t mince words about this. Most of the action verbs in 2 Samuel 11:1-4 are attributed to David: “David rose,” “sent,” and “lay.”
Formations 12.11.2022: The Idolatry of the Tribe
December 4, 2022 by
According to Deuteronomy 23:3, “No Ammonite or Moabite shall come into the assembly of the LORD even to the tenth generation. None of their descendants shall come into the assembly of the LORD forever.”
Formations 12.04.2022: I Pledge Allegiance…
November 27, 2022 by
Have you ever considered what Rahab’s neighbors thought about her? I’m not talking about her profession.
Formations 11.27.2022: Tamar, Seeker of Justice
November 20, 2022 by
While the past few decades have brought revolutions in the treatment and perception of women—especially in industrialized nations—there is still so far to go.
Formations 11.20.2022: Giving the Sense
November 13, 2022 by
When I was a pastor in Indiana, I met a woman who had been traumatized by the Bible—or more accurately, by the way the people in her life had handled the Bible.
Formations 11.13.2022: Back in Business
November 6, 2022 by
A month after Hurricane Ian ravaged southwestern Florida, communities are getting back in business. Tamara Pigott of the Fort Myers News-Press reports that “an amazing rebound” is taking place.
Formations 11.06.2022: Rebuilding
October 30, 2022 by
It’s easy to put off the things of God. Many of us struggle to make it through each work week, longing for the weekend only to watch it fly by once it arrives.
Formations 10.30.2022: Rebuilding the Altar
October 23, 2022 by
I sometimes get prophetic fatigue. Don’t get me wrong. I believe it’s important for churches to have hard conversations about topics that people might prefer to avoid.
Formations 10.23.2022: I Am Strong
October 16, 2022 by
This week’s passage includes one of my “favorite” mistranslated Greek words. And by favorite, I mean I hate it, because the correct translation is actually far more comforting.
Formations 10.16.2022: Giving for a Cause
October 9, 2022 by
In our household, I usually take care of the monthly bills and budget. Our regular payments include mortgage, vehicle, cell phone service, Internet, streaming services, water and sewage, and electricity.
Formations 10.09.2022: From the Heart
October 2, 2022 by
Years ago, I attended a workshop on worship renewal led by Robert Webber, who was one of the top names in that field in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Formations 10.02.2022: Earning Trust
September 25, 2022 by
Whom do you trust the most? How did you get to the place that you trust this person so much? Did they sweep in and make impressive claims of faithfulness?
Formations 09.25.2022: Faith’s Foundation
September 18, 2022 by
I grew up in a small Southern Baptist church that felt like a safe place to ask questions, express doubts, and wonder about the Christian faith. Even so, our leaders encouraged a firm foundation.
Formations 09.18.2022: Spiritual Worship
September 11, 2022 by
Have you ever noticed the progression in today’s passage? Paul begins with the bottom line: Christians must worship God rightly, presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (v. 1).
Formations 09.11.2022: Thank You
September 4, 2022 by
Some people are good at taking a compliment. They are gracious and genuinely appreciative without a hint of arrogance.
Formations 09.04.2022: Spiritual Gifts
August 28, 2022 by
Have you ever taken a spiritual gift inventory? Some churches or ministry events offer these to help people determine the ways God has gifted them.
Formations 08.28.2022: Being Right
August 21, 2022 by
I can see the upside of being among the first followers of Christ: rubbing elbows with the likes of Peter and Paul and Mary Magdalene, witnessing the miracles, and hearing the bold preaching of the apostles.
Formations 08.21.2022: Healing Relational Rifts
August 14, 2022 by
I’ve lost track of how many stories I’ve heard or read in recent years about abusive pastors and churches. Sometimes it’s misappropriation of church funds. Sometimes it’s sexual abuse. Sometimes it’s something else.
Formations 08.14.2022: A Humble Witness
August 7, 2022 by
Over the years, I’ve encountered many different types of witnesses for Christ. There was the screaming street preacher who promised eternal torment if we didn’t repent.
Formations 08.07.2022: Hold My Communion Wine
July 31, 2022 by
You’ve heard and seen the jokes. Someone does something outrageous, dangerous, or stupid. Then someone else says “Hold my beer.”
Formations 07.31.2022: “Thangs Happen”
July 24, 2022 by
When my daughter was in the eighth grade, my wife volunteered to be a chaperone when the school choir performed in a nearby city. At one point, she reassured the choristers about all the preparations that had gone into the trip.
Formations 07.24.2022: Judah’s Repentance
July 17, 2022 by
Today we have another biblical story about people who make morally corrupt choices. Similar to his brother Reuben, Judah tends to look out for himself above anyone else.
Formations 07.17.2022: Sibling Rivalry
July 10, 2022 by
Cards on the table: I’m an only child. I don’t think I’m spoiled, but if you met me, you might come to a different conclusion. I hope you wouldn’t, but you can’t help but see me differently than I see me.
Formations 07.10.2022: Vengeance
July 3, 2022 by
Violence begets violence. Hopefully we all understand that. But we can say at least a little bit more. According to Brazilian Catholic archbishop, Hélder Câmara, we can draw a distinction between three phases of violence.
Formations 07.03.2022: Remembering Reuben
June 26, 2022 by
Most of us hope to leave a legacy of goodness—love, kindness, generosity, service, strength, devotion. We certainly make mistakes as we live our daily lives, but our goal is to recognize our failures and make amends.
Formations 06.26.2022: Joining the Dance
June 19, 2022 by
When I was in college, I fulfilled my physical education requirements by taking two semesters of Couples, Folk, and Ballroom Dancing. No, it didn’t take.
Formations 06.19.2022: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
June 12, 2022 by
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” As a pastor, I said those words every time I baptized a new member of the Body of Christ.