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 05.07.2023: 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 04.16.2023: 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 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 03.05.2023: 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 02.12.2023: An Imperfect King
February 5, 2023 by
In 1 Samuel, one of the first warning signs readers are given of King David’s eventual downfall is his sin with Bathsheba.
Formations 02.05.2023: Unfinished Business
January 29, 2023 by
Why do we have two different versions of Israel’s history in the Old Testament? The short answer is because humans always rewrite their history from time to time.
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 01.01.2023: 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 12.11.2022: 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 11.20.2022: 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 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 10.09.2022: 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 09.18.2022: 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 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 08.07.2022: 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 07.17.2022: 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 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.
Formations 06.05.2022: Low-key Jesus People
May 29, 2022 by
I’m an introvert. I married an introvert, and we had an introverted child. Said child is serving this summer as a children and youth intern at our church.
Formations 05.29.2022: Lavish Liturgy
May 22, 2022 by
Think about how John describes worship in Revelation 4–5. The worshipers wear special clothing. They play musical instruments. They burn incense, symbolic of the prayers of the saints.
Formations 05.15.2022: Doing Our Part
May 8, 2022 by
Nearly 200 years ago, Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard famously suggested that the institutional church has misunderstood what happens during worship. On the analogy of the theater, he says, we assume that the clergy on the platform are the performers.
Formations 05.08.2022: Praying or Posturing?
May 1, 2022 by
Prayer is a funny thing. Ostensibly, prayer involves communication with God. We speak to God, expressing thanksgiving, praise, and of course petitions for God’s blessings.
Formations 04.24.2022: In Praise of Doubt
April 17, 2022 by
Mark tells us about the women at the tomb and how the angel told them that Jesus had been raised from the dead, but then the story abruptly comes to an end.
Formations 04.17.2022: Views of the Tomb
April 10, 2022 by
It may be tough to find something new to say about this familiar passage. I wonder, though, if we don’t do a disservice to our students—and to the text—by looking for novelty rather than resting in wonder.
Formations 04.03.2022: Glory Amid Grief
March 27, 2022 by
I rarely think of John 11 without thinking about George. George was in pretty bad shape as long as I had known him, pretty much stuck in his house and tied to his oxygen tank.
Formations 03.27.2022: Why?
March 20, 2022 by
The disciples ask why a man they encounter was born blind. They entertain the idea that it is punishment for some sin his parents committed. They also raise the possibility that it was because of some sin the blind man himself committed.
Formations 03.13.2022: Breaking Bread
March 6, 2022 by
John 6:28-35, 41-51 Meals were always a big part of Jesus’ ministry. He famously ate with tax collectors and sinners, to the consternation of the religious authorities. He engaged in dialogue and debate around the dinner table. He taught his disciples to pray for “daily bread.” He told parables about baking bread and inviting people […]
Formations 03.06.2022: Born from Above
February 27, 2022 by
In the sliver of the Baptist family in which I grew up, Lent was something you brushed off your clothes. Honestly, anything past Christmas and Easter were looked upon with suspicion.
Formations 02.20.2022: Holding On
February 13, 2022 by
Genesis 8 describes a return to normality after a seemingly endless time buttoned up inside. Is it just me, or does that sound wonderful?
Formations 02.13.2022: The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up
February 6, 2022 by
The rains come. In obedience to God’s command, Noah enters the ark with his family and all the animals he has gathered.
Formations 01.30.2022: Bright Hope for Tomorrow
January 23, 2022 by
The traditional hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is on my mind. In particular, I feel drawn to the line, “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine and ten thousand beside.”
Formations 01.23.2022: Let the Earth Rejoice!
January 16, 2022 by
Psalm 96 invites us to praise God for God’s glory, salvation, and majesty. We likely hear such an invitation to praise every time we gather for worship.
Formations 01.09.2022: Good News
January 2, 2022 by
“Gospel” comes from Old English god spell, “good news.” That second word, spell, is related to the word spiel. A spiel is a speech, often a sales pitch intended to persuade.
Formations 01.02.2022: Name above All Names
December 26, 2021 by
I’m an adjunct professor at Mercer University. That means every semester, I meet a few dozen college students, mostly first years, and set about learning their names.