Salt and Light Read: Matthew 5:13-16 As we’ve seen, in our role as ambassadors for Christ, we are actually fulfilling the creation mandate of being God’s image bearers. We’re coming under the rule of God and extending His reign into all aspects of our lives wherever we go. We’re bringing our little kingdoms … [Read More…] October 7: Salt and Light
Ambassadors for Christ Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Jesus is the new Adam, the perfect image of God, the firstborn of a new creation. Instead of hijacking His own life for Himself, He brought Himself under the rule of God, and through His life, extended the reign of God wherever He went. In Christ, … [Read More…] October 6: Ambassadors for Christ
A Better Adam Read: Matthew 4:1-11 Paul refers to Jesus as the “second Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Just as Adam represented humanity and plunged us all into death, Jesus came to represent humanity and make a way for us all to live again. Jesus is the “new Adam,” who prevailed against the temptation … [Read More…] October 5: A Better Adam
Hijacked Kingdoms Read: Genesis 3:1-7 The third chapter of Genesis is where everything goes terribly wrong. The perfect world was shattered as Adam and Eve decided to believe the great lie that they’d be better off as their own gods, and so ate the fruit in disobedience of God’s one and only command, … [Read More…] October 4: Hijacked Kingdoms
Vice-Regents of Creation Read: Genesis 1:26-31 God created humanity as His image bearers. In the Ancient Near East, divine images were a cultural fixture. People worshipped what we now call idols: crafted statues made to represent their gods. Wherever the image of a god was placed, be it in a household, a temple, … [Read More…] October 3: Vice-Regents of Creation
A Community of Love Read: Philippians 2:1-13 In this beautiful passage, Paul calls us to live with one another with the kind of selfless love that is reflective of Christ. On the basis of our standing in Christ and participation in the life of the Holy Spirit, we are called to serve one … [Read More…] September 30: A Community of Love
Love One Another Read: John 13:1-17, 34 Aside from the cross, there is no more gripping moment revealing the servant-hearted nature of Jesus than when He kneels and washes His disciples’ feet. The task of foot washing was reserved for the very lowest of slaves. Feet that shared the roads with horses and … [Read More…] September 29: Love One Another
The Servant of All Read: Mark 10:35-45 I love this passage because of its sheer humanity. James and John ask to be big shots in the Kingdom of God, and all the other disciples are indignant at their nerve, jealous that they didn’t think to ask first. Every one of them is jockeying … [Read More…] September 28: The Servant of All
Love Caved In Upon Itself Read: Luke 12:13-21 God created us to return His self-giving love by loving Him back with every fiber of our being, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. But in our sinful, fallen condition, our love turns in upon itself and we become lovers of ourselves. Our souls, … [Read More…] September 27: Love Caved in Upon Itself
Made for Love Read: Matthew 22:35-40 God created us to be His image bearers (Genesis 1:27). Because God is love (1 John 4:8), to bear His image is to live in love, just as He Himself is love. In other words, we were made for love—not power, survival, ego, or hoarding—we were made … [Read More…] September 26: Made for Love
