Christmas Letter 2006

Recent blog posts

• Christ: Up there and down here (Ephesians 4:8–10)
  June 19, 2019
  In these verses, Paul makes a big deal of Christ going up (to heaven) and down (to be with us by his Spirit). Why? to encourage believers as we face all the ups and downs of living for Christ.
• Male and female: Equality and order in Genesis 1:27
  June 17, 2019
  Genesis 1:27 is important in debates between egalitarians and complementarians. It clearly implies equality, yet also seems to suggest a certain order.
• Gifted beyond measure (Ephesians 4:7)
  June 12, 2019
  How should Christians think about our own individual ‘giftedness’? We need to see our own gifts in the light of God’s wonderful, superabundant grace.
• The one and only God (Ephesians 4:4–6)
  June 5, 2019
  In this part of Ephesians, the apostle Paul makes an unavoidably scandalous claim: The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only God.
• Finding praise in the right place (Romans 2:28–29)
  June 3, 2019
  There is a very strong temptation to measure your ministry by looking at how much people are praising you. This passage teaches us where to look for praise.
• This unity (Ephesians 4:2–3)
  May 29, 2019
  In the classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the King of Swamp Castle issues an appeal for unity: “This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let’s not bicker and argue about who killed who!” It’s become a classic line used to poke fun at people who are trying to bring peace and unity without showing any understanding of the reality of the situation or the depth of hurt that’s been caused. While we might never end up being quite as absurd as Monty Python, Christians can sometimes talk about unity a little like this. That is, we can treat unity as some ideal state where everybody just gets on, no matter how deep our differences are and no matter what hurt has been caused. And yet—unity really matters. Christians are called to unity. Christian unity is anchored in the truth of the gospel.
• The truth on the ground (Ephesians 4:1)
  May 24, 2019
  Our step by step living, in all the details of life, really matters for Christians. It’s not an optional extra; It’s intimately connected to our calling.
• God: Beyond us—and with us (Ephesians 3:20–21)
  May 21, 2019
  God is nothing like the Elf on the Shelf. God’s power is far beyond us. Yet God’s power is at work in us. So God’s glory is our joyful goal.
• When education is not the answer (Romans 2:17–27)
  May 17, 2019
  When education is not the answer (Romans 2:17–27). Amongst all the pragmatics & demands & struggles of ministry, you first need to know the why of ministry. You need deep and strong theology, and to apply that theology to your life & ministry.
• This is huge (Ephesians 3:18–19)
  May 17, 2019
  God’s plans for his world, and his love for us in Christ, are vast and awe-inspiring. They change everything. That’s why need prayer to grasp them.