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I've been reading a quick biography on the Apostle Paul by E.P. Sanders and have been thinking about the early Church post-ascension. I have seen many who have glorified the Church in Acts and the apostles, but we forget the humanity that is sure to leak into any Christian circle devoid of a risen Christ. … Continue reading The Early Church Was A Mess Too →

18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. (Proverbs 4:18-19) There are a thousand decisions to make today. Every one has the potential to open or … Continue reading Not a Wasted Step →

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool (Proverbs 19:1) Integrity: when your BEHAVIOR matches your BELIEF The past few weeks in student ministry, we have spoken on character and the words that should define us as Christ followers; Character, Integrity, Compassion, … Continue reading Integrity is King →

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night (Psalm 92:1-2) How you spend the bookends of your day matters. Our morning sets the pace for the day while it is difficult to … Continue reading Rise and Rest →

So we just finished the daily devotional through John and WOW! Few things I love more than digging through the Bible and sharing it with others. Throughout the month of February, I've been thinking about how Western Reserve can be a church of people who genuinely, not perfectly, love to read Scripture. I believe the … Continue reading How to Better Read the Bible →

(Read John 21 First)  EVERYDAY Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some (v.6) Notice Jesus resurrects into the midst of the everyday. Work still needed done - mouths needed fed. The disciples still had a set number of days left on earth. In the middle of this, … Continue reading John 21: Everyday Forgiveness →

(Read John 20 First) 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (v.29) Faith is difficult. Honestly, the narrative of the Christ is hard to swallow at times. It is easy for us to envy the experience of the … Continue reading John 20: The Cliff of Faith →

(Read John 19 First)  Woman, behold your son . . . (v.26b) I thirst . . . (v.28b) As our Lord ushers in the most important event in history, we see an amazing illustration of who Jesus is. The humanity of Christ is made apparent in his interaction with Mary and his need for drink. … Continue reading John 19: More Human Than Human →

(Read John 18 First) Circumstances are dire. The evil of this world has finally caught up to Jesus in chapter 18. In a sweeping act, he is betrayed, arrested, denied, and struck by the same people he came to save. Yet somehow the reader doesn't get the sense that he is panicked. In fact, he … Continue reading John 18:Christ like character →

(Read John 17 First)  16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth (John 17:16-17) Your days here are numbered. Your home is here on earth until that unexpected moment of eviction. Jesus is always making us come to terms … Continue reading John 17:Disappearing Home →