Bible Reading for July 9 – II Corinthians 11:30-12:12 A lot of ink has been spilled on the question of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (v. 7). It was some sort of injury or physical weakness – some suggest it was a vision problem that lingered from the temporary blindness…

If you were applying for a job pastoring a church, what would you put on your resume? Your preaching skills? Your Biblical knowledge? Your counseling experience? Your history of involvement in projects like soup kitchens or Habitat for Humanity? Paul doesn’t mention any of these things. He doesn’t even boast…

COVID has turned many pastors into “TV preachers,” at least where it comes to the internet. In order to reach members who weren’t able or willing to attend worship in person, many congregations had to install wi-fi, purchase cameras, and learn about livestreaming. As a result, production values have come…

“But you’re the minister!” That’s what one of my church members said, pointing out an issue that was very important to her. She just didn’t understand why I needed to take the problem to the session, but instead expected me to put my foot down and solve the problem right…

Why do we give to those in need? To try to ensure that God will bless us in return? That’s the way ancient pagans thought – they performed certain rituals, sacrificing some of their wealth so that their false gods would give them more of the same thing. Instead, In…

Giving is a delicate topic for American Christians. By the world’s standards, we know we are economically blessed, but with all of our bills and debts and commitments, it’s hard to find that extra money to give away, isn’t it? And with our TV screens and mailboxes filled with appeals…

It’s never easy to confront sin. We hate admitting to ourselves that we continue to struggle in certain areas of our lives. And where it comes to pointing out someone else’s blind spots, well, who knows what might happen? Maybe they’ll never speak to us again. Paul had similar anxieties…

Bible Reading for July 1 – II Corinthians 6:1-7:1 So, if we are to be ambassadors for Christ, urging those around us to be reconciled to God (5:20), how can we do our job more effectively? Of course we can study the Scriptures, learning more about the message we need…

We live in a fearful time: a pandemic stalks the world and crime is exploding in American streets. And to make matters worse, many politicians are trying to take advantage of such fears, stoking the fires of our political disagreements to push their pet agendas. And as long as we…

A treasure in a clay jar? That doesn’t make sense. Diamond rings come in velvet covered, hinged boxes. Savings bonds are stowed in bank vaults. Irreplaceable family pictures are beautifully framed and prominently displayed. Everyone knows that the more precious the item, the more expensive the packaging. And that’s why…