Every time Jesus says "you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds," Christians tend to immediately think "Second Coming" - but we've got the direction completely backwards. In a previous post, I talked about how Jesus barely mentions his second coming.
Luke
5 posts
Peter literally denied knowing Jesus three times in front of a crowd, but Jesus still made him the leader of the early church. That should inform our understanding of what forgiveness and grace really mean. But let's back up and talk about what faith used to cost people.
Instead of mining the text for universal principles to apply mechanically, we're invited into a dynamic relationship with a living tradition that continues to generate new insights as communities wrestle with ancient wisdom in contemporary contexts.
We've all heard sermons attempting to explain what Jesus really meant by "childlike faith." They can focus on children's innocence, their wide-eyed wonder, or their unquestioning trust. Or they can the exact opposite direction, expounding on children's constant question-asking, skepticism, and need
If you grew up in church, you've probably heard about the unpardonable sin—that terrifying idea that you could blaspheme the Holy Spirit and become forever beyond God's forgiveness. It's a spiritual trapdoor with no escape hatch. That's not actually what Jesus