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Author Archives: Paul
No Longer Slaves
Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” Here is a sermon I recently gave on this passage and on how God wants to be our Abba Father [Audio … Continue reading
Posted in Sermon Notes
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Set your hearts and minds
…set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. In the first part of verse 1 we are reminded of the foundation of the spiritual life – that we have been raised with Christ. Now, the Apostle Paul begins to teach us how we are to live in this new way of life (because remember salvation is not just about waiting for heaven one day, it is about living in God’s kingdom here and now!). We begin by “setting” our hearts and … Continue reading
Posted in Bible study, Reflections
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We have been raised with Christ…
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, “ This whole section is based on the assumption of our having been “raised with Christ”. If we attempt to follow the teaching of the proceeding verses outside of the resurrection power, we will be doing so out of our own strength and it will all be in vain. The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 6:4-6 that… 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5If … Continue reading
Posted in Bible study, Reflections
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Yellow Light Moments
“…our spiritual enemy is always enticing us to speed. This is the fatallest of fatal things.” Frederick Faber (1814-1863) I’m personally discovering that there are some days in which there seems to be an extra amount of external pulls – do this, do that, quicker, faster, NOW! Of course, sometimes these are unavoidable and we simply have to do what needs to be done and do it quickly. However, I’m wondering if there are days and moments when these seemingly external influences (and the subsequent pressure we feel to hurry up) are actually pointing to an internal struggles against hurry … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections
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Pentecost
This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. On this day, we remember the story told in Acts 2:1-21 which tells the story of the Holy Spirit coming upon the first Christians. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Year
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Ascension Day
Today, in the Christian Year calendar, is Ascension Day. This is the day that we remember when Jesus, risen from the grave, is taken up to be seated at the right hand of God the Father. Acts 1:9-11 1:9 “When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken … Continue reading
The Christian Moralist
In this first lecture, John Coe makes the case that true Christian Spiritual Formation is not simply about becoming a “good boy or girl”. Despite this fact, Christian spirituality often becomes just that – moral formation. He calls this the Moral Temptation. Continue reading
