Astonished

Growing up, my aunt and uncle in Michigan had a large property with a big pond. We would often pull out the fishing rods, scatter in different areas and go to work trying to see who would get the first catch. You’d want to run over to the same spot because it was lucky, right? […]

All We Like Sheep

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. – John 10:14-15 (ESV) When I was in kindergarten, I got to play the role of Babe. You know – the […]

Rethink: This is (c)hurch

I remember the first time I stepped foot in the student facility at the local church I currently serve at. In my head I thought “wow, this is WAY cooler than what I remember from my own experience.” But – being honest – I don’t really remember the facility of my experience growing up. It […]

Nothing Has Changed/Everything Has Changed

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through […]

Rethink: Our Perspective

The first time your “comfort bubble” gets popped it is kind of frightening. Firstly, because many of us don’t even know it is there. Secondly, because it makes us come face to face with the reality that this world is broken, in desperate need of a savior. No matter how hard we try we cannot […]

Following Jesus in a Digital Age

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” – John 20:21 (ESV) Snapchat. Instagram. Twitter. Music.ly. KIK. Tumblr. WhatsApp. Whisper. Tinder. These. These apps are the new language being spoken by the teenagers – concrete thinkers who cannot understand the abstract consequences […]

Concrete Disciple – Pray. Go. Keep On. [Luke 10]

Luke 10 shows Jesus issuing a command to 72 whom he has sent out – if you haven’t read it (Luke 10:1-12) go read it quick or click here. Jesus issues a few truths which I want to tackle this morning as important reminders for though of us who have been entrusted to bring the […]

Gospel I.D. – Learner

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6 Today we focus on the 1st of four parts of Gospel Identity for concrete thinkers. The attribute of learner – “as disciples of Jesus we embrace a life of learning his ways […]

Gospel Identity for Concrete-Thinkers

Identity is defined as “the individual characteristics by which a person or thing is recognized”¹ Shaping of identity is a huge part of the years of a concrete-thinker – and the question we want to dive into over the next few posts is what does it look like for the Gospel to shape the identity of […]

Jesus Didn’t Die to Make You Republican/Democrat

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” – Titus 2:11-12 Recently my news feed has flared up with a few things – people arguing about a religious freedom law and hundreds of photos […]