Tuesday of Holy Week is traditionally remembered as a day of teaching. In Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 23 stands out as one of the most intense and honest teachings Jesus gives during his final week. It is a direct and passionate … Continue reading →

We begin our time together for Holy Week by looking at the cleansing of the Temple. This is an interesting story, and also one that can be a danger to us. We see Jesus flip tables and make a whip. … Continue reading →

The first line of today’s Psalm is one that most of us know quite well, and it is one that is always associated with defeat. It is one of the last things that Jeuss says upon the cross – My … Continue reading →

Today, we’ll start a two-day look at the Psalms. We’ll read Psalms 131-133. These Psalms come near the end of that section of the book. Psalms of ascent are very specific things; these are psalms that were intended to be … Continue reading →

We finish up James with one of its most well-known verses. It’s one of those verses I can’t help but say in the old King James – “The prayer of the righteous availeth much.” The Bible tells us, in several … Continue reading →

James gives us some words that I believe are helpful for every relationship. Let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.” Mean what you say and say what you mean. Every relationship, from time to time, will have … Continue reading →

Today, we see James’ harshest condemnation of the rich. It is easy for us to hear this passage as a condemnation of the church and all that the church has. But in James’s day, the church was poor. It has … Continue reading →

Today is another day where Jaems feels like Proverbs. James talks to us about two things: judging others and making plans for the future. In both of these, his message is this. You are not God. How can you judge? … Continue reading →

James reminds me of a New Testament Proverbs. There is so much good stuff there within it. Today, we see such good advice about lament and pain; we also are told to resist the devil, and he will flee. We … Continue reading →

James teaches us today that there are two types of wisdom. I struggled with thinking about this at first, as I don’t think of worldly wisdom as “wisdom” at all because I think of wisdom as thinking or seeing from … Continue reading →