Tag Archives: Faith

Resurrection: More Than Heaven When You Die

Posted on April 8, 2026 by salooper57

(…the phrase, “think outside the box” originated with the nine-dot puzzle.) Once you go outside the box, there is more than one way to solve the problem. That is what Jesus does with Martha. He takes her outside the box, beyond the confines of the tomb. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons, Theology, Wide Angle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shutting Jesus In: An Easter Skit and Sermon (Matthew 27:65-28:15)

Posted on April 7, 2026 by salooper57

Resurrection is Jesus getting out—out of death itself, out into the world, into our lives; into everything. He’s worse than any kid: he is always getting into everything. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Sermons, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Ministry of Jacks and Queens

Posted on April 4, 2026 by salooper57

Ancient Greeks thought that serving others was demeaning, which is why the Sophist asked, “How can a man be happy when he has to serve someone?” But Christians believed that serving others was a mark of greatness. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Church Life, Encouragement, Faith, Mission, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If Only (John 11)

Posted on April 1, 2026 by salooper57

His mom said, “I’ll have to vacuum it up.” Phin asked, “How does it get up there?” His mom, thinking he was talking about the bug, said, “They fly.” Phin looked at her in amazement and said, “Vacuums fly?” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seven-Storied World: The Stories that Compose Literature

Posted on March 28, 2026 by salooper57

The English journalist Christopher Booker published “The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories” in 2004. He argues – some would say unsuccessfully – that all the stories we know belong to one of seven plot types. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Christianity, Faith, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kingdom Come (Mark 1:14-15)

Posted on March 27, 2026 by salooper57

Into this turbulent setting stepped a man who was larger than life. He seemed to be eight hundred years out of his time. He wore strange clothes, ate a weird diet, lived an ascetic lifestyle, and thundered like one of the prophets of old. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Theology, Wide Angle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is This How Christians Can Reach the World?

Posted on March 21, 2026 by salooper57

We want to keep our dignity in place and our options open—and dignity and options are not characteristic of slaves and servants. (Or so people think who have never been slaves and servants.) Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Church Life, Faith, Lifestyle, Mission, Spiritual life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Put It Where It Belongs: Where the Incarnation Fits in God’s Big Story

Posted on March 18, 2026 by salooper57

They think that if the faith is true, they should see evidence for it everywhere – a thousand … astonishing healings and nature-defying answers to prayer. Those things certainly happen …, but they usually happen in clusters around significant actions (some might call them intrusions) of God in history. Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Bible, Christianity, Faith, Sermons, Spiritual life, Theology, Wide Angle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This Is Your Brain on Jingles

Posted on March 7, 2026 by salooper57

If we are spending more time with Sean Hannity or Rachel Maddow than with Jesus and Paul, it won’t be long before our thinking is out of kilter. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Faith, Spiritual life, Theology, Worldview and Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Give Up on God (2 Samuel 7)

Posted on March 4, 2026 by salooper57

God hardly ever does things the way we think he should. What kind of kingdom is ruled by a crucified King? Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons, Theology, Wide Angle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment