The Good News Came When the Curse Came (Genesis 3:14-15)

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Genesis 3:14-15

In the beginning God created the heavens and earth and all was very good (Genesis 1:1, 31). There is an inherent goodness about all things God makes. A beautiful scenic overlook, the graceful flight of a bald eagle, the wonders of the human brain, a charitable act, these are all glimpses of the goodness of God’s creation.

Yet, despite these glimpses of the goodness of God’s creation, it appears that what was made good has been marred. Continue reading

Are humans good? (Genesis 1:26-27)

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Genesis 1:26-27

Are human beings generally good or generally evil? How we answer that question affects how we view ourselves, view others, rear our children, and even how governments are formed? Continue reading

Why is the world a mess? (Genesis 3:1-7)

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Genesis 3:1-7

The Bible begins with the affirmation that both creation and humanity were created “very good” (Genesis 1:31). In last week’s article we discussed what it meant for humanity to be created good in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27).

If God created humanity and creation good, what happened? Why all this strife, conflict, division, and suffering? Continue reading

Never Stop Growing in Christ (Colossians 1:9-14)

Never Stop Growing in Christ

Colossians 1:9-14

Are you still growing in Christ? In the eighties, a popular book came out titled All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I mean no disrespect to that book, but a similarly titled book ought never be written about Christianity, All I Really Need to Know About God I Learned in Sunday School. We are to be continuously growing in our knowledge of God. Continue reading

I Made the Man of Sorrows Sorry (Acts 2:36-41)

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Acts 2:36-41

The protestant reformer John Calvin starts the first chapter of his theological magnus opus with the words, “Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” It is tempting to think Calvin means that the pursuit of wisdom involves searching our souls and experiences. Continue reading

We all worship (Psalm 95:6)

Psalm 95:6

Every molecule, subterranean mole, and mote of dust dancing on a sunbeam, God created. Every celestial galaxy, God made. The breath that you take as you read these words would not be possible, unless God made it so.

Continue reading

The Amnesia of Sin and The Plague of Pride (Psalm 10:4)

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Submitted by Andy McIlvain.

Psalm 10:4

Sin gives us amnesia; it makes us forget.

Our amnesia has its roots in our sin nature and in our world. We forget how faithful God has been in the past. Even now his steadfast love, grace and mercy is at work. We know this, yet… Continue reading

The Mission of God’s Kingdom (Mark 1:14-15)

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Mark 1:14-15

The Gospel of Mark, and Jesus’ mission on earth for that matter, can be summarized in one verse: “‘The time has come,’ Jesus said. ‘The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1:15) Continue reading

The Lion of Judah (Proverbs 28:1)

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Submitted by Andy McIlvain. 

Proverbs 28:1

“Aslan stood in the center of a crowd of creatures who had grouped themselves round him in the shape of a half-moon… But as for Aslan himself, the Beavers and the children didn’t know what to do or say when they saw him. People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time. Mr. Beaver tells Susan that Aslan (the ruler of Narnia) is a great lion. She then tells Mr. Beaver, ‘I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.’ She asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan is safe, to which Mr. Beaver replies, ‘Safe? Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King.’” This is a scene in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Continue reading

Have You Not Heard? (Isaiah 40:28)

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Submitted by Andy McIlvain.

Isaiah 40:28

We must not forget Christmas is about celebrating the Incarnation of God, Jesus fully God and fully man. Before he was born, the Ancient of Days thought about being born. The form God chose to enter and experience his creation was an infant that grew and matured and was born in the same way as you and I. Somehow God’s infinite power was contained within a fragile infant. Continue reading