Not quite a century ago, Louis Berkhof, Professor of Dogmatic Theology and president of Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrote his Systematic Theology, which remained influential probably even into…
Nearly seventy years ago, William Barclay wrote: “[i]t is a grim commentary on human nature that many a book and many a play and many a film has had success…
We’re told Jesus goes up the mountain to pray (9:28). How often we read that Jesus prayed. Do we? Why did Jesus, the well-beloved Son of God, God incarnate, need…
The lectionary that several denominations use—the order of Scripture readings for the year—is organized in such a way that, around this time of year each year, we hear Jesus speaking…
Mark presents what’s happening over these Sundays as a consecutive series of encounters, sharp arguments and stunning responses, all in the Temple, in the course of a single day, just…
We want—and, indeed, need—time for ourselves. Self-care is important! And Christ shows us a model of sacrificial living that may well feel exhausting: when do I get time for me,…
“[W]hen the sabbath was over” (16:1), the women bought what they needed to finish the unfinished burial rites. They couldn’t finish! The law made them unable to finish. The traditional…
“What is truth?” Oh, it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. In Jesus Christ, Superstar, what Pilate goes on to say has always stuck with me: “We all have truths! …
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Those are funeral words, graveside words, goodbye words. I’ve baptized many, marking them with water. Today, I mark you with ashes. Nothing in Scripture…
The Offering of Common Kindness—Mt 25:31-46 In the age of cellphones, it’s even easier to pass by people who may be in need. Surely, they have phones too. Surely, there’s…