The Outward Beatitudes: We Are Merciful
One of the classic films of my childhood was Karate Kid where we learned that karate can be learned by simply waxing a car and painting a house. One of the antagonist of the movie was John Kreese who was…
Jeff Horch
The Outward Beatitudes: We Hunger For God
We were created to hunger and thirst. We were created to have a longing that desires to be satisfied. We are not self-fulfilled people. Our bodies need food and water to live. We need relationships to emotionally thrive. But most…
The Two John 3:16s
Did you know that there are two John 3:16s in the Bible? And what is interesting is they both tells us about the love of God and the sacrifice of God. Of course the most famous John 3:16 is in…
The Outward Life Begins With This Question: Do I Love God?
When we love God and we pursue his heart, we develop a heart that reflects his heart and we love those that God loves. One of the indicators of a heart that loves God is a heart that loves the…
The Outward Beatitudes: We Are Gentle
The beatitudes taught by Jesus are Christ-like attitudes that lead to spiritual blessings. But the blessings aren’t for our own gain but for the kingdom of God. The 8 attitudes move us outward as we proclaim the hope of the…
The Outward Beatitudes: We Grieve Our Sin
As we look at the outward beatitudes, the second attitude is an inward examination of our heart that results in us moving outward. In Matthew 5 verse 4 Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”…
The Outward Beatitudes: We Need God
The beginning of Matthew 5 is an intriguing passage known as the beatitudes. In these 10 verses, Jesus gives 8 blessings based on our heart attitude. And what is interesting about these 8 attitudes is the blessings are connected to…
The Work of the Gospel Requires Work
One of the things I have learned living in the Midwest and living in communities where people grow corn or beans is that farming is hard work. It is not for the lazy. Men and women who farm, whether full-time…
Are You Playing By The Rules?
Not every runner who crosses the finish line first actually claims the prize. Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line at the 1980 Boston Marathon. Her recorded time was 2:31:56, which then was the fastest time…
Are You A Soldier Living a Civilian Life?
In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 Paul makes an interesting comment about the Christian life, comparing it to the life of a soldier. In verse 3 he writes, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Now the…