Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18  

INTRO: In the rough grammar and elusive logic of Paul’s letters, we sometimes miss his other literary gifts
For example, here in 2 Corinthians, Paul develops his theme by loading chapters 3-5 with polarities
 – he demonstrates the way Christians are pulled in two directions
 – it is in this context they need to understand his calling, credentials, and service to them Continue reading →

Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” Mark 5:29-30

INTRO: What I want to do with this story is to:

1. Go through it once and point out what we typically look for
2. Then go back to it and focus on what we would typically overlook Continue reading →

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. John 10:14-16  

INTRO: Do you know anything about caring for sheep? Continue reading →

The Phraisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. Matthew 16:1-4 Continue reading →

Luke 19:1-10  

[And, behold,] He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; [and] he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. [And] Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. [And] he ran on ahead, climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. Continue reading →

Ezekiel 33:10-11

Now as for you Son of man, say to the house of Israel, “Thus you have spoken, saying, ‘Surely our transgresions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?’ Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn form his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'”

INTRO: I always get frustrated when reading the few chapters of 1 Kings Continue reading →

Colossians 4:7-18

INTRO: We come to end of letter where we run into all these names
These short lists resemble the lists we’ve been putting together here at Reflexion
the purpose is to connect with each other

This is the human face of the church Continue reading →

Colossians 3:18-41 

INTRO: When Jesus began his public ministry, he quickly became popular
People crowded streets, came to the seashore, or climbed mountains to be near him
Then he returned to Nazareth, where he faced toughest crowd
Mt. 13:57, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household”  Continue reading →

Colossians 3:5-17

INTRO: We betray our willingness to give up control, be victims
“It’s my one vice” – “I’m a chronic worrier”

Paul will show us a way to get off the hamster wheel Continue reading →

Colossians 2:18-23

Have you ever seen a ball game where the umpire or referee that snatched victory from your team? I’ve seen such bad calls, I thought the ref was playing for other side.

A bad call or unfair ruling that results in having a win taken from you is what Paul had in mind when he said, “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize” in verse 18, only the stakes in this game are much higher. The word translated “defrauding” is derived from a root for the judge at athletic contests and for the prize that went to the winner. In the form that Paul uses, it means to “decide or judge against.” Continue reading →