If there was only one tool I could put in your hands to help you follow Jesus better, it would be a solid study Bible. When we take folks who are new to our church through Starting Point (which is the first meaningful opportunity to learn more about our church and get connected beyond merely… Continue reading 3 Study Bibles to consider (and why you should own one)
This is Part 2 of a series. Read Part 1. Following Jesus isn’t easy. But it doesn’t have to be confusing. In fact, God has already given us everything we need to be faithful followers of Jesus. In Part 1, I said that the reason I write this content–and really the whole thrust of my… Continue reading Why are so many Christians confused about following Jesus? (Pt. 2)
This is Part 1 of a series. Read Part 2. So much of my ministry is based on my belief that the average Christian walks around confused most of the time. They're not confused because they're dumb. They're confused because following Jesus seems so complicated. It's not that they're not trying to follow Jesus. They… Continue reading Why are so many Christians confused about following Jesus? (Pt.1)
Yesterday, I preached from John 10:11-21 on Jesus' fourth "I am" statement in the Gospel of John: "I am the good shepherd." I found crafting that sermon to be a challenge. Not because the text is obscure or difficult to comprehend, but because Jesus so clearly and directly makes his point in the first 5… Continue reading Why Sheep Need a Shepherd
Yesterday in my sermon on Jesus' third "I am" statement in the Gospel of John, I took a brief detour to remind our congregation of an indispensable practice for reading the Bible well. For years, I've been taught the maxim: "Context is king." It's a sticky phrase I've memorized to help me remember that the… Continue reading The First Rule of Bible Reading
Joshua Wester 