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Faith that Moves Mountains
We all know well the statement by Jesus: For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matt. 17:20) Personally, I have never seen a mountain move.
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The Antichrist
When we hear “antichrist,” we usually think of the Revelation, End-Times, multi-headed beasts and other weird stuff. Yet, John mentions there are many antichrists: Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
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The Widow’s Mites
Jesus’ teaching about the widow who gave two pennies* into the Temple offering is one of the most beloved stories of Jesus. Who among us hasn’t had his or her heart stirred by a sermon about the sacrifice of the widow who gave all she had to the Temple? No church building campaign would be
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Complegalitarian
On the topic of “women in ministry,” we typically discuss two viewpoints: complementarian and egalitarian. Like a good Westerner, there are of course two options. Whenever I hear there are two options, it makes me nervous. I wonder if we are squeezing the topic into a western mold. Let me use a different example. In
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Thanksgiving
Dr. Bernie Cueto preached a great sermon this past Sunday on Thanksgiving. He reminded us that we should be thankful whether we feel it or not. Our Thanksgiving is based on the facts of what God has done and is doing in our lives, not on whether I happen to feel thankful at this moment.
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Living in Trump’s America
Paul and Trump don’t share a lot in common on the surface. Paul was a Mediterranean Jew; Trump is a New York Presbyterian. Paul was an itinerate preacher; Trump a real estate magnate. But for all their differences, they do share this: they have both been labeled “misogynist.” And “chauvinist.” And “racist.” And a threat
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The Wasteful (Prodigal) Son
Historically, particularly in eastern Christianity, this parable has been understood to be about a son who wastes what his father has given him. The English word “prodigal” means “wastefully extravagant.” We are all familiar with the scandal of the younger son’s request, “Give me my inheritance.” His share was indeed his, but he should await
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A Scroll with Seven Seals
I was invited to contribute an article for a popular Christian magazine about reading the Bible better. I suggest “What this verse means to me is …” can be a very poor way to start a Bible study discussion. It implies a verse can mean one thing to one person and something else to another.
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Lex talionis
The lex talionis (Latin for the law of retaliation), popularly known as “an eye for an eye,” was the ancient law to curb escalation. Culturally, when someone hurt your brother, you killed that person. If someone killed your brother, you killed him plus a couple more. This “reciprocation+some” might have been intended as a deterrent,
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Render unto Caesar
Opponents of Jesus ask a question trying to trap Jesus: 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to
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Biblical Thoughts
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