Wisdom is not a static thing; instead it is dependent on a variety of considerations including the present leading of the Spirit. Without this wisdom we’ll depend too heavily on routine and sterile gospel-sharing methods. This is why Solomon could claim, as we’ve previously pointed out, that it’s the wise that “win souls.” A one-size-fits-all …
More Prayerful, Less Reckless
Peter in particular seems to have had a proclivity for a recurring “impulse control disorder,” the therapy for which Jesus prescribed was an hour of flesh-denying, spirit-strengthening prayer. All three nodded off during prayer––three times! What happens when we drowse instead of casting our fears and cares on God? We retain our fears and rely …
Exchange Your Weapons For Invitations
Brothers James and John (also in the garden that night) were no better at charming people toward Jesus than was Peter. They tipped their hand when they made a bid to edge the others out for the top posts in Jesus’ administration (seats “at his right hand and left”). Not only that, these were the …
How God Makes Friends
While Peter did his Lancelot imitation on a man he perceived as a threat, Jesus saw him as a man in need. Being more concerned about Malchus’ welfare than his own, Jesus reached out and made him well––evangelism the Jesus way. Jesus’ “enemy love” is always a better apologetic than the sword-swinging aggression of Peter. …
“Put your sword back in its place!”
Since we Christians are more often identified by what we hate than by how we love, it’s not entirely shocking that terms like: “Christian, Church, and Evangelical” in the pre-christian’s lexicon are pejoratives. We’ve made it quite clear what we are against but we haven’t shown them what we’re for. Jesus wasn't identified as “that …
