One of the primary questions people ask about Christianity is whether it produces actual outcomes: whether it makes a real difference to their lives. We know that Jesus is God’s son, that he died and rose again, that he rules the universe, and that he is returning to complete his restoration of all things. But [...]
Archive for the ‘Devotional Readings’ Category
Will God really protect me?
Posted in Christian faith, Christian Living, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Discipleship, Jesus, Mission, Presence, Refuge, Relationship, Spirituality, Struggle, Trials on February 21, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Following and Sacrifice
Posted in Christian faith, Christian Living, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Discipleship, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus, Mission, Presence, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Spirituality, Struggle, Transformation, Trials, Worldview, worship on January 11, 2012 | 3 Comments »
At first thought, following Jesus seems easy. It seems a matter of changing your mind about who Jesus is, recognising and accepting him as Saviour, and acknowledging him as King and Ruler. I suppose it is easy, relatively speaking, to see ‘following Jesus’ as a ‘decision’. Western Christianity often focuses on people making ‘decisions’ to [...]
Follow Me!
Posted in Christian faith, Christian Living, Devotional Readings, Discipleship, Great reading, Jesus, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Transformation on January 10, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Reading Matthew 4 this morning I was again struck by how this very simple passage communicates such profound and (possibly) unnerving truths about Jesus. Jesus shows up at the Sea of Galilee, and proceeds to call his first disciples. There is no promotional tour, no bus with a banner, no advertising campaign. Jesus just shows [...]
God wants you to flourish
Posted in Christian faith, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Grace, Mission, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Transformation, Worldview on August 10, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
It is no secret that from within the general camp of what might be called Reformed Evangelicalism there are a number of people who view God as a stern master whose primary interest is to impose rules, expose sin, and generally fume about how bad the world is. Make no mistake: humanity is deeply and [...]
Test yourselves… what?
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Family, Grace, Great reading, Preaching, Presence, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Spirituality, worship, tagged Authentic Faith, Relationships, transformation on July 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: 2 Corinthians 13:5-10 I have often wondered about this verse: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” I mean, wouldn’t I know whether I am in the faith? Don’t I know my own motives, whether I really do entrust myself to Jesus? There will always be some who will say that [...]
Why you (still) need the church…
Posted in Christian faith, Church, Church systems, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Family, Grace, Healthy Churches, Opposition, Popularity, Preaching, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Struggle, Teachers, Trials, worship, tagged community, Love, Neighourhood, Spiritual Gifts on June 24, 2011 | 2 Comments »
(Apologies that my posts have been a little irregular these last weeks. Leonie and I have visited a few churches, as well as ReCharge – The CRCA pastor’s conference, we have considered a few calls from churches, we’ve decided to accept a call to Gateway CRC, and this last week we’ve out our house on [...]
The God Who Implores: Can we contemplate worshipping a God who would beg for anything?
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Healthy Churches, Incarnation, Mission, Pastors, Preaching, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, worship, tagged Begging, Passion of God, Pleading, Reconciliation on June 16, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Read 2 Cor 5:11-21 Try and remember the last time you begged for anything. I mean, seriously pleaded and entreated anyone for something. After we get past the trivialities of begging as a child for a puppy, or pleading with an adolescent son to get out of bed and go to school, we start to [...]
God and the Live Export Beef Trade
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Environment, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, tagged Animal welfare, Beef Exports, Four Corners, Grace, life on June 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: Gen 9:7-17 In his book, ‘Engaging God’s World’, Cornelius Plantinga observes that Genesis 1 opens our eyes to the core character of God. In his act of creation, God answers the formlessness of the heavens and the earth with his creative word ‘Let there be light.’ While Plantinga does not make the point directly, [...]
A Straight Line with a Crooked Stick: How God works in broken people like us
Posted in Christian faith, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Election, Grace, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Struggle, Trials, tagged Anointed, Messiah, Sovereignty on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read Isaiah 45:1-11 The Old Testament tells us that certain special leaders were anointed with oil: prophets, priests, and kings. In addition to that sort of ‘anointing’ we read passages that refer to a coming ‘anointed one’, God’s promised Messiah (see Ps 72:8, Ps 18:44-48). This promised Messiah is the one whom the New Testament [...]
Grace is free, but it’s not cheap
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Presence, Relationship, Spirituality, tagged Grace, Obedience, Response, Responsibility on May 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: Deuteronomy 7:6-16 Have you ever noticed that we love hearing about God’s grace, but we are not so keen to hear his call to obedience? Do you ever wonder how God feels about that? Maybe he feels like a lover who showers their mate with affection, gifts, and security only to find that their [...]
What I am doing- DaveGroenenboom: Looking forward to preaching at +Gateway Community Church tomorrow morning. Loving the way the message of Jesus… https://t.co/o0ty46y7 May 26, 2012
- DaveGroenenboom: Sitting in a regional church meeting for the CRCA, where reports are given on what happened at our recent Synod.… https://t.co/pftoTSTa May 26, 2012
- DaveGroenenboom: Why I love the work of International Justice Mission: 42 men, women and children freed from slavery. Read the story… https://t.co/tkCi5sEb May 25, 2012
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