Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Perhaps Paul can help our anti-mask congregants recognize authority—or at least common sense.

What does it mean to teach “with authority”?

God invites us to live out an authentic prophetic ministry truly guided by God.

Reading about Jesus in Capernaum, I think about a man I met in Tijuana.

The church at Corinth had many problems. Some simple kindness would have helped.

What the people see in Jesus is more than raw power.

Theosis is mission’s starting point. Believers are called to “become” the gospel through participation in the divine life.

In the wake of Michael Brown's shooting by Darren Wilson and the subsequent protests in Ferguson, Lauryn Hill posted a song called "Black Rage."

Idolatry seems like such an easy thing to avoid.

How can Paul navigate the choppy waters of a pagan environment, with its idols and temples? The obvious place to start is the Shema.

It was after a funeral. I was sitting with a couple who were visiting our congregation, but it turned out they had connections with my husband's church, so we began to chat.  And (here's where I get fuzzy) I don't know how this came up or what I said exactly, but I must have said something about "the historical view" or "the critical view" of the Bible, and they both got this stricken, deer-in-the-headlights look.

Do we play semantic games when we try to explain the words away? The mention of fear is typically wrapped up in abusive relationships, but we can also fear disappointing someone we love dearly.

"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet." In an election year, this passage from Deuteronomy makes me feel slightly sick to my stomach.

What animates our being? What possesses or consumes us?

How do you know that God is great? You study the things God has done! You might even call it data-collecting concerning God's salvation.

True prophets have a different bottom line than false ones, but that doesn’t make them any easier to recognize.