When I first looked at 1 Timothy 2, all I saw were the rabbits waiting to be chased. I got lost in the praying for all kings, men lifting hands to pray, how people dress, and women learning quietly that I almost missed the bigger picture found in verses 3 through 7. In the middle…
Read MoreEver try to juggle? I’ve tried, and I could never do it. It’s not that I haven’t put in a good effort—I’ve attempted to juggle with scarves, oranges, and apples, anything that might be easy to toss, but it’s always the same result: everything ends up crashing to the floor! I’m told by an expert…
Read MoreWelcome to your new church, young pastor. You’ve studied, prayed, and waited for this day to come. I know that feeling from so many years ago: the eagerness to get started, the ideas that keep popping up in your head, and the excitement leading to your first Sunday. I’ve been there, and there’s nothing like…
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Paul’s letters of 1,2 Timothy and Titus are called “pastoral letters” because they contain instructions for pastors. The apostle addressed them to Timothy, who gave pastoral leadership to the church in Ephesus, and Titus, who led the churches in Crete. In these letters, the elder Paul instructed his young associates in matters needing pastoral oversight…
Read MoreMark 15:43, 46 (CSB): “Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body….After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a…
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