Sun, 24 September 2023
The ancient Aramaic phrase, "Maranatha" was one of the earliest words that identified Christians to each other in early Christianity. The phrase means: "The Lord has come" in the sense that Jesus came to earth, died, and returned resurrected. It also is something we pray for right now in the present: "Lord, come!" We are hungry for the Lord to return and set all things right on our messed up planet. But it also means: "The Lord is coming!" It is our heart's desire that Jesus will indeed come back again soon! So "Maranatha" is a loaded idea...it celebrates the fact that Jesus has come, that we long for His soon return right now, and that He will most assuredly come again very soon. This final teaching from Paul calls us to live our lives in the light of the King's soon return! Maranatha...even so, "Come, Lord Jesus!" |
Sun, 17 September 2023
The Resurrection is central to the practice of our faith in that it gives us what we need to live a powerful hope-filled, and productive Christian life right here and now. This teaching gives clarity and fresh understanding of the nature and mechanics of the Resurrection. |
Sun, 10 September 2023
Resurrection is central to our Christian faith: the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, followed by our own future resurrections! Paul addresses some anti-resurrection teaching that was present in the church of Corinth, and he shows us why our faith in the resurrection is essential to a Biblical faith in today's world. |