Author Archives: Roots Disciple-Maker and Trainer

A Powerful Verse In Paul’s letters, certain key verses stick out to me. Does this happen for you? One verse that always sticks out for me is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” For this week’s blog, I wanted toContinue reading “God’s New Creation (Reflections on 2 Corinthians 5:17)”

If you were a genuine Christian, you wouldn’t suffer so much.  If you say God is for you, how can so many things be against you?  Has anyone ever said these sorts of things to you?  Has that voice echoed in your own mind? The church in Corinth, which the Apostle Paul planted, was askingContinue reading “When I am weak, then I am strong: An Overview of 2 Corinthians”

A Powerful Triad In this week’s blog, I want to reflect with you on a powerful triad in Paul’s letters – faith, hope, and love. These three words are found throughout Paul’s letters, and a few times they are found together. Let’s explore together three passages where this triad is fully present and what weContinue reading “Faith, Hope, and Love”

WILDFIRE GROWTH.  Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about 20 years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  In the span of two decades, the good news of Jesus had exploded into the Roman Empire – into modern day Turkey, Greece and North Africa.  The church’s early expansion in such short order, sometimes against all odds,Continue reading “1-2 Thessalonians”

A Member of the Body of Christ I have often been struck by Paul’s image of the Body of Christ.  In particular, in this blog, I’m going to explore what it means to live out our spiritual gifting as a member of the Body of Christ… There is a very important truth that helps usContinue reading “The Mystery of Ministry”

Message and Lens Making our way through 1 Corinthians, I’m struck how, for Paul, the Cross is not only a message but also a lens. “Christ crucified” is both at the heart of the Gospel and a way of viewing life, the Church, and the world. We see this especially in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, aContinue reading “The Wisdom of the Cross (Reflections on 1 Corinthians)”

THE CHURCH IN CORINTH WAS A HOT MESS.  A young man is living incestuously with his step mom, church members are suing one another, people are going to prostitutes, others are saying married couples shouldn’t be having sex at all, some were stuffing their faces at the Communion table while others would go away hungry,Continue reading “The Church in Corinth: A Hot Mess! (1 Corinthians)”

For this week’s blog, I thought we would spend a bit of time focusing on Paul as a letter writer in the mission of God… Paul, the Man To understand Paul, it is important to examine not only the letters of Paul but also his life, reflected in the letters of Paul.  Also, we canContinue reading “Paul, the Letter Writer”

For this week’s blog, I wanted to spend some time unpacking Romans 8:1-11. These are pivotal verses for understanding the flow of Paul’s letter. Life in Christ and by the Spirit (Romans 8) The overall focus of Paul in chapter 8 is life by the Spirit. The new life God gives in Christ has beenContinue reading “New Life by the Spirit (Romans 8:1-11)”

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST AND BY THE SPIRIT (CHAPS. 5−8)             Chapters 5−8 are about new life in Christ and by the Spirit.  The life Jesus’ followers have is new life, which is an inward renewal and an initial part of the New Creation God will complete with Christ’s return.  Jesus’ followers receive and experienceContinue reading “Assurance of Salvation – Reflections on Romans 5”