Archive for the “Bible Reflection” category
After The Beginning #1
by i.burgess on June 13, 2011
Sunday was the celebration of Pentecost, when the Church remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit on those who know Jesus, making them into one body and one people for the glory of God (Acts 1:1-13) This week I want to spend some time thinking through these things. For now, enjoy this collect from the [...]
The Work of Joy
by i.burgess on June 3, 2011
If God grants his Holy Spirit freely by grace through faith, such that anyone who believes in Jesus and is therefore made pure by his sacrifice can be filled with his presence, why do Christians not continually feel the secure joy of that presence? To put it another way, why does it appear that a Christian must [...]
The end of the matter
by i.burgess on June 1, 2011
Yesterday I tried to draw out some of the harsh realities of our existence, namely that only this present moment exists. Therefore, any memory of happiness or hope for joy is imaginary, a shadow even. I noticed how we fail to fulfil our innate desire for joy because we believe we have either already been as happy [...]
One Breath From Eternity
by i.burgess on May 31, 2011
You have heard it said that you should live every day as if it’s your last, but I say unto you meet each moment as if it’s the only one you have. The past is an illusion, it exists only in our memories. Similarly the future is a myth, a product of our imaginations. This [...]
Thus Says the Lord part 2
by i.burgess on May 18, 2011
Beaten and rejected, threatened with death and accused of treason. This is the life of a prophet in ancient Israel. Over the past few days I have been thinking over the message and ministry of Jeremiah. I want to faithfully interpret God’s word in the book and allow him to speak into my present culture and [...]
Thus Says the Lord, Part 1
by i.burgess on May 11, 2011
This is the introduction to a discussion on the interpretation of the Biblical prophets in the church today. “For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous. There is none to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you; they [...]
Wineskins Part 3
by i.burgess on May 4, 2011
This is part three of a lively discussion on church planting. It started when I came out and admitted I don’t believe in church planting. Yesterday a commenter framed this discussion with the terms ‘appointed’ and ‘anointed’ That is to say, the traditional church could be guilty of trusting itself more than the leading of [...]
On Being a Terrible Evangelist
by i.burgess on April 29, 2011
Jesus Christ rose from the dead, defeating death and having been crowned firstborn over all creation he met his disciples. Back where it all began, Jesus meets his friends again to give them a new mission. The first time around, Jesus was the missionary in the world. After the resurrection, the Spirit falls on his followers [...]
Tables Turned
by i.burgess on April 18, 2011
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the day when the church traditionally celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem for the final time. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus’ journey towards Jerusalem forms a significant theme in his recording of his ministry. Luke 9:51, Jesus ‘set his face’ toward Jerusalem. This centre of first century Palestine. The capital, the concentrated centre [...]
God’s plan in the fall of man
by i.burgess on April 6, 2011
Yesterday I was at a loss at to what to blog on. A frequent complaint of bloggers. Unless you’re a Tumblr user, in which case original content is never an issue. Anyway, I was speaking with a friend when he presented me with this interesting statement: I posit that the Fall was intended: The whole [...]
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