![Reflecting on Five Years at Grace]()
by Steve Thomason | Jan 15, 2015 | Personal Updates
This past weekend marked the fifth anniversary of the first time I ever preached at Grace Lutheran Church. I had tentatively signed on as a consultant with the church to help them think through the implementation of adult spiritual formation in the wake of their Focus...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 15, 2015 | Devos
Thursday, January 15, Zechariah 3:1-10 Zechariah was a prophet who lived and spoke to Israel during the time when Israel was returning from exile in Persia. They were rebuilding the city and the temple and trying to get back on track with a right relationship with...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 14, 2015 | sermons2015
[slideshare id=43468251&doc=livinginfreedomsermonslides-150113075704-conversion-gate02] Narrative Lectionary Text: Matthew 3:1-17 What do you want to burn today? I know I would like to burn about twenty pounds. Are you with me on that one? It is the New Year and...
![Reflecting on Five Years at Grace]()
by Steve Thomason | Jan 14, 2015 | Devos
Wednesday, January 14, Isaiah 11:1-9 This passage from Isaiah is a prophecy of what the world will be like when the Messiah comes and the fruit of his reign grows in the world. It is a picture of peace. Imagine a world where natural enemies live in peace and...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 13, 2015 | Devos
Tuesday, Judges 13:1-7, The Birth of Samson This story is included in the readings for this week because of the Nazirite vow that Samson took. Our main text for the week is Matthew 3:1-17, and it seems that John the Baptist took a Nazirite vow as well. However, look...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 12, 2015 | Personal Journal, Personal Updates, postfoundational
I have already stated several times that one key assumption behind the DITB project was that theology is not the process of constructing an abstract, systematic model of God. At least, it shouldn’t be. Unfortunately, much theology is just that. Modern academic...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 12, 2015 | Devos
Monday, Psalm 2:7-8, Psalm Our main text for this week is Matthew 3:1-17. When Jesus comes up out of the waters of baptism, the voice of God says, “This is my son. I love this kid!” (OK, that’s my translation, but I think it’s accurate) This is...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 10, 2015 | Devos
Saturday, January 11: Jeremiah 31:15-17 A horrifying event happened in the week’s main text, Matthew 2:13-23. Herod had all the babies under the age of two killed in Bethlehem. He was trying to kill Jesus, but Joseph got the boy out in time. Matthew quotes...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 9, 2015 | Bible Doodle, Sermons, Visual Preaching
This weekend we are looking at John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:1-17. This drawing helped me think through the text. Baptism is not merely a ritual of water. That was John’s baptism. The baptism that Jesus calls us to is a continual process...
by Steve Thomason | Jan 9, 2015 | Devos
Friday, January 9: Hosea 11:1-12 This is an interesting passage, because it isn’t what you think it is. You might expect that it is a prophecy that predicts the coming of the Messiah. Isn’t that why it was chosen for today? Isn’t this the text that...
