Tag Archives: gospel

Storying | Family rhythms (pt. 3)

My Grandpa Soltau is a legend. I grew up hearing so many crazy stories about his African safaris, the time he shot blanks in church to get his congregation’s attention, and the stories about the mob coming after him with intent … Continue reading

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The whole sum of the gospel

is the new ability to call Jesus my brother and God my Father, and be united in a perfect bond of love, joy, and knowledge with all who do. Forever! Welcome to the family of God.

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Imitate Your Big Brother

Kids and their dad It is an indisputable fact that dads influence their kids — whether for good or bad. It occurs either through imitation or rebellion. That is, a child will pick up either how to act or how not to … Continue reading

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Why the “church family” is a big deal

Common vernacular at church gatherings is to refer to the collective whole as the “church family”. Whoa. That is a big claim. Family is close, it carries baggage, it is incredibly complex. To call a group “family” is to either … Continue reading

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Second Time’s the Charm | Rebirth in the familia Dei

This is the act of re-creation. Literally, starting over, as though from the womb, as a new creature–a son or daughter in the family of God. Scripture uses the familial imagery of birth to illustrate the change in nature and … Continue reading

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A Missional Adoption

Everyone has seen those pictures — the ones with the well-off white couple visiting a malnourished child in an impoverished third world country. We think, “how honorable it is that they ‘save’ that poor child.” As misguided as that sentiment … Continue reading

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Missional Marriage

Apart from adoption, the only other way to inherit a new family is through marrying into one. Marriage happens to be one of the Bible’s primary metaphors for the effect of the gospel on humanity: we marry into the family of … Continue reading

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Gospel | familia Dei

The whole sum of what Christ purchased for us on the cross is the family of God.  Think about the characteristic blessings of the gospel (see Ephesians 1): we are made holy and blameless (1:4) we are adopted (1:5) we are redeemed … Continue reading

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