In Pursuit of Jesus

Interview: Imagining the Things of God

In this conversation with Pastor Dave Stene, we explore our experience of two attempts to depict stories from the bible in film and novel forms. Through that experience we try to understand the power of imagination and how it can make the life of faith more real and robust.

Unfinished Business

Moses never got to set foot in Israel's promised future. We must often relinquish the completion of things that have taken much of our love and energy. But we need not despair of the future of our efforts. We trust someone greater is at work.

Speaking of Barnabas III: Out of the Swamp

Barnabas plays a key role--maybe the definitive one--in Saul's calling as apostle. Perhaps we, too, may serve as Barnabas to others who sit in the dark places of doubt and rejection.

Speaking of Barnabas II: Opening the Door

It appears that without Barnabas, Saul would never have even met the apostles in Jerusalem. Barnabas opens the door to a ministry that has become essential for the last 1,800 years of church history.

Speaking of Barnabas I: Committed and Invested

Barnabas, who shows up in cameos throughout the book of Acts, has an outsized influence on the life of the early Church. Let's take a look at how Luke presents him to us--and perhaps how he may serve as an example to us.

After the Breakup

From the beginning, siblings in Christ have found reasons to part ways. What does this say about the Church, and about what God is up to?

Shareable Glory

Moses' need for a veil tells us something about Israel's relationship with the divine in Exodus. And it leads us to a powerful facet of Jesus' person and ministry for the Church.

God of the Long View

This most ancient of poetic descriptions of Yahweh contains a paradox: How can God visit sin on three or four generations while remaining faithful to thousands? How can God be a divine power of justice and love? It's a paradox worth sitting with, to let it work on us.

A Heart for Reconciliation

When the priests of Israel are first ordained, there are many sacrifices of atonement that must be performed. In them, their ministry, and in Jesus Christ we discover God's heart for atonement--and how our hearts also must be oriented toward reconciliation.

Investing Where God Is

The ark of the covenant becomes the center of God's presence with the Israelites. So they invest in its construction and that of the tabernacle. We invest in different things--but still the places where God is found and celebrated.