In Pursuit of Jesus

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.

They Saw God

"Immortal, invisible, God only wise," goes the old hymn. Invisible. Dwelling in "inaccessible" light. So why does it say in Exodus 24 that the elders "saw God" on the mountain top? And what's the significance for us?

On Judgment

We take a critical look at the ways Christians are called to refrain from--and engage--the act of judgment.

Blessing the Vulnerable

Some commandments in Exodus come with a window of insight into what's really important to God. In this text we find that God gets really touchy when the Israelites don't treat foreigners and vulnerable classes well. It might mean something for us, today.

A Word of Explanation

Maybe you've been wondering about the theme song for this podcast; maybe not. Either way, here's some background, and the full song.