In yesterday’s reflection, we considered an analogy from the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. He said that when it comes to worship, God...
If you were to eavesdrop on the conversations of churchgoers after a typical worship service, you’d hear comments like, “I loved the band this morning” or “The choir was a little off” or...
I grew up singing lots of wonderful songs in church, Sunday School, and youth group: “Jesus loves me, this I know … Deep and wide, deep and wide … Trust and obey, for...
I believe that the infamous “worship wars” never should have happened. Which wars are these? We Christians have been fighting over worship...
What are psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit? And what does it mean to speak to one another in this way?
When I was a teenager, I began to hear about Christians who were “Spirit-filled.” Southern California was a major seedbed for a...
This is the fourth reflection in a short series responding to the question: How can I be filled with the Spirit? Today...
In last Thursday’s reflection, we noted that the imperative of Ephesians 5:18 is passive. It does not mean, “Fill yourself with the...
How can we “be filled” with the Spirit of God? There is no magic formula to be discovered here, no secret words...
After warning us not to get drunk on wine, Ephesians 5:18 adds a simple imperative: “Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” That...
Ephesians 5:15-18 is structured by three parallel injunctions. Don’t be unwise; be wise. Don’t be foolish; understand God’s will. Don't get drunk...
Sometimes we can get stuck in the “don’ts.” As parents, we can sound like a broken record with our children: “Don’t break that. Don’t touch that. Don’t go in the street. Don’t talk...
Alcohol abuse was a major problem in the first century. This hasn’t changed in twenty centuries. In fact, it may have gotten...
In yesterday’s reflection, we began to consider why we should avoid drunkenness. Ephesians 5:18 answers this question by pointing to one result...
Ephesians 5:18 states clearly, “Do not get drunk on wine.” Of course, this verse does not imply that it’s fine to get...
Growing up in a conservative Christian church, I sometimes heard the ditty, “I don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or go with girls...
As a pastor, I have often been asked, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” This question was presented to...
When I read Ephesians 5:17, I hear echoes from my past. “Mark, don’t be foolish,” my mom would say. Or, perhaps she’d declare: “Mark, use your head.” I’d hear these exhortations when I...
I cannot leave Ephesians 5:15-16 without sharing a bit of Gandalfian wisdom (or, if you prefer, wisdom from J. R. R. Tolkien...
In last Thursday’s reflection, we investigated the meaning of the phrase “the days are evil” in Ephesians 5:16. We saw that it’s not so much that literal spans of time are evil as...
