by Brad Blocksom | Dec 30, 2020 | Church & Pastoral, Disciple Making, General, Missional, Practical Theology, Reviews
I’ve been on a missional reading journey for a number of years now, and I thought it was time that I share some of my favorites with you all. The Forgotten Ways By Alan HirschIt all started for me here, and this book changed my life forever! After 25 years of...
by Brad Blocksom | Nov 25, 2020 | Devotionals, General, Prayer, Reviews
Prayer for women like us: Prayer Book & Journal For Exotic Dancers Wait, what? You can do that?!? If you’re ex-stripper, Pastor, and author Monica Gary Sr. – yes you can! Full Disclosure: Monica is a friend and a missional ministry partner. But I can...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 15, 2020 | General, Missional, Practical Theology
That’s right. It as was October-December of 2016 when I made the transition from Institutional Church (IC) to Missional-Organic Church. Thought it might be nice to post some thoughts on the journey thus far. 1.) ITS HARD – Yep! I don’t know what else...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 31, 2020 | Devotionals, Discipleship, Preaching
Mark (p. 1776) They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Books*) “and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39, ESV) Who is Jesus? The disciples don’t know at this point. They are clueless...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 17, 2020 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 16:9-20 The Church finishes John Mark’s “incomplete” ending Last time we looked at John Mark’s original ending of his gospel (Mark 16:1-8), with his account of the empty tomb. But now, herein lies the rub! The modern/post-modern scholarly...
by Brad Blocksom | Jul 14, 2020 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 16:1-8 Jesus is Risen Last time Jesus body was laid in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, the stone was rolled against the entrance, and the two Marys “saw where he was laid” (Mark 15:46-47). It is now Sunday morning. The sabbath is over and the three...
by Brad Blocksom | Apr 27, 2020 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 15:42-47 The Burial of Jesus Jesus died on the day before the Sabbath at about 3pm, and evening is approaching (v. 42). If He is going to be buried, and not hang on the cross (bringing desecration to the land, and during the Passover at that) then it needs to...
by Brad Blocksom | Apr 9, 2020 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 15:33-41 The Death of Jesus The previous passage takes place between 9 AM and 12 noon. It is now high noon (v. 33) and it’s dark for three solid hours (until the moment of Jesus’ death) – a symbol of God’s judgment (Amos 8:9) and...
by Michael Sterns | Apr 2, 2020 | General
“And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem…” God is so unexpected, and God shows up in the unexpected. And these times are so unexpected. In the midst of this pandemic, I’ve had the chance and the space to connect with God more than I...
by Brad Blocksom | Mar 30, 2020 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 15:21-32 Jesus is Crucified Last time Jesus was mocked by the soldiers of Pilate’s battalion. And now they conscript Simon of Cyrene to carry the crossbeam for the severely weakened and exhausted Jesus (v. 21). His sons, Alexander and Rufus, are mentioned...
by Michael Sterns | Mar 25, 2020 | General
A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,3 he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the darkest...
by Brad Blocksom | Mar 16, 2020 | Practical Theology
Dear friends, house church leaders, organic church practitioners, and adherents of the simple church model, I am one of you. I left the Institutional Church (IC) in 2016, and have been on the journey with you of exploring what it means to practice Christianity outside...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 27, 2020 | Leadership, Missional, Practical Theology, Reviews, Theology
Full disclosure up front: I love Alan Hirsch! He is one of my favorite authors and missional thinkers/leaders. His book, The Forgotten Ways, literally changed my life. But enough about that. In 2017, I walked out of the Missio Alliance conference with an armful of...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 22, 2020 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 15:16-20 Jesus is mocked Last time, in the Roman trial of Jesus, Pilate unjustly ordered Jesus to be scourged and crucified. Now Jesus has been handed over to the Pilate’s soldiers. It is interesting to note that the scourging is not described save 4 words...
by Brad Blocksom | Dec 27, 2019 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 15:1-15 Jesus Before Pilate Mark now shifts the action from Peter’s trial out in the courtyard back inside to the Sanhedrin and Jesus. It is now morning. They bind Jesus and send Him off to Pilate (v. 1), which seems like so much overkill given Jesus’...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 18, 2019 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 14:66-72 Peter Denies Jesus Last time we saw Jesus maintain absolute faithfulness throughout His trial before the Sanhedrin inside Caiaphas’ house. Now the action shifts to Peter’s “trial” outside in the courtyard. The two events actually...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 8, 2019 | Christian Living, Church & Pastoral, General, Healing, Missional, Practical Theology, Prayer, Reviews, Small Groups, The Vineyard Movement, Theology
Disclaimer: Mike Turrigiano is one of my favorite people in the Vineyard movement! Luke Geraty (his co-author) is a friend and kinda my boss here at Think Theology. What follows is my attempt to, none-the-less, provide an impartial, unbiased review of Pastor...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 7, 2019 | Biblical Studies, New Testament
Mark 14:53-65 Jesus’ Trial before the Sanhedrin The crowd that arrested Jesus now delivers Him to the Sanhedrin (v. 53) from which they were sent on their mission of seizure (v. 43). The fact that the council were called together in the middle of the night for a...
by Robby McAlpine | Aug 5, 2019 | Cultural Engagement, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelicalism, Missional, Practical Theology
We all know what George Orwell said in his famous dystopian novel 1984: “In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” The glistening irony of this quote is that Orwell neither said it nor wrote it. People tend to balk at hearing this. The...
by Robby McAlpine | Jul 27, 2019 | Church Life, Discipleship, Evangelism, Forgiveness, General, Healing, Messy Church, Practical Theology
“But one thing I do: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” ~ Philippians 3:13-14 Memory can be a tricky thing. Case in...
by Brad Blocksom | Jul 24, 2019 | Devotionals, Ethics, Practical Theology
Leviticus (p. 151) “If, however, they are poor and cannot afford these they must take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for them, together with a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log...
by Brad Blocksom | Jul 17, 2019 | Devotionals, Discipleship, Practical Theology
Mark (p. 1782) Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Books)The Books of the Bible, NIV Jesus heals the blind (p. 1782), casts out demons (p. 1781), miraculously multiplies bread to feed thousands, stills storms, and yet the disciples still don’t...
by Michael Sterns | Jul 17, 2019 | General
John 15:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT)Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and...
by Robby McAlpine | Jul 2, 2019 | Cultural Engagement, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology, Prayer, Revival
The crackling fire provided a calming soundtrack to their yearly gathering. A log shifted, and a swirl of sparks gusted heavenward, the sizzling sound accented by a choir of crickets in the darkness and the occasional blip of unseen fish breaking the surface of the...
by Brad Blocksom | Jun 20, 2019 | Devotionals, Practical Theology
Mark (p. 1786) “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. (Books*) Jesus took the twelve aside again to remind them of His coming suffering and death...
