by Brad Blocksom | Jan 22, 2017 | Devotionals, Leadership, Messy Church, Practical Theology
Leviticus, p. 135 You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD. (Books of the Bible, NIV) The worshiper, a common farmer or herdsman, must enter into the outer court, ceremonially lays his hands on the...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 1, 2017 | Devotionals, Ethics, Practical Theology
Revelation 9:20-21 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by the plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of...
by Brad Blocksom | Dec 11, 2016 | Church Life, Devotionals, Ethics, Evangelicalism, Gender Issues, Messy Church, Practical Theology, Sex
Exodus, p. 109 If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins. (Books of the...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 11, 2016 | Church Life, Devotionals, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Evangelicalism, Leadership, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology, Small Groups
2 John 12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. (ESV) John is such a person of the heart. He prefers to be there face to face, so that he can...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 20, 2016 | Devotionals, Evangelicalism, Leadership, Practical Theology
Hebrews 7:16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. (ESV) The Levitical priesthood was based on institutionalism. The superior priesthood of Jesus is based on the...
by Able Baker | Aug 18, 2016 | Devotionals
Read “Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength...
by Able Baker | Aug 18, 2016 | Devotionals, General
Read “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have...
by Brad Blocksom | May 23, 2016 | Devotionals, Discipleship, Healing, Leadership, Messy Church, Practical Theology
Hebrews 5:2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. (ESV) As humans we are filled with weakness, tempted, sinful. Jesus experienced this same weakness and temptation – “yet without sin” (4:15). By...
by Brad Blocksom | May 3, 2016 | Church Life, Devotionals, Evangelicalism, Practical Theology
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 …and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (ESV) There is a great reunion coming that provides great reason for us to encourage one another. Twice in just a handful of verses Paul tells us...
by Brad Blocksom | Feb 16, 2016 | Devotionals, Practical Theology, Prayer
Galatians 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (ESV) Paul continues his thematic contrast of the flesh vs. the Spirit (walking in the Spirit/flesh,...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 13, 2016 | Devotionals, Discipleship, Ethics, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Leadership, Messy Church, Practical Theology, Preaching
2 Cor. 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful and underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (ESV) Wow, this...
by Brad Blocksom | Jan 5, 2016 | Church Planting, Devotionals, Disciple Making, Leadership, Missional, Practical Theology, World Misions
2 Cor. 3:5-6 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives...
by Brad Blocksom | Dec 30, 2015 | Church Life, Devotionals, Disciple Making, Evangelicalism, Leadership, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology, Prayer, World Misions
So I’ve been reading through the early chapters of 2 Corinthians, where Paul does a defense of his apostolic ministry. And it got me thinking what if we used this instead of (or at least in addition to) the traditional “Pastoral” Epistles (of Timothy...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 23, 2015 | Devotionals, Evangelism, Missional, Practical Theology
Acts 26:16 I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. (ESV) Paul’s commission from Jesus: to be a servant and a witness of the things...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 15, 2015 | Church Life, Church Planting, Devotionals, Disciple Making, Discipleship, Leadership, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology, Prayer, Small Groups, World Misions
Acts 20:11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. (ESV) It was Sunday. Paul had already preached past midnight. They continued to talk and share a meal together (perhaps two...
by Brad Blocksom | Sep 2, 2015 | Church Life, Cultural Engagement, Devotionals, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Healing, Missional, Practical Theology
Acts 8:25 …they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. (ESV) The church was booming in Jerusalem but they weren’t going into Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth. So God scatters (v. 1, 4) the church through...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 25, 2015 | Church Life, Devotionals, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Messy Church, Missional, Practical Theology
John 17:22-23 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world will know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV)...
by Brad Blocksom | Aug 5, 2015 | Devotionals, Evangelism, Missional, Practical Theology
John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (ESV) Abiding in Jesus (v. 4, 7, 9), bearing fruit (v. 2, 5) it all leads to this: “This is my commandment, that you...
by Brad Blocksom | Jul 20, 2015 | Devotionals, Healing, Practical Theology, Social Justice
John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (ESV) This miracle, the raising of Lazarus, is really a climax in John. It is the last of the 7 signs in John. It also contains one of the 7 “I...
by Brad Blocksom | Jun 17, 2015 | Devotionals, Discipleship, Messy Church, Money, Practical Theology, Sex, The Vineyard Movement
Luke 18:22b Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.” (ESV) The story of Jesus’ encounter with the rich ruler is abundantly clear! Cast off any and all things that hinder you from fully...
