Scripture Engagement

I don't know if you're preaching on Easter Sunday? And I don't know what your congregation is like, but imagine you're preaching in an honour-shame context on Easter Sunday. What would you say? How would you explain the efficacy of the work of Christ on the cross? You wouldn't mention Christ 'paying the price for our sins'. Noooo You would mention restoration to a new family, the family of God You would mention a sense of belonging to that family You would mention that Christ's death took away our (collective) shame and restored honour to both God and to us (collectively) You might mention that Christ (as representative of a new humanity) succeeded where both Adam (representative of humans) and Israel failed You might mention that as our elder brother Christ paved the way for us to share the honour that belongs to him You probably would mention that we now have access to the Father, and have the same right to the privileges that Christ won fo...

Media products often end with the resurrection. Why? We just want to get people saved. This is the wrong strategy, imho . We are commanded to make disciples. People need the message of Acts. Some people need to be able to see the road ahead before completely committing themselves to Christ. Acts teaches us that: God is at work! The Holy Spirit who came after Jesus ascended to heaven, works through us Where there are no churches planting new ones is needed  Those churches are missional in nature, i.e. self-reproducing Local believers are the ones to lead those gatherings We may encounter persecution Some areas have people who are more open to the good news than others Many Jewish leaders had misunderstood the Bible and what it taught about the coming chosen one Nevertheless many Jewish background as well as Gentile background people believed, so churches were often made up of both, often causing some tension It's about growing, discipleship, and moving forw...