Adam Hamilton

Paul’s “In-Between” Time

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:17:00 GMT

He went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him. When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent ...

Paul’s Conversion

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:22:00 GMT

Previously, we looked at Paul’s blinding ambition. When we left off, Paul had letters in hand from the high p...

Traveling in Paul’s Footsteps

Fri, 03 Jul 2015 16:07:00 GMT

The first time I visited the Holy Land my wife was certain I was sick. I was completely silent as we visited various sites.

We’d walk away and I’d say nothing. She asked me, “Are you feeling okay? You are not ...

The Bible and the Supreme Court on Same Sex Marriage

Sat, 27 Jun 2015 17:24:00 GMT

Yesterday morning the U.S. Supreme Court delivered an historic decision that same-sex couples had the right to marry in the United States. Their decision reflects a dramatic shift in U.S. public opinion concerning same-sex relationships over the l...

Paul: Blinded by His Own Ambition

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 21:15:00 GMT

The first time we read about Paul’s life in the Acts of the Apostles is in Chapter 7, Jesus had been crucified and resurrected and had ascended to heaven just a couple of years earlier. The fledgling movement of Christ’s followers had explod...

Introducing The Call: The Life and Message of the Apostle Paul

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 16:33:00 GMT

It could reasonably be argued that no other human, apart from Jesus himself, has had a greater impact on the world than Paul of Tarsus. His theological reflections on the meaning of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have had a profound impact u...

Same Sex Marriage and the Future of the UMC

Wed, 06 May 2015 19:20:00 GMT

A year ago, with input from others, I wrote a blog post called, A Way Forward for a Unite...

Discipleship, Worship, and Earth Day

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 17:59:00 GMT

Today is officially Earth Day. The first Earth Day was observed April 22, 1970, the brainchild of Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin who was joined by Republican ...

The Words After That

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 20:50:00 GMT

In my last few posts, I’ve written about some of Jesus’ last words as he died on the cross. After J...

“It Is Finished”

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 15:42:00 GMT

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell us that, as he breathed his last, Jesus cried out with a loud voice. Yet neither records what he said. John’s Gospel tells us that what Jesus said was, “It is finished.” Often we hear those words as...

The Promise of Jesus’ Words, “Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise”

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 19:38:00 GMT

Jesus’ response to the dying criminal’s plea for mercy, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” in Luke 23, speaks to us about heaven and about our mission here on earth. The Greek word for Paradise in this verse is a tr...

“I Thirst”: More Here Than Meets The Eye

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:23:00 GMT

Among the seven last statements of Jesus recorded in the gospels is one that, at first glance, seems almost insignificant. Shortly before his death he says, “I thirst.” This simple statement seems out of place among the ot...

“My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:57:00 GMT

In my last post, we looked at one of the last of Jesus’ seven statements. Today, we look at the one statement that is, for many, the...

“Father, Forgive Them …”

Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:04:00 GMT

I have been with dozens of people as they were approaching death. A person’s dying words sometimes simply express his or her needs: “Could you please move the pillow?” or “May I have a drink?” Sometimes they express a conce...

What Should Be Done About ISIS?

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:02:00 GMT

I have had several of you write me regarding Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly’s call for pastors to speak about ISIS (Not a Silent Night, looks at Jesus through the eyes of Mary. Chapter one begins at the end of Ma...

A Defining Moment

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:50:00 GMT

In the last few posts, we’ve been looking at Christmas through Mary’s eyes. We began by consi...

The Piercing of Mary’s Soul

Thu, 06 Nov 2014 19:52:00 GMT

About fifteen years before Mary’s death, she watched her son die.

It was the day we now call Good Friday, but to Mary there was nothing that seemed good about it as she stood at the foot of the cross where Jesus was being crucifie...

The Hope of Resurrection

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:00:00 GMT

At the Church of the Resurrection each year in December, we hold a special worship service for everyone who lost a loved one that year. We recognize that Christmas itse...

Christmas Through Mary's Eyes

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:57:00 GMT

Can you believe that Advent begins in four weeks? What will your church or small group study for the Advent season this year that will help you experience the meaning of Christmas?

Abingdon Press has just released my latest book, an Advent...

Three Short Video Clips From Wesley's England

Thu, 09 Oct 2014 15:12:00 GMT

During the last few weeks, I’ve been publishing excerpts from blogged recently about my previous my last post, I mentioned three categories of violence attributed to God i...

God’s Violence in the Old Testament: The Problem

Tue, 12 Aug 2014 18:26:00 GMT

Among the questions I’m most often asked about the Bible is this one: “Why does God seem so loving in the New Testament but angry, harsh, and vengeful in the Old Testament?” These violent passages not only trouble thoughtful Christians...

Visiting Wesley's England

Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:14:00 GMT

As I prepare for tomorrow's webinar on my upcoming book, I have just returned from a trip retracing Paul's journeys. Our team flew 6,200 miles to get to Perge, Turkey, where we began filming. We then travelled by bus and plane another 2,322 miles, filming for 9 straight days in the r...

John Wesley for a Divisive World

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:29:00 GMT

In one of his most famous sermons, “Catholic Spirit,” John Wesley wrote, “Though we can’t think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.”

Who Really Wrote Paul's Letters?

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 18:42:00 GMT

I’m currently in Turkey, Greece, and Italy retracing the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. I thought this was a great occasion to include an excerpt from the chapter, “Who Really Wrote Paul’s Letters?” in my book, Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. Wednesday's gathering...

A Crucified King

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 12:00:00 GMT

On Fridays during this season of Lent, I'm posting readings from The Way and its companion dev...

Which King Will You Choose?

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 18:23:00 GMT

On Fridays during this season of Lent, I'm posting readings from The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Je...

Friends in Low Places

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 19:19:00 GMT

On Fridays during this season of Lent, I'm posting readings from The Way: Walking in...

The Wind and The Waves Obey Him

Fri, 28 Mar 2014 16:02:00 GMT

On Fridays during this season of Lent, I'm posting readings from The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of ...

Assumptions and the Bible

Thu, 27 Mar 2014 12:10:00 GMT

Merriam-Webster defines an assumption as “a fact or statement taken for granted.” We all make assumptions about a lot of things. Occasionally our most deeply held beliefs might be better described as assumptions. Some assum...

Nazareth Rejects Jesus

Thu, 20 Mar 2014 22:07:00 GMT

On Fridays during this season of Lent, I'm posting readings from The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus...

Making Sense of the Bible: An Attempt at an Honest Yet Reverent View of Scripture

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:03:00 GMT

I’m excited that today my new book, Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today, is out

Are We Just Picking and Choosing? Making Sense of the Bible

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 19:29:00 GMT

I came to faith reading the Bible, 35 years ago. I read it every morning (right now I’m reading through Luke) and I read it again every night as I’m going to bed (at night I’m reading and praying through the Psalms). As I r...

Homosexuality, The Bible, and The United Methodist Church

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 23:48:00 GMT

This week Bishop Martin McLee of the New York Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church announced that he was dismissing a church trial against the...

Jesus’ Baptism

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Today's post is an excerpt from The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus. The picture above was taken at the Jordan River at the approximate location where John baptized Jesus. Here it is less than 20 feet across and about 4 feet deep...

Ash Wednesday

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:00:00 GMT

Today marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a 40-day season of repentance, fasting, praying, and giving, which prepares us to rightly commemorate Christ’s death and to joyously celebrate his resurrection. If you do the mat...

Video Resources for Lent

Thu, 27 Feb 2014 21:12:00 GMT

I’m excited that so many churches are using 24 Hours, Final Words or The Way for Lent this year. 24 Hours is a book, devotional and small group DVD filmed in the Holy Land focused on the last 24 hours of J...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 21:30:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, I issued a challenge: to have a stronger marriage by Valent...

An Inconvenient Faith

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:18:00 GMT

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into o...

Fishing for People

Tue, 04 Feb 2014 15:52:00 GMT

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left th...

It’s the Middle of Winter, But We’re Getting Ready for Easter

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 18:36:00 GMT

Bitterly cold temps froze much of the country this week, as snow caused closures in several East Coast cities. Even though we in the United States are still dealing with the cold, ice, and snow that come with mid-Winter, it’s not too early to begi...

This Year Celebrate Valentine’s Day With a Stronger Marriage

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 18:30:00 GMT

It’s less than a month away from Valentine’s Day, and The Journey, describing and reflecting upon the events leading to the birth of Jesus. It was the second book in...

Give Thanks to the Lord

Wed, 27 Nov 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving!

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. —Psalm 86:12

Blessings to you as you celebrate with family, friends, and loved ones. I pray you have a w...

Contentment Prayer

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:11:00 GMT

This month we've been sharing excerpts from my little book, Enough: Living with Simplicity, Generosity and Joy. Today we'r...

Five Steps for Simplifying Your Life

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 17:13:00 GMT

This month, when many churches have a stewardship focus and as we approach Thanksgiving and the holidays, I thought it might be appropriate to draw from my little book, Friday's winner of a copy of <...

Win a Copy of LOVE TO STAY - What Do You Value Most In Your Mate?

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:21:00 GMT

This week is your last opportunity to win a copy of my new book, Love to Stay. I want to thank my publisher, Abingdon Press, for hosting this giveaway during September.

To enter this week's giveaway, we want you to answer this question:...

Giveaway Winner - Congratulations!

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:42:00 GMT

Congratulations to Cheryl Carter Lakey, Friday's winner of a copy...

Win a Copy of LOVE TO STAY - Share Graphics With Your Friends

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:05:00 GMT

I'm excited that during the month of September, my publisher will be giving away four copies of my new book, Love to Stay (one each Friday).

To enter this week's giveaway, we'd love for you to share at least one of our graphics below...

Giveaway Winner - Congratulations!

Fri, 13 Sep 2013 19:13:00 GMT

Congratulations to Christine Poplau, this week's winner...

Win a Copy of LOVE TO STAY — What's Your Best Idea for a Romantic Date Night?

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 19:37:00 GMT

I'm excited that during the month of September, my publisher will be giving away four copies of my new book, Love to Stay (one each Friday).

To enter this week's giveaway, please leave a comment below with your answer to&nb...

*UPDATE* for Love to Stay Review Team

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:36:00 GMT

Please read this *UPDATE* to my earlier post about the Love to Stay review team<...

Join The LOVE TO STAY Review Team!

Tue, 10 Sep 2013 18:16:00 GMT

Dear readers,

My publisher has asked me to extend an invitation to any of you who may want to help us spread the word about Love to Stay.

Do you like to read and review books? Are you active on social m...

Giveaway Winner - Congratulations!

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 20:52:00 GMT

Congratulations to Larry Ready, this week's...

Win a Copy of Love To Stay - What Does It Take to Make a Marriage Last a Lifetime?

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 16:28:00 GMT

I'm excited that during the month of September, my publisher will be giving away four copies of my new book,

What Single Women Look For In a Mate

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 19:09:00 GMT

In the last post, we noted what single men look for in a mate, using research we gathered ...

What Single Men Look For In a Mate

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 20:14:00 GMT

In writing Love to Stay, I conducted a Love, Sex, and Marriage survey of more than 5000 adults. It measured their attitudes towards love, sex, and marriage. The responses clearly indicate that men and women have different ways of giving and rec...

The Link Between Sex and Faith

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 19:30:00 GMT

In writing Love to Stay, I surveyed more than 5000 adults about their attitudes associated with love, sex, and marriage.
...

The Trivialization of Sex

Fri, 16 Aug 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Churches don’t often spend a lot of time reminding people of the beauty and importance of sexual intimacy. Conversely, society tends to trivialize and cheapen it. People talk about “hooking up” or having “friends with benefits.&r...

The Meaning and Mission of Marriage

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Not long ago I spoke to a young couple in our congregation who told me they wanted to move in together but weren’t interested in getting married. They said, “We don’t know why we need a piece of paper to love and be committed to one an...

LOVE TO STAY Is on Pinterest

Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:26:00 GMT

Today I’m excited to share with you a few graphics highlighting thoughts from my new book, Love to Stay, and to introduce you ...

My New Book, LOVE TO STAY, Has Just Been Released

Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:16:00 GMT

Last year I shared a series of sermons entitled, “Love, Sex and Marriage.” It saw ...

What If I Missed God’s Will?

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 20:39:00 GMT

(I regularly receive and respond to questions from readers or parishioners. It struck me this week as I was responding to several questions from a parishioner that there may be others who struggle with the same questions she was asking. ...

Accepting God's Mercy

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:26:00 GMT

In the last few blog posts, we’ve looked at repentance and In the last post, we looked at authentic apologies that truly exhibit repentance.

So what happens whe...

Authentic Repentance

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 01:49:00 GMT

In a post earlier this month, we examined the art of apologizing and recognized that many times we don’t a...

The Power of an Apology

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:58:00 GMT

Among the most important words that must flow freely from your lips are the words, “I am sorry.” They are critical to the success of marriages and friendships, but are also key to success in the workplace.

The inability ...

What Is Your Defining Story?

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:13:00 GMT

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he sh...

A Mirror and a Self-Portrait

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:37:00 GMT

Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on h...

Maundy Thursday

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:00:00 GMT

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NRSV)

...

A Recovering Pharisee?

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:49:00 GMT

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach... They do all...

Who Do You Belong To?

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:03:00 GMT

So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said. … So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the wa...

Pictures to Use During Holy Week

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:38:00 GMT

Under the Resources section, I've uploaded several pictures that may be helpful for preachers and teachers to use during Holy Week.

Jesus Heals The Man Born Blind at the Pool of Siloam

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:31:00 GMT

Last February I was in the Holy Land filming the video for The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus. I filmed a segment at the Poo...

Pictures to Use With The Way

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:11:00 GMT

Under the Resources section, I've uploaded several pictures that may be helpful for preachers and teachers focusing on Jesus' minist...

The Baptism of Jesus

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:17:00 GMT

Many of you are studying The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus, this Lenten season. I thought I would include in today's post ...

Remembering Your Baptism in the Shower

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT

Seven years ago I preached a sermon on baptism and invited the congregation at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection to remember their baptism every morning when they step into the shower. As a way of helping them do this I wrote a littl...

Ashes and Fasting: Lent Has Begun

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:12:00 GMT

The Season of Lent began yesterday with Ash Wednesday. The ashes that begin the season point us towards the ultimate end of the season. Lent will end with Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The ashes point to our sin and mort...

A Letter From the President

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:01:00 GMT

I received the note above from the President this morning thanking me for

Sermon Video of 2013 Inaugural National Prayer Service

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:16:00 GMT

I know many of you are interested in watching the video of the sermon I delivered on Tuesday during the Inaugural National Prayer Service at the National Cathedral.

The video below is an edited version of the complete sermon from various camera ...

Lessons from Moses: 2013 Inaugural Prayer Service Sermon

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:28:00 GMT

Today I was honored to deliver the sermon at the National Prayer Service following yesterday's Inauguration. I'll write more later about my entire experience—from yesterday's swearing-in ceremony and the Inaugural ball to today's service—but...

Preaching for the President's Inauguration

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:01:00 GMT

I received a call a couple of weeks ago from a White House staffer inviting me to preach the National Prayer Service that is a part of the presidential inauguration festivities. The National Prayer Service is held on Tuesday morning following the inaugu...

Put God Back in Public Schools?

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:09:00 GMT

One reaction to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School has been a call to &...

No, Everything Doesn't Happen for a Reason

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:30:00 GMT

“Everything happens for a reason,” he said as he reflected upon the terrible events that had occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. I suppose these words were meant to be comforting. Implicit in them is the idea that there is a grand ...

The Price of Ending the Charitable Deduction

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:56:00 GMT

I’ve been following with interest the conversations in Washington about the fiscal cliff and the debate about how to raise revenue while cutting government expenditures. Some are proposing raising the tax rates on the top 2%...

Room in the Inn?

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 12:41:00 GMT

Merry Christmas!

Today, we end our journey retracing Mary and Joseph’s steps with the long-awaited arrival of the Christ Child.

After Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem, the time came for her delivery, though Scripture ...

The Journey: From Nazareth to Bethlehem

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:07:00 GMT

In my trip to the Holy Land to research my book, The Journey, we traveled by car, by van, and on foot as we sought to follow the jour...

The World Ending at 5:00 p.m. Today?

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:24:00 GMT

So thousands of people around the world believe that today is the day the world ends. I’m guessing not many of you reading this page actually believes the world will end at 5:00 p.m. today, but let’s not waste the hype. What if it were...

How Mary Found Her Joy

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:10:00 GMT

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” —Luke 1:46-47

For nine or ten days Mary had carried in her heart the most astounding secret: She was pregnant, and the chil...

It Is Time for a National Database of United Methodist Clergy

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:13:00 GMT

Every year I receive phone calls from District Superintendents in different parts of the country asking for suggestions for pastors who might have the experience and gifts to serve churches in their annual conference. Usually the superintendent is...

Counsel and Comfort

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:15:00 GMT

Having considered Joseph's story, let’s look at Mary’s story in Luke 1. After Mary received...

Herod and Joseph: A Contrast in Character

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:19:00 GMT

Assuming Joseph was a young man when Jesus was conceived, one king had ruled over Judea during Joseph’s entire life: Herod “the Great.” Herod ruled Judea, with the blessing and help of the Romans, for thirty-three years, from 37 B.C. t...

The Meaning of Nazareth

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:30:00 GMT

The name of this tiny village of Nazareth tells us something about the people living there and offers a clue to the identity of the child Mary would bear. Nazareth may come from the Hebrew netzer, which means “branch” or “shoo...

You’re Invited on a Journey

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 01:00:00 GMT

It’s the week before Thanksgiving here in the United States. Although some of us have not even bou...

Righteousness that Surpasses the Pharisees

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:00:00 GMT

I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 5:20

The Sermon on the Mount seems, at so many points, impossible to live. It must h...

A Christian Vision Moving Forward

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:00:00 GMT

In 1630, as the Arbella was sailing to the New World with a ship full of Puritans who would settle the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Governor John Winthrop preached one of the most famous sermons ever given called, the Huffington Post about Congressman Paul Broun's recent commen...

One Pastor Who Changed My Life

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:24:00 GMT

I became a follower of Jesus in a small Assembly of God church when I was 14 years old. My pastor was a man named Phil Hollis. His passionate faith was infectious. But it was the personal interest he took in me that had an impact on my life....

Who Is the Greatest?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:37:00 GMT

An argument broke out among the disciples over which one of them should be regarded as the greatest.

But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles rule over their subjects, and those in authority over them are called &lsq...

Is Papyrus Fragment Suggesting Jesus Had a Wife Authentic?

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:15:00 GMT

Earlier this week, the news media reported the discovery of a papyrus fragment (an ancie...

Remembering Jesus

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 01:49:00 GMT

¹⁴When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles joined him. ¹⁵He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ I...

The Importance of Being a Servant

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:00:00 GMT

⁷The Day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover had to be sacrificed. ⁸Jesus sent Peter and John with this task: “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover meal.”

<...

Politics and Religion

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:00:00 GMT

This week the Democrats will be holding their national convention in Charlotte. In my last post, I talked about giving to God, specifically, giving a tithe to the Church.

From the early days of the Old Testament, God’s people observed the practice of giving some portion of the best of what they had to God. In the beginning, the practice was to burn these offerings completely, saving no portion...

Emergency Appendectomy

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:25:00 GMT

An update from the editors at AdamHamilton.org:

Adam underwent an emergency appendectomy Tuesday night and is now recovering in the hospital. He posted these comments on we’re ...

Provoking One Another to Love and Good Deeds

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:00:00 GMT

In my last post, I talked about the importance of being a member of a team. We looked at how teammates encour...

The Power of the Team

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

&nb...

The Two Dimensions of Forgiveness

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 10:00:00 GMT

How often do you find yourself in need of asking for, or extending forgiveness? It happens in my life on a weekly, and often daily, basis.

Today, Abingdon Press Can you help me?

I'm preparing a series of sermons for late August and September entitled, Wrestling with the Bible.<...

Everything Belongs to God

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

In a previous post, I wrote about cultivating spiritual growth, and subseq...

Running God's Race

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

You can’t turn on the television or surf the Web right now without seeing, hearing, or reading all about the Olympic games.

In my last two posts, we have compared the Christian life to an Olympic race. The Christian life is In my last post, we focused on our lives as being like a long Olympic race. We pursue our “prize” — a heavenly, imp...

Go For the "Gold"

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Olympic fever is about to strike the world! The summer games are set to begin in a few days in London with opening ceremonies to be held July 27.

You may be surprised to know that Olympics were a pretty big deal when the apostles were aliv...

RAP in Action

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

How's it been going with RAP practice? (No; I'm not referring to the musical genre!)

In a post earlier this month, I told you about the...

How to Have a Good Death

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about how you hope to face your own death when the time comes? What witness do you hope to make as you approach death, and subsequently at your funeral? We've each got a lifetime to prepare for our own death, but few of us take the...

More Questions About the Afterlife

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

The recent sermon series, ...

Will Fido and Fluffy Be in Heaven?

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Last week, the ABC television show, 20/20, aired a special program hosted by Barbara Walters called “Heaven.” You ...

Created to Give, Tempted to Keep

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

God created each of us with the willingness to give—to God and to others. We’re hard-wired to be givers; we need to be generous. Yet there are two “voices” that war against our God-given impulse toward generosity, tempting us to ...

Let It Go

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

A driver lays on her horn when you absent-mindedly pull in front of her in traffic.

You feel the disapproving and judgmental glares of others as you wheel your tantrum-throwing toddler through the grocery store.

The gang at work &...

Six Words

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Forgiveness is essential to our lives.

Without forgiveness, no marriage can survive, no family can stay together, and no society can be sustained. It is a necessary part of lasting friendships and work relationships. The reason lies in an in...

The Power of Forgiveness

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 17:15:00 GMT

During Memorial Day weekend, among the moving stories of men and women in service, CBS Sunday Morning interviewed 95-year o...

On the Church and Forgiveness

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:43:00 GMT

It’s amazing how frequently we must deal with the question of forgiveness.

Late this spring, I attended the

God and Suffering

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 20:49:00 GMT

I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

Suffering, unanswered prayers, and the unfairness of life naturally lead us to question God’s go...