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The Things We Get for Free: Looking Again at the Gospel of Grace
You have received free of charge; give free of charge. (Matthew 10:8) Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about consumerism and commodification, and as I work my way through Matthew 10, I find I can’t let go of Jesus’s words here in verse 8. To be clear, I’m not against buying and selling (and neither,…
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Freely You Have Received, Freely Give: Grace, Love, and Following Jesus Beyond Transactional Thinking
“Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8, NKJV) Back in 2017 I was in the throes of a three-pronged crisis. My finances and health were simultaneously collapsing; codependent as they were, neither was willing to go on without the other. At the same time I was trying to keep my online business afloat. In…
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Invisible, Spiritual, Actual, Real: The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near
Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road leading to other nations, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with…
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Called, Commissioned, and Turned Upside Down: Jesus’ Mission and the Redefinition of Power
Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road leading to other nations, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with…
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A Man in a Tent: Abraham and the Simplicity of Knowing God
NOTE FROM RACHEL: I am on hiatus this week while I attend a conference and study for the next stage in our journey through Matthew. This week’s post comes from the newly released bestselling book Winning God’s Heart: A Biblical Path to Intimate Friendship with God, by my dear friend Carolyn Currey. The record of those who…
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Incredible Christian Fantasy Giveaway: Meet the Authors and Their Books
It’s my privilege to host a giveaway of 11 fabulous books in the Christian fantasy genre … and paperback books, the kind you can curl up with when the weather turns chilly and enjoy with a hot cup of cider. The giveaway is open now and will run until October 14 at 11:45 PM, EST. In…
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Foundation Stones: The 12 Apostles and the Mission of the Church
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness … These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As…
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Pray the Lord of the Harvest: The Harvest, the Need, and the Need to Be Sent
When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38) Ever…
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Sheep Without a Shepherd: Jesus’s Mission and the Rescue of Israel, Part 2
Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36) “I am the Good…
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Sheep Without a Shepherd: Jesus’s Mission and the Rescue of Israel, Part 1
Then Jesus went to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36) This passage is the…