As Jesus warns his followers about lust, the modern listener can easily interpret his words as primitive, prudish and perhaps proof that the Bible is against sexuality. However, the more we come to understand what is at the heart of lust, the more we begin to see why his warning is so appropriate.

Study Guide:10.04.09 Living Like Royalty: The Ultimate Consumer

Righteous (good) anger is found throughout the Bible; God himself is the model of what it looks like. However, much of what we understand to be ‘righteous’ anger is in fact the opposite – unrighteous (bad anger).  Jesus identifies this as a major problem in his day and ours is no different.  Yet what we find is not just warning from Jesus but also a way out.

Study Guide:09.27.09 Living Like Royalty: The Danger of Anger

We tend to have a love/hate relationship with the Law. We want it around to protect us but not to catch us. We are glad for the order it brings, yet resentful for the way it limits us. We bring all of these attitudes and more when it comes to our feelings about God’s Law. Jesus goes on record with his feelings on the matter and his take might surprise you.

Study Guide: 09.20.09 Living Like Royalty: Who’s Above the Law

Washington DC is known as a city of significant influence. It is also a city that prizes influence – sought after as a precious commodity. How does Jesus Christ, the most influential man in history, understand influence?

Study Guide: 09.13.09 Living Like Royalty Inevitable Influence

The other Beatitudes don’t seem as ‘necessary’ as this one: Blessed are the Peacemakers. We don’t have to look to far to see horrific conflict in the world, arguments on our city streets, tension in our relationships with family and friends. The need for peace is obvious. How then do we move forward?
Study Guide:08.30.09 The Beatitudes: Give Peace A Chance

This beatitude may be the most uncomfortable to read. Immediately we feel vulnerable. Who of us would claim to be pure? Who can see God without being seen themselves? Yet, Jesus doesn’t pronounce this word as woe, but rather as a blessing. Happy are the pure in heart.
Study Guide:08.23.09 The Beatitudes: A See-Through Heart

When Jesus says “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” he doesn’t give a necessary condition for receiving God’s mercy, but he does give a necessary consequence of it. If someone lacks the impulse and actions to show mercy they have missed something essential about the Christian gospel. What does Mercy involve? Who really are the merciful?
Study Guide: 08.16.09 The Beatitudes: Who Gets Mercy?

Study Guide: 08.09.09 The Beatitudes: Holy Thirst

In a challenging economy and competitive job market, literature on how to promote yourself abounds. Some of the literature is good, however, plenty of it is suspect: “promote yourself without looking like you’re promoting yourself”, etc. In this third beatitude Jesus basically teaches the polar opposite: Blessed are the meek (those who do NOT promote themselves). How does this make sense?
Study Guide: 07.26.09 The Beautitudes: To Promote Or Not To Promote

Usually this Beatitude (“blessed are they that mourn”), is most often found in the sympathy section on the card racks. While God has a special zeal to comfort his children in their losses, the verse belongs in the ‘repentance’ section rather than the sympathy section- for it describes mourning over moral and spiritual failure primarily. What does that look like?
Study Guide: 07.19.09 The Beatitudes: Happy are the Unhappy