Weekday Word w/ Eric

Tag: jesus

  • Freer, Not Richer

    Scripture:“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…”— 1 Timothy 6:10 Reflection:The real promise of the gospel is not that Jesus will make us richer. It is that Jesus will make us freer. That is such an important distinction. Prosperity theology says the good life is about increase, success, and…

  • The Cross is a Blessing

    Scripture:“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…”— Galatians 6:14 Reflection:That sentence can feel jarring at first: The cross is a blessing. It does not fit the way the world talks about blessing. The world calls blessed whatever looks strong, successful, admired, and victorious. The cross looks…

  • Vending Machine Faith

    Scripture:“…men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”— 1 Timothy 6:5 Reflection:One of the clearest distortions in the prosperity gospel is the idea that faith works like a formula. Believe enough, give enough, pray enough, confess enough, sow enough, and then…

  • Blessed But Not How We Think

    Scripture:“Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: ‘Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.’”— Luke 6:20 Reflection:We use the word blessed so easily, don’t we? A new job, a bigger house, a healed report, a beautiful vacation, a smiling family photo — and immediately we say, “Look…

  • The Right Question

    Scripture:“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”— Philippians 2:13 Reflection:Consumer Christianity teaches us to ask whether church worked for us, while biblical Christianity asks whether Christ is at work in us. That is such an important distinction, because one centers the experience and the…

  • Jesus for the Benefits

    Scripture:“Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”— John 6:26 Reflection:John 6 is one of those chapters that pulls the mask off the heart. The crowd wants more of Jesus, but not necessarily more from Jesus in the…

  • When the Word Becomes Entertainment

    Scripture:“Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.”— Ezekiel 33:32 Reflection:Ezekiel offers one of the most piercing indictments in all of Scripture. The people gather. They listen. They…

  • What Do I Get Out of This?

    Scripture:“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”— Romans 12:2 Reflection:We live in a world that trains us to think like consumers long before we ever walk into a church. We compare, browse, upgrade, cancel, rank, and move on. We are constantly being shaped to ask…

  • Belonging is Discipleship

    Scripture:“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”— 1 Corinthians 12:27 Reflection:The apostle Paul gives us an image that is simple enough for a child to understand and profound enough to shape a lifetime: the church is a body. Not a brand. Not a weekly show. Not a loose collection of religious consumers.…

  • When Woundedness Leads to the Wrong Conclusion

    Scripture:“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.”— John 20:24 Reflection:There are seasons when stepping back makes emotional sense. A person gets wounded, disappointed, or exhausted, and distance feels safer than closeness. That can happen in families, in friendships, and yes, in churches. Sometimes church becomes the…