What Would Jesus Do Next?

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-116478302011-07-14T17:35:23.928-07:00What Would Jesus Do Next?Everyone who had heard of His name had to wonder ... What was He trying to accomplish? What would it take to achieve it? How far would He go?Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-27294874276431883332007-04-05T17:51:00.000-07:002007-04-05T17:52:18.874-07:00Jesus' Day Off

posted by WKB; written by John Alan TurnerIt had been a busy week, and it was just Wednesday. Things had started off with a bang and a parade, Jesus looking more like a comic rendition of a conquering king — riding into town on the back of a donkey with hundreds (perhaps thousands) of peasants throwing down their coats before him and waving palm branches. It looked like the Messiah was coming to

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1121652479617657262005-07-17T18:28:00.000-07:002005-07-17T19:11:56.093-07:00The Temple: A Great Place for Murder

They had a suspect. They dragged her into the temple courts where Jesus was teaching. She was accused; caught in the act of adultery; condemned by the law. They asked this young Rabbi's approval. He baffled them. They slunk away, all but her. After a few words with Jesus, she left too.But He went right on teaching, and baffling - right there close to the place where the cash offerings were thrown

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1119405345961267022005-06-21T18:26:00.000-07:002005-06-21T18:55:45.990-07:00Jesus Gets Weird Sometimes

Okay, I loved the first stories Jesus told today: the ones about the lost sheep and the lost coin and the lost boy who used to feed pigs but couldn't bring himself to eat pig slop, so he went home to his dad ... oh. You've heard that one, too? That's a great story. And he really put the slam on the Pharisees and law-teachers. Because they love money and they love being right all the time, and

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1117571667896190222005-05-31T12:51:00.000-07:002005-05-31T13:53:58.186-07:00Thunder, Angels and Oracles

We went up to Jerusalem to worship for the Passover feast, my friends and I, and our journey went well until the last few miles. Just outside of Jerusalem, we stopped with everyone else to crowd the sides of the main street into town from the south. We heard the rumor about the One who passed us on a colt, greeted by palm branches and shouts of "Save! Save!"We heard He had made his dead friend

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1116971836519803132005-05-24T14:39:00.000-07:002005-05-24T14:57:16.523-07:00Jesus The Model...Parent?

Jesus was many things when he lived here on earth: sinless Son of God, atoning sacrifice, masterful teacher and storyteller, perfectly righteous model with no hint of self-righteousness.It is baffling to me why the Christian community has largely failed to apply the teachings and example of Jesus in the realm of parenting, claiming that since he was not a parent, he has nothing relevant to say

john alan turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065084395340701275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1116391331588422772005-05-17T21:34:00.000-07:002005-05-17T22:04:22.326-07:00Even the Puppies

Philip and Bartholomew walked quickly because they thought they were late. Their hosts sent with them a jug of wine and a large basket of figs. Philip, whose load was lighter, put distance between himself and his fellow disciple."Slow down," said Bartholomew. "Maybe we should put the wine in here with these figs I'm carrying and work together."Philip stopped and turned. Bartholomew's face was

c s bunyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13746766023049865275noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1115777551963391902005-05-10T19:12:00.000-07:002005-05-10T19:12:31.970-07:00Jesus The Teacher

In the last century, a debate that had been brewing in academic circles spilled over into more everyday discussions. People began discussing the possibility that Jesus of Nazareth may be nothing more than an incredible teacher. One side of the debate claimed that, while Jesus said many important and wise things, he was just a person. The other side of the debate said, "No, Jesus was more than

john alan turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065084395340701275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1115177564094850262005-05-03T21:45:00.000-07:002005-05-03T20:32:44.146-07:00Before the Backfire

"It really bothers me that they call him a teacher," said Jacob as he leaned forward on the edge of his seat, elbows on the thick wooden table and a half-gnawed cigar in his right hand. "They treat him like he's a god," he continued, stuffing the cigar back into his mouth, now leaning back into his chair, hands behind his head. It was near midnight in the back room of Jacob's house. The usual men

Fajitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704189756009543355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1114368813649010852005-04-24T11:18:00.000-07:002005-04-25T09:50:57.856-07:00What The Hungry Were Fed Up With

It was a time of sadness; of grieving. Jesus had just lost a cousin. His followers had just lost a friend. Israel had lost a prophet, and not just any prophet, but one who had come in the spirit and power of Elijah.Herod had executed John the Baptist, the outspoken herald of Christ and critic to Herod's marriage to his brother Philip's wife, Herodias. He had done so at the request of his wife's

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1113939815919328732005-04-19T12:26:00.000-07:002005-04-19T12:43:35.920-07:00Jesus Was Single

I'm headed to Nashville this weekend to speak at a retreat for single adults. The main theme is Fear -- something I've been struggling with over at my own blog. But one of the sessions is going to be devoted to being afraid of singleness. First of all, I am aware that it may be strange for a married man to talk about this topic. I promise I will try to be as sensitive and gentle as I can be. I

john alan turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065084395340701275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1113862056249626542005-04-18T14:14:00.000-07:002005-04-18T15:07:36.250-07:00People vs Policy

As we talked about the adulterous woman in John 8 this weekend, we came to the conclusion that this was basically a love story. The love a father has for his daughter. I wonder how many of those men would have been willing to pick up a rock if it had been their daughter that was being drug out and exposed? We know she did have one father there......and he was going to do everything within his

David Uhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087224962012899721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1113691161795875692005-04-16T20:09:00.000-07:002005-04-16T18:46:45.066-07:00What The Rich Man Lacked

Mark says he was a man. Matthew says he was young. Luke adds that he was a ruler.They all agree that he was rich.Mark adds a few interesting details that the others omit, though, as they tell the story. Anxious to get into the story, Matthew and Luke omit the fact that he ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees before Him. As if something was urgent. As if only Jesus could answer him about how to

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1112847218632557432005-04-06T21:06:00.000-07:002005-04-06T21:55:56.620-07:00

The Rich Ruler Luke 18:1818A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone. 20You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’"21“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.22When Jesus

Brandon Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11865778964025521595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1112656152627713092005-04-04T16:07:00.000-07:002005-04-05T11:30:48.063-07:00What The Unwanted Man Wanted

We don't know which feast it was when Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate, and saw a crowd of disabled people huddled around the pool near the Sheep Gate.We can't be sure if the pool was named Bethesda, Bethzatha, Bethsaida or Beth Moore.We don't know if an angel really came down and stirred the waters to heal the first one in the pool; if this was the genuine explanation or a later manuscript

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1112390384475317962005-04-01T12:42:00.001-08:002005-04-01T13:19:44.476-08:00You Did What?

"You did what?""It's just as I said," the woman said firmly, "I walked right into Simon's house to...""Simon the Pharisee?" The women had so many questions that they would hardly let her tell the story."Simon Shmimon, who cares whose house it was? Jesus was in there. I had heard that he was coming to town and I was not going to miss a chance, maybe my last chance to see him.""What are you talking

Fajitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704189756009543355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1112222695241519552005-03-30T13:47:00.000-08:002005-03-30T14:44:55.243-08:00Encounters with Jesus

Have you ever taken the time to go thru the Gospels and see how lives were changed when people encountered Jesus? RADICAL changes. Not just yawning, ho-hum January resolutions for change. Not just shallow words said to appease someone. We are talking about REVOLUTIONARY changes. Jesus does that to hearts that are open to Him.I guess my favorite encounter of Jesus is recorded in Luke 19.

David Uhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04087224962012899721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1112153637785310362005-03-29T19:16:00.000-08:002005-03-29T19:33:57.786-08:00Holy Spit

So I'm walking just outside my village the other day, just minding my own business, and I see a small group of people gathered around a couple guys. Just the fact that there were even a few people outside the village was a bit odd, but they were all looking intently at the two guys in the middle.I recognized the one guy first. He's the blind guy. Every now and again I'd give him a coin. I figure

Fajitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704189756009543355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1112148531925377092005-03-29T17:40:00.000-08:002005-03-29T19:44:08.186-08:00What Made It Official For The Official

After spending an unplanned two-day stop in Samaria, Jesus left for Galilee. He was headed home, yet He didn't seem to be enjoying the anticipation of it. He pointed out to his tag-along followers that a prophet has no honor in his own country. Yet, when He arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen everything He'd done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast. More than likely, they

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1111854521796692772005-03-26T08:26:00.000-08:002005-03-28T14:42:12.300-08:00What Made The Outcast Draw A Crowd

It was not a routine stop, because it was not a prescribed route. This jog in Jesus' first missionary journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (for Passover) and back was necessitated by the fact that His ministry was baptizing more in Judea than John's was in the trans-Jordan area. (Okay, His followers were; He didn't baptize.) The Pharisees - who were certainly not happy that Jesus had single-handedly

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1111853364818722362005-03-26T07:16:00.000-08:002005-03-28T13:16:59.003-08:00What Heaven Gives By Taking Away

It has to be a disappointment to watch your ministry die. When you've given up a "normal" lifestyle; when you've been the one to whom people came in droves; when you've been privileged to immerse them as a testimony of their penitence and desire to be washed from sin. But it comes at an inopportune time. You've just moved the ministry from Bethany-on-the-Jordan to a better location at Aenon near

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1111690786780156772005-03-25T20:40:00.000-08:002005-03-27T11:38:46.750-08:00What The Teacher Was Taught In The Dark About Light

It was a temptation to title this "Nick at Nite," with all due credit to Real Live Preacher.Because it is about Nicodemus, and he did come to Jesus by night.Why at night, we don't know. Maybe, as a high-ranking teacher-rabbi himself (on the ruling council in spite of being a Pharisee), he didn't want his peers seeing him come to young Jesus or confess what he felt:"Rabbi, we know you are a

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1111618179326798362005-03-24T13:55:00.000-08:002005-03-26T08:09:52.343-08:00What Drove The Market Collapse Of A.D. 27

The date is speculative, of course. Because it wasn't about a time, but a place.Location, location, location.It was just as vital a concept in the first century as it is today, and the folks who exchanged currencies and provided church supplies back then knew it well.They set up shop right there in the courts of Herod's temple, perfectly willing - for a fee - to take bad, foreign, Gentile

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11647830.post-1111596904103396882005-03-23T08:54:00.000-08:002005-03-23T14:50:34.346-08:00What A Mother Wants Her Son To Drink

At a party - a wedding party, no less - the traditional first century beverage was the blood of the grape, distilled and refined and served with generosity.Jesus, his mother Mary and friends were in attendance at one in Cana of Galilee (way up on the wrong side of Samaria and a good walk from home in Nazareth) when the wine ran out.Respectfully - as was the custom of the time, no doubt - she

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com0