I’ve been thinking a lot about the lack of depth and experience in our personal relationships as well as the lack of experience in our relationship with God. Evangelicals have basically coined the phrase, “personal relationship with God,” but when pressed further about its experiential meaning, the answers merely revolve around the forensic (legal) languageContinue reading “It’s Supposed to be a “Personal” Relationship”
Author Archives: John Estorge
Facebook’s effect on Relationships
Earlier this week, I heard from a missionary friend overseas who privately commented regarding my blogposts from Monday and Tuesday. With his permission, I will relate some of our conversation. He said that he has seen that particularly the generation of younger 20’s and early 30’s seem to be struggling with an inability to buildContinue reading “Facebook’s effect on Relationships”
Thoughts on longing to go deeper
Today I am more connected than ever before. You can contact me via my three phone numbers, my four email addresses, instant messenger and my skype account. Did I mention that you can also facebook me, send me a tweet, or even comment on my blog? Oh, and I am also available for lunch today.Continue reading “Thoughts on longing to go deeper”
A deeper experience
We translate the greek word, koinonia using words that have become almost meaningless to us today. We use words like “fellowship” “participation” or even “partaking.” Sometimes we will use an even more ambiguous word, “communion” These words don’t really do justice to the meaning. I have attempted in the past to draw attention to theContinue reading “A deeper experience”
He descended into Hell
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we find Jesus like we’ve never seen Him before, “greatly distressed and troubled” and saying, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” Then He prays, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)Continue reading “He descended into Hell”
Jesus found Hell rather than Heaven opened before him
Jesus received a glimpse of the horror and terror of His death while He was in the Garden of Gethsemane that sent Him reeling. He was “greatly distressed and troubled” and even said, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” Later “he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, theContinue reading “Jesus found Hell rather than Heaven opened before him”
Jesus took our grief upon Himself
Yesterday, I began to unpack the most uncomfortable scene in the New Testament. (See yesterday’s blog here). In the gospels we’re regularly confronted with the tremendous power and dignity of Christ who was the judge of the earth, the eternal Son of God. He is the absolutely assured of His sonship to the father yetContinue reading “Jesus took our grief upon Himself”
The most uncomfortable scene in the New Testament
Now There are at least three scenes in the New Testament where attentive Christians feel uncomfortable about how their Savior acts because it seems that he actions are unbecoming of the God-man: -The Cleansing of the Temple – We think He’s just too angry and Jesus shouldn’t get angry. – The Miracle of Changing WaterContinue reading “The most uncomfortable scene in the New Testament”
Heaven breaks into earth during the Lord’s Supper
The presence of the Lord’s body and blood in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper is real though spiritual and mysterious. This koinonia, communion by intimate participation (Cf.1 Cor. 10:15-17), with the body and blood of Christ is not a mere object lesson or heightened remembrance about a gift, it is the bodyContinue reading “Heaven breaks into earth during the Lord’s Supper”
Four Views of the Lord’s Supper
We’re all familiar with the words instituted by Christ on the evening of the First Lord’s Supper. Paul gives these words in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had givenContinue reading “Four Views of the Lord’s Supper”
Lead, Laugh, Love 