Triple Double
Studying Jesus
Is Your "Yes" on the Table?
January 29, 2023 • Abraham Carrillo • Genesis 12:1–5, Luke 2:52
As we look to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor, we recognize that we are all faced with critical decisions along the journey. They seem to show up as moments of difficulty - particularly when we are challenged and stretched beyond our comfort. But what can seem like a very specific decision in response to our circumstances really reveals our true attitude toward God. Following the example of the Son requires a certain disposition towards the will of the Father - one that is best embraced before we ever face such challenges. And as the Lord invites us to His table of fellowship, fully demonstrating His decision concerning us, we are each left with the opportunity to place our response on His table.
Growing in Favor
January 22, 2023 • Courtney Harkness • Luke 2:52, Proverbs 3:3–4
Does God play favorites? Sometimes, it seems like others are enjoying more of God’s goodness than you are. But is that really true? Does God prefer some over others? If you aren’t careful, you can mistakenly view the “favor of God” as no different than the “favoritism of man.” At the same time, you must acknowledge that there is something noteworthy about the manner in which God demonstrates His goodness in the lives of individuals. God is good to everyone - simply because He is good. But He also leaves you with an important choice - to cooperate with His goodness in your own life.
Growing in Stature
January 15, 2023 • Courtney Harkness • Isaiah 61:3–4, Luke 2:52
They will be called oaks of righteousness… Generally speaking, growth is a natural byproduct of health. But in a broken world, our growth must come through resistance. Scripture repeatedly pictures the full development of Christlike character as a giant oak tree displaying the full splendor of God. As such, we must embrace this imagery as the goal of our character: to grow tall and strong, deep in our roots, and spread wide the branches of love - so that others might see the full display of God’s glory through us.
Growing in Wisdom
January 8, 2023 • Courtney Harkness • Proverbs 8:15–21, Luke 2:52
One of the most intriguing aspects of the incarnation is the fact that an all-knowing God would reduce Himself to a posture that actually required Him to LEARN. Obviously, He did so for our example. But too often, we allow the thirst for knowledge to work against us, rather than for us. We use knowledge as a pathway to something questionable - motivations that might be less than God-honoring. And since ignorance doesn’t necessarily provide a better option, we desperately need a third approach. This is the way of wisdom. In a world of increasing access to information, we are all faced with the definitive question: What should I do with what I know?
Triple Double
January 1, 2023 • Courtney Harkness • Luke 2:52
In basketball, the most impactful contribution a player can make is called a triple double. It’s when a player registers in double digits (10 or more) in 3 different statistical categories. It means they didn’t just do one thing well - they pretty much did EVERYTHING well! When we look at the life of Jesus, we find a similar performance in His development. His life from the age of 12 to 30 is summed up by one verse, and in it, we discover all that we need to know concerning His preparation to fulfill His purpose. Jesus spent this time recording a Triple Double.