Recent polling among American voters reveals a truth that, on some level, most people already know: this country is divided. Most Americans believe the country has not been this divided since the Civil War, and 52% believe there will be extreme political violence within the next 10 years. But that’s the secular world, right?! Surely, the church does not struggle with such divisiveness! Unfortunately, division is just as much a problem within the church. What do we do about this? Let’s study together what it means to be united, as the body of Christ.
TBP 09: Unity
Ephesians4:1-6
March 3, 2024 • Garrett Marshall • Ephesians 4:1–6
More from
The Big Picture
TBP 01: Wrestling With God
January 7, 2024 • Garrett Marshall • Genesis 32:22–31
In Genesis 32, we find a very unusual story. Jacob, on the eve of meeting his estranged brother Esau for the first time since he had tricked his way into getting his blessing, goes off to be by himself. It is at this point a strange man comes upon him, and they begin to wrestle. At the end of this wrestling match, we are told that this stranger is none other than God, and He changes Jacob’s name and blesses Him. What are we to make of this passage? Is this just one of those weird stories from the Bible that just happens, we learn about, and move on? Or, maybe this story, like all the Bible, has an incredible spiritual truth just waiting to be discovered so it can change how we see, and interact, with the creator of the Universe.
TBP 02: “A Family Living Love”
January 14, 2024 • Garrett Marshall • Luke 6:27–36
It is an unfortunate fact of our day that Christianity has an “image” problem. Even more unfortunate is that this image problem has been largely of our own making. Why is that? Has the modern audience lost their taste for the gospel? Have Jesus’ teachings become less relevant as society advances? Of course not! So, what do we do as followers of Christ to remedy this image? What does the Bible say about how we should interact with the world around us? Let’s learn what it means to be “A Family Living Love.”
TBP 03: Persuading Others
January 21, 2024 • Garrett Marshall • 1 Peter 3:15–16
What does it mean to “persuade” someone? There is a compelling number of biblical authors who suggest that our persuasive impact comes, not from a well-prepared argument, but from a deeply human and humble engagement with others and the world. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect . . . (1 Peter 3:15-16) Persuasion happens through a life marked by the beauty of a virtuous, truthful, and gracious character. It also occurs when we can have conversations that honor others opinions, while not diminishing our own. As Christians it is well worth our time to explore what it means to “persuade.”