Eat This Book
The New Testament
Four-Course Meal
September 25, 2011 • Chris Edmondson • John 21:25, Matthew 16:15–16, John 20:30–31, Mark 10:45, Luke 19:10
“Who do you say I am?” This is the question Jesus asked His disciples centuries ago, and it is the same one He asks us today. Many of us have false pictures and expectations of who Jesus really is. When people were introduced to Jesus 2,000 years ago, they expected the Son of God to show up as a conquering prince, vanquishing Israel’s enemies. Their picture of who God’s Son should be caused them to miss God’s Son completely
Read the Menu
September 18, 2011 • Chris Edmondson • 2 Peter 1:20–21, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Hebrews 1:1–2, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:16
God spoke to us. Let that truth sink in deep. God could have chose to leave us in the dark and speak to us. God could have revealed Himself to us in a metaphysical formulation or a cosmic fireworks display. But He didn’t. He chose to show us Himself through the kinds of stories that we use to tell our children. Nobody ever outgrows reading the Bible; this book widens and deepens with our years.
Food Preservation
September 11, 2011 • Chris Edmondson • Hebrews 4:12
We live in a culture that urges us to accept all religions as valid approaches to God. We are surrounded by intellectuals who urge us to abandon the notion of moral or theological absolutes. Our universities are filled with skeptics and cynics who delight in dismantling the Sunday school faith of our children. And yet in spite of all that, millions of people world wide cling to the notion that 2,000 years ago a man came from God, spoke on behalf of God and then died for the sins of the world. How can that be? Are we simply deceiving ourselves? Do we need propping up that bad? Have we checked our brains at the door? Why would so many continue to believe in such narrow, politically incorrect, divisive ideas?
Main Course
September 4, 2011 • Chris Edmondson • Matthew 4:1–11, Psalm 119:11, 2 Corinthians 11:4, 1 Peter 5:8, James 4:7
How do we read the Bible? Why do we read the Bible? We can read the Bible for information. We can read the Bible for inspiration. We can read the Bible because we think we are supposed to. We can read the Bible to find out what God wants us to do. There are lots of reasons why we read the Bible. Even though all of those are good reasons, they are not God’s reason. We should focus on reading the Bible as a way to allow God to transform who we are. Just like the best food strengthens the body and enriches life, God wants us to read the Bible so we are drawn closer to Him and our relationship with Him is strengthened and enriched.