Articles by StPeters

From His Baptism Jesus is led into the desert, as we too are led by the Spirit into the wilderness places of life by our Baptism with Him. It is a potent reminder in our day, that the Church too fond of power, place, and claims in the world, the Church bedazzled and bedeviled with the glory of the world is the Church no longer walking with Jesus. Baptism-Desert…Cross-Resurrection; that’s how the Church of Jesus Christ is shaped.

The Temptation of Jesus [ 16:52 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Transfiguration of Our Lord [ 11:25 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As Jesus does in His Sermon on the Mount, so the music of Superstar does. It jolts us out of spiritual complacency. Because these are very human emotions and expectations, human fears and anxieties sung in this now-classic work. Very human. Very real. Too real! Too human! And that’s a problem for a spiritual Christianity, which is never too comfortable with the human element of our faith. Especially when it comes to Jesus.

Easier Said than Done [ 8:51 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Just listen to people on either side of an issue talk about each other. How Packer fans and Viking fans talk about each other, for instance. The words people on either side of the national health care debate use to describe each other. How different groups down in Madison have been characterizing each other this past week. The other side just can’t see straight. They must be idiots. They must be out to ruin things for everybody. If people get particularly riled up, we hear accusations that begin, “This is just like what the Nazis were doing.” If it has something to do with religious issues, then the wrong side of the debate are the enemies of God, and are probably going to get what’s coming to them in the end anyway.

Standard Podcast [ 13:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-30 ESV)

The Heart of the Matter [ 16:27 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download