“Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him – that she is a sinner.” – Luke 7:39 The Gospels are stories about Jesus. They’re not quite biographies. … Continue reading Guests at Jesus’ Table
Author: colbyhetcel
Family Meals
“When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who … Continue reading Family Meals
Our Blood Cries Out from the Ground
“Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” – Genesis 4:9 This morning I woke up to the video of a young Ukrainian boy dying after the ground under his bike exploded from the impact of a Russian bomb. My daughter is … Continue reading Our Blood Cries Out from the Ground
Not-So-Straightforward Scripture: Revelation 3:20
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” Revelation 3:20 During this past month, the students in my church’s youth group have been learning how to share their own testimonies. We have … Continue reading Not-So-Straightforward Scripture: Revelation 3:20
Combating Christian Nationalism without Giving into Outrage
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” – Proverbs 16:32 There has been a lot of focus on Christian Nationalism as of late, and rightly so (see last post). Christian Nationalism is a deadly idolatry. It is the temptation to … Continue reading Combating Christian Nationalism without Giving into Outrage
Not-So-Straightforward Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 This post is the beginning of a new blog series that I’m titling Not-So-Straightforward Scripture. Within each post … Continue reading Not-So-Straightforward Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14
Belonging in the Midst of a Broken World
This is an edited sermon manuscript from a message I delivered on November 28, 2021. It was a one-off meditation on what it means to belong as a Christian within a world that seems bent on division and disunity. If you would prefer to listen to this sermon, click on this link here. My wife … Continue reading Belonging in the Midst of a Broken World
Wired For Belonging
“And the man and his wife were both naked and not ashamed” – Genesis 2:25 Howard J. Ross, in his bestselling book Our Search For Belonging: How Our Need to Connect is Tearing us Apart,[1] writes that all people have a “desire to fit into groups. The need for belonging is an inherent survival mechanism.”[2] … Continue reading Wired For Belonging
Wrathful Christianity
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” - Proverbs 15:1 This past Spring, my house became practically infested with earwigs. If you don’t know what earwigs are, they’re little black bugs no more than an inch long. But they have a pincer attached to their abdomen which they like … Continue reading Wrathful Christianity
The Manipulation of Sentiment
“[Sentiment is] the luxury of having an emotion without paying for it.” – Oscar Wilde In the mid-1700’s, a series of Christian revival campaigns took place in colonial American and Great Britain. Preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield called unsaved listeners to make a profession of faith and believers into a deeper personal piety, … Continue reading The Manipulation of Sentiment
Scripture Simplified 