Category Archives: Real Life

The Big Move: An Incarnational Life of Worship

Posted on August 27, 2016 by Jeff Block

To the Christian… A sermon manuscript on 1 Peter 2:4-12, prepared for my worship class at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Introduction: A Stranger in a Strange Land Two weeks ago, as Elaine sat in her boss’s office, the look on her … Continue reading →

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The Fantasy of Quick Fixes

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Jeff Block

We avoid pain because… We’re enamored with quick fixes Growing up, Thanksgiving dinner was absolutely my favorite meal of the year. I looked forward to it all year long. My parents would literally spend days preparing for it — shopping, chopping, marinating, … Continue reading →

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A Clear Context for Suffering

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Jeff Block

We avoid pain because… We have cultivated unhealthy perspectives God commonly uses pain and suffering in people’s lives to get their attention and to grow  them up into spiritual maturity. Nonetheless, most people work very hard to avoid pain. Why is … Continue reading →

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The day Penitens died

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Jeff Block

Penitens was a busy, notable tradesman, and very prosperous in his dealings, but died in the thirty-fifth year of his age. A little before his death, when the doctors had given him over, some of his neighbors came one evening to see him, … Continue reading →

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Selfish Glory?

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Jeff Block

God causes suffering in order to bring Himself glory Ultimately, God’s primary motivation for everything He does — including His work in my life and yours — is to bring Himself glory. With all His divine sovereignty and power, God … Continue reading →

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Painful Love

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Jeff Block

God causes suffering in order to perfect others Although it’s sometimes very easy to live like it isn’t true (especially in the American cultural context), the fact is that I’m not the only one in the universe God is working on. God … Continue reading →

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