Does This Really Work?

Does This Really Work?

In conversations about the work of the Matthew 5:9 Fellowship, I’m often asked, “Do these peacemaking principles actually work?” Sometimes I answer with a question: “Does the Sermon on the Mount work?” It depends on what we mean by “work.” If we mean, “Does this...
The Blessing of Emptiness

The Blessing of Emptiness

Nobody warned me about Easter Monday. Sunday was full – full parking lots, full altars, full heart – extra services. And then Monday came. The extra chairs set out felt like an unmet challenge for next week, the flowers were wilting, and I sat in my office...
Loving Jesus on Our Terms

Loving Jesus on Our Terms

If you ask my youngest son today, he’ll tell you with a straight face that he loves crab. If you ask a room full of people at church on Sunday, most will tell you they love Jesus. But there’s a deeper question underneath both statements: what do we actually mean by...
Let’s Talk About Conflict

Let’s Talk About Conflict

Before we talk about how to navigate conflict, we need to name what it actually is—because many of us carry assumptions that quietly undermine everything that follows. The most common assumption is this: Conflict means something has gone wrong—wrong with the...
Why We Assume the Worst (and How to Stop)

Why We Assume the Worst (and How to Stop)

There’s a story in the Old Testament that features one of the concepts we teach. Now, don’t get me wrong… the Bible isn’t affirming something modern psychology invented. Instead, we learn about human nature from Scripture, and social scientists eventually gave it a...
Jonah Never Stopped Running

Jonah Never Stopped Running

Even though I serve as a pastor to other pastors, I also have a coach because I truly believe that every coach needs a coach. In a conversation we had last month, he challenged me with something I have been ruminating on… “What we run from pursues us. What we face...