Author: Jeff Englund

Posted on

Philippians 1:1b – Vine and Branch

Picture of grapevine and branches with grapes (Pixabay)

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi…

Summary: God’s people are special because they are family. 

If you had to pick one person to act as the key spokesman for introducing Christianity to the Gentile world, it is hard to imagine someone better suited to the job than Paul. 

Paul’s expertise as a Pharisee gives him extensive knowledge, not only of the history of Jewish traditions and laws, but the theology, or academic underpinnings, behind those laws. Paul understands the heart of Judaism. 

Continue reading “Philippians 1:1b – Vine and Branch”
Posted on

Philippians 1:1a – One Voice

Picture of an old fashioned family album (Grok)

 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus…

Summary: As we begin our meditations on Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we are prompted to reflect on God’s Word as his family album. 

I often think of the Bible as God’s family album. Even without pictures, the Bible includes “portraits” of people who are important to God and who are part of his story. 

Of course, we are all important to God! He loves us without a doubt! Yet, some people play a more prominent role than others (1 Corinthians 12:18-20). 

Continue reading “Philippians 1:1a – One Voice”
Posted on

Colossians 4:18b – When Paul Met Jesus

Remember my chains.

Summary: When Paul asks us to remember his chains, he has something very specific in mind. When we realize what it is, we discover the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. 

As we come to the end of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he asks one last thing: “Remember my chains.” 

Why?

Why does Paul want us to remember his chains?

Continue reading “Colossians 4:18b – When Paul Met Jesus”
Posted on

Colossians 4:18a – Authenticity

 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.

Summary: Handwriting is as unique as our fingerprints — even in Paul’s day. 

Several years ago my mother died and with her died the most beautiful handwriting in town. I know this because the person who processed water service payments for the city told me. He should know — he saw everyone’s handwriting when they paid their water bills. 

Continue reading “Colossians 4:18a – Authenticity”
Posted on

Colossians 4:16 – Letters

Picture of first century scrolls (Grok)

After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

Summary: Considering the scope of Paul’s letters helps us understand why God chose some and not others to be included in the Bible. 

Apparently, Paul wrote a lot of letters. 

Do you ever wonder how many of them didn’t make it into the Bible? 

Continue reading “Colossians 4:16 – Letters”
Posted on

Colossians 4:15 – Nympha

Picture of Nympha hosting a house church (Grok)

Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Summary: The mention of Nympha and the “church in her house” opens the door to considering other women of renown who served the Lord in different ways. 

As we find our way through the last few verses of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we have found several that are “greetings” from Paul and his associates to specific people. In this passage, we focus on the “brothers and sisters at Laodicea” and on a woman named Nympha who hosts a church in her home. 

The mention of Nympha is a good reminder to focus on the role of women in the early church. 

Continue reading “Colossians 4:15 – Nympha”
Posted on

Colossians 4:13 – Faith in Action

Picture: Yellow "MEN AT WORK" sign with men kneeling in prayer.

I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

Summary: This passage invites us to indulge in the heart of meditation: Imagining what is possible. 

This passage is a bit of a puzzle. 

Paul is vouching for Epaphras’s work. Unfortunately, all we know for certain is that he is “working hard” and that the work is “for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.” 

Continue reading “Colossians 4:13 – Faith in Action”
Proudly powered by WordPress