In Chapter 3 of The Prodigal God, Timothy Keller continues his discussion of moral conformity vs. self-discovery by comparing the responses of the two brothers, while taking special note that the sin of the younger brother is readily recognized by anyone. Yet in the end it’s the younger son who is saved, while the elder […]
Timothy Keller begins Chapter 3 (“Redefining Sin”) of The Prodigal God by noting that Jesus uses the younger and elder brothers to symbolize the two basic ways people attempt to find happiness and fulfillment: moral conformity (elder brother) and self-discovery (younger brother). The author adds that each paradigm colors how we see all of life, […]
As Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 2 of The Prodigal God, he observes that the lost younger son didn’t corner the market on disgracing his father. The elder son took his turn as well. The elder son refused to go in and join the lavish feast for his younger brother, thus publically showing a vote of […]
In Chapter 2 (“The Two Lost Sons”) of The Prodigal God, author Timothy Keller states that the Parable of The Two Lost Sons is really a drama in two acts. Act 1 features the younger brother, Act 2 the elder brother. The author notes that the first act begins with a brief, but shocking request. […]
As Timothy Keller continues Chapter 1 of The Prodigal God, he notes that when the parable of The Two Lost Sons is taught, throughout the centuries the almost exclusive focus has been on the father’s unequivocal welcome of his penitent younger son. However, Pastor Keller posits that to focus on the younger son is to […]
In his Introduction to The Prodigal God author Timothy Keller asserts that “The Parable of the Prodigal” son might be better titled “The Two Lost Sons”. More specifically, the author believes that what Jesus says about the elder brother is one of the Bible’s most important messages. Pastor Keller also notes that the word prodigal […]
“I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.” -Matthew 12: 6 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple?” -1 Corinthians 3: 16 In the Epilogue (“A Staggering Idea”) of Who is This Man?, John Ortberg states that in the Middle Ages maps were “attempts to reflect on the meaning of […]
“But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us . . . ” -Romans 5: 3-5 As John Ortberg concludes Chapter 15 of Who is This Man?, he observes that the Greek invention of tragedy was an enormous moral […]
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus was with them. ‘Greetings,’ he said.” -Matthew 28: 8-9 As John Ortberg begins Chapter 15 (“Sunday”) of Who is This Man?, he wryly observes that Jesus’s greeting to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary […]
In the concluding portion of Chapter 14 of Who is This Man? John Ortberg states that it’s not quite true that nothing happened on Saturday after Jesus’ death. Silence happened- the pain of silence and the seeming absence of God. C. S. Lewis noted in A Grief Observed that when we are happy, we have […]
As John Ortberg begins Chapter 14 (“Saturday”) of Who is This Man?, he theorizes that there has been only one day in the last 2000+ years when no one believed Jesus was alive- the Saturday following Good Friday. The author poignantly describes that day: “This is Saturday. The day after this but the day before […]
John Ortberg begins Chapter 13 (“Friday”) of Who is This Man? by noting that Jesus’ death is central to His story in an unusual way. The story of Jesus’ death takes up about one-third of each Gospel, in comparison to biographies of famous people like Abraham Lincoln or Martin Luther King, Jr., where their assassinations […]