The Embassy of Grace

Is it more important to “be the gospel” to others, or to “preach the gospel”? To our surprise, sixty-nine percent of the Christians we polled sided with the idea of being the gospel. On this broadcast the hosts continue to interact with the results from our recent survey of Christians at a conservative Evangelical convention, […]

On this edition of the program the hosts introduce their new theme for 2011: The Great Commission. In this important mission statement, Jesus does not begin with the imperative, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Rather, he first tells his disciples that, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to […]

There is a lot of talk these days about “living the gospel” or “being the gospel,” as if we ourselves are the good news. Some even say that the church is an extension of Christ’s incarnation, as if Jesus came to provide the moral example or template for us to complete. There is only one […]

The kingdom of God can only be defined by attending closely to its unfolding in history. The reign of God takes different forms in this history, but its goal is nothing less than God’s dwelling in the midst of his people in righteousness, peace, and justice. But how does the Kingdom of God advance? What […]

Starting with Matthew’s Gospel is like walking into the middle of a movie. We have to go back to the Old Testament in order to see the unfolding plot of which Jesus Christ is the main character. On this program the hosts will explore the themes of exile, exodus and conquest showing how they each […]

The Great Commission is both deep in its intensity (making disciples, not just converts) and wide in its extensiveness (“into all the world”). But even where it was once strongly preached and professed, the Gospel’s light seems today to be a flickering candle. How do we take the message of the gospel into all the […]

According to a recent Pew study, 70% of Americans agreed with the idea that “many religions can lead to eternal life.” What’s more striking is that when this same question was put to self identified evangelical Christians, 57% agreed. So is this view correct, or is faith in Christ the only way to heaven? That’s […]

What is the relationship between Christianity and other “Abrahamic faith traditions?” Is Abraham really the father of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and if so, does this mean that each of these religions are legitimate ways to God? What are we to do with Abraham himself and the other Old Testament patriarchs? Since they didn’t have […]

In the Great Commission, Jesus did not merely tell his followers to “go into all the world,” but he also gave us specific instructions for the mission of the church. He said we are to preach, baptize and make disciples. Sounds pretty simple, but are these elements high on the priority of the average Christian […]

Jesus tells his followers to “make disciples of all nations.” But what does it mean to become a disciple, and what are today’s churches doing to fulfill this mission? Is this something for new converts only, or is it also something that we all participate in and pass on to our children? On this edition […]

Worship does not make God glorious but confesses what is already true by those dependent on him. Worship belongs to the order of truth and not the economy of exchange.

Adoration can not only anchor us but also lead to surprise, exhilaration, and joy as we realize that our God’s beauty and goodness are inexhaustible. The more we contemplate the character of our God, the more he shocks us with how well he deserves our cry, “Glory!”

If the image of God is who we are, then it makes sense it could be seen in many different facets of our lives. It would show up not only in the way we speak or act towards others with holiness, but even in the very desires that guide how we want to spend our time. We would find glimpses of the imprint of God within our callings and vocations, but we would also find it spring up within our play.

Matthew’s genealogy, properly understood, gives us good news of a gracious God—one who loves us, pursues us, and works through us even when we are sinful (Rom. 5:8). Matthew’s genealogy ultimately points us to this: God has sent his Son, our only Savior, to give us eternal hope.