The Jesus Window 2017 Archives

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Jesus or Religion?

Am I more like the wise men who passionately sought to find Jesus or the religious leaders who chose their traditions, positions, and power over Jesus?

Phil Ware reminds us that in the familiar story of the wise men is a challenging and life-changing question we must all answer with our choices and with our lives.

The Weather When Jesus Came

What will your weather be this Christmas?

Phil Ware recalls a refreshing winter morning that reminds him of the weather when Jesus came.

Jesus, Be Born in Me

Like Mary, we don't know fully what we are committing to do, but we know that our ultimate destination is Jesus.

Phil Ware reminds us of the gritty reality of Jesus' birth and Mary choosing to accept the challenge of being Jesus' mother and reminds us of our need to commit to have Jesus born in our lives.

All in the Family

When God chose to come into our world through a child, he chose a family line that was every bit as messed up as our world.

Phil Ware is using December to remind us how to welcome Jesus during this special time and what Jesus' coming means for each of us.

Future Safe

How secure to feel about your safety as we move into what seems to be an increasingly uncertain future?

Phil Ware reminds us that true thanksgiving is rooted in our future being safe in Jesus and sharing in his glory when he comes for us.

Finish!

As long as there is life, we have a mission and purpose to complete.

Phil Ware reminds us that we are called to accomplish the mission God has called us to do so that when our days on earth are over we can say we have finished the work he has given us to do.

Beyond Description

The beloved disciple wants us to know and love Jesus like he does!

Phil Ware looks at the gospel of John chapter 1 and reflects on all the titles, names, and descriptions given to Jesus in this one chapter and what it really means for us.

Forever Friends!

As followers of Jesus, we are blessed to have forever friends from all over the world!

Phil Ware reminds us that in Jesus, we are friends, and our friendships reach around the world, across cultures, and unite us in one family.

Waiting to Be Ready

Can any good thing come from having to wait?

Phil Ware turns to some key principles Jesus' lead apostle Peter shared with people in his day to help them be ready for both opportunity and trial.

No Fear Here!

Do we let love drive out our fear, or are we still holding back?

Phil Ware reminds us what we know, but often don't practice; our love must have no barriers.

Treasure

How can such a discovery, no matter how badly dirt-encrusted and stained, not be seen as a genuine treasure?

Phil Ware tells us a simple story of a mother's love to remind how our Father sees us as his treasure.

Willing to Be Powerful

Dear God in heaven, we’d sure like to have a little bit of power to alter our irrelevance, lighten the burdens of others, and heal the wounds of the broken and despairing.

Phil Ware writes out of the context of recent disasters and the loss of a mother and child to remind us that being a servant, offering ourselves in sacrificial love, is never a waste!

Looking Beyond the Fireworks

Peter thought it was good to be in that moment in time, but he had no idea the greatness of Jesus that he was missing!

Phil Ware reminds us not to miss the truth about Jesus by getting too caught up in the heavenly fireworks of the Transfiguration.

When Right Words Are Very Wrong

Right answers can never substitute for right living.

Phil reminds us that having right answers means very little if we don't treat people like Jesus did.

More than Meets the Eye

Exhausted, bone-weary, and insufficient to meet the task at hand? Ah, you may just be in the place where Jesus can use you most powerfully!

Phil Ware looks into Jesus feeding the five thousand and reminds us that he longs to do amazing things through us, too!

Kryptonite of Grace

Why in the world would Mark tell this story about what Jesus couldn't do after telling about four powerful miracles Jesus did?

Phil Ware challenges us with a hard truth about our low expectations of what we believe Jesus can do with us, for us, and through us -- are we, the church, the Nazareth of today?

Legion No More!

Jesus came to bring us freedom from bondage to Satan and his power.

Phil Ware reminds us the battle we are in with Satan with our lives and how Jesus can end our bondage to him.

Primal Fears

Instinctive? Maybe. Pervasive? Absolutely! Primal fears have plagued humanity for as long as we have told stories and laid awake at night... afraid!

Phil Ware looks at Jesus and how he brings us victory over our worst fears as adults.

Aren't the Trees Nice and Full!

We are called to be a group of mustard seed people — folks who know they are GATHERED to be TRANSFORMED and SCATTERED.

Phil Ware introduces us to the concept of TRANSENDING.church and calls us to be a people who gather to transform and scatter.

Not a Patch, but a Whole New World

Pursue Jesus. Completely pursue him. You will notice that while you are not religious, you are being drawn to a holy character and gracious compassion that religion longs to impart, but cannot!

Phil Ware continues looking at the gospel of Mark and reminds us that Jesus isn't a patch on religion or a new joy to infuse old and stale religion; he is an altogether all new thing.

Dinner at Levi's House

They're unsettling. They're uncomfortable. They're troubling. So, we don't ask, at least not out loud!

Phil Ware asks a bunch of troubling questions as he looks at the story of Jesus and his call of Levi and the party Levi had at his house afterwords.

I Will Believe for You Until You Can Believe for Yourself

During times of cascading badness, friends sometimes need to believe for those caught in the crush of seriously bad stuff.

Phil Ware reminds us of Mark's story about Jesus and the four friends who dug a hole in the roof to get their buddy to Jesus.

More Mess than Ministry?

When we choose our way, when we think we must be true to what we feel rather than what Jesus said, we find ourselves opposing the work of Christ.

Phil Ware reminds us that authentic ministry involves listening for the will of God in time in God's presence, genuine compassionate and personal care for those who are broken, and obedience to Jesus as our Lord.

Preparing Hearts for Jesus

The sequence of grace — serving before saving!

Phil Ware shares insight on the beginning of Mark's gospel and how salvation is preceded by service, serving comes before saving, and the gospel always begins with a servant.

Viewing People as Jesus Did!

Too often as human beings, we tend to view people in ways that demean their value to God and reveal the diminished value we place upon them.

Phil Ware reminds us of the four ways we often view people that are very crass and treats them as less than human, then he compares that to how Jesus views people.