Matthew 4

Many professions require testing—including Son of God.

If God is our salvation and stronghold, why are we just as vulnerable as anyone else?

In lieu of giving up social media, adding a "Finsta" account could be a spiritual practice for Lent.

The devil is testing Jesus. Jesus is also testing the devil.

Why do we give Matthew 4:23 short shrift?

Jesus’ call is less about what we leave behind than our eager response to follow him as everyday people.

Lent invites us to pay attention to our hunger.

We don't need arguments from the pulpit. We need living water.

Who tests Abraham, or Jacob, or Jesus—and why?

Matthew 4:1–11

There was certainly nothing wrong with doing what I did before.

Matthew 4:12–23

If temptation were all about blatant wrongdoing, it would be far easier to avoid.

Leadership is big these days. And I've become suspicious of our emphasis on what looks more and more like leadership for leadership's sake.

Epiphany is the season uniquely applicable to us who are Gentiles, the grafted-on branches to the tree of salvation, those who do well to marvel at the magnitude of the grace of God Christ that includes us. This is not common in our religiously pluralist setting, especially in our part of the world where the common assumption is that we're not grafted on at all--we're mainstream.

There are places where Epiphany light shines through people who do the best of things in the worst of times.