Father of the Inklings

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips. 

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus urges obedience to his Commands in many ways and with a great variety of words, phrases, metaphors, and parables.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

What is the "fruit" we are to bear as the Lord's disciples? How will our lives "glorify" God the Father?  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The debate is long standing in Christendom about what exactly "sanctification" is and how it comes about.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

It was not until after much reflection that it slowly dawned on me what an intriguing and perhaps prophetic word this is from the mouth of Jesus.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The image Jesus is alluding to here is familiar from many sermon illustrations. The farmer guiding his single plow behind donkey or horse or ox desires to plough a precisely straight furrow from one end of the field to the other.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Count the cost and Don't look back are in a sense two ways to say the same thing.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

At first glance, this may seem but a restating of the command we considered previous to the last. Are we splitting hairs to differentiate between the two?  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips. 

It will be unpopular, in this time when obedience to the marital commands of Scripture has grown so lax within Christendom, to read this command from the mouth of Jesus as strictly forbidding divorce.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The profound example of the Apostle John's life is as powerful as the words he recorded of Jesus' farewell conversation and charge to his disciples in the upper room.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Here we encounter another of Jesus' well-known Commands. The parallel with snakes, however, is troublesome because we usually associate snakes with evil.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The ongoing debate between how "literal" one is to take the accounts and Commands of the Bible is filled with pomposity, self-righteousness, and thorough inconsistency on all sides.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Back in the Jesus Movement days of the 1970s, putting out fleeces before the Lord, according to the example of Gideon in Judges 6, was a popular method of determining God's will.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

We have already spoken of those few Commands too specific and unclear of meaning to be grouped with others. Near the top of the list are surely, Have salt in yourselves and, Don't cast your pearls before swine.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The proverb "practice what you preach" is so common in everyday parlance that most probably do not realize that it was Jesus who coined the phrase.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The Great Commission of Jesus in Matthew 28 is surely one of the most well-known, important, and yet misunderstood and misapplied passages in the Bible.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

It is a sobering truth to realize that in God's eyes causing another to sin may be more serious than sinning ourselves.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The command to "turn the other cheek," which we considered earlier as Let people injure you without retaliating, is actually a two-part command.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

All the Commands are subject to misunderstanding, overemphasis, and underemphasis. The Commands of Jesus can be taken so out of context and misapplied, that they can even become false gods and idols that blind vision from the true nature of the Commands.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

As we have noted before, many of Jesus' specific words must be broadened to incorporate the fullness of what he intended as Commands of obedience upon his followers.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

This may appear on the surface to be identical with the first command: Obey my Commands. From Jesus' conversation with the man we call the "rich young ruler," however, the inference can be made that Jesus is specifically speaking of the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Jesus often couched his teachings in the form of metaphors and parables for the curious purpose, if we are to take him at his word, of preventing those who are not in earnest about obeying him from understanding him.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Giving, for many Christians, is founded on legalistic obligation based on the Old Testament tithe. It is doubtful, however, that a strong case can be made in the New Testament for the perpetuation of the tithe as commonly taught.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Probably the most feared sin in the world, "the Great Sin," is what we commonly refer to as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Paul's famous statement in Ephesians (4:26) "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger," is often used to excuse anger, so long as we don't let it go on too long.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

This is the second time we have used this passage from Matthew 25 to highlight one of the Commands. And for good reason. This must surely be one of the most powerful passages in all the Bible.     From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Probably few other commands of Jesus have been interpreted with such wide latitude as the command to "eat the bread" and "drink the cup" in remembrance of the last supper on the night before his crucifixion.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Here we encounter another highly specific command. While said by Jesus only once, it is yet difficult to include in any other grouping or summary of Commands.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The examples Jesus uses to address how disputes should be settled are, in a sense, unfortunately narrow of focus.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

A few of the Commands are so all-encompassing that, if they were followed perfectly, none of the other Commands would be necessary. They draw all the Commands up into them.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

In how many ways we each break this command...often, even daily! When it comes to the "commands of personal conviction," this must certainly rank up near to the top of the list.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Most of the commands given by Jesus to his disciples when he sent them out two by two must be viewed as being too specific to be considered universally incumbent upon all his followers throughout all time.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

How far into eternity will God's mercy extend? It is one of the great historic theological conundrums.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

This is surely one of the Bible's most well known verses. Its succinct proverb is a part of everyday conversational idiom everywhere. The command might therefore have been rendered in its more familiar form as simply: Turn the other cheek.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Curiously, Jesus did not address the mode and manner of how we are to conduct ourselves in the normal flow of daily conversation. His comments about speech are very specific.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

We have spoken several times about Jesus' use of hyperbole, exaggeration, and metaphor. We do not actually "eat his flesh" when participating in a communion or Eucharist service. He does not really want his followers to "cut off" their hands or "pluck out" their eyes to rid their lives of sin. These are symbols and images which Jesus used skillfully to get his points across.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Again we encounter Jesus making a point with overstatement. No one seriously expects us to go through life saying nothing but yes and no. Jesus himself did not do so either. Once more we gain further insight into his words from the Lord's brother James, who gave this command in its more familiar form: Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. (James 5:12)   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

It is easy to hear words such as, "He who is ashamed of me and my words...of him will the Son of Man be ashamed." (Mark8:38, Luke 9:26),  and read ourselves right out of the text.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

It continues to be astonishing, once we see it, how much of Jesus' teaching concerned the simple things of life - such "unspiritual" things. Where is all the theology and doctrine? Of course we can turn to Romans or Ephesians if we want that sort of thing. But where is it in the Gospels? It's not there.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

One of Jesus' most familiar "I am" declarations in John's gospel is, I am the truth. To love Jesus, therefore, one must love truth.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Many of the Commands of Jesus emerged out of free-flowing conversations with those around him. It can therefore be difficult to perceive his higher intent in the midst of a specific exchange.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Most Christians are well familiar with Jesus' injunction against condemnation: Judge not. We are less acquainted with the form of judgment he does tell us to make.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Literalists eager to discover loopholes in the Commands will easily be able to dismiss a blanket injunction against obscenity.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The unfortunate image conjured up by this passage in the minds of many is of a poor suffering beast of burden, a hundred pound slab of oak laced to his back, a plow tied behind, laboring in the hot sun from sunup to sundown. Not a very appealing life!   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

There are two ways to read Jesus' invitation, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Most commentators, theologians, pastors, and teachers, through the years have interpreted this passage through a salvationary lens. It may be, however, that a more subtle reading strikes closer to home, and perhaps probes more meaningfully to the heart of Jesus' intent.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The familiar passage from Matthew 7 is usually associated with prayer, and the promise of answered prayer: Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

No pithier visual imagery exists in Jesus' teaching than his clever use of the speck and log in the matter of fault-finding.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Many of the Commands are implied, but this is a direct, clear, forceful, and unyielding command--Judge not.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Throughout the Commands, we have repeatedly emphasized that this or that word from Jesus is THE essential, THE first, THE foundational command. "Wait a minute," some may object, "If this is the most important command...how can that be the most important?"   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The cross has become the essential symbol of Christianity. It was not so, however, when Jesus spoke these words.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.