Author: jmarkfox

Can an orange tree that never produces fruit call itself an orange tree? I mean, with a straight face. Neither can a church call itself a church if it is not about the business of producing disciples of Jesus Christ. The church exists to pursue God and to live righteous lives in community with other … Continue reading Your Life Depends on It

We were created for God. To know him, to love him, to worship him. And to proclaim his glory, to make him known to others. But based on the billboards we see on the highways, and the ads we see on TV and on the internet, it seems we were really created for the newest, … Continue reading You Shall Not Covet

The ninth commandment says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” The first application is in the courtroom, where truthful witnesses are essential to the cause of justice. But the second application is in the culture, in our everyday lives. What are some ways we break this commandment and therefore do not love … Continue reading Do Not Bear False Witness

A woman walked into a butcher’s shop years ago and told the man she needed a fryer for supper. He was glad because he only had one chicken left to sell and was glad to get rid of it. He pulled it out of the ice and put it on the scale. “Two and a … Continue reading Do Not Steal

Just as Jesus did with 6th commandment, “You shall not murder,” he did with the 7th commandment, “You shall not commit adultery.” He broadened the power and the applications of each one. He showed us that all the commandments are inside-out, speaking not just to our words and actions but also to our hearts. Jesus … Continue reading Adultery in the Heart

My understanding of the cross was expanded recently by Jeremy Treat, who said, “When I look to Scripture, I see that you can’t understand the kingdom apart from the cross and you can’t understand the cross apart from the kingdom. And it’s Christ himself who holds those together. He is the King who goes to … Continue reading The Cross a Throne?