JESUShaped 2021 Archives

Jesus, After Christmas Coming

Christmas isn't over; it has only just begun if we recognize that it is our job, together, to be Jesus to the world!

Phil Ware reminds us that Christmas isn't over, but now our role is to be Jesus' people, his presence, in our world.

Escaping the Monotony of Low Expectations

Advent is rooted in the work of God in history, through real people, to do the miraculous in the most human of things, through the birth of a child.

Phil Ware reminds us to celebrate Advent and not simply settle for Christmas, especially in a hard year like this one.

Entering the Mystery!

The Holy Spirit gives birth to Lord in the heart of each new Christian and longs to bring that new follower of Christ to full maturity in Jesus.

Phil Ware challenges us to enter the mystery of the conception and birth of Jesus the Messiah with Mary and find ourselves caught up in the story of Jesus with her.

Strategy for the End Times

I may never untangle every nuance of Jesus' prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem and HIS coming at the end of time but I can be ready!

Phil Ware focuses on what we need to do, and who we need to be, by looking at six intersections with our world during these last days as we await the return of Jesus, the glorious Son of Man!

Rest and Power for the Weary

Our resources run low, our spirits grow tired, our bodies shut down, we can’t handle another thing, then Satan throws in a storm or two. What do we do?

Phil Ware continues his reflections on what it means to be a JesuShaped disciple, this week focusing on our need for rest and time alone with God.

Beyond the Reach of Corruption and Decay

Are humans that predictable? Are people really so selfish? Do we nearly always pursue some payoff or reward in every situation?

Phil Ware writes out of a quiet time study of Matthew 6 and the memory of the crass motivation often behind our behaviors, even our most religious behaviors.

Reflecting the Servant Heart of Jesus

How do you honor a servant who is not trying to be noticed but simply trying to do good things for others?

Phil Ware talks about a university honoring students for their acts of service and it leads him to wonder how we honor God's servants today.

What Do We Do About Leadership Abuse?

The description of the Good Shepherd in John 10 aligns beautifully with Jesus' definition of serving and giving himself to bless us in Mark 10.

Phil Ware continues his thoughts on becoming JesuShaped disciples, this week focusing on the horrors of the litany of spiritual abuse cases in the news and how different they are from Jesus’ definition of a JesuShaped leader and godly shepherd.

Knowing God and Meeting Immanuel

Let's not settle for religion, going to church, or fast-food spirituality when God longs to fill that hole in our soul !

Phil Ware shares insights about intimately knowing God and Immanuel being real to us in our daily lives as we seek to be Jesus' disciples.

I Want to Be Like Her

Let's move beyond remembering her story; let's also commit to being like her in these four ways.

Phil Ware continues his reflections in the Gospels as he seeks to call us to continue pursuing Jesus so that we can be JesuShaped.

More?

Maybe we are too familiar with our modern-day, water-downed, version of Jesus and not in awe of great expectations that the Lord has for us?

Phil Ware continues his reflections from his gospel readings and uses Mark 5 and Mark 6 to remind us that Jesus has greater expectations of what he can do through us than we do!

The Good News of Jesus Begins with a Servant

Jesus emphasized that the greatest in the Kingdom of God is a servant, and then defined his personal mission as serving those who are lost.

Phil Ware continues his reflections on his gospel studies and shares how we can become JesuShaped by becoming servants like John the Baptizer and four friends.

An Overlooked Gem?

This seemingly innocuous transitional passage in the gospel of Luke is one of those hidden gems we often overlook!

Phil Ware continues his reflections on his daily reading in the gospels, this time focused on Luke 8:1-3 and how this forgotten gem opens our eyes to the importance that women played in Jesus' ministry.

At YOUR Word

Do I aggressively pursue Jesus because his words reveal the truth and the heart of God?

Phil Ware focuses on Luke 5 and a few key phrases that reveal what it means to be JesuShaped!

Tuning to My Interior World

Obeying what God commanded and avoiding the things he condemns is important. However, the way we deal with them must involve our interior world!

Phil Ware reminds that to become JesuShaped, we have to pay attention to our interior worlds, the world of our hearts, and not just religious externals.

Family in the Fire

Jesus is among the familiar trappings of his heritage of faith and immediate family, both of whom are dangerously toxic to him and his ministry at this point in his journey.

Phil Ware continues his reflections and convictions on becoming a JesuShaped disciple, this time focusing on the dangers and difficulties the Lord faced from his religious adversaries.

The Shear

We are called to live in the strong currents where Jesus' Kingdom meets the world and those trapped by darkness, and we need to know there is both danger and richness as we live in 'The Shear.'

Phil Ware continues his series on becoming JesuShaped disciples.

JesuShaped Prayer

Prayer becomes a tuning fork that helps us sing the song of God's magnificence with both holy praise as well as genuine concern for the people in our world.

Phil Ware continues his series of thoughts on living as a disciple that is JesuShaped and focuses on how the Lord's Prayer tunes our hearts to living the JesuShaped life.

Daily Altar of Grace

God isn't going to accept anything we offer him — our hearts, our Sunday worship, our offerings, our praise, our hopes, our private prayers, our dreams — if we knowingly remain at odds with a brother or sister in Christ.

Phil Ware takes the two love commands of Jesus, the Greatest Commands, and applies them to all of life for a follower of the Lord.

Servant!

Jesus recalibrated greatness and changed it from being fame and notoriety to kneeling and using a basin and towel.

Phil Ware reminds us that the Jesus vibe is about being a servant and helping others, but he also reminds us that there are powerful memories in the Lord's Supper to help remind us of this thought.

Crouching at the Door

How did Jesus have the strength to resist sin again and again and again? What strategies or tools did he use to overcome the schemes of the evil one?

Phil Ware leads in our focus on being JesuShaped disciples by talking about the real power behind Jesus overcoming temptation.

Jesus at the Center

Without Jesus at the center of our faith, we are left with only an empty form of religion.

Phil Ware talks about what is most important about the Bible and the focus of Scripture and the answer is simple: Jesus must be the center of everything.