Jonathan Shradar

It has been a tough weekend in the suburbs of San Diego. As you may have heard from news reports, a teenager, somehow influenced by hate, murdered a women and hurt others at a synagogue in Poway, CA. A block from San Diego City limits and just a short drive from Escondido where we call home. We deplore hateful violence. There is no quarter for it in the church and we must actively and repeatedly communicate that such animus for other image-bearers is anti-Christ. But it was so close to home. The alleged terrorist grew up in a neighborhood called Rancho Penasquitos, graduated from a good high school and was a member of a church in Escondido. A church, reformed in doctrine, certainly proclaiming the gospel, and meeting on the campus of respected seminary. The synagogue is the same neighborhood where members of our church live... this happened on our streets, where we do our best to flourish. There will be much time for processing and working in the community for healing and I am thankful

The week after Easter can be something special. Coming off of Spring Break for the kiddos and ministry movement back to normal after special services and feasts. So here we are with warmer temps and an eye for summer, which will come faster than we know. Before the weekend hits with its refreshing and rest, read up. A journal worth checking out and a prayer for those graduating from seminary. Themelios is the Gospel Coalition's "international, evangelical, peer-reviewed theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith." And this month's issue deals with some of the conversation around the continuation of the gifts of the Spirit. With pieces from Andrew Wilson and Tom Schreiner it should be a helpful look at the issue. It is on my reading list and I thought it should be on yours as well. Download it here . Five years ago today I graduated from Western Seminary with a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies. It was quite the journey

" Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. " Hebrews 2:1–4 (ESV) One conversation I always bristle at, and have had often, goes a little something like this: "I still love Jesus and I know I am saved, but since it is all about grace I don't NEED to study Scripture or talk to other Christians about my faith, I don't NEED to come to church on Sundays..." As you can imagine this conversation is usually with someone that has stopped attending the gathering of the saints, or refuses to participate in small

Okay pastor. You have survived Easter. You took out all the stops, you rang the bell and poured on the hospitality. You even preached your heart out. Perhaps attendance was the highest it has been in a long time and it seems some of the visitors might even stick around. What now? Where do you go from Easter and how do you keep the momentum? May I suggest you preach the gospel and let that drive the church? Wait you say, I preach the gospel, every year at our revival service! No I mean every week, from every text, for the glory of Jesus and the good of your church. Enter Jared Wilson's book "The Gospel-Driven Church: Uniting Church-Growth Dreams with the Metrics of Grace." Wilson gives a practical guide to transitioning to gospel-centrality (which believe it or not is not a normal thing in the evangelical world). Grab the book , hang with other gospel-driven pastors and get going into grace. It is what the church is meant for! Here are some choice quotes to whet your appet

This is an important weekend. Today is Good Friday, commemorating the Cross of Christ and Sunday is Easter marking his resurrection. Don't be tempted by the candy and Spring decoration, dive into the significance of a Savior that would die for you and defeat death in his resurrection. We start with why we call today Good, then on to sticking with what we are meant for in the Church, and a big finish with a nap. David Mathis wrote a piece a couple of years ago for Desiring God about the goodness of this Friday. How we can call the worst day of history Good. God was at work, doing his greatest good in our most horrible evil. Over and in and beneath the spiraling evil of Judas, the Jewish leaders, Pilate, the people, and all forgiven sinners, God’s hand is steady, never to blame for evil, ever working it for our final good. As Peter would soon preach, Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” Read for yourself and be reminded. Next up is Trevin

Being a parent is a wonderful thing. The responsibility of lovingly forming little humans, giving them experiences and seeing them dream and flourish is all a gift. But parenting can also come preloaded with a weight of expectation. How do I compare to others, how will my children ultimately be prepared to compete with others and will they meet the cultural standards of success. Challenging those cultural standards is for another post, but what of helping our kids or even ourselves dream and flourish. I think a helpful tool toward a big or full life is little adventures. We live in a time where experience is becoming an idol. We follow Instagram profiles that make money making experience look amazing. Maybe it's travel, food, or you name it. Everything has to be just right for the photo so we assume it is amazing. And we end up trying to replicate it. Even beyond experience idolatry, we can be consumed with "going big or going home." We think we have to make every moment

Today I preached from John 6, specifically verses 22-58. It is a wonderful text and one that is truly vital for, I think every believer in Jesus, and certainly me. It has been an encouragement in my walk and pursuit of Christ. The text has a confounding bit mixed in with some amazing theological encouragements. The declaration that the Father gives those that believe in Jesus to the Son and those that come to him will never be cast out. What grace, what joy to be included in this number. The confounding piece though is that Jesus tells the crowd that is seeking after him that they need to eat him, consume his flesh, drink his blood. Now the crowd did have some mixed motives for tracking Jesus down and attempting to force him to give them miraculous food. Just the day before he fed more than 5,000 and they sought more free lunches. But they were after temporary things and Jesus was set to provide something permanent and satisfying. Himself. So he says that he is the Bread of Life. He is

You guys, it's April 12. Easter is next week. Spring Break. Oh my times flies. This week one very important piece to share and a new resource that will keep on giving. Both things that are worthwhile as you embark on the weekend and the beginning of Holy Week. First up, the piece that needs you attention, Kyle Korver on privilege . He speaks with honesty about disparity and our need to listen and pay attention. As a white male it can be a task to recognize my privilege. We don't see the opposite so we don't notice our benefit against the backdrop of systemic racism in our culture. Take up and read . Keep your eyes open. For those keen for more solid Word and Spirit material, Advance, a church strengthening and planting movement, has just launched a podcast as a resource pile of some great teaching. Check it out. Good news for everyone who is part of the Podcast world! Advance's substantial conference recording library is now available as a podcast on all major apps! The

Today I wrap up a preaching series on the awkward things of Christianity and being part of the church. This sermon was on generosity. Of course through our study these last weeks we have seen a number of examples of generosity formed by the grace of Christ. Oh may the Lord make us generous! Here are some of them that didn't make it into what was preached. In this series, we have met some characters that live it out. Zaccheaus gives over most of his wealth because of his encounter with Jesus. His whole purpose of life changes… to restore what was broken through generosity. “Zacchaeus’ giving is not an entrance requirement or necessary model of our own application of the gospel. But it is a model of the proper and natural response to God’s saving grace toward us. Grace frees us to give freely and boldly as we trust in God to meet all our needs (Matt. 6:25-34).” - Gospel Transformation Bible Or the call girl that weeps at Jesus’ feet, how she spends all of herself for her glory. Her m

It is finally here, April 5. I have a book due back to the library but I am not finished with it and I can't get an extension because someone else has it on hold. Awful. Since it is the Lenten season I am embracing waiting as I have reserved the ebook from the library and wait for it to become available. Oh the things that can get us down! It is to the archives we go today for some thought provocation and worshipful stirring. Start the weekend off right. First up is a piece from Rosario Butterfield from February on loving our neighbors well through the tools we have in our hands. Think Nextdoor App and all the fun that happens there. Butterfield gives a good model of evangelistic living but the questions it raises are worth it. Do we love our neighbors? Do we care about our city and the people around us? Maybe the Lord will stir us new efforts to impact where we are... This week I sent a group of pastors an article as we were discussing how to measure success in ministry and the