recent posts
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV84)
Have you ever been house hunting? Here’s one ad you might have missed: “House situated in hillside town with lovely pastoral views. This single room home will accommodate any size family with plenty of space for your cows and donkeys. It only takes one candle to light up the whole…
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. (Romans 15:7 NASB)
Thirteen years ago, I walked into a church for Wednesday night youth group for the first time after several years of walking away from my faith. When I walked into the gym I immediately was overwhelmed. “What am I doing here?” I thought to myself. “There is no way they are going to understand what I’ve been through!” As I was turning around to leave I was nearly tackled by a man named Bob who immediately introduced me to several others and invited me to play basketball. Eventually I was discipled by that very same man who accepted me that night.
I often…
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. (Romans 12:10 NASB)
Find parking. Smile at greeters. Grab a bulletin. Find a seat. Give a cordial greeting to the person next to you. Sing (or not). Listen to the sermon. Leave as soon as possible to beat traffic. Evaluate how “good” the service was. Back to real life.
This seems to be the weekly experience for so many of us who “go to church.” As for the people we interact with, we may pick up a few friends along the way but for the most part, our experience is often primarily a network of loosely connected, cordial relationships.
Most would agree that this isn’t the extent…
…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 NASB)
Throughout the New Testament, the Apostles give us some great examples of what Christ-like encouragement looks like. In the first chapter of Ephesians, we see the Apostle Paul exemplifying this type of encouragement by making it a priority to remind the church in Ephesus of Christ’s promise to work supernaturally through them by His power (v. 19), as well as praising them for the fruit in their lives that he was already seeing by way…
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Hebrews 4:11-12 NASB)
Paul urges the Church in Ephesus to use their varied gifts to build and strengthen one another up in love. Often times, there is a temptation to remain on the sidelines and leave the work of ministry up to the “professionals.”…
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2 NASB)
You have likely heard someone say that Christianity is a Team Sport, and in large measure, this is true. Maturity in Christ cannot be achieved in isolation, neither does it come by simply knowing propositional truth. Maturity comes when we seek to live out that truth in the context of biblical community as a part of “the team.” This is especially true as we consider the sinful fallen world in…