If the congregation you meet with were to meet in a way that resembled what Paul seemed to be writing about in what we call his first letter to the congregations that were meeting in Corinth (chapters 11-14), there might be people prophesying and other people testifying and others teaching. Imagine just the one probable improvement, if the person leading […]
Some lessons we might learn about our ministries from Jesus during the last Passover meal (John 13-17): You are a servant to the people you are called to influence and help (washing feet). Do not fear the people who are intent on controlling or destroying you or your work (Judas was invited to the meal and the foot washing). Expect […]
Currently we are compelled to go to church. In the end, we are promised we can go to heaven. What about any of that indicates that we are engaged in the answer from Heaven to the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, to pray that the Kingdom of Heaven would come to the earth? What must we do differently to bridge […]
You need to repent. And you may need to pay for your mistake. That’s what my flesh usually thinks, anyway. With regard to my failures, I think I need mercy and grace to avoid having to pay for my sin. It’s the syndrome that says those bugs are water bugs in my house, but cockroaches in yours. Or when my […]
Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. (1 Peter 4:9-11 from Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) If it is true that Spiritual gifts are given not for the good of the gifted persons, but for the good of […]
Teachers interpret the past, prophets interpret the present and the future. Why would we doubt what the Scriptures clearly state as normal, simply because some other people doubt? Why wouldn’t our default type of decision be that we would agree with the Scriptures rather than with people who say “those times are over…”? If you do not find in the […]
There is no condemnation now for those of us who are in Christ. We have had all of our failures, stupidities, and rebellion judged and paid for by Jesus on the cross. We are free to live under the influence of the Spirit of Life in Jesus. (Romans 8) We are now responsible for administering the same freedom to those […]
There is a place for variety of culture in the ekklesia of Christ (the songs we sing, the clothing or costumes we wear), but no place for class (rich, poor; high, low; important, unimportant). There is a place for authority and responsibility in the ekklesia of Christ (the Spiritual gift of administration, the responsibility for leadership that is related to […]
The creators of popular methods of entertainment and the editors of the popular pretense of spreading “news” are not afraid of the good news about the possibility of going to Heaven. They are afraid of low ratings, offending perverts, offending Muslims, and being unempowered by the exposure of their deceptive imagery and monolog. The scene resembles the moment in the […]
We have many instructors, but not many fathers. One of our most effective instructors is named Failure. He leads us into places where we make mistakes in judgement or action. Since he really has no desire to see us succeed, he then tries to lead us into a place of condemnation and self-hatred that keeps us under his influence. Often […]