Are you suffering from a mild case of Christianity, or are you burning up with a fever that drives you to prayer and to service and to worship at a level that embarrasses the religious people who have to be around you? Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer. Above all, keep […]
Most gatherings of believers in the US are waiting around, hoping for something. It doesn’t seem to be the Harvest at the End of the Age (Matthew 13:36-43), though. More like the county fair after the harvest is over, or a harvest festival. Or Heaven. Imagine a different scene, with congregations of the ekklesia of Christ in which each believer […]
Always a sinner, or dead and resurrected? Always an alcoholic, or healed and delivered?Romans 8:2 – the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Religion would have me believe that it is proper humility to call myself a sinner, saved by grace. Twelve Steps programs would have […]
We would quickly judge a Hindu for worshiping Jesus one day and bowing before an idol the next. Hindus don’t have a problem with Jesus being god. They would not accept that He is God, but gladly add Him as another of their millions of gods. Some even worship Him on days, for good measure. We are not so quick […]
Believers in China, Pakistan, North Korea, or Iran are not being publicly charged with embezzlement, child molestation, intolerance, or self-righteousness. Believers in these and many more areas of the earth are, however, being tortured and murdered very frequently. Church members in the Western hemisphere are frequently bringing shame to the Savior instead of glory. These issues might be worth praying […]
I don’t believe Jonah loved the citizens of Nineveh. My interpretation of his story is that he refused to warn them of Yahweh’s announcement of judging them. When he repented and finally went to preach to them, he simply condemned them. When they repented and Yahweh relented, he was annoyed that his prophetic word about their destruction hadn’t come to […]
And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. (Ephesians 4:32 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) The way God forgave you in Christ was by the payment for sin on the cross of Jesus. That is the way we forgive one another, too. There is no other source of that […]
“The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward.” (Matthew 10:40-41 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©) If you need blessing, […]
Congregations in the United States gather in meetings and form their leadership under the influence of a pattern that was imposed on the Church by Constantine and the culture of Greek and Roman temples and priests. One person is the priest, who is responsible for all the spiritual work and leadership. In the styles of government in which a board […]
In chapter 9 of Matthew, a woman who had been bleeding for years touched Jesus’ clothing and was healed. The word she declared would happen to her and the word that Jesus confirmed had happened to her was “sozo” (Strongs Dictionary word #G4982). Translators sometimes convert it to English sometimes as “saved,” sometimes as “healed,” sometimes as “made whole.” Most […]