The prayer in John 17 is Jesus’ longest prayer recorded in Scripture. In it, Jesus reveals his priorities for His people and what he was most passionate about for us prior to His death for our sins. Christ does not pray that his disciples might be rich and great in the world, but that … Continue reading Reflections on What Jesus Desires for His Church
Church
Church Leaders and Dispositional Sins
This morning our men's discipleship group was examining the theme of "Finding Forgiveness: The Moralist Meets Jesus Christ." We started by discussing David Mains and his article "My Greatest Ministry Mistakes." Two fatal omissions of his ministry at the Circle Church in Chicago were: He never once preached about human depravity and, secondly, the church … Continue reading Church Leaders and Dispositional Sins
Priming the Pump to Pray for Your Church – Acts 24-26
Pray that someone you know would be confronted with the reality of the resurrected Christ and that Jesus would change the whole direction of his/her life. Pray that we would become a church who daily repents and turns to God and performs deeds in keeping with repentance - honesty, integrity, purity, generosity, hospitality, etc. Pray … Continue reading Priming the Pump to Pray for Your Church – Acts 24-26
If You Ever Wonder What To Pray for Our Church
Here's a bullet point list of things we prayed for our church at this week's vespers service. Paul’s words to the Sanhedrin in Acts 23:1 remind us that a “clean conscience” is available to even the worst sinner who trusts in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of his conscience. Pray that … Continue reading If You Ever Wonder What To Pray for Our Church
What kind of Christians are we attempting to develop at Trinity
Christians whose lives display the following features: Doxology, the habit taught and modeled by Paul of constantly praising God and giving him thanks; Humility, the downward growth that comes by dwelling on the free, boundless,, almighty grace of God that achieves the salvation of sinners, including oneself, through the atoning death of the Lord Jesus … Continue reading What kind of Christians are we attempting to develop at Trinity
Christianity Without the Church? by Chuck Colson
Below is a thought provoking article written by Chuck Colson. http://www.crosswalk.com/news/breakpoint-with-chuck-colson/christianity-without-the-church.html - comments In their 1985 book Habits of the Heart, Robert Bellah and Richard Madsen introduced the world to “Sheila Larson.” Sheila described her belief system this way: “I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I … Continue reading Christianity Without the Church? by Chuck Colson
Acts 14 – The Habits of the Heart of Gospel People
Devotional Guide - Habits of the Heart of Gospel People The church is called to teach people how to talk, how to act, how to fight, how to love, how to see the world in a peculiar way - a Christlike way. “The role of the church is to cultivate a people who can risk … Continue reading Acts 14 – The Habits of the Heart of Gospel People
For Zion’s Sake, Church Hopping and Anti-institutionalism
In recent days, I have spent time with people from various parts of our country who have a legitimate beef with the church of Jesus. They have been hurt or disappointed by the church. Church leaders have failed them. Pastors come for counsel who have been hurt and betrayed by their leaders. Church leaders have … Continue reading For Zion’s Sake, Church Hopping and Anti-institutionalism
When Your Church Frustrates You… Remember
Ray Ortlund Jr. writes in his commentary on Isaiah that "every faithful church is a gateway into the future of the world." If we are honest, it doesn’t seem that way at times. We are quickly annoyed, frustrated, and challenged by living, worshiping and serving Jesus together as vital participants in the body of Christ. … Continue reading When Your Church Frustrates You… Remember
Hope for Aging Saints When the Storms of Life Come
I am starting to read a book that was authored by a friend, Dr. Michael Parker. It is entitled A Vision for An Aging Church: Renewing Ministry by and for Seniors. Here's an encouraging nugget in the prologue. The majority of older Christians, by virtue of living so long, have experienced the hopelessness of soul … Continue reading Hope for Aging Saints When the Storms of Life Come
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