You are wrestling with something that is time-consuming, emotionally draining and is a mountain of unknown right now. You have few to no options in how to go forward. You're praying for some daylight to shine on your soul so that you can get up tomorrow and keep going. Your power is exhausted...
Read MoreJust like that awesome pair of pants you wore throughout high school and college, they don't fit anymore. How we once dealt with our relationships is like a worn-out, ill-fitting pair of pants. Now clothed in Jesus, we bear his "logo," representing his humility and care for one another.
Read MoreLast Sunday, we looked at Ephesians 4-5:21. Central to that text is the Truth spoken in Love. But it is Truth spoken to callous, dead hearts and minds that come from darkness into light (2:1, 4:19, 5:8). It is the Word of Truth spoken that brought us to life by God's grace. Life is found in the continual gospel piercing of the fat of our hearts and callousness of our minds.
Read MoreHave you ever considered your spiritual walk with Jesus as being essentially connected to God's glory in the church? On Sunday, we saw how God uses dead materials and makes them alive, uniting them by Jesus' blood into a structure that beholds his wisdom to the heavenly beings. His Church, by his Grace, is His Glory revealed.
Read MoreIn our text this week, Ephesians 2-3 will have us look backward to death rather than forward. Christians are people who were once dead but are made alive. New creatures are defined by their alive-ness because what they were is defined by their dead-ness.
Read MoreIf you've ever visited the Gulf Coast of the southern United States where a hurricane has come through, you will see empty spaces where large condominiums and homes once stood, but right at ground level there is a flat cement foundation. The building above could not withstand the hurricane winds, but the foundation survived!
Read MoreWhat would need to happen this year to see RIC thriving in ten years? As elders, we take very seriously Paul's charge to the Ephesian elders. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:28.
Read MoreOver the summer, we have looked at nine different practices of the Christian Community found in Scripture. I sincerely hope you've been able to look up the Scripture passages and answer the application questions. More than anything, I hope you have gone and done them, putting them into practice in our Christian community.
Read MoreHow does our community serve one another's interest? What do you find particularly challenging about serving another's interest?
Read MoreHow does our community practice forgiveness and reconciliation between one another? How are you or could you practice forgiveness and reconciliation with your church family?
Read MoreHow does our community serve one another through accountability? How are you or could you remain accountable to your church family?
Read MoreHow does our community share one another's beliefs, thinking, and spirituality? How do you share your beliefs, thinking, and spirituality with your church family? Can you think of ways to put these passages into practice during the week?
Read MoreHow does our community share one another's needs and problems? How do you share your needs and problems with your church family?
Read MoreI had just returned from a trip away from the family. The kids were in bed, and I was looking forward to a relaxing evening with the Mrs. As we were winding down for the night, she received a message. Three friends of a friend are stuck in Rome for the night and need a place to stay. Commence: my grumbling as we get three beds ready.
Read MoreHow does our community visibly show godly affection? How do you show visible affection for your church family?
Read MoreDoes our community "welcome one another" well? How have you seen "care for one another" happen? Can you think of a way to put these passages into practice during the week?
Read MoreOver the next nine weeks, we will look at nine different practices of a Christian Community found in Scripture. I'll talk about some of them, but I mainly want you to look up the Scripture passages and answer the application questions. But...that's just the start. After answering the application questions, do it. Put it into practice in our Christian community.
Read MoreNow and then, you may be asked what you believe about God, Jesus, the church, and the Bible. Sometimes you may feel compelled to share your faith with another person. Always, we are to be ready to give a defense for the hope that we have in Jesus.
Read MoreToo many have told me they were born in the church, so they've always been Christians, not according to God's Word. The apostle Paul teaches us that we begin spiritually dead. We were saved from our sin only when Christ came to us and brought us to life. Until this happens, there is no other hope to which a sinner can cling.
Read MoreWhat does genuine concern for the welfare of a church look like?…But should the everyday Christian care about the welfare of his or her church? If so, what does the Bible have to say to believers and their part in caring for the welfare (health) of their church?
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