On the last night of Jesus' life on earth, He established a principle that has endured in the life of the Church from the first century to the present day—the world that persecuted Him would likewise persecute His followers (John 15:20). And so it has been; from that day until this, men and women of faith have suffered and given their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ. It is our history as a church, a history wrought with controversy, conflict, and persecution. But it is also a history of triumph, faith, and community. Ours is a 2,000-year-old history, rich in tradition and doctrine and filled with intriguing characters—saints and sinners—who've written the story that is the Church.
To study the story of Christ's Church is to trace the finger of God across the timeline of human history.
The city of Ephesus, where Timothy lived and ministered, boasted a freshwater delivery and sewage removal system complete with aqueducts and terra cotta pipes for distribution and disposal at sea.
Too many churches have forfeited their charm and become places of shame, not grace. Let’s put an end to that!
Hearing Paul and Barnabas recount story after story of God’s love, grace, deliverance, and guidance re-centred and reassured the band of believers.
You get the picture; we start every day with a certain number of decisions already in place. Those decisions, the ones that we agree on collectively, are what define our culture.
There are some things about God I take for granted. They are truths so deeply embedded they have become assumptions. But what I see as assumptions were once stunning revelations.
Jude also exhorted his readers to stay on target themselves, to get their act together, and to stand firm in the faith against all opposition. His message remains the same for us today as we stand for unchanging truth in a world of fiction.
The best snapshot of the situation in the first-century church is in John’s third letter. We will also see a reflection of modern-day churches as we examine these 14 verses.
The doctrine of the virgin birth, or perhaps more accurately the virgin conception, is important for many reasons. On it hang the doctrines of original sin, the inspiration of Scripture, who Jesus was, and what Jesus did in salvation.
Hopefully we leave the event with a renewed sense of wonder, overwhelmed by the magnificence of what unfolded in Bethlehem long ago. Imagine…
What do I do when the Bible offends me? Here are a few tips that may be helpful.
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