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Read 2 Corinthians 10:5

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.(2 Corinthians 10:5)

Read 1 Peter 2:13–17

For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed.For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrongand to honour those who do right.It is God’s will that your honourable lives should silencethose ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves,so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.Fear God, and respect the king.(1 Peter 2:13–17)

Read Acts 5:29

We must obey God rather than any human authority.(Acts 5:29)

Too many people these days are relying on too few to walk in integrity. Your personal integrity matters more than I can put into words. As Christians, we can’t play fast-and-loose with our money and expect it not to affect us. It’s God’s money. We can’t play fast-and-loose with our morality either. A believer can’t sleep around and get away with it as a Christian. There’s a terrible price to pay, because God holds His own directly accountable.

Read Acts 2:41

Those who believed what Peter saidwere baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.(Acts 2:41)

Sometimes we idealize the first church on record as a model of perfection. Perhaps the setting was more ideal, but it certainly wasn’t idyllic. It was more pristine, but not perfect. They had challenges, just as we do. However, some of their struggles were far greater than ours.

I usually smile when I hear people say, “We want our church to be a first-century church!”

Read Ephesians 1:22–23

God has put all things under the authority of Christand has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ,who fills all things everywhere with himself.(Ephesians 1:22–23)

Read Acts 2:46–47

Day by Day continuing with one mind in the temple,and breaking bread from house to house,they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,praising God and having favor with all the people.And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.(Acts 2:46–47)

Read Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teachingand to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.(Acts 2:42)

When the first body of believers gathered together, they devoted themselves to four essentials: teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This verse is not only descriptive of what the early church did; it is also prescriptive of what all churches must do.

Read Matthew 16:15–18

He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you.You did not learn this from any human being.Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and uponthis rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”(Matthew 16:15–18)

Read 1 Peter 5:8–9a

Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.He prowls around like a roaring lion,looking for someone to devour.Stand firm against him,and be strong in your faith.(1 Peter 5:8–9a)

Over the years, I have discovered three simple truths about erosion. Rather than occurring rapidly, erosion is always slow. Instead of drawing attention to itself, erosion is always silent. And in place of being obvious, erosion is always subtle.

Read Matthew 16:18

Upon this rock I will build my church,and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.(Matthew 16:18)

I’m concerned about the intensifying embrace of postmodernism. The result of this is that we have eroded from a Christian era to a post-Christian era. I remember when we used to say that about Great Britain. I now say it about the United States of America, the land I love, a land I have served to help protect. But over the past decades we have slid into the murky waters of a post-Christian swamp.