Church Blog (Page 6)
Nothing New under the Sun #5. “Only Servant-leaders need apply.”
When people do what they are supposed to do, it is a good place to be. But when people turn their positions of responsibility into platforms to promote their own interests, the place turns toxic. King Solomon, when eyeing the potential for corruption in officialdom, says the quiet part out loud: “If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another…
Nothing New under the Sun #4. “The Good old days.”
Don’t ask, “Why was life better in the ‘good old days’?” It is not wise to ask such questions (Ecclesiastes 7:10NCV). I was listening to a commentator talking about growing up in the 1990s as if it were a very long time ago. It made me realise that my parents’ generation also saw the years of my childhood and youth as “yesterday” for them. Despite the growing number of doomsayers, I still believe that today is a very good time…
Nothing New under the Sun #2. “Living beyond this life.”
The Sadducees’ story of the seven-time widowed lady who died childless (Matthew 22:23-33), made sense in a dinner table discussion sort of way. “Afterall,” they would have reasoned, “the idea of seven brothers fighting over the wife that they all had, is as unlikely as God allowing a woman to keep seven husbands in heaven.” At the end of the day, all that the Sadducees were doing was excusing themselves from any judgement before God. For them, the simplest way…
Nothing New under the Sun #3. “Envy—Hidden till it’s not!”
Of the most-talked-about sins amongst us, envy is not one of them. However, for a sin that is not often sighted, it is listed among the worst of sins; the kinds that will keep a soul out of the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21; Mark 7:22; Romans 1:29). It is not common for a Christian to say, “I have problems with the sin of envy.” Although, we might possibly admit to petty jealousies from time to time. Solomon exposes the…
Nothing New under the Sun #1. “Whatever is has already been.”
Peter works hard at a fulltime job and preaches when requested. On the occasions that we have been in the same place of worship, I have always felt blessed to hear him. His sermons are Biblical, upbeat, and creative. Thus, when he asked me how I came up with my sermon ideas I was surprised. I told him that I find my best ideas when reading the scriptures and when listening to other preachers; especially brothers like himself. A couple…
On the Level #12. “Trusted with much.”
There is nothing complicated about Christian Stewardship. It operates by a simple rule: “What God puts into your care, use it to advance the Lord’s church.” Understandably, unbelieving family and friends will count you crazy to hold such a conviction. Even those favourably disposed toward Christianity will cringe to think that you actually believe that God takes care of those who “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Obviously, I am not suggesting that we all…
On the Level #11. “Truth brings freedom.”
Being present when a soul realises that God can forgive even them, is a beautiful and blessed thing. Seeing their countenance lift and their shoulders relax in Christ’s love, is truly a delight to behold. I studied with a lady who believed that she was condemned to hell for sins committed against people long dead. When understanding from scripture that God forgives the penitent of heart, all her doubts and fears disappeared. From the day she was baptised until the…
On the Level #10. “The Status Quo.”
It’s almost beyond belief that some preachers can scare you out of hell without inviting you into heaven. Admittedly, it takes a lot less effort to draw forth guilt than it does to inspire righteousness. Satan loves congregations to hear sermons that lock them into a perpetual state of guilt – Believe me, like cars clamped by a parking lot attendant with a stopwatch, that church is going nowhere. If I could pin all the blame on the preacher I…
On the Level #9. “An honest defense.”
One sister in the Lord’s church opened her front door to the words, “Oh, we’re so glad to find you at home.” Not recognising them and thinking that one looked a little like her husband’s side of the family, she asked sheepishly, “Are you relatives of my husband?” The couple smiled and replied, “No, we are Jehovah’s Witnesses.” In the old days stories were told of religious fanatics “putting their foot in your door to get the last word in.”…
On the Level #8. “Integrity assumes Holiness.”
I have had the sad and uncomfortable experience of having to intervene in situations where one party in a dispute has overreacted. On more than one of those occasions the antagonist has turned to me and said, “You don’t know them. Wait till you find out what they are really like!” Now, there must be no justification for angry outbursts or revenge of any kind, but I am sorry to say that I found out the hard way that I…