I’m sure you’ve been told before that, as a Christian, you are to ‘be salt and light’ to the world. Because you’re aware of Jesus’ sermon given on the mount, you understand that this means to love your neighbour, forgive your brother from your heart, avoid sin, and love God.
10 studies on the book of Revelation in the popular Pathway Bible Guides format.
Prayer from God’s children to our heavenly Father is never wasted. Every prayer is heard, and we “ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1-8). Throughout Scripture, though, I have noticed that, whilst individual prayer is vital and significant in the life of each believer, it’s when Christians gather together to pray that God chooses to intervene.
Just as in the big cities, people in small towns need to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus. Here are some tips for any Christian living in a small community, and then some thoughts for those who are pastoring a church.
Vine Journal features longer articles and essays that convey the best of cross-centred theological thinking, applied to real-world evangelical ministry.
The Lord is equally in control in both the times when he provides many material comforts and those when he tells us to make do.
How do we disagree with each other? If you’ve been around any church for more than 12 months you’ll know that there are many disagreements. Sometimes these are fairly small and trivial. In every church I’ve ever been in there’s been an argument about the colour or type of the furnishings. And the carpet is a small issue compared with some of the wider ones that impact on life, like who Jesus is, how God saves, and other major doctrinal truths.
When Protestants describe the Roman Catholic Church as ‘Trinitarian’ and ‘creedal’, it can obscure the differences between Catholics and Protestants, confuse Christians, and inhibit evangelism of Catholics.
There is less affection and trust. It’s harder for us to be persuasive to each other and easier for us to misunderstand, annoy or hurt each other. It’s a little easier for them to not want to submit to my instructions, and a little easier for me to be suspicious of a more distant team member.
I am currently preaching through the book of Acts. It is my second time preaching through this book, and I love it! I just recently finished preaching through Acts 11:19-30: the formation of the church in Antioch. This account is one that has always intrigued me.