Church Blog
Return to Jerusalem
A panicked mother asked her twelve-year-old son, “Child, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” Of course, those familiar with Scripture will recognize these as the words of Mary to Jesus in Luke 2:48. His earthly parents supposed He was with relatives on the journey back home to Nazareth from Jerusalem. Luke says they went a day’s journey and then began to search for Jesus, only to find that…
Thinking About “The Great Commandment”
“And He said unto him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). However, when God and His will become…
Think About It
Although we as Christians have our “citizenship in heaven” (Philippians 3:20-21), we still reside on earth. Christians have to live in the world in a way that both honors God and thankfully embraces what is good, as we understand life here especially in light of the Cross of Christ (Philippians 3:10). Isolation from the world, or sinful accommodation with the world, is not the answer. Philippians 4:8-9 helps provide appropriate balance. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever…
Grace Motivates
“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Earlier in 2 Corinthians, Paul had used the expression “thanks be to God” in connection with the victory God gives (2:14) and the care we ought to have for each other (8:16-17). In 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9, Paul is writing to encourage these brethren to renew their zeal and to fulfill their promise to come to the aid of those in need in Jerusalem (cf. 8:1-7; 9:11-14;…