The Church of Me, Myself and I
We know that contemporary Christian faith is being largely defined as a private and personal affair when, in the name of setting a mood and atmosphere for worship, we make our gathering places so dark...
View ArticleWhen I See the Cross…
“For God so loved the entire created order that he gave is one and only Son. For God did not send his Son into the created order to condemn it, but that the created order through Him might be renewed...
View ArticleBlinded by Expectations: When Our Picture of Jesus Meets the Real Thing
Throughout the Gospel accounts to the first chapter of Acts, we are confronted with story after story that highlights the dilemma that erupted when cultural expectations surrounding the Messianic...
View ArticleA Conversation with Leonard Sweet on the Future of the Church
A Few of my Favorite Quotes From the Interview “Jesus is already in our future and he is inviting us to join him in what he’s already doing there.” “You grow a soul from the ground up.” “There is no...
View ArticleIsolation or Insulation? Christian Witness Re-Visited
In Christian circles, we often hear a plethora of messages pertaining to the apparent danger of having relationships with those outside the realm of the “faith.” We are told to be watchful of worldly...
View ArticleWhat is THE Sign of the Holy Spirit’s Work in the Church and World?
Many of us have heard believers pray to this effect on occasion: ‘Oh, Lord, pour out your Spirit upon us! Send a mighty wave of your Spirit and power into our midst!’ I’ve heard similar petitions many...
View ArticleLearning to Walk in the Darkness with Jesus
The idea of removing oneself from the darkness and pain of the world was never a life Jesus entertained. Instead, over and over again in the Gospel accounts we see a Jesus who intentionally immersed...
View ArticleThe Power, Purpose and Place of Church Symbols
In his book, The Pastor, Eugene Peterson highlighted the various stages that went into the construction process of their first church building and how symbol played an important role in the design. For...
View ArticleMaking Room for Jesus
I’ve been reflecting again lately on the need for our faith in Christ to be the central and defining theme in our lives. So very often, faith can be very easily pushed to the margins. When this...
View Article2 Reasons NOT to Keep Christ in Christmas
Keep Christ in Christmas is the slogan of choice for many Christians during this time of year. We see the phrase used all over the place – from Facebook posts, Twitter feeds and Instagram pictures, to...
View ArticleThe Pentecostal Foursquare Gospel and the Kingdom of God
During the early stages of the Pentecostal movement, four doctrines in particular began to emerge that not only shaped the experience of its people, but also came to define the ethos of the movement...
View ArticleEmbracing the Kingdom Vision of Jesus – Part 1
The biblical impetus behind this two-part series is what has commonly been referred to as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, or in this case The Sermon on the Plain, in Luke 6. Part one will focus Luke 6:20,...
View ArticleEmbracing the Kingdom Vision of Jesus – Part 2
Have you ever been wronged? I’m confident that most, if not all of you, would say yes. For those who have, Jesus provides us with a quick and decisive response. “Love your enemies.” In Matthew’s...
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