On Handling Disagreements
Among the works of the flesh are strife, outbursts of anger, dissensions and divisions (Gal 5:20). There seems to be a great deal of this in the world, and that…
Category: Being Disciples
A “One Another” Community
Generally, a community is a social group that shares in common a set of values, a cultural heritage, and similar goals and interests. A community can reflect a given locality…
Unity and the Problem of Sin
There is always a balance that Christians must seek to maintain. On the one hand, we are to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph…
Is the Wound Incurable?
There is a direct correlation between lawlessness and the loss of love. In speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus made the point: “And because lawlessness will be increased, the…
Seek the Welfare of the City
God’s people had been sent into Babylonian exile because of their failure to keep the covenant. While in exile, what should have been the attitude of God’s people generally? Jeremiah…
Praise God for Peace and Hope!
Hope has long been expressed in songs. We see a pattern in Scripture of songs being sung when victory is recognized. For example, think of the song of Moses after…
Don’t Downplay Obedience
Obedience (submitting to and keeping God’s commandments) is one of those concepts that can get downplayed because of how it sounds. If we “have to” obey, then love and grace…
Looking to Jesus
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with…
All Things New
The beginning of a new year is traditionally when we rethink our goals and reassess how we have been doing. Are we growing like we ought? Are we learning, reading,…
Be careful what you say … again
James warned about the use of the tongue (James 3). Because of the difficulties in controlling the tongue, he warned against many becoming teachers; they will incur a stricter judgment…