When I go running with my dogs, one of the most amazing things is the smell of breakfast cooking emanating from the houses we pass by. Or maybe you are more familiar with the smell of someone cooking burgers. Or a chicken barbeque. The wind can carry that smell really far. I grew up inContinue reading “Do you give off the aroma of life or the aroma of death? – Relationships: In the community, Part 4”
Tag Archives: Discipleship
Jesus’ mission in five balanced statements – Relationships: In the community, Part 3
What was Jesus’ mission? Or better yet, how did he understand and articulate his mission? In Luke 4, we read his understanding of his mission. The first 13 verses tell the story of Jesus who was full of the Holy Spirit, which had just come upon him at his baptism, and now who was leadingContinue reading “Jesus’ mission in five balanced statements – Relationships: In the community, Part 3”
How to see your neighbors – Relationships: In the community, Part 2
A Bible scholar once tried to trap Jesus in a game of Bible trivia. This particular guy was an expert, and he thought for sure that he was going to easily crush Jesus. As you and I well know, the last person that you want to go toe-to-toe in a game of Bible trivia isContinue reading “How to see your neighbors – Relationships: In the community, Part 2”
How do you smell? – Relationships: In the community, Part 1
How do you smell? You can check. Sniff your armpits, or maybe your breath. Don’t be embarrassed. When you go to work, school, or most anywhere, my guess is that most of you get ready in the morning by showering, putting on deodorant, perhaps cologne or perfume, and maybe brushing your teeth or having aContinue reading “How do you smell? – Relationships: In the community, Part 1”
Are you a quality friend? A good member of your community? – Relationships: In your community, Preview
Who are your neighbors? Do you know their names? Their story? Their beliefs? Evaluate your relationships with them. Are you close? Distant? Would they say you care about them? What about your co-workers? Your friends? Your classmates? What does it mean to have godly relationships with the various people in your life? Are we justContinue reading “Are you a quality friend? A good member of your community? – Relationships: In your community, Preview”
How not to leave a church – Relationships: In the Church, Part 5
Did you know that when a pastor leaves a church, anecdotal evidence suggests that 25% of the congregation will also leave the church as a result? Not a guaranteed stat. It could be way less. Could be more. But it should be zero, of course depending on the situation. What I am referring to isContinue reading “How not to leave a church – Relationships: In the Church, Part 5”
Why dying to self and rising again are the way to have healthy… – Relationships: In the Church, Part 4
We continue the story of Jesus to see how his birth, life, death and resurrection is instructive for church family relationships. We celebrate Jesus coming in the flesh at Christmas. We must also consider Good Friday, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 2 that God, who was willing to take on human flesh, also tookContinue reading “Why dying to self and rising again are the way to have healthy… – Relationships: In the Church, Part 4”
The model for healthy church families – Relationships: In the Church, Part 3
In Acts 2:42-27, we read about the marks of church family relationships. First, the earliest Christians were devoted to the Apostle’s teaching. This is the beauty of having the apostles’ teachings preserved in Scripture. Church family relationships are guided by the teaching of the Bible. We, too, even though we live 2000 years later, canContinue reading “The model for healthy church families – Relationships: In the Church, Part 3”
Why churches large or little need small groups – Relationships: In the church, Part 2
From time to time, people have communicated to me that there are cliques in Faith Church, as if our church family should be one big close family. We are about 100 people. There is just no way that 100 people can be equally and deeply close with one another. To believe everyone in a groupContinue reading “Why churches large or little need small groups – Relationships: In the church, Part 2”
The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1
Calling the people in a local church congregation a “family” is pretty normal in Christian circles. In fact one of the most common ways that the New Testament writers refer to the people in a church congregation is by using the terms “brothers” and “sisters”. We are siblings in Christ. I wonder if that soundsContinue reading “The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 