Ephesians 1:3–14, Part 5 In Paul’s day, there was a major division in the church: Jew and Gentile. It was an ethnic problem, based primarily in the Jews’ exclusive view of their covenant with God. They thought they were special in God’s eyes, and the other peoples of the world were pagan, unclean, and thus thereContinue reading “How ethnic segregation in the church is out of line with the Gospel”
Tag Archives: ecclesiology
A profoundly important description of church
Ephesians intro, part 5 A close friend from church and I work out on Tuesday and Thursday mornings with another guy. Recently that other guy, who is not part of our church, told us that he was reading the Bible over the weekend and thought the passage he was reading sounded like our church. I perkedContinue reading “A profoundly important description of church”
How some churches are actually two companies that Jesus never asked us to form
Vertical & Horizontal Morality and the mission of the church, Part 3 My church expresses vertical and horizontal faith in a public statement we post on every email we send to our church family: “We are a congregation developing a deeper relationship with God and extending his love to our community.” Notice the twoContinue reading “How some churches are actually two companies that Jesus never asked us to form”
What Jesus’ kingdom looks like (hint: it’s not church buildings)
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 4 Can you recite the Lord’s Prayer? Our Father who art in heaven… In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus not only teaches his disciples how to pray, but also what to pray for. What he taught us to pray for has everything to do with thisContinue reading “What Jesus’ kingdom looks like (hint: it’s not church buildings)”
What Jesus never said about church
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 3 When you hear the word “church,” what comes to mind is likely a contemporary expression of church in your culture. For me, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA, I think of church buildings. My county has something like 700 church buildings of all shapes andContinue reading “What Jesus never said about church”
Jesus’ two surprising teachings about church
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 2 As a pastor of twenty-three years, I’ve had some surprising experiences during worship services. For example, one time a wasp landed right on my Bible as I was preaching! People seated close to the front saw it all. I swatted at it, and itContinue reading “Jesus’ two surprising teachings about church”
The proper foundation on which to build a church
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 1 Guess how many total times the word “church” appears in all four Gospels combined? Don’t google it. I’m going to give you the answer in a moment. Just off the top of your head, how many times do you think the word “church” appearsContinue reading “The proper foundation on which to build a church”
Nicknames & the foundation of the church
Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Preview Do you have a nickname? Nicknames are fun. They can build a warm, relational bond. Did you know that Jesus seems to like using nicknames? To his disciples James and John, he gave the nickname “Sons of Thunder.” To another disciple, Simon, he gave the nicknameContinue reading “Nicknames & the foundation of the church”
Why I am taking my second sabbatical – The Sabbath Year, Part 5
What has happened since my previous sabbatical ended April 1, 2018? In the past seven years, so much has happened. Faith Church had started a capital campaign in 2017, and it lasted through 2019. We resealed the parking lot, put in all new doors and windows, a new roof, new kitchen appliances, new WIFIContinue reading “Why I am taking my second sabbatical – The Sabbath Year, Part 5”
How a church that never gave a sabbatical in 50 years decided to give one – The Sabbath Year, Part 4
I started at Faith Church in October 2002 as full-time youth associate pastor. That meant, given my denomination’s recommendation that pastors receive sabbaticals every seven years, that my first opportunity for a sabbatical could have been as early as October 2009. But I didn’t take a sabbatical until January 1, 2018. Nine years later. Why?Continue reading “How a church that never gave a sabbatical in 50 years decided to give one – The Sabbath Year, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 