Editor’s Note: I once again welcome Molly Stouffer as guest blogger. Molly is from Hagerstown, MD, studying Pastoral Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. What does your church community do? Are they doing what they should be doing? In this week’s final post on 1st Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Paul emphasizes something important any churchContinue reading “What a church community should be doing – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 5”
Tag Archives: ecclesiology
How Christians can respond to division in our society – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13, Part 6
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. Do you like Taylor Swift? Would you buy a Tesla? Did you get a COVID shot? Are you going to be kind to the lesbian couple that lives down theContinue reading “How Christians can respond to division in our society – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13, Part 6”
What does it mean to be “undignified” in worship? – 2 Samuel 6, Bonus Post
In 2 Samuel 6, David’s wife, Michal, confronts him, accusing him of “undignified” worship. David responds saying, “I will be even more undignified than this.” What is “undignified” worship? My opinion is that David is not suggesting that wild dancing is the only way to worship God when a group of Christians comes together forContinue reading “What does it mean to be “undignified” in worship? – 2 Samuel 6, Bonus Post”
How a story from the life of King David inspired my church to experiment in worship – 2 Samuel 6, Preview
What comes to mind when you read the word “worship”? Do you think about your church building, and maybe the room many churches refer to as a “sanctuary”? Does your mind picture the furnishings in the room, such as the pews or chairs, the piano or the band, and the projection screen? Do you thinkContinue reading “How a story from the life of King David inspired my church to experiment in worship – 2 Samuel 6, Preview”
When Jesus leaves us – Growing in Faith Together, Part 4
In Matthew, chapter 28, verses 16-20, we read about Jesus’ final invitation to his disciples. They have followed him for three years. They have followed him through the craziness of his arrest, trial, beating, crucifixion, resurrection. Now this: “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.Continue reading “When Jesus leaves us – Growing in Faith Together, Part 4”
Three times Jesus invited people to follow him into danger – Growing in Faith Together, Part 2
This week we’re talking about growing in faith together, particularly through the lens of Jesus’ famous phrase “Follow me.” In the previous post, we learned about some of Jesus’ first invitations to people to follow him. Some people accepted the invitation, some were hesitant. In Matthew 9:9, Jesus has another “follow me” invitation, “As JesusContinue reading “Three times Jesus invited people to follow him into danger – Growing in Faith Together, Part 2”
Two very different responses to Jesus’ famous two-word invitation – Growing in Faith Together, Part 1
This time last year I was in India. The trip came together quite quickly in the fall, and I gradually became more and more excited as the day of my departure neared. Then just a few days before leaving, something happened that always happens. I started feeling like I didn’t want to go. Maybe you’veContinue reading “Two very different responses to Jesus’ famous two-word invitation – Growing in Faith Together, Part 1”
Jesus’ famous two-word phrase that relates to…Growing in Faith Together, Preview
Since the beginning of 2024, we’ve been studying what the Bible has to say about relationships in the church family. The seven topics so far in the series have each talked about how a church family is to be together. Meeting together was one of the topicss. But how do we meet together? What doContinue reading “Jesus’ famous two-word phrase that relates to…Growing in Faith Together, Preview”
How to study scripture like the first Christians – Studying scripture together, Part 5
As we think about studying scripture together, I want to point out an interesting episode in the early church that occurs during one of Paul’s mission trips. In Acts 17:10-12, we learn that, “As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the JewishContinue reading “How to study scripture like the first Christians – Studying scripture together, Part 5”
How to study the Bible – Studying Scripture together, Part 2
What is studying the Bible? Reading it? Yes, but we read lots of things for a variety of reasons. We read the newspaper differently than we read a novel or poetry or history. How, then, do we read the Bible so that we are studying it? There is one important attitude and one important actionContinue reading “How to study the Bible – Studying Scripture together, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 