Editors Note: I had planned to write one of my regular five-part series, based on my sermon about Jesus’ Ascension, but my week did not allow the time. So here is the whole sermon. Does your church celebrate Ascension? I’ve been pastor at Faith Church 23 years, and I don’t think we’ve ever celebrated AscensionContinue reading “The important significance of Jesus’ Ascension”
Tag Archives: mission
Questioning Jesus’ Ascension, Preview
When I think about the events of Jesus’ life, there are two events that I sometimes find a bit odd. His transfiguration and his ascension. Interestingly, if you look at paintings of the two events, they appear very similar. In those paintings, Jesus is levitating in the air, while his disciples look up in shock. Continue reading “Questioning Jesus’ Ascension, Preview”
How to evaluate your pastor – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 5
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult & community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. Emily grew up as a pastor’s kid, and therefore she brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to this week’s passage. When weContinue reading “How to evaluate your pastor – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 5”
Pastors are not called to be CEOs – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 4
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult & community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. Emily grew up as a pastor’s kid, and therefore she brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to this week’s passage. In 1Continue reading “Pastors are not called to be CEOs – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Part 4”
What Paul means when he says Christians are not people of the night – 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8, Part 2
Nighttime is for drinking and sleeping. At least that is when those two activities frequently occur. Let me explain. Nighttime is for sleeping. Unless you’re like me and sometimes can’t sleep at night. Insomnia is no joke. When my brain starts racing, thinking about all kinds of thoughts, especially if I’m anxious about something, IContinue reading “What Paul means when he says Christians are not people of the night – 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8, Part 2”
The bread that almost got me fired – 1 Thessalonians 5:5–11, Preview
In the nine months before October 2002, the date I began ministry at Faith Church, I worked at my denomination’s then seminary, Evangelical School of Theology, as the Director of the Annual Fund.* I had heard of the denomination, the Evangelical Congregational Church, and I had heard of the seminary, but this was the firstContinue reading “The bread that almost got me fired – 1 Thessalonians 5:5–11, Preview”
How to focus on Jesus’ mission so we don’t have regrets – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 5
My friends remodeled their kitchen, and it turned out beautiful. A few months later they went on a mission trip. When they returned, they couldn’t stop talking about what they saw, experienced, and how it changed their life. They told me that if they had gone on the mission trip before they remodeled their kitchen,Continue reading “How to focus on Jesus’ mission so we don’t have regrets – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 5”
Why I no longer emphasize the rapture (something else is far more important) – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 3
What will happen to people who are still alive when Jesus returns? Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 15, “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Paul is talkingContinue reading “Why I no longer emphasize the rapture (something else is far more important) – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 3”
How to retire well – 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; 5:14, Part 5
There are ways to retire well, and there are ways to retire wrong. Retiring well has nothing to do with how much money you’ve saved. When people think of retirement, they often think about making sure they have enough money to spend the time they will not be working on hobbies, trips, and entertainment. ButContinue reading “How to retire well – 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; 5:14, Part 5”
What a church community should be doing – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 5
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”
Engaging Scripture 