The problem with adapting church to our felt needs is that our felt needs, our desires, can sometimes be precisely what stands in the way of our own transformation. We need to critically examine our felt needs in the light of scripture rather than presuming their sovereignty. Failure to do so often leaves us withContinueContinue reading “Felt Needs vs Real Needs”
Tag Archives: church
A prayer for the church
Psalm 122:6-9 I pray this with the understanding that the bride of Christ is the new Jerusalem Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. ” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “PeaceContinueContinue reading “A prayer for the church”
The church as a she?
So the church sent out ambassadors to represent her, As handmaidens of the Bride she sent them Female and male she sent them
Culture gaps and God’s call for the church
If you’re church is WASPish even though you live in a multicultural area then you have a culture gap. It’s as simple as that. You may not feel it personally but clearly others do. Don’t assume it’s just non-whites feeling that gap either. Whites more cosmopolitan than you are probably feeling it too. They’re justContinueContinue reading “Culture gaps and God’s call for the church”
The church as a rival kingdom
When fellow Christians speak of the separation of church and state I find it’s necessary to tease out what they mean by that. Do they mean church should only be overseeing the personal dimensions of life while the state overseeing the political dimensions of life, as in a two kingdoms model? Or do they seeContinueContinue reading “The church as a rival kingdom”
The trinitarian identity of the church
The scriptures refer to the church as the: Household of God; Body of Christ; and Temple of the Holy Spirit Taken together they suggest the identity of the church is intrinsically trinitarian.
The church and the world of politics
The church is called to be both in the world and not of the world. That includes the world of politics. The problem is not that the church engages with the states. The problem is when the church forgets it is called to different ends via different means.
Why did Paul say women should be silent in gatherings?
1 Corinthians 14 is often used as a prooftext against women in Christian leadership, but consider this: Paul does not accuse the women of TEACHING PRESUMPTIVELY, rather, he accuses the women of ENQUIRING DISRUPTIVELY. His desire seems to be for speakers to be able to speak without unnecessary interruption. This is the same concern heContinueContinue reading “Why did Paul say women should be silent in gatherings?”
The Lady chosen by our Lord
I have been considering the ways in which Christianity can legitimately be said to have both a Lady and a Lord. The Second Epistle of John opens with an address to “To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth”. From the context it would seem that theContinueContinue reading “The Lady chosen by our Lord”
How missional can a church be?
My experience is that it’s unrealistic to expect everyone in a church to be equally missional, just the same as it’s unrealistic to expect everyone in a church to be equally pastoral. What then should the focus of a local church be? Should it be sending or inviting? I think churches are called to doContinueContinue reading “How missional can a church be?”
Curious Christian 