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The Importance of the Local Church

Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:24-5) Lord, I thank you for the precious body of Christ, for the people with whom you have placed me, the people pray for me, and I them; who care for me, and I them; who serve me, and I them; who help me love you and trust you and live my life for you; and who work with me…

The Church Part III

This blog is a continuation of the previous blogs on the doctrine of the church. The church consists of believers in Jesus Christ. It does not consist of mere churchgoers or religious types. One does not belong to the church by being a good neighbor or by giving money to a noble cause or by being born into a Christian family. One does not belong to the church by taking communion, reading the Bible, or praying regularly. To be certain, genuine believers will desire such practices, but external practices alone do not make one a believer any more than going…

The Church Part II

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God . . . it pleased God through the foolishness of what we preach to save those who believe . . . not many of you were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the…

The Church

. . . on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (Mt 16:18) How precious is your church, O Lord.  She is your jewel, your Beloved, the ones you ransomed from the pit and made your own.  May we see her in all her glory, clothed in the righteousness of Christ and living as sons and daughters of the High King.  And may we honor her as one honors the bride of royalty. A picture is worth a thousand words. You have heard the saying. And though Jesus predates the…

On the Third Day

. . . he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (I Cor 15:4) Praise you, Father, for you have revealed your power and have conquered sin and death.  You have brought your people hope and shown that you reign over history.  I suppose it is a tad strange to think that an executed criminal somehow rescues the human race from its most dire problem, but then truth is a bit strange. Christian doctrine doesn’t claim to be plain or ordinary. It claims to be true. And besides … the “strange” story of Jesus doesn’t end…