Does the Bible Authorize That? (Part 2)
If you haven’t read Part 1, please read that first. These posts build on each other. “Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” – Ephesians 5:19 I can approach this verse from two very different perspectives. Approach 1 – Does […]
Does the Bible authorize that? (Part 1)
When you write something, you intend for it to be read and understood in a specific way. If I write you a poem, that will be understood differently than if I write a life update. Some view the Bible from cover to cover as a legal document. A list of rules and authorizations. And they […]
The One True Church vs the Denominations? Debunking the Bunk
I got this comment last night, “No denomination is a part of it as they are all man made institutions. No member of a denomination is a Christian in the scriptural sense, since one cannot be saved in a church of man, and no church of man is the body of Christ or part of […]
Five things we need to prioritize when we gather that often get missed
Here are the five…what would you add? 1 – Intergenerational connection. This is the primary factor for our kids having lifelong faith. Very easy to do. Less siloed ministry, more connection. 2 – Celebration! When good things happen, celebrate together per 1 Cor 12. 3 – Confession. We are told to confess but often the […]
Feeling Hopeless About Christianity and Church? This is For You!
Many are feeling hopeless about Christianity and church. You look around and you see so many problems and so many are big and unfixable. You get overwhelmed by it all. Then, because you cannot effect change, you get hopeless. But there is another way of looking at this! Hopelessness often comes when we look at […]
She Was Hard to Be Around…
She was hard to be around. Her house was a mess. She smelled like smoke and if you drove her somewhere the car would smell like smoke for a week. She would cuss to see how I would react. Always pushing buttons. To be honest, I didn’t want to be around her. But I was […]
Unity Feels Impossible, But it Isn’t!
Unity feels impossible but it isn’t! With God all things are possible (Matt 19:26). We look at the vast diversity of the Christian landscape and wonder how on earth (literally) it could ever be united. It becomes easy to give up and when you give up you can easily do things that undermine unity because […]
Can Women Teach Men?
Can women teach men? The Bible seems to say “no they cannot” and it seems to be stated very directly. Here is what Paul wrote, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam […]
Biblical Proof that those “other” churches aren’t all lost
Years ago, I was reading in the New Testament and this this very familiar three verses hit me right between the eyes…maybe you have missed it too? “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified […]
Does the Holy Spirit Help Us Understand the Bible?
Does the Holy Spirit help us understand the Bible? I got these comments over the last few days: – “I personally do not interpret it I allow the Holy Spirit to interpret it.” – “The Bible is not up for interpretation. 2 Peter 1:19-21” – How do you interpret the Bible? “I don’t, the spirit […]