Many of us will deal with financial hardship. But it can be hard to talk about with others. This message reminds us that God consoles us in our affliction so that we can console others.
Staging a house makes it look good so that just the right person will be impressed enough to buy it. The problem is a staged house loses all of its functionality. Churches can be staged as well. When we focus on how church looks, it’s easy to lose sight of the church’s function. Jesus clearly lays out the mission of the church in Matthew 16.
One of the most significant conflicts between Jesus and religious leaders relates to Sabbath observance. Jesus argues that they had missed the point and forgotten the intentions of the day. By doing so, ministers in a way that looks wrong, but aligns with God's heart.
Recent figures indicate that 36% of Americans struggle with deep loneliness, while the number goes up to 61% for those 18-25. This message shows how the formation of community is central to God's creative purposes in the world and to the nature of the gospel.
The Bible tells us to be mercifull. But mercy can be really difficult to show, since mercy is not contrasted with hate or greed. Instead, mercy is contrasted with things that normally sound good, like righteous acts, judgment (justice), and sacrifice.
Life is about choices. And one of the choices a disciple must make is to deny themselves. But this isn't just about suffering for no good reason. Instead, Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves in hopes of gaining something better in the end.
Secrecy is often reserved for our mistakes, but that does not have to be the case. Changing the world is a big task, even for the Church. Our secret is that we meet God in secret and he first changes us.
Paul is teaching the Philippians that salvation is a group effort. He tells them to work out their salvation in fear and trembling. We cannot work out our personal salvation in isolation from one another.
There is a great deal of wrong things going on in our world today, but the Psalmist reminds us to also be mindful of the wrong things that are going on within ourselves.
In this historic moment the churches of Christ must assertively remind our fellow citizens that the only remedy for today’s social ills is not simply the love of God, but the love of God as we see God existing in our neighbor.