Rick Warren writes “Many Church Fellowships and Small Groups remain superficial because they are afraid of conflict.” But real Spiritual growth and maturity take deliberate efforts, thoughtfulness, and commitment to do the hard work sculpting a new person who is accountable to God and his church community to be a strong, loving, and effective Christian who attracts non-believers.
Charity can be equated to agape’ love. This kind of love is aid and comfort given to someone without qualification. Churches often fall short of this because as individuals they expect to receive appreciation. But that would be qualifying the nature of the recipient.
Besides wanting to call on God, we’ve already made a visible expression of wanting to follow Christ. As we have been raised to a new life in Baptism; we should seek out those things that are pure and represent the purity or holiness of God and Jesus.
“Who am I” is an elementary question everyone has to answer. But have you ever asked this question of yourself? Do you like who you see in the mirror?
A state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress. Do we know anyone in the church like this? I do; and it’s not just a question of a single person – but I would argue in many churches it is a percentage.
I agree that Christianity has played a central role in the history of the United States – because it most certainly has. And it should be taught in our schools and colleges.
Jesus describes how the Comforter/Holy Spirit, God, and Jesus Himself are in constant communication with each other. But the real question is if we’re tuned in to this conversation. Often we’re like the car radio on a long trip and each station we tune in grows fainter as we distant ourselves from the radio tower.
Jesus was the master at looking below the surface of the issues presented to him. And He knew people’s real motives. While compromise seems like a solution, I think we need to follow Jesus and find the core of each issue, mine for the common ground of the issue with the point of view of others, and build up top a solution using Biblical principles.
If the Holy Spirit is recognized in the church, then we are a part of His Kingdom. And the disciples lived to see this at Pentecost. God is intending us “to act” and not wait for the return of Jesus while neglecting to do His work in the here and now.
Prayer is essential for the church and for Christians. It is our walk in Christ that is the highest priority. It guides the church and allows the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of Christians.
