Church

History is full of incredible innovations: the printing press, antibiotics, artificial hearts, GPS. Each one changed the world. But here’s the thing ... what starts as groundbreaking eventually becomes ordinary. Nobody claps for the microwave anymore. The same danger exists with the church. Over the past 2,000 years, there has been no greater development than the creation of the church. Yet if we are not careful, we can let the church become so familiar that we forget how miraculous it really is. A Spirit-Empowered Story The book of Acts is the history book of the early church, written by Luke as a companion to his Gospel. If the Gospel is the story of Jesus, Acts is the story of how the church carried on his mission. Acts begins this way: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day…

Why Your Story Doesn’t End in Pain Life has a way of bruising us. Sometimes it leaves us wondering, “Will it ever get better?” It can feel like a runner spraining her ankle halfway through a race—still moving forward, but limping to the finish line. As Peter closes his first letter, he gives believers one final reminder: suffering is real … but so is restoration. God’s Call is Personal and Eternal Peter writes: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ …” (1 Peter 5:10a). This isn’t a generic call. God has personally invited you into something lasting and glorious. When you placed your faith in Christ, you received an invitation to a royal banquet. You may not feel very royal. You may not even think you have the right clothes for the party. But your place at the table doesn’t depend on…

How to Stand Strong in Spiritual Battle As a kid, I loved the school playground. Running, jumping, swinging — life felt light and carefree. But here’s the thing: many of us carry that playground mindset into our faith. We expect ease, comfort, and fun. Then life blindsides us, and we wonder why. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5 that the Christian life isn’t a playground. It’s a battleground. And his words aren’t meant to scare us. They’re meant to prepare us — not with fear, but with faith. Stay Alert Peter writes: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Notice he calls the devil our enemy, not just an opponent. Opponents you shake hands with after a game. Enemies are out to destroy. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture paints Satan as the…

Choosing Strength Under Control Picture this: an intern on his first day accidentally wanders into the CEO’s office, thinking it’s a shared workspace. He starts rearranging things, offering suggestions—completely unaware of who he’s talking to. What’s the lesson? Know your role. Stay teachable. Don’t assume you’re in charge. In a world that celebrates platform and personal achievement, Peter calls believers to something radically countercultural: humility. Humility isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control. It’s choosing to trust God’s hand over our own hype. Humility is a Choice Peter writes: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble'" (1 Peter 5:5). The phrase “clothe yourselves” refers to putting on a servant’s apron. Humility isn’t just a nice feeling—it’s an intentional act. Something we choose, daily. And here’s the kicker: humility isn’t optional. Scripture says God actively opposes the proud…