Church

Every group becomes known for something. The Boy Scouts are known for "Be Prepared." Chick-fil-A is known for saying, "My pleasure." Vikings fans are known for their enthusiastic "Skol" chant. That raises an important question for every church: What should the church be known for? Too often, churches become known primarily for what they're against. While truth certainly matters, the New Testament paints a much richer picture of what the people of God should be known for. In Philippians 2, the Apostle Paul casts a compelling vision of a church marked by unity, humility, service, and a shared passion for Jesus. It begins with unity. Unity Is More Than Getting Along Paul loved the believers in Philippi. They were one of his favorite churches. Yet even healthy churches face pressures that can pull them apart. The same is true today. Every church is made up of people with different personalities,…

Have you ever started something only to discover it was much harder than you expected? I remember coaching a basketball team of seven- and eight-year-olds. The kids were fantastic. The parents? Well... let's just say coaching involved more than teaching jump shots. Most new adventures begin with excitement and optimism. Then reality shows up. The same is true of following Jesus. Many people assume faith will make life easier. They expect more peace and fewer problems. Then hardship comes. Discouragement sets in. Questions arise. "Is this really what following Jesus is supposed to be like?" If you've ever wondered that, you're in good company. Acts 14 reminds us of an important truth: God uses our life experiences to make us stronger disciples. Faith Grows Through Real Life Paul and Barnabas arrive in the city of Lystra, where they meet a man who has never walked. Through God's power, the man…

It doesn't take much to divide people. One disagreement. One controversial issue. One strong opinion. Before long, people are choosing sides and deciding who's in and who's out. We see it in politics. We see it on social media. We see it around family dinner tables. And if we're honest, we sometimes see it in the church. Acts 15 tells the story of one of the most important moments in the history of Christianity because the early church faced a question that had the potential to divide everything God was doing. The answer they discovered is just as important today as it was then: Understanding the gospel is the key to church unity. When Good News Creates New Questions Acts 14 ends on a high note. Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch after their first missionary journey and report that God has opened "a door of faith" to the Gentiles.…

Have you ever wondered if prayer really makes a difference? If I'm honest, there have been times when I've prayed simply because I knew I was supposed to. Prayer became more of a habit than an expectation. I wasn't really asking, "Will God do this?" I was wondering, "Is anyone actually listening?" Then life has a way of bringing you to a place where you run out of options. That's exactly where the early church found itself in Acts 12. And they discovered something every follower of Jesus eventually needs to learn: Prayer is not a last resort. It's our starting point. When Options Seem Limited (but they're really not) By Acts 12, the church is growing. The gospel is spreading. Lives are being transformed. But following Jesus has also become dangerous. King Herod arrests believers, and James, one of Jesus' closest disciples, is executed. Then Peter is arrested and…

Have you ever noticed how naturally people talk about the things they love? Grandparents don't need reminders to show pictures of their grandchildren. Sports fans can talk for hours about their favorite team. Ask someone about a hobby they're passionate about, and you'll probably hear more than you expected. We naturally talk about the things that bring us joy. I've noticed that in my own life. Nobody has to remind me to talk about the things I'm excited about. The same is true spiritually. I've found that the people who speak most naturally about Jesus are not usually the ones who feel pressured to evangelize. They're the ones who are most captivated by him. That helps explain the ending of Philippians 2:1-11. Why Jesus Is Worthy of Worship Over the previous verses, Paul describes Jesus' incredible humility. He gave up privilege, became a servant, and willingly went to the cross.…