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Church Renewal

Commitment to Christ - Service

on Tue, 11/24/2015 - 00:34

:: 35 :: “‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’” (Matthew 25:40b)

For followers of Jesus, feeding the hungry, providing drink to the thirsty, comforting the sick, visiting the prisoner, and welcoming the stranger are not optional. They are the natural outflow of a life of discipleship to Christ.

Get your hands dirty. Make service in a soup kitchen, a clothing closet, or a justice ministry your way of life.

Commitment to Christ - Financial Giving

on Tue, 11/24/2015 - 00:26

:: 33 :: “Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21)

Jesus tells us that we should should put our resources toward those things that are eternal. While we should be wise in how we steward our finances today, our ultimate hope is in God.

The hope of Christians is that this life is not all there is, that there is something better, there is something beyond this life, where we will one day be raised with Christ, clothed in

Commitment to Christ - Financial Giving

on Fri, 11/20/2015 - 03:22

:: 31 ::  “Bring the whole tenth-part to the storage house so there might be food in my house. Please test me in this, says the Lord of heavenly forces. See whether I do not open all the windows of heavens for you and empty out a blessing until there is enough.” (Malachi 3:10)

Like the people of Israel, we are called to willingly and cheerfully make sacrifices to God, by giving of our time, talent, and treasure in service to God. Yet too often we do not. We are deceived in thinking either that there is not enough, or that God will not provide. So we hold back.

Commitment to Christ - Financial Giving

on Wed, 11/18/2015 - 21:36

:: 30 :: “You must reserve a tenth-part of whatever your fields produce each year.” (Deuteronomy 14:22)

The Bible is unapologetic in discussing our income, possessions, and generous giving. In the Old Testament, the offering was not determined by a percentage of income but instead consisted of sacrificing a portion of crop and livestock yields. The act of sacrifice had a number of purposes, among them atoning for sin and caring for the poor and oppressed.

Commitment to Christ - Witness

on Sun, 11/15/2015 - 15:59

:: 28::  “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

All of us are evangelists whether we realize it or not! It's just a matter of whether we are a good witnesse or a bad witness!

William J.

Commitment to Christ - Witness

on Sun, 11/15/2015 - 15:54

:: 27::  So, my child, draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Take the things you heard me say in front of many other witnesses and pass them on to faithful people who are also capable of teaching others. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Disciples of Jesus are called to a great task. We are to take those things we have learned from faithful pastors and loving them as Christ loved you. Praying for them. Serving  them. And speaking to them of your hope when you have opportunity.

Others may have the gift of evangelism and may be naturally inclined to steer conversations with new friends

Commitment to Christ - Witness

on Fri, 11/13/2015 - 17:07

:: 26::  Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “As you go, make this announcement: ‘The Kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons.” (Matthew 10:5-8a)

We have been called on a great adventure! We have been called to join in God’s salvific work. How awesome is that? How terrifying is that? You see, we are not spectators, but participants. The task of the witness is to give testimony to that which we have seen and heard. We can only share what we know to be true, what we have experience in our Christian

Commitment to Christ - Witness

on Wed, 11/11/2015 - 16:22

:: 25::  Whenever anyone asks you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it. (1 Peter 3:15b)

Witnessing to Jesus is a two-fold task and includes inviting others to the life of discipleship and answering the doubts, questions, and difficulties that those inside and outside the church have concerning our Christian faith. As Alister McGrath writes, “Evangelism could be said to be like offering someone bread. Apologetics would then be about persuading people there is bread to be had and it is good to eat.”

When we are asked concerning our hope, First Peter instructs us to “be ready to defend

Commitment to Christ - Witness

on Tue, 11/10/2015 - 23:06

::24::  Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person. (Colossians 4:5-6)

Each day, we are presented with countless opportunities to witness to Jesus and to share our own faith story. Our text from Colossians instructs us that our words “should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight.” Our witness can take many forms- in words and in deeds. The important thing is to be ready and be prepared for such sacred moments.

Commitment to Christ - Worship

on Sun, 11/08/2015 - 15:59

:: 22 ::  So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. (Romans 12:1)

The word worship brings to the imagination an event, most notably a standard church service. But the biblical notion of worship moves us beyond an event and thrusts us forward to a constant way of life. The worship of God is not only marked by the words we say and hear, but is defined by action.

One of the sayings of the Desert Fathers, a group of fourth and fifth century Egyptian

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