More Than Words...

Many Christians today read Galatians as if it were primarily about personal salvation:  salvation is by faith, not by works. That is certainly part of Paul’s message.  But it is not the whole story. Paul’s deeper concern in Galatians is whether churches themselves are aligned with the true gospel and living in step with it as a community . The issue is not just how individuals are saved. It is whether churches are  walking the straight line of the gospel . Paul states the problem bluntly at the beginning of the letter: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” (Galatians 1:6–7) Throughout the letter, he returns to this concern, especially in Galatians 2:14, 5:2–12, and 6:12–16 . Something had shifted in the Galatian churches. The gospel had begun to be subtly redefined. “Not in Step With the Truth of the Gospel” One of the most revealing moments comes when Paul confr...

  As I think about the things God has been teaching me over the past year, one moment stands out with surprising clarity. It was the experience of tasting what has come to be known—at least in our family—as a two-million-dollar bottle of wine . Shortly after Sue and I arrived at my father-in-law’s house, he pulled me aside and said, “I was saving this bottle of wine for when the hospital was complete. I’d like to share it with you and Sue over dinner sometime this week.” Several years earlier, he had purchased a rare bottle of wine with a very specific purpose in mind. He was deeply invested—financially and personally—in the construction of a children’s hospital. The project wasn’t just a business venture; it was a labor of love. He had poured his expertise into it, along with nearly all of his savings. Other family members had invested as well. If the project had succeeded, his payout would have been approximately two million dollars. But through a series of unfortunate events...

I recommend church leaders read this book .   McHugh offers numerous practical insights on how introverts can leverage their personality type to lead effectively.    He discusses the importance of paying attention to natural rhythms and managing energy, offering practical strategies and advice in Chapter 7.      He doesn't let introversion be an excuse for withdrawing from relationships or from loving people.   The role of community is described as 'healing' for the introvert, and he talks about two critical movements for the introverted leader:   Inward movement of accepting and working with the way we are wired   Outward movement towards community This book challenged my assumptions about the relationship between personality and leadership.  It helped me discover some of my strengths and how I can leverage them in my leadership role.  It also gave me some insight into some of my struggles as a...

The events of Acts 2, though seemingly insignificant to the average Roman citizen at the time, marked the launch of the beginnings of God’s promised Kingdom. On that day of Pentecost, the risen King, Jesus Christ, sent His Spirit to empower His disciples and set in motion His grand strategy for bringing blessing to all the families of the earth just as he promised to Abraham. When the Spirit came, the Spirit empowered the disciples not only to speak in many languages but also to forge a new family—a community bound together in love and devotion to Jesus and one another. Acts 2:42-47 describes this family’s radical practices: Devotion to the Apostles' Teaching:  Believers wholeheartedly committed themselves to learning and living out the good news of Jesus and his kingdom, reordering their lives to align with all Jesus’ commands that were now made clear by the Spirit.   The Spirit filled them with a love for God and his ways. Devotion to Fellowship:  Far more tha...

There are lots of things I genuinely enjoy about the Christmas season—the food, the family gatherings, the gift-giving, the celebrations. It's the one time of year when songs about Jesus play openly in public spaces across our city. In many ways, Christmas really is a good celebration. And yet, if we're honest, it also awakens something deeper in us—a longing, a heart-cry that won't quite go away. This month, I've had a fresh rendition of the Christmas carol O Come, O Come Emmanuel on repeat. It's not a version everyone enjoys. It is stirring some controversy because it slowly builds toward a raw, heavy metal crescendo—a guttural roar of longing—before collapsing back into a quiet plea: O come, O come Emmanuel.   (Thank you, Skillet)  Your taste in music may be more refined or reserved than mine, so that particular version might not be your thing.  But the cry behind it is. Because beneath the lights, the music, and the celebrations is a shared ache—a yearning for ...

  A couple of weeks ago, I witnessed a scene in the mall that has stayed with me. After grabbing a hot coffee and finding a seat in the food court, I opened my laptop to catch up on some emails. Suddenly, I heard an excited lady exclaim in a loud voice, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Pastor!" I looked up to see a middle-aged woman completely overjoyed as a young pastor unloaded a small grocery cart filled with potatoes, tomatoes, bread, and fresh fruit into her arms. "Thank you! You remembered me," she said. After handing over the groceries, he offered a short prayer, gave her a big hug, and then continued on his way. It was an overcast Monday morning when I had not seen a single smile, only many tired and weary commuters with heads down and shoulders hunched. That scene felt like a bright light piercing through the darkness, and her joy was contagious. A few moments later, a young mom and her child took a seat at the table in front of her. The two connected with...

Most followers of Jesus genuinely long to see the church grow and the kingdom of God advance in the world. That’s a good and right desire—we should care deeply about seeing more people come to faith and experience transformation through Christ. But when we look at how “growth” is often measured in today’s church culture, it’s easy to assume that the key to advancing God’s kingdom lies in our ability to communicate skillfully, plan engaging events, market strategically, and draw large crowds to hear a gifted speaker. Jesus, however, gives us a very different picture of how His kingdom grows. God's Kingdom Grows Through Faithful Sowing In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a farmer scattering seed. The seed represents God’s Word, and the different types of soil symbolize the condition of people’s hearts as they hear it. The point is simple yet profound: when the Word of God’s kingdom takes root in receptive hearts, lasting transformation happens. Kingdom growth doesn’t come from c...