The early church gathered regularly for corporate prayer. They gathered to pray at key moments of decision (Acts 1:12-14). They gathered to pray when they were persecuted (Acts 4). But beyond these special meetings, the church gathered at fixed and regular times for corporate prayer (Acts 3:1; 13:1-3; 16:16). It was a consistent priority. C.H. … [Read more...]
Multi-Ethnicity and the Gospel
Our country is currently rife with racial tensions. And we as the church have an opportunity to model an alternative. We have a chance to show how to live as reconciled people because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A multi-ethnic church is not the goal of the gospel. The goal of the gospel is the glory of God and secondarily the redemption of … [Read more...]
Patriotism and the Church
Colin Kaepernick, the backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has stirred quite a controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem. By taking this action, he is seeking to draw attention to the plight of black people in this country. He and others who have joined this movement have received significant backlash and … [Read more...]
The Slippery Slope of Youth Sports
I am on record as someone who enjoys sports. And I value sports opportunities for my kids. Pushing yourself and being a part of a team provide an assortment of opportunities for character development. But I also believe that we need to be mindful of our culture’s fixation and idolization of sports. Sports (or any other activity for that matter) … [Read more...]