The apostles regularly warned and exhorted the early church about men who develop cleverly devised ideologies that undermine the gospel of Jesus Christ (see 2 Cor. 11:1-4; Gal. 1:6; Eph. 4:14; Col. 2:8). “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit” — Colossians 2:8 The Apostles’ Warning Against False Ideologies In the early days of the church, when…
Simple Thoughts on Denying Yourself, Taking Up Your Cross, and Following Jesus Sometimes the words of Jesus are easy to read but hard to live. When I look at what he says in Mark 8:34—“If anyone wants to follow me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me”—I feel both challenged and encouraged. This isn’t some hidden…
A Simple Reflection on What Makes the Church Different “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the…
Why Paul Talked About the Spirit’s Power Instead of Fancy Words Have you ever listened to someone who spoke so smoothly and persuasively? You almost believed anything they said just because they sounded so smart. In Paul’s time, this impressive speech was common among teachers and philosophers. But when the apostle Paul shared the message of Jesus, he took a…
Understanding Our Calling in Today’s World Sometimes in life, we get so used to our routines that we stop noticing what’s really happening around us. This can even happen in our faith. In Romans 13:11, the Bible tells us to “wake up” because our salvation is closer than ever. In other words, God is calling us to pay attention to…
Reflections on the Church and the Gospel Message, Part 2: Speaking Truth in Love A Down-to-Earth Post for Every Believer Let’s be real: the world is full of noise, and the Church is no exception. We’re surrounded by messages about faith, hope, and the gospel. These messages come from passionate sermons. They also come from polished church broadcasts and even…
Understanding Paul’s Message about Hope, Inheritance, and Belonging to God Hope is a beautiful thing, but it’s also tricky. Our hopes are often built from our strong desires or our vivid imaginations. If they’re not based on something real and solid, they fall apart. It is like trying to make clothes out of spider webs. They look fine at first,…
Understanding Our Divine Heritage in Everyday Words Have you ever heard someone say, “You’re chosen as God’s inheritance,” and wondered what that actually means? It can sound complicated or far away. But, it’s really a message about how much you matter to God. He wants to share an amazing future with you. What Does “God’s Inheritance” Mean? When we talk…
Understanding Faith in Everyday Life “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:31-33) What…
afrancinegreen.com 