Churches today are tempted to adopt a corporate model of the church, which can be a consumer-oriented approach focused on programs, numerical growth, and effectiveness. The early church showed a different model with the…
Jesus’ speaking of the “signs of the times” is a wake-up call to pay attention to what’s happening in the world, and then respond in ways that are faithful and courageous, showing that our…
The story of the rich fool reminds us of the temptation to store up treasures on earth through accumulating more and more wealth and possessions. Jesus invites us to be “rich toward God”, seeing…
Prayer was an integral part of Jesus’ life and ministry. God has a ‘holy longing’ to know us, and we are wired with a longing to know God as well. One way that we…
Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan shows us that loving our neighbor means showing mercy to others, even people who aren’t like us and people we don’t know. Three ways that we can show…
The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the armor of God as our way as Christ-followers to confront and disarm the powers and principalities at work in the world. Rich Villodas reminds us that…
The presence of evil in our world has a spiritual dimension, and there is a battle between the forces of good manifested through God as revealed in Jesus, and “principalities and powers” that manifest…
The transition from suffering to hope is possible when God is in our lives and when God’s love is in our hearts. An excellent example of this is the forgiveness and grace shown by…
Like those on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out, we ask “What does this mean for the Church today?” Let us keep working to “catch up” to the Holy…
Jesus does not leave his followers alone and abandoned, but gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit, who will always be present with them (and us). The Spirit provides a peace that is…
