Tag Archives: community

Celebrities or Servants?

I caught the last snippet of a commercial where someone was identified as a celebrity landscaper. Well of course—why just be a landscaper when you can be a celebrity landscaper? The possibilities are endless: celebrity school teacher, celebrity pharmacist, celebrity construction worker. And let’s not forget the kids—we can have celebrity teenagers, celebrity children, and celebrityContinue reading “Celebrities or Servants?”

A Crime Against the Church

There was a serious issue at Corinth. The problem was they had exalted certain disciples among them (specifically Paul and Apollos—see 3:4ff). While there’s nothing wrong and plenty right with having leaders who model correct attitudes and behaviors (11:1), the situation at Corinth went far beyond that. The disciples had not only put Paul andContinue reading “A Crime Against the Church”

It Happened in a Waiting Room

I had one of my knees replaced not long ago, so I’m going to physical therapy three times a week. I suppose as therapy places go, this one is neither huge nor small—somewhere in between. I like to get there a few minutes early to check in and not be rushed. There’s almost always someoneContinue reading “It Happened in a Waiting Room”

A Question About Heaven

Melissa has asked, “What verses . . . indicate reconciliation w/our loved ones after death?” Once the question of heaven is settled for ourselves, we’re just as interested in seeing it settled in regard to our loved ones, aren’t we?  And why shouldn’t we be? Whatever else is true about us, we’re made for relationships. So we shouldn’tContinue reading “A Question About Heaven”

God At Work

Whatever else it might be, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is filled with fundamentally rich and glorious truths about the church that should transform the way we think about the community God has created through Jesus. Written to a first-century congregation comprised of people from starkly different backgrounds (Jews and Gentiles), the topic of community would be an area where theyContinue reading “God At Work”

Rooting ourselves in community

It’s no secret to anyone who spends any time in 1 Corinthians that the disciples at Corinth were experiencing some serious problems due to their divisiveness. Paul points this out at the start (1:10ff) and returns to it frequently throughout the letter. It is one of the major themes of 1 Corinthians. I suppose thereContinue reading “Rooting ourselves in community”

A Mailbox, a Note, and a Good Neighbor

Our mailbox leads a rather solitary existence. It interacts with our mail carrier once a day, sees either Janice or me the same amount—and that’s it—except for the many vehicles that drive by. Only the vehicles don’t always drive by. One time during a rainstorm a car came off the road and ran over theContinue reading “A Mailbox, a Note, and a Good Neighbor”

Celebrating Community

Do you recognize where these slogans come from?             “Caring is part of our package.”             “Find you family at . . . “ Did you guess Jack’s? If so, you only get partial credit because the business’s name is actually Jack’s Family Restaurants. In their branding as well as in their hiring, they want you to associateContinue reading “Celebrating Community”

The Third Call

Hebrews 10:19-25 is an instructive text—both for understanding the letter as well as for living as a follower of Jesus today—especially as it relates to community life. This section consists of  two conclusions (punctuated by the word “since”) and three calls (“let us”).  The conclusions are: 1) We have confidence to enter into the presence ofContinue reading “The Third Call”