Connecting with Church (1)

Church is not a good idea – it’s God’s idea! Jesus spoke of building His church (community) in Matthew 16:18ff. The Scriptures also speak of this community being purchased by God (Acts 20:28). If church is this important to the Father and the Son, surely it will be to us. Okay, but what exactly is church?Continue reading “Connecting with Church (1)”

Community and Communion

What happened in Eden did more than alienate us from God—we became estranged from each other! Redemption then is not only about us coming to God, it is about us coming to one other. The church as the body of Christ is the community of the reconciled, composed of people who belong to the LordContinue reading “Community and Communion”

The Joy of Community

Community is a prominent theme in the Psalms of Ascent. As we’ve noted, the background for these psalms are the pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts. These trips were made in the company of others. It was not only a safe way to travel, it was also spiritually enriching. God’s goodness was experiencedContinue reading “The Joy of Community”

Psalms for the Road

Psalms 120-134 were recited by Jewish pilgrims as they journeyed to Jerusalem for the three annual feasts celebrated by the nation of Israel. These 15 psalms speak to anyone who is traveling—whether it is a trip from point A to point B, or the larger journey we make through life. They were referred to asContinue reading “Psalms for the Road”