At first thought, following Jesus seems easy. It seems a matter of changing your mind about who Jesus is, recognising and accepting him as Saviour, and acknowledging him as King and Ruler. I suppose it is easy, relatively speaking, to see ‘following Jesus’ as a ‘decision’. Western Christianity often focuses on people making ‘decisions’ to [...]
Archive for the ‘worship’ Category
Following and Sacrifice
Posted in Christian faith, Christian Living, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Discipleship, Grace, Incarnation, Jesus, Mission, Presence, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Spirituality, Struggle, Transformation, Trials, Worldview, worship on January 11, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Test yourselves… what?
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Family, Grace, Great reading, Preaching, Presence, Reformed Theology, Relationship, Spirituality, worship, tagged Authentic Faith, Relationships, transformation on July 1, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: 2 Corinthians 13:5-10 I have often wondered about this verse: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” I mean, wouldn’t I know whether I am in the faith? Don’t I know my own motives, whether I really do entrust myself to Jesus? There will always be some who will say that [...]
Why you (still) need the church…
Posted in Christian faith, Church, Church systems, Comfort, Devotional Readings, Family, Grace, Healthy Churches, Opposition, Popularity, Preaching, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, Struggle, Teachers, Trials, worship, tagged community, Love, Neighourhood, Spiritual Gifts on June 24, 2011 | 2 Comments »
(Apologies that my posts have been a little irregular these last weeks. Leonie and I have visited a few churches, as well as ReCharge – The CRCA pastor’s conference, we have considered a few calls from churches, we’ve decided to accept a call to Gateway CRC, and this last week we’ve out our house on [...]
The God Who Implores: Can we contemplate worshipping a God who would beg for anything?
Posted in Christian faith, Devotional Readings, Grace, Healthy Churches, Incarnation, Mission, Pastors, Preaching, Presence, Reformed Theology, Spirituality, worship, tagged Begging, Passion of God, Pleading, Reconciliation on June 16, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Read 2 Cor 5:11-21 Try and remember the last time you begged for anything. I mean, seriously pleaded and entreated anyone for something. After we get past the trivialities of begging as a child for a puppy, or pleading with an adolescent son to get out of bed and go to school, we start to [...]
Present
Posted in Christian faith, Church, Devotional Readings, Grace, Presence, Spirituality, worship on May 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Read: Romans 8:1-11 This morning I am struck by the simplicity of this week’s prayer: Lord, you have promised to meet those who seek your face. Come now and reveal your presence to me as I make myself present to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, Amen We invest so much energy [...]