When Christ returns for His Bride, the church, will we be dressed in deeds befitting our role as Christ’s Bride? Or will our collective witness be stained by hypocrisy, divisiveness, infighting and adulterous acts with idols? … More Chosen 5 – Jesus and His Bride
Throughout history, Dr. Eddy argues, there have been three marriage models that have evolved with society: traditional marriage, romantic marriage, and consumer marriage. But which of these models is the right one for a Christian marriage? None of them, answers Eddy.
… More Kingdom Sex & the Covenant of Marriage
In his ongoing series on American Idols, this week Skye Jethani is taking on the idol of patriotism in his “With God Daily” devotional. This clarion call and challenge has been a key concern of mine. Keeping the church’s identity and witness distinct from national agendas and partisan politics is essential for the mission of the … More America is Not the Chosen (Skye Jethani)
Repost from 2018. Happy Valentine’s Day! While many will rely on Hallmark’s card writers to find the perfect words to say “I love you” today, some Christians might reach back to the famous “love chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13 read at many weddings. Yet, the man who wrote these words would probably find it quite … More Your One True Love
We don’t think attaining “the blessed life” has any correlation with faithful obedience and diligent devotion! If Jesus was obedient for us, then we can lazily float away our days on a inflatable lounger in the pool of cheap grace. … More Climbing Mt. Everest (Psalm 119)
On the occasion MainStreet’s anniversary this January, I’m sharing some favorite stories I’ve written down for a forthcoming book documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! In September of 2011 we were preparing for our first monthly preview worship service at the Gillespie Center. I remember that spring looking at our small, tired launch team and saying, “Well, … More MainStreet Memories: Crown Connection
On the occasion of our 6th anniversary, I want to share some favorite memories from a book I’m working on documenting the MainStreet journey. Enjoy! Church planting is not for the faint of heart. It is frontline missionary work with a high casualty rate. More church plants fail and than succeed. Many wide-eyed dreamers set … More MainStreet Memories: Across the Lake
From I Am A Church Member by Thom Rainer: Pledge #1: I will be a functioning church member. I like the metaphor of membership. It’s not membership as in a civic organization or a country club. It’s the kind of membership given to us in I Corinthians 12, “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual … More Six Pledges of Church Members
I have almost finished the long journey toward ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church. It will become official at our national gathering in Kansas City this June. But I was recognized this week along with other ordinands at our Northwest Conference Annual Meeting at Salem Covenant Church in New Brighton. On Friday morning all of … More Ordination: A Milestone in the Making
One divine melody permeates the grand narrative of redemptive history. In this series, Jeremy is guiding us through the biblical narrative–from Genesis to Revelation–with “ears to hear” the penetrating God-beat keeping everything in tune. A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January … More FATHER’S SONG (4): Whistling Alone in the Dark (Abraham)
I’ve been studying the history and founding fathers of the Covenant the past several months. Perhaps the greatest influential figure of the 19th century revivals that swept through Sweden was C.O. Rosenius (1816-1868). He became one of Sweden’s most widely read religious writers of his time as the editor of Pietisten used heavily by the Mission Friends … More Carl Olof Rosenius on a Living Faith
Q: Why is the Bible so strict on prohibiting pre-marital sex? What’s the big deal? Pastor Greg Boyd sheds some light on the Bible’s perspective on this sacredness of sex and marriage: Today in western culture people tend to have a rather “recreational” view of sex. It’s just a pleasurable physical activity we engage in. … More Q&A – What’s the Big deal about Sex?
We’re comparing the differences between John Piper and N. T. Wright on Paul and the New Perspective using helpful summaries compiled by Trevin Wax featured in the June edition of Christianity Today. Today we look at their respective views of the Law and Covenant. What is the purpose of the Law and Covenant? WRIGHT: God … More Piper vs. Wright (2): The Law & Covenant
Kingdom Harbor 