May
11
A Church On Fire
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The church that was born on Pentecost Sunday was on fire, ablaze with the coming of the Holy Spirit and marked by intense fellowship, earnest prayer, and fervent outreach. The first Pentecost was unique and historically momentous, but let’s be open to the dynamic of the Holy Spirit in our day as well. Scripture from Acts 2:1-21.
Oct
11
The Priority of Prayer
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A vision needs a strategy to help it become a reality. Part of our CoJ vision is to honor God. How will that become a reality? Our primary strategy for honoring God includes worship and prayer.
About prayer - Luther called prayer “the breath of the Christian.” As humans we breathe oxygen every moment of every day. Prayer, therefore, according to Luther’s analogy, is that moment by moment personal communion with God. With that in mind, Paul’s words to the Thessalonians in I Thessalonians 5:17 take on new meaning - “… pray continually, ….” he admonished them. Commune with God through the events of each day. Acknowledge His presence in a moment of need. Whisper a word of thanks for some small blessing He brings your way. Remember, as Paul said to the Athenians on Mars Hill in Acts 17, “For in him we live and move and have our being.” Spiritually speaking, this type of personal prayer, or communion with God, is life sustaining. Read more
