We make decisions constantly. Many of them are put on "autopilot" so that we are not consciously aware of them unless we choose to pay attention. This may be a big help in day-to-day living, but it behooves us to stop and think about our decisions to be sure we make the best choices. This lesson brings to mind important aspects of good decision-making that draws us to a higher purpose.
Read more...
Financial stewardship is an important topic because God said a lot about it. How we use our finances is important because we are simply stewards of what ultimately belongs to God. So, the way we use our funds should relate to His purposes. Considering that His purposes always have revolved around Christ and His church, it's good to think about stewardship relative to how it can help bring unity in the body of Christ.
Read more...
God designed unity in the church to be an action instead of just a situation. He created unity by redeeming us and putting us into the same body (the church), but we are expected to maintain it. Recognizing our gifts and committing to work in them is the key to maintaining the unity God expects.
The modern religious landscape reveals many attitudes and ideas that contradict the Bible. This is no less true when looking at the idea of unity. For many, "doctrine" is evil and the cause of all division. The Bible tells a different story, one that places great importance upon finding, understanding, and holding on to doctrinal truths.
Reading the New Testament, we can easily see that God wants His church to live in unity. But unity in the Bible is not simply a decision to get along, nor is it a state of being to achieve. God has already created that kind of unity. It is up to us to maintain that, but that only comes through activity. Unity is not passive but active. When the body of Christ is working together, that is the unity God expects of His people.
Read more...
Love is the bond that holds us all together in Christ. How does this work though? Plenty of people feel love for others but they do not have unity. Is love merely an emotion that we create in our minds? Here is a taste of what the Bible says about how (and why) love is the supreme principle in unity.
Read more...
