I do not like the change that some calendar publishers have popularized. Especially on calendars designed for the business world, the week begins on Monday and the weekend is an afterthought in the far right-hand box–usually including both Saturday and Sunday in one box. (I suppose that six boxes saves money over seven boxes.) Think …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Another Week, Principles for Life”
After five consecutive Sundays of international travels and time away from Park Plaza, today I am ‘at home.’ In October I worshiped and preached at a house church in Chile with no more than 30 present; last week I was at an area-wide worship assembly in Guatemala City with almost 4000 present on Sunday morning. …
Yesterday I wrote about home and family. This morning we are traveling and are “away from home.” As we prepare to worship with the family of God, I am thinking about how the reflections I wrote yesterday apply to God’s family and our spiritual home. Our spiritual home is usually defined most sharply by our …
What was it like to assemble with the church in the first century? What were the attitudes of the Christians as they came together on the Lord’s Day? What did they talk about? What did they think about? Some of the places of assembly may have been public buildings; more often the church assembled in …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Preparing for Ministry”
Matthew 25 is usually quoted to remind us of the importance of “benevolent work” or prison ministry. The text says, “Insomuch as you did it unto one of the least of these, you did it unto me.” Today I am thinking about a different application of this text. How do I treat my brothers and …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: God lives among his people”
Today we share spiritual family reunions with two families that are an important part of our spiritual history. We served in ministry with the Plymouth church of Christ almost 40 years ago (1974-1976). Today the Plymouth church celebrates its 75th anniversary and we are thrilled at the prospect of worshiping this morning with our spiritual …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Plymouth and Holmes Road”
I like to use a part of the day on Sundays for meditation. Generally, my best opportunity for meditation is early Sunday morning. Something seems right about using the Lord’s Day to think more deeply about the things of God. Today I am thinking about excellence in the Christian life. Christian excellence is not the …
In Revelation 2-3, Christ is pictured in the midst of the seven churches of Asia. In Revelation 21-22, Christ is again in the midst of the church. In these two passages, perhaps related if one accepts a symmetrical or chiastic outline of Revelation, there is a lesson for the modern church and today’s Christians. Certainly …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Christ is in the midst of his church”
This past week, I have returned to my “psalms project.” I am writing a devotional based on each of the 150 psalms. As a result, I have had the opportunity to read and reread Psalms 90-100. Worship begins with a heart attuned to God. The Lord reigns—majestic, strong, eternal, transcendent, invincible, and holy. The Lord …
Continue reading “It’s Sunday Again: Worship Begins with Who God Is”
Today I am at home. I will worship at Park Plaza. I anticipate sharing the unique and special fellowship that exists when one is at home. So far this year, I worshiped on Sunday with 25 different congregations of God’s Family in eight countries. Six of the congregations were English-speaking, most of the time I …
