Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, this pandemic has become polarizing and served to plough more fertile ground for intense disagreement. Disagreement, even among Christians, will always be present on earth until Christ returns, so we must learn to disagree well. Therefore, I will offer a few biblical principles for how to enter into disagreement in […]
Uncategorized
Why You Still Do Not Need to Worry
In a matter of a week, it feels like the world has completely changed. This is one reason I continue to give thanks that our God and his word never change. He’s the same yesterday, today, and for all times. The same is true of his word. So, I can happily assure you that Matthew […]
Is the Holy Spirit in Your Church Service?
Feeling Isn’t Everything Do you want a spirituality that is authentic, relevant, and personal? Do you yearn for your faith to be a constant experience of excitement and emotion? It’s appropriate for us to want a vibrant relationship with God. So what does it look like for us to genuinely experience the Holy Spirit of […]
The LORD: My Strength, My Song, My Salvation
As Christians, we know that all Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for mankind (2 Timothy 3:16). So whenever we come to Scripture, it’s actually really important for us to slow down and pay close attention. Yet sometimes when we read God’s Word, and we notice that an idea is repeated, it’s […]
So We Do Not Lose Heart
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are […]
Together for Good: The Grace of Gathering in Fellowship
Several years ago I was asked to attend a fellowship gathering at a church that I was interning at. It was made up of 75 or so retirees, and eager to get to know that segment of our church, I agreed. The evening consisted of a group meal (very good by church potluck standards), announcements […]
Why Christ-Centered Worship Is Crucial
Asking the Right Questions Every week on the Lord’s Day, Christians gather into their local churches to worship Christ. Yet what happens on Sunday can vary significantly from church to church. This diversity can be a good thing when it means that the changeless gospel of Christ has been applied to new cultural contexts. But […]
What Makes a Good Church?
If you’ve spent much time looking for good churches in Kalamazoo, or any city for that matter, you know there is no shortage of congregations to choose from. But with such a myriad of options, how do you pick the one that is right for you? Is it based on size? The quality of the […]
Five Reasons for Bible-Filled Worship
Five Reasons for Bible-Filled Worship If you visit Good Shepherd, you will notice our worship services are not only Bible-based; they are Bible-filled. By that, I mean the Bible both determines what we do in our worship services and provides the primary content for our worship services. Our call to worship is a Bible passage. […]
Five Good Reasons Why Our Church Is Starting a Blog
This is 2020. There is no shortage of web articles, social media apps, or websites. Blogs themselves have been around since the 1990s. And even Facebook and Twitter are beginning to look a little archaic now that they’ve been around for more than a decade. Is this really a good time for our church (Good […]