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Gospel

In Bible Study, Blog, Matthew on
January 11, 2021

Hear and Understand

When we are trying to teach a lesson, we often use stories to help those who are listening to us understand it. We tell children the story of The Tortoise and the Hare to teach them to never give up. We tell them the story of The Ants and the Grasshopper to teach them the importance of hard work. Or perhaps we share with them the story of The Lion and the Mouse to teach them to be kind to everyone they meet.[1] But we don’t just use stories to teach children. Pastors use illustrations in their sermons. Professors insert stories into their lectures. And motivational speakers share the tales of their own personal successes.

Jesus also used stories when teaching people during His ministry, which are usually labeled as parables. One of my favorite parables of Jesus is His Parable of the Sower.

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In Blog, Book Reviews, Church on
September 28, 2020

A Place to Belong

Church used to be a much higher priority in our society. Most everyone went to church on Sunday mornings. Businesses were closed and nobody worked so that they could spend their Sabbath worshipping the Lord and fellowshipping with other believers. Over time, things changed. Businesses did open on Sunday, which meant people had to work at those businesses. Other things such as sports games and self-care were prioritized over attending church services. 

Nowadays, church is no longer deemed “essential.” It is seen as something that is good to be a part of, but it is totally okay and normal if you only make it there fifty percent of the time. According to Ligonier Ministries’ 2018 State of Theology survey, fifty-eight percent of American adults agree with the statement, “Worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.”[1]

Yet, the Bible discusses the church and its importance often in the New Testament. Can worshipping alone, worshipping as a family, or watching an online service really be a replacement for going to church every week?

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