Good church governance is like seatbelts in the car. We don’t often think about them - but when something goes wrong, we’re very glad they’re there!
The same is true in church life. You may not often think about governance, or even be sure what it means. At first it can feel like something distant, far removed from our mission to multiply and mature wholehearted followers of Jesus.
Gospel Generosity
Paul and I have just returned from a few days visiting another church in New Zealand. We went to see some of the ministry initiatives they have developed to reach people with the good news of Jesus. It was a great joy to spend time with brothers and sisters who share our love for Christ, treasure his word, and long to make him known.
I really enjoyed preaching on Sunday on the amazing truth of how the Holy Spirit has given us a new identity as God’s children.
How amazing is it that God hasn’t just saved us from our sin, but he’s adopted us into his family! And there’s nothing that can take this away from us! It’s a source of deep security and profound significance that helps us weather the storms of life. […]
I still remember my first real job interview like it was yesterday. It was for a graduate accountant role with a pay TV company. I wanted to make a good impression…
So, I dressed up in my Dad’s suit—it was a size too big. I polished my old school shoes. I found the only tie I owned that didn’t have cartoon characters on it.
And I was prepared. Well, I thought I was…
Do you ever feel like God is distant?
I know I do. There are days when I sit down to read the Bible and pray, and God just feels far away. The truth about the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit can feel more like a concept than a reality.
If you’ve ever had days—or even seasons—like that, you’re not alone. The question is: what do we do when God feels distant?
We’ve had some great questions about the Holy Spirit come through the comment cards during this series. I’ll try to address some of them here in the eNews as we work our way through. My prayer is that this helps us grow in our knowledge of God—Father, Son, and Spirit—and also grow as his followers together.
What gender is the Holy Spirit? Why do some people call the Spirit “it,” “she,” or “he”?
I recently read a theologian who consistently referred to the Holy Spirit as “it,” which made me think more about this question.
