Category Archives: Church Life

Get Ready, Get Set, and Wait: Observing Advent

Posted on November 26, 2022 by salooper57

Why do some churches begin their celebration of Advent, which is Latin for “arrival” and refers to Christ’s coming, a month before Christmas? Are they taking their cue from Walmart and trying to leverage the holiday to maximize worship attendance? … Continue reading →

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Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Posted on October 23, 2022 by salooper57

What did Jesus mean when he said, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors?” Will we not be forgiven if we don’t forgive? And for that matter, why do translations have “debts” when we pray “trespasses”? This message … Continue reading →

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Communities of Love and Belonging

Posted on October 1, 2022 by salooper57

The people of this generation are living through a sea change but as is often the case, those on the sea are liable not to notice it until it is too late. The term “sea change” has had two primary … Continue reading →

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They Prayed: Prayer Together (Acts 4:23-31)

Posted on August 1, 2022 by salooper57

When a group is so led by the Spirit, a remarkable thing occurs. Though various individuals speak, only one prayer comes through them. When that happens, people don’t lift their voices; they lift a voice; and it is the true voice of the Body of Christ. Continue reading →

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Why We Can’t Seem to Forgive

Posted on May 17, 2022 by salooper57

Why do we have so much trouble forgiving? We either don’t want to forgive or, wanting to, we find ourselves incapable of it. It probably not that we aren’t trying hard enough, but that we aren’t in a place in … Continue reading →

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The Baptism of the Spirit (Wide Angle)

Posted on May 11, 2022 by salooper57

Reading time: Approximately two minutes. There are some things in Acts 2, regarding the coming of the Spirit, which we would do well to note. The first is the meaning of the word baptism as it is applied to what … Continue reading →

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The Holy Spirit and the Church (Wide Angle)

Posted on May 5, 2022 by salooper57

The Catholic Church has created a great deal of controversy, but is surely right, when it says, “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus – “Outside the Church there is no salvation.” That is because no one outside the church is inside Christ. Continue reading →

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The End of All Things Is Near (a sermon on 1 Peter 4:7-11)

Posted on March 7, 2022 by salooper57

“The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” Peter does not say, “Be alert and of sober mind so that you” can outsmart the bad guys and save yourselves. … Continue reading →

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How Do We Get There from Here? (1 Peter 3:8-15)

Posted on February 21, 2022 by salooper57

Do you know how some TV shows begin with a scene that is full of peril and you don’t even know how you got there? The hero is covered with blood, he’s holding a knife, and a woman lies dead … Continue reading →

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The Power of Always Trying Again

Posted on February 12, 2022 by salooper57

(Reading time: 3 to 4 minutes) The title of a recent Christianity Today article caught my attention. It read, “I’ve Reached My Breaking Point as a Pastor.” The article cited a new Barna study that “discovered that 38 percent of … Continue reading →

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