Category Archives: Church

The Ascension and Spiritual Gifts (Eph. 4:7-16)

Posted on June 4, 2025 by salooper57

Who would have guessed? Those little pieces were important. And so are the gifts that God gave to each of us. You can say, “My gift is probably not important,” but Jesus gave that gift to you for a reason, and gave you to us for a reason. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Church Life, Encouragement, Faith, Mission, Sermons, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus and the Fishermen

Posted on May 31, 2025 by salooper57

Their reply is a terse “No.” When you have been fishing all night and you haven’t caught even a little one, and somebody says, “Well boys, you didn’t catch anything, did you?” you don’t feel very talkative. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should Church Sanctuaries Be Coffee Shops?

Posted on May 17, 2025 by salooper57

It may have taken 50 years, but the worship industry now tracks their biggest hits with the CCLI Top 100, and woe to the church that does not include enough of the Top 100 in its worship services. Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Church, Church Life, Faith, Worldview and Culture | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Generational Challenges and the Unity of the Spirit

Posted on May 10, 2025 by salooper57

I thought all this in a flash. I spoke it more cautiously. “You know, by the time you’re a grandma, it’s possible that people won’t be wearing nose rings anymore. They might not be cool by then.” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Church Life, Encouragement, Faith, relationships | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Easter: A First-Hand Account

Posted on April 22, 2025 by salooper57

For the first time I could remember, it wasn’t just me. It was us. I was saying things like, “We should go to the market. We should bake some bread. It felt so good to say “We.”
But we were us only because of him. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Faith, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The End of All Things: It’s Near

Posted on April 2, 2025 by salooper57

When Peter tells us to love each other, he knows it will be a stretch for us. It will take us out of our comfort zone, but that is where people usually meet God. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Church Life, Encouragement, Faith, relationships, Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eveready (video)

Posted on March 27, 2025 by salooper57

This is our hope. Every other hope in humanity’s history, whether religious (think Islam or Buddhism), humanistic (think socialism or communism), or scientific (think Peter Thiel and Elon Musk) pales before the grand hope that is ours. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Encouragement, Faith, Sermons, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eveready

Posted on March 25, 2025 by salooper57

Thank God that the world will be judged! Thank God that we shall be judged. We want there to be a judgment, not because we will be proved right but because we will be put right. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Faith, Sermons, Spiritual life, Theology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Submission Is for the Mission

Posted on March 20, 2025 by salooper57

The biblical context makes it clear that wives are not the only ones instructed to submit. This submission cannot be about male superiority since three of the four times Peter instructs people to submit, men are the ones submitting. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity, Church, Family, Marriage and Family, Mission, relationships, Sermons, Worldview and Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Submission Is for the Mission

Posted on March 18, 2025 by salooper57

The biblical context makes it clear that wives are not the only ones instructed to submit. This submission cannot be about male superiority since three of the four times Peter instructs people to submit, men are the ones submitting. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church, Marriage and Family, Mission, Sermons, Worldview and Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment