What's the point of belonging to a family if you never live life as a member of that family? Scripture tells us that God knows his children. However, many of us stay at a surface level relationship with Jesus instead of experiencing the deep intimacy of being known by God. The apostle Paul was confounded by believers who, after hearing and responding to the truth of the Gospel, continued to be entrapped by their sinful desires. The early church fathers constantly reminded the church of who they were, and whose they were. We need the same reminder today.

We're all known by someone for something. Some of us want to be known by as many people as possible. Others only want a tight-knit few to know them. The paradox of being known is that as hard as we might work to be known for our abilities, achievement, or appearance, we're allowing someone else to define who we are. But the beauty of God's love is that when we weren't worthy of being known, He chose us.

Easter Sunday can be defined very differently depending on the people with whom you might be speaking. Funny enough, the very first Easter Sunday was exactly the same. There are a number of accounts of that first Sunday when Jesus rose from the grave. One of the most interesting is from a woman named Mary. Her life was revolutionarily changed by Jesus, and she wasn't ready to let him go; even in death. But when Jesus reveals himself to her after the resurrection, Mary's eternal life was changed, and she wouldn't be silent about it.

The story behind Palm Sunday may not be everything you grew up thinking. What we know as Palm Sunday is a celebration of Jesus entering Jerusalem. This is better known as the Triumphal Entry. But what unfolds in the following days not only changes the very people crying out in celebration, it also changes eternity. Yet despite knowing the truth today, many Christians are hesitant to tell the story of Jesus. If we truly believe that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has the power to change everything, we should stop at nothing to tell the story to any and every person in our lives.

What is really expected of someone in a church family? Most people long for the community of belonging and the friendship of people. Unfortunately, most of us aren't willing to be open, honest, and disciplined enough to enjoy the full benefits of what a church family can offer. As Paul finishes his letter to the Corinthian believers he gives specific details about his plans and what each of them should be doing. Far too often we expect life to come to us instead of recognizing moments of decision and opportunity. We must take action. It's as simple as that. If you want to see the kind of church life the Bible describes, you must be willing to actively participate.

What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to the life of a believer today? Surprisingly enough, believers in the first century were asking that very question. Some believed that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead, but didn't believe that anyone else would. The apostle Paul not only teaches that there is a future promise of a resurrection to every believer, but also an opportunity to live in the resurrection today. We have freedom and new life from sin and death in the here and now because of Christ's triumph over the grave. We shouldn't simply say we believe in the resurrection; we should live our lives in the power of the resurrection.

What is speaking in tongues, and why don't we all do it? That question has probably been asked countless times since God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of believers. Churches today tend to swing to one extreme or another on the subject of Spiritual Gifts; especially when it comes to the gift of tongues. Paul spends a considerable amount of time in his letter to the Corinthians believers clarifying and providing explanation for speaking in tongues. In the end, it is a mysterious gift that not every believer is given. Our walk with Christ will be filled with mysteries that may never be fully explained this side of Heaven. We can trust God is at work and lean on His Word when we're unsure.

It's perfectly natural to desire abilities, but we should have a far greater desire for love. Many people in the church feel that their gifts or abilities are lesser because they aren't singing or preaching on a stage. Paul reminds us that love is something far greater than any spiritual gift. However, many of us have a difficult time accepting love. We list every reason why we aren't worthy of love while becoming frustrated that we aren't living a stronger walk with the Lord. Perhaps it's time to stop trying so hard and let our Heavenly Father love us well.

Each and every Christian has been given spiritual gifts. Too often these gifts are misused, undervalued, or mistakenly exalted. The apostle Paul reminds us about the purpose and usefulness of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. These gifts are to be used for the glory of God and encouragement of God's people. Any time we undervalue or mistakenly exalt our gifting, we fail to fulfill the purpose of their placement in our lives.

When was the last time you did some serious inventory of your heart? Outside of a church service, personal tragedy, or major transition, most people don't spend a lot of time considering their own indifference or depravity. Left unchecked, we like anyone else have a tendency to drift into selfishness. The believers in Corinth were even falling into this trap in the worship and work of the church. We need to take time, especially before worshipping or serving, to ask God to reveal areas of our lives in which we have failed to surrender to him.