We are ever in danger. There is an evil one who, like a roaring lion, prowls about, seeking to devour us. He’s wily. He can even appear to be angel of light. He seeks to destroy the church through moral laxity or callous insensitivity. Failing to deal with sin will bring us to ruin. Failing to forgive will bring us to ruin every bit as fast.

Where in the World is the Church in All of This?

God is seeking the right kind of worshipers everywhere—through us.

The church leader’s authority is not ultimate. Nor is it intrinsic. It is relative and derivative. His authority is relative to the authority of this book. It is derived from the clarity of this book. In other words, the church’s leaders are never allowed to say, “Because I say so.” They can only say, “Because God’s word says so.” To the degree that they can say that with certainty, they exercise real authority and must be heard and obeyed.

What is the “Kingdom” and When Can We Expect It?

What Happens if You Get the Unifying Center Wrong? The Issue of Hermeneutics

It is part of our fallen condition that we think the best of our own actions and motives while thinking the worst of others. The Scriptures challenge us reverse that—to think more highly of others than of ourselves. Here is one obvious way we can obey that: refuse to sit in judgment on some else’s motives.

What Happens if You Get the Unifying Center Wrong? The Issue of Hermeneutics

Paul never got over the fact the Lord met him one day on the road to Damascus. He never tired of telling others about how the Lord humbled the proud, haughty persecutor, transforming him into a follower of Christ and charged him with the honor of speaking for Christ.

What Happens if You Get the Unifying Center Wrong? The Issue of Hermeneutics