Hope Alliance Bethlehem

Jesus said that people would know we follow him if we love like he loved. Love is to be a singular definer of the church. For this to be so, our love must be real and consistent. It cannot be shallow or contingent on what we receive in return. This kind of self-sacrifice demands that we be totally committed to love as our way of life.

The Bible is not a rule book. And its not an owner's manual. It is the beautiful story of God meant to envelope each of us. We read it to be taught the truth of the gospel and trained to live in response to the gospel. In the midst of a broken world and our broken lives, the Bible constantly pulls us back to the person and work of Jesus and the eternal love story of Creator God for the world.

For many Christians prayer is a hard reality. The truth is we aren't sure we know how to do it. That unfortunate reality has more to do with how we have seen people pray in church then what prayer truly is. When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he taught them a memorable means of prayer which can serve as a wonderful paradigm to launch us into meaningful prayer.

How should followers of Jesus respond to the racial tension in our world? First, we must lament that this world is not the way God intended it to be. Second, we must have a vision of God's intention for humanity - unity through diversity. This reality is only possible through the gospel. Finally, we must act. We are called to embody God's future in the now so that everyone might know the the truth of who God is and what he has done through Jesus. So, we do justice, love mercy and walk with God in humility.

True worship is way more than the songs we sing on a Sunday. It comes knows God and values him above all other things. From this comes not only our songs of praise, but an entire way of life - a posture of submission, adoration and service to God. In this way, worship is holistic. Its any every moment reality that includes every part of us.

Central to our identity as followers of Jesus is our call to go and make disciples. Contrary to the regular practice of the church, going is not just for some - it is for everyone. Going is not an option and it is also not geographically bound. Most of us will not be called to foreign lands, but we are still very much sent to the neighborhoods, workplaces and spheres of influence in which we find ourselves. As we share in the mission, the kingdom of God goes forward.

In closing his letter to the Corinthians, Paul hits on some really important points for the church. As God's people, we must think beyond ourselves. We must learn to follow God and not simply our heart. We must value character over charisma. We must hold tightly to the gospel. And above all, we must love pervasively.

The Lord's Supper is meant to be a unifying reality for the church and yet the Corinthians were using it to be divisive - honoring some above others. Paul reminds them that this is the very meal which symbolizes Jesus being shamed so that we might be honored as children of God. The only proper way to approach the communion table is as one unworthy and yet one graciously welcomed!

In this often confusing passage about head coverings and hair length, Paul is emphasizing three centrally important realities for the Jesus follower. First, our cultural context matters and we should do our best to offer the gospel in context. Second, God created men and women not only for each other, but more importantly to better bear his image to the world. Finally, we must constantly ask ourselves in life, "Is this about my glory or God's glory?"