The reputation of the local church matters, because it God's way of holding up and holding out the truth to the world. Therefore, Paul says in 1 Timothy 5, Christians should give appropriate honour to the neediest people, to Bible teachers and to employers.

14-11-2022 - Lucas Durant

The God of the Bible calls himself the defender of widows and the father of the fatherless. He commands his people to care for widows, orphans and aliens in their midst. So what part does mercy ministry or social care play in God's design for the local church? It is a necissary, but limited, ministry which helps the church display the truth of the gospel and the value of godliness to a watching world.

06-11-2022 - Lucas Durant

Paul writes to Timothy in full hearing of the church in Ephesus, encouraging him to persevere in reading, preaching and teaching the Scriptures. When distractions appear and detractors arise, the consistent setting forth of the Gosepl in life and in doctrine remain the one necissary thing.

30-10-2022 - Rob Nollan

Growing in godliness does not happen by accident. It is hard work requiring discipline and training. Those who cut corners and avoid the work will leave themselves vulnerable to demons, deceptions and deprivations. Those who train in godliness will benefit in every way both in this life and the life to come.

23-10-2022 - Jon Polk

All-Age Service. God has constructed the church with a particular goal - that the church should be a pillar and foundation of the truth. Every local church is therefore meant to hold up and hold out the truth of the Gospel to a lost world. By both its doctrine and conduct the church holds up the mystery of godliness.

16-10-2022 - Lucas Durant

God wants all people to be saved, and he is using local churches to carry out his saving plan. Men and women were created to play different yet complementary roles in His strategy. When a church rejects God's design, it hampers the church's ability to carry out its mission. When the church embraces God's design, it will be more effective in the its work, and individuals will be able to live alongside and relate to one another as they were made to do.

02-10-2022 - Lucas Durant

The local church should not only be concerned with local matters. God has given each church a universal responsibility - we must pray for all people. Why? Because God wants all people to be saved.  

25-09-2022 - Lucas Durant

When God established the Church, what did he design it to do? Is each church meant to come up with their own goals, or is there a mission and a focus that Christians should have in every local church?  Paul gives Timothy a trustworthy mission statement worthy of universal acceptance.

18-09-2022 - Lucas Durant

One of the great threats to the life of a local church is different doctrine. Even in the earliest days of the church, certain people were putting the plain truths of scripture aside so that they could entertain wild speculation, provoke controversy, and prove the righteousness of their own group over and above others. But there is only one trustworthy truth which can purify hearts, make good consciences and produce sincere faith; anything different is meaningless talk.

11-09-2022 - Lucas Durant