Zoe Dallas

If God is truly the King and in charge, why does it sometimes feel like he is absent? Perhaps there better questions to ask to shape our perspective: Are we listening to the words of God? Do we choose to follow His ways? And will we hold out faithfully until the King returns?

David records for posterity his lament over the death of King Saul. As we see him grieve over the shame, the loss, and the pain of the situation, it all points us to our need for a greater King who is more glorious, more mighty, and more loving than we can imagine.

What does it mean to be good? David's reaction to the news of Saul's death exemplifies how our goodness is demonstrated by our actions. After all, what we do with what we have defines who we are. But can anyone be truly good?

Jesus loves the church with a love both undeserved and incomprehensible. He loved us while we were still sinners, and gave his life for the church when she was unlovely. As we explore the idea that Christ's love for the church is the model for husbands and wives, it becomes clear that church isn't about just being together, but about having a true relationship with Jesus.

Ultimately, the church does not belong to us; the church belongs to God. He is the owner, cultivating his field and causing all the growth. However, we also have the responsibility to participate in the work as God's servants, to build up the body and to be built up ourselves as part of God's building.

In calling us the household of God, scripture shows us how we are to view and relate to one another in the church. We are all imperfect, and there will be sin and conflict, but our call together is to experience the incredible blessing of being a part of God's own family.

Unity the church is not uniformity. Our God-given differences are both important and useful when we recognize and use them to fulfill God’s purpose and design for us within the church body.

What does it mean for the church to be a body of Christ? Just as the health of our own bodies is important to us, Christ cares about the health of his church and has called us in scripture to be a united, growing, and maturing church.

What is truth? In a world where that views truth as subjective, variable, and unknowable, the church stands in a unique position to declare that the truth, founded in the one true God alone, is as solid and unchanging as God himself. The call to the church is one of steadfast faithfulness to firmly uphold the truth that has been revealed to us through Christ.

The church being a flock is not a flattering metaphor when we understand what it means to be like sheep. But the point of the comparison is that it points us to our need for the good Shepherd himself. Throughout history and into eternity, God has designed, desired, and defined the means by which he lovingly shepherds his people.