“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” [1] Our contemporaries, and likely we ourselves, esteem the rugged individual. We imagine that we are distinct from everyone else. We are taught in elementary school that there is no one…

If the biblical evidence argues for a congregational polity, that is- the evidence in the NT shows the church as a whole, or the congregation making all the decisions in the church, then were does that leave the authority of the pastor? How can a pastor lead or shepherd the flock, if the flock is the…

I have heard this said of the local church, “A church is one bad pastor away from crumbling into liberalism.” In other words, if I the pastor were to die tomorrow, and you all were left with the decision to call a new pastor, if you make the wrong choice the consequences could be devastating for the…

Membership in the body of Christ means that we are responsible to and for one another.

We cannot allow Christian leaders and celebrities to displace our unity or Christ's place in our lives.

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. /Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonours…

We must put on the characteristics of Christ as the people of Christ by the power of Christ for the glory of Christ.

The biblical description of pastoral authroity in a NT church, and how that authority functions with congregational rule

Christian divisions are not OK. Rarely do people consider the theological implications of the church. How many pastors and priests have had to answer questions to the effect of, "If Christianity is true, then why can't God keep the church from dividing?" This message looks at what it means for us to place the same value of the unity of faith in the church, as Jesus had in his prayer of John 17:21-22.

Split Audience Ask one side to say “Hallelujah!” Ask the other side to say “Amen!” Encourage one side against the other. One year there is a church split. The “Ameners” vs. the “Hallelujahs”. Sad… but feels a bit true. Would you be shocked if I told you that was a true story? Yes. But not as shocked…

Aside from personal salvation, being a part of a Church is the closest a believer can come to heaven this side of eternity. We often focus on the difficulties associated with being a part of a Church, but he experience of fellowship and communion with other believers in Christ is a pinnacle experience…

Christ the wisdom and Power of God

1 Corinthians 12:21-30 Why Are We in Tumbler Ridge? “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat…

The first of the year is a time of reflection / evaluation / change We need to do that individually – we need to do that corporately The good news is that Paul often wrote for just these reasons. We will begin a study where Paul wrote a letter to help us evaluate and change. Actually the letter is written…

1 Corinthians 12:21-30 Why Are We in Dawson Creek? /The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat…

Shaping a Culture Who knows who this is? For the last two years in my work as a Software Developer, this has been my team mascot and our team name. Skeletor. Skeleton + Store = Skeletor. This week “team Skeletor” is merging with team “BSP Commerce” to become the less-exciting “Commerce” team. But we…

Edification 1 Corinthians I would like Macy and Addy to come up. Macy and Addy I have the game jenga here. Do you know how to play the game? I want this to be a team effort. I want to see how high you can build this tower in the time that I read today’s scripture. Got it? Go! 26 What then is the conclusion,…